After Lucius was done with taming the Flame,
he went back to his room, tomorrow they will be leaving for the City Ruled over by the Stonebornes.
The Stonebornes used to be a merchant Family a few hundred years ago. when the downfall of the Blackthorns was happening, they had lent a huge hand in their win. without them, when the family was on the brink of complete wipe out, if they didn't help, even my father would've not survived.
Now, the blackthorns were greatly indebted to the Stonebornes. Lucius really liked this family. Why? because it was obvious that they did it to earn a favour from this family. so why did Lucius like them? That was because, those families which worked to earn something were way better than those families than wore a smile on their faces on front and stab from behind when not looking.
those were the kinds of families lucius hated. there were many of such families which did exactly such a thing to Blackthorns, taking the Vulnerability as a opportunity and taking a share in the pie named as Blackthorns.
Comparing to them, this Stoneborne family was like the family of saints. The Family which earned the most out of the blackthorns was the BloodRose Family. Yes it was not a vampire family even if their culture was similar to them and the arts they used was blood arts as well. The family was a Peak common level power at that time, but now it had risen to reaching Low-Level Sky grade power, reaching the Level of a Marquis Family. with Dukes being mid level Powers.
The next day, Logan and Lucius walked to the center of their mansion which was a open air area, a big courtyard one could say. there a object was sitting. it was a boat. more better to say a flying boat.
it was a artifact created by artifact masters. another very popular job in this world.
The boat had the crest of blackthorns. There was also a person sitting on it already, it was the person who would control the artifact. you can call him a pilot since, who cares?
Anyways, soon Logan and Lucius sat on the backseat of the boat and the boat started flying. As they left the mansion, the arrived at the Air Space of the Silverpetal City. The city was big, it looked really magnificent to Lucius. it was very beautiful and looked nature friendly, it also had sky crapers, but looked like made in chinese style of wooden houses. Soon they started leaving the Air space of the city as the Boat started flying in a direction.
After some time, Two more boats arrived, side by side at his boat, these boats also had the Crest of the family.
'we also have guards huh. ofcourse we have them idiot! my father is still a baron level noble with a territory! ofcourse we will not move alone.'
Shortly, they left the city air space as they kept walking in a direction. this world also have poles, and they still used a North, South, East and west system. probably to help with directions. the boat also had a system to tell which direction they were walking at right now. this made Lucius wonder that is there outerspace in this world? after all, it is said that outside is the realm of immortals.
Currently they were speeding through North Direction, the Stoneborne's Family city the Ashen City was at. it was a tier three 3 city, alebit less magnificent as the Silverpetal since it used to be a county's capital before, although now downgraded.
The city was about 5000 Kilometers away and it would take them about three hours to arrive there.
"by the way father, has someone ever tried to see what is beyond the sky? like i mean trying to leave the world and maybe arriving in the immortal lands?", asked Lucius making a lie. he knew that it would probably be impossible. what he wanted to know was the possibility of the existence of Outer Space.
"There was a tier 10 expert who tried it before, but when he did, he got to know that the world ends beyond it. there is a very strong barrier, probably made my heavens and powered by this realm's energy to not allow anyone to leave this realm. and breaking the barrier would only be possible for immortals, but when we reach the above tier 10, the world automatically kicks us out with a tribulation, so it Doesn't matters wether you have the strength or not. this world is hidden from the eyes of immortals anyways." replied logan.
"how do you know so much father?", asked lucius finding it amazing that his father knew so much.
"Every high level power in this world knew about it, as they kept records since ancient times or recieved a copy of the empire's records when they reached the standards, ofcourse our family also reached the standards once and hence i knew about it.", replied logan.
'Oh.. that- makes sense.'
After three hours of travelling, they arrived at the Ashen City. The city, although not as big as the Silverpetal City, was way livelier than it. it looked like the people here were living a very good life.
Soon they arrived inside the city and went directly to the city lord's Mansion, were all the important people had arrived.
"Welcome! Welcome! if it isn't the revered Blackthorns! welcome to the immortal inheritance trials!", said the city lord as he shoke the hands Logan.
