Chapter 6

Outside Caleb's chambers at the Crawfords' residence, Brax and Jax were bemused, their surprise clear in their eyes.

It was just strange that they couldn't sense anything, considering their abilities.

"That's strange. I can't sense Caleb's presence at all… Isn't he in his chambers?"

"No way. He's been in there for three days and gave us express orders not to disturb him."

-

Meanwhile, in the dark depths of the cosmos, a rainbow bridge extended across the stars over several light years.

And in the depths of the bridge was an ancient oval mirror, gleaming with an abundant divine might that seemed to lord over all things.

A shadow in the mirror observed the Crawfords and snorted coolly. "Those old gods from the Pantheon of Longevity are really playful, aren't they? Sealing the memories of a mere clone to play house? Tut, tut… How frivolous!"

Naturally, no one could hear the sentient voice within the mirror…

-

Meanwhile, in Caleb's chambers, Caleb had disappeared from the physical realm and was now floating in the middle of an infinite cosmos after entering the Coffin of the Gods.

Staying in his meditative sitting posture, his aura was burgeoning.

At the same time, a violent energy was flaring within his body, giving him the presence of an ancient behemoth.

"Phew…"

There was no telling how much time had passed when he slowly opened his eyes, breathing out a turbid puff of air.

"Demonic Blood!" he murmured, his eyes wide with excitement.

It was the blood that the Coffin of the Gods had infused him with!

Aside from that, he was taught a cultivation method and a sword technique known as the Blood God Order and the World Burial Sword respectively!

And amid the infinite stars, the Coffin's voice boomed with satisfaction. "Kid, you have been given Kaos' heirlooms… His blood, cultivation, and sword technique! I expect you will master all three in three years. Not bad!"

"Thank you, Coffin!" Caleb stood up, bowing his head reverently toward the nothingness.

He was still inside the Coffin of the Gods.

Although three days had passed outside, it had been three years in here!

And in these three years, he didn't just receive the legacy the Coffin provided, but he had also mastered his own clan's cultivation method.

It had certainly been rewarding!

"Hehe…"

The Coffin remained formless as he chuckled in response, his voice echoing from near and far all at once. "Now, listen closely—you need the Wheel of Time to activate the Time Bubble. On this occasion, we've completely exhausted all the energy from the Wheel of Time. You need to find more to activate another Time Bubble and train with time dilation again."

Hearing that, Caleb pursed his lips in disappointment.

After all, with the time dilation inside the Time Bubble, cultivating in here for three years only meant three days had passed in the world outside.

Soon, he noticed an inconsistency. "Coffin, if one hundred years here is a hundred days outside, why was it a full year that passed the last time?"

The Coffin replied, "Each Wheel of Time varies in the purity of the Time Lord's authority, and it's the difference in purity that results in different degrees of time dilation."

Caleb nodded in silence—it was a shame.

If he could train a hundred years here, only a year would've passed outside.

Didn’t that mean he’d be basically invincible?

It was a real shame that the one hundred years before was spent with a coffin remolding his physical body.

And now, three years had been spent restoring his cultivation and inheriting new legacies.

Still, he was soon excited again, as he committed the name 'Wheel of Time' to his memory.

His breathing turned rushed at the thought, and he bowed again. "I shall remember all your guidance, Coffin."

"Good. Now get out."

The dimensions twisted and a vortex formed, and Caleb stepped inside.

When the world around him straightened, he was once again in his chambers.

"Kaos…?"

Caleb was unfamiliar with the name, but he knew that it was the name of a superior being existing on a higher plane, and that the Coffin wasn't telling him everything.

Clenching his knuckles and feeling the explosive energy in him, he knew he had reached Ether rank five!

He didn't just regain his cultivation level from a year ago, but he had ascended all the way up to Ether rank five in the Coffin!

And this version of him was completely different from how he had been a year ago!

