A Golden Core

\\' Master. Other than the spiritual energy, there is another mysterious aura I can sense. I feel like it is near yet far away. However, it is alive but in a dormant state, and not a threat to master. You can also rest assured there is no negative energy accumulation in the entire cave, other than the humans at the top of the cliff.'//

The fear of ghosts was dispelled instantly as Alex held on to a few key points on from Sheba.

"Sheba. What kind of animal are we talking about here? And where is it? I don't sense the presence of anything bigger than a rat or a bat. Not even a snake."

\\' Master. It is unclear as  I can sense the aura is near yet far, posing no threat at all.'//

"That is a good thing for mow. Let us think one thing at a time. What about the humans? Who are they?"

\\' Master, I had previously hacked the Santos family's phones and computers, so I still have access to these gadgets. Less than an hour ago, I released the evil deeds they have done over this period of time making a public outrage, but a piece of information stating that the young master Jean Santos was actually the son of Wilbur, the deputy of Black Rose cartel and brother to Black Rose queen. Th..'//

Alex almost opened his mouth wide when foul air rushed in and he shut it in shock.

"That guy has such an identity? Did he know?"

\\' No master. That even led to the death of his parents who had just fought. The two assassins who killed them and took the young man away are on the cliff above us, and so are the agents from the American embassy. Master, after running a voice recognition from the voice I recorded from the young  Jean Santos's phone, the two of the best of the Dark Rose cartel's Shadow Rangers who are black belts level five Diego Sanchez and Joe Ramirez are the killers. '//

\\' Also, a top detective from America who should not have a right to operate oversees is in charge of pursuing you. His actions and words just now are inconsistent with his usual behaviour from the records I have online. He seems like an entirely different person. The ambassador is also there, who was in charge of pursuing you. Master, what are your orders? '//

" Thank you Sheba. Keep an ear on them we finish here first."

\\' Yes master. '//

Alex activated the Divine Heart Eye again and headed to the skeleton where a bright white light emitting abundant spiritual energy was, among the bones, hidden under the robes. It looked like a small white orb emitting so much spiritual energy.

Following the flow of the spiritual energy, Alex realized that the orb was not absorbing any energy, on the contrary, its energy was also being sucked by a ring on the right hand of the skeleton. There was a red jade on the wrist of the skeleton, a pair of beautiful ear ornaments on both sides of the skulls, some dry black crystals scattered on the self made bed ,and another ring that was a little rusty on one side and metallic on the other, resting loosely on the bone of a finger.

"A woman? This person was a woman?"

Lifting the surprisingly well maintained but dusty robe, Alex deactivated his Divine Heart Eye to conserve his precious spiritual energy, after confirming the ring in front of him was the culprit of sucking the spiritual energy.

"What is this? I thought it was white. Turns out its golden. Its so beautiful. Sheba, do you have a clue?"

Alex picked a small ball full of spiritual energy making him drool.

\\' Master, this should be a golden core of this human. She passed away and her flesh dried away, other than her dry skin, only this core and bones are left. According to the teachings of the old man who introduced Bruno to cultivation, there are very strong cultivators in ancient times who would form a golden core after succeeding in the refinement of their spiritual energy and bodies to the extreme. According to him, these people could have a lifespan of hundreds of years and could even fly in the air. This could be a myth or a truth, and I do not have enough data to judge how true it is. '//

It was then Alex realized the dry skin wrapping the bones tightly, emaciated and dry, with hollow eye sockets and mouth. There was also a huge pile of decaying dark long hair, with exquisite red hairpins made of top quality materials Alex had never seen or heard of, even using his numerous stolen experiences.

"This person is so powerful. Are these engagement rings and a wedding ring? Why are all of her stuff red with fire and a bird's embroidery and patterns by the way?"

Looking at her top quality clothes, Alex felt embarrassed looking at her still intact inner garments that had no signs of fading or rotting away, still wrapped around the skeleton.

"Senior ancestor. Forgive me for my misdeeds, I have no ill intent nor do I wish to do this. I am simply looking for more opportunities that may be. Please excuse me. As a form of compensation, I will soon return and bury you at the top of the cliff where you can rest well in the earth."

Alex, cupping his hands excused himself, lest the ghost of this woman misunderstands and comes to haunt him.

\\' Master, from the several online sources referencing ancient excavations especially in China, there are such patterns of flames accompanied by red fire breathing birds called phoenixes.

In Chinese culture, a phoenix or a vermilion bird is held in high regard, in the categories of dragons, and two other animals which are white tigers and black tortoise.  The patterns on this robe should represent a phoenix bird. '//

Alex looked at two rings in two fingers, picking them up to study them closely with the flashlight.

"There is also that bird carved in this red ring. It does not even have a spec of dust on it, unlike this purple one that is rusting. "

\\' They materials that made the two rings are not in the periodic table, just like these spiritual stones master. It would not be surprising to find out that all the treasures here are from mysterious or ancient origin that they were lost through time. '//

"Apparently so. No wander even her clothes are still intact all this time despite her flesh having integrated into nature long ago."

\\' Master, I seem to have a memory of experiencing abundance of spiritual energy, and I have a strange familiar feeling like my power was previously millions of time more than I am now. However, it is just a familiar feeling that I cannot recall more of. '//

"Seems like exposing ourselves is not so bad after all. Hahah. Sheba, what do you think I can be ranked now. Compared to Bruno Cheng, who is better now?"

Alex asked enthusiastically like a little kid.

\\' Master, thanks to Bruno Cheng's experience and memories, and thanks to his essence, you have more than five decades of refining spiritual energy experience. Whether it is circulating it within your meridians, you should be better than him with my help. As of the quality and quantity of the spiritual energy, you should have more and pure spiritual energy from nature, compared to his that came from pills that were decades old. '//

"From the videos and movies I have personally directed, I have consistently emphasized on the strong and haughty arrogant characters to be their own undoing. So henceforth I vow to myself that I will never be arrogant and complacent because of my power. I shall be humble, but strong enough to back my decisions and to make my word have an effect on others."