**Chapter 1969: The Pitiful Artifact Spirit: Lord Mist**
Lin Moyu asked a few more inconsequential questions, all of which were answered by the girl.
The girl seemed to answer every question, and Lin Moyu guessed that there must be some restriction requiring her to respond.
From her answers, Lin Moyu gathered a lot of information and also found some contradictions in her words.
These contradictions mostly expressed the girl's unwillingness for him to enter the Inheritance Pagoda.
Having made up his mind, Lin Moyu decided he must enter the Inheritance Pagoda.
Even if there was danger inside, he had to give it a try.
Moreover, there was no real danger inside; at most, he would be trapped for a while.
Lin Moyu had confidence in himself. He believed that even if he were trapped inside, it wouldn't be for long.
The girl finally got annoyed, frowning, "You've been asking this and that. Have you made your choice yet?"
Lin Moyu smiled, "Senior, may I ask your esteemed name?"
The girl replied, "You can call me Lord Mist. Have you made your choice yet?"
Lin Moyu wasn't in a hurry, "Lord Mist, you must have been asleep for a long time before I arrived, right?"
The girl's expression changed, and she blurted out, "How did you know?"
Realizing she had misspoken, she quickly corrected herself, "I just like to sleep. Why are you asking this?"
Lin Moyu said, "It seems Lord Mist has been asleep for a long time and doesn't know how the outside world has changed."
Lord Mist was taken aback, "The outside world?"
Lin Moyu continued, "Lord Mist should be able to sense that the Supreme of the Cloud Mist Sect is no longer here."
Lord Mist finally reacted, as if waking from a long sleep, "What happened to the outside world?"
Lin Moyu asked, "Do you know how long you've been asleep this time?"
Lord Mist's eyes showed confusion. Although she didn't answer, Lin Moyu already knew the answer.
He knew that Lord Mist had no idea how long she had been asleep or what had happened outside.
If he hadn't appeared here, she would have continued sleeping.
Thinking this way, this artifact spirit seemed somewhat pitiful.
Lin Moyu asked, "Lord Mist, you are the artifact spirit of the Inheritance Pagoda and the Cloud Mist Palace, right?"
Lord Mist bristled, shouting, "How did you know?"
Realizing she had misspoken again, she added, "Whether I'm an artifact spirit or not is none of your business."
Lin Moyu smiled, "I guess if I enter the Inheritance Pagoda and obtain the highest inheritance, I will become your master."
"You don't want anyone to control you, so you don't want me to enter the Inheritance Pagoda. Am I right?"
Lord Mist fell silent, her expression extremely complex.
Lin Moyu knew he had hit the mark, "Actually, it's understandable. It's human nature, and the same goes for artifact spirits."
Lord Mist stared blankly at Lin Moyu, then snorted, "What do you know? You're not an artifact spirit."
Lin Moyu said, "I'm not an artifact spirit, but I've dealt with them, so I understand."
"No wonder you figured it out. You knew from the start." Lord Mist finally realized that Lin Moyu had been probing her all along.
Lin Moyu laughed, "Lord Mist, I choose to enter the Inheritance Pagoda. Please open the door for me."
Bound by the rules, Lord Mist had no choice but to comply.
She snorted, and the dense mist in the Cloud Mist Palace rolled, forming a path leading straight to the top of the palace.
At the top of the palace was the Inheritance Pagoda.
Lin Moyu stepped forward, and Lord Mist urgently called out, "You haven't told me what happened outside."
Lin Moyu smiled, "No rush. I'll tell you everything once I obtain the inheritance."
"And I'll tell you a secret."
With that, he walked up step by step, and Lord Mist could only watch helplessly, unable to stop him.
As an artifact spirit, she had many restrictions.
This was the inheritance site of the Cloud Mist Sect, also a rule world of a powerful being.
In such an environment, her former master couldn't have given her too much authority; instead, there would be many restrictions.
At most, she could assist and do what she could.
Lin Moyu guessed that she must have been very busy in the past.
There should have been many people in the Cloud Mist Sect, and the more people who came here, the busier she would be.
But when everyone was gone, she fell into a deep sleep.
Upon waking, she didn't know what had happened or how much time had passed.
She only had her past memories, so she didn't want to be so busy again and wanted some freedom.
Unfortunately, she would never have freedom.
She didn't know that if Lin Moyu chose the inheritance in the Cloud Mist Palace and then left, she would instantly fall back into a deep sleep.
Compared to the artifact spirits he had seen before, this Lord Mist seemed somewhat pitiful.
Unable to control her own life, she was a great tragedy.
Lin Moyu stepped onto the cloud mist steps and entered the Inheritance Pagoda. The scene before him changed, revealing an independent space completely different from the outside world.
Here, Lin Moyu felt a peculiar aura, similar to laws but seemingly higher than laws.
At this moment, Lord Mist reappeared in his sight.
Lord Mist's attitude had changed, now filled with helplessness, "Alright, now that you're here, let's start the inheritance test according to the rules."
"I'll tell you the specific rules of the inheritance, but you also promised to tell me what happened outside and the secret you mentioned."
Lin Moyu said, "Rest assured, Lord Mist, I will tell you everything that happened outside and the secret."
Telling him the rules of the test was something she had to do.
However, she could also manipulate the information, perhaps omitting a word or two.
Sometimes, a single word could change the entire meaning of a sentence, causing significant trouble.
Artifact spirits are bound by rules, but the rules can't restrict them entirely.
Artifact spirits have their own intelligence, can think independently, and have their own consciousness.
Lord Mist said seriously, "The Inheritance Pagoda has ten levels. The highest inheritance is on the tenth level, but the test focuses on the first nine levels."
"Every three levels form a stage, divided into lower, middle, and upper stages. It's both a test and a rating for the sect's successors."
"The first three levels are for ordinary successors, the middle three levels for core successors, and the upper three levels for grand successors."
"If you can surpass the ninth level, you can obtain the highest inheritance and become the master of the Inheritance Pagoda."
At this point, Lord Mist paused before continuing with the specific rules of the test.
"The first stage is the test of the lower three levels. In the lower three levels, there is a technique you need to comprehend."
"Comprehend it initially to enter the second level."
"Comprehend it to a small degree to enter the third level."
"Comprehend it fully to enter the fourth level."
"As for the rules of the fourth level, I'll tell you when you get there."
"Now, listen carefully to my reminders."
Lin Moyu listened attentively, not missing a single word.
"This technique, although a basic technique of the Cloud Mist Sect, should not be underestimated. Many techniques of the Cloud Mist Sect are based on it."
"When comprehending it, you must not have any omissions and must not rush. Otherwise, you won't pass the subsequent tests."
"Also, comprehending this technique consumes a lot of soul power, so be prepared."
"The technique is in the mist. Go and comprehend it."