Chapter 1182: Inheritance

"I did encounter some opportunities, but we can discuss that later. Senior Vial Spirit, you just said that the Three Corpses can be tamed—is that true?" Han Li changed the subject and asked.

"Would I deceive you? But it's not easy to accomplish." The Vial Spirit seemed reluctant to elaborate on this matter and fell silent after saying this.

"Senior Vial Spirit, the strength of Liu Qi's three severed corpses differs. Liu Tianhao has peak Da Luo strength, but Liu Zizai and Liu Haoran are only at mid-Da Luo. What exactly determines the strength of severed corpses? Can they improve through cultivation like cultivators?" Han Li had long wanted to understand the matter of the Three Corpses but had no one to ask. Today, with the Vial Spirit willing to instruct him, he hurriedly inquired.

"Didn't I just tell you? Severed corpses are no different from complete living beings, so of course they can cultivate. As for why Liu Qi's three severed corpses differ in strength, the reason is simple: Liu Qi's physical body has fallen into the hands of his evil corpse, which naturally allowed its strength to advance by leaps and bounds." The Vial Spirit snorted, as if stating the obvious.

"Is the original body's physical form really that important to a severed corpse?" Han Li was not bothered by the Vial Spirit's tone and continued asking.

"Of course. The original body's physical form is bound by the laws of heaven and earth. Without merging with the physical body, a severed corpse can never reach the Dao Ancestor realm. Moreover, the original body contains the insights into laws gained through cultivation. When a severed corpse obtains it and merges it with its own laws, its strength immediately increases greatly. Otherwise, why do you think severed corpses go to such lengths to seize the original body?" This time, the Vial Spirit did not scold Han Li but spoke calmly.

"I see. Another question: what exactly is the relationship between a cultivator's original body and the Three Corpses? Since the Three Corpses are always plotting against the original body, why doesn't the original body simply destroy them and eliminate the threat?" Han Li nodded with some understanding and asked again.

"The Three Corpses are manifestations of a cultivator's inner obsessions and cannot be completely eradicated. Even if you kill a severed corpse, those obsessions will still cling to the original body, severely affecting the cultivator's mind and cultivation, requiring them to be severed again. Moreover, each time you kill a severed corpse, your obsessions double, making subsequent severance even more difficult. For a cultivator, the Three Corpses can neither be killed nor released; the best course is to seal them away." The Vial Spirit seemed happy to explain these matters to Han Li and spoke at length.

"So the Three Corpses exist in a symbiotic relationship with the original body. If the original body is killed, what happens to the Three Corpses?" Han Li thought of another question.

"If the original body is killed, the Three Corpses lose their source and become killable. That's why the Three Corpses sometimes protect the original body's safety." The Vial Spirit said.

While Han Li and the Vial Spirit were conversing, Bai Ze approached Liu Qing and the other three.

"Your Majesty, you just said that each race should choose candidates to inherit the True Spirit King's bloodline. As a member of the Heavenly Fox Clan, I, Liu, should also be qualified to inherit the bloodline power of the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox Ancestor." Liu Tianhao bowed to Bai Ze and spoke with neither humility nor arrogance.

"By identity, you are indeed qualified. But how do you explain the incident with Liu Qi back then?" Bai Ze said solemnly.

"Your Majesty has already attained the Dao Ancestor realm, so you must know that we Three Corpses are naturally inclined to seize the original body's physical form. That incident was inevitable. I hope Your Majesty will show leniency." Liu Tianhao said.

"Nonsense! Liu Qi had already become a Dao Ancestor—how could you match him? Your Majesty, Liu Qi's downfall must have been caused by this Liu Tianhao colluding with outsiders, either the Heavenly Court or the Grey Realm. You must not let him off easily!" Liu Qing shouted sternly.

"Indeed, I did collude with the Grey Realm back then. But now I have broken with them and decided to return to the Barbarian Continent. The blood flowing in my veins is that of the Barbarian Continent, and I dare not forget that. Now that I have obtained Liu Qi's physical body, I am only a step away from the Dao Ancestor realm. My chances of inheriting the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox Ancestor's bloodline and becoming a Dao Ancestor are far greater than Liu Le'er's. I ask Your Majesty to consider this." Liu Tianhao ignored Liu Qing's accusations and spoke to Bai Ze.

Upon hearing this, Bai Ze looked thoughtful, as if somewhat tempted.

"Your Majesty, Liu Tianhao is cunning and deceitful. His words cannot be trusted. Back then, Liu Qi believed him and met his downfall. The Ancestor's bloodline must not be inherited by this man!" Liu Qing said urgently.

"Both of you have some reason. And this is an internal matter of the Heavenly Fox Clan. As the current King of the Barbarian Continent, it is not appropriate for me to interfere. How about this: the bloodline power of the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox is not a dead thing; it is deeply spiritual. Let it choose its own inheritor." Bai Ze glanced at Liu Qing and Liu Tianhao and said.

Han Li, who was in the distance, frowned slightly upon hearing this.

A flicker of surprise passed through Liu Qing's eyes. After a moment of thought, he nodded and said, "Alright, let it be as Your Majesty says."

