The woman, her face pale and her expression pitiful, spoke in a trembling voice that carried a hint of despair. "Young Master, I see you've been following me with the intention of killing me for my treasure. I beg only for a swift death. Spare me the torment." Her tear-filled eyes and frail demeanor tugged at the heart, compelling sympathy and a desire to protect her.
Xiao Chen bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, jolting himself back to clarity. Cold sweat dripped down his back. Moments ago, he had inexplicably felt an overwhelming urge to shield her, a notion he now realized was a trap. Even wounded, a cultivator was not someone to be trifled with.
Remaining vigilant, Xiao Chen kept his expression cold and his tone sharp. "Spare me your tricks. Hand over the brocade box, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"
A flicker of resentment crossed the woman's eyes, but she quickly replaced it with a pitiable look. "I'm gravely injured," she said softly. "I can't move at all. The brocade box is in the storage pouch at my waist. If you want it, you'll have to take it yourself."
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed in hesitation, but he began approaching cautiously.
As he stepped within three meters of the woman, a glimmer of excitement briefly flashed across her eyes. Xiao Chen, however, noticed the change. Smirking faintly, he flipped his wrist and retrieved a Fireball Talisman he had hidden in his sleeve. Without a moment's delay, he channeled all his spiritual energy into the talisman.
The talisman burst into flames, producing two blazing fireballs that hurtled toward the woman.
"Ah!" The sudden attack left the woman stunned. But at such close range, she had no time to react. The fireballs struck her directly.
A faint green glow briefly surrounded her body, attempting to resist the flames. However, her horrified scream was quickly drowned out as the fire consumed her entirely, leaving behind nothing but ashes.
Only then did Xiao Chen allow himself a small sigh of relief. He knew the woman had killed her dual-cultivation partner without hesitation to claim the treasure for herself. Such a venomous and cunning person couldn't be underestimated.
Despite his precaution, Xiao Chen noticed a lingering trace of joy in her eyes moments before her death. His wariness grew. Stepping back several meters, he picked up a stone and tossed it toward the spot where she had been sitting.
Snap!
The stone struck the ground, triggering an eerie transformation.
From the ground around the woman's remains, green flames erupted violently, their twisted forms shaping into ghastly skulls and wailing faces. Ghostly howls filled the air, sending chills down Xiao Chen's spine.
His caution had saved his life. Had he rushed in recklessly, he would have been reduced to nothing but charred bones. Whatever these flames were, their bone-chilling aura made it clear they weren't ordinary.
After several tense moments, the green flames gradually receded, as if retreating into a single point. The air rippled, and a small black gourd appeared in their place.
Xiao Chen picked up a few more stones and threw them at the gourd's vicinity. When nothing unusual happened, he cautiously approached.
Near the spot where the woman had died, he retrieved four storage pouches from the ground. Opening them, he was greeted by a wealth of treasures that left him stunned.
Inside were five spiritual weapons. Although their quality wasn't high, they were still remarkable finds. Spiritual weapons were rare, even for the more advanced disciples of Falling Cloud Valley. Placing the weapons aside, Xiao Chen continued exploring the storage pouches.
He found dozens of low-tier talismans, several hundred low-grade spirit stones, and a handful of unknown pills. Three of the talismans bore intricate designs similar to the Fireball Talisman he had just used, but they appeared far more potent. Xiao Chen carefully stored them, deciding to study their properties later.
The spirit stones, a valuable resource for cultivation, were likewise set aside with care.
Finally, his gaze settled on the brocade box, still lying on the ground. Whatever it contained had driven the four cultivators to kill one another. Curiosity and desire burned in Xiao Chen's eyes.
He placed the brocade box on the ground and retreated several meters. Taking up one of the spiritual weapons he had just acquired, he cautiously prodded the box open with the blade.
Click!
As the lid lifted, a plume of white mist erupted from the box, enveloping a three-meter radius in seconds. Alarmed, Xiao Chen felt his hand go numb. The weapon he held clattered to the ground as his strength rapidly ebbed away.
Within the mist, the spiritual weapon visibly dulled, its radiance fading until it became nothing more than a lifeless hunk of metal.
Panic surged through Xiao Chen as he examined his hand. Three of his fingers had turned an ominous shade of black. Tendrils of dark energy spiraled upward, reaching his wrist within moments. His flesh began to rot, oozing blackened blood.
Weakness overwhelmed him, and his vision blurred. Xiao Chen stumbled forward a few steps, his mind clouded with despair. Is this the end? Am I to die here, just as I've begun my journey in cultivation?
Memories of his parents flashed before his eyes. They had just been freed from hardship, and now they would be dragged back into the abyss because of his failure. Xiao Chen's heart burned with unwillingness.
"I won't go without seeing what this treasure is!" he muttered hoarsely, staggering toward the brocade box.
The mist had dissipated, revealing a golden, ancient seal nestled inside. Its unassuming appearance only deepened Xiao Chen's frustration.
"So this… this is what cost me my life," he whispered bitterly. His strength fading, Xiao Chen collapsed to the ground. He reached out and gripped the golden seal, his bloodied hand trembling.
"Father, Mother… forgive me. Your son has failed you…"
As Xiao Chen's consciousness dimmed, his life force waned rapidly. The black energy creeping up his arm was nearing his heart. He would not survive once it reached his core.
But just as hope seemed lost, the golden seal in his hand pulsed faintly. The black blood staining it glowed crimson before being absorbed into the artifact. The ominous energy receded, leaving the golden seal shining softly, as if it had been awakened.