Chapter 273: Each Person's Choice

Outsiders couldn't enter, and naturally, Lingyao, who was inside, couldn't exit either.

"I see!" the Empress declared. "To some extent, these artifacts symbolize unique trials specific to each of us. By selecting an artifact, we are choosing the distinct journey we must undertake. Everyone, be sure to pick the one that suits you best; do not be greedy!"

As the Empress spoke, she gracefully waved her hand and chose an exquisite bracelet. It was clearly a treasure left by a powerful ancient female cultivator, resembling a piece of jewelry. The Empress couldn't discern its specific function immediately.

However, the moment she put on the bracelet, her entire being glowed with the same light as Lingyao, indicating she had been chosen by a powerful law. Her form gradually faded, becoming another ethereal silhouette suspended in the void.

With Lingyao and the Empress having made their choices, everyone finally understood the unique system of this space. They began to concentrate on finding the artifact most suitable for their own inheritance.

Xu Yang, however, found himself in a dilemma. With his two great divine artifacts, Eternal and Boundless Desolation, he couldn't immediately think of what other artifact he might need. He wasn't in a rush to choose; instead, he observed others' decisions, intending to consider his own only after everyone else had made their selections.

Bai Lianxue had intended to choose a sword, but the young girl Xiao Tian, standing nearby, stopped her. Xiao Tian instead selected a flower for Bai Lianxue. Though called a flower, it actually resembled the outline of a four-leaf clover, yet it lacked the vitality of a living plant, appearing more like a preserved specimen.

"Silly girl, this is what suits you best!"

"Don't you need one?"

Bai Lianxue stared blankly at Xiao Tian.

"Hehe, I'm different from you. This space's restrictions only apply to humans. I'm considered a plant, so I won't be bound by its laws. I can accompany you on your journey."

Bai Lianxue revealed a relieved smile. By now, she regarded Xiao Tian as her younger sister or closest confidante—in essence, an indispensable companion.

Soon, everyone made their choices.

Ling Qingshu chose a piece of equipment resembling soft armor, which seamlessly integrated with her body.

Tuan Tuan, the young girl, chose a sparkling aquamarine magic brush. She had initially worried there wouldn't be drawing boards or brushes to her liking, but in no time, she made an immense discovery.

Meanwhile, the Five Little Flowers of Cold Moon, the Empress's unified quintet, chose five umbrella-shaped artifacts of identical design but varying colors.

They watched as everyone, one by one, was chosen by their respective artifacts and floated into the void towards their unique new starting point.

Only Long Kun and Xu Yang remained. Xu Yang initially worried that Long Kun hadn't found a suitable artifact. However, upon closer inspection, he saw the man holding one item in his left hand and another in his right. Long Kun had been deliberating for a long time, unable to make a definitive decision, seemingly wanting both.

The reason was simple: Long Kun possessed the Profound Tortoise Sacrifice Beast and the Profound Martial True Skill, but he also carried the inheritance of the Phoenix True Flame lineage, which had entirely different attributes.

When choosing an artifact, he naturally faced the difficult dilemma of which path to follow.

Just then, Xu Yang walked over to Long Kun, smiling, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't be so conflicted," Xu Yang advised. "Choosing one doesn't mean you have to abandon the other. The Black Tortoise cultivation method enhances vitality and defense, serving as your passive protective technique. However, what you truly rely on for combat is the Phoenix True Flame. Furthermore, your master—the old woman from the library—is also of the Phoenix clan. You're essentially half a Phoenix successor; keep that in mind."

Hearing Xu Yang's words, Long Kun suddenly felt a surge of clarity.

"Heh heh, Boss, you're right," Long Kun replied. "The Phoenix lineage inheritance is the most precious thing the old woman left me. Even though I don't know if I'll ever see her again, or even her name, she's still the dearest person to me in this life, besides you all, my companions. I think I know my choice now."

Long Kun decisively dropped the hard armor in his left hand and grasped the special flame-engulfed ring weapon in his right palm.

A brilliant fiery light swiftly emanated, and Long Kun, chosen by this intense aura, promptly ascended into the void.

Witnessing the void now shimmering with a myriad of vibrant colors, Xu Yang finally exhaled, beginning to contemplate the challenge that lay before him.

To Xu Yang, the countless golden lights within his sight were like endless dust in a vast desert—though colorful, they were ultimately nothing but emptiness to him.

With a smile playing on his lips, he gently closed his eyes. In the world before Xu Yang, all those dazzling lights simultaneously began to dissipate. When he reopened his eyes, everything from moments ago had vanished, and the entire world seemed to have reverted to a rare state of tranquility.

"Go forward, kid!"

In his mind, the Guardian Dragon Soul suddenly awakened.

This was the first time the ancient dragon soul had stirred since the battle in the East Sea, offering Xu Yang critical guidance at this pivotal moment.

Xu Yang knew that if the ancient dragon had been disturbed, it must have made a significant discovery.

Indeed, the further he walked towards the end of the perplexing path, the more pronounced the deeply familiar aura became.

Finally, as the illusion before him dissipated, a grotesque rock formation made of piled white bones appeared before Xu Yang.

This bone mountain was incredibly tall, reaching an altitude of a thousand meters. Yet, its height wasn't what truly astonished Xu Yang. What truly shocked him was an ancient sword, entirely blood-red, embedded at its absolute peak!

It stood like a monarch atop a mountain of myriad bones, gazing down upon the vast world.

"That sword... could that be my choice?"

Xu Yang murmured to himself, but this time, the Guardian Dragon Soul offered no response.

Since he had encountered it, this sword was undoubtedly Xu Yang's only choice, regardless of its quality, though it certainly possessed a grand aura.

Xu Yang attempted to ascend, flying towards the peak of the bone mountain. The closer he approached, the greater the mental pressure he experienced.

He made the astonishing discovery that these chilling white bones harbored an incredibly potent resentment, and each surge of this malice was exceptionally powerful.

By the time he reached a position near the summit, the immense mental oppression made it impossible for Xu Yang to maintain his flight. He had reason to believe that every skeletal remains on this bone mountain possessed combat power equivalent to that of peak human cultivators.

His body clung tightly to the edge of the bone mountain, and he began to ascend by climbing. With each step onto a skeletal remnant, the soul-thought of its former host would unleash an impact upon Xu Yang.

Throughout this entire process, Xu Yang endured immense torment.

The agony of that resentment assaulting his mental world was beyond words.