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2024-10-29 19:42:56The gazes of over a hundred onlookers quickly converged on Ethan.
Pale as paper, scrawny yet standing tall, his chin slightly raised, seemingly unfazed by the blood streaming down his forehead, his dark eyes appeared calm but with a hint of madness, like a wounded lone wolf in the night, proud, bloodthirsty, and ruthless.
"This child has a mature and resolute nature, and great courage. He is destined for greatness!" Many shared the same thought, and for a moment, the crowd fell silent.
Catherine wanted to scold Ethan but was taken aback by his fierce expression, and she too remained silent.
"You insolent brat! Today's gathering includes village elders and clan leaders, and we will not tolerate your unruly behavior!" Robert couldn't bear being scolded by a twelve-year-old and spoke out.
Ethan ignored Robert's reprimand, only pressing his ear closer to the black coffin—
"Thud."
Ethan thought he heard a faint knocking sound from the coffin and quickly moved even closer, lying flat against its surface.
"Thud. Thud."
"Thud."
"Thud. Thud."
Two more knocks. This time, Ethan was certain he heard them, and he turned around, his face frantic and ecstatic, exclaiming to the crowd, "Grandfather's alive! He's alive! Open the coffin! Hurry!"
The revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd, like poking a hornet's nest. People began to murmur, and many young girls were frightened by Ethan's startling declaration, hiding behind their elders and shrieking.
"Ethan! Be absolutely certain before you make such claims!"
"Yeah, how could the dead return to life? That's an immutable law of the universe, what could a child like you possibly know!"
"Step back! It's nearly noon; we can't delay the burial any longer!"
"Poor child, he's so distraught that he's hallucinating." A white-haired, elderly woman lamented.
"He's truly alive! Grandfather's alive; open the coffin! Please!" Overcome with emotion, the twelve-year-old Ethan finally burst into tears.
Wiping his tears, Ethan tried to push the coffin lid open but couldn't reach it. He dragged over a large stone to stand on, and tried again.
"Ah! Help me open the coffin! Please!" Ethan used all his strength, his pale face turning a deep red, but how could a regular twelve-year-old possibly move a coffin carried by eight people?
The coffin lid was sealed with a mixture of flour paste and adhesive, then nailed shut with iron nails. To open it required at least four strong villagers, and a single person would need the strength of a thousand pounds.
Undeterred, Ethan shakily dragged a twenty-pound iron rod over and inserted the thinner end into the edge of the coffin lid—
"Open it! Ah! Grandfather's alive! Alive! Wait for me, I'll save you!" Ethan's legs dangled in mid-air as he suspended himself from the iron rod, but the coffin lid remained unmoved.
Seeing this, Sophia quickly stepped forward, joining Ethan in grasping the iron rod and hanging on the other end. Soon, Olivia joined them in their effort to pry open the coffin.
"Ah! Lift... ah!" Ethan's hands trembled, his body arching.
The three of them, two girls and a boy, strained against the iron rod, now visibly bending and warping. But the coffin lid still did not budge!
Their struggle seemed eternal, and the hundred onlookers were visibly moved.
At that moment, a tall, thin, middle-aged man approached, patting Ethan on the shoulder, and said in a clear voice, "Lad, let me listen."
The man, Marcus Storm, was a respected figure in the village and Ethan's neighbor. He had often helped Ethan's grandfather and was well-liked and highly regarded.
Grateful, Ethan and the girls stepped back, watching Marcus as he pressed his ear to the coffin lid.
After listening intently for a while, Marcus raised an eyebrow. Soon, a faint smile appeared on his lips, and he turned to address the crowd, "Everyone, there is indeed something unusual happening within the coffin!"
"If even Marcus says so, could it be..."
"Could Edward really have come back to life? Marcus is never one to deceive us!"
"What an extraordinary occurrence! Dead for two days, and now resurrected..." An old man couldn't help but marvel.
"Please, elders, open the coffin! Save my grandfather!" Ethan cried out in grief.
Hesitation crept over the crowd, their eyes shifting between Ethan and Robert. Opening the coffin was a serious matter! Not to mention the great effort required to reseal it afterward, it would also be highly disrespectful to disturb the deceased. Though the members of Edward's family were not particularly influential, they still shared the same village, and interactions would be inevitable.
"Who dares to open the coffin?! Perhaps there are merely some insects inside. What's the big deal?" Robert shouted angrily.
Upon hearing this, Ethan snapped, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at Robert. "Robert! How could you—"
"How could I? Edward led a life of hardship; staying alive would only prolong his suffering!"
