Bai Zihan couldn’t believe the situation he was in.
He did win, but now he was denied his reward.
Obviously, there was no way that he would accept that.
The remnant soul of the Immortal Emperor also understood this, but she also seemed very confused that Bai Zihan was the one who had managed to finish all the trials first.
"Let’s get out of this first!"
She was obviously referring to the Illusion Word that they were in.
The Remnant Soul said and snapped her fingers, which immediately pulled her and Bai Zihan out of this Illusion World and into the Ancient Ruin, where Bai Zihan returned to his own body.
Bai Zihan muttered as he checked out his body.
Having stayed in that weak body that couldn’t even beat a weakling, he felt a bit happy to return to this body which was nearly indestructible compared to the one he had in Ironmist.
Looking around, he could see other participants’ bodies, and it seemed like the moment they stepped into the third trial, they had become unconscious or perhaps sucked into that illusion without any resistance.
He could see Bai Xueqing, Chu Xing, Bai Xinyue, and others. Almost ten or so participants.
As for others, he didn’t know what happened. Perhaps still stuck in the Second Trial?
Though hard to believe since months have passed since the time he took on the Third Trial.
And with many participants consisting of Top geniuses, it is hard to believe that they couldn’t reach Minor Mastery unless they chose something like Heaven-Grade Technique.
Anyways, back to the topic.
"So, why have this trial if you feel like I am not fated for your inheritance?"
Bai Zihan asked sarcastically.
The Remnant Soul hovered above the altar in the Ancient Ruin, now far more composed—her translucent form glowing faintly under the runes of the chamber.
She looked at him for a long moment.
"Fate..." she began slowly, "is not just some meaningless word tossed around by people."
Behind her, constellations shimmered into view, weaving into a complex mandala of stars, lines, and pulses of light that danced and shifted like a living map.
"In this world, everything is predetermined. Every variable. Every decision. Every breath. I calculated the person who is fated to get my inheritance before I perished."
"And I was certain—absolutely certain—that the one who would inherit everything I left behind... would be a woman. A girl who would come first in both the second and third trial."
It wasn’t like he didn’t understand the concept, as he himself knew that this world has Heaven-Chosen who are predetermined to rise above everyone else, but he was determined that if they came to be a threat, he would pluck them out.
He thought that it might be the same for what the Remnant Soul was saying.
Perhaps she had predicted or calculated who the winner for her inheritance would be before she even created it.
But there was an unexpected variable... which is obviously him.
"I believed the result of the second trial—your result—was a mistake. An anomaly. But then the third came, and it was the same."
She looked almost... troubled. Not angry. Not even sad. Just genuinely baffled.
"You should not have been the one to win!"
"So you’re saying I’m not fated to inherit it," Bai Zihan said flatly. "But I did pass. I crushed every damn test. Doesn’t that mean fate is wrong?"
She didn’t answer immediately.
"No," the Remnant Soul said at last, firm and unshaken.
"There is no way the calculations were wrong. I ran the celestial simulations hundreds of times in my final days. The results were always the same. It would be a girl. The one destined to stand where you stand now was female."
"And you’re sure it wasn’t a typo?"
"I created the formations. I carved the fate paths myself using the Immortal Stars above the ninth firmament. There was no mistake."
Bai Zihan’s eyes twitched. He didn’t know half of the things that she mentioned.
But he did understood that the Immortal Emperor Feilian was certain about who would get her inheritance.
"So... what? I pass your bullshit meat grinder of a trial, and in the end, I get a ’Sorry, your gender’s incompatible’? That’s what we’re doing now?"
The Remnant Soul didn’t flinch.
"It’s not just symbolic. The final inheritance is tailored for female Cultivator. The cultivation method, the physique refinement technique, the sacred vessel—they were all designed to perfectly fuse with a female body and spirit. If you insist..."
She paused. Then, dead serious:
"You may sever your manhood. Reforge your body. If you truly desire it, I will grant you the inheritance."
His expression went from indignant, to horrified, to almost clinically disturbed in under three seconds.
"I am not," she replied solemnly.
Bai Zihan stepped back, unconsciously shielding his crotch with one hand.
"Yeah, no. Absolutely not! You can keep your gender-locked cheat code. I’m not cutting off my little brother for some inheritance."
Although she knew that she was asking for too much for what he deserved, she didn’t expect that Bai Zihan would consider her Immortal Emperor Inheritance as being some inheritance.
If it was some other person, they would have done what she had suggested if it meant getting the Immortal Emperor’s Inheritance.
What’s manhood compared to the Inheritance of Immortal Emperor, power to rule the world?
(He is indeed different!)
Whether it was that mindset, his attitude, or perhaps his overwhelming strength compared to others, there was something about Bai Zihan that the Remnant Soul found to be different and quite interesting.
"Then you forfeit my Inheritance."
(Lady, I’ve already got a cheat. It’s called the System. And unlike yours, it doesn’t require a sex change.)
"But it is indeed unfair for you who have passed every trial to get nothing. For that, how about instead of the inheritance, you will get every other treasure that I own?"
The Remnant Soul suggested.
"Well, better than nothing!"
Bai Zihan also accepted that he wouldn’t get the inheritance, but to get other treasure would be good even without the inheritance.
But before the two of them headed to where the treasure was, he looked at Bai Xinyue and then asked the Remnant Soul:
"Is she the one who will get the inheritance?"
According to fate, if there was someone who this inheritance is kept for, Bai Zihan believed that it should be reserved for the Heaven Chosen, and there was only one here who he knew.
The Remnant Soul glanced at Bai Xinyue, whom Bai Zihan pointed out.
Although she didn’t know how Bai Zihan knew it, indeed Bai Xinyue was the one that she kept her eyes on ever since she managed to be the second one after Bai Zihan to pass the second trial.
If she took out Bai Zihan from the equation, Bai Xinyue would be the one to pass the second trial first and then the one to pass the third trial as well.
"Perhaps! But I can’t say for sure!"
Due to variables, now she wasn’t too sure—though time will tell.
"Well, I think she is the one. Want to make a bet?"
"No need! I don’t have anything other than all the treasure that I already promised."
The Remnant Soul replied.
Bai Zihan pointed at her.
"There is still you!"
The Remnant Soul looked surprised.
One might suggest that he was too rude to even ask for the Immortal Emperor’s Soul to be his, even though it was just a remnant.
But strangely, Immortal Emperor Feilian’s soul didn’t seem to be offended.
"No need. Anyway, once I fulfill my task, this remnant soul will disappear."
She answered as she guided Bai Zihan towards the treasures that she promised.
Bai Zihan also didn’t argue, though slightly disappointed that the Remnant Soul didn’t fall for his trap.
The System has many treasures for keeping the soul and even making them powerful.
Although the Immortal Emperor’s soul power is something he was interested in, more than that was their knowledge.
They should possess much knowledge that even the present-day Royal library doesn’t, considering their lifespan—and moreover that most of the ancient knowledge was destroyed in between eras.
So, he was hoping to get a ’Google’ of this world but failed.
Before leaving, Bai Zihan kicked Mo Tianji’s head, but still, other than a bump on his head, he still didn’t wake up.
He already knew just how real the illusion was, and breaking out of it seemed impossible even with external intervention.
Perhaps in the Ancient Ruins, only the Remnant Soul is capable of waking these people.
The Remnant Soul gave him a stern look which said everything that needed to be: ’Don’t do that again.’
Well, Bai Zihan feigned ignorance like he didn’t know what he did and followed her.
Soon, they reached the room which the Remnant Soul opened and entered.
What Bai Zihan saw there left him speechless.