Liu Tianhao's brow furrowed slightly but immediately relaxed. He also nodded in agreement, then turned to Liu Zizai and Liu Haoran and said:

"You two, stop pretending. Come along too. You returned to the Heavenly Fox Clan for the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox Ancestor's bloodline, didn't you?"

Liu Zizai's eyes flickered at these words. He glanced at Bai Ze but did not deny it.

Liu Qing sneered inwardly but showed nothing on his face.

"I returned to the Heavenly Fox Clan because I promised my master to protect it. I have no intention of competing for the Ancestor's bloodline. If you want to compete, go ahead, but don't drag me into it." Liu Haoran shook his head and said seriously, then floated aside.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Haoran is still so righteous. Admirable." Liu Tianhao gave a dry laugh.

Liu Zizai also looked somewhat embarrassed but quickly regained his composure.

Liu Qing cast a grateful glance at Liu Haoran, then beckoned to Liu Le'er and the others in the distance.

Liu Le'er had been watching the events from afar. Liu Tianhao's aura was overwhelming, and the thought of competing with him made her nervous. She couldn't help but look toward Han Li.

"Le'er, don't worry. Chief Liu Qing seems confident, so he must have a good reason to agree to this method. Just do your best; don't be too anxious." Han Li's eyes flickered, and he patted Liu Le'er's head with a smile.

Hearing this, Liu Le'er seemed somewhat reassured. She followed Elder Mu and Hu San, flying over to land before Liu Qing.

"Chief."

"Le'er, just do your best. We have devoted our lives to the Heavenly Fox Clan, sharing life and death. You are the true descendant of the Heavenly Fox. The Ancestor's bloodline is spiritual and will surely choose you." Liu Qing took Liu Le'er's hand and patted it gently.

A drop of gray-white essence blood flew out from the storage ring on his finger. The drop was round and shiny, containing countless runes, and it flashed as it seeped into Liu Le'er's palm.

Liu Le'er's palm grew warm, and her beautiful eyes flickered.

But she was also perceptive and showed no change in expression.

"Chief, rest assured. Le'er will not disappoint you." Liu Le'er bowed gracefully.

Liu Tianhao suddenly looked over at Liu Qing and Liu Le'er, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Go ahead." Liu Qing smiled and nodded.

Liu Le'er floated up and landed before the phantom of the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline.

Seeing this, Liu Tianhao also shot forward and landed near Liu Le'er.

At that moment, Liu Zizai also flew up and landed beside the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline.

"Everyone ready? Then begin." Bai Ze said calmly.

The three of them immediately emitted a dazzling gray-white light.

Due to differences in cultivation level, the light around them varied noticeably.

Liu Tianhao, with the highest cultivation, emitted an extremely dazzling light, almost blinding to the naked eye. Liu Zizai's was slightly dimmer, and Liu Le'er's was the dimmest.

The Heavenly Fox bloodline power of the three was also fully displayed. Within the emitted light, a phantom of a Heavenly Fox condensed from the fluctuations.

The Heavenly Fox phantoms of Liu Tianhao and Liu Zizai both had nine tails, while Liu Le'er's had six.

The three Heavenly Fox phantoms simultaneously raised their claws toward the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline, emitting a guiding force.

Although the gray-white light around Liu Le'er was relatively dim, the six-tailed Heavenly Fox phantom behind her was exceptionally clear and bright, no less than those of Liu Tianhao and Liu Zizai, and even brighter than the nine-tailed Heavenly Fox phantom behind Liu Zizai.

Seeing this, Liu Zizai's expression darkened. He fully activated his Heavenly Fox bloodline, and the gray-white light around him intensified, but the nine-tailed Heavenly Fox phantom showed no change.

Liu Tianhao glanced at Liu Le'er, his gaze also turning somber.

At that moment, the phantom of the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline fluctuated with light, slowly turning toward the three, as if a living being looking at them.

The bloodline phantom's gaze swept over Liu Zizai and immediately moved away, settling on Liu Le'er and Liu Tianhao.

Seeing this, Liu Zizai stiffened, his face turning pale.

The Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline phantom's gaze wavered between Liu Le'er and Liu Tianhao, as if unable to decide which to choose.

At that moment, Liu Tianhao waved his hands, making a series of strange gestures, and let out a long, mysterious howl toward the sky.

The Heavenly Fox phantom behind him immediately brightened, becoming clearer.

The Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline phantom immediately looked over, its surrounding light flickering as if about to fly over.

But just then, a strange sound rang out, coming from Liu Le'er.

Liu Le'er's brow flashed, revealing a water-drop-shaped gray-white mark that emitted a bright light.

The gray-white patterns on her body suddenly brightened, emitting a flame-like gray-white light, and began to writhe as if alive.

The Heavenly Fox phantom behind Liu Le'er suddenly brightened, nearly doubling in brightness, immediately overpowering the aura of Liu Tianhao's nine-tailed Heavenly Fox phantom.

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline phantom. It immediately abandoned Liu Tianhao, looked toward Liu Le'er, and opened its mouth to spit.

A thick beam of gray-white light shot out from its mouth, emitting waves of powerful bloodline energy fluctuations, continuously merging into Liu Le'er's body.

The Nine-Tailed Immortal Fox bloodline phantom flickered and rapidly grew thinner.