Ethan's chest heaved rapidly, his eyes turning bloodshot. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the white paper in his pocket, stained with a faint trace of red. He lowered his head and, to the astonishment of the crowd, knelt before Robert. "Please, Uncle, allow us to open the coffin!"
Robert shuddered, opening and closing his mouth, but ultimately remaining silent.
"Join me in opening the coffin!" Marcus announced, striding toward the black coffin.
"Open it! Open it! We'll soon see if it's just insects or if someone has truly come back to life!" A burly middle-aged man chimed in.
"Everyone, help us lift!" Six muscular men in their thirties and forties surrounded the black coffin, gripping the lid, their arms straining with exertion.
"On my count of three, we lift together!" Marcus shouted.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!"
"Lift!"
Ethan stood at the front, watching intently with the rest of the crowd.
With a creaking sound that made everyone's teeth ache, the coffin lid was flung open with a loud bang!
Ethan rushed to the coffin first, followed by Olivia, Sophia, Victor, and the rest of the crowd, forming a tight circle around it.
Ethan saw his grandfather's face for the second time: his countenance remained serene and unchanged, only slightly thinner, with darkened lips. He lay peacefully in the coffin, as if merely asleep.
"What's going on? I thought he came back to life?"
"Exactly! He's clearly dead!"
"Even Marcus got it wrong!"
"Ugh, what a stench! He must have been dead for a while!" One person jeered, quickly covering his nose and stepping back.
Just then—
A sudden, piercing scream from a young girl echoed through the air: "Ahh!"
"A ghost! His eyes are open!!!"
"What?!"
"He's really alive!!!"
The onlookers, excluding Ethan, Olivia, and Sophia, were so frightened that they stumbled back several steps.
"What an incredible tale from the Continent of Chaos!" Everyone's eyes were glued to the black coffin, disbelief written on their faces.
It was early autumn, and the midday sun still held some warmth, but everyone except Ethan felt a chill run up their spines.
"Boom!" A startling thunderclap shattered the silence, lightning streaking through the sky.
The area fell deathly quiet, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
And then, a more bizarre event occurred...
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Sovereign of Chaos Chapter 3: Mysterious Stone Bead
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
Sovereign of Chaos Chapter 4: Purchase a Cultivation Manual
Excitement flickered in Ethan's eyes as he licked his dry lips. He removed the Stone Bead from his neck and hung it in an open space about thirty feet from the gravesite before returning to his original meditation spot. As expected, the absorption speed of the spiritual energy slowed down significantly, now comparable to his usual cultivation rate. Ethan was overjoyed, and his grief over his grandfather's death seemed to fade somewhat. He eagerly retrieved the Stone Bead and treasured it, hanging it back around his neck. "With this extraordinary bead, how can I not avenge my deep-seated grudge?" Ethan murmured. "However, purchasing the remaining eight levels of the Azure Ox Method would likely cost nearly three thousand taels. Even with my apprentice wages from the blacksmith's shop, I'm afraid I couldn't afford it in a hundred years!" After a long silence, Ethan rose and returned to his straw hut. He fumbled behind a straw mat for a while before finally pulling out a small cloth
Sovereign of Chaos Chapter 5: Forging Top-quality Weapons
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
Sovereign of Chaos Chapter 6: Tonight's Roast Chicken, Packed to Go
Half an hour later. "An excellent eight-foot rake! It's also top-quality!" Henry looked dubiously at the iron rake in his hands. This was already the fourth piece! Each one was of superior quality! Had the boy taken some sort of drug? Had he transformed his grief from his grandfather's death into power? An hour later. "Top-quality spear!" "Top-quality hidden sleeve sword!" "Top-quality hoe!" Henry's expression changed again and again, from initial astonishment to delight, to doubt, and finally to utter shock! When had top-quality items become so common? Something was definitely off! This was already the seventh piece! Not a single one was mediocre – all top-quality, crafted from ordinary materials! The success rate was 100%! This casting mastery alone had already surpassed Henry! Henry had completely stopped working, pulling up a chair and sitting leisurely next to Ethan, watching him with a strange expression as he busied himself, sweat dripping from his forehead. Not just
Sovereign of Chaos Chapter 7: Miraculous Breakthrough, Third Level
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
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Ethan fetched a bowl of clean water and, with a puzzled expression, dropped the Dark Token into it.With a soft "ding," the token slipped into the bowl, and the clear water immediately turned black at a visible rate, as if a piece of graphite had been thrown in. In the blink of an eye, the water in the bowl transformed into a pool of ink.Startled, Ethan's face paled, and he quickly retreated several steps before returning with another bowl filled with water.He used a stick to carefully hold the Dark Token and dipped it into the fresh water, repeating the process dozens of times until the water in the bowl finally became clear.The Dark Token was a pure black wooden plaque about the size of a child's palm and half a finger thick. On its surface were faint traces of dark red, a residue of coagulated blood, and numerous tiny silver-white points that appeared to have been etched into it."These silver dots are quite peculiar!" Ethan muttered, his face close to the surface of the water a
