A short while passed, and Wang Han felt his body stop falling, but the impact he had anticipated never occurred.
"What happened? Why haven't I hit the ground yet?" Wang Han opened his eyes, puzzled and filled with renewed hope.
He was shocked by his surroundings. He was lying in what felt like a white cloud, surrounded by a completely white world devoid of any distinguishing elements.
He tried to move, rising without the slightest resistance. Then he turned his head and found Wang Kai in the same state, but unconscious from severe bleeding, the sword still lodged in his chest. He was probably already dead.
But before he could make another move, a strange and awe-inspiring voice echoed inside his head.
[Welcome, mortal. I am the Beast Emperor. You have been granted the honor of competing for my inheritance. If you are more worthy than your rival, you will become this emperor's heir and have the chance to become one of the most powerful beings in the Heavenly Realm.]
"Who's speaking? Where's that voice coming from?" Wang Han said in a panic, searching for the source of the sound while assuming a fighting stance.
[I told you, mortal, I am the Beast Emperor. And the voice is coming from your head. I don't like repeating myself.]
The voice rang in Wang Han's head again, startling him for a moment. But he quickly regained his composure and began to analyze what this self-proclaimed emperor had said.
'He mentioned an inheritance, and also the Heavenly Realm, which is only mentioned in legends. I don't know if this person is just boasting, but what's certain is that if I can obtain this inheritance, I can reach heights I never dreamed of before.'
Wang Han felt a mixture of joy at this opportunity and fear of the unknown. Given this person's ability to speak inside his head, he certainly wouldn't be able to resist if the person tried to harm or kill him. But if the person truly meant no harm, this could very well be the chance that changed his destiny.
"I am deeply sorry if this mortal has disturbed you, Your Majesty. I gladly accept the opportunity to compete for your inheritance. Just one question... who is my opponent? I don't see anyone else here."
[Your opponent is lying there next to you. He's dead right now. Let me revive that child first so the competition can begin.] The Beast Emperor replied as a radiant light began to swirl around Wang Kai's corpse.
'What?! He's going to revive Wang Kai? After all the trouble I went through to kill him, he's just going to be revived like nothing happened?! This really infuriates me!'
A contortion of intense hatred emanated from Wang Han, whose current expression was unreadable as he stared at Wang Kai's radiant corpse.
Meanwhile, Wang Kai's body began to repair itself. The sword lodged in his chest was removed, and his entire being was renewed, both internally and externally, restored to its former state by the radiant light that enveloped him.
After a few moments, Wang Kai opened his eyes, a genuine look of bewilderment on his face, as he began to stir and slowly stand up.
'How am I still alive? I clearly remember dying. And also, my body doesn't hurt anymore, what's going on?!'
As he pondered this, Wang Kai spotted his cousin, Wang Han, standing just a few meters away, causing his expression to completely distort.
But before he could unleash his fury, he felt an overwhelming aura pressing down on him, a terrifying aura that felt like a mountain squashing on his shoulders.
[Listen to me, mortal. I am the Beast Emperor. I resurrected you because I found in you great talent and a burning desire for revenge. I intend to give you my inheritance. With it, you will achieve your revenge, and in return, when you become stronger, you will avenge me. What do you say to this?]
A look of confusion crossed Wang Kai's face for a moment as he searched for the source of the voice, before he turned his gaze back to Wang Han with a fierce killing intent, thinking:
'This is an unmissable opportunity; I must seize it.'
[Very well, I accept. Just grant me the power to exact my revenge, and I promise to fulfill your revenge, no matter the cost.]
[Good, good. Your speed in learning the telepathic skill is quite impressive, Mortal.] The Emperor praised Wang Han with a hint of surprise before returning to the main topic.
[Now, to inherit my estate, you must first prove yourself. Kill that boy beside you, and then I will accept you as my official heir.]
[That is precisely what I intended to do.] Wang Kai responded to the Beast Emperor with a fierce smile spreading across his lips, before clenching his fist tightly, suppressing the surge of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him, and saying:
[But the problem is, I've lost my cultivation; I can't kill him right now.]
[Don't worry about that; the battle will be fair in every way.]
The Emperor said this, ending his private telepathic conversation with Wang Kai, before a voice echoed through the cloudy space inside both of their ears simultaneously, saying:
"The competition is simple: a fight to the death. The winner is the one who survives by killing their opponent."
"All means are fair game; nothing is off-limits."
"Let the most deserving win!"
'Great, victory is guaranteed then. How could I possibly lose to an ordinary person with a broken dantian?' The gloom vanished, and a smile returned to Wang Han's lips as he listened to the competition's content.
Before a radiant light enveloped him, hearding the Emperor's voice echoing in his ears once more.
"Just to make the competition as fair as possible, your weapons will be removed and your strengths leveled. You may begin fighting now."
"Damn it!!!" Wang Han screamed at the top of his lungs, unable to contain his emotions, as he felt an overwhelming weakness wash over him and all his armor and weapons vanish the moment the light that had enveloped him faded.