A brilliant flash engulfed Lin Sheng's vision.
For a brief moment, he lost all sense of direction.
The next instant—
His feet touched solid ground.
The sensation of weight returned.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The oppressive darkness of the trial had vanished completely.
Instead, he found himself standing within a vast stone chamber unlike any he had seen before.
Ancient pillars supported a high ceiling carved with countless intricate formation runes.
Streams of spiritual qi flowed gently through the air like invisible rivers, nourishing every corner of the hall.
The place radiated an indescribable sense of age.
It was as though countless millennia had passed without leaving the slightest trace upon it.
Standing several dozen meters ahead was an elderly man.
He wore simple white robes embroidered with faint golden patterns.
His long silver hair flowed naturally behind him, while his expression remained calm and gentle.
He appeared no different from an ordinary old scholar.
Yet...
Lin Sheng instinctively became vigilant.
The Chip immediately activated.
---
•[Scanning Target...
Analysis Failed.
Unable to determine life signature.
Unable to determine cultivation.
Unknown energy interference detected]•
---
Lin Sheng's pupils narrowed.
The Chip rarely failed so completely. That was rare
He quietly shifted his attention downward.
This time...
The analysis produced results.
---
High-Level Formation Detected.
Estimated Grade: Above Rank 4.
Energy Source: Unknown.
Warning: Unable to calculate upper limit.
---
The formation beneath the old man's feet silently rotated.
Each rune emitted an ancient aura far beyond anything Lin Sheng had previously encountered.
Before he could speak...
The old man smiled warmly.
His voice sounded strangely familiar.
"Welcome."
"True Disciple."
"And congratulations..."
"...on completing the final trial."
Lin Sheng immediately recognized the voice.
It was the same ancient voice that had guided him through every trial.
The old man chuckled softly.
"I was almost worried."
"That troublesome demon spirit had plagued the inheritance for far too many years."
"It corrupted countless challengers."
"It even caused the success rate of the third trial to continue falling."
He sighed lightly.
"So..."
"I should thank you."
"You have finally rid me of that nuisance."
Lin Sheng's expression remained calm.
Inside...
His thoughts rapidly raced.
Something wasn't right.
The demon had been destroyed inside his Sea of Consciousness.
No one else should have witnessed that battle.
Yet...
This elder knew everything.
Not merely the result.
But the entire process and that was scary.
Lin Sheng slowly clasped his hands.
"This junior greets Senior."
The old man nodded approvingly.
As Lin Sheng lowered his head slightly, another realization quietly surfaced within his mind.
'Formation spirit'
It perfectly explained everything.
Cultivators used magical artifacts throughout the early realms.
Qi Refining cultivators wielded ordinary magical artifacts.
Foundation Establishment cultivators refined stronger treasures.
Purple Palace cultivators nurtured Natal Weapons. Which was why most purple Palace cultivators also had some Foundation in artifact Refining .
Weapons capable of growing alongside their masters.
Some could eventually accompany their owners into the Golden Core Realm.
Beyond those...
Lay Spiritual Treasures.
True treasures belonging to Nascent Soul experts.
Unlike ordinary weapons...
Spiritual Treasures possessed something fundamentally different.
A Natal Soul.
When treasures reached sufficiently high ranks, they underwent heavenly tribulation just like cultivators.
Only after surviving could they truly transform.
The resulting Natal Soul wasn't an ordinary spirit.
It was a manifestation born from Heaven and Earth itself.
The same principle extended beyond weapons. An opponent in the Nascent Soul stage facing off against another Nascent Soul experts who has a Spiritual Treasure is like doing a 1 v 2.
High-grade pills could produce Pill Souls.
Ancient spirit herbs could develop Herb Spirits.
Likewise...
Rank-5 formations required Formation Spirits.
Without one...
They could never truly ascend. Having a Natal Soul within a weapon also gives the weapon the potential to grow stronger as well.
Looking at the old man...
Lin Sheng became increasingly certain.
This wasn't a human.
Nor a lingering remnant soul.
This...
Was the Formation Spirit of the Heaven Seal Gate's supreme inheritance.
The true guardian of the Array Centre.
The old man smiled once more.
With a gentle wave of his sleeve...
A translucent crystal orb slowly floated into existence.
The orb resembled the one used during the Spirit Root Ceremony.
Yet the countless runes drifting within it made its value immeasurable.
It slowly drifted toward Lin Sheng.
The old man spoke calmly.
"Within this inheritance orb..."
"...lies the complete Rank-4 formation legacy of the Heaven Seal Gate."
"It contains not only techniques..."
"But also the experiences..."
"The failures..."
"The insights..."
"And the lifelong understandings..."
"...of every True Disciple who came before you."
Lin Sheng's breathing unconsciously slowed.
This...
Was precisely what he had sought.
Not merely techniques.
But accumulated wisdom spanning countless generations.
Its value exceeded imagination.
He carefully accepted the orb with both hands.
"Thank you, Senior."
Before he could continue—
The old man suddenly raised a finger.
"No need." "Your rewards for completing the previous trials will also be given".
His smile gradually disappeared.
Instead...
His expression became completely emotionless.
Without warning—
He lightly waved his sleeve.
Boom!
The enormous formation beneath them immediately awakened.
Layer upon layer of dazzling runes lit up throughout the chamber.
Golden barriers rose from every direction.
The entire Array Centre instantly became completely sealed.
Even space itself seemed frozen.
Lin Sheng's heart sank.
Something had changed. He immediately was about to spread his mental perception outward but felt it getting suppressed.
The old man's previously gentle aura vanished completely.
His eyes became incomparably sharp.
Cold.
Ancient.
Like an existence that had observed countless eras pass.
The pressure filling the chamber increased dramatically.
Although it contained no killing intent...
It left no room for escape.
The Formation Spirit slowly looked directly into Lin Sheng's eyes.
For the first time...
Its voice no longer carried warmth.
Only absolute authority.
"Visitor from beyond..."
The surrounding formation suddenly hummed.
Every rune pointed toward Lin Sheng.
The old man's gaze seemed capable of seeing through every secret hidden within him.
His next words echoed throughout the sealed chamber.
"How..."
"...are you still alive?"