"Grandfather, farewell!" Tears streamed down Ethan Storm's cheeks as he gazed hollowly at the dark coffin about to be sealed.Reflected in a bronze mirror before the coffin stood Ethan Storm: a boy of eleven or twelve, his frail frame draped in white garments, his face pale, and his once spirited black eyes now devoid of luster.Outside the spirit chamber, the cacophony of firecrackers, suona horns, footsteps, laughter, and conversation melded together, as the dragon dance troupe hired from the town performed with zeal.For millions of years, the dragon has been a symbol of faith in the Continent of Chaos. Legend has it that the continent was forged by a colossal ancestral dragon, which then transformed into myriad forms, sacrificing itself in the process. However, these stories were but myths, and rumors about dragons were scarce nowadays, with only a few fragmented records found in ancient texts.It was a custom in Stone Town to invite dragon dancers to perform whenever a townsperso

Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, Edward, who had been dead, suddenly sat up in his coffin. It was as if a stretched spring had suddenly recoiled, eerie and without warning.Clothed in black, with black lips, a black hat, and black eyes—Everyone, except for Ethan, was horrified, their faces changing color. Even Olivia and Sophia were pale and retreated in fear."A ghost!"The crowd scattered like frightened birds, especially the timid girls and boys, who hid behind their elders, crying hysterically.Ethan's eyelids twitched and his palms were sweaty, but his deep bond with his grandfather from a decade of companionship kept him standing by the coffin."Grandpa, are you alright?" Ethan asked cautiously.Under Ethan's watchful gaze, his grandfather's eyes seemed to regain some vitality, and his rigid face broke into a faint smile. He weakly raised his right hand from within the coffin, pointing at Ethan and then at his own mouth.What did that mean? Did his grandfather have somet

Ethan carefully poured a small pot of molten bronze and iron mixture into the mold, forming a soon-to-be-finished plow. The people of Stone Town mainly earned their livelihoods through agriculture and animal husbandry, so iron plows were a common tool. The plows would inevitably wear and tear, and those of lesser quality would deteriorate quickly. Consequently, the demand for plows in town was high. Casting an iron plow required less cooling time compared to weapons like swords, knives, and axes. After a short while, Ethan gently tapped the mold encasing the plow with a small hammer, freeing the newly forged tool. Only the final step of tempering remained. "Ding!" Ethan flicked the plow with his index finger, producing a deep, crisp sound. "Hmm, this plow should be quite good!" A sense of joy filled Ethan's eyes. "Huh?" Not far away, Henry had been observing everyone and quickly approached Ethan, examining the iron plow with interest. It was a furrow plow, measuring two feet se

Upon entering the second level of the Strong Blood Realm, Ethan could feel not only a significant increase in strength but also a substantial improvement in his vision. By the light of the candle, he could clearly see leaves more than twenty yards away. "Rustle" The bush containing the animal trap quivered. Ethan tiptoed forward, cautiously taking two steps. Suddenly— "Whoosh" "Crack" A branch as thick as a child's arm was snapped in two! Delicate scales reflected a faint, eerie sheen in the night. "Damn! A snake?" Ethan was taken aback. In the past, Ethan had caught wolves, porcupines, and pheasants using his traps, but this was the first time he had caught such a large snake. "Gulp" Ethan swallowed nervously, his eyes fixed on the snake ten yards away. It was evident that the snake had been caught by the trap. The snake struggled ceaselessly. Surrounding bushes roiled and broke. "Crack" "Snap" Snake blood continued to flow from the undergrowth. Ethan mustered his cour

The next day, early morning.Ethan rose early, washed his face briefly, grabbed a broom, and stepped outside.He gazed at the pale sky and enjoyed a moment of tranquility. Dressed in a simple, clean azure robe, his serene and indifferent expression made him appear several years older than he was.In front of the small house where Ethan and his grandfather had lived, there stood a massive pagoda tree that required three grown men to wrap their arms around its trunk. The tree's branches spread wide, and it towered over thirty feet high, leaving a striking impression from afar.Occasionally, passersby would marvel at the sight, and some ill-intentioned individuals would attempt to secretly chop it down to sell. However, after countless strikes, only a few chunks of bark were removed, leaving mere scratches on the trunk before they gave up.Ethan remembered his grandfather's frequent admonitions: "This is a spiritual tree, a tree of fortune. Cherish and protect it."Ethan was skeptical bu