Chapter 8: The Eerie Stone Coffin
Chapter 8: The Eerie Stone Coffin
The cube lay quietly in Cheng Lingyu’s palm. Each time he focused his gaze, it gradually merged into his hand.
Cheng Lingyu marveled. Could this truly be the legendary Fang Tian Bao Yin?
Soon, the cube vanished from his palm, but with a mere thought, it slowly materialized again.
Though unaware of its powers, Cheng Lingyu rejoiced—this was undoubtedly a treasure.
He swept his eyes around and soared into the air, startled by how high he leaped—far exceeding his expectations.
“My strength has advanced explosively. This is unbelievable!”
Brimming with excitement, he rushed to the Cheng family’s backyard to seek his father.
Dark clouds suddenly blotted the sky. A sinister black vortex swirled into existence, engulfing Shiyang Town within moments.
The harsh thunder roared, accompanied by blinding lightning that writhed within the Black Cloud.
A colossal lightning serpent crashed down, striking the Sinkhole behind the Cheng family’s mountain and obliterating it instantly.
The torrential rain and relentless thunderclaps seemed like heaven’s wrath punishing mortals.
Hundreds of lightning strikes converged above the Sinkhole, tearing apart both the pit and the surrounding time and space.
Cheng Lingyu stared at his palm, a vague suspicion forming in his mind.
Within the Black Cloud, the shadowy outline of a gigantic beast writhed as thunder and lightning showcased celestial fury.
Cheng family experts gathered, bewildered by this unprecedented wondrous scene.
The terrifying thunder and lightning persisted for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before vanishing abruptly.
When the skies cleared, the Cheng family hurried to the mountain. The Sinkhole had vanished, replaced by a Deep Pit containing an eerie stone coffin.
Both awed and curious, Family Head Cheng Feng ordered an investigation into the coffin’s origins.
The thousand-meter Deep Pit housed the massive coffin, its surface etched with sun, moon, and stars exuding mystery.
Over a dozen Cheng family experts cautiously encircled the coffin.
The thirty-foot-long stone coffin weighed thousands of pounds. Finding no clues, they resolved to pry open the lid.
For safety, one member first touched the coffin—no harm occurred.
The lid proved immovable. When all ten experts pooled their strength, disaster struck.
As their combined strength pressed against the coffin, a devouring power engulfed them, draining their lifelong cultivation levels in an instant.
Blood sprayed from the experts’ mouths as they collapsed onto the coffin, staining the sun, moon, and stars.
Their blood slithered across the coffin’s surface, awakening an ancient formation.
A crimson flash erupted, followed by a rain of blood.
The ten experts exploded, their blood and flesh devoured by the coffin. This gruesome catalyst made the coffin shudder and levitate.
“Beware! Retreat now!”
Cheng Feng barked orders, commanding his family to flee the eerie coffin and avoid certain death.
The stone coffin rotated and soared, its bloody light illuminating the heavens like a demonic vessel that shot straight into the Nine Heavens.
A thunderous boom echoed as a bolt of heavenly lightning struck down, violently slamming into the coffin and hurling it away.
Stars suddenly glittered across the coffin’s surface, manifesting a miniature world. Countless starlight rays converged swiftly, tearing open a time and space gate that sucked the coffin inside.
The Cheng family experts stared in stunned silence, struggling to comprehend what they’d witnessed.
The coffin’s eerie mystery and overwhelming divine might surpassed anything ordinary cultivators could endure.
Cheng Lingyu watched the coffin vanish, his youthful face paling with shock. That such a small stone coffin could birth an entire world defied all logic.
With the sinkhole’s annihilation and the coffin’s disappearance, the Cheng family had lost over a dozen experts without gaining anything, leaving them deeply frustrated.
Yet they understood – had the coffin remained, greater calamity would’ve followed.
“Suppress all news of this. Any leaks will be met with severe punishment.”
Though Cheng Lingyu initially considered telling his father about the Fang Tian Bao Yin, he ultimately stayed silent, wary of complicating matters.
Days later, strangers arrived in Shiyang Town inquiring about the sinkhole and coffin. The Cheng family disclosed everything truthfully, knowing they couldn’t oppose the powerful factions behind these interrogators.
Fortunately, corroborated by other witnesses’ accounts, the outsiders departed after brief investigations.
As peace returned, Cheng Lingyu intensified his cultivation. Having reached the Spiral Phase, he now matched most peers who’d once overshadowed him.
His three-day slumber in the sinkhole had granted him the Fang Tian Bao Yin and mysterious energies that dramatically boosted his power. Post-coffin incident, days of focused training elevated his Thousand Layers of Snow technique, synergizing with his Spiral Phase progress for exponential growth.
“At this rate, you’ll soon outpace the family,” Cheng Yun remarked. “But surpassing Cheng Zhaolong requires greater challenges. Consider joining a major sect.”
“Only the Xuanhuo and Shenhuo Sects near Shiyang Town ally with us,” Cheng Lingyu countered. “Neither are top-tier.”
“We’re at the Tianyang Empire’s backwaters,” Cheng Yun sighed. “True powerhouses dwell inland, hoarding prime resources. Here, we’re barely ninth-rate.”
“I want to train beyond the Spiral Phase. Any suggestions?”
“The mineral-rich wastelands here lack worthy monsters. Try the southern islands – but prepare thoroughly.”
Footsteps interrupted them. Cheng Zhaojun entered the courtyard wearing a sly grin. “Seventh Brother! Everyone’s sparring but you.”
Cheng Lingyu’s eyes narrowed. “Perfect timing.”
The martial arts training ground buzzed with thirty youths ranging from Luck Phase novices to Nine Levels of Mortal Martial Arts adepts.
“Look! The lone wolf finally appears!”
A fifteen-year-old immediately lunged at Cheng Lingyu, who countered with Liéyuè Fist while suppressing his true Spiral Phase strength to Shock Phase levels.
“Let me join!” Another teen attacked, then another – soon twenty disciples swarmed him, their coordinated assault forcing Cheng Lingyu backward under a rain of blows.
Cheng Yun arrived to see his son battered yet composed. Nearby, Cheng Song taunted, “Your boy’s quite the spectacle, Old Five.”
“This mob ‘sparring’ reeks of conspiracy,” Cheng Yun snapped.
“Merely…enthusiastic training,” Cheng Song smirked.
On the field, Cheng Lingyu endured the pummeling while Thousand Layers of Snow restructured his true energy into layered defenses, neutralizing each strike’s impact. His eyes burned with resolve – this humiliation would fuel his ascent.