C12 The Temple

Inside the temple, a Buddha statue was enshrined, accompanied by the lingering smoke of an incense stick that hadn't fully burned out. The altar and statue were immaculate, a stark contrast to the surrounding ruins.

Yang Xiu approached with a lack of reverence, plucking the smoldering incense from its holder and crunching it between his teeth, filling the air with a chilling presence.

The quiet temple resonated with the crunching noise, eerily reminiscent of gnawing on bones rather than incense.

As Yang Xiu finished off the smoking stick, the Buddha statue's mouth twitched slightly.

"I've devoured your sacred relic, and still, you refuse to reveal yourself?" Yang Xiu glared at the statue, his greed undisguised.

The temple remained empty as Yang Xiu's smirk played on his lips, his pale hand reaching for the incense burner.

Before his fingers could graze it, a desperate voice cried out, "Don't eat me, don't eat me. Isn't it enough that I come out?" The wailing, ghost-like voice reverberated through the temple, yet Yang Xiu's smile remained, devoid of fear.

"Hand over what's here, and I won't harm you," Yang Xiu declared. A piercing cry followed, too intense to be aptly described as mere howling.

"You have three breaths' time, or else, I'll consume you," Yang Xiu threatened. Silence fell, making his last words seem all the more sinister.

At that moment, a fist-sized, dark blue bead emerged from the Buddha statue. Yang Xiu's eyes blazed with desire, but he hadn't anticipated the bead hurtling toward him, radiating a brilliant blue light.

With a sneer, Yang Xiu snatched the bead from the air. His triumph quickly turned to shock as he coughed up blood; the bead, now stained, shifted to a dark red hue and emitted a sinister black mist.

Yang Xiu fell to one knee, the bead hovering above him. His hand, which had grasped the bead, shook violently, his palm as cold as ice. Any further impact would surely shatter his flesh.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Yang Xiu grimaced in extreme pain, burying his head deep into his chest as if to lessen the agony.

The bead had reverted to its dark blue hue, but this time it was different from before, resembling the pristine sky, untainted by any filth.

Yang Xiu surveyed his surroundings with alarm. Jiao Mujiao had taken over his body once more. It seemed that Jiao Mujiao had been dealt a blow, allowing Yang Xiu to suppress him again.

Yet, Yang Xiu was at a loss about what to do with the bead. He was completely in the dark about the previous events, but the peculiar sensation in his palm made it crystal clear to him that he was in deep trouble.

The dark blue bead radiated a soft glow, casting an eerie ambiance in the tranquil temple, where three incense candles had mysteriously appeared on the altar.

Yang Xiu was uneasy. He had never intended to enter this ominous place. Had it not been for the fierce struggle of Jiao Mujiao within him, influenced by the temple, he wouldn't have ended up in this embarrassing predicament.

Retreating cautiously, Yang Xiu hoped to make a safe exit. But inexplicably, an invisible barrier in the air ensnared him.

Suddenly, the Buddha statue's finger twitched, and Yang Xiu crashed to the ground as if struck by a massive tree. A sharp pain in his chest left him gasping for air.

When he managed to catch his breath, a metallic sweetness filled his mouth, and his chest felt as though it was being torn apart. Yang Xiu's complexion turned ashen as he struggled to maintain control over his body, daring not to make any sudden moves.

In the shadows, he channeled his Star Power with all his might to alleviate the discomfort. Given Yang Xiu's robust constitution, the force that had injured him so severely was at least comparable to that of a Blood Soldier Level 7.

The Buddha statue's eyes then fixed on Yang Xiu, and it spoke with a hint of astonishment, "Young man, I can let you live. In return, hand over your bloodline to me."

Yang Xiu's heart clenched. "In your dreams," he retorted. He was now even more convinced that his bloodline was an exceedingly precious and hidden treasure.

Yang Xiu channeled his Star Power with full force, unleashing a torrent that struck directly at the Buddha statue's forehead. In that instant, an azure pearl in the sky moved to intercept, effortlessly absorbing the Star Power.

Seizing the moment, Yang Xiu bellowed, "Great Prison Tablet Hand!" and struck the pearl. The pearl burst into radiant light, successfully repelling Yang Xiu's full assault.

The once immaculate Buddha statue was now shrouded in dust, its luster dimmed. The pearl, previously a vibrant azure, had faded to a pale blue, a clear sign that it had lost much of its potency.

Aware that lingering was unwise, Yang Xiu made a break for it, only to collide with an unseen barrier. Despite his efforts, escape eluded him; not even the slightest gap would appear.

The Buddha statue, deflated like a punctured ball, sighed deeply, "Ah, take it then!" With that, the once-azure pearl drifted towards Yang Xiu, spinning playfully. His heart ablaze with excitement, Yang Xiu reached out impulsively, just as the pearl was within grasp.

Suddenly, Star Power surged within Yang Xiu, enveloping the pearl. He paused, taken aback by the pearl's resistance and the palpable irritation it radiated, akin to the petulance of a young child.

Yet, Yang Xiu's Star Power was relentless, refining the pearl with unstoppable speed, an autonomous action of the Star Power within him, independent of his will.

This extraordinary phenomenon was unlike anything Yang Xiu had encountered in his past life. Could this place be a site of legacy, its long stay within Ghost City endowing it with sentience?

Lost in thought, Yang Xiu was interrupted as the Buddha statue spoke once more. "You have quite the fortune. So be it, I bestow upon you this pearl, my creation of thirty thousand years. Leave now!"

Yang Xiu now held the pearl in his hand, feeling its icy touch and the pulsating energy within, yet it caused him no harm.

"Who are you, and why this charade?" Yang Xiu asked, still cradling the pearl but shielding himself with a layer of Star Power.

"I've been trapped here for fifty thousand years. If you can set me free, I'll reveal everything to you." The Buddha statue suddenly lost all its radiance and transformed into a gaunt old man, exuding an air of sage-like dignity despite his skeletal frame, which made him appear quite terrifying.

"You're from Mao Mountain, aren't you? How did you end up trapped here?" Yang Xiu glanced at the faint pattern on the man's clothing. Though it was indistinct, Yang Xiu's memory was sharp, and he recognized it immediately.

"Kid, I was drawn to this enigmatic ruined temple just like you, and then found myself unable to leave. But after fifty thousand years, I've discovered a way out. Would you be willing to lend a hand?"

The elder tried to muster a friendly expression, but given his current state, the attempt came off as exceedingly eerie.

Yang Xiu observed the old man's visage and thought to himself that a threat would have been more palatable than this ghastly sight.

"If I possessed such power, you wouldn't be trying to harm me. Let's just cut to the chase and speak plainly!"