Volume One: Tempest in the Small Town Chapter 50: The Vanishing of Spatial Turbulence

Beep. The Illusory Void Stone was originally a mutated spirit stone, but was drawn here by spatial forces. Over countless ages, it absorbed a vast amount of spatial energy.

So what does it do? This was what Zhang Heng cared about the most—the function of this object.

Beep. The Illusory Void Stone has two main functions. First, it forms an air barrier around the body, preventing others from discerning the true strength of the bearer. Second, it can simulate the aura of a cultivator at any stage, making it indistinguishable from the real thing.

What? That’s incredible! Hearing this from the system, Zhang Heng was overjoyed.

Everyone knows that on the Immortal Cultivation Continent, high-level cultivators can easily detect the cultivation of those below them. If no one can perceive his level, they’ll mistakenly believe he’s stronger than them—and with the second ability to mimic any aura, the deception is flawless.

Combined, these two abilities are a perfect tool for showing off.

Calming his excitement, Zhang Heng tiptoed to the Illusory Void Stone.

But as soon as his hand touched the stone, it vanished—just like that, disappearing before his eyes.

Zhang Heng was dumbfounded. What was going on?

Come on, you’re just a stone. How can you run away?

Feeling utterly helpless, Zhang Heng squatted on the ground, more frustrated than ever.

Seeing this, Yan Xueqing strolled to his side and comforted him, “Zhang Heng, don’t be too upset. If you can’t get it, it just means it wasn’t fated for you. Aren’t you well-versed in the secrets of the Dragon Burial Abyss? Just look for another treasure.”

Zhang Heng looked up and thanked her.

He hadn’t expected this girl to be so considerate—it was rare.

But she was right. He could just find another one. After all, he was all-knowing. Wait, no—the system was all-knowing.

As Zhang Heng sat there in frustration, the system’s cold voice sounded.

Beep. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the spatial treasure: Illusory Void Stone.

Zhang Heng was speechless.

System, are you kidding me? Didn’t that stone just run away? When did I get it?

Beep. The Illusory Void Stone has already been absorbed into the host’s body and is now available for your use at any time.

No way. That stone actually entered my body?

Beep. Correct.

Hey, will this affect my body? Having a stone inside me—from a modern medical perspective, isn’t that just a kidney stone?

Beep. No. The Illusory Void Stone resides in a spatial pocket within the host, not in your physical body.

A spatial pocket inside me? What does that mean?

Beep. This system cannot explain for now, but the host will discover the answer in time.

Tch, if you won’t explain, so be it. It’s not a big deal. The treasure is already in my body, after all.

Zhang Heng’s mood quickly shifted from dejection to joy. He stood up and, feigning confidence, said to Yan Xueqing, “Miss Yan, can you guess my current cultivation level?”

Yan Xueqing replied without a second thought, “First stage of Body Refinement! As useless as ever—what’s there to show off?”

Zhang Heng instantly deflated—his Body Refinement level had already been exposed to everyone.

He tried again. “Miss Yan, why don’t you check once more?”

Yan Xueqing glanced at him indifferently, but then her face filled with confusion. She couldn’t see through Zhang Heng’s cultivation at all.

Unconvinced, she focused her spiritual energy into her eyes and examined him carefully. No matter how hard she tried, Zhang Heng’s cultivation remained shrouded, as if seen through a mist.

But Yan Xueqing was, after all, a disciple of a Sword Saint—well-traveled and knowledgeable. She quickly realized that Zhang Heng must possess a powerful artifact that concealed his cultivation.

She paused for a moment, then said wisely, “Zhang Heng, your strength may not be high, but having such a mysterious artifact for protection does give you a bit more security. Now I can rest easier.”

Zhang Heng couldn’t be bothered to argue; he just took it as jealousy.

Now, with their objective achieved, it was time to consider how to leave.

“System, how do we get out of here?”

Beep. The host need only wait here quietly. When the spatial turbulence in the Dragon Burial Abyss dissipates, the spatial forces here will naturally transport the system out.

Is that for real? Zhang Heng was skeptical.

If the spatial forces send people out when the turbulence disappears, why do people say the chance of survival after entering spatial turbulence is so slim?

Beep. The spatial forces won’t send others out. Once inside, others are trapped until their deaths. Only the host is an exception.

Zhang Heng gave a wry smile. What makes me so special? Am I so weak that the spatial forces don’t bother keeping me here?

Beep. This will be explained to the host in due time.

Tch, here we go again. Never mind. Since you’ve helped me so much, I won’t argue.

Zhang Heng turned to Yan Xueqing. “Miss Yan, let’s rest here for a while before heading out.”

Yan Xueqing didn’t argue. She had just grasped the power of space, and her aura was still unstable—she needed time to recuperate.

While the two rested in the alternate space, outside the Dragon Burial Abyss, the sky began to change.

All the cultivators were poised, gathering their spiritual energy, eyes sharp and fixed on the Dragon Burial Abyss.

The time when the spatial turbulence would dissipate was nearly upon them—a golden opportunity that came once a century.

They had come to seize as many treasures as possible from within the Dragon Burial Abyss and had no intention of falling behind.

Time ticked by.

Finally, at a certain moment, a beam of blue light shot skyward from within the Dragon Burial Abyss, piercing straight into the heavens. In an instant, the mists inside the abyss were all drawn away, and clarity was restored. The abyss now looked no different from any ordinary mountain range: calm and peaceful.

But everyone knew this place was about to become a graveyard for the weak.

The cultivators moved at once. With the spatial turbulence gone, the treasures within beckoned.

They unleashed their spiritual power, summoned their secret artifacts, and charged straight into the Dragon Burial Abyss.

Though they knew they might never return, a true cultivator must have a heart unafraid of danger. If you lack the courage to vie for treasures, you might as well go home and farm.

The strong traversed the void, heading straight for the depths via teleportation. The weaker relied on their own speed, dashing forward as quickly as possible.

A great battle for secret treasures was about to commence.

Would they find fortune and defy fate, or perish in misfortune? Only heaven could decide.

At that very moment, Zhang Heng and Yan Xueqing emerged.

Without warning, the space expelled them, and they reappeared inside the Dragon Burial Abyss—right where they had been about to enter.

Though Zhang Heng didn’t know what had happened, it didn’t matter.

What mattered now was that Du Gu Bai and Qian Muyun were at a critical moment in their breakthroughs. If discovered by ill-intentioned people, disaster would surely follow.

So Zhang Heng and Yan Xueqing hurried towards the cave at the bottom of the cliff.