Chapter 13: O Youth of Extraordinary Bones

At that moment, Zhou Qing’s whole body trembled, his face flushed red, and the veins on his neck stood out grotesquely.

Hearing the rapid, rustling sounds approaching from behind, he roared inwardly and leaped with all his strength, directly exiting the final gravity zone.

Instantly, his entire body felt light, and he collapsed limply onto the ground.

But he had no time to rest—he scrambled and rolled to hide behind a nearby pillar, barely slipping inside when the wandering souls howled back through the corridor.

Only after they vanished completely did Zhou Qing exhale deeply, letting out a bitter, shaken smile.

“Indeed, human potential is forged under pressure—I actually made it through this long stretch in such a short time!”

No sooner had he spoken than countless wandering souls burst out again, this time even more numerous than before.

Zhou Qing’s scalp prickled with dread.

“Could it be that the Supreme Elders sent someone to rescue me?” Zhou Qing’s eyes lit up.

After regaining a little strength, Zhou Qing stared at the silent corridor ahead and immediately began scanning the surroundings.

“This place is still too dangerous—I can’t just wait here passively. I must find that key as soon as possible. Once the gravity is lifted, the Supreme Elders can enter, and only then will I be truly safe!”

Having made up his mind, Zhou Qing began creeping forward silently, daring not to make a single sound—if there were still any Jin Dan-level wandering souls here, he’d be dead for sure.

But after searching the entire area, he found nothing.

“That doesn’t make sense—the Supreme Elders said the key was right at the edge of the gravity zone.”

Zhou Qing frowned, searched again, then cursed under his breath as he turned his gaze deeper inward.

“Zhou Qing, you’re too naive. Those old women claimed the gravity zone was safe—look what happened, they chased us like dogs. How can you believe them?”

Zhou Qing stared into the depths, hesitating. The Supreme Elders had specifically warned him: once inside, absolutely no venturing deeper—just find the key and wait where he was for them.

After brief thought, Zhou Qing made his decision: “I’ll take their words backward—what they say isn’t there, must be there; what they forbid me to enter, I must enter.”

Having decided, he pulled a Moonlight Pearl from his storage pouch and began moving forward.

But after just a few steps, he seemed to notice something and immediately quickened his pace.

On the wall beside him was a half-meter-wide tunnel, and the ground was littered with discarded blue bricks.

Zhou Qing was stunned—the blue bricks forming this wall weren’t ordinary bricks, but cast from a peculiar cold jade, interconnected and imbued with a mysterious array.

Even the Supreme Elders couldn’t enter—they had to send others in to open the gate from within.

Yet someone had silently breached it.

As the Moonlight Pearl illuminated the area, two arrogant characters were crudely carved beside it—“Is that all?”

“Is that all?”

Zhou Qing muttered, picturing the smug face of the intruder, and felt a surge of indignation.

The most mysterious cavern of Taiqingmen had been mocked by such a petty thief.

Wouldn’t the Supreme Elders and the Sect Master be furious if they saw this?

Zhou Qing leaned his head inside—the interior was pitch black, and he had no idea where it led.

He dared not use it to escape—after all, when they entered this cavern, the Supreme Elders hadn’t even revealed the route to them.

As Zhou Qing rose and continued forward, he soon spotted the grinding stone.

His face lit up with joy, and he rushed over.

“Was this just abandoned here?”

Zhou Qing didn’t rush to turn it—he examined the ground, noticing deep grooves, as if the stone had been dragged here.

“Could it be that thief?” Zhou Qing glanced back at the large hole in the stone wall and whispered to himself.

At least now he’d found the key—he should hurry and let the Supreme Elders in. If he encountered more danger, he couldn’t handle it.

The surroundings were utterly silent, thick with ghostly chill, and even the air reeked of mildew.

He leapt onto the grinding stone, activated his internal spiritual power, and prepared to turn it counterclockwise.

But suddenly, a cold wind surged from deeper within the corridor, causing Zhou Qing to shiver violently.

The next instant, his entire body was yanked forward by an irresistible force.

In a daze, the scenery around him blurred backward—he had no idea how far he’d been pulled, his head spinning wildly.

Then, abruptly, he stopped—and collapsed onto the ground, vomiting.

Once he felt slightly better, he scrambled to his feet, alert and tense, scanning his surroundings.

When he finally saw his surroundings, his face turned deathly pale.

Before him stretched a red river of unknown destination, and floating upon it were countless black crows.

They radiated chilling, putrid energy, filling one with terror.

Across the river grew a colossal ancient tree, so vast it seemed capable of holding up heaven and earth—yet now it stood withered, dying.

Its branches were like black steel pillars, twisted and coiled, riddled with cracks from centuries of decay.

Even more eerie, at its unreachable summit, thirteen thick iron chains glowed with cold, You light, binding a pulsing black heart like coiling serpents.

Each beat of the heart emitted a dull, unnatural sound, making Zhou Qing’s blood feel ready to freeze.

Beneath the giant tree, six coffins lay in silent rows, radiating immense, mysterious pressure—as if slumbering supreme experts, too terrifying to gaze upon.

Red river, dead crows, giant tree, heart, coffins…

The pressure surged like a tidal wave, crushing Zhou Qing’s breath, nearly knocking him unconscious.

Where was this place?

Why did Taiqingmen’s cavern contain such a terrifying presence?

Was this why the Supreme Elders forbade them from going deeper?

Or had the Supreme Elder’s breakthrough in her cultivation been to come here and retrieve something?

And how had I even ended up here?

Before Zhou Qing could sort out his thoughts, a genderless voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

“O youth of extraordinary bones, your destiny has arrived—if you pass the trial, this bowl of boundless power shall be yours!”

The next instant, a cracked porcelain bowl, its rim shattered, floated slowly down from the giant tree.

Zhou Qing froze, stepping back instantly.

But before he could refuse, the voice in his mind spoke again.

“Only one question—ridiculously simple. Answer correctly, and the bowl is yours, and you’ll escape safely. Fail, and when the tides begin, you’ll die without a grave.”

Zhou Qing hurriedly said, “Isn’t this trial too sudden? I had no preparation at all—and this broken bowl doesn’t look like any treasure!”

“I told you it’s simple! Let me give you a hint—it’s a two-choice question. Stop dawdling—let’s begin!”

As the voice ended, a line of characters appeared in midair.

【If you’ve trained for a hundred years and finally avenged yourself, exterminating your enemy’s entire clan, only to suddenly discover a child hiding in the corner—what will you do?】

Looking at the question, Zhou Qing blinked—he was right, it truly was a two-choice question.

“What will you do?” the genderless voice echoed again.

(End of Chapter)