Chapter 28
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The old man looked at Xiang and said, "You have an Element Stone inside you, a powerful artifact, but your body is too weak to bear its full power. If we activate the stone now, your body won't be able to handle it, and your internal organs will be severely damaged. You could become paralyzed, or worse. You must be very careful. To prepare your body, I will give you a medicine made from a rare herb. You need to take it for a week to strengthen your body. The herb is called Huan Pi, and it can be found in the forest you came through. However, it is very difficult to locate. If we can find one of its roots, it will help fortify your body."
Wen Shia, who had been listening attentively, called out, "Can the stone be removed from her body? If it's dangerous, maybe we should remove it. That could solve everything."
Xiang looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
The old man shook his head. "That is not an option. If the stone is removed forcefully, it could kill her, or leave her paralyzed. Removing the stone would only worsen the situation."
Wen Shia fell silent, contemplating the old man's words. After a long pause, he said, "Alright. We will go and find the herb. I will go alone to retrieve it." He started to walk away, but Xiang quickly stopped him.
"No," she said firmly. "We should go together. You don't need to go alone. I can help."
Wen Shia hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright, we'll go together."
As they set out on the journey, it wasn't long before Xiang began to show signs of exhaustion. She was barely able to keep up, her steps slow and labored. Wen Shia noticed her struggle and understood that she was too weak to continue at this pace. Without a word, he stopped in front of her.
"Xiang," he said gently, "you need to rest. Sit on my back. If you walk any further, you will only worsen your condition. Let me help you."
Xiang initially refused, but after a moment, she relented, knowing that she had no choice. She climbed onto his back, and Wen Shia carried her on the journey.
As they made their way further into the forest, a group of masked figures suddenly appeared, surrounding them. The attackers were dressed in black, their faces hidden behind dark masks. Despite their sudden appearance, Wen Shia remained calm, recognizing their fighting style.
Then, one of the attackers, more skilled than the others, rushed forward and grabbed Xiang. Before Wen Shia could react, the man pulled her away, and Wen Shia lunged to stop him. However, the masked man was an expert fighter, and the two struggled fiercely. Even with Wen Shia's strength, the man overpowered him, and in the end, both Wen Shia and Xiang were captured.
They were taken to an unknown location, and Wen Shia was locked in a room, blindfolded. Once the blindfold was removed, he found himself in a celestial realm, surrounded by heavenly gods. One of them, a figure of authority, approached and slapped him across the face.
"Have you forgotten your duties?" the celestial being demanded. "Did you forget the task I gave you? You were supposed to find the Power Stone. Why haven't you brought it to me?"
Wen Shia lowered his gaze, his voice barely a whisper. "If the stone is removed from her, she will die. I thought it best to allow the stone to awaken naturally. That's why I didn't inform you. You are gods—how can we harm an innocent person for our own gain?"
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