"Be extremely cautious around that ancient bronze coffin."
"Keep your distance, keep your distance, or one day, you will end up burying yourself in the ancient bronze coffin."
The raspy grating voice echoed, lingering on and on.
Lin Chen abruptly opened his eyes, his breathing irregular, with intense cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
He habitually looked around, but there was no one in the room.
However, the voice that just resonated in his mind was too real, too clear, like someone whispering right into his ear.
"It's been three whole years! Why do these strange voices keep appearing in my mind from time to time?"
Lin Chen forced a bitter smile onto his face.
What is the ancient bronze coffin?
Why would it end up burying him?
These are the questions that he had been contemplating for three years, yet, he still had no answers.
Lin Chen shook his head, got dressed, and then went to the yard. He drew a gentle breath, formed palms with both hands, and cast them forward.
This particular technique known as 'Spirit Refining Palm' is unique to the Lin family. It doesn’t hold any offensive capability, but it can clear the mind, invigorate the spirit, and enhance the speed of absorbing spiritual energy.
Lin Chen's figure moved, casting shadows of palms all over. The process flowed seamlessly like clouds and water, having an intangible charm.
This technique, which very few people in the Lin family could perform to perfection, he had accomplished.
A moment later, after finishing his palm techniques, Lin Chen sat cross-legged on the spot, beginning to absorb the heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.
However, when the spiritual energy entered his body, an unseen barrier seemed to form, forcing most of the spiritual energy out, with only tiny threads of it seeping into the group of true Qi gathered in his Dantian.
"My aptitude in martial arts is excellent, but my cultivation speed is only a tenth of others.”
"Could it be that I'm destined to be nothing more than martial arts grandmaster in this life?"
Lin Chen sighed. Aside from the bronze ancient coffin, this had become his second biggest worry.
Dong, dong, dong…
At this moment, the sounds of a bronze bell echoed, carrying an ancient and long-lasting tone.
Within the Lin family, the daily morning exercises had begun.
…
The Holy Spirit Continent was filled with countless sects, ancient clans, and dynasties.
The Purple Bead Dynasty was one among the two largest dynasties, with vast territory and numerous powerhouses.
Under its flag, there were eight city states, with the last ranked being the Night Tide City.
Despite Night Tide City’s low rank, other city states and powers did not dare to encroach upon it, because the primary family in Night Tide City, the Lin family, was once one of the three major families in the Purple Bead Dynasty, possessing great influence and numerous powerhouses.
Though the Lin family had declined from its past grandeur, its deep heritage was still very much intact.
At this moment, on the martial arts training ground of the Lin family, the disciples were practicing various martial techniques, bustling with activity.
"Young Master!"
Upon seeing Lin Chen arrive, a young man dressed in white, exuding strands of icy aura, walked over with a beaming face.
"Lin Han, your icy spirit has improved again," Lin Chen said with a smile at the newcomer. "Your cultivation has reached the eighth level of the Xiantian realm, and with the completion of your Icy Force, none of my kin around your age will be your match."
Shaking his head, Lin Han replied, "Young master, if only you could cultivate as quickly as I do, I would be far from your match."
When Lin Han said this, he wasn't flattering; it was because Lin Chen’s martial arts talent is recognized as the best in the Lin family, and even in the entire Zijin dynasty.
For century, no one in the Lin family had ever acquired the Supreme Martial Art skill, the 'Heavenly Fire Seal.' Yet, it was obtained by Lin Chen a year ago, startling countless people.
Regrettably, Lin Chen’s cultivation speed was incredibly slow. Even after six years of diligent practice and consuming various medicinal pills, he was barely able to advance to the fifth-level Qi Gathering of the Xiantian Realm.
Other disciples in the Lin family who started cultivating even later than Lin Chen had already surpassed him.
At such a pace, it was uncertain when he would reach the Divine Law realm.
The Xiantian realm is divided into ten levels, each becoming harder to advance past the fifth level.
Above the Xiantian realm is the Divine Law realm. Only by entering the Divine Law realm can a cultivator truly start on the path of cultivation. If unable to enter this realm, regardless of how strong their martial arts talent may be, they're simply mortal.
Realizing that he might have spoken imprudently, Lin Han quickly said, "Young master, our clan leader is now traveling all over the continent, I am sure he can find a solution for your body’s issues."
"Let's hope so," Lin Chen sighed.
The Lin family's patriarch, Lin Cangsheng, had tried countless methods to resolve the issue of Lin Chen's body, yet all had proven ineffective—even the usage of ancient pills didn't work.
In Lin Chen's heart, he had long stopped nurturing any expectations.
"Never mind, let's not mention that."
A glimmer flashed through Lin Han's eyes, his tone slightly mysterious, "Did you know that our Lin Family has received a distinguished guest today?"
"Yes, it's indeed Liu Tongtian, the number one true disciple of the Mixed Divine Sect who visited us three years ago! This time he seems to come for some mysterious treasure reported to be spotted around the Night Tide City."
The Mixed Divine Sect is a top power ranked with the Sword Fairy Sect and the Pure Clear Sect among the many sects in the Holy Spirit Continent. It has numerous strong warriors, geniuses emerge endlessly, and it even outshines the Purple Cassia Dynasty.
"Is it him?"
Lin Chen's face changed slightly.
Three years ago, Liu Tongtian brought great benefits to the Lin Family, earning them a chance to the inheritance platform of Heavenly Fire Seal.
However, Liu Tongtian failed and did not win the Heavenly Fire Seal.
"His presence has nothing to do with us, let's go practice martial techniques now."
Lin Chen shook his head and moved forward.
"Young Master, how do you find my Furious Savage Bull?"
"Young Master, where do I need to improve my Sand Wave Step Technique?"
"Young Master, could you explain to me the mystery of the Sequential Collapse?"
When these young disciples saw him coming, they showed joy and surrounded him.
Lin Chen didn’t refuse, he answered every question, making sure these disciples all learned something new.
"Let's call it a day, everyone."
Lin Chen gave a bow with his fist cupped in hand, a traditional Chinese salute, and smiled. The young disciples all thanked him and dispersed, vacating an open area for him.
"At this time, I've only achieved the antecedent fifth level of Qi absorption, enabling me to perform the first seal of Heavenly Fire, Xuan fire seal! As for the essence of the second and third seals, even though I understand them like the back of my hand, I need to reach the antecedent eighth level of Qi transformation to start executing them."
Lin Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and he immediately formed a mysterious hand seal.
Transparent Qi emerged, emanating from his hands in concentric waves.
Immediately following, a hot wave of air blew in all directions. A round blue flame rose and formed a circle, within which appeared the roughly formed character for 'fire', igniting a profound sense of heat.
This blue flame wasn't ordinary fire, but Xuan fire. Even if you threw a piece of black iron into it, it would instantly melt into molten iron. The power was astonishing.
Seeing this, all the young disciples around were stunned.
Typically, only when reaching the antecedent eighth level can various martial skills become tangible. But Lin Chen was only at the fifth level and could already achieve such a feat.
"It's such a pity. Our young master has such high martial arts talent, but his physique is..."
Many disciples wore expressions of regret on their faces.
