The bronze bell suddenly realized the danger and rushed toward the coffin beneath the thatched hut. With no time to change form, its body radiated a wall of light in the shape of a massive bell, dropping down with a resounding clang to cover the hut entirely!
Xu Ying grabbed behind himself, only to grasp empty air. The bronze mirror that had been floating behind them all along had vanished without a trace!
Xu Ying immediately looked toward the thatched hut covered by the bell’s wall of light, and his heart turned cold. Without him noticing, the bronze mirror had drifted above the stone sarcophagus and was ramming violently into it!
*Clang!*
The bronze mirror produced a crisp ring, floated back up, and slammed into the sarcophagus once more.
Xu Ying leaped forward. Across that short distance, he exerted the Guo clan's Heaven-Soaring Cloud Ladder, hurling himself toward the bell's wall of light.
The bronze bell hastily opened a sliver in the barrier—otherwise, he would have smashed to pieces against the bell wall. Xu Ying plunged through the wall of light and grabbed for the bronze mirror. Just as another *clang* rang out and the mirror struck the sarcophagus a second time, Xu Ying's hand clamped down on it.
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Just in time..."
He looked down, and a chill struck his heart. At some point, the collision had cracked the bronze mirror.
Within the bronze mirror was a room, furnished identically to the one where Xu Ying had previously convalesced. At this moment, the room had also split open, revealing a gap wide enough for a person to pass through.
In the mirror, the female ghost stood within the crack. She turned back to wave at him smugly, then leaped forward, jumping right out of the fissure!
Steam hissed violently from the stone sarcophagus as chains rattled and clattered. The blood-curse runes upon them faded rapidly, their color washing away in the blink of an eye!
Just as Xu Ying was about to step forward, a sharp snap echoed out. A chain snapped taut and broke, and fissures spread across the stone sarcophagus!
*Bang!*
The stone sarcophagus shattered into pieces!
A terrifying wave of energy surged in all directions, blowing the small thatched hut into the air. Straw danced across the sky as the space sealed inside the sarcophagus suddenly expanded. Amid ear-splitting clangs, crude ancient divine weapons lay strewn about in all directions, spreading all around Xu Ying alongside the churning expanse!
Right beside Xu Ying, a colossal axe was buried in the ground. It had a wooden handle and a stone head, bound with coarse hemp threaded through the rock and tied to the haft.
The stone head alone was taller than Xu Ying!
This axe was soaked in the blood of countless divine beasts and humans. Waves of ferocious savagery emanated from it; when Xu Ying's divine sense made slight contact, it felt as if mountains of corpses and seas of blood were crashing straight toward him!
On Xu Ying's other side was a bone spear with a wooden shaft, planted diagonally into the ground. The shaft had been rubbed exceptionally smooth, but it was clearly the trunk of an entire great tree!
Strange patterns drawn in blood were etched into the trunk, sunk deep into the wood. When Xu Ying's gaze fell upon them, a blood-red light flickered once before dimming again.
The spearhead was an unidentified beast bone, polished to a brilliant gleam and exuding baleful menace.
Seeing this thick, long bone spear, Xu Ying couldn't help shivering. He felt as though he were adrift in a sea of blood, bobbing up and down amidst hideous, floating severed heads!
This bone spear had taken far too many lives, nurturing a ferocity that was utterly monstrous!
Besides the bone spear and stone axe, there were other gigantic weapons poised between savagery and civilization: bronze battle-axes, stone arrows, stone swords, bone flutes, wooden clubs, bronze swords, stone cauldrons, and bronze tripods. Each was enormous—none looked like weapons meant for ordinary humans!
Only now did Xu Ying realize that the primitive ancestors depicted in the cave murals were not necessarily ordinary-sized humans; they were very likely a giant race among the ancients!
They were towering and robust, devouring raw meat and drinking blood. Even without cultivation, their combat strength was extraordinary—relying solely on brute force, they could slaughter the colossal beasts of the primordial wilderness!
