Xuan Ji sat before the gate, his back turned, eyes closed, and Qi swirling around him. Suddenly, he heard approaching footsteps that grew louder with each passing second.
"Thud! Thud! Thud!"
Startled, he abruptly snapped out of his cultivation state and swiftly ascended a nearby tree. Concealed by the dense foliage, he peered anxiously, eager to catch sight of the origin of the sound.
To his surprise, the culprit was not a wild beast as he had anticipated, but a human—a beggar, to be precise. The beggar's face was covered in dirt, his clothes tattered and stained, and he bore visible injuries with blood flowing out. Xuan Ji examined the beggar and discovered that he was only at Body Tempering Level 1 which surprised him.
He could deduce from the fact that this beggar possessed cultivation that this person was more than just a mere beggar. After all, why a cultivator, even at Body Tempering Level 1, would choose to live as a beggar when acquiring mortal riches was relatively easy for any cultivator.
And from the appearance it seemed that he had ended up here by some twist of fate, possibly being pursued by enemies or for other unknown reasons.
As Xuan Ji observed the beggar, conflicting thoughts raced through his mind. The beggar's presence alone posed a potential threat, as word of the inheritance could spell disaster if it spread.
Although the beggar's low cultivation made it unlikely for him to leave for now, Xuan Ji couldn't ignore the uncertainty of the future. Xuan Ji acknowledged the reality that he couldn't seize the inheritance at that moment, but he also understood that the future held countless possibilities.
While considering the option of silencing the beggar to eliminate any future risks, Xuan Ji decided to wait and see.
He wanted to determine if the beggar had the ability to open the gate which he thought wouldn't happen. If he succeeded, it would be advantageous for Xuan Ji. If not, it wouldn't be a loss. Xuan Ji pushed aside his ponderings and shifted his focus back to the beggar.
Xuan Ji found the beggar appearing astonished and excited as he muttered to himself while examining the golden gate and the surroundings. Then, his attention caught a handprint on the nearby wall. The beggar approached and placed his hand on the print.
Contrary to Xuan Ji's expectations, the gate emitted a rusty screech, as if it hadn't been opened in a long time, and swung open surprising Xuan Ji. And then surge of dense Qi rushed forth, lasting only a few seconds before dissipating.
With excitement coursing through his veins at the prospect of acquiring the inheritance, Xuan Ji gracefully leaped down from the tree, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Xuan Ji charged at the beggar, eyes filled with killing intent, ready to strangle him.
Unbeknownst to the beggar, Xuan Ji approached with stealth. However, as Xuan Ji unleashed his intent to kill, a flicker of instinct jolted through the beggar's senses, alerting him to imminent danger.
With remarkable agility, the beggar swiftly evaded Xuan Ji's initial attack, his eyes widening in a mix of astonishment and disbelief at the unexpected encounter.
Undeterred by the beggar's evasive moves, Xuan Ji pressed on, launching another assault in an attempt to grab hold of the beggar.
As Xuan Ji's cultivation surpassed that of the beggar, his superior strength and speed were evident, leaving the beggar with no means to counter. In a flash, Xuan Ji swiftly took hold of the beggars neck, his grip unwavering and strong. The beggar winced in pain and desperation, feeling the full force of Xuan Ji's strength bearing down upon him.
With madness in his eyes, Xuan Ji lifted the beggar up by his throat, as he forcefully slammed the beggar onto the ground, resulting in a jarring and violent collision.
With a grip around the beggar's throat, Xuan Ji aimed to kill him, ensuring that the beggar's knowledge of the inheritance would remain forever hidden.
Desperate to escape, the beggar struggled, placing his hands on Xuan Ji's wrist in an attempt to free himself. But Xuan Ji refused to let go, tightening his grip even more, causing the beggar's hand to fall to the ground. The beggar's eyes flickered, fighting to stay open as his strength waned.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the beggar's eyes flashed with a mix of desperation and cunningness.
In the midst of the intense struggle, the beggar's trembling hand slowly darted towards his wrist once again. But, he discreetly retrieved a small concealed needle from mid-air, all while Xuan Ji remained focused on strangling him, his eyes red.
Unaware of the danger, Xuan Ji's arm became the target as the beggar forcefully thrust the needle into it, albeit with some difficulty.
As the needle pierced Xuan Ji's arm, a potent venom coursed through his veins and a jolt of searing pain shot through Xuan Ji's body, causing his expression to momentarily falter in shock and Xuan Ji involuntarily loosened his grip, giving the beggar a chance to break free from his clutches.
Meanwhile, the venom unleashed its destructive power, sapping Xuan Ji's strength and engulfing him in an intense, burning agony. His body weakened, his muscles trembling, and his movements slowed down as the poison rapidly took hold.
Trembling, Xuan Ji managed to utter, "Poison..."
He turned his gaze towards the beggar, who was gasping for air, both of them shocked by the turn of events. But before Xuan Ji could say anything else, a horrifying sight unfolded before his eyes.
His lips began to wither, and to his horror, chunks of his skin and flesh started falling from his body. The realization of his impending demise hit him hard. In a blink of an eye, everything faded to darkness as the text appeared before him.
[Age 14: You were poisoned and met your end.]
…
"Incredible!" Xu Han exclaimed in his room.
"The beggar's appearance in the hidden cave and his ability to open the gate have convinced me that he is the true protagonist.
And what's more, making Xuan Ji forget about the scroll skills, having him focusing his thoughts solely on killing the beggar to lower his guard and create an opportunity for poisoning—it's undoubtedly the work of the protagonist's legendary intelligence debuff cheat!"
"As for Xuan Ji's death, it was to be expected and perhaps even justified," Xuan Ji sighed, choosing not to dwell on the matter any longer. Xu Han refrained from further elaborating on the matter, not because he lacked the desire to do so, but because he realized he has his own cheat, which also granted him the role of the protagonist.
So, he shifted his focus to the lines of words that floated before him, capturing his attention in the present moment.
[The candidate you invited, Xuan Ji, has already spent 14 years, 6 months, and 12 days in the Celestial Simulator. You need to wait 24 hours before you can invite again.]
[You have received the following rewards --]