Chapter 49: Minmin Temür! Zhao Min!
Inside the Celestial Abode
“Celestial fate! I’ve stumbled upon celestial fate!”
Wanwan (绾绾, Wǎn Wǎn) stood in the ethereal chamber, her heart pounding with excitement.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would encounter such fortune. Only moments ago, she had resigned herself to death, swallowed by a mysterious black hole. Now, she found herself within the legendary Celestial Abode.
“Calm yourself,” she muttered, steadying her breath.
Beside her, Shi Feixuan stirred, the normally composed heir to Cihang Jingzhai visibly shaken. For years, Shi Feixuan had prided herself on her serene mind and unwavering clarity. Yet in the face of the Celestial Inheritance, her very soul trembled with anticipation.
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“Wanwan, my most talented disciple, you must obtain the Celestial Inheritance!” Zhu Yuyan encouraged, her eyes gleaming with ambition. For her, Wanwan’s success signified the rise of the Yin Kui Sect and her vision of a unified demonic world.
“Master,” Wanwan replied, her resolve hardening.
Her gaze shifted to Shi Feixuan, now standing opposite her. Though no words were exchanged, the tension between the two women was palpable.
Each understood the stakes: only one could inherit the celestial legacy.
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“Interesting,” Bai Chen (白辰, Bái Chén) muttered, watching the two women from the void.
He had orchestrated their arrival and designed every facet of the trial. Hovering unseen, he observed the unfolding drama with mild amusement.
“Princess, when the two women faced the Celestial Trial, a script appeared in the sky: ‘Only one with the balance of divinity and demonic nature shall ascend.’
“Neither Shi Feixuan nor Wanwan fit this description perfectly. Initially, both failed the trial.”
“Failed?” Zhao Min’s sharp tone reflected her disbelief.
“Indeed,” Ah San replied. “But by sheer chance, their blood mingled during the trial. This fusion—divinity from Shi Feixuan and demonic essence from Wan Wan—created a balance similar to the Celestial Abode’s original master.
“Thus, the trial deemed them worthy, splitting the inheritance between the two.”
Zhao Min’s sharp mind pieced together the clues.
“So, it wasn’t a coincidence,” she murmured. “The Celestial Abode appeared specifically for them.”
She leaned back, her expression contemplative.
“The master of the Celestial Abode must have been an ancient cultivator who perfected both divine and demonic arts—a rare and formidable existence. Wanwan and Shi Feixuan, as representatives of opposing philosophies, embody fragments of that balance.”
“Brilliant deduction, Princess!” Ah San praised. “Even the Great Sui’s finest scholars reached a similar conclusion.”
Zhao Min smirked. “It seems I’m not the only one with insight.”
As she dismissed Ah San, Zhao Min reflected on the implications.
“With the inheritance divided, neither Shi Feixuan nor Wanwan will wield complete mastery of the Celestial Legacy. Their factions, however, will undoubtedly use this to assert dominance in the martial world.”
Her lips curled into a confident smile. “And where there’s division, there’s opportunity.”
Ever the schemer, Zhao Min began crafting her next move, poised to exploit the fallout of the Celestial Abode’s awakening.