Once they cultivated the Qi Refiner arts taught by that female devil, harvesting and refining qi, their prowess became virtually invincible under the heavens!
Every single one of these weapons radiated earth-shaking, baleful might precisely because their masters had engaged in endless slaughter. The ferocious malice even made the bronze bell tremble faintly.
Yet at the center of these ancient, baleful weapons lay a giant coffin—far more ominous than any of them!
The baleful weapons were planted around the giant coffin specifically to suppress the evil within, ensuring that supremely wicked woman could never escape!
At the center of the giant coffin, a bronze weapon hilt adorned with dazzling gilded patterns was plunged deep into the wood, radiating a vast, profound, and sacred aura—evil was repelled, and the Heavenly Dao endured forever!
"A Heavenly Dao divine artifact!"
Xu Ying's gaze was involuntarily captivated, fixing onto the Heavenly Dao divine artifact.
According to the murals, this Heavenly Dao divine artifact had hidden behind the Heavenly Tribulation. Seizing the moment when the woman was weakened and relaxed after surviving the tribulation, it struck in an assassination blow, pinning her through the heart!
It was precisely because of this strike by the Heavenly Dao divine artifact that the ferocious primitive ancestors had the chance to suppress her with their baleful weapons!
"They must have collected her soul back then and sealed it within the bronze mirror!"
Xu Ying said quickly, "Lord Bell, she is pinned down by the Heavenly Dao divine artifact, which has been steadily grinding away her strength all these years. Even if her soul returns, she won't be able to escape!"
The bronze bell was trembling with nervousness, hiding behind Xu Ying. Hearing this, its courage instantly swelled. It flew out from behind Xu Ying and praised, "Master Ying is right!"
*Crash!*
The giant wooden coffin suddenly burst apart, splintered wood flying everywhere.
The bronze bell shivered and scurried back behind Xu Ying, hiding as it cried out, "Ah Ying, this place is ill-omened! Let's get out of here!"
Xu Ying was thoroughly startled as well and turned to run. Suddenly, the baleful weapons all around began to buzz and hum. Monstrous malice surged, shaking the ascension site.
The numerous weapons joined forces to suppress the evil, their baleful blood aura flooding outward until, in an instant, the ascension site seemed to turn into a surging sea of blood!
Standing in the sea of blood, Xu Ying felt like a skiff tossed upon colossal waves, buffeted so hard he could barely keep his footing.
He looked back. Amidst the sea of blood stood the faint silhouette of a colossal female immortal, her chest pierced by the Heavenly Dao divine artifact, her dark hair fluttering as she stood tall in the sea against the ancient baleful weapons, an awe-inspiring presence!
Suddenly, a chime rang out, dispersing the layers of illusions before him and restoring clarity to his mind. Only then did Xu Ying see clearly. Where the coffin had shattered, there truly was the corpse of a female immortal. Even with the Heavenly Dao divine artifact plunged into her chest, she still looked lifelike.
Her dark hair was indeed floating, yet she could not move.
The massive baleful weapons around her trembled incessantly, seemingly locked in struggle against her, but the surging sea of blood had vanished.
These artifacts were far too ominous; their aura had affected his divine sense and exerted immense pressure on his mind, causing him to hallucinate. The bronze bell used its chimes to shield his consciousness so he would not be swayed by these baleful relics.
"Ah Ying, get out of this cursed place at once!" the bronze bell urged. "The female devil is trying to destroy these baleful weapons! Once she breaks the seal, we're doomed!"
Xu Ying walked toward the exit, but after a few paces, he stopped. "Lord Bell, the thatched hut was shattered, but the tea table is still there."
The bronze bell froze.
The thatched hut had been pulverized, yet the tea table, teapot, and cup of tea within had not budged in the slightest.
The steam rising from the teacup had not even deformed, as if it had suffered no impact whatsoever!