Then the city lord eyed Lucius as a evil smile appeared on his face. which was gone unnoticed by everyone.
The city lord Gestured a maid to guide the blackthorns to their room as she did.
After some hours of rest, it was now 12 PM and it was time for the trials to start.
Soon, everyone was called to the specific location where the tower was located.
"Everyone! Look at the trial tower in front of me! today! i Baron Gavin Von Stoneborne. The Patriarch of the Stoneborne Family! is organizing this immortal trial!"
"As everyone might know, this trial lies in the territory of the Stoneborne Family so it is my duty to hold the trials every one thousand years."
"There are 6 Levels of inheritances in every Trial namely, Mortal, Earth, Sky, King, Emperor and Finally Immortal Grade inheritances!"
"There is also a vacancy! every thousand years, there is only a specific number of people who are allowed to pass these trials!"
"For Mortal, over 5000 People pass, For Earth, it is 500, For Sky it is 100, For King it is 50, For Emperor it is 10 and Finally The Immortal is only 1!"
"The trials are never Fair! if the slots are already filled, then you will not be allowed to take the trials for that slot!"
"The trials start from the mortal grade and start upgrading as per your choice! if you pass the trial, the trial will earn you a inheritance which will very much help you in cultivation!"
"You will also not need to do anything in return. but the things might be different for immortal grade so beware. but it doesn't matters since none has been able to clear this trial since the time it was on this plane!"
At the moment, there were over 5 thousand people standing near the tower. these people were all participants. as for the important people? there were all sitting on the colosseum like structure the surrounded the tower, seats allotted to everyone.
There were also Hologram like golden images in front of these towers. These towers were an Artifact created by High Level immortal artifact builders.
When a immortal was about to die, to protect their legacy and hand it over to someone capable, or to find a worthy successor for their power or maybe even to fullfill a last dying wish, these towers were sent to the mortal realms.
There were millions of mortal realms. but still, the ammount of trial towers that arrived in this world was well over 50 per year.
and many times trials would be cleared as well. this was because in this vast realm, one could clear as many inheritances as they wanted until they crossed the age of hundred, if they had talent, they would clear the inheritance and take away immortal treasures.
soon the trials began and the participants started to enter the trial.
A list of the names of the participants generated on the screen. The trial will only take in as many people as it could give an inheritance to. one could only apply for an inheritance once, and every thousand years, it only would be open for 10 Years. but since there were tens of thousands of such towers, it would be counter balanced.
The Towers will also dissappear after 50 Thousand years. this meant that the towers will only open for 50 Times and then they will vanish.
Currently Lucius was also in the tower when suddenly a system-like screen appeared in front of him.
[Tower Trial - Azure Dragon Tyrant Immortal]
[Description - Pass the trials to earn 'inheritance']
[Trail Taker's Name - Lucius Von Blackthorn]
[Tiers Unlocked:]
[Mortal Tier - (Participate)]
[Earth Tier - (Locked)]
[Sky Tier - (Locked)]
[King Tier - (Locked)]
[Emperor Tier - (Locked)]
[Immortal Tier - (Locked)]
Lucius seeing this screen took a breath to relax himself as he clicked on the participate button.
[Loading the Mortal Tier trial...10%..90%...Complete!]
Lucius did not have any battle experience before. he had just come to these trials to have some experience. even if one died in these trials, they will not truely die even if they felt like it. the death was a fake death in these trials.
Lucius thought that it might be a good idea for future experiences.
'I still have one week anyway, ill come here later if i think i can get a decent inheritance.'
inheritances could be helped to boost the growth a family. Many Families used to Farm these inheritances just to get good resources. training the best of the elites.
Soon the mortal trial began.
There were 3 Puppets in front of him, each of their strength one minor realm below him, their battle skills were also the same as him.
Lucius took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. The puppets moved with mechanical precision, their eyes glowing with a faint blue light. Without hesitation, they charged at him, their movements eerily synchronized.
