Chapter 56 - 53: Matryoshka Ninefold Coffin

"I’m testing your capabilities to see how much talent the recognized master of the Ninefold Coffin possesses. As for killing you, that’s a certainty. The moment I break this seal, I will kill you," the armored middle-aged man said, his tone as indifferent as ever.

With that, his body turned completely ethereal and vanished from Mo Qianqian’s sight.

"I..." Mo Qianqian was rendered speechless.

The man wanted to pass on his spearmanship solely to test Mo Qianqian’s talent and see what the master of the Ninefold Coffin was capable of. And yet, the intention to kill him remained absolute. Mo Qianqian felt a sudden, massive headache. Facing an opponent of this caliber was truly despair-inducing.

"I hope I can find the Heaven and Earth Dao!" Mo Qianqian sighed inwardly.

At the same time, doubts sprouted in his mind. Did becoming the master of the Ninefold Coffin grant him no other benefits or abilities? Or was the only benefit the opportunity to practice the World-Destroying Heaven-Shattering Technique and become a Body Cultivator?

The World-Destroying Heaven-Shattering Technique was undeniably extraordinary. The problem was that his current cultivation level was too low; he had absolutely no way to fight against the monsters and demons sealed inside! Moreover, how was he supposed to get out of the Ninefold Coffin?

"For now, I can only try this ’Taiyang Power’," Mo Qianqian said, tossing aside his stray thoughts. He sat cross-legged on the ground and began to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the area, circulating the World-Destroying Heaven-Shattering Technique to cultivate.

He needed to secure the benefits first!

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was actually a general term for all the various cultivable energies that existed between heaven and earth.

The moment he began absorbing it, Mo Qianqian felt an extremely yang and rigid energy surging into his body through every pore. His blood began to boil. Every inch of his flesh and blood felt as though it had been ignited and was about to burst into roaring flames. Mo Qianqian felt like his entire body was going to explode, instantly overwhelmed by excruciating agony.

"He told you to absorb it, and you actually did? Aren’t you afraid he’s tricking you? If you absorb the Taiyang Power, he might be able to break the seal."

At this moment, a female voice of indistinguishable age suddenly rang in Mo Qianqian’s ear.

Mo Qianqian’s expression changed drastically. He hastily stopped cultivating, spun around, and looked everywhere. "Who’s there?"

SHUSH!

A shushing sound echoed right next to his ear. "Stay calm. Don’t let that guy discover us."

Mo Qianqian was certain it was a woman’s voice. The armored middle-aged man with an arrow pinned through his heart wasn’t the only one here. There was someone else! However, he couldn’t see where she was. Perhaps, like the armored man, she existed within a spatial seal.

"W-who are you?" Mo Qianqian asked in a low voice.

"Me? I am from the second layer of the Ninefold Coffin," the mysterious female voice replied.

"The second layer of the Ninefold Coffin?" Mo Qianqian’s face paled in horror. He wondered if this place wasn’t just a series of layered seals. Why had someone from the second layer appeared now? And where exactly was the second layer? If she was sealed in the second layer, didn’t that mean she was also a terrifying existence?

"You don’t need to worry. I haven’t come out yet," the mysterious woman said. "I’m just here to warn you. If this guy in the first layer breaks his seal, you will definitely die."

"Then, Senior, do I have any way to survive? Aside from finding the Heaven and Earth Dao, I mean," Mo Qianqian took the opportunity to ask.

"Yes." The mysterious woman explained, "Go five miles ahead, to the very center of this ’island’. There is a coffin buried there. Dig it up and open it.

"I am inside that coffin, which is the second spatial layer of the Ninefold Coffin.

"I cultivate Taiyin Power, which perfectly counters him. If you let me out, I can deal with him."

Mo Qianqian was alarmed. Was this what the Ninefold Coffin meant? Another coffin was buried within the first spatial layer? Were they buried in a nesting doll fashion, layer upon layer?

"Um, Senior... if you come out, will you kill me?" Mo Qianqian asked weakly.

"Yes," she replied.

"..." Mo Qianqian was speechless.

If she was going to kill him the moment she got out, why the hell would he release her?

"However, since you’re going to die anyway once he breaks the seal, releasing me gives you a tiny sliver of a chance to run away while we fight," the mysterious woman reasoned.

