Chapter 146: The New Master

This was the first time Bai Qi had ever laid eyes on a black so absolute. Unless one had witnessed it firsthand, it was utterly impossible to imagine what manner of trials could forge a shade of black of such supreme depth.

Bai Qi stood dazed, gazing at the key suspended in mid-air. How could the origin of death within his own body be connected to this key? Furthermore, based on his observation, the grey mist seemed to harbor a deep, infantile dependency upon it, acting precisely like an immature child.

Given the circumstances, back when Bai Qi had been in the state of "dead silence," the azure energy had seemingly refined the grey mist—which was now the aura of death—until it was entirely pure. Yet, this display of "maternal attachment" stirred a mix of jealousy and suspicion in Bai Qi's heart. Had this entity truly not yet been brought under his absolute control?

Such jealousy was only natural. All things in creation possessed a spirit. Some were born with innate spirits, awakening their wisdom the moment they drew breath, while others possessed acquired spirits—sentience born of the later days that required constant guidance and education to develop wisdom. Yet, the origin of death within Bai Qi's body was acting all lovey-dovey in front of a pitch-black, unremarkable key, completely disregarding him as its master. This sort of emotional attachment was tantamount to the degree of loyalty one held toward their master. For a treasure as rare as this in the mortal world, the greater the loyalty to its master (akin to a contractual bond), the deeper one's comprehension of its origin would be, allowing for a more seamless unity of mind and object when wielding it, entirely unhindered by the slightest external influence. In a battle against an enemy, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. Moreover, such a heaven-defying existence fundamentally bridged the gap in cultivation realms between cultivators. To put it subjectively, even if the opponent were a Heavenly-tier cultivator while Bai Qi himself remained at the first level of the Earth-tier, should he push the power of his origin to its absolute limit (meaning a profound level of comprehension), this disparity could be completely compensated for. Furthermore, it would eliminate any suppression stemming from mutual elemental restraint, cultivation techniques, or movement arts between cultivators. Calling it a cheat code would scarcely do it justice. The existence of such an item required grand fortuitous encounters, supreme means, and formidable perseverance—qualities possessed only by true powerhouses; ordinary men could only watch helplessly as this heaven-defying treasure slipped through their fingers.

Nor did outsiders know that Bai Qi actually harbored two distinct origins within his body, alongside the existence of the acquired origin of gold.

The acquired origin was a supreme Dao comprehended by mighty figures possessed of extraordinary talent and unmatched perseverance, who then passed down these comprehended laws to their descendants through instruction. This was an artificial creation, also known as the "acquired origin." Naturally, the acquired origin also demanded an individual's personal comprehension capacity and adaptability. Because this acquired variant possessed a singular, restrictive nature, it resulted in a situation where even with a heritage passed down, some could only stare blankly, utterly unable to attain it. To force its implantation was tantamount to digging one's own grave. This was precisely why Bai Qi had earlier felt a touch of jealousy; if the origin of death shared such a deep, telepathic resonance with him, his very first order of business would have been to hunt down and eliminate those scoundrels of the Liang family.

At this moment, as Bai Qi stepped forward, intent on retrieving the key suspended in mid-air, a stream of dark, aurora-like energy suddenly emerged from the key's handle, rising slowly.

That wisp of energy appeared deeply rooted within the interior of the key, yet its next manifestation shattered Bai Qi's assumptions.

Following the appearance of this black energy, a phantom materialized. This figure had, during its lifetime, utilized spiritual willpower to repose within the key, employing it as a medium to convey a message it wished to leave behind.

Within the floating phantom, the figure appeared exceedingly frail, as though it might dissipate completely at any given moment. Bai Qi craned his neck to observe closely, and to his astonishment, the phantom actually began to speak. However, the tone and cadence of its speech stuttered and lagged like an old magnetic tape player, emitting crackling static, yet the general meaning remained entirely intelligible.

The phantom appeared in the guise of an old man. Yet, aside from a head of stark white hair and matching eyebrows, his facial features bore no trace of advanced age; instead, he radiated the vibrant, resolute vitality of a man in his robust forties who had attained clarity of mind.

