Martial Universe: Inherit the Future, Quickly Become a Martial Ancestor!

"Let's give it a try. With the Devouring Ancestral Symbol in hand, they shouldn't be able to stop me..."

Lan He thought to himself, a resolute glint in his eyes. He took a deep breath and pushed the vast spiritual power within his Niwan Palace—the power generated by his recent breakthrough and the circulation of the eight talismans—to its limit.

At the same time, the dark Devouring Ancestral Symbol deep within the Niwan Palace also quietly emitted a faint yet seemingly all-encompassing aura, protecting him.

He stepped onto the stone steps leading to the ninth floor.

The moment the foot landed, a terrifying pressure, ten or even a hundred times more terrifying than the eighth level, descended with the force of a ten-thousand-ton mountain!

In an instant, it seemed as if the spiritual power of the entire tower floor had come alive, carrying an ancient and vast will, determined to completely crush and expel the intruder's spirit!

The ninth level is so high that only a Celestial Talisman Master can enter; this is no exaggeration.

The power on the steps alone was enough to cause an ordinary high-level spirit talisman master to suffer a mental breakdown and have their soul scattered.

Lan He's body trembled violently, his face instantly turning pale. His eight natal runes frantically activated, emitting mournful cries of unbearable strain. But just as that destructive power was about to touch the core of his spirit, the Devouring Ancestral Rune glowed faintly.

hum!

An invisible force of devouring quietly spread, not to resist the terrifying pressure, but to form a subtle "nothingness" zone around the Blue River's spiritual origin.

The terrifying power that was enough to crush spiritual bodies below the Heavenly Talisman Master level was swallowed up and had its most deadly edge vanished when it touched this layer of "nothingness," just like a mud ox sinking into the sea.

Lan He immediately felt the pressure around him ease. Although there was still immense mental pressure, the crushing sensation that could have been fatal had disappeared.

He steadied himself and, with the protection of the Devouring Ancestral Symbol, withstood the remaining pressure, slowly climbing upwards step by step.

Soon after,

Lan He steadied himself, took a moment to catch his breath, and then looked up to examine the most mysterious ninth floor of the Talisman Master Tower.

Surprisingly, the place was unusually simple, even...empty.

The space on the upper level wasn't larger than the lower level, yet it felt remarkably empty. In the center was only a simple gray cushion, covered in a thick layer of dust, clearly indicating it hadn't been used for a very long time.

Apart from that, the walls were clean, except for a portrait hanging on the wall directly opposite the entrance.

The woman in the portrait is dressed in an elegant long dress. She has a slender figure, a beautiful face, and exquisite features. Her eyes, in particular, are clear and lively, seemingly containing a thousand charms in her glances, yet also carrying a kind of aloofness and nobility that is untouched by worldly affairs.

A faint, gentle smile played on her lips, a smile that seemed capable of melting all the ice and snow in the world.

Lan He's gaze fell on the portrait, and he paused slightly.

"Is this... a portrait of my mother when she was young?"

The woman in the portrait bears a striking resemblance to the one that hangs in her father's study year-round. However, the woman in this portrait looks younger and lacks the mature charm and subtle melancholy of the other woman.

Clearly, this portrait must have been painted by his mother when she was young.

A strange sense of familiarity and longing welled up in his heart. Lan He took a few steps closer and carefully examined the portrait, as if he could feel the aura of his mother when she cultivated here back then.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly. His keen eyes noticed that the color of the wall where the portrait hung seemed to have an extremely subtle difference from the surrounding area.

He carefully removed the portrait. Behind it was not a smooth wall, but a shallow, square groove about the size of a palm.

The inside of the groove was not empty; instead, it was engraved with an extremely complex and profound rune!

This rune is indescribably ancient, its lines so intricate that they make one dizzy at first glance, as if it contains endless information.

But upon closer inspection, each stroke seems to align with the ultimate principles of nature, containing an ancient, vast, and profound charm that captivates the viewer and is truly magical.

"This is……"

Lan He's pupils contracted slightly, and the Devouring Ancestral Symbol within his Niwan Palace spontaneously trembled slightly at that moment, as if it were sensing something about this symbol.

He carefully observed the structure and aura of the runes. Although they were completely different from the Devouring Ancestral Rune he possessed, their complexity and ancient connotations, which seemed to originate from the beginning of the world, were remarkably similar!

"Is it a... rubbing of another ancestral symbol?"

Lan He was deeply shaken. Based on the profound, all-encompassing, and seemingly boundless aura emanating from this rune, as well as the slight resonance and anomalies from the Devouring Ancestral Rune, a name flashed through his mind—"Primordial Ancestral Rune"!

One of the eight ancestral symbols, it is said to contain primordial power, capable of devouring the life force of all things and tempering the physical body, making it one of the most suitable ancestral symbols for combat.

The ninth floor of the Talisman Master Tower left by my mother actually contains a rubbing of a rune that is suspected to be an ancient ancestral talisman.

Lan He's heart surged with emotion. He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and his gaze returned to the portrait in his hand. He could feel the slightly rough texture of the paper and a faint, unusual energy fluctuation between his fingertips.

"There seems to be something in this portrait?"

He frowned slightly and carefully felt along the edge of the portrait. Sure enough, he found an extremely hidden compartment inside the frame, cleverly sealed with his mental power.

He gathered a wisp of spiritual power at his fingertips and gently touched the surface, following a method recorded in the "Devouring Heavenly Talisman" to break a simple spiritual seal.

"laugh."

With a soft click, the hidden compartment quietly opened. Inside were neither rare treasures nor secret martial arts manuals, but only a neatly folded letter written on special animal paper.

Lan He held his breath and unfolded the letter. What came into view were familiar, neat, and somewhat unrestrained words—it was his mother Xin Lan's handwriting.

"War, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person."

"An urgent matter has suddenly occurred within the clan, and the message is urgent, so I have to return to the Demon Realm immediately. It happened so suddenly that I was unable to say goodbye to you and He'er in person, and I feel very guilty."

"This return to the clan may not be a short one. There seems to be a major upheaval within the clan, concerning its very survival. As the daughter of the clan chief, I have an inescapable responsibility. Please do not worry too much; I know what I'm doing."

"There is something else I must tell you. Not long ago, I received a secret message that the exact clue to the 'Primordial Ancestral Symbol' is actually in a certain forbidden area of ​​the Demon Realm! This is a heaven-sent opportunity. If we can find it, it will not only help me resolve the crisis in my clan, but also allow our paths to advance further."

"This journey is risky, but the opportunity is rare. I possess the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Clan, which gives me an advantage in the Demon Realm. You should remain in the Immortal Dynasty and take good care of He'er. Do not let my affairs distract you from the affairs of the court, and do not come looking for me rashly."

"Once I have settled the clan affairs and found the ancestral symbol, I will return immediately. Do not worry."

"Xinlan, leave a message."