Chapter 64: The Ladies Inheritance

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Ladies Inheritance

In the next instant, the golden incarnation was transformed into a stream of dazzling light and pulled directly into Lydia’s body.

There was no struggle. No resistance. The entire process took only a moment.

Lydia’s previously translucent body immediately became much more substantial.

Mira stared in shock.

"That was your idea of merging?" she asked.

Lydia smiled.

"You could call it that," she said.

Mira looked at her suspiciously.

"That looked a lot more like devouring," she said.

"Perhaps," Lydia shrugged. "The result is what matters. We’re one again."

As the two consciousnesses became one, fragments of memories buried within the golden incarnation began flowing into Lydia.

Some memories remained inaccessible. Others suddenly became clear.

Lydia finally remembered why the two halves had been separated and how they were supposed to reunite.

Although they had once been a single soul, their separation had lasted for far too long, and during that time each fragment had developed its own personality and consciousness.

In practical terms, they had become two different individuals. Now that she had absorbed the other consciousness, Lydia had inherited its memories while retaining control over her own identity.

"My other half recovered quite a few important memories before I absorbed her," Lydia said. "She also awakened three pieces of inheritance."

Mira’s curiosity immediately sharpened.

"One of them should belong to you," she said.

Lydia nodded.

"And I’ll give it to you," she said, raising a finger.

A brilliant ray of light shot from her fingertip and entered Mira’s forehead. Mira’s consciousness trembled.

Suddenly, an enormous scene appeared inside her mind. She saw a young woman sitting alone within an endless sea of stars, a broad bladed sword resting in her hands.

Behind her stretched an immeasurable cosmic expanse, countless stars rising and falling in perfect harmony with her breathing.

The woman’s presence seemed to merge with the entire universe.

Mira stared at the scene. Then her consciousness was completely swallowed by it. She no longer knew where she was. One second passed. Or perhaps ten years. Time seemed to lose all meaning.

"Mira," Lydia’s voice finally reached her.

Mira abruptly returned to reality and gasped.

"What... was that?" she asked.

"That is a visualization inheritance passed down through the imperial bloodline of the Sharia Dynasty," Lydia said, her expression becoming serious.

"Your current cultivation is far too weak to study it directly. Don’t attempt to comprehend it until you’ve reached the Spirit Platform Realm."

Mira swallowed.

"Then why give it to me now?" she asked.

"Because even having the image sealed inside your mind will be enough to transform your swordsmanship talent," Lydia replied.

Mira’s eyes widened. She had studied visualization techniques at the academy.

Most visualization diagrams were primarily used to strengthen one’s spiritual power, and with enough comprehension, some martial artists could occasionally derive techniques from them.

But this was completely different. She had never encountered a visualization inheritance that required Spirit Platform Realm cultivation merely to observe safely, yet could dramatically accelerate sword cultivation simply by being stored within one’s consciousness.

"This is... incredible," she murmured.

"It is an imperial inheritance," Lydia replied casually.

Mira was still trying to process what she had received when Lydia suddenly changed the subject.

"The inheritance is complete," she said, looking toward the enormous bell. "Now it’s time to end this Hunting Ground Secret Realm."

Mira blinked.

"You can close the entire secret realm?" she asked.

She hesitated before asking the question that had troubled humanity for generations.

"Do you know where these secret realms actually come from?"

The appearance of secret realms had brought both catastrophe and opportunity to the human world. Some released terrifying creatures. Others contained ancient inheritances that could transform an ordinary martial artist’s destiny.

Yet after centuries of research, humanity still had no definitive answer regarding their origin. If Lydia had recovered memories from her previous existence, perhaps she finally knew the truth.

But Lydia simply shook her head.

"No," she said.

Mira was surprised.

"The other half of me had lost almost all of her ancient memories too," Lydia explained.

"Her earliest remaining memories begin around the time this Hunting Ground Secret Realm appeared." She paused. "The only thing she remembered was how to close it."

With that, Lydia raised her hand. She made a simple grabbing motion toward the enormous bell suspended above them.

The gigantic artifact immediately trembled, and then, under Mira’s astonished gaze, it detached itself from the palace ceiling.

