Chapter 73: The Stone Coffin


    What Li Xiaotian had imparted to Han Ming wasn''t some unparalleled martial art or combat technique. Instead, it was an understanding of martial arts and combat awareness.


    In a sense, Han Ming had learned nothing from Li Xiaotian, yet at the same time, he had learned everything. The profundity of this knowledge was something only Han Ming could truly grasp.


    This was a transformative experience for Han Ming, who had previously relied solely on brute strength and speed. Now, he had a completely new understanding of martial arts. He realized that being physically weaker or slower didn''t necessarily mean one was weak.


    Emerging from the tunnel, Han Ming found the stone cell exactly as he had left it a year ago. He remembered kicking through the floor beneath the stone slab, and yet, no one had noticed the damage over the past year. Even Yao Ji''s split soul had been missing for a year. The whole situation felt eerily strange.


    He refused to believe that everyone in the Secret Sect was oblivious.


    Stepping out of the stone cell, Han Ming found the area completely deserted.


    What had happened?


    Curiosity piqued, Han Ming ventured further, carrying the edict from Yao Ji that Bai Kai had given him. This allowed him to move freely within the sect without fear of being questioned.


    Following the map Bai Kai had provided, Han Ming navigated through the courtyards, gradually making his way toward the sect''s exit.


    Suddenly, he heard the clashing of weapons and shouts in the distance.


    His first thought was that something had gone wrong in the Secret Sect.


    Peeking around the corner of a corridor, Han Ming saw dozens of people fighting at the sect''s main gate. Bodies were falling on both sides.


    From their attire, one group was clearly from the Secret Sect, while the other was a mix of warriors and even a few mages, all wearing different outfits.


    What was going on? Had the Secret Sect been attacked by enemies?


    "Grab that guy! He looks suspicious—must be from the Secret Sect!"


    Someone had spotted Han Ming and pointed him out with a shout.


    With most of the Secret Sect members already dead, the attackers quickly turned their attention to Han Ming.


    Realizing he''d been seen, Han Ming turned and fled.


    A dozen or so pursuers broke off from the main group and chased after him.


    Han Ming assumed these invaders were skilled fighters, likely from a powerful faction, given how easily they had overwhelmed the Secret Sect. He had no desire to engage in a pointless fight, nor could he explain his presence in the sect. His appearance alone was enough to condemn him.


    Fortunately, he had the sect''s map and didn''t worry about getting lost.


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    Dodging through the winding paths, Han Ming managed to shake off most of his pursuers. However, three mages—two earth mages and one water mage—proved particularly troublesome.


    The water mage wasn''t much of a threat, but the earth mages kept erecting massive walls in Han Ming''s path, forcing him to constantly change course.


    This constant detouring eventually led Han Ming far off the map''s marked route.


    Thankfully, his speed kept him ahead of his pursuers.


    In his confusion, Han Ming stumbled upon a grand hall. Hearing his pursuers closing in, he quickly slipped inside and shut the door behind him. The hall was vast, and it would take time for his pursuers to search it thoroughly.


    Taking a moment to catch his breath, Han Ming surveyed the hall.


    What he saw made his blood run cold.


    The hall was filled with people—or rather, what used to be people.


    Dozens of desiccated corpses hung from the ceiling, their hair tied into long braids and secured to the rafters. Their feet dangled just a hand''s breadth above the ground, giving the eerie illusion that they were standing.


    What kind of place was this? Curiosity overcame Han Ming''s fear, and he began examining the corpses.


    The bodies were arranged in neat rows, ten to a row, with over a dozen rows in total.


    As Han Ming moved deeper into the hall, he found nothing else of note.


    Was this some kind of morgue? Had the Secret Sect been draining people and dumping their bodies here?


    "Help... help me..."


    A faint, weak voice reached Han Ming''s ears.


    "Who''s there!?" Han Ming spun around, scanning the hall.


    He saw no one.


    The voice came again, and this time, Han Ming located its source—a woman, barely alive, hanging among the corpses.


    Someone was still alive?


    Han Ming approached cautiously. Up close, he saw the woman was emaciated, her skin stretched tight over her bones. She struggled to open her eyes and whispered for help.


    She must have been one of the unfortunate victims captured by the Secret Sect. Han Ming couldn''t leave her to die.


    He cut the rope binding her braid and laid her gently on the ground. Taking a small crystal from his storage bag, he began healing her with water magic.


    Outside, he heard voices—his pursuers were closing in.


    Han Ming needed to hide, fast.


    The woman weakly pointed to a wall.


    Han Ming examined it but saw nothing unusual—no door, no mechanism.


    "Carry me there," the woman whispered.


    With no time to waste, Han Ming picked her up and approached the wall.


    The woman raised a trembling hand and pressed three specific points on the wall''s surface.


    *Click, click, click.*


    A hidden door slid open.


    This woman knew the sect''s secrets. Who was she?


    But there was no time to ponder. The main hall''s door creaked open as the pursuers entered.


    Han Ming hurried through the hidden door, which closed silently behind him.


    The passage was three meters high and two meters wide, with bamboo lanterns hanging every ten meters, casting a dim light.


    Han Ming carried the woman carefully, wary of traps, but the passage was safe.


    Soon, they reached a small chamber. In the center stood a stone coffin, covered in grotesque carvings—half-human, half-beast figures, monstrous insects, and other horrifying images. The sight was nauseating.


    The coffin radiated an ominous aura. What—or who—was inside? Why was it hidden here?


    The woman in Han Ming''s arms grew weaker, her breathing shallow.


    He set her down and continued healing her.


    "Who are you? How do you know about this secret passage?" Han Ming asked, his tone cautious.


    The woman''s origins were suspicious.


    "I was captured by the Secret Sect," she whispered. "I discovered this passage by accident but was caught before I could escape. You can guess what happened next."


    Han Ming studied her eyes. She didn''t seem to be lying, but he remained wary.


    Still, her identity didn''t concern him. Once they escaped, he would let her go. After all, he had saved her life. Surely, she wouldn''t betray him. And in her current state, she posed no threat.


    "Open the coffin. There are treasures inside. Take them and escape," the woman urged.


    Treasures?


    Han Ming hesitated. What if the coffin contained some terrifying monster? Opening it could be disastrous.


    Seeing his reluctance, the woman coughed weakly. "If you won''t open it, then let''s leave quickly."


    Han Ming agreed. He picked her up and headed for the other end of the passage.


    After a few steps, he stopped and set her down again.


    What if there really were treasures? He couldn''t just walk away.


    "Wait here," he said, returning to the coffin.


    He examined it carefully, not daring to open it recklessly. Taking a few steps back, he summoned a water arrow and used it to flip the coffin''s lid open.


    He waited, watching for any movement. When nothing happened, he cautiously approached to look inside.