Under Ye Feng's guidance, Lin Dong stepped cautiously into the ancient sarcophagus. Inside lay a skeleton, undisturbed for countless years. Judging by the calm posture and the faint aura lingering around it, this must have once been a powerhouse who reached the Nirvana Realm.
Lin Dong scanned the stone coffin, but apart from the bones, there were no burial treasures, no ancient weapons, no hidden compartments—nothing.
A disappointed sigh escaped his lips. "So much for the legend."
He bent down when Ye Feng silently gestured to a specific spot. His eyes locked onto a few nearly faded characters carved into the inner wall of the sarcophagus.
"Hmm?" Lin Dong leaned closer, squinting.
He read aloud, "In my life, I achieved Nirvana with the power of Yin and Yang. What I've left behind must be resolved by the harmony of Yin and Yang. If not reconciled… my legacy will ignite and destroy the inheritor's body."
The words echoed in the silence of the tomb.
Lin Dong's gaze shifted instinctively to Ling Qingzhu, who was seated cross-legged nearby, refining her Nirvana Heart. His heart skipped a beat.
"Yin and Yang harmonize…" Lin Dong murmured, realization dawning.
At that moment, Ling Qingzhu's face, usually composed and elegant, twisted slightly. Her complexion flushed a strange rosy hue as she trembled faintly. A torrent of refined, pure energy surged from her body in waves. The Nirvana Heart's power was raging uncontrollably.
Lin Langtian stepped closer and read the inscription for himself. He raised a brow and scoffed, "The 'Yin and Yang' here doesn't refer to the balance of heaven and earth, but rather... male Yang and female Yin. To put it nicely, it's the dual cultivation method. At worst, this is the domain of hedonists, perverts in robes pretending to be Nirvana masters."
His tone was mocking, but a sliver of unease flickered in his eyes as he glanced at Ling Qingzhu.
Her snow-white skin was now glowing with an unnatural red hue. Her body quivered as a violent Yin force battled within her. She was struggling to hold it back with pure willpower alone.
Moments later—bang!
She lost control.
An immense wave of Yin Qi exploded around her, swirling like a storm. Normally, such refined Yin energy would be a great boon. But in excess, it became a deadly toxin—burning from within, destroying meridians, incinerating the body.
"You shameless tomb keeper!" Ling Qingzhu roared in fury.
With a palm strike, she shattered the ancient sarcophagus into rubble.
After venting her rage, she took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. Her eyes, filled with urgency and calculation, scanned the hall. Lin Dong. Lin Langtian. Wang Yan. Qin Shi. Ye Feng.
Her gaze locked onto Ye Feng.
"You knew something was wrong with the Nirvana Heart," she said coldly.
Ye Feng nodded. "I did."
"You arrived after me. How did you spot that hidden inscription so fast?"
"I'm an Appraiser. It's what I do."
Ling Qingzhu paused. She had acted in haste, fearing Ye Feng might seize the Nirvana Heart first. She consumed it without proper inspection.
And now... she was burning alive.
"Am I really going to die here?" she muttered. Her brows furrowed in frustration.
She had practiced the Tai Qingjue—an extremely strict and pure cultivation method. Her mind and body had to remain untouched, uncorrupted. If she violated that, the backlash would be devastating.
Just then, a crimson light burst from the remains of the shattered sarcophagus, coalescing into a ghostly figure—a soul remnant.
The phantom was a man in his thirties, dressed elegantly, with a smug smile on his lips.
"Who are you?" Ling Qingzhu snapped.
"Haha! You're quite the temperamental one. You smash my bones, shatter my sarcophagus, and now demand my name?" the phantom chuckled.
"Are you the tomb's master?"
"In a way. This is just a fragment of my soul, left behind for moments like this. If you hadn't cracked the sarcophagus, I wouldn't even be able to speak."
"You despicable—!"
"The union of Yin and Yang is a natural law," the soul interrupted. "It's not shameless. When both parties are willing, their power amplifies each other's cultivation. What's wrong with that?"
"Shut your mouth."
"There's no time," the soul said, glancing at Ling Qingzhu. "Your Yin energy is erupting. If you don't harmonize with a Yang force soon, you'll burn from the inside in less than a stick of incense."
Her heart trembled. She scanned the room once more, eyes sharp.
Her gaze lingered on Lin Dong.
"M-Me?" Lin Dong stuttered, stepping back. "I… I can't."
He forced a smile and added, "Master Ye, I'll go search for other treasures. Maybe I can bring back a gift for Mu Lingsha."
Ye Feng had already arranged Mu Lingsha to be betrothed to Lin Dong. Though tempted, Lin Dong understood Ye Feng's presence and influence.
With a reluctant backward glance at Ling Qingzhu, Lin Dong left the hall.
Heavenly flames… they're far more important than women, he thought as he exited. With power, you can have it all.
Then, Ling Qingzhu turned to Lin Langtian. "Lend me some Yang Qi. Don't worry, I won't take your virginity. I have my own way."
Lin Langtian looked conflicted. He had once harbored dark thoughts about her—but not here, not now.
"Sorry," he said stiffly. "There's a… strange stench in here. I'll get some air."
And just like that, he vanished.
The others followed. Wang Yan, Qin Shi—one by one, they all fled the pressure of Ye Feng's silent presence. They had seen his power. None of them dared to act rashly.
In moments, only Ye Feng and Ling Qingzhu remained in the stone chamber.
The tomb spirit turned toward Ye Feng. "You. Your aura… it's perfect. If she receives your Yang Qi, she may not only survive—she might break through."
Ling Qingzhu bit her lip. Her eyes shimmered with hesitation, desperation, and something else.
"Can I…" she whispered, voice trembling.
Ye Feng looked at her.
Her beauty was unparalleled—like a goddess exiled from the heavens. Her pale skin, flawless features, and deep, rippling eyes were enough to shake the heart of any man.
A part of him stirred—not just with desire, but with the weight of the choice before him.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Check my Pâtreon for Advanced Chapters
Pâtreon .com/Fanficlord03
Change (â) to (a)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9