Wang Tian's sword was pierced through the cracks of his opponent’s armor; slowly, he draws his sword back and releases his blade. Blood spurts from the opening, and Wang Tian lets out a sigh as he sheathes his sword. Why did these bastards attack me? He wonders, looking at the two corpses on the ground, curious if they were so greedy for the inheritance that they chose to eliminate all competitors. Earlier, he had also questioned whether these two had teamed up to ambush him, but throughout the battle, they had also attacked each other.

  Fortunately, Wang Tian had come out on top in this battle. While Wang Tian was a swordsman, he was somewhat burly for the role. He had spent a lot of effort tempering his body, and most would assume he would be a pugilist, but that was not Wang Tian’s style. He was a killer and a survivor at heart; a born tiger, and as such, he required the tools of the trade. If it made fighting and surviving easier, he wasn’t opposed to using what he could. These two corpses on the ground; they had underestimated his strength, and they were doomed to regret in the afterlife.

  Wang Tian examines the room and he sees three floor tiles; the tiles on the left and right had two bowls on top of them that were marked with the character for sacrifice.

  Wang Tian lets out a sigh; the meaning for this was obvious. Understanding what he was supposed to do, he decides to get to work.

  He drags the two bodies over and begins the work of draining them of their blood and allowing it to flow into the two bowls. Slowly, the blood flows into the array engraved into the room.

  Wang Tian stands on the center tile, causing it to be pressed into the floor.

  Eventually, an apparition forms on stage.

  “Welcome, fellow disciple; the Dragon Blood Cult waits for you.” The ghost says with a smile.

  …

  …

  Though it was said that the Dragon Blood Cult had long been wiped out, this sect had thousands of years of accumulation, and disciples from across the land and seas; how could it be such an easy thing to destroy? The will of the people is capable of forming rivers and destroying mountains. Like weeds struggling against the world to survive; if there is a will, there is a way.

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  In truth, even before that controversy that was said to have brought their ruin, they had been preparing to enter the shadows, and the destruction of their sect on the surface was the opportunity they were waiting for.

  The Dragon Blood Cult divided into various clans and sects, but at their core, they were connected, and like dragon veins spreading across the land, their influence continued to infect the people.

  The ideals of these interconnected sects and clans was not dependent on good and evil, and at their core, the will of humanity burned strongly within them; this sect’s concern was their survival throughout the ages.

  From the shadows, they continued to work, their knowledge and power, growing with each passing season.

  Inheritance sites like the one that Xue Jiang and Wang Tian entered was one among many. Under the vast power and influence of what used to be known as the Dragon Blood Cult, this was simply a beginner level inheritance site. It was sort of like an entrance exam, and it was meant to lead the way to much more closely guarded secrets of the sect.

  The apparitions on stage told Xue Jiang and Wang Tian what they needed to know, and after that, their business was done, and they were able to exit.

  …

  …

  Xue Jiang was waiting outside the inheritance site with furrowed brows, processing what he had been told inside the inheritance site; he was told that the Dragon Blood Cult had long ago entered the shadows and divided into many sects and clans. The apparition has said that the formation of Dragon Blood core was the entrance requirement to join this vast network of people, and the core formation recipe had long been hidden from the public. In truth, the Dragon Blood core could be formed in many ways, but as an entrance requirement, the way wasn’t obvious to the public; if one had a connection gaining entrance may be easier, but for many disciples of the sect, it required one to gather the luck of the world around them.

  As an outer sect disciple, Xue Jiang had been given the Eternal Spring manual; a method of cultivation after the Core Formation stage.

  If he succeeded in forming his Nascent Soul, he would have the qualifications to enter the next stage of the Dragon Blood Cult’s disciple examinations.

  Xue Jiang lets out a sigh. Ay, I prepared so much for this inheritance trial, but in the end all I did was sit down and listen to a lecture! He exclaims, wondering what he would do with all the stuff he brought.

  Eventually, Wang Tian also walks out of the inheritance site with furrowed brows, processing what he’s learned.

  Likewise, Wang Tian had also been given a cultivation manual; the Dragon Blood manual. Depending on his success with this cultivation technique, he would also be able to enter the next stage of the Dragon Blood Cult’s disciple examinations.

  Xue Jiang waves, seeing Wang Tian. Xue Jiang sees that Wang Tian was covered with various wounds and his clothes and hair had various burn marks. Xue Jiang frowns. “What happened?” He asks.

  Wang Tian sees that Xue Jiang was waiting for him, and he looked perfectly fine; exiting the site in the same way he entered. He was about to ask what happened, before shaking his head. “I don’t want to know.” He says, confirming his decision. Wang Tian felt that if he knew what happened, he may have a very strong urge to spit blood. “Come on, let’s go.” He says, leading the way back home.