The Coffin Beneath the Storm

Fiona had a bad feeling and felt that the silence in front of her was too strange. "Uncle Jadis, don’t you think this place is a little strange?"

The faint crackling of the bonfire echoed softly beside the quiet lake.

Cold wind drifted through the forest, carrying with it a damp earthy smell mixed with the scent of ancient trees. The surrounding mountains stood like sleeping giants beneath the moonlight, silent and unmoving.

Too silent.

Even the water near the shore barely rippled.

Jadis frowned slightly at her words.

The old man slowly lifted his head and looked around carefully. His sharp eyes swept across the dark forest surrounding their camp, but after a while, he still found nothing unusual.

Jadis—was puzzled.

He stroked his beard lightly and said, "Fiona, have you become too sensitive recently?"

His tone was calm, but he still released a strand of spiritual perception quietly toward the surroundings.

Nothing.

No beast aura.

No killing intent.

No movement.

Only silence.

He looked back toward Fiona and said, "The Mystery Woodland is famous for its silence. Isn’t that normal?"

Fiona lowered her gaze slightly.

Her long azure hair fluttered gently in the cold breeze, reflecting faint blue light beneath the moon. The firelight illuminated her delicate face beautifully, giving her soft skin an almost dreamlike glow.

Her teal eyes remained uneasy.

"I know..." she replied softly. "But this silence feels different."

As she spoke, she subconsciously hugged her arms lightly.

The cold tonight seemed heavier than usual.

The bonfire should have brought warmth, yet the chill still lingered against her skin.

Fiona continued quietly, "It’s too quiet here. It’s terrifyingly quiet. I have a feeling that this is the calm before the storm."

Several nearby students exchanged nervous glances after hearing her words.

Even though Fiona was young, her instincts were famously sharp inside the Soft Water Divine Sect.

Jadis noticed the subtle fear hidden within her eyes.

Still, after another careful observation of the surroundings, he could only shake his head helplessly.

"Fiona, have you been too tired recently that you’re hallucinating?" Jadis asked gently. "The Mystery Woodland has always been like this."

He sat back down beside the fire.

"The entire Southern Ridge is filled with strange ancient beasts and forbidden regions. Silence is normal here."

Fiona nodded slowly.

What Jadis said indeed made sense.

Perhaps she truly was overthinking things.

However...

That strange feeling inside her heart still refused to disappear.

This time, they had come specifically to investigate the whereabouts of the Inferno Swift Bird.

Yesterday, the terrifying beast had suddenly disappeared somewhere within the Southern Ridge.

For an entire day, they had searched carefully through forests, lakes, and mountain paths.

Yet they found nothing.

No traces.

No remains.

Nothing at all.

That alone was already strange.

A terrifying beast capable of shaking entire regions could not simply disappear without leaving behind even the slightest clue.

Jadis stared quietly into the fire before speaking again.

"It’s getting late. Rest early. We’ll continue our journey tomorrow morning."

As he spoke, he took out a communication jade from his sleeve and glanced at the message inside.

"The First Elder has already entered deeper into the uninhabited region. I wonder if they’ve found anything there."

His expression gradually became serious.

If even the First Elder personally entered the depths, then this matter was likely far more complicated than expected.

Fiona nodded softly.

Her eyelids were slightly heavy after traveling continuously for days.

"Understood, Uncle Jadis."

She slowly stood up.

The moment she stretched lazily beneath the firelight, her breathtaking figure was completely revealed.

Her dark blue robe clung naturally against her slender waist while the white sash around her hips emphasized her graceful curves. The slit along her robe revealed her long smooth legs as she moved, pale thighs briefly visible beneath the dancing firelight.

Her chest rose gently as she stretched, the fitted fabric outlining her soft mature curves naturally without vulgarity.

The nearby students immediately lowered their heads awkwardly.

No one dared stare openly.

Not only because of her beauty—

But because Fairy Fiona’s status within the Soft Water Divine Sect was extremely high.

Fiona herself seemed completely unaware.

She simply brushed aside a strand of azure hair and slowly walked toward her tent.

The moonlight followed her elegant figure quietly until the curtain closed behind her.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere became warmer.

A faint fragrance lingered softly in the air.

Fiona sat quietly upon a meditation cushion and slowly calmed her breathing.