His eyes flashing murderously, he growled icily, "Just you wait, whoever stole my essence and left me for dead in Gehenna! When I find out who you are, I will drain you dry of every last drop of blood… Phew!"

Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he then extended his senses and noticed the two presences outside.

He quickly went over to open the door, and bowed his head when he saw that it was Brax and Jax. "Elder Brax, Elder Jax."

Both Brax and Jax were dumbfounded, crying out at the same time, "Caleb… You've regained your cultivation!"

Caleb smiled. "All thanks to the family's wealth and treasures. I won't let the clan down after all they've given for me."

Jax laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Great! One must expect nothing less of our junior chief!"

Brax was delighted too, smiling and nodding at Caleb.

Caleb nodded in turn and said, "Elder Brax, Elder Jax… Shall we visit the Goldings' residence?"

With their clan caught in the midst of a financial crisis, there was no time like the present to get those millions of spirit stones back.

"Okay!" Brax and Jax nodded with emotional smiles and followed him.

That was when Caleb heard the Coffin's voice in his mind. "Tut, tut… Your clan, the Crawfords? They really are quite something."

"Really? How so?" Caleb asked in curiosity, while sliding a peek to see that Jax looked clearly excited, while Brax remained calm and modest.

The Coffin laughed. "I've cast the Time Bubble for you twice and virtually lost all my senses, but this feeling can't be wrong. Every elder of your clan is definitely not Ether Lord-ranked as you claimed."

Caleb's heart skipped a beat. "Could they be Ascendent?"

Being Ascendent naturally meant reaching the three advanced ranks of Scion, Ruler, and Sage, and the very thought sent Caleb's heart racing.

Was his clan really that powerful?

"I can't say for sure, as this realm is quite strange as if something is suppressing it. Why don't you observe them yourself?"

Caleb extended his senses to study Jax and Brax just then, but they still felt like they were Ether Lord-ranked to him.

Still, he shrugged, having no intention to dwell on the issue—his elders being strong was a good thing and suited him just fine.

It would also be a deciding factor on how he should treat his clan, whether he should tighten his iron fist or otherwise!

-

Before long, Caleb, Jax, and Brax arrived before the gates of the Goldings' residence.

Looking at the guards standing in front of the gates, Caleb spoke coolly. "Caleb Crawford, junior chief of the Crawford clan, has arrived!"

The guards simply snickered in disdain and started gloating nonchalantly. "Oh, the loser of a junior chieftain, you mean? Just wait here. I'll announce your arrival… later."

"Yeah, our clan chief is with a very important guest at the moment. He will be right with you when he actually has time."

They made sure to put a lot of emphasis on the phrase 'a very important guest.'

In the end, Caleb used to be very polite since he was chasing after Delilah. Now that she had better prospects, even the guards were getting smugger.

"Heh."

Caleb sneered in contempt and suddenly narrowed his eyes as he kicked the guard in the chest!

Bang!!!

There was a loud crash like clapping thunder as the guard's chest erupted and he was sent flying, crashing violently into the front gates!

When he finally dropped to the ground, he lay motionless, his fate unknown.

Several other guards arrived, trembling at the sight before them.

Still, one of them hollered, "How dare you!!!"

Caleb simply advanced inside the compound, growling, "Stay out of my way if you want to live. How dare mere lapdogs like you bark at me!"

Naturally, the guards were afraid to stop him, only watching him in fear while scurrying away.

Brax and Jax shared a smile and leisurely followed Caleb inside.

Nonetheless, the commotion soon reached the hall and Quinton's ears, with Quinton glowering all at once.

"Hmph!" He snorted. "The audacity of that brat… I shall discipline him for the Crawford clan!"

Even as he finished, a cool laugh rang from the doorway. "Oh, what a laugh. You think you have the right to discipline me?"

Watching as Caleb entered in an elegant white robe with good looks that could match the gods, Quinton snarled ferociously, "Kneel this instant, Caleb Crawford!"