Chapter 117: Deathly Aura?

After discovering that he possessed the Extreme Cold Constitution, Liu Pan sensed a subtle shift in the way everyone in the main hall looked at him, which left him puzzled.

Neither in the outside world nor in his own writings had Liu Pan ever described the Extreme Cold Constitution as having any special significance.

Given the circumstances, Liu Pan was convinced that the anomalies he had previously detected were entirely reasonable. Likewise, his initial suspicion when he first noticed those glitches was correct—that there was indeed a hidden narrative thread in his story, one that did not interfere with the main plot yet was logically consistent.

Perhaps the reason Xiao Hanyi never appeared in his story was because this secret, concealed behind the Extreme Cold Constitution, had swallowed him up.

At this moment, Liu Pan was more certain than ever that Xiao Hanyi’s talent was far from ordinary; it was even possible that he, like Liu Pan, possessed the Extreme Cold Constitution. Liu Pan also sensed that what lay ahead for him was likely the entirely unknown path hidden within his story. This realization stirred both excitement and apprehension within him. After all, whether Xiao Hanyi ultimately met an untimely end remained a mystery.

Eventually, after confirming Liu Pan’s Extreme Cold Constitution, Li Feiyang, in a manner Liu Pan found somewhat perplexing, bargained with the sect leader Li Yi and secured permission to freely access the highest level of the sect’s library. Then, with a hint of reluctance, Li Feiyang glanced at Liu Pan without saying a word and turned to leave.

One by one, the elders departed the main hall, leaving only Li Yi, the sect leader of the Burning Heaven Sect; Li Tu, who had helped test Liu Pan’s constitution; and, of course, Liu Pan himself.

“Speak up. What did you discover?” Li Yi scrutinized Liu Pan briefly before turning his gaze toward Li Tu.

“Well…” Li Tu hesitated, casting a glance at Liu Pan as if sensing something amiss.

Li Yi frowned and suddenly said, “Liu Kuang, come in here.”

At these words, Liu Pan was taken aback; he was certain that the Liu Kuang Li Yi referred to was no one else.

In fact, Liu Pan had already noticed Liu Kuang’s identity jade pendant at the sect’s gate. After entering the sect, he realized that Liu Kuang’s pendant was unlike those of other disciples.

Piecing together what he knew about Liu Kuang, Liu Pan guessed that Liu Kuang had become the personal disciple of a powerful figure within the Burning Heaven Sect. What surprised him now was that this formidable person was none other than the sect leader Li Yi.

Soon, a young man dressed in black entered, just as Liu Pan had anticipated—it was Liu Kuang, the protagonist of his story.

Liu Pan felt a wave of frustration. The protagonist had taken a different path, and his experiences were utterly unlike those in Liu Pan’s writings. To this day, Liu Pan hadn’t yet discovered how many hardships Liu Kuang had endured; in fact, he had seemingly sailed through unscathed.

In contrast, Liu Pan, the author who knew so much about this world, had undergone fewer experiences than Liu Kuang and lacked the power to change anything. It felt like a blatant mockery of him.

“Master, you called for me?” Liu Kuang bowed respectfully.

Li Yi nodded and gestured, “I have matters to discuss with your senior uncle. Take him out for a walk, but don’t stray too far.”

“Yes, Master,” Liu Kuang replied.

Before long, Liu Pan left the main hall under Liu Kuang’s guidance.

“Now, speak,” Li Yi said, once again directing his gaze at Li Tu.

“There’s something wrong with Liu Pan’s body,” Li Tu said plainly, no longer holding back in Liu Pan’s absence.

“Why do you say that?” Li Yi raised an eyebrow, puzzled by Li Tu’s words. After all, many people had previously examined Liu Pan’s physical data and found everything normal.

Shaking his head slightly, Li Tu explained, “When I tested his constitution, I noticed a faint black aura entwined with the crimson snowflake ice crystal. Although it was very faint, it was definitely there. If I hadn’t performed numerous constitution tests before and been so close, I might not have noticed this faint aura.”

“What does this aura signify?” Li Yi asked, genuinely confused. Lacking spiritual power, he had never tested anyone’s constitution and knew little about such matters. Moreover, he hadn’t noticed any black aura on the snowflake ice crystal earlier.

“If my judgment is correct, that black aura should be ‘death energy,’” Li Tu said hesitantly.

“Death energy? How could a normal person have death energy within their body?” Li Yi was taken aback, clearly skeptical of Li Tu’s assessment.

In this world, people bearing death energy generally fell into three categories.

The first were those frequently exposed to the dead—caretakers of charity mortuaries, coffin shop owners and their assistants, grave robbers, and the like—who might carry death energy on their clothes or skin.