Hearing this, Mo Qianqian despaired. He couldn’t harbor any delusions that these entities would spare him. He could only rely on himself.

"I’m just scaring you. The Ninefold Coffin is an ominous artifact of great evil; whoever holds it suffers misfortune. I just want to get out. I have no interest in this Ninefold Coffin, so killing you is of little use to me," the mysterious woman added.

Mo Qianqian didn’t reply. Did she really think he would believe her?

"Senior, I want to ask a question," Mo Qianqian said. "Since I am the master of the Ninefold Coffin, what use does it have? How do I control it?"

"I’m not sure... But since you are the master of the Ninefold Coffin, using your mind to control your entry and exit should be enough," she answered.

Mental control. This was similar to how he controlled his Spirit Body. As for the uses of the Ninefold Coffin, if she refused to tell him, there was nothing he could do. Since it was a treasure of this caliber, its utility had to be immense. If she wasn’t telling him, it was entirely possible that its power could be used to suppress her.

"By the way, the Taiyang Power in this first layer is already very weak. Whether you absorb it or not actually has little impact on the seal. You can go ahead and try absorbing the Taiyang Power to cultivate.

"Once the seal weakens a bit more, you can try entering the Second-Layer Coffin. Good luck," the mysterious woman added.

With that, the mysterious woman’s voice ceased, and no further sound came from her.

Mo Qianqian was instantly speechless. Absorbing it had no impact, yet she had popped out just to give him a heart attack! As for entering the second layer, he would think about that later! The moment he went in, she might just kill him directly. This place was full of monsters and demons; he couldn’t trust a word anyone said.

Subsequently, Mo Qianqian resumed his absorption and refinement.

Two days later.

News of the Chen Family’s annihilation and Qin Chao’s fall reached the Qin Family. From top to bottom, the entire Qin Family was filled with righteous indignation. Everyone waited for the Qin Family Patriarch, seated in the main hall, to speak.

After pondering for a long time, the Qin Family Patriarch finally spoke in a deep voice, "Spread the word. The Qin Family will only kill Mo Qianqian. We will not involve Master Asura and Shi Muyao!"

Hearing this, everyone in the Qin Family clenched their fists. Qin Chao had actually been killed by the Spirit Master, Asura. However, that Spirit Master had someone backing him who could effortlessly slay Tongyou Realm experts. The Qin Family had ultimately given up on confronting that Spirit Master. Still, this was the best choice. A Tongyou Realm expert of the Cloud Void Sect had died; the Cloud Void Sect would be the ones to deal with that Spirit Master.

"Also, assemble seventy percent of the Qin Family elders and disciples who are at or above the Spiritual Mysterious Realm Fourth Level. I will personally lead the team to the Ten Thousand Beasts Forest. We must hunt down and kill Mo Qianqian. Bring him to me alive, or bring me his corpse!" the Qin Family Patriarch issued another solemn order.

"Yes, sir!" the crowd roared in unison, their killing intent overflowing.

"Elder Qin Luo!" the Qin Family Patriarch called out.

"Present!" An elder stepped forward.

"Just in case, head to the Central Earth and report this matter to the Ling Family!" the Qin Family Patriarch instructed.

"Yes, sir!" Elder Qin Luo replied.

Everyone could hear the Patriarch’s resolve. Mo Qianqian, the person ranked first on the Hidden Dragon List, was already renowned during his time in the Ling Family. Now, despite having his Spirit Vein crippled, he had become a rare Body Cultivator, capable of defeating experts at the second and third layers of the Spirit Profound Realm while only being at the First Realm Seventh Layer himself.

If they didn’t eliminate Mo Qianqian and allowed him to grow, the Qin Family would be in grave danger. Therefore, it was imperative to strike before he matured. Aside from leaving behind enough strength to guard the estate, the Qin Family mobilized almost all of their strongest forces to hunt him down.

Meanwhile.

The Cloud Void Sect Master had already led nearly a hundred Cloud Void Sect experts to gather at the main peak of the Yuling Sect. They stood in a tense standoff against the elders and disciples of the Yuling Sect.

"Yuling Sect, hand over Asura! Otherwise, do not blame us for showing no mercy!" The Cloud Void Sect Master bellowed fiercely, his booming voice echoing across the entire Yuling Sect.