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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
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"Knife? Ethan, what do you need a knife for?" Charles raised an eyebrow.The group of boys glanced sideways, puzzled as they looked at Ethan."What's Ethan going to do with a knife? Kill a big cat?" the snotty-nosed kid wiped his nose, curiously asked."How is that possible?" Justin Storm patted the snotty-nosed kid's shoulder. "You think a big cat is so easy to kill? Let me tell you, not everyone is called Brother Justin!""Hmm." The snotty-nosed kid smirked. "I knew it, Brother Justin is the most handsome.""Get lost, stop flattering me," Justin grumbled, noticing his dream girl's attention was drawn to Ethan. "Your snot is all over my clothes."Ethan thought for a moment and replied, "I want to chop trees. I don't need any wages, as I'm used to using a knife to cut trees. I'm not comfortable with a saw."No wages?Everyone was astonished, even Lily blinked her big, bright eyes, deep in thought.Justin scoffed but seeing everyone's eyes on Ethan, he didn't say anything more.Charles
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Juan Baker flipped his right hand and a pitch-black spear appeared.Ethan's gaze had been fixed on Juan Baker and his son the entire time. The instant Juan moved, Ethan realized his intent."You despicable old codger! Don't you dare!" Ethan was so shocked he nearly jumped out of his skin. If Juan Baker had targeted Ethan himself, he wouldn't have batted an eyelid no matter how powerful his opponent was. After all, Ethan's mental resilience was beyond ordinary and with the ancient Azure Dragon's restorative abilities, conventional attacks posed no threat.But for Juan Baker to make a move against Lily was going too far! And it just so happened to be Ethan's Achilles heel!Juan Baker gave a cold smile. Without hesitation, he whipped his right hand down to hurl the spear!At the same time, Ethan sped towards Lily as swiftly as he could.Originally two hundred yards separated Ethan and Lily, but in this life-or-death moment, he seemed even faster than usual. Incredibly, he managed to rus
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"Ethan, do you really think you can bully the Baker family so easily?" Juan Baker's face was ashen, utterly humiliated in front of all the major families of Mistwood County. Having his future son-in-law killed and his guest official beheaded right in front of everyone, how could the Baker family continue to hold their standing in Mistwood County if they did not regain some face?Ethan's expression was impassive as his gaze swept over the core members of the Baker family present in the grand hall. Of them all, only four gave him slight pause.Including Juan Baker and his third son Ralph Baker, there were just five Bone Sacrifice practitioners. And now, only four remained after Ethan's handiwork. Such a force was inferior even compared to the Martin family of Hampshire County. Ethan had no patience for idle chatter. He immediately unleashed the Eight Mystical Metamorphoses, his original form and his clone charging at Juan Baker in unison.Speed was paramount. Ethan was currently only a
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In the hall, all the "dignitaries" like Anna Patterson and Allan Long watched Ethan and Maxwell with odd expressions, clearly sensing their malicious intent. Yet no one had expected someone to actually crash the Baker family's joyous occasion.For rivals like Anna Patterson, nothing would be better than ruining the Baker family's big day, or even causing their total downfall. So for the moment, all was silent as they waited to see what would unfold.An eerie quiet. Joseph closed his eyes regretfully. He knew of the feelings between his daughter and Ethan, and rather approved of the boy. But his arrival was just too late, and the timing was wrong...After over seven years, Ethan's appearance had changed somewhat, but Charles still recognized him and kept signaling urgently for Ethan to leave quickly.Ethan ignored him completely, back ramrod straight, eyes empty of emotion as he scanned the Baker crowd.Beside him, Maxwell loomed tall and bulky, standing out in the crowd like a crane
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"You...you..." Joseph was nearing eighty. Such provocation was too much for him and his face flushed crimson as he gasped for breath."Father!" Charles hurriedly supported Joseph, gently patting his back to help him calm down. "Grandfather!" Lily's hair was disheveled, tears instantly filling her eyes....The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month was an auspicious date, at least for the millions of ordinary folk in Mistwood County.Everyone knew this was the joyous wedding day of the Baker family's third young master. Though he already had two wives and concubines, how eminent was the Baker family? The undisputed overlord of Mistwood County, even lording over nearby counties--their might was undisputed.The Baker family was worthy of being called the overlords of Mistwood County. Their extravagant welcoming convoy stretched over fifteen miles, handing out large festive cash gifts to all they met--not just any gifts either, but ten taels of silver per person!Many eyed the money cove
