Chapter 33: The Ancient Ruin and the Sword of Mystery

Chapter 33: The Ancient Ruin and the Sword of Mystery

Xiao Feng moved swiftly through the crowded streets of Mystic River City, the weight of recent revelations heavy on his mind. The black-robed ruler who had taken over the Heavenly Realm was a mystery he would have to unravel in time, but first, he needed strength—true strength. His Void StepTechnique, one of the most powerful abilities in his arsenal, was already far beyond the highest level of Heavenly-grade techniques. The Heavenly Realm had nine levels of Heavenly-grade techniques, each more powerful than the last. However, Xiao Feng knew in his heart that his Void Step Technique transcended them all. It was far beyond the ninth level, and its true origin and grade were a mystery even to him.

But technique alone wasn't enough. Xiao Feng needed a weapon that could match his growing cultivation and help him challenge the unknown powers that ruled in his absence. As he pondered his next move, the mysterious stone he carried began to react. It grew warm in his pocket, a faint pulse of energy resonating from it.

"The stone..." Xiao Feng muttered under his breath, glancing down at the faint glow coming from his robes. The stone had been inert for some time, yet now, it beckoned him.

He followed the pull of the stone, weaving through the crowded streets until he arrived at the riverbank. Mystic River flowed calmly beneath the setting sun, its waters reflecting the city's distant lights. To most, it would seem like an ordinary river, but Xiao Feng knew better. The stone's pulse was getting stronger, guiding him toward something hidden.

As he stood at the river's edge, the stone in his hand began to glow even brighter, casting a pale light over the water. Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes. There was something beneath the surface—something concealed by an ancient formation. The glow from the stone allowed him to see what others could not: a faint, nearly invisible barrier just under the river's surface. It shimmered faintly, its presence masked from ordinary sight.

"An ancient ruin," Xiao Feng realized. "Hidden under the river."

Without hesitation, he leaped into the water, his body cutting through the surface like a blade. He descended quickly, the stone guiding him as he swam deeper. The invisible formation that concealed the ruin glowed faintly as he approached, its intricate patterns now visible thanks to the mysterious stone. Xiao Feng raised his hand, the stone pulsing in rhythm with the barrier. With a wave of his hand, the formation parted, allowing him to pass through unhindered.

Beyond the barrier, Xiao Feng found himself in an ancient underwater ruin, its architecture strange and foreign. Despite being submerged, the interior was dry, the water held back by unseen forces. The walls were lined with faded inscriptions, their meanings long lost to time. The air was thick with the weight of forgotten history, and Xiao Feng knew he had stumbled upon something far older than the current era.

He moved cautiously through the ruin, his senses on high alert for any traps or dangers that might lie in wait. The ruin was vast, its corridors winding and maze-like, but the stone continued to guide him forward. Occasionally, he encountered ancient mechanisms—traps designed to ward off intruders—but with his keen awareness, he managed to avoid them with ease.

At last, after what felt like hours of navigating the ruin's labyrinthine passages, Xiao Feng reached the final chamber. The stone in his hand pulsed with greater intensity, its glow illuminating the room. At the center of the chamber, resting atop a pedestal of black stone, was a sword.

The sword was unlike any weapon Xiao Feng had ever seen. It was completely black, its surface devoid of any decoration or ornamentation. To the untrained eye, it might have appeared as a piece of junk—weathered, ancient, and dull. Yet, as Xiao Feng approached, he could sense the immense power radiating from it. The sword was sturdy, its metal unyielding. Even a light touch told him it was something beyond ordinary comprehension.

The mysterious stone in his hand began to vibrate as it reacted to the sword. There was a connection between the two, one that Xiao Feng couldn't fully understand yet. He reached out and grasped the sword, lifting it from the pedestal. It was heavier than it looked, but not in a physical sense—there was a weight to its presence, as if the weapon carried the burdens of countless battles and the wills of powerful beings.

Xiao Feng studied the blade, trying to scratch its surface with his fingernail, but even with all his strength, he couldn't leave so much as a mark. It was far beyond any weapon he had ever encountered. The sword, like his Voice Technique, was beyond the understanding of the Heavenly Realm.

Satisfied with his discovery, Xiao Feng left the ruin, retracing his steps and exiting the underwater chamber. Once he returned to the riverbank, the night had fully settled in, casting a dark shadow over the city. He found a secluded spot to rest for the night, eager to study the sword further.

Sitting in his temporary lodging, Xiao Feng held the sword in his lap, the mysterious stone still reacting to it. He focused his spiritual sense on the sword, trying to uncover its secrets, but no matter how hard he tried, the weapon's origin and power remained elusive. It was as if the sword was on a level far beyond his current cultivation, something that defied the natural laws of the Heavenly Realm.

Suddenly, his consciousness was pulled away, as if drawn into a distant memory. Xiao Feng found himself in the midst of an epic battle, one that shook the very fabric of space. Powerful beings clashed, their techniques and weapons creating destruction on a scale that dwarfed anything he had ever witnessed. Universes were shattered, torn apart by the force of the conflict.

At the center of the battle was a single figure, facing countless enemies—masters, beings of immense power. The figure was mysterious, cloaked in shadow, wielding unimaginable strength. Xiao Feng realized that this being was the owner of the sword. As the battle raged, the figure opened a portal, a swirling black void that seemed to consume everything in its path.

Xiao Feng watched as the mysterious stone was tossed into the portal, along with the very sword he now held in his hand. The portal closed, sending the objects across space and time, far from the chaos of the battle. The vision faded, and Xiao Feng's consciousness returned to the present.

He opened his eyes, his heart racing. The sword and the stone were not of this world. They had come from a place far beyond the Heavenly Realm, from a battle between beings whose power exceeded anything he could comprehend. This was no ordinary weapon, and the mysterious stone was no ordinary artifact.

Xiao Feng knew that he had only just begun to scratch the surface of their true potential. Whatever lay ahead, these two items would be key to his future. He had stumbled upon something far greater than he had imagined, and now, he had to uncover the secrets hidden within the black sword and the mysterious stone.

As the night deepened, Xiao Feng sat in silence, contemplating the path that lay before him. The world had changed, and so had he. With the sword in hand and the mysterious stone guiding him, Xiao Feng was ready to face whatever challenges awaited him in the Heavenly Realm and beyond.