The Ancient Coffin

Everyone present was puzzled. None of them could understand why Dario, who had not stepped out of Sky Breaker Acedmy for nearly a hundred years, would suddenly leave seclusion the moment he received the communication talisman.

The matter simply did not make sense.

Before this, Max had assumed the academy would at most send a few elders to investigate the disturbance within the Land of Silence. That alone would already be considered giving the matter enough importance.

Yet unexpectedly...

Dario himself had personally descended.

The moment that old monster appeared, even the surrounding air seemed to grow heavier.

Just his presence alone was enough to frighten many people.

The younger generation might not fully understand what his arrival represented, but the older cultivators present all knew very well—

A person like Dario would never move without reason.

On the northern mountain ridge, the winds roared violently.

The battlefield in the distance continued shaking heaven and earth without pause.

Boom!

Earth Kong’s iron rod smashed downward once more, splitting apart an entire mountain range. Endless rocks exploded into the sky while the Inferno Swift Bird released black flames that covered half the horizon like a burning ocean.

Meanwhile, the Smoke darke Lion roared furiously beneath the thunderclouds, silver lightning crackling around its body like divine punishment.

Yet despite facing three pinnacle Realm beasts...

...the old earth spiky turtle still endured.

Its gigantic shell carried the mysterious copper coffin steadily, unmoving like an eternal mountain that had existed since ancient times.

The terrifying pressure made many cultivators pale.

Some could not even stand properly under the overwhelming aura leaking from the battlefield.

Still, Dario’s attention was not truly focused on the battle itself.

His eyes remained fixed upon the copper coffin.

A faint greed flickered deep within those aged pupils.

No one present understood his real purpose.

Even Max and Magnus only believed their Senior Brother had come because of the mountain treasure’s mysterious nature.

They did not know the truth.

Dario had hidden this secret from everyone for many years.

Even within Sky Breaker Acedmy, almost no one knew.

His death tribulation... had already arrived.

The old man slowly clenched his sleeve beneath the robe.

The movement was small.

But his fingers trembled faintly.

For years, he had secluded himself within forbidden grounds, desperately attempting to break into the pinnacle Realm. Again and again, he touched the threshold... yet could never fully step through.

Time had already begun abandoning him.

His life source was drying up faster than normal.

Not because of age alone—

—but because he had burned away too much of his vitality in the past while obsessively cultivating forbidden Sacred Arts.

Power always demanded a price.

And Dario had paid heavily.

Compared to Mike and the others of the same generation, he appeared far older and more exhausted. His face carried deep wrinkles like cracked bark, while the aura around him sometimes fluctuated unstably.

Outwardly, he remained calm and mysterious.

But inwardly...

...his body was already nearing collapse.

If he could not break through soon, death would eventually consume him completely.

That was why the moment he heard Max describe the mountain treasure...

...the words "endless vitality" instantly ignited hope inside his dying heart.

That single phrase was enough to drag him out of seclusion.

Because what he needed most now—

—was life source.

Only by obtaining an immortal treasure capable of restoring vitality could he reconstruct his Instinct Supreme Body and survive the coming calamity.

Otherwise...

His fate was already decided.

The cold wind blew across the mountain as Dario’s eyes darkened.

"Keep a close watch on the battlefield," he suddenly ordered.

His voice was low but carried unquestionable authority.

"At all costs, we must obtain this mountain treasure."

The surrounding elders immediately straightened.

Even Max and Magnus felt their hearts tighten slightly.

Dario rarely revealed emotions so openly.

Yet now, there was unmistakable urgency hidden beneath his calm tone.

"I don’t care what methods you use," Dario continued coldly. "As long as the treasure falls into our hands... I can satisfy any request you have."

Those words immediately shocked everyone.

Any reward?

Coming from a half-step pinnacle Realm expert, those words carried unimaginable temptation.

Max and Magnus exchanged glances quietly.

They could both sense it.

Their Senior Brother’s obsession with this treasure had already surpassed normal limits.

At that moment, Magnus suddenly remembered something.

His expression shifted slightly before he stepped forward respectfully.

"Senior Brother..." he said carefully.

Dario’s brows furrowed faintly.

"What is it?"

Magnus hesitated briefly before continuing.

"Do you still remember the Division Master of Amethyst Summit Division from Celestis Academy that I mentioned previously?"

The moment those words were spoken...

...the atmosphere around Dario instantly changed.

The old man’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

He was more sensitive toward anything related to Amethyst Summit Division than almost anyone else alive.

Especially after Tobias had publicly humiliated him earlier by exposing his old defeat against Respected Zeon of Celestis Academy.

Even now, that humiliation still burned like fire inside his chest.

"What about him?" Dario asked coldly.

His voice carried visible displeasure.

"Didn’t I already warn you not to provoke Celestis Academy for now?"

A terrifying pressure slowly spread from his body.

Max and Magnus immediately lowered their heads slightly.

"The luck of Celestis Academy is currently at its peak," Dario continued sternly. "This is not the right time to fall out with them."

The violent winds around the mountain suddenly intensified.

Even nearby disciples felt their breathing become difficult.

Dario’s gaze grew colder.

"If you truly wish to deal with Celestis Academy someday..."

He paused briefly.

"...then wait until Mike dies."

The moment those words fell, silence descended.

Everyone understood exactly who Mike was.

The old Headmaster of Celestis Academy.

A terrifying existence who had suppressed countless enemies for generations.

As long as he remained alive, very few dared openly provoke Celestis Academy.

Dario naturally understood this better than anyone.

Especially now...

If he failed to survive his death tribulation, then Sky Breaker Acedmy would begin declining immediately.

Once he died, there would no longer be anyone capable of restraining Mike.

That outcome alone was enough to make him deeply wary.

Seeing Dario misunderstand, Magnus immediately became nervous.

Cold sweat formed faintly on his forehead.

"No, Senior Brother, that’s not what I meant," he hurriedly explained.

Dario stared at him silently.

Magnus took a slow breath before continuing carefully.

"What I meant is..."

"...the Division Master of Amethyst Summit Division, Leon, is also within the Land of Silence."

The moment Leon’s name was spoken—

Dario’s expression changed slightly.

"Hm?"

The coldness in his eyes gradually faded.

Then slowly...

A strange smile appeared on his aged face.

"Interesting..."

He turned his gaze toward the distant battlefield where flames and lightning devoured the sky endlessly.

"He’s here as well?"

The old man’s voice carried an unreadable meaning.