System: Replicating The Heavens

Very soon, the three people chose a few treasures to keep. As for the rest, Alex waved his hand and stored them all in his Personal Space. Then he turned and gave one last look at the now-silent Trial Spirits before saying, "Bring us to the temple core, where we are supposed to go through a trial to obtain Flame Sword Sovereign's true inheritance"

"This..."

The Trial Spirits hesitated a lot and exchanged nervous glances. Their expressions were uncertain.

"If you keep dawdling, you know the consequences!"

Alex snorted coldly and summoned the Shadow Devouring Flame once again. The moment the flame appeared, the temperature in the entire hall spiked dramatically. The surrounding Trial Spirits felt a chill run down their spines despite the heat, and a deep sense of fear surged within them.

"S-Sir! That… that place is where our leader resides!" the white Trial Spirit cried out in panic in the end and hurriedly explained.

"Leader?"

As soon as the white Trial Spirit spoke, the other Trial Spirits immediately followed suit, hurriedly chattering as they revealed everything they knew to Alex.

It turned out that at the core of the temple resided the most powerful Trial Spirit. This Trial Spirit held absolute authority over all the others. It possessed immense strength and could easily command or suppress the other Trial Spirits at will. However, it had always remained in a deep slumber and was said to awaken only when the temple faced a grave crisis or when a challenger qualified to attempt the final trial appeared.

According to the Trial Spirits, the Flame Sword Sovereign's inheritance is an extraordinary treasure, not things such as cultivation techniques and martial arts skills. It is just that none of the Trial Spirits had seen that treasure. They also don't have any idea what that treasure actually is.

"An extraordinary treasure?"

Alex was surprised. He thought the inheritance should include cultivation techniques, martial arts skills, and similar things. He hadn't expected the so-called inheritance to be a treasure more valuable than Flame Sword Sovereign's cultivation techniques and abilities.

There was no way he could let such a treasure slip through his fingers.

"Take us there, now!" Alex didn't want to miss out on something that is considered extraordinary treasure even by Trial Spirits. Not to mention, it was the final reward for passing all the trials set by Flame Sword Sovereign.

The Trial Spirits instantly panicked. They knew that if they didn't comply and lead the way, Alex wouldn't spare them. He might very well incinerate them on the spot.

Air was filled with rich spiritual energy inside the depths of the temple. There was a hidden structure here known as the Sovereign Core Vault.

The Trial Spirits led Alex and others directly inside the Sovereign Core Vault.

The space inside the vault was huge. It was supported by seven tall pillars, and each pillar had a different structure.

Right at the center of the vault, there was another structure. It had the shape of a massive black lotus blooming from the stone floor. This enormous lotus was emitting a faint glow, its surface inscribed with golden runes that pulsed rhythmically like a heartbeat. The petals were made of obsidian-like crystal, each engraved with flame symbols. In the center, an orb of light was floating and rotating slowly while radiating calm yet powerful energy. This orb was sealed within multiple transparent layers of protective arrays.

This orb was continuously releasing rich spiritual energy and endless light. It was precisely due to the existence of this orb that the air here was full of vitality and suffused with an invigorating aura.

"Has someone finally succeeded in clearing all the trials and reaching here after all these years?" A raspy voice suddenly echoed inside the vault just as Alex and the others stepped inside and inspected the orb.

"Rumble!!!"

A deafening roar erupted nearby.

Not far from them, a golden Trial Spirit emerged, radiating a terrifying aura. Just from its aura, Alex could tell that it was no weaker than a Life Creation Stage warrior. Its presence was even stronger than Elyndra after all.

Upon noticing the group of Trial Spirits in the distance, the Golden Trial Spirit frowned in surprise, and asked in a puzzled tone, "Why have all of you entered this place as well?"

Long ago, it had strictly instructed all the Trial Spirits that only those who successfully passed every trial were permitted to enter this place. As Trial Spirits, they were forbidden from stepping foot here themselves. Yet now, not only had four outsiders made their way inside, but even all the Trial Spirits had entered, completely violating that command.

-----

[Name: Frouros (Guardian).

Type: Golden Trial Spirit.

Cultivation: Life Creation Realm.

