C2 The Spirit Bead Recognized Him as Its Master

Two days later, in a special care ward at the First People's Hospital of Tianhai, Fei Liang's eyes fluttered open.

"Hmm? Where am I?" As his eyes adjusted, the pristine white walls, nearby cabinets, and the LCD TV directly in front of him came into view. The silence was so profound, it seemed you could hear a pin drop. Fei Liang surveyed his surroundings with a puzzled look, struggling to grasp his situation.

It took a moment, but then it clicked: he was in a hospital.

Memories of the recent altercation and the foot that had stamped on his face came rushing back. A flicker of icy resolve shone in Fei Liang's eyes as he clenched his fists and muttered with quiet fury, "Qin Qiang, I won't forget this debt!" The faces of Qin Qiang's lackeys flashed in his mind, each one etched into his memory.

"This ward must have been arranged by Old Zhang and the crew." The thought brought a touch of warmth to Fei Liang's heart.

Reflecting on the reason for his hospital stay, Fei Liang couldn't help but give a wry smile. His hand instinctively went to his pocket, to the very thing that had landed him here: a small stone.

To think a tiny stone had sent him to the hospital, Fei Liang mused that he might just be the first of his kind in history. Even though it was merely an excuse for Qin Qiang's assault, it still seemed a bit too trivial.

Feeling the stone, Fei Liang paused, something was off. He hastily pulled it out for a closer look.

But what he saw left him dumbstruck.

Was this the same unremarkable black pebble from before? Fei Liang gazed in astonishment at the object in his hand—now a smooth, round marble the size of a ping-pong ball, shimmering with a faint, sacred glow.

Fei Liang distinctly remembered the original stone being no bigger than a pinky finger, smooth yet irregular, and utterly dull. This small sphere, however, could easily pass for a night pearl, and Fei Liang had a hunch it might even surpass one in value.

"Who's pulling a prank on me? Could it be Si?" Fei Liang was certain it couldn't be the same stone; the difference was night and day. So he began a thorough search of himself once more, but the original pebble was nowhere to be found.

"It's definitely Si," Fei Liang murmured to himself. He racked his brain but could only conclude that Si was the likely culprit behind the prank.

"Hmmph," he grunted as a blinding white light suddenly erupted from the sphere, causing a sharp pain in his eyes. With a groan, he collapsed onto the hospital bed.

...

Surrounded by a murky grayness, there was no light to be seen, and nothing else was visible.

"Where am I? How did I get here? What kind of place is this?" Amidst the haze, Fei Liang's voice echoed, his whispers betraying his inner turmoil and confusion.

"Brother Ao, at last, you've arrived. Oh, how I've waited for you..." A woman's voice, both clear and melodious, cut through the silence, tinged with the sound of tears.

"Who's there?" Fei Liang's heart skipped a beat. He searched for the source and saw a breathtakingly beautiful girl standing silently within ten meters of him, her tear-streaked face stirring a deep sense of compassion. For a moment, Fei Liang was spellbound, completely oblivious to how he could see her in such a dimly lit space.

"Who are you?" It took some time before Fei Liang snapped out of his trance. A chill ran from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, leaving him with a sinking feeling. Could this be the ghost from the legends?

Yet, despite the initial shiver down his spine, Fei Liang wasn't truly frightened. On the contrary, the girl seemed strangely familiar, as if she were someone deeply ingrained in his heart. But frustratingly, he had no recollection of her.

"Me? Brother Ao, it's me, Meier. Don't you remember?" The girl's eyes, brimming with tears, conveyed her urgency.

"Meier?" The name resonated with Fei Liang, yet his memory failed him. His mind throbbed as he tried to recall, but ultimately, he could only shake his head in resignation. "I don't know."

"Brother Ao, I..." The girl started to speak but fell silent.

"Forget it, kid. If it doesn't come to you, stop trying." Fei Liang's thoughts were interrupted as a voice, both ancient and commanding, filled the space. An invisible force enveloped him, and he felt an icy chill envelop his body, rendering him immobile.

In a fleeting moment, Fei Liang regained his composure, but not before a wave of cold sweat broke out, leaving him feeling utterly drained. Was it all just an illusion?

No, he swiftly dismissed the thought. Right then, he caught sight of a figure—a hazy yet imposing silhouette that seemed to belong to an elderly man beyond his years. Fei Liang couldn't pinpoint when or how the old man had appeared, much less understand why he could see him at all.

"Ghost," the word flashed through Fei Liang's mind, sending a shiver down his spine.

"I am no ghost," the old man retorted with a stern glance at Fei Liang before turning to the young girl. "Meier, you may go now."

"Yes!" With a longing glance at Fei Liang, Meier slowly faded until she vanished from sight, unnoticed by Fei Liang.

