C7 The Spiritual Bead Entered His Body

Yang Xuan held the box up to his eyes. The carvings on it were vivid, the patterns elegantly simple. He scrutinized it for some time but couldn't manage to open it. Treasures from the City Lord's Mansion were no ordinary items, and he was sure this box was no exception.

If the box did indeed contain a treasure from the City Lord's Mansion, it had to be of significant importance. Should he turn in both the box and the thief?

Yet Yang Xuan quickly dismissed the thought. He had lived in solitude in this small courtyard for sixteen years, with no one to teach him the ways of cultivation. How could he possibly apprehend a thief?

If he did that, his peaceful life in the courtyard would be over.

But if he didn't turn in the thief, how would he return the treasure?

Gripping the treasure box tighter without realizing, Yang Xuan only noticed when a sharp pain brought him back to reality.

His unusual strength could deform silver coins, but this wooden box remained unscathed, even injuring his hand in the process. As blood dripped from his hand onto the box, a sudden red light flashed from the eyes of the phoenix carved into it. To his astonishment, the box sprung open on its own!

A blinding white light spilled from the opening, and when the box fully opened, a bead the size of a thumb lay before him. The air around it began to swirl, forming a cyclone centered on the bead. Any immortal cultivator witnessing this would be shocked, for the cyclone was composed of Spirit Aura!

Could this be the lost treasure of the City Lord's Mansion, brimming with spirituality?

A red glint flashed in Yang Xuan's eyes, and as if under a spell, he reached out his bleeding finger towards the box. His blood touched the spiritual bead, and in that instant, the bead transformed into a blaze of fire, shooting into Yang Xuan and settling in his Dantian.

Startled, Yang Xuan dropped the box to the ground. A sensation like wildfire tore through his belly. The bead, seemingly harboring the power to devastate the heavens and the earth, roamed wildly within Yang Xuan's Dantian.

Yang Xuan's blood vessels and tendons felt as though they were cotton scorched by a ferocious inferno. Within mere minutes, his body seemed to be charred beyond recognition, the pain so intense that he was wracked with spasms and uncontrollable trembling.

The agony radiated from his abdomen, engulfing his entire body. He found himself wishing for the sweet release of death.

Low roars of pain escaped from Yang Xuan as the spiritual bead absorbed the Spirit Aura around him, amplifying the searing agony. The pain escalated, and it felt as if his blood vessels were on the verge of bursting. His expression twisted into one of sheer terror. His body ballooned, making him resemble a demonic spirit from the depths of hell, his hands instinctively pounding and clawing at the earth.

On the brink of collapse, a blaze ignited within Yang Xuan's Spiritual Sense, and a majestic fiery red bird burst forth, taking up a protective stance behind him.

In that instant, Yang Xuan's eyes snapped open, his features settling into an expression of chilling detachment.

Guided by an unknown voice in his mind, Yang Xuan's hands formed unfamiliar seals. Simultaneously, a familiar heat surged from his dantian to the spiritual bead, enveloping it. The bead, seemingly sentient, thrashed in a desperate bid for freedom.

Soon, the bead's energy mellowed, coursing through Yang Xuan's blood vessels and meridians, aiding in the repair of his internal damage. His circulatory system revitalized, akin to desert flora reviving at the touch of rain. His scorched muscles, bones, and organs began to mend. The bead's power not only healed Yang Xuan but also enhanced his previously malnourished physique and constricted vessels. The energy within him now surged with a force several magnitudes greater than before.

As his wounds healed completely, a vivid red sigil flickered across Yang Xuan's forehead. He opened his eyes slowly, his gaze falling upon the box that lay discarded on the ground, a sense of residual dread washing over him.

What had just transpired?

Why was it becoming increasingly difficult to control the energy within him? That power had dominated him for far too long. Why had the bead forced its way into his belly? Whose was the gentle voice in his head? How had his parents died, and why had the Yang family treated him with such disdain? A flurry of questions swirled in his mind, leaving him in a state of restless turmoil.

Now was not the time to dwell on such questions. The bead from the City Lord's Mansion was inside him, and removing it would mean cutting open his stomach and certain death. He couldn't accept that—he wanted to live.

He pondered whether to confide in his Eldest Uncle and aunt. His uncle was as distant as a stranger; it was unlikely he'd have Yang Xuan's best interests at heart. But his aunt—what would she do? He alone had discovered the thief tonight. For a fleeting moment, he considered keeping the incident to himself. Yet, recalling the Yang family's care for him over the years, he felt compelled to tell his aunt at the very least.

But where was the thief now?

Yang Xuan sprang to his feet and searched the area, only to find the courtyard empty. He was certain he had knocked the thief unconscious. A chill ran down his spine. When had the thief awakened and escaped? Had he witnessed what had just transpired?

Lost in thought, Yang Xuan couldn't shake off a sense of fear. If the thief had attacked while the spiritual bead was merging with him, he would be dead. He regretted not securing the thief when he had the chance.

After a fruitless search of the room, Yang Xuan slumped into a chair, feeling defeated. His only hope now was that the thief remained at large; if caught, he would surely reveal the disappearance of the treasure, and possibly even divulge the bead's location inside Yang Xuan.

Noticing the bloodstains on his clothes, Yang Xuan hastily changed into a fresh set. Once he was cleaned up, he lay down in bed, expecting sleep to elude him. Yet, exhaustion took over, and he drifted off. Meanwhile, the Spirit Aura in the air began to seep into the spiritual bead nestled within his dantian, coursing through his meridians.