Chapter One Hundred: The Enchanted Pearl

As the gate to the Underworld closed, the golden bead, no larger than a fist and floating in Xu Cheng’s hand, gradually dimmed in color until it turned completely black throughout.

Could this be the legendary divine artifact’s self-concealment?

The bead was unremarkable in appearance. Xu Cheng intended to place it into his sleeve space, but just like his coffin, it simply wouldn’t fit.

After all, this was a divine artifact obtained only by sacrificing everything Xu Cheng owned—elixirs, mystical scriptures, and countless treasures—all offered to the Underworld.

If it could not be stored in his spatial sleeve, then where should it be kept? In a pocket? Hung by a cord around his neck? None of these seemed appropriate. After all, it was a divine artifact—could it be casually carried about?

Despite its now entirely black surface, the bead continued to transmit waves of warmth into Xu Cheng’s body.

The best solution was evidently to keep it close to the body.

After searching his entire attire, Xu Cheng discovered a pocket sewn into the lining of his long robe—an ideal spot.

Carefully placing the bead into the inner lining and fastening his robe, the spot where the bead rested suddenly emitted a brilliant golden light.

Unbidden, it burned a fist-sized hole through the fabric over Xu Cheng’s chest.

It seemed to be venting its displeasure, and if it could speak, it would surely ask: "Why place me here?"

As moments passed, the bead’s gentle glow intensified into a dazzling brilliance, causing the room’s temperature to rise sharply.

The surrounding furniture began to spark from the heat, and if the golden bead was not restrained, the entire inn would be reduced to ashes.

“What is wrong with this bead?” Yan Mengdie shouted. Were it not for the three of them being extraordinary individuals, any ordinary person here would have been incinerated to dust.

Quickly, she flung open the doors and windows, using her spiritual power to summon ice and snow into the room, forming an ice dragon that enveloped Xu Cheng completely.

The temperature inside plummeted noticeably, yet even surrounded by the snowball, the bead on Xu Cheng’s chest continued to radiate intense heat, melting much of the surrounding ice.

Fortunately, Yan Mengdie did not relent. White snow continuously flowed in from outside, encasing Xu Cheng once again.

Meanwhile, Ju Hua repeatedly activated his born magical seals—dark red patterns depicting a ghostly head with twin horns and sharp fangs—seeking to form a barrier isolating the room’s disturbances from ordinary ears.

Xu Cheng’s condition grew stranger still. He seemed to hear a voice emanating faintly from the golden bead: “Accept me, and be united with me forever!”

However, uncertain about the mysterious bead’s origin, Xu Cheng hesitated to respond.

Suddenly, a new voice drifted to him: “If you refuse, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

With a hum, a powerful surge of spiritual energy burst forth from within the bead, crashing toward Xu Cheng like a tempest.

The force was as terrifying as a cultivator undergoing repeated heavenly thunder tribulations.

In that instant, Xu Cheng activated the Great Radiance Infinite Wisdom Enlightenment Immortal Technique, golden light streaming from his spirit to resist the overwhelming spiritual assault.

Combined with the protection of the Past Root Seal, he barely withstood the attack.

The voice within the bead emitted a soft, incredulous “Eh,” seemingly amazed Xu Cheng could repel its strikes. It then unleashed wave after wave of spiritual assaults.

Yet, despite the relentless onslaught, Xu Cheng’s spirit slowly condensed, like graphite transforming into diamond—smaller yet immensely hardened.

“It’s a Buddhist immortal technique? Impossible! Charge!” the voice inside the bead roared in frustration, expending all its strength for a final, devastating blow.

This assault was like a colossal wave towering over a hundred feet crashing upon Xu Cheng as if he were a lone boat at sea—overwhelming and fearsome.

“Great Radiance Seal! Great Wisdom Seal! Past Root Seal, protect me!” No matter the fear or trembling within, his heart remained as solid as a rock, unmoved by storm or rain.

During the battle, Xu Cheng realized that imbuing his spirit with the Past Root Seal of the Great Radiance Infinite Wisdom Enlightenment Immortal Technique anchored his spirit firmly, making him as unshakable as Mount Tai.

In a flash, the towering wave crashed down, and for a moment, Xu Cheng seemed to vanish from sight. As the “surf” settled, a speck of golden light appeared, illuminating everything around.

Xu Cheng’s spirit opened his eyes and said, “You’ve attacked long enough. Now it’s my turn!”

“Why are you unharmed? Why!” The voice from the bead weakened, the repeated strikes having drained its power.

Xu Cheng’s spirit, now tempered as hard as diamond, did not strike with brute force. Instead, it transformed into a slender needle and thrust forward.

A direct spiritual strike is like wielding a massive iron rod—laborious and not always accurate. But transforming into a needle is akin to forging that rod into a razor-sharp sword—any contact inflicts injury. The two are incomparable.

“Ah!”

A piercing scream echoed, then silence from within the bead.

At last, it was vanquished. Xu Cheng dispelled the three great seals, and the needle-shaped spiritual energy touched the fading memories within the bead.

This golden bead was no ordinary treasure; its memories revealed it to be the spirit of an immortal, slain by a powerful being in the Underworld and forged into this bead.

The spirit within the bead was only a remnant attempting to revive itself by using Xu Cheng’s body. Yet even this fragment nearly cost him his life, underscoring the immense power of immortals.

Xu Cheng exhaled deeply, realizing that his spiritual energy had fused with the bead, unable to escape.

The advantage was that he could now freely control the bead—making it radiate intense light, levitate, and even unleash the immortal techniques sealed within. Truly miraculous.

It was more like a magical treasure.

Moved by inspiration, Xu Cheng used the Five Elements Creation Technique to open a cavity within his chest, revealing his white bones.

After repeatedly breaking and regenerating, his bones no longer resembled withered remains but gleamed like exquisite jade—each one translucent and radiant.

His internal space was now enough to contain the bead, which he suspended where his heart once was.

As his body restored itself, he felt a warm vitality within, as if he now possessed a heartbeat and the warmth of life like an ordinary person.

“Xu Cheng, are you alright?” Yan Mengdie called out, noticing the golden glow within the snowball had vanished.

“I’m fine. Disperse the snowball!” Xu Cheng replied, sensing his newfound warmth coursing through him.