"Ah Ying, this female devil is fighting these ancient baleful weapons; I fear it won't be long before she breaks free!" the bronze bell urged. "If we leave right now, grab those three named Niu, and run for our lives, there's still time!"
Xu Ying asked doubtfully, "Lord Bell, who left this teacup and teapot? Let's go take a look."
He stepped forward. Having no choice, the bronze bell followed him, constantly ringing to help him withstand the baleful weapons.
Suddenly, the corpse of the female immortal surrounded by the baleful weapons shrank in size and sat up. She turned into a beautiful dark-haired woman, gorgeous and alluring, her eyes brimming with tender affection. She said to Xu Ying, "Husband, my chest hurts so much. Won't you rub it for me?"
Xu Ying was bewitched, his heart thumping wildly. He immediately turned and walked toward her, saying, "Alright, husband will help you."
*Clang!*
A bell toll rang out. Only then did Xu Ying realize that the beautiful dark-haired woman was gone. Without knowing when, he had arrived beside the female immortal's corpse, both hands grasping the hilt of the Heavenly Dao divine artifact and pulling it out!
Cold sweat broke out on Xu Ying's forehead. If the bronze bell hadn't shattered the illusion in time, he would have pulled out the Heavenly Dao divine artifact!
He hurriedly let go, his heart pounding with lingering fear.
The bronze bell said, "Ah Ying, the female devil is tampering with your mind! Your visualization practice isn't deep enough, so she influenced you. You need to establish an image in the void to anchor your divine sense!"
Xu Ying visualized Ten Thousand Mountains Bow to Jiuyi, reinforcing his Dao image, and indeed anchored his divine sense.
No matter how the female immortal tempted him after that, Xu Ying remained unmoved.
From the female immortal's forehead, the female ghost emerged, looking pitiful and delicate. "Husband, this humble servant has been pinned down here for tens of thousands of years—even a lifetime of sins would have been washed clean by now! Does husband truly have the heart to watch this servant suffer?"
The bronze bell warned nervously, "Ah Ying, establish an image in the void to anchor your divine sense!"
Xu Ying clung steadfast to the Great One, remaining unmoved as he reached the tea table.
The female immortal's corpse tried all sorts of seductions; seeing that temptation failed, she switched to threats, conjuring layer upon layer of apocalyptic visions to intimidate Xu Ying.
Xu Ying lifted the teacup and examined it closely.
The female immortal's corpse suddenly stirred. Defying the suppression of the Heavenly Dao divine artifact, she forced herself into a sitting position and grabbed an ancient longbow planted beside her.
The longbow's baleful aura surged violently, vibrating constantly in resistance against her. The skin on her hand and arm burst apart repeatedly, baring bloody muscle!
From this reckless move, the Heavenly Dao divine artifact sank even deeper, thrusting further into the aperture of her heart.
Had she ignored Xu Ying and concentrated solely on resisting the ancient baleful weapons, she could have worn down the power of the closest weapons. Though it would have taken time, she would eventually have broken free.
Yet now, bent on eliminating Xu Ying, she threw caution to the wind. Even at the cost of worsening her own wounds, she was determined to strike first and finish Xu Ying off!
Seeing this, Xu Ying became even more certain that there was a secret on the tea table. He quickly called, "Lord Bell!"
The female immortal's corpse drew the bow, and an arrow of light shot forth, swift as a shooting star. With a deafening clang, the bronze bell gave everything it had to block the shot, only to be crushed backward by the tremendous force, screaming through the air!
*Clang!*
The bronze bell slammed against the jade wall of the ascension site.
Black blood oozed from the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth of the female immortal's corpse. She drew the bow once more, firing another arrow at Xu Ying!
The bronze bell lunged forward again. With another resounding boom, it was blown back once more, a dent even blasted into its wall!
Even more black blood poured down the female immortal's face as she nocked another arrow and fired. Straining with all its might, the bronze bell hurled itself forward and cried, "Ah Ying, are you done yet?!"
