Ling Tian was raised up by a force, and different kinds of spirit energy surged into him. He stumbled, his legs weakening, and crashed to the ground.
"Ling Tian!" Rui Li and Lianhua cried out in unison, their faces etched with worry.
Liang Wong rushed to his side, swiftly lifting him from the furnace and carrying him to his room to rest.
As Liang Wong laid him down, Tianyang appeared at the door, his eyes scanning the scene. "What happened?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Rui Li explained, "Ling Tian fainted from the overwhelming spirit energy. His body couldn't handle it."
Tianyang's expression turned grave. "Let me through." He entered the room, sitting beside Ling Tian on the bed. His eyes roved over Ling Tian's body, checking for injuries, before locking onto the ring on Ling Tian's finger.
"How did you acquire this ring, Ling Tian?" Tianyang muttered to himself, his hand reaching out to touch the ring. As soon as his skin made contact, he recoiled, his hand slightly burned.
Tianyang's eyes narrowed, and he positioned his hands to drain excess spirit energy from Ling Tian. As he turned Ling Tian over, his gaze fell upon the diamond mark on Ling Tian's forehead.
"Jingang Yin... the Diamond Seal Mark!" Tianyang's eyes widened in surprise, and he swiftly halted the energy drainage. With a mixture of awe and trepidation, he retreated from the room.
Days passed, and Ling Tian slept, his body recovering from the ordeal. Tianyang visited him daily, monitoring his progress.
One hot afternoon, Ling Tian's eyes finally opened, and he sat up, rubbing his temples. The room spun, but he took a deep breath, focusing on his cultivation. The Diamond Seal Mark on his forehead glowed softly, and his Blue Dragon Mark pulsed in harmony.
With a newfound sense of balance, Ling Tian stood up and made his way to the hall. Muffled voices drifted from the patriarch's room, catching his attention.
"...we're losing cultivators at an alarming rate...many have ascended to the Middle Realm...we must train the younger generation to ascend as well," one voice said.
Another voice chimed in, "But it's not just about ascending; we need to ensure our sect's survival...the mysterious spirit root is rumored to be extremely rare...I fear we may be facing a catastrophe if it falls into the wrong hands."
A third voice spoke up, "I agree, but what's more concerning is the boy's appearance...he looks like a demon kid. Master Tianyang brought him here, but I don't trust him."
A fourth voice added, "Oh, the kids are training hardly, but there's a kid with a mysterious spirit root...I want to know everything about him and where he came from."
Ling Tian's anger flared at the mention of his appearance. He clenched his fists, his face darkening.
But before he could react, Liang Wong's booming voice cut through the air, "Hey, Tianyang's awake! Come join us, we're going treasure hunting outside the sect!"
Ling Tian's anger dissipated, replaced by excitement. He joined his friends, and Liang Wong handed him a middle-grade serpent.
Ling Tian mounted the serpent, feeling its powerful energy coursing through him.
Lianhua's serpent drew close, and she gazed at Ling Tian with a warm smile. "Hi, Ling Tian. I'm glad you're feeling better."
Ling Tian felt a flutter in his chest and looked away, his face flushing. "H-hi, Lianhua."
Rui Li chimed in, "Ling Tian, can you handle this? We're not just cultivators looking for treasures; there are other sects to contend with."
Ling Tian's gaze swept across his friends before responding, "Which place are we headed to?"
Lianhua's voice trembled slightly as she replied, "The Forbidden Island."
Rui Li's deep voice sent a shiver down Ling Tian's spine. "A place said to have powerful relics and cursed treasures."
Lianhua playfully scolded Rui Li, "Ahh, Rui Li, stop trying to scare me!"
The group erupted into laughter.
Ling Tian's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "A land with powerful relics and cursed treasures...this is going to be interesting."
Liang Wong's voice boomed, "Stay alert, kids! We don't know what dangers lie ahead. Let's move out."
As they ventured deeper into the Forbidden Island, the air grew thick with an eerie energy. Liang Wong's voice was low and cautious, "Hey, be careful kids, we can be attacked anytime, so stay alert."
They dismounted their serpents and proceeded on foot, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. The cave entrance loomed before them, a massive opening that seemed to swallow the light whole.
As they stepped inside, the darkness enveloped them, and the sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern. The ground beneath their feet was littered with human bones and the remains of other creatures.
One of the girls, her voice trembling, spoke up, "Master Liang Wong, shouldn't we go back? I'm scared."
Liang Wong's face creased into a reassuring smile, "No, be calm, nothing is going to happen. Just chill."
They pressed on, their footsteps echoing off the walls. As they reached the heart of the cave, they found themselves faced with multiple passageways.
Liang Wong's voice was firm, "Alright, we need to split up to cover more ground. Ling Tian, Lianhua, Rui Li, and Wei Chen, you take that passage. The rest of you, follow me."
The group dispersed, each faction venturing down their respective paths. The air was thick with the sounds of scuttling creatures and the distant rumble of falling rocks.
Ling Tian, Lianhua, Rui Li and Wei Chen found themselves standing before a large stone door, adorned with intricate symbols and markings.
Rui Li's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Hey, Ling Tian, let's enter this hall and see what's inside."
Lianhua's voice was laced with a hint of trepidation, "Are you sure? We don't know what's on the other side."
Ling Tian's gaze was fixed on the symbols, his mind racing with possibilities. "Yeah, let's check it out."
As they pushed open the door, a musty smell wafted out, and the sound of scurrying rodents filled the air. Rui Li's voice was filled with enthusiasm, "Hey guys, look! I'm going to check it out, I'll be right back."
Ling Tian's eyes flashed with interest as he noticed a series of ancient symbols etched into the wall. He lit a fire, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
Lianhua's voice was barely above a whisper, "Ling Tian, look...what does it say?"
As they leaned in to examine the symbols, a faint cry echoed through the hall, "Help!!!!"