Skills: Divine Judgment, White Flame Purification, Judgment Slash,...]

-----

Alex first looked at the Golden Trial Spirit. It didn't have much to talk about other than high cultivation. Then Alex shifted his attention to the orb.

-----

[Name: Flame Ancestor's Heart Orb.

Grade: True Treasure.

Details: Said to be the crystallized heart-core of the Flame Ancestor. It contains a secret space that burns with an undying divine flame, always producing pure spiritual energy. It can also incinerate soul and matter; granting immunity to all fire-based attacks.

Note: The space inside the Flame Ancestor's Heart Orb is damaged.]

-----

Alex frowned. He hadn't expected this orb to be a damaged True Treasure. However, he couldn't quite determine its purpose. Still, he had a feeling that, despite its high grade, this treasure wouldn't be of much use to him.

Nevertheless, since he was already here and a True Treasure was in front of him, how could he let it go easily?

"Hey, Frouros, bring that orb over for me to see!" Alex then said to the Golden Trial Spirit not far away.

The Golden Trial Spirit was stunned. It turned to Alex, not expecting him to know its name. But the way Alex commanded it to give him the orb instantly caused him to flare up.

"Are you tired of life, brat?"

A moment later, Frouros immediately unleashed terrifying power.

In an instant, the majestic power transformed into a mountain that suppressed everything, pressing down toward the area where Alex and the others were.

"Shua!"

Alex drew his sword and made a gentle slash. Instantly, a surge of scorching Sword Energy burst forth, tearing through the air. In the blink of an eye, it cleaved the mountain in two, releasing a torrent of violent energy that scattered in all directions.

The blazing wave of Sword Energy didn't stop there, it continued to surge forward, heading straight for the Golden Trial Spirit.

The moment the Golden Trial Spirit saw the oncoming Sword Energy, its expression shifted dramatically. Without hesitation, it summoned all its strength to conjure a protective shield before it.

However, the scorching Sword Energy was overwhelmingly powerful. It effortlessly destroyed all of the Golden Trial Spirit's defenses and struck it head-on.

Upon impact, the Golden Trial Spirit turned deathly pale and was sent flying, crashing hard into the distant mountain range.

A look of pain and disbelief appeared on the Golden Trial Spirit's face. Alex's cultivation was clearly lower than its own, yet the power he had just displayed was overwhelming. What made it even more terrifying was that the attack had been casual—Alex hadn't even used his full strength.

Not to mention, the sword Alex brought out to attack was clearly one of the trial rewards.

The Golden Trial Spirit cursed silently in its heart and stood up shakingly. Its face contorted in fear.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Just as the Golden Spirit Body prepared to retaliate, several streams of Shadow Devouring Flame shot forth and encircled him instantly. Each stream was radiating an intense and oppressive heat.

The Shadow Devouring Flame instilled extreme fear in the Golden Trial Spirit. Though it was a powerful existence, its nature as a spirit body made it especially vulnerable to flame. Fire and lightning were natural nemeses of spirit bodies. They are inescapable and absolute restraints that could burn through even the strongest spirit defenses.

Not to mention, the Shadow Devouring Flame also had devouring properties.

"Can you bring that orb over now?" Alex's figure flickered and reappeared right in front of the Golden Trial Spirit.

Facing Alex, who stood calmly with a sword in one hand and blazing Shadow Devouring Flame in the other hand, the Golden Trial Spirit wisely bowed his head in submission. Without hesitation, it raised its hand and summoned the orb from high above, then respectfully handed it to Alex while explaining its origins.

"This orb is known as the Flame Ancestor's Heart Orb. It was obtained by the Flame Sword Sovereign from the Flame Ancestor's Tomb and was regarded as the most prized treasure in his entire vault."

It also told Alex and others that Flame Sword Sovereign had left behind strict instructions: only a challenger who completed all trials was worthy of receiving the Heart Orb. Otherwise, it was to remain sealed in the Sovereign Core Vault forever.

As Alex took hold of the Flame Ancestor's Heart Orb, he instantly sensed the terrifying power sealed within it. He could feel an intense and overwhelming river of energy stored inside. This energy was like a blazing sun trapped in a sphere.