Xu Ying set down the teacup and picked up the teapot, examining it carefully. Finding nothing unusual, he looked down and spotted a diagram beneath the teapot.
The diagram was exceedingly simple, drawn in just a few strokes, depicting a giant kowtowing to a stone sarcophagus.
"This is an apprenticeship diagram!"
Xu Ying froze. Suddenly feeling writing beneath the tea table, he hurriedly flipped it over. The characters on the underside were clear, recounting a tale of the past.
The giant clan had survived ancient upheavals and endured in Shenzhou. As a genius of his race, he had been tasked with guarding the evil female immortal in the ascension site. Realizing that the ascension site was ideal for cultivation, he harvested qi here, achieving twice the results with half the effort.
However, the female immortal in the coffin frequently tempted him. A thought occurred to him, and he took her as his master, promising to rescue her.
To break free, the female immortal imparted an incomplete immortal art to control him. He turned her scheme against her, tricking her out of the fragmented methods of ascending to immortality, and through his own brilliance, he perfected the immortal art.
Another thousand years passed. He broke free from the shackles of the ascension methods, attaining supreme comprehension of heaven and man, yet he still could not ascend.
The reason was that an arch-villain had blocked the path to ascension; ascending meant certain death.
Disheartened, he lived in seclusion here. But having grown weary of the female immortal's endless clamor, he utterly dismantled her cultivation arts.
He left behind a single cup of tea. If tossed, it could refine the female immortal to death. Yet remembering that she was, after all, his master and had shown him kindness, he left the tea sitting here.
Xu Ying looked at the signature. Inscribed there were the words: "Left by the Master of the Mud Pill Palace."
Xu Ying started, a sudden creeping chill running through him. He looked toward the cup of tea he had set aside.
*Clang!*
The bronze bell was sent flying by another arrow, its body pocked with tiny craters. It yelled, "Ah Ying, are you done yet? I can't hold on much longer!"
Xu Ying steadied his mind, raised his hand, and splashed the tea out!
Instantly, heaven and earth lost color. The water in the cup transformed into a raging deluge dancing through the ascension site, stirring the might of each and every ancient baleful weapon! The weapons swept into the torrent as it swirled, uprooting the baleful implements and spinning them around the female immortal's corpse! Each primordial weapon seemed as though wielded by a giant with thousands of arms and thousands of faces, unleashing profoundly exquisite techniques as they struck toward the female immortal's corpse!
Knowing her life was on the line, the female immortal's corpse could no longer bother resisting the Heavenly Dao divine artifact. She surged to her feet, bellowing continuously as immortal radiance erupted from her body in blinding brilliance, resisting with all her might!
Xu Ying and the bronze bell were forced back again and again by that terrifying power. With the bell shielding him, they were pressed hard against the jade wall of the ascension site, boy and bell alike gripped by utter horror.
Suddenly, the female immortal's defense was breached. Carrying the primordial baleful weapons, the rushing water swept into her body through her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth!
Her body shook violently. In an instant, all her flesh and blood melted away, leaving only a tall skeleton standing in place!
Then, the skeleton collapsed into fragments with a clatter!
The baleful weapons fell back down, impaling the ground before shattering one after another. Only the stone axe was too formidable and remained intact, though its power was vastly diminished from before.
Even the Heavenly Dao divine artifact had been corroded into a tattered state. It wobbled as it flew up, piercing the void and vanishing along the ascension rosy glow.
The bronze bell drifted down with Xu Ying. One boy, one bell collapsed onto the ground, unable to rise.
"Ah Ying, with the injuries I took today, half of your vital qi and blood won't be enough to fix me!" the bronze bell hollered.
Xu Ying steadied his mind and swayed to his feet, murmuring, "If the master of the Mud Pill Palace was a giant, why was the skeleton on top of that colossal creature so small?"
He was filled with doubt and suspicion.
Could someone so formidable really have died at the hands of Zhou Qiyun?
Chapter 83