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"Two celestial beings..." Lily's lovely face paled and she instinctively drew closer to the ice sculpture.The loud commotion also woke the just-risen Charles, Joseph and the rest. Soon--The main hall doors opened and the Joseph family streamed out, from Charles and Joseph down to the servants, staring curiously at the Baker entourage and the glittering array of treasures before them.Many had never seen such wealth in their lives! Just the gold ingots alone filled three huge chests. That was not even counting the obviously expensive jewelry and other gifts.Filling chests with gold ingots--how rich did one have to be?Likely enough...to buy half the streets in Stone Town!Joseph's brows twitched slightly. "Young Master Baker, what is the meaning of this?"It was normal to offer betrothal gifts, but gifts of such extravagance were no ordinary matter. Despite his advanced years, Joseph's eyesight remained sharp. He knew well the sheer quantity of gold, silver and jewels laid out befor
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Lily gazed at the ice sculpture, lost in thought, barely registering her father's words.Charles stepped forward and sat down cross-legged beside his daughter. "Speaking of that Ethan boy, he really is pitiable. Losing his parents early, and his only grandfather murdered too. Seven years ago he finally avenged his grandfather by killing Caleb, but then got taken away by some mysterious youth. No word since--such a shame."He sighed regretfully. The image of that teenager chopping wood behind their hill seven or eight years ago was still vivid in his mind. Charles had liked Ethan quite a bit. At the time, many talented local youths had been vying for Lily's affection, yet he had favored Ethan, even hoping to match him with his daughter. But unexpectedly..."Father, enough." Lily turned her head slightly, revealing a face that could bring kingdoms to ruin. But looking closely, her beautiful eyes held a deep weariness.Seven years--how many such spans are granted in a mortal lifetime? Se
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Chapter 173
An hour later. The rain grew heavier, coming down in sheets. The dark sky heralded an early nightfall in this gloomy downpour. The Inn of No Worries had long since closed, and the main street was now sparsely populated, with only a few swaying lanterns barely clinging to their poles in the wind and rain.Under the torrential rain's dilution, the traces of the Fountain of Time's poison had completely faded away. As Ethan strode through the ankle-deep water on the street, it splashed out around his steps.A hundred or so yards across from the Inn of No Worries, a bulky figure stood under the eaves of a dilapidated house, hands hanging loosely at his sides. Drenched by the raging storm, he seemed unfazed, standing motionless as the rainwater streamed down his face through gaps in the broken roof tiles."Maxwell? Your hands...they're healed?" From afar, Ethan immediately recognized Maxwell and grinned, hurriedly splashing through the standing water toward him.Maxwell's lips trembled and
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The assassin in purple robes stepped forward to flip over Ethan's "corpse", intending to seize Ethan's Azure Myst.But at that moment--Suddenly! Ethan's eyes shot open as the Azure Dragon shard materialized in his hand, stabbing into the assassin's left and right thighs in rapid succession!"Pfft!""Pfft!"Blood gushed wildly as holes appeared in both of the assassin's legs. His expression changed dramatically as he was jolted awake. Ethan pounced forward, gripping the assassin's thighs tightly, stabbing the Azure Dragon shard again and again into his legs! Ethan knew clearly that a Beyond Heaven core assassin of this caliber likely had some kind of spiritual armor for protection. A direct stab to the heart might not take him down in one blow. In an instant, the assassin's legs were pierced four or five times. The extreme sharpness of the Azure Dragon shard rendered his legs basically useless. The assassin's face was sinisterly dark. He did indeed have spiritual armor--a mid-gra
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"I must make him come down," Ethan's icy gaze swept over the water pooling on the ground. The rainwater mixed with a drop of Fountain of Time. Although constantly being washed and diluted by the rain, it had not yet fully dispersed and was still extremely toxic!Because of the Fountain of Time, Ethan's movable space was very limited right now. While the purple-robe could float freely in the void, under such circumstances this battle was unwinnable!Ethan flung an initial stage spear towards the purple-robe in the void. He still had tens of thousands of such spears in reserve in his Azure Myst. For offensive means, as a peak Meridian Training expert Ethan could only do this much against Bone Sacrifice Realm and above enemies.Weakened over thousands of yards of space, the spear's power had greatly diminished. The purple-robe casually waved his hand, deflecting the spear aside. It could not harm him whatsoever.Ethan flipped his hand, taking out a night pot emanating a faint azure glow