The enormous bell rapidly shrank, and in just a few breaths the massive artifact had become a small bell that could comfortably fit inside Lydia’s palm.

"The Soul Bell," Lydia murmured. She gently shook it.

The sound was soft, yet the instant it rang, countless streams of light began rushing toward the palace from every direction.

They came from beyond the walls. From the wilderness. From the monsters scattered throughout the secret realm.

One after another, those streams of light were drawn into the tiny bell in Lydia’s hand.

"The Soul Bell contains an entire space of its own. It can imprison and control dozens of magical beasts at once."

Lydia’s voice sounded inside Mira’s mind as she studied the ancient bell in her hands.

"The ten beasts I mentioned earlier are all stored inside it now. They were the guardians scattered throughout this Hunting Ground. Even that giant lion that was killed earlier was one of them."

Mira listened carefully.

"As long as those ten beasts are returned to the Soul Bell, there is only one final condition left," Lydia said, pausing. "We need Snow"

Mira remembered the strange creature outside the palace.

You mean the tiny beast you told me about?

"Yes. The little beast king," Lydia said, nodding before correcting herself. "Although, there is something I got wrong before. My memories were incomplete at the time, so some of the information I gave you wasn’t entirely accurate."

Mira frowned slightly.

What did you remember incorrectly?

"For starters, that little tiger isn’t my pet," Lydia said, sounding somewhat embarrassed. "And it isn’t actually a tiger either. It’s like a pet that an old friend once entrusted to my care. I was supposed to look after it."

Do you remember who that friend was?

Lydia fell silent.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Even after recovering these memories, that part is still missing."

Mira did not press her. Since Lydia had merged with the other half of her soul, she was clearly different from before.

Her thoughts were no longer as childish or scattered, and she seemed to possess a much clearer understanding of herself and the world around her.

As she finished speaking, the ten guardian beasts transformed into streaks of light and were drawn into the Soul Bell.

Lydia suddenly froze.

"Wait," she said, her expression changing. "Where’s Snow?"

What happened?

"It should have returned when the Soul Bell summoned it," Lydia said, staring toward the palace entrance in confusion.

"In my memories, Snow is responsible for protecting this place. It was also extremely attached to me."

She could not understand why it had ignored the summons.

"Let’s go outside and find it," she said.

Mira nodded. She glanced down at the unconscious figures of Evelyn and Grant.

What about them?

"They’re fine," Lydia said, waving the concern away.

"They only lost consciousness because of the palace’s trial. Once the secret realm closes, they’ll be sent outside automatically. They’ll wake up then."

Mira hesitated for another moment before finally agreeing.

"Alright," she said.

The two of them headed toward the palace entrance. But the instant they stepped outside, Lydia suddenly disappeared into Mira’s body.

Someone is approaching! her voice sounded urgently in Mira’s mind. I’ll hide for now. Keep the Soul Bell with you.

Mira understood immediately. If anyone discovered that Lydia existed inside her, there would be far too many questions.

She looked toward the entrance. Sure enough, someone was standing there. The moment she recognized the familiar figure, however, the tension in her body disappeared.

"Mr. X?" Mira said, her lips curving into an amused smile. "You really do have a habit of appearing whenever I’m in trouble."

The disguised alchemist stood there with an awkward expression.

"Looks like you’ve caught me again," he said, clearing his throat and quickly changing the subject. "But what happened here? Why did all those powerful beasts suddenly disappear?"

Xavier genuinely did not know what had happened. He had remained outside the palace the entire time, keeping an eye on Snow while also watching the enormous beast horde surrounding the area.

Among them were nine particularly terrifying creatures, each appearing to possess strength comparable to the giant lion he had killed earlier.

Xavier had even wondered whether they might contain demon cores. If a battle broke out, he had already begun considering how he could kill them without attracting too much attention.

Then, without warning, they vanished.

The remaining beasts also seemed to lose whatever had been controlling them, and one by one they began wandering away from the palace. Something had clearly happened inside.

That was why Xavier had not immediately left after confirming Mira was safe. Instead, he decided to ask her directly.

Mira, however, was not about to answer so easily.

"The name Mr. X is obviously an alias," she said, her beautiful eyes narrowing playfully. "So why don’t you tell me who you really are first?"