The Mysterious Demon Blade

The Gale cut across the sparkling sea like an agile cheetah, leaving a white wake behind it.

Seagulls cried overhead as the salty sea breeze, carrying the scent of an unknown island, filled Lin Feng's nostrils.

"This island..."

Lin Feng stood at the bow, staring at the island shrouded in mist in the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.

The island was not large, yet it was lush and verdant. Its dense vegetation resembled a massive emerald set within the azure sea.

The faint outlines of ancient buildings stood mottled beneath the sunlight, carrying the weathered aura of ages past.

"This presence... it's so strange," Lin Feng muttered.

The island gave off an ancient, powerful aura unlike anywhere he had ever been.

It made the blood in Lin Feng's body stir faintly, as though something were calling to him.

"Could this be connected to the Tree of Life Lilith mentioned?"

Lin Feng's thoughts shifted as he recalled his earlier conversation with Lilith.

She had been searching for the Tree of Life, as well as that treasure map written in ancient script...

"Could this deserted island be hiding the secrets of an ancient civilization?"

A fierce curiosity sprouted wildly in Lin Feng's heart like weeds.

Lin Feng decided to go ashore and investigate.

"Whatever. Let's take a look first!"

Lin Feng sharply pulled the sail and adjusted course. The Gale obediently turned toward the mysterious island.

He docked the Gale at a secluded stretch of shore, where jagged rocks formed a natural harbor.

After confirming that the ship was secure, Lin Feng leaped ashore.

The island was packed with dense jungle. Ancient trees towered overhead and blocked out the sky, allowing sunlight to filter through the leaves only in scattered patches.

Damp mist filled the air, carrying the earthy stench of soil and rotting leaves.

Relying on his exceptional Observation Haki, Lin Feng carefully made his way through the jungle. Like an agile cheetah, he lightly avoided tangled roots and hanging vines without making a sound.

The deeper he went, the darker it became, and the surroundings grew increasingly bizarre.

The trunks of the towering ancient trees were covered in strange mosses and fungi, like grotesque ghost faces.

Unknown insects rustled through the grass, sending chills down one's spine.

Yet Lin Feng showed no fear. Skilled and bold, he continued deeper into the ruins.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Lin Feng suddenly found his view opening up. He had discovered the entrance to some ruins hidden behind vines and massive boulders!

A huge stone gate stood tightly shut at the entrance, covered in strange writing and symbols.

These writings and symbols were extremely similar to those on the treasure map Lilith had given him, but they were older and more complicated.

"So there really is something strange here!"

Lin Feng's eyes lit up. He carefully studied the writing on the stone gate, trying to decipher its meaning.

The writing appeared to contain some special energy, arranged according to a particular pattern.

"Could this be a clue to some kind of mechanism?"

Lin Feng speculated and tried touching the writing on the stone gate with different Breathing Styles and Haki.

Suddenly, one of the symbols on the stone gate lit up. Immediately afterward, the entire gate began to shake violently.

"Rumble..."

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a dark passageway like an entrance to hell.

"Did I trigger a mechanism?"

Lin Feng's heart tightened. He had entered an unknown territory.

Instead of retreating, he became even more excited.

"I'd like to see what secrets are hidden in here!"

Lin Feng gripped Frost Gale and slowly entered the passageway.

The passage was dark and lightless, so black he could not see his hand before his face.

Lin Feng took out a torch from his chest and lit it, illuminating his surroundings.

The walls on both sides of the passage were carved with exquisite murals.

The murals depicted scenes of ancient people worshipping, hunting, and living their daily lives. They were so lifelike that they seemed ready to leap from the walls.

"The style and techniques of these murals are remarkably similar to what I saw in an ancient book in my previous life. According to the records, that style was prevalent during the Lost Era several centuries ago. Could this be a coincidence?"

Lin Feng continued onward while examining the murals.

Suddenly, a series of sharp whistles tore through the air!

Countless arrows shot out from the walls on both sides of the passage, raining down on Lin Feng!

Soru!

Sun Breathing: Full Concentration: Constant!

Lin Feng reacted instantly, activating Soru and vanishing from where he stood like a phantom.

At the same time, he activated Sun Breathing: Full Concentration: Constant, pushing his body's reaction speed to the limit.

The arrows pierced through the spot where he had just been standing and embedded themselves in the ground with dull thuds.

"That was close!"

Lin Feng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was only the beginning of the ruins' mechanisms.

He grew even more cautious, using Observation Haki to anticipate the activation of mechanisms and Frost Gale to cut through obstacles.

Along the way, Lin Feng encountered all sorts of traps—toxic arrows, pitfalls, falling boulders, and more.

He neutralized every one of them with his formidable strength and exceptional intelligence.

Lin Feng moved through the ruins with ease, like a seasoned adventurer.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Feng finally reached the end of the passage.

He discovered that he had arrived in a vast underground space, far larger than he had imagined—practically an underground palace!

At the center of the space stood a massive altar, and a blade was embedded at its center.

Lin Feng stared at the blade, and his pupils abruptly contracted!

A powerful killing intent radiated from the blade, making Lin Feng feel as though he had fallen into an icy abyss!

It was a Demon Blade!

A Demon Blade that had slaughtered countless people!

Lin Feng could even see what seemed to be countless wronged souls wailing around the blade!

At that moment, Lin Feng unexpectedly felt some kind of resonance with the blade.

"What is this?"

A storm raged in Lin Feng's heart. This was the first time he had ever encountered such a situation.

"This Demon Blade can actually provoke a reaction from the system. Could there be some unknown secret connecting the two?"

Just then, a deep voice suddenly rang out from behind the altar.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass here!"

The voice was rich and imposing, carrying unquestionable authority as it echoed through the empty underground chamber and sent chills down the spine.

Lin Feng spun around and saw a burly man standing not far away, staring coldly at him.

The man stood nearly two meters tall, his muscles knotted and hard as iron pillars.

A scar stretched from his forehead to his jaw along his right cheek, making him look savage and terrifying.

"Marine pursuers?"

The man spoke in a low, hoarse voice tinged with vigilance.

"Who are you?" Lin Feng shot back. The man radiated a powerful aura and was clearly no ordinary person.

"Hmph, you're not qualified to know my name!"

The man snorted heavily through his nostrils. Mistaking Lin Feng for someone sent by the Marines, killing intent surged from him.

"Then we'll settle this with our fists!"

Lin Feng did not waste words. This battle was unavoidable, so it was better to strike first!

"Just what I wanted!" The man grinned fiercely, a bloodthirsty gleam flashing through his eyes.

"It's been a long time since I've stretched my muscles!"

Before his words had even faded, the man stomped down hard. The solid stone ground instantly cracked as his body shot toward Lin Feng like a cannonball.

His sandbag-sized fist howled through the air toward Lin Feng's face! The blow was powerful and heavy enough to split mountains and shatter rocks!