Lu Shimming's vision blurred as the world around him dimmed, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
'Only if I had one more chance..'
'This power..I couldn't even use it..'
Remembering the words on the [Nirvana Tablet], he gathered his strength and opened his mouth.
"Unbind.." A weak mutter escaped from his lips as if his last struggle, he just wanted to use the power that he had desired for so long. Just once, that was all he wished, not to die as a powerless chap.
But, nothing occurred.
'What a pathetic end…' This final thought swirled in Lu Shimming's mind as the pool of blood around him continued to expand. He closed his eyes as a feeling of extreme tiredness washed over him.
Unbeknownst to him, air rippled around him, and the bones in the valley seemed to quiver in fear, before they flew out in the sky. The authority he possessed had been called forth, and from the darkness, an orb of black wisp emerged, swirling ominously in the air.
…
Black Sakura Sect, Core Area.
Meanwhile, in the core area of the Black Sakura Sect, Xue Mo stood outside his master's abode, a heavy expression on his face. He held a jade box containing a blood-red crystal and a letter, his heart weighed down by the implications of its contents.
"Master, a package has been delivered…" he called out, his voice trembling slightly.
The door to the abode swung open with a force that startled him, and the jade box floated from his hand, disappearing inside. Xue Mo's pupils contracted as he observed the scene. 'Its way stronger than before, has he reached..' He didn't dare to imagine anything further. If it was true it would be a blessing, but if it was not, and a false rumor spread, it may very well invite a disaster upon them.
"Hahaha... they really want to play games," a laugh echoed from within the abode, filled with a strange mix of relief and menace. Xue Mo's confusion deepened. The red crystal in the jade box was a clump of refined blood essence, And, from the content of the letter beside it, it belonged to his junior brother, Lu Shimming who had gone missing a few days prior.
"Master, is it…?" Xue Mo began, his voice tinged with anxiety.
As if sensing Xue Mo's worries, a voice came from the abode, "It's not that brats. He is not dead at least.."
The worry on Xue Mo's face eased upon learning the news, but it was soon replaced by a ferocious gleam. Not only did they plot to kill his junior brother, but they also dared to send in the evidence of it? Someone sure didn't want a peaceful death.
"Master, we need to investigate this matter, something is definitely going on in the Sect. First, Junior Brother went missing, and right after that incident occurred at the South East Gate.." Xue Mo insisted, smelling a bigger conspiracy.
"Go and Kill everyone related to this incident on the surface.." A cold voice with lack of emotion resounded within the place.
"But, those are only just puppets at most." Xue Mo, argued in confusion. If they had to kill, they had to kill the real ones and twist their throats around. Where was the fun in beating up some puppets of a loser?
"We need to show that we are angry at least, if we don't even do that much they might get suspicious. Besides, it's not the right time for me to make a move. But, this debt shall be repaid…" A voice dripping with killing intent filled the hall, and Xue Mo felt a chill rising up his spine.
"I shall do as you wish," Xue Mo replied, bowing before departing to carry out the bloody purge that would stain the night with vengeance.
….
Rotten Valley
Back in the Rotten Valley, Lu Shimming lay on the damp ground, bracing for death. But as time passed, he realized that it was taking longer than expected. His exhaustion was fading, and strangely, he wasn't feeling any sensation of pain as well. Initially, he dismissed it as adrenaline or shock, but as each second ticked by, those explanations felt increasingly inadequate.
As if to confirm his suspicions, he opened his eyes and shot to his feet in one swift motion, surprising himself. The gaping hole in his stomach was still there, but the blood had begun to dry, no longer gushing out as it had before.
"Am I… healing?" he muttered, bewildered by the absurdity of his situation. He stretched his body, testing for any lingering injuries, and as he turned, he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Crap!" he exclaimed, startled by the sight of a skeleton standing silently before him. But it didn't move to attack. Instead, it simply stood there, as if awaiting his command. Unlike the undead from before, this skeleton seemed to have a connection to him—he could feel his own Qi flowing through it.
'Did I summon it?' He suddenly remembered using one of his [Authority], calling out to the dead earlier, but he didn't think he would actually end up summoning anything. He didn't remember collecting any souls after all.
The skeleton slowly raised its bony hand, and Lu Shimming braced himself for an attack. But instead, the skeleton gently placed its hand on his head, and patted it.
"What's that for?" Lu Shimming asked, his voice tinged with confusion. The gesture was bizarrely affectionate, and it left him questioning the nature of this undead creature. From what he knew, the undead weren't supposed to be intelligent, but this one seemed different.
"I'll figure this out later," he decided. "Right now, I need to get out of here before that bastard comes back rips my intestines again." Despite having survived twice, he wasn't eager to test his luck a third time. He had no idea what changes had occurred within his body, but one thing was certain: he needed to return to the Sect as soon as possible.
His thoughts were consumed with worry for his fellow disciples, his senior brother, and his master. As well those people who had conspired to kill him.