5 Chapter 5: Worshiping the Predecessors

Lu Xun stares into the roof of the cave, not sure what to do. In a shaking voice he asks, "Senior, can I see my nephew?"

The old haggard looks straight at Lu Xun as if he could see right through him, "Sure!".

Although Lu Xun didn't notice due to his state of hysteria, his bleeding had completely stopped.

The old haggard moves his arm in a gesturing manner, forwarding him to a hidden room inside the cave. Lying on the ground with his head separated from his body was his nephew, Lu Ping. An intolerable stench similar to rotten meat penetrates Lu Xun's nostrils, yet Lu Xun still ran toward his nephew.

Lu Xun cradles his nephew's head in his arms, tears flooding down his face. Even more blood is smeared all over his clothes, but he didn't care. All he wants to do is grieve.

'How could the heavens be so cruel!?!'

"You know there is a way to bring him back," whispers the old haggard in a monotone voice.

As if the emperor himself had honored him with a palace full of beauties, Lu Xun stares at the old man