Ghost Bead

"Where is this place?"

Yu Jing currently stood in the center of a vast garden, surrounded by dense jungle.

The surrounding plants, flowers, and trees moved to some extent with Yu Jing's thoughts. Faint whispers from the trees, wild grass, and flowers even reached deep into his mind.

"Ahead... deeper... come..."

Fragmented voices came through the surrounding plants, urging Yu Jing to venture deeper in one direction of the forest.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, the sound of a babbling brook gradually reached Yu Jing's ears. Through the uniform forest, a clear, transparent stream appeared before his eyes.

On the opposite bank of the stream was the entrance to a cave, but the entrance was currently covered by a large amount of plant vines.

Driven purely by curiosity, Yu Jing waded through the stream to the cave entrance and placed his palm on the plant vines.

Suddenly, due to a repulsive reaction, the vines grew numerous thorny spikes, piercing Yu Jing's palm.

"Ah!"

The stinging pain caused Yu Jing to wake up from his dream.

He sat up in the neat hospital bed. What greeted his eyes was a clean white hospital room. His right hand, which felt the pain, had an IV drip attached. A heart rate monitor beside him showed Yu Jing's heart rate was normal.

"Disciple Yu Jing, are you awake?"

A young nurse holding a registration book entered the room from outside and began recording Yu Jing's current condition.

After a brief pause, Yu Jing's memories of 'Physical Training,' 'Deep Mountain Inn,' 'Shen Yixuan's evil spirit,' and other events became clear.

"Where am I? How are Yu Xiaoxiao and Jiang Pengyu, and Feng Xu?"

"Don't rush to speak. Your internal wounds have just healed. If they tear again, you might not make it to the opening ceremony. This is a branch hospital of the Dihua Ability Institute's affiliated hospital. First, congratulations on surviving the nightmarish physical training. Yu Xiaoxiao, who was on your team, has more severe injuries and is undergoing limb reconstruction surgery at the main hospital. She is not in mortal danger."

Hearing that Yu Xiaoxiao was out of danger, Yu Jing felt significantly more at ease.

"As for the others you mentioned, I, a mere nurse, wouldn't know. You and Yu Xiaoxiao were on the same team and were sent back to the Ability Institute for completing the physical training early. The others probably weren't on your team, right?"

Yu Jing was silent for a moment, then slowly calmed down and asked, "How long have I been here?"

"Including today, it's been exactly six days."

"Six days! Is the physical training over?" Yu Jing hadn't expected to be unconscious here for a full six days.

"Yes, the new student physical training ended yesterday morning. The opening ceremony will be held in three days. Your body has basically recovered and only needs to be observed in the hospital for one more day before you can be discharged tomorrow. Since you managed to survive, rest well for these few days. Although this Ability Institute is full of death, the first batch of 'Yi' is relatively easier to get through."

After answering Yu Jing's questions, the nurse left the room. Yu Jing lay alone on the comfortable bed, his mind replaying the intense battles like a video recording.

After an unknown amount of time, it reached noon, and the door to the room was knocked on again.

A familiar middle-aged man entered the room, carrying the lunch that the nurse had prepared for Yu Jing.

The man, impeccably dressed in a suit, placed the freshly prepared food on a small table in front of Yu Jing.

To his surprise, at that very moment, Yu Jing ignored the IV drip in his hand, his eyes filled with anger, and he lunged at the middle-aged man in front of him.

"Clang!"

The metal tray and food fell to the ground. However, the loud noise seemed not to have been heard by the nurses outside.

The man easily stopped Yu Jing's actions with one hand, pinning him down on the bed and rendering him unable to move. The person visiting Yu Jing was none other than Special Commissioner Liang from the Gene Academy.

"Quiet down, you're a patient right now! I'm here to tell you some good news. The young man from the Jiang family and the newcomer from the Medical School are both alive. The descendant of the Yu family has achieved complete regeneration of their arm using the most advanced cultured stem cells, with no side effects. Only one man and one woman, who were not closely related to you, died in the inn. Isn't that a rather good outcome?"

Following Special Commissioner Liang's reply, Yu Jing's anger gradually subsided, and the needle prick on his hand was repaired by the plant's body.

However, Yu Jing's eyes remained filled with hatred.

"Why?" Yu Jing asked, uttering three words.

Facing Yu Jing's question, Special Commissioner Liang smiled and calmly replied, "Our agreement is very clear, isn't it? From the moment you stepped into this Ability Institute, our research relationship began to proceed normally... Don't forget, your life was given to you by me, and all your opportunities were given to you by me."

Yu Jing had no retort to this answer.

However, Special Commissioner Liang still showed a smile that was difficult to conceal:

"Your performance was quite astonishing. This kind of growth-type evil spirit can be dangerous even to disciples who have studied at the institute for a year. However, you managed to overcome the difficulties with the foreign object in your body, combined with your brain, and the help of a group of friends. Few people can experience such a sense of accomplishment... Oh, right, this is your reward! I specifically fought for it from the administrative council for you."

As his words ended, a shadow in the room turned off the room lights and pulled the blackout curtains, plunging the room into complete darkness.

Special Commissioner Liang took out a small square box, four centimeters long and wide. As the box opened, a starlight-like glow emanated from within, illuminating the dark room.

Inside the box was a spherical object with flowing, star-like particles, appearing more dazzling and colorful than diamonds.

However, Yu Jing, having gone through the physical training, recognized the object with its starlight glow. It was similar to the starry specks that Shen Yixuan's evil spirit had turned into upon death.

"A perfect 'premium' Ghost Bead. This item should have been a requirement for passing the first batch of 'Yi' ability tests, but as a reward for your performance, I'm giving it to you in advance. As for how to use it, you'll naturally learn during the upcoming training. For now, take it and keep it safe."

Special Commissioner Liang handed the open box to Yu Jing.

"What is flowing inside?" Yu Jing asked, looking at the fluid flowing within the bead.

"Shen Yixuan's evil spirit, but it's absolutely sealed by the Ghost Bead. If the bead is destroyed, the soul will scatter. There's no danger whatsoever."

Yu Jing exclaimed in surprise after hearing the explanation, "What? A sealed evil spirit? What is something like that used for?"

"I specifically made time to visit you today. There's still a lot to do in the experimental building. You'll naturally learn how to use the Ghost Bead in the future. Also, a reminder: temporarily, don't let anyone in the first batch of 'Yi' know about it, lest it attract the covetousness of higher-level individuals."

With a wave of his hand, Special Commissioner Liang restored the light to the room, and the spilled food was cleaned up and placed in the trash can.