Crimson Sun Ignites

Silence.

A deathly silence had replaced the earlier chanting of the curse and the soul-shuddering shrieks of that "Anomaly."

Li Yuan's consciousness slowly rose from an endless ocean current of warmth.

There was none of the anticipated cold, pain, or eternal darkness. In their place was an unprecedented... sense of "being." He could clearly "hear" his heart beating powerfully and steadily, "feel" the faint rumble of blood trickling through his veins, and even "see" the meridians within him—once clogged and withered by the frigid curse power—now greedily breathing and slowly expanding.

He "opened" his eyes—not his physical eyes, but the eyes of Internal Vision.

His consciousness sank into his body, and the sight before him shook him to his core.

The "Yin Sha Curse power" that had once entrenched itself deep within his meridians and bones like gangrene clinging to bone, emanating a chilling cold, had now thinned by more than half. Like ice and snow scorched beneath a blazing sun, the remnants cowered in the corners, stripped of their former arrogance. In its place, occupying the core of his body at the sea of qi within his Dantian, was a...

A tiny... Crimson Sun, radiating constant light and heat.

It was only the size of a fingernail, floating in the center of the void-like sea of qi and slowly rotating. Its light was not dazzling, but a deep, restrained dark crimson, like lava surging through the depths of the earth, containing unimaginable and terrifying power. At its edges, nearly imperceptible golden flames occasionally flickered, giving off a pure and searingly hot aura of dominance, as though it could burn away every impurity and evil yin force in the world.

This was what had devoured that "Anomaly" when he stood at death's door and dragged him back from the brink!

Li Yuan's consciousness cautiously approached the Crimson Sun. There was no burning sensation; instead, he felt an intimate connection, as though it were part of his own blood and as easy to command as an arm or finger. As if it had always been a part of his body, merely slumbering for far too long before finally awakening.

At the same time, a vague yet direct message naturally surfaced, branded deep within his consciousness:

"Smelting": Refine all things to nourish oneself. Can devour and smelt foreign energies, flesh-and-blood essence, metal, stone, baleful qi... transforming them into the purest Crimson Sun Qi and Blood to nourish the body, strengthen qi and blood, and scour away impurities.

Simple, brutal, straight to the heart of the matter!

Li Yuan's heart gave a violent thump, and indescribable excitement and wild joy crashed into his mind. He understood. He understood completely!

This Crimson Sun was his only support in breaking free of the shackles and finding life in the face of death! This ability, "Smelting," was the key to shattering the Yin Sha Curse's seal and embarking upon the path of cultivation!

He was no longer that useless sacrificial offering who could not even draw qi into his body and could only watch helplessly as his life drained away!

He tried to use his will to stir that Crimson Sun.

Buzz...

The Crimson Sun trembled faintly. A weak yet incomparably pure current of warmth—or rather, Crimson Sun Qi and Blood—separated from it and began to flow slowly through the thickest meridian in his body.

Wherever it passed, it was like sweet rain falling upon land parched by a long drought.

The remnants of Yin Sha Curse power, as though meeting their Nemesis, let out sizzling sounds as if being scorched. They rapidly melted away and scattered, suppressed and even assimilated by the Crimson Sun Qi and Blood. The dry, shriveled Meridian Walls greedily absorbed that warm energy, becoming tough and elastic once more. The muscles and organs along its path all felt an intertwining itch and comfort under the nourishment of that warm current. Vitality was reviving; injuries were being repaired!

The feeling was too wonderful! It far exceeded the faint warmth he had gained from secretly eating that piece of cold meat. This was nourishment and strengthening on the fundamental level of life itself!

He could even clearly feel that this body of his, once so light and frail that a gust of wind could topple it, was slowly yet steadily gaining "weight." Not fat, but the real foundation brought by denser Muscle Fibers, tougher bones, and fuller qi and blood!

Yet after the wild joy came a thread of icy reason.

This was not a safe place. This was the altar—the family's forbidden ground!

He abruptly pulled his consciousness out of Internal Vision and regained control of his body's senses.

The first thing he felt was the icy shackles binding his limbs. Then came the several uncertain gazes below the altar, filled with scrutiny and alarm.

His eyes remained closed, maintaining the posture of unconsciousness, but every sense in his Whole Body had been sharpened to the limit.

He heard suppressed, heavy breathing. It belonged to Third Elder and the others.

He heard their hushed conversation, brimming with confusion and furious shock.

"...What is going on? The Ancestral Spirit... the Ancestral Spirit's aura has vanished!"

"The altar's energy is in chaos, even the runes have dimmed..."

"That boy... he seems to... not be dead?"

"Not just alive. Feel his aura! It's still weak, but... but that deathly Yin Sha aura has faded considerably! And there seems to be a trace of... vitality?"

"Anomaly! This is far too bizarre! Could something have gone wrong with the Ancestral Spirit's descent, causing its power to flow back into him?"

"Impossible! How could the Ancestral Spirit, such an existence, possibly..."

The argument came to an abrupt halt as everyone's gaze focused on Li Yuan atop the altar.

Li Yuan's heart turned cold. He knew that the fact he had not died—and even seemed to be "recovering"—had aroused the greatest suspicion. He absolutely could not reveal anything unusual now. He had to keep pretending!

He desperately controlled his breathing and heartbeat, keeping them weak yet steady. At the same time, he secretly circulated that thin strand of Crimson Sun Qi and Blood, carefully driving away the chill from his skin so that it would not feel as cold as a corpse's, yet without showing too much vitality. He had to disguise himself as a piece of "trash" that had luckily survived but remained at death's door.

"Get him down first!" Third Elder finally made his decision, his voice so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water. "Inspect the altar and determine why the Ancestral Spirit vanished! As for him... take him back where he came from and keep him under strict watch! Until the truth is uncovered, he is not allowed to die, nor is he allowed to leave by so much as half a step!"

"Yes!"

The shackles were opened, and two guards roughly hauled Li Yuan up once more. His Whole Body went limp, his head dangling weakly as they dragged him down from the altar like a dead dog.

As he passed Third Elder, he could clearly feel that eagle-sharp gaze sweeping over him, carrying probing intent, suspicion, and a nearly imperceptible... greed?

Li Yuan sneered inwardly and ruthlessly buried every emotion deep in his heart.

He was dragged out of the forbidden ground that had nearly become his burial place and thrown back into that dilapidated side room.

The door slammed shut. The sound of a lock being fastened came from outside, followed by the heavy footsteps of the guards.

When he was finally alone, Li Yuan still did not immediately "wake." He lay quietly atop the cold pile of straw and waited for a long time. Only after confirming that the guards outside had settled into steady breathing and were no longer intensely focused did he slowly, cautiously open his eyes.

In the darkness, his eyes were clear and bright, stripped of all their former dimness and despair.

He raised his hand before his eyes. It was still thin, the knuckles distinct. Yet beneath that skin, his Muscle Fibers were growing denser, his bones were being strengthened, and a newborn power, like a dormant volcano, slowly surged in the depths.

He gently clenched his fist, feeling the grip strength far surpassing what it had been before. Though it was still weak, it was undeniably real.

His consciousness sank into his body once more. That tiny "Crimson Sun" still revolved slowly within his Sea of Qi, giving off steady light and heat, driving away the lingering yin chill in his body.

Hope.

Hope named "Crimson Sun" had already been kindled within him.

And this was merely the beginning.

In the boundless darkness, the corner of Li Yuan's mouth curved into a cold yet resolute arc.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the dilapidated roof, casting toward the heart of the family—the core region filled with schemes and calculations.

"Just wait..." he murmured soundlessly in his heart. "Devouring has only just begun."

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