The Rare Treasure Awakens

Before the Fish Intestine Short Sword even touched his skin, Xu Yan felt its razor-sharp aura.

The Fish Intestine Short Sword was a keepsake his father had left him. He had always kept it close to his body, never imagining that today it would become a weapon in the old monster's hands.

"Heh heh... Don't worry. I know how to measure my cuts. I'll drain your blood essence slowly and let you die in despair!"

Golden Light Daoist bent down to give a sinister chuckle beside Xu Yan's ear, then drove the Fish Intestine Short Sword toward his chest with a sudden thrust of his withered hand!

"Hss!"

A stabbing pain struck him instantly. As though bitten by a snake, Xu Yan's body went rigid, struggling in the throes of death.

"Drip!"

Drops of bright red blood essence flowed from the wound opened by the Fish Intestine Short Sword, dripping into the Medicine Cauldron glowing green below.

As Xu Yan's blood essence entered it, the spirit medicine that had been boiling and churning inside the Medicine Cauldron instead grew still, as though something were brewing.

At the sight, excitement spread across Golden Light Daoist's face.

He had seized the method for refining this spirit medicine from a demonic cultivator. Though the process offended heaven and violated human decency, its medicinal effects were astonishing.

The Medicine Cauldron's current state matched the recipe's description exactly, so naturally he was thrilled.

As blood essence continued to drain from his body, Xu Yan felt every trace of strength leave him. His once reasonably rosy face had begun to turn pale.

Damn you, old monster!

Xu Yan cursed inwardly. The weakness in his body grew ever more intense, and an ominous premonition came over him. He decided that even if he died, he would disgust the old monster one last time by spitting into the Medicine Cauldron.

At that thought, Xu Yan began struggling with his whole body.

But heaven refused to grant his wish.

"Urgh..."

Golden Light Daoist's gaunt fingers still gripped his neck tightly. Even with every ounce of his strength, he could not break free, let alone spit into the Medicine Cauldron.

His struggles did, however, scatter the blood essence that should have dripped into the cauldron. Several drops flew past its rim and landed on the ground.

"If you want to die sooner, I'll oblige!" Xu Yan's struggles had enraged Golden Light Daoist.

Those drops spilled outside the Medicine Cauldron would weaken the medicine he was refining. At that thought, naked ferocity spread across Golden Light Daoist's face.

He had originally intended to torment Xu Yan thoroughly. Now he only wanted to send him on his way as quickly as possible and drain all his blood essence into the Medicine Cauldron.

Just as Golden Light Daoist was about to act, a sudden change occurred!

A dazzling green light rose within the ruined temple, instantly illuminating the entire building!

Inside the dim temple, both Golden Light Daoist and Xu Yan were blinded by its glare.

The sudden change stopped Golden Light Daoist's hand. His aged eyes fixed on the ground at his feet, disbelief filling his face.

"Th-this... Could this be a rare treasure?"

At his feet, the green bead he had casually discarded was now radiating dazzling light!

Xu Yan, too, stared at the bead on the ground in shock. He had always kept it close to his body, yet had never discovered anything unusual about this Green Pearl!

It seems a drop of blood essence fell onto this bead while I was struggling. Could it have changed because it absorbed my blood essence...? Xu Yan wondered inwardly.

"What a treasure! It's mine now! With this rare treasure's aid, perhaps I'll have a chance to reach the pinnacle of the Golden Core Dao in this lifetime!" Golden Light Daoist cried in delight, then beckoned, intending to draw the Green Pearl into his hand.

Just as Golden Light Daoist moved, the green bead on the ground underwent another change.

The dazzling light around the Green Pearl swiftly vanished, and the bead flew above the Medicine Cauldron.

Then came a sight that made Golden Light Daoist's heart ache.

A green light flashed across the Green Pearl, followed by a powerful suction that surged from it, devouring like a whale as it drew toward the Medicine Cauldron.

At once, the spirit medicine churned within the Medicine Cauldron, and streams of emerald light poured toward the Green Pearl!

"Ah! My spirit medicine!"

Golden Light Daoist let out an anguished cry at the sight. Those streams of green light were the spiritual energy contained within the medicine, and now the Green Pearl was devouring it all.

Watching the spiritual energy in the Medicine Cauldron diminish at a speed visible to the naked eye, Golden Light Daoist flew into a rage and shouted, "Stop!"

With that, he flung Xu Yan aside and thrust his gaunt hand out to seize the Green Pearl!

"Hum!"

With a soft hum, Golden Light Daoist's right hand closed firmly around the Green Pearl. But before he could rejoice, his aged face abruptly changed, as though he had encountered something inconceivable!

Then a piercing scream rang throughout the ruined temple!

"Ah! What is this damned thing? It's actually draining my magic power!" Golden Light Daoist cried miserably, as though enduring tremendous agony.

"Ah... Ah... Ah..."

Piercing screams escaped Golden Light Daoist's mouth. He felt his magic power rapidly draining away, along with what little vitality he had left!

He had already been gravely wounded and near death, with less than a tenth of his magic power and vitality remaining. Now, as the Green Pearl rapidly devoured them, his entire body withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Cough, cough..."

Xu Yan, who had fallen to the ground, was now free. For some reason, the vines wrapped around him had suddenly vanished. Though his body was extremely weak, he could move again.

"Ah... Ah..."

Golden Light Daoist was still screaming. Wisps of deathly aura began to appear around him, and his already ancient face grew even more frightening. With his white hair hanging loose, he looked utterly wretched, like a wandering ghost from a tomb.

"G-good... good boy, quick... save me!" Seeing that Xu Yan was free again, Golden Light Daoist immediately begged in a trembling voice.

He was truly afraid. He could already feel the Green Pearl in his palm nearly finishing off his magic power and vitality. In his eyes, Xu Yan was now his last straw to cling to.

At Golden Light Daoist's words, Xu Yan's heart turned cold, and a trace of killing intent seeped into his eyes. This old monster actually had the nerve to beg him for help now.

He wanted nothing more than to pick up the Fish Intestine Short Sword and stab the old monster to death. Why would he save him?

"Hss!"

Xu Yan forcefully pulled the Fish Intestine Short Sword out of his chest. Fortunately, Golden Light Daoist had not intended to kill him immediately, so the wound was not fatal.

After tearing a scrap of cloth from his clothes, Xu Yan hastily bandaged the wound, then fixed his gaze on Golden Light Daoist.

Golden Light Daoist now resembled dry kindling, his whole body exuding a deathly aura. He had shriveled to nothing but skin and bones, and his once sinister eyes had gone utterly dim.

At the sight, Xu Yan let out a long breath, and his tight grip on the Fish Intestine Short Sword in his right hand eased a little.

He had intended to finish Golden Light Daoist off with the Fish Intestine Short Sword if the Green Pearl failed to kill him. Now, judging by the sight before him, there would be no need.