WBICDPH Chapter 116

Chapter 116 — A Worthy Heir

Lin Jin fell slightly into a daze, gently patting Xiao Lanqi’s back the way one would comfort a child.

He found himself thinking about Chu Tingxue as he had seen him through Xiao Lanqi’s memories, and about the things Chu Tingxue had said to him.

In the original story, Chu Tingxue had merely been a tool character—someone who existed only in memories or in others’ dialogue, serving to highlight the protagonist, move the plot forward, and reinforce characterization.

But now, whether through words or through what felt like reality, this was the first time Lin Jin had experienced the man’s charm so directly.

He was the only Sword Sovereign of his era, a prodigy of unmatched brilliance, yet also an easygoing older-brother figure who loved his wine and avoided trouble. When speaking of someone he liked, he would smile foolishly. Despite his immense strength, he had no airs about him and treated everyone equally well.

What surprised Lin Jin the most, however, were the things Chu Tingxue had said to Xiao Lanqi.

The world belonged to everyone. Whether human or demon, all lived beneath the same sky and stood upon the same earth. In a sense, everyone was part of one family.

Though Lin Jin had only glimpsed fragments of the Heavenly Demon race through Xiao Lanqi’s memories, it was enough for him to realize that there were indeed serious issues within their kind. As Xiao Lanyue had said, if their instincts were left unchecked, their survival-of-the-fittest nature would eventually lead to their extinction within a few thousand years.

Heavenly Demons were not devoid of emotion—otherwise, Xiao Lanyue would never have sought change, and Xiao Lanqi would not have grown up in such pain, caught between contradictions.

They had simply grown accustomed to indulgence. Clinging to their pride, they disdained understanding humans and lived according to inherited instincts, believing that alone to be correct.

Logically speaking, Xiao Lancheng, who had mastered human emotions, could have been a suitable ruler for Mingzhutian. But the problem was that he only sought to manipulate others for his own gain. Starting from Piaomiao Pavilion, he intended to expand his control over the world step by step. His focus was solely on ambition—never on leading his people toward change.

If things continued this way, the Heavenly Demons would still face destruction.

Just as in the book’s ending, with Han Xiao’s help, the protagonist killed Xiao Lancheng and destroyed Mingzhutian. All the demons who had followed Xiao Lancheng were wiped out, leaving only a handful of survivors—those who had been lucky or had never taken part in the conflict—wandering the world.

Chu Tingxue had been right. Every race had its reason to exist. If one were to go extinct, it might disrupt the balance of the world. Heavenly Demons were cultivated using turbid energy, while humans used pure spiritual energy. If the demons disappeared, the imbalance could cause chaos—perhaps even a return to primordial disorder.

So the Heavenly Demons had to be saved. And Xiao Lanqi had to be saved as well.

Perhaps that was why their ancestor Taotie had broken precedent after ten thousand years to grant him a legacy and name him “Qi”—meaning “to begin.” It was likely a hope that he would lead his people to abandon old ways and usher in a new era.

Unfortunately, Xiao Lanqi had heard too many conflicting voices. Surrounded by so many people, none had truly taught him.

Lost in thought, Lin Jin didn’t even notice when Xiao Lanqi loosened his grip.

Only when his shoulder suddenly sank did he realize that Xiao Lanqi had lost consciousness, his entire weight now leaning against him.

“Whoa—heavy, heavy, heavy… so heavy…”

That much weight was no joke. Lin Jin felt like he was about to be crushed in half.

“Ancestor, help—!”

Hearing his call, the Penglai Ancestor descended on a seven-colored cloud, rescuing Lin Jin from the burden of “Mount Qi.”

With a wave of spiritual power, he lifted Xiao Lanqi aside. The weight on Lin Jin’s shoulders vanished instantly, and he jumped away to the side.

Once steady, Lin Jin rubbed his shoulder and straightened his disheveled robes and hair. Glancing at Xiao Lanqi lying crookedly on the ground, he asked:

“Ancestor, wasn’t he fine just now? Why did he suddenly pass out? Will something happen?”

“Ah, with me here, what could go wrong?” the ancestor said lightly.

He waved open a glowing portal and pushed Lin Jin toward it.

“His willpower isn’t strong enough to proceed to the second trial. Let’s step outside first and let him recover a bit on his own.”

“With you here, nothing could go wrong?”

He had nearly gone berserk just moments ago!

Lin Jin was deeply worried, looking back repeatedly at the lone figure lying at the bottom of Ghost Cry Cliff.

“Oh, stop looking! He’ll be fine!”

The Penglai Ancestor shoved him through the portal.

Lin Jin felt a moment of disorientation. When he looked up again, he found himself in a spacious stone chamber.

