Looking down at the fading silhouettes of those disciples, I sighed deeply.
Yes, I had obtained the Legacy. The grand treasure trove that cultivators would kill for. But… at what cost?
I had just made an enemy of the Eight Great Sects. All of them. Not one. Not two. All eight. I sighed again, this time even deeper, practically deflating like a balloon. And yet… I couldn't help but stare at the glittering mountain of treasure in front of me.
Standing in the middle of the treasure pile was an old man, his form slightly translucent—clearly a lingering will of the ancient expert who left this legacy. He smiled as he looked me over.
"Truly unexpected," he said, chuckling, "a random brat not from any righteous sect… and yet here you are."
He shook his head, though there was no disappointment in his gaze. Just curiosity.
I stepped closer and whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, "I'm not in any sect."
Upon hearing that, the old man laughed like a child who just got away with stealing candy. His elderly image melted away, and for a moment, he looked like a mischievous youth playing at being wise.
"Really now? Then you're even more unfortunate," he said, grinning. "You've made enemies of all eight sects. The old fogies are going to chase you across the continents. Hah! This is going to be entertaining."
Since he was just a will about to disappear, he no longer held anything back. His spiritual presence surged, and with a wave of his hand, he erased all the remaining observers trying to spy on the treasure trove.
"Since you killed that giant beast earlier, and now I know you're completely unaffiliated, I'll give you an extra reward." His eyes twinkled. "Two wishes. Anything—within reason. So, brat, what'll it be?"
---
Meanwhile, the outside world had descended into chaos.
Yon Wuxie, who got second place in the legacy trial, received a 12th-tier pill. The entire crowd of cultivators turned green with envy. That kind of pill could make a cripple jump realms. And all he got was… a Bone Sword? Earth rank? Really?
Liu Maofan, third place, got an Earth-ranked technique and a 10th-tier pill. Not bad. Good enough that any sect would declare war just to snatch it. He strutted like a peacock as he left the ruins.
Wang Tiewa, fourth place, received an Earth-ranked technique… and then bitterly handed it over to his sect master like a child giving up his candy. His sect members consoled him with pats on the back and tragic stories about how life wasn't fair. It lit a fire in him. Determined to grow stronger, he entered closed-door cultivation that very night, swearing vengeance against the "crafty bastard" who beat him.
All the while, the cultivation world trembled.
The Eight Sects sent out bounty hunters. Everyone was asking: Who's the mysterious cultivator that stole the Legacy? Wanted posters began to appear. Rewards stacked higher than spirit stones in a dragon's hoard. Some cultivators were even willing to sacrifice their lives if it meant getting a clue.
---
Back inside the treasure realm, I finally asked, "What exactly is the Legacy?"
The old man clapped his hands like a delighted grandfather finally being asked about his antique collection.
"Glad you asked! Ten 12th-tier pills, fifty 11th-tier pills, and over a hundred others for good measure."
My jaw dropped.
"That's not all," he added smugly. "When you return to your body, your physique will be reforged using the power of 100 unique physiques combined. You'll never age, your body will always remain youthful, and—get this—you'll be devastatingly handsome."
He sighed bitterly.
"It would've been better if I had completed the process before my death… but you'll still be a literal walking heartbreaker."
I blinked. Was this Legacy a treasure trove… or a beauty salon package?
"You'll also inherit my Heaven-Defying Defense Technique and Enhancement Technique—both with 9 layers. Quite good, if I do say so myself."
Nodding in satisfaction, I said, "Alright. My first wish: I want a mask. One that even Void Realm cultivators can't see through when I change my appearance."
The old man laughed again. "You're cautious. Good. Here—this is the Lord's Mask. Shift to any appearance, and even most Void Realm cultivators won't notice."
I grinned. "Second wish: Give me a Heaven-Rank robe that enhances my defense."
"Ah, armor-boy, I see," the old man said, flicking a ring toward me. "Inside this ring, you'll find the robe, the techniques, and… well, a surprise. I forgot to mention—your physique will be heaven-defying, which means your heavenly tribulations…"
He paused dramatically.
"…will be fifty times harder."
Wait. What?!
Before I could scream "refund!" he snapped his fingers and sent me flying back into my newly-reforged body.
---
I gasped awake, feeling like I'd been slammed by a spiritual truck. My body radiated power. My skin felt like it was forged from divine steel, and my abs had abs. My hair, long and black, shimmered like polished obsidian.
In short: I was hot.
My formerly handsome face? Now a peerless beauty. Even I would hesitate to punch myself.
Outside the chamber, Xue Lian, my quiet disciple, was cultivating peacefully—until a massive boom shook the entire area. She looked toward me, eyes widening in shock.
She rushed over, cupped her hands, and asked respectfully, "Master… did you make a breakthrough?"
I nodded solemnly, as if this was an everyday occurrence. "Mm. Not bad," I said, patting her head.
Her expression didn't change, but I could feel the smugness radiating off her like steam from a boiling pot.
As a reward, I gave her four Perfect Foundation Establishment Pills and handed her a spatial ring filled with resources from the Legacy.
Her eyes sparkled like she just saw her cultivation idol. "I won't disappoint you, Master! I'll enter seclusion immediately!"
She ran off excitedly, slamming the door shut behind her like a kid with a new toy.
[System Notification: Host gave disciple four Perfect Establishment Pills (4th Tier). In return, received a 6th-tier pill: "Dragon Pill."]
I barely glanced at the system screen. Pills? Please. My new ring was practically a pill warehouse. I didn't need to worry about resources anymore.
I stretched my arms and admired my newly-refined body.
With this, I could likely beat a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, maybe even fight an early Core Formation expert.
I sat down to inspect the techniques I'd received—Heaven-Defying Defense and Heaven-Defying Enhancement, both at Layer 1. So much power, yet still so much work to do.
I sighed. Even in cheat mode, cultivation was still a grind.
---
[Host Status]
Cultivation Realm: Perfect Foundation Establishment (Early Layer)
Techniques: Overflowing Sword Technique, Shadow Veil Sect Technique, Heaven-Defying Defense, Heaven-Defying Enhancement
Body Refining: Skin Tempering
Disciple: Xue Lian
Physique: Heaven-Defying Physique
Spiritual Roots: Five Spiritual Roots
---
I stood, grinning. Enemies might be after me, tribulations might try to fry me, and every sect in the world might want my head…
But hey—I looked good doing it.
[4 powerstone for chapters TvT]