Ruined Daintian, Corrupted whole

'It's so hot.' 'It's burning, it's painful.'

Shen Yue wanted to cry but was unable to. Her whole mind's attention was focused on the piercing feeling she felt inside her body. A sense of chaos and weakness took over, making everything hazy.

With her whole strength used to sit in the lotus position, she tried to peer into her daintian and find the cause. Everything was black. The evil energy she's been putting inside of her was too powerful, but *Swish* *Swoosh* a ball of light bounced back and forth, hitting the walls of her daintian and causing the evil smoke to dissipate. Sometimes, her unsettled core would be hit, causing her to feel unbearable pain.

The time spent on observing herself was unknown, but she knew one thing. The unending motion of the lightning ball was due to a reaction from something. She needs to figure it out, because instead of slowing down, it quickens the more it bounces back, causing more pain. This caused the weakness these past few days.

Shen Yue's mind was wavering, slightly wanting to be asleep. But she shouldn't. If she does, there's a high amount of possibility that she would die. If not, her core would be broken, and her whole body will suffer the results. Three years of recovery or more might be necessary.

Specks of Earth of energy floated from around her and quickly went inside, running to the unshielded core. There was no protection layer, usually laid by every cultivator at their foundation stage.

Naturally, since she never cultivated to reach this point. Her core, which was surrounded by the evil power, converted the tiny earth balls into a liquid form called Qi. Its formless shape can travel easily through the veins and allow cultivators to release their aura and control the elements.

'Calm down,' she advised herself and began to control the liquid. They went directly to the walls and stuck to it, protecting it from the impact. The liquid form acted as soft cotton, decreasing the lightning's rebound and acceleration and easing the pain.

She released the breath she held in and allowed her back to hit the wall, but not breaking her lotus position. Subsequently, after gaining enough strength, it was finally time to kick this small 4-millimetre lightning out of her. In a way, she was disappointed in her progress. Ten years were spent on taking out a baby's fist-sized lightning from her body. It didn't matter now, though. Three days is enough to kick this ball of stinger out.

Meanwhile, inside the palace, Yun Wei could be seen rushing about, flying on his sword and searching for something. "Search for Shen Yue!," he yelled at the maids running about in nervousness.

This commotion attracted the harem's attention, including the court officials in the outer palace. Gathering to witness this scene, they only watched.

Concubine Li whispered to herself, 'I knew that Shen Yue was a traitor.'

Eventually, the emperor and the crown prince followed to see upon knowing that it was about their future family member. "What is happening?" The emperor asked, and everybody kneeled, greeting him with devoted looks.

Yun Wei flew down and answered, "Father emperor, Shen Yue has been missing since this morning. I suspect that someone abducted her."

"And who would dare? Are you sure about this?"

"Xiao(little) Yue will never leave without letting me know or leaving a letter…" He wanted to add, 'Forcing and pressuring her, this is what you get. But still, why didn't she tell me?'

"Calm down…"

As per the emperor's order, they waited for a whole day until sunrise to confirm her disappearance. Indeed, the lady never returned nor was seen by anybody. Nervousness grew inside Yun Wei, and he looked at his mother. Could it be that she was upset? Did his mother's words get her?

His majesty finally spoke after watching his sons' reactions. Yun Wei was unable to calm down, always walking and looking absent-minded. Whereas his first son also looked concerned, staring at the wall for a long time, but at least, he wasn't as impatient.

The door of the throne room opened and revealed General Wang. The Guard of the whole city and behind him was the Head of the Palace Guards, Captain Bo. The emperor was very punctual, not even allowing them to bow or kneel, but went directly to the point. "Help my two sons look for Lady Shen. Her portraits are ready and will be sent to you by the empress."

--

Black cores laid around in front of Shen Yue as she tried to absorb their energy. Unluckily, the absorption rate was low, for it was painful. A surge of it will also make the lightning more active, which is not preferable.

Everything has to be balanced and well. A single mistake, and it could cost Shen Yue's life.

It was unknown how many hours had passed, but it felt like an eternity. The evil energy inside was becoming dense, so Shen Yue had to increase her absorption. When the dense energy touches the lightning, it will evaporate, causing all her hard work to fly off.

Her consciousness was too strained. A part of her needs to thicken the ball of earth's liquid energy to protect her muscles and physical form from being corrupted, while the other has to control the foreign power. It's not easy, mainly when she's used to her master's help.

Although she's been doing the job alone for a few months now, a helper still helps. Not to mention that she's not comfortable controlling dark energy since it will force her into evil cultivation.

*Cough*

Her mind was taken back from her daintian, and she spat dark blood. This time, her consciousness disappeared due to the pain, leaving her on the ground. Scarlet blood with some black surrounded her body. She hasn't even begun extracting out the annoying little fucker.

"She's not waking up, master. Are you sure she's alright?"

"Are you questioning me? Can you not hear her breathing?" The familiar voice of Yun Wei and her master entered her ears. Shen Yue instantly became excited and opened her eyes, but unfortunately, she couldn't for some reason. "Alright, get out. Your loud mouth will wake her up. She needs rest." It wasn't a question; It was a command, so Yun Wei was kicked out with a click of the door's lock to confirm his disappearance.

The master's footsteps came close, and the cotton bed bent down a few inches away from her leg. He sat down. "You're awake." His voice was so calming for the first time. It's not as commanding as before, and Shen Yue felt grateful. Her body was in extreme pain that she couldn't even open her eyelids. This small gesture really comforts her.

… comfort? Oh, so his voice was comforting.

"I'm sorry. I came too late." He said, then Shen Yue knew something happened. With the little energy she had, a quick internal check was done, despite not being in a lotus position. It wasn't difficult, but tears ran down from her eyes, sliding down to the side of her face.

"They said that when they found you, you were covered with blood, unconscious, and your core already broken. You were highly wounded and at death's door. Oh, and the cores I gave you were confiscated."

There was a slight pause as if to let the first information sink.

"Your whole body was filled with dark energy, and your skin began to turn dark. Your eyes were red, and your hair began to turn white."

Pause," Yun Wei tried to help, but unfortunately, I didn't teach him how to control the energy. He also does not have a core, so he can't do much. Thankfully the generals were in a much higher cultivation stage and gave you first aid, but everything is already broken. Your core, and your daintian. Everything about them was black."

He continued on, but the lady wasn't listening anymore. Her life already ended, along with her only hope.