Opportunity Arrived

At a pool five li outside Jiuyuan City, faint moonlight shone upon the water, giving it a somewhat eerie air. A figure gradually emerged by the pool—it was Zeng Fan, who had arrived on foot.

Following that summons, Zeng Fan came to the edge of the pool and looked around. There did not seem to be anything special. He scratched his head. "Since I'm already here, I'll wait a while. Maybe something will happen." No longer dwelling on it, Zeng Fan found a comfortable spot by the pool and sat down.

Several hours passed, and Zeng Fan was already drowsy. At that moment, the moonlight struck the pool at a peculiar angle with the water's surface, and a faint glow bloomed beside the pool. "It's finally here!" Zeng Fan sprang to his feet and carefully approached the water. As if sensing his approach, the faint glow immediately became dazzling. Then a force of suction came from it. Before Zeng Fan could think any further, the light swallowed him. After he vanished, the glow gradually faded, and the pool returned to its usual silence.

After a wave of dizziness, Zeng Fan slowly regained his senses. He found himself in a small stone chamber. A luminous pearl embedded in the ceiling gave off a faint light, illuminating everything within. At the far end of the chamber, a bowed figure flickered in and out of view. Zeng Fan no longer hesitated upon seeing it. Whether he stretched out his head or pulled it back, the blade would still fall—he would only know by going over.

As Zeng Fan drew closer, the figure gradually became clear, and he relaxed slightly. It was a skeleton draped in an ancient, weathered Daoist robe. Judging from how badly the robe had decayed, it had been dead for at least several hundred years. Before the skeleton lay three items: a Jade Slip, a jade bottle, and a small ring.

Zeng Fan's heart began pounding. An opportunity? Has the benefit of my transmigration finally arrived? In any case, he only had this rotten life left; there was nothing to fear. If some possession scheme comes, then let it come. There's nothing to look forward to in this life anyway. Without further hesitation, he first bowed to the skeleton, then picked up the Jade Slip.

A ripple of consciousness entered his mind. "Fortunate one, I am Guo Ren, son of the Dragon Island Lord of the Seven Islands of the Eastern Sea. I came to the inland to vie for treasures, only to be wounded by treacherous villains. My injuries were too severe for me to escape back overseas. Hunted all the way here, my wounds have become beyond salvation. I could only establish an array here and leave behind my remains. I hope you can deliver word for me and tell my father to avenge me! You may also personally slay my enemy and return to Flying Dragon Island. My father will surely reward you generously. You need only give him this Jade Slip, and he will naturally understand all the causes and consequences. The one who killed me was Cai Xiao of the Shui Tian Sect! Remember this!!! Beside me is a Pulse-Breaking Pill I left behind. It can help one with Wasted Veins open their Spirit Veins again. As I was grievously wounded throughout my journey, I have already exhausted all my other pills. The remaining items in the Storage Ring are yours to deal with as you please, brother."

As the ripple faded, a strange expression appeared on Zeng Fan's face. The opportunity really has come. The Seven Islands of the Eastern Sea, the Dragon Island Lord, Cai Xiao of the Shui Tian Sect—I'll remember this karma, Zeng Fan thought to himself. He then bowed to the corpse. "I, Zeng Fan, swear here and now! If I ever have the chance, I will fulfill Senior's final wish!" The moment his words fell, the skeletal frame scattered across the ground, as though it had finally fulfilled some lingering wish.

Zeng Fan carefully gathered up the bones, took a deep breath, and slowly picked up the Storage Ring. Yet the ring showed no reaction. "How could I forget? This probably needs spiritual energy to open. There isn't even a shred of spiritual energy in my body right now—how am I supposed to open it?" Zeng Fan said, smacking his forehead hard. His gaze turned toward the pill in the jade bottle, and a glint of determination flashed through his eyes. "I transmigrated here. Though I don't know why this opportunity only came to me now, a man lives but one life. I refuse to be a nobody in this world as well. I have to leave behind some earthshaking trace!"

Zeng Fan hesitated no longer. He uncorked the jade bottle and poured out a pill. The pill was pitch-black throughout and emitted a scent like strong liquor. The instant Zeng Fan smelled it, he felt his body crying out with hunger and longing, demanding that he swallow the pill.

"Come on!" Zeng Fan tilted back his head and swallowed the pill. The smell of strong liquor made him cough violently. Before he could react further, a surge of heat erupted fiercely in his abdomen.