Hearing the emotionless response, Shen Lingxi suddenly felt foolish. She was actually getting angry at a heartless “Inheritance.” Even if she looked like a person, she was essentially just a manifestation of The Inheritance, devoid of any feelings.
At most, The Inheritance possessed a sliver of spiritual intelligence.
A self-mocking smile played at the corners of Shen Lingxi’s lips.
One year…
For an entire year, she had struggled. Now, all her hard work felt like it was about to vanish into thin air.
The only reason she could accept the Saintess Inheritance was not because she had mastered the *Saintess Heart Scripture*. It was simply because she was Heaven-Grade.
Furthermore, her luck was exceptionally good. As a Heaven-Grade candidate arriving at this specific time, she could obtain the power of The Inheritance immediately. She was unlike previous Heaven-Grade candidates who had wasted their lives because the power of The Inheritance had not been fully replenished.
However, this inheritance felt like a burden.
It had actually grown by absorbing the life essence of countless Holy Maiden Candidates.
A flash of disgust crossed Shen Lingxi’s eyes.
Although her parents were farmers who tilled the soil, they had taught her a clear sense of right and wrong from a young age. She could not accept a Saintess Inheritance that required the sacrifice of others’ lives.
“I don’t want it…” she almost roared. “I won’t accept you!”
“Master, you will,” the same emotionless voice replied.
“I will not,” Shen Lingxi said firmly.
“If you do not accept The Inheritance, Master, you will be unable to become the Saintess.”
“So what?”
Shen Lingxi stared intently at that beautiful yet completely indifferent face. She was blinded by rage.
“If you fail to become the Saintess, Master will lose everything.”
“…”
“Saintess Mountain will no longer view Master as the Saintess. Everything originally given to Master will be taken back. Master’s life will return to that of an ordinary farmer’s daughter.”
“…”
“Master will also lose her beloved, for Master’s status and position will no longer be a match for his.”
“…”
“Master, even if you refuse to accept The Inheritance, you cannot change the fate of those children. You cannot stop Saintess Mountain from continuing to find batch after batch of Holy Maiden Candidates, sending them to the Secret Realm to become part of the power of The Inheritance.”
“…”
“Because Master is merely an insignificant farmer’s daughter.”
“…”
Each sentence from The Inheritance stabbed directly into Shen Lingxi’s heart, causing her unbearable pain.
She did not want to leave Gu Ming.
Her original intention in becoming the Saintess was to be worthy of him. If she gave up The Inheritance now, then what was the point of her year of hard work?
However, there was a hurdle in her heart that she couldn’t seem to cross.
She felt that an inheritance that drew upon the lives of so many candidates was a demonic path. If she accepted it, wouldn’t she be walking that same demonic path?
While she was hesitating, The Inheritance suddenly moved to her side. Leaning down, she whispered softly into Shen Lingxi’s ear.
“However, if Master accepts The Inheritance, then Master will become the true Saintess — the Supreme of Saintess Mountain. Everything Master cares about and desires will be within easy reach.”
“…”
“Furthermore, once Saintess Mountain has a Saintess, there will no longer be a need to search for Holy Maiden Candidates. There will be no need to send them into the Secret Realm.”
“…”
“Master, by doing this, you are actually saving them.”
Listening to the whispers of The Inheritance, the way Shen Lingxi looked at it changed. Was this truly the Saintess Inheritance? Why did it sound like the whispers of a devil?
After whispering to Shen Lingxi, The Inheritance flew back into the air, quietly waiting for her decision.
Before long, Shen Lingxi slowly stood up, her gaze as sharp as a torch as she looked at The Inheritance.
It was true.
If she was not the Saintess, she would have nothing, lose everything, and be unable to change anything. Only by becoming the Saintess could she maintain everything she currently had. Only by becoming the Saintess would Saintess Mountain no longer require new Holy Maiden Candidates; therefore, no more candidates would become nourishment for The Inheritance.
Thus, she had to accept it. She had no other choice.
Shen Lingxi parted her red lips and said, “I accept.”
The moment she spoke, The Inheritance instantly transformed into a streak of light, washing over Shen Lingxi’s body.
Shen Lingxi felt a gentle breeze brush against her face, followed by an immense wave of exhaustion. She tried to struggle for a moment, but eventually, her eyelids closed unwillingly.
After an unknown amount of time, Shen Lingxi slowly opened her eyes and found herself lying on the surface of a lake.
She looked around and realized the woman who looked like an immortal had disappeared.
‘Have I already absorbed it?’ Shen Lingxi wondered to herself.
She looked around again. Even though it was her first time here, she felt incredibly familiar with everything. She knew that there was only one way to leave this place: she had to use the power of the Saintess to destroy this space.
Thus, she slowly raised her palm…
***
One week had passed since Shen Lingxi’s batch of Holy Maiden Candidates had entered the Secret Realm.
The place where the teleportation array was located, once a bustling and noisy scene, was now guarded by only several old men.
Among them were the Great Elder and the Law Enforcement Elder.
Growing impatient, the Law Enforcement Elder said, “I say, Great Elder, it’s been one week already. There hasn’t been any movement from the array. Do you think that Heaven-Grade girl failed too?”
The Great Elder did not reply, maintaining his calm as he rested with his eyes closed.
“I think we should just go back to our own quarters. There’s no need to keep waiting here,” the Law Enforcement Elder said dismissively.
Seeing the Great Elder remain unmoved, the Law Enforcement Elder stood up and brushed off his robe, preparing to slip away.
Unexpectedly, the Great Elder, still with his eyes closed, suddenly spoke. “Stay where you are. Who gave you permission to leave?”
“Listen, Great Elder, as an elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, I am very busy. Waiting here with you every day — isn’t that a waste of my time?” The Law Enforcement Elder’s face darkened with displeasure. “Besides, we had a Heaven-Grade candidate before, and they failed in the end anyway.”
“In my opinion, Saintess Mountain should just accept its fate and change its name to avoid being laughed at by other sects.”
The Law Enforcement Elder laughed to himself as if he had told a brilliant joke.
Just then, a terrifying aura tore through space above the teleportation array.
“Great Elder, this aura…” The Law Enforcement Elder’s eyes widened as he looked at the composed Great Elder. “Could it be that she actually succeeded?”
A crack appeared in the space above the teleportation array. The crack continued to grow and spread, quickly branching out into dozens of fissures.
Crash!
With a bursting sound, the spatial cracks shattered into dozens of invisible fragments. A deep, twisted gateway to another dimension appeared before them. Immediately after, a delicate leg stepped out.
Shen Lingxi steadied herself against the edge of the spatial opening and slowly walked out.
The moment she appeared, every elder present bowed deeply and shouted in unison:
“Welcome, Saintess!”
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