Episode 2

"You want to steal what's rightfully mine? I won't let it happen even in my dreams!" shouted Xiao Shuxiang, his body slumping to the ground.

The Lin brothers gritted their teeth in anger, while Xiao Shuxiang only laughed coldly at them. Consumed by rage, the Lin brothers didn't hesitate any longer. They immediately charged at Xiao Shuxiang, unleashing a barrage of kicks and punches aimed at his vital organs.

"Ugh!"

"Bang…!"

Xiao Shuxiang's frail body was sent crashing back to the ground, his face covered in blood. This time, Lin Fan's anger was greater than before, resulting not only in severe injuries but also shattering Xiao Shuxiang's energy center, leaving him in excruciating pain.

Xiao Shuxiang's condition was pitiful. Besides his bloodied face, his breathing was labored, and he was slipping in and out of consciousness. His body twitched from the pain of his wounds. He couldn't believe he was going to die young without avenging his parents' deaths.

"Crrraackk…!"

Suddenly, thunder roared, and dark clouds gathered above the Black Dragon Sect. Rain poured down, creating a chilling atmosphere around the outer court disciples' public bath. Fear gripped Lin Fan and Lin Bao, and they quickly sought shelter.

Thunderbolts echoed through the sky as the storm intensified. Xiao Shuxiang's horrifying, blood-covered face slowly began to clear, revealing his pale and pitiful features.

"Crrraackk…!"

A bolt of lightning struck the hot spring near where Xiao Shuxiang lay unconscious. The impact splashed hot water onto his body. The heat surged through him, reviving him from the brink of death.

"That was terrifying," Lin Bao said to his brother.

"Looks like that trash is truly cursed. Even the heavens are on our side by covering up this incident," Lin Fan replied, looking up at the sky.

With the current situation, even if Xiao Shuxiang died, they could blame it on the weather. He could be declared dead from a lightning strike while bathing in the public bath.

"You're right. Even the sky doesn't want him alive," Lin Bao agreed, nodding.

"Let's get out of here and let Xiao Shuxiang die. That way, no one will question us," Lin Fan suggested with a cold smile.

"Alright, Brother Fan…" Lin Bao obediently replied, following Lin Fan's lead as they disappeared into the pouring rain.

Even if Xiao Shuxiang died, the Lin brothers wouldn't face any serious consequences. They were both adopted sons and disciples of the Third Elder. Moreover, Xiao Shuxiang had no one to defend him, as his own master had been away from the sect for the past few weeks. This emboldened the Lin brothers to attack him.

Unbeknownst to them, as they left, Xiao Shuxiang was undergoing an extraordinary transformation. The necklace, a relic from his father, hanging around his neck suddenly emitted a faint purple light. Slowly, the purple light spread, enveloping his body in a warm energy.

"Crrraackk…!"

Another terrifying bolt of lightning descended from the sky, this time striking directly at Xiao Shuxiang, who was still struggling to regain consciousness. However, just before the lightning hit, he felt a strange force surge within him, protecting his severely injured internal organs.

The lightning coursing through his body left an intense surge of electrical current, tearing and charring his flesh. The smell of burning flesh, especially from his singed hair, filled the air.

"Aarrggh…"

A faint cry escaped Xiao Shuxiang's lips amidst the smoke coming out of his mouth. The pain and burning sensation were unbearable, and he lost consciousness once more.

From a distance, Lin Fan and Lin Bao could only quicken their pace. The sound of lightning striking the public bath filled them with fear.

"What a miserable fate. Even in death, the heavens continue to punish you," Lin Fan thought to himself.

He had been frustrated by his failure to seize the energy stone from Xiao Shuxiang. However, with his imminent death, a strange sense of satisfaction washed over him, replacing the disappointment he had just felt.

Meanwhile, the purple light surrounding Xiao Shuxiang suddenly merged with a golden light emanating from the lightning strike. Complementing each other, the two lights combined, forming a new, blackish light that enveloped his body, seeping into his skin and flesh.

His shattered energy center began to reform. The fragments were pushed out through his meridians, which had been blocked all this time. The blackish light cleansed the impurities, which were murky and foul-smelling. This process continued for some time, aided by the relentless rain washing over the Black Dragon Sect.

The stench and the smell of burnt flesh gradually faded away as Xiao Shuxiang's body went through a natural cleansing process. His meridians were destroyed and rebuilt, becoming wider and more resilient. The same thing happened to his dantian, or energy center. After several cycles of reformation, Xiao Shuxiang's dantian was now larger and capable of holding a vast amount of energy.

His dantian was ten times larger than that of an average cultivator, giving him a significant advantage in absorbing and storing energy from heaven and earth. He possessed the strength of ten cultivators at the same level. Even if he faced someone stronger, the risks would be minimal.

Once the meridians and dantian were fully restored, the blackish light healed his external wounds and strengthened his bones and vital organs. Finally, the energy surged into his head, merging with his mind, enhancing his memory and comprehension.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***