He dodged the first attack, feeling the wind from a puppet's fist brush past his cheek. Lucius countered with a swift palm strike, knocking one puppet back, but the other two pressed in, relentless.
He quickly realized that brute force wouldn't win this fight. Instead, he relied on his agility and the basic flame techniques he had mastered. With a burst of Flame Laws, he forced the puppets to retreat, conjuring a wave of searing heat that made their metal bodies glow faintly red.
But Lucius wasn't done. He focused, summoning the Crimson Sovereign Flame. A crimson aura flared around his fists, and with a shout, he unleashed a whip of sovereign fire, striking one puppet square in the chest. The puppet staggered, its chestplate melting under the intense heat.
The remaining puppets adapted, attacking from both sides. Lucius narrowed his eyes, channeling a sliver of Obsidian Law into his skin. His arm shimmered with a glossy black sheen—Obsidian Skin. The next blow from a puppet landed with a dull thud, but Lucius barely felt it.
He spun, using the momentum to deliver a blazing kick, enhanced by both the Crimson Sovereign Flame and the resilience of Obsidian Law. The puppet's arm shattered, scattering fragments across the arena.
With a final surge of flame, Lucius enveloped the last puppet in a vortex of crimson fire, burning away its joints until it collapsed in a heap.
[Congratulations! You have cleared the Mortal Tier!]
[Would you like to claim the Mortal Tier Inheritance?]
[Yes/No]
Lucius hesitated. The Mortal Tier inheritance was tempting, but he wanted to see how far he could go. He clicked "No," and the screen flashed again.
[Earth Tier - Unlocked!]
[Loading the Earth Tier trial...]
The scene shifted. This time, five puppets appeared, each one at the same realm as Lucius. Their movements were sharper, their attacks more coordinated. Lucius felt the pressure increase.
He fought cautiously, weaving between attacks, using the Crimson Sovereign Flame to create barriers of fire and bursts of explosive energy. The puppets pressed in, their teamwork relentless. Lucius drew on his Flame Laws, sending jets of fire to disrupt their formation, but the puppets adapted quickly.
He was forced to push his arts to the limit. At a critical moment, he invoked the Obsidian Law again, coating his legs in obsidian armor. He swept the legs of two puppets, their balance lost as they crashed to the ground. With a roar, he unleashed a torrent of Crimson Sovereign Flame, melting the chest of another puppet.
The last puppet lunged, but Lucius met it head-on, his fist blazing with both crimson and black energy—a fusion of Sovereign Flame and Obsidian Law. The impact shattered the puppet's core, ending the battle.
[Congratulations! You have cleared the Earth Tier!]
[Would you like to claim the Earth Tier Inheritance?]
[Yes/No]
Lucius paused again. The Earth Tier inheritance was far better than the Mortal Tier, but he was curious about the next level. He clicked "No" once more.
[Sky Tier - Unlocked!]
[Loading the Sky Tier trial...]
The environment changed again. Now, seven puppets stood before him, each one a minor realm above him. Their attacks were swift and merciless, their teamwork flawless. Lucius felt the gap in strength immediately.
He tried everything—flame bursts, concealment, even soul attacks—but the puppets overwhelmed him. He summoned the Crimson Sovereign Flame, creating a shield of fire, but the puppets broke through with coordinated strikes. He called upon the Obsidian Law, reinforcing his body, but the pressure was too great. Within moments, he was forced to his knees, his energy nearly depleted.
[Warning! You are at your limit. Would you like to give up and exit the trial?]
[Yes/No]
Lucius gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. He knew he couldn't win this round—not yet. He clicked "Yes."
[You have chosen to exit the trial. You may return to attempt the trials again within the allotted time.]
The world around him faded, and Lucius found himself standing outside the trial tower, his body intact but his mind buzzing with the experience. He took a deep breath, feeling both disappointment and determination.
'So that's the gap between me and the true elites… I need to train harder.'
He glanced back at the tower, a faint smile on his lips. He hadn't claimed any inheritance this time, but he had gained something far more valuable—experience.
There was still time. Next time, he would be ready.
Soon he got outside, but the scene he saw outside made his blood boil.