Outside, the cold wind continued blowing through the forest.

Inside, droplets of blue Mana slowly began gathering around her body.

Like flowing water.

Like drifting moonlight.

The surrounding Mana moved gently toward her as if attracted by an invisible force.

Her azure hair floated lightly behind her while soft blue radiance surrounded her delicate figure.

The water-attributed Mana gradually condensed around her fingertips before flowing slowly through her body.

The process was calm.

Gentle.

Almost peaceful.

Yet Fiona’s expression gradually became troubled.

No matter how she circulated her cultivation technique, she still could not feel any signs of breakthrough.

It was as though an invisible wall blocked her path completely.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Again...

Still not enough.

She had remained stuck for too long already.

Fiona slowly opened her eyes.

The blue glow around her body gradually faded.

A faint sigh escaped her lips.

"Looks like I’m still lacking something..."

She lowered her gaze quietly.

Cultivation was never simply about talent.

Sometimes comprehension mattered more.

Sometimes opportunity.

And sometimes...

It was fate itself.

Outside the tent, the wind suddenly became colder.

The bonfire crackled violently for a brief second.

Fiona instinctively looked toward the tent entrance.

That strange uneasiness returned once again.

Stronger this time.

As though something terrifying was approaching slowly from very far away.

But eventually—

Exhaustion overcame her.

She lay down quietly inside the tent while the distant sounds of wind echoed faintly outside.

The entire camp gradually fell asleep beneath the cold night sky.

Then—

At dawn, when the world was still hazy beneath pale gray mist—

BOOM!

An enormous tremor suddenly shook the entire Southern Ridge.

The ground cracked violently.

The lake exploded with massive waves.

Trees swayed wildly as birds screamed into the sky.

"What’s going on?!"

Jadis rushed out of his tent instantly.

His expression changed drastically the moment he looked toward the distant mountains.

"This..."

The earth continued trembling beneath their feet.

Students stumbled in panic as the entire camp shook violently.

Then—

From within the distant mountain range—

A gigantic figure slowly appeared beneath the morning mist.

It was a colossal ancient turtle.

No—

An old earth spiky turtle.

Its body was as massive as a mountain itself.

Ancient stone-like spikes covered its shell while countless scars spread across its body like traces left behind by endless ages.

Every step it took caused the earth to tremble violently.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The pressure emitted by its mere existence made everyone feel suffocated.

And atop its shell—

There was a coffin.

A dark ancient coffin overflowing with terrifying vitality.

Dense life aura spread from it endlessly like ocean tides.

Just breathing near it made one feel their lifespan becoming stronger.

"This is... a mountain treasure?"

For a moment, everyone was completely stunned.

Jadis’ pupils contracted sharply.

He had never expected they would encounter the legendary coffin-bearing old earth spiky turtle.

"Uncle Jadis..."

Fiona slowly walked beside him, her face pale.

Her beautiful teal eyes trembled slightly as she stared at the gigantic creature.

This was the first time she had ever seen such a terrifying beast.

Its aura alone made her dizzy.

Even standing became difficult.

Her legs weakened slightly beneath the overwhelming pressure.

Jadis immediately stepped forward protectively.

"I don’t know either," he said with a grave expression. "But its appearance here is definitely not a good sign."

His gaze remained fixed on the coffin.

That terrifying vitality...

There was only one possibility.

"The legendary Longevity Pill..."

His breathing became heavier.

No wonder even a terrifying beast like the Inferno Swift Bird would appear here.

BOOM!

Lightning suddenly flashed across the sky.

Dark clouds gathered instantly.

Thunder roared.

The wind howled violently across the Southern Ridge as if the heavens themselves were trembling.

The old earth spiky turtle continued moving slowly through the mountains.

It looked slow—

Yet every step carried terrifying force capable of shaking heaven and earth.

Everyone watched silently.

Then suddenly—

From within the endless mist surrounding Mountain Treasure—

Another terrifying aura slowly emerged.

A massive ancient beast revealed its head gradually beneath the chaotic fog.

Its crimson eyes burned like suns.

Dark smoke drifted endlessly around its enormous body.

Sharp fangs glimmered beneath flashes of lightning.

The terrifying pressure instantly swallowed the entire region.

"This is..."

Jadis’ face turned deathly pale.

"The Smoke Darke Lion..."