The old man's glare had sent a chill through Fei Liang, as if he'd been plunged into an icy pit, or his soul had momentarily left his body. It took some time before he could collect himself, his back slick with a cold sweat that soaked his shirt. With a quivering voice, he inquired, "May I ask who you are, elder?"

Using the term "elder" felt out of place in modern times, yet Fei Liang, having read a few contemporary novels, found himself uttering it as if by some strange compulsion.

The old man gave Fei Liang a brief look but paid him no further attention, instead murmuring to himself, "Forty-three million years... Forty-three million years have passed. Very well, Duan Wang, Duan Chi, Duan Nian—I shall not forget this debt." His words carried a weight of boundless sorrow and resentment that pierced deep into Fei Liang's mind.

"Forty-three million years? My God! Forty-three million years!" Fei Liang was astounded. How long is the span of human history? And how old was this man? Could this completely defy modern science? Surely, this must be a dream.

No, it has to be a dream. Definitely a dream, Fei Liang reassured himself.

“You’re not dreaming,” came a sudden, weathered voice with an undertone of authority, interrupting Fei Liang's reverie.

Startled, Fei Liang wondered, “Can he actually read my thoughts?” The memory of the old man's piercing glare made him go pale, his sweat pouring like rain.

“There’s no need for alarm. I mean you no harm; otherwise, you wouldn’t be standing here unharmed, would you?” The old man’s voice softened. “Is there nothing you wish to ask?”

Fei Liang exhaled deeply, his tension easing. “May I ask who you are, sir? What is this place? And why am I here?” He steadied himself and fired off the three burning questions.

“You’re quite talkative,” the old man observed with a glance. “My identity is of no consequence. Refer to me as Elder Long. You are within the Chaotic Spirit Bead, also known to some as the Holy Dragon Spirit Bead. The reason you’re here is simple: the Spirit Bead has chosen you as its master.”

“The Chaotic Spirit Bead?” Fei Liang echoed, puzzled. “What exactly is that?”

“The object you hold in your hand,” the old man explained with a sigh, “is a treasure I once acquired through great hardship.”

Fei Liang nodded in sudden understanding. The concept of the bead choosing its master reminded him of something out of a novel.

“Not too slow on the uptake,” the old man commented dryly.

Fei Liang was taken aback, then relaxed. Still, having someone privy to his innermost thoughts was unsettling.

“But if the Chaotic Spirit Bead is yours, how did it come to be in my possession? And why are you here?” Fei Liang pondered. “Could it be that you’re looking to take on a disciple, and I’m the fortunate candidate you’ve been waiting for?”

“You’ve got it wrong,” the old man said, shaking his head. “The Chaos Spirit Bead was indeed mine, but since I have passed on, it has sought you out as its new master. What you see before you is merely a lingering fragment of my soul. Alas, it’s best to leave such matters undiscussed.”

The elder let out a gentle sigh, his expression tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"Do humans really possess souls?" Fei Liang pondered the question with a spark of excitement, so much so that he completely missed the elder's subsequent words.

"Humph!" The elder's disdainful snort jolted Fei Liang's very soul, causing him to break out in a sudden cold sweat. Reflecting on the elder's condition and the kind of person who could have inflicted such damage, Fei Liang couldn't help but think that this encounter might not bode well for him.

"Scared, are you?" The elder's voice was devoid of any discernible emotion.

"Yes, I am, but I'm ready to face the risks. However, I'm curious about the uses of this Chaotic Spirit Bead?" Fei Liang responded honestly. Qin Qiang's haughty words echoed in his mind, and memories of his childhood steeled his resolve. With nothing to lose, he had nothing to fear.

"Good," the elder nodded in approval. "But there's no need for excessive concern. I've severed your ties to fate; ordinary beings won't be able to track you down. The Chaotic Spirit Bead is perfect for enhancing your strength. Let's wait until you've taken that first step before we discuss further. Talking more now serves no purpose."

The elder sighed again.

"How do I enhance my strength?" Fei Liang asked, puzzled, feeling the weight of the elder's sigh.

"Right here," the elder gestured, and a white light vortex about half a meter in diameter materialized beside him, standing out starkly against the murky gray surroundings.

"Within this Chaotic Light Source are ten worlds: Immortals, Undead, Body Cultivators, Technology, Cultivation, Magic, Crystal Card, Wuxia, Human, and Misty. Depending on your strength, you can enter these different worlds for training to enhance your abilities. For the details, Meier will guide you. She is the Artifact Spirit of the Chaotic Spirit Bead. If you have any questions, she's the one to ask. I've been out for quite some time and am weary. Unless it's urgent, do not disturb me." With those final words, the elder slowly faded away.

Fei Liang opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.