It would have been fine had the old man remained silent, but upon hearing his words, the contents gave Bai Qi a profound shock. With a gaze so deep it seemed almost tangible, the old man fixed his eyes upon Bai Qi and spoke: "He who comes and manages to obtain the key to the Bronze Palace shares a fated affinity with this old man. The Bronze Palace was founded by this old man's own hands, conquering the four seas and sweeping across all directions. This Bronze Palace is divided into an inner and an outer layer. The outer layer is entirely illusionary, fraught with mechanisms and perils; though treasures are left within, to harbor greed and seize them by force leads inevitably to death. As for the inner layer, this old man refined it using supreme methods, utilizing the key to activate its core. It may be said that he who obtains the key obtains the Bronze Palace. Remember this well: when the Bronze Palace is opened, the inner layer shall merge into the interior space of the key through a drop of blood, binding the vessel, while the outer layer shall adapt according to the new master." The phantom paused for a moment, stuttering for a brief spell before continuing, "He who acquires the legacy of my Bronze Palace shall be my successor. My legacy lies within this golden coffin; whoever obtains it must carry forward and glorify my heritage. Remember this! He who acquires the palace must not act lawlessly, or he shall inevitably incur the threads of this old man's karma, pursued unto death by an inescapable doom. Pray remember, this old man is the Immortal of the Bronze Palace, the Bronze Immortal worshipped across myriad ages."

"Worshipped... across myriad ages? Could it be that all factions beneath the heavens myriad ages ago were subordinates of the Bronze Immortal? Myriad ages? This must refer to events from countless ages past, but what on earth transpired in the ages that followed? Did the Bronze Immortal vanish, leaving only this divine miracle behind in the world?" The domineering and peerless words spoken by the phantom instantly sparked a cascade of questions within Bai Qi's mind.

Following that, the phantom continued, "He who inherits my legacy must attain the origin; he who attains the origin shall inherit the legacy..." Suddenly, the phantom began to grow even more translucent, verging on total dissolution. To endure through countless unrecorded years and still leave behind a residual will—this was a feat achievable only by a being of the Bronze Immortal's supreme caliber.

As Bai Qi watched the phantom gradually fade away into the void, he let out a soft exhale. After all, standing in the presence of a legendary figure of such magnitude carried a formidable psychological weight.

A moment later, borne aloft by the grey mist, the pitch-black key slowly drifted toward Bai Qi.

Had it not been for its bizarre coloration, this key was so unremarkable that even if tossed carelessly aside, few would bother to stoop and pick it up.

Bai Qi reached out and grasped the key. The moment it rested in his palm, a chilling sensation emanated from it—an immensely pleasant coolness, devoid of biting frost and rich with a soothing serenity.

Staring at the key in his hand, Bai Qi pondered how he was supposed to leave this altar-world. Furthermore, was the inheritance spoken of by the Bronze Immortal truly concluded by such a simple handover ceremony? Could there really be no other heaven-defying treasures?

Just as Bai Qi was lost in thought, the entire grand hall suddenly began to quake. Witnessing the palace begin to show signs of imminent collapse, Bai Qi immediately moved to stride toward the main doors outside. To his shock, his body felt as though it had been nailed to the spot, utterly unable to move even a fraction of an inch. A flash of realization struck Bai Qi's mind—could this key be the culprit? Instantly, he attempted to fling the key from his hand, only to discover that the object seemed fused to his skin, impossible to cast off.

At that exact moment, the key in his hand began to hum and vibrate in tandem with the trembling hall. Bai Qi was driven to distraction, at a total loss for what course of action to take. When he tried to mobilize the aura of death, he found zero response. Despair threatened to swallow him whole once more. What manner of cursed creation was this Bronze Palace? It was a relentless rhythm designed to torture a man to death!

Yet, the scene that unfolded next instantly hurled Bai Qi's fluctuating emotions back toward a climactic peak. For this massive hall acted akin to a weapon forged and refined by human hands; following the violent tremors, it abruptly began to shrink. Simultaneously, his own body shifted like a phantom, instantaneously appearing outside the grand hall. Meanwhile, the palace itself obediently contracted into a thumbnail-sized "mold," resting quietly in the palm of Bai Qi's hand. Compared to the dull key, this miniature mold gleamed with a brilliant golden light, radiating an aura that begged to be cherished.

Simultaneously, a set of incantations flooded into Bai Qi's mind, seemingly formulas specifically designed to manipulate the grand hall. Furthermore, the aura of death stirred in response, chattering to him in a childish, babbling mental voice, conveying the message that the interior of this grand hall contained countless treasures; so long as he held the key in his hand, he was the undisputed master of this domain.

Bai Qi was wild with joy. It seemed the Bronze Immortal had not deceived him. If word of such a treasure leaked to the outside world, cultivators from across the entire realm would hunt him to the ends of the earth. At this thought, a silent resolution formed in Bai Qi's mind: this object, much like the Guangling Qin, must never be exposed—not even to his closest friends or family. He had to keep it hidden until his own strength allowed him to walk unhindered and unchallenged across the Great Tang Kingdom; otherwise, courting such power prematurely would only invite disaster upon himself.

Guided by these thoughts and following the promptings of the death aura, Bai Qi directed his intent. A moment later, he vanished from his spot and reappeared outside the altar...