The room was perfectly square, with formation patterns etched across both the floor and ceiling. Their faint glow illuminated the entire space—and the stone platform at its center.

The platform stood about waist-high, its surface carved with rough, almost crude markings. Atop it rested a stone sword stand, and upon it lay a long sword of dark metallic gold.

The sheath bore two neatly engraved characters: Dengwen.

Lin Jin wanted to take a closer look, but hesitated, only staring from afar.

So this must be the true Dengwen Sword Pavilion.

“If you want to look, go closer. It’s fine.”

The Penglai Ancestor chuckled at his hesitation.

He stepped forward himself and placed his translucent hand gently on the sword’s sheath, slowly caressing it.

With a long sigh, he said:

“Since the fifty-seventh Pavilion Master stepped down, Dengwen has been left here in this lightless chamber for hundreds of years. Even a remnant soul like me cannot endure such loneliness. My old friend here… must be terribly lonely.”

Lin Jin pressed his lips together.

He looked at the sword, then at the increasingly transparent figure of the ancestor.

After a moment of hesitation, he asked a question that had long been on his mind:

“Ancestor, why was the fifty-eighth Pavilion Master, Fang Yunzi, unable to enter the Dengwen Sword Pavilion? If she couldn’t pass the trial, how did she become Pavilion Master?”

“Ah… that.”

The ancestor’s expression turned slightly awkward.

Lin Jin watched him, genuinely curious.

He had once assumed this detail in the original story existed merely to highlight the protagonist’s strength. But now, it seemed there was more to it.

“Well, I’ll put it this way,” the ancestor said, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Lin Jin followed suit.

Before speaking further, the ancestor said something Lin Jin had never expected:

“Because Fang Yunzi… was a woman.”

“…What?”

Lin Jin blinked, confused.

“Strange, right?” the ancestor said, propping his chin on his hand.

“For all fifty-seven generations before her, every Pavilion Master had been male. In her generation, there were five or six candidates—she was the only woman, and likely the strongest. But when it came time to enter the Sword Pavilion, her fellow disciples and a few elders suddenly produced a rule: ‘Women are not allowed to enter the Dengwen Pavilion.’”

He quickly waved his hands.

“Let me be clear—that rule wasn’t mine. I was just as confused when I heard it.”

He continued:

“Looking back, they were probably afraid she’d surpass them and gain Dengwen’s recognition, so they banded together to exclude her. In that trial, none of them passed—they all slunk back in failure.”

“Since she was the only one left qualified, she should’ve been allowed to try. But whether out of pride or stubbornness, they clung to that rule and refused to let her enter. After much argument, they decided to bypass the trial altogether and appoint her Pavilion Master directly.”

“…So that’s what happened.”

Lin Jin finally understood.

No wonder.

Originally, the Dengwen Pavilion trial was meant for the next Pavilion Master. Given the current situation, Jiang Zhenfeng’s strength far surpassed the others—her succession was almost guaranteed. Yet she had still gone to such lengths to set things in motion, forcing Mu Shan to hand over the sect token and opening the trial.

Partly to obtain Dengwen to face an enemy… and partly, perhaps, to avoid the same obstacles her master had once faced.

As Lin Jin pondered this, the flow of spiritual energy in the chamber suddenly shifted.

He looked up—and saw Xiao Lanqi appear out of thin air.

The Heavenly Demon seemed not yet fully recovered. He tapped his head and took a few steps forward before noticing the two figures by the sword platform.

His gaze sharpened immediately.

In an instant, he strode forward, grabbed Lin Jin by the arm, and pulled him up.

“What are you doing with him? This bastard’s no good!”

He still remembered how the Penglai Ancestor had used Lin Jin’s soul-blood to threaten him.

“Ahem… little demon, no need to get worked up,” the ancestor said awkwardly.

“Once you enter my pavilion, you must undergo my trial. Since you refused, I had to find a way to ‘send’ you in. No other choice.”

Then he quickly changed the subject:

“So? How was the trial?”

“….”

Xiao Lanqi’s expression turned a bit unnatural.

He crossed his arms, lifted his chin, and said:

“Great! Of course, it was great. Your so-called trial wasn’t much at all—easy. What kind of difficulty is that? Is that all you’ve got?”

He sounded completely confident, without the slightest hint of guilt.

If Lin Jin hadn’t just seen him break down in tears while clinging to him, he might have believed it.

But the little demon was proud—too proud to lose face.

Lin Jin and the ancestor exchanged a glance, neither choosing to expose him.

The ancestor even played along:

“Wow, that’s impressive?”

“Of course!” Xiao Lanqi scoffed.

“It was so easy that I’d kindly suggest you change the trial!”

Then, as if worried they hadn’t taken him seriously, he added:

“Did you hear me? Don’t use that kind of trick again next time!”