# Chapter 44 — The Woman Inside the Coffin
# Eastern Mountains — Ancient Sealed Hall
Silence filled the underground hall.
Absolute silence.
Even the air itself felt frozen after the voice appeared.
---
Several guards instinctively stepped backward while gripping their weapons tightly.
The floating black coffin remained motionless above the center formation.
But the pressure surrounding it had changed completely now.
Before—
it felt ancient.
Now—
it felt aware.
---
Lin Hao quietly whispered:
“I would like everyone to remember I never wanted to come here.”
One guard beside him muttered:
“Please stop saying that every ten minutes.”
“It’s important documentation.”
---
Even under terrifying pressure—
he somehow continued talking normally.
Honestly impressive.
---
Xu Yuan’s gaze remained fixed on the coffin.
Because the voice earlier did not sound corrupted.
Cold.
Ancient.
But clear.
---
Then—
CRACK.
Another fracture spread slowly across the black surface of the floating coffin.
Silver sealing chains immediately illuminated afterward.
The formations beneath the hall activated automatically.
---
The female voice echoed again.
> “Relax.”
>
> “If I wished to kill you…”
>
> “You would already be dead.”
---
Nobody in the hall found that comforting.
---
Zhao Tianhe slowly stepped forward.
Crimson spiritual energy circulated around him carefully while his spear remained ready.
“Who are you?”
For several seconds—
only silence answered him.
---
Then the voice replied softly:
> “A prisoner.”
---
The underground hall trembled faintly afterward.
Not violently.
Almost like breathing.
---
One formation elder suddenly knelt beside the ancient symbols on the floor.
His expression changed drastically.
“These formations…”
“These seals…”
Sweat appeared across his forehead.
“They’re beyond current formation theory.”
---
Xu Yuan quietly observed the floating coffin again.
The black soul sword at his waist continued vibrating faintly now.
Like resonance.
---
The system screen flickered.
> Warning:
>
> Unknown existence detected
>
> Threat assessment unavailable
---
Unavailable.
That sounded reassuring.
---
Then suddenly—
silver light spread briefly across the coffin surface.
And for one instant—
a figure became visible through the cracks.
A woman.
Long black hair.
Pale skin.
Ancient dark robes covered in silver symbols.
Her eyes remained closed.
Yet even sleeping—
her presence felt overwhelming.
---
Several cultivators unconsciously lowered their gazes.
Instinct.
Like standing before something far beyond them.
---
Then unexpectedly—
the woman’s voice spoke directly toward Xu Yuan.
> “You carry an unpleasant presence.”
The entire hall immediately became tense.
---
Xu Yuan himself remained calm outwardly.
“Inconveniently vague.”
For the first time—
the atmosphere shifted strangely.
Almost like amusement.
---
> “Interesting.”
---
Lin Hao slowly looked toward Xu Yuan.
“How are you casually speaking with ancient sealed monsters now?”
Xu Yuan answered honestly:
“I’m improvising.”
---
Even Xia Yu’s eyes remained fixed carefully on the coffin now.
Her instincts clearly warned her that the being inside was unimaginably dangerous.
---
Then the woman spoke again.
> “The corruption above.”
>
> “The gate.”
>
> “The fragment.”
>
> “They have awakened earlier than expected.”
---
Zhao Tianhe narrowed his eyes immediately.
“You know about the gate?”
A brief silence followed.
---
Then:
> “I know what waits beyond it.”
---
Cold pressure spread through the hall afterward.
Even hearing those words felt dangerous somehow.
---
Xu Yuan quietly asked:
“What exactly are the Watchers?”
The underground hall became completely silent again.
---
Then—
for the first time—
the woman slowly opened her eyes inside the coffin.
Silver.
Ancient.
And completely emotionless.
---
The moment her eyes opened—
every formation in the hall illuminated simultaneously.
BOOOOOOM!
Several cultivators nearly coughed blood instantly from the pressure alone.
Even Zhao Tianhe staggered slightly backward.
---
Only Xu Yuan remained standing normally.
Not because he was stronger.
Because the black soul sword suddenly released dark light around him instinctively.
Protecting him.
---
The silver-eyed woman quietly observed that reaction.
And for the first time—
her emotionless gaze changed slightly.
---
Surprise.
---
> “…That sword still exists.”
---
Xu Yuan’s grip tightened slightly around the weapon.
Because her tone earlier sounded less like recognition—
and more like memory.