The second were those nearing death, whose bodily functions were dying; their bodies naturally emitted a putrid aura, which was death energy.

The third category was, without doubt, the deceased themselves, who were completely suffused with death energy.

Of these three, the first type merely carried death energy externally; a bath or a change of clothes could eliminate it.

The second and third types, however, emitted death energy internally, making it nearly impossible to remove.

Liu Pan, a young man whose bodily functions all tested normal, yet carried death energy?

If it were the first type—externally contaminated due to frequent contact with the dead—it would be nothing to worry about. But this death energy was detected during the constitution test, which meant it emanated from within Liu Pan’s body, not from external contamination. Does this mean Liu Pan’s life is nearing its end? Yet his bodily functions show no sign of deterioration. How could this be?

“I also think it’s unlikely…” Li Tu pondered but ultimately shook his head for reasons unknown. “Though it seems impossible, I am certain that the reason the Fire Sun Sparrow became agitated upon sensing Liu Pan’s aura was not because he possessed the Extreme Cold Constitution, but because of that black aura.”

Li Yi’s eyes flickered. Although he had said earlier that Liu Pan possessed a rare middle-grade spiritual root and the Extreme Cold Constitution, and that the Fire Sun Sparrow might be able to sense him, hearing Li Tu mention the black aura made Li Yi feel that the Fire Sun Sparrow’s reaction was more likely due to that aura than the Extreme Cold Constitution.

The Fire Sun Sparrow’s ability to detect the aura meant that the black aura was either sinister yin energy or extreme yin energy.

Death energy satisfied both conditions—it was simultaneously malevolent yin and extremely yin.

In truth, Li Yi found Li Tu’s assertion that the black aura was death energy quite reasonable. Yet, just as no one believed that the Fire Sun Sparrow could detect the Extreme Cold Constitution, no one could accept that death energy could exist inside a normal person’s body. Li Tu’s demeanor upon personally sensing that aura spoke volumes.

“Let’s not dwell on this. Whether or not he has death energy inside, as long as he has the Extreme Cold Constitution, send him over. Our concern now is when we can return to the Central Plains,” Li Yi said, then seemed to remember something. “Liu Pan’s internal energy is highly unstable. Before sending him over, have him regulate it well. Do not hand him over or let him break through to the Martial King realm while his energy is unstable, or his value will diminish greatly.”

“I understand,” Li Tu nodded, then suddenly wore a curious smile. “If I bring a Fire Sun Sparrow with me when I send that kid over, do you think his value would double?”

“…We can try,” Li Yi replied.

“By the way, senior brother, Li Feiyang has requested unrestricted access to the top floor of the library. Aren’t you worried? The ancient scrolls stored there contain complex information. If he finds something to cure his condition…”

“It’s fine, let him search. I’ve read those scrolls; while they hold many secrets, they’re not particularly useful. In this era, even spirit stones are scarce. Unless a Martial God descends to heal him, he won’t recover.”

……

On the edge of the square outside Burning Heaven Hall, at a stone table.

“You really came,” Liu Kuang said, eyeing Liu Pan with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

Liu Pan paused, then understood Liu Kuang’s meaning. He paid it no mind and spoke directly, “Let’s set aside small talk for now. I have a question—where is Xiao Hanyi, the one who came with you to Burning Heaven Sect? Is he still here?”

Xiao Hanyi? Though he didn’t understand why Liu Pan was asking about him, Liu Kuang thought for a moment and answered, “I haven’t seen Xiao Hanyi since the second day after we arrived. As for whether he’s still here now, I don’t know.”

Gone since the second day? Liu Pan was stunned. In fact, when he heard about the secret behind the Extreme Cold Constitution in the main hall, he had already suspected that Xiao Hanyi might no longer be at Burning Heaven Sect. Liu Kuang’s answer confirmed this.

So, that meant he himself would probably be leaving Burning Heaven Sect soon. Liu Pan frowned but, after some thought, pushed the matter aside.

After all, he was in Burning Heaven Sect now—he couldn’t fight, couldn’t run. Everything must take its course; thinking too much was useless.

“I will probably leave Burning Heaven Sect soon. You should be especially wary of Li Feiyang—he might harm you,” Liu Pan said, then without pause added, “Also, you’ve already joined an organization called ‘Ji.’ The group is entirely free, with no restrictions; its sole common goal is to head toward the Central Plains. Members currently include you and me, as well as Xu Xiaozhan, whom we met in Yunliu City, and Hu Lang and Ye Ming from the Baiyang Sect. If you encounter them later, don’t force contact—let things happen naturally. Of course, if you see them in trouble, lend a hand. And if you have any problems, you can seek their help.”

(Been a bit busy these past few days.)

(To be continued.)