The ground was cracked, blood stained the stone, and the sky above the inheritance site was still glowing faintly. Lin Xian, wounded and pushed to his limit, faced Shen Tian — who stood tall, glowing with the power of his recent breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm.
Shen Tian's sword glowed with light. "It's over, Lin Xian," he said coldly, walking forward to deliver the final blow.
Lin Xian, breathing heavily, didn't move. But in his eyes, there was no fear — only calm confidence.
Just as Shen Tian's sword slashed down, a powerful golden barrier suddenly rose from the ground beneath Lin Xian.
BOOM!
The sword bounced off, and Shen Tian staggered back in shock. "What?!"
Lin Xian slowly stood up. "You're not the only one who prepared," he said with a grin. "I set this formation before the fight. The system helped me hide it."
With a wave of his hand, the formation lit up. Glowing lines and symbols spread through the battlefield. Energy surged from the ground and wrapped around Shen Tian like chains.
Then, from thin air, a massive spear made of lightning appeared. Lin Xian pointed at Shen Tian. "Now… fall."
CRACK!
The lightning spear shot forward and pierced Shen Tian's chest. Blood sprayed out as he was thrown backward, crashing into a wall.
Shen Yue and Lin Yuer gasped.
Lin Xian walked forward slowly, his face cold and determined. "It's time to end this."
He raised his hand, preparing to deliver the killing blow.
"STOP!"
Shen Yue ran forward and stood between them, spreading her arms wide. "Please, don't kill him!"
Lin Xian's expression changed. "You still want to protect your brother?"
But Shen Yue shook her head. "No… I had a dream. A strange dream from the heavens."
She took a deep breath. "In the dream, I saw the truth — Shen Tian and I… we are not from this lower world. We're from the Upper Realm, part of the powerful Shen Family. We carry their bloodline."
Lin Yuer's eyes widened. "The Upper Realm…?"
Shen Yue nodded. "The Shen Family will descend in four months to take us back. They will identify us by our bloodline."
Lin Xian lowered his hand, his mind spinning. ' he know that Shen Tian was the Son of Destiny and he carries the blood of the Upper Realm.'
But then his thoughts darkened. 'If I kill him… the Shen Family will know. I'll be hunted down.'
He looked at the system. "Is there a way to avoid this?" he asked in his mind.
The system answered:
[Yes. The Heaven Devouring Art is now available. It can devour any bloodline or special physique. Would you like to purchase it?]
Lin Xian's eyes lit up.
'If I devour Shen Tian's bloodline… I can pretend to be him. The Shen Family won't know. But that means… I'll have to kill anyone who knows Shen Tian's real identity. That includes… his sect.'
It was a cruel decision — but Lin Xian had already walked far on the path of darkness. There was no turning back now.
He looked at the two girls, his voice calm. "Don't worry. I won't let the Shen Family harm us. I'll fix everything."
They didn't understand his full plan, but they nodded. They trusted him.
Lin Xian turned back to the half-conscious Shen Tian and activated the Heaven Devouring Art. A strange black mist came out of his hands and wrapped around Shen Tian's body.
Shen Tian's eyes opened in panic, but he was too weak to fight back. His body trembled as the power of his bloodline started being devoured.
"It will take time," the system said.
[Shen Tian's bloodline is sealed. It will take at least two months to fully devour and awaken it. The secret realm will also close in two months.]
Lin Xian nodded and looked at the girls. "This place is big. There are still many inheritances and treasures left. Go and find them. This is your chance to grow stronger."
"What about you?" Lin Yuer asked softly.
"I'll stay here and complete the process. When I finish, we'll meet again outside."
Both girls nodded and left to search for opportunities.
Lin Xian looked at Shen Tian, who was slowly losing consciousness. "Your fate was great… but it's mine now."
As the black mist wrapped around them, Lin Xian sat cross-legged and began the process of completely devouring Shen Tian's bloodline — the final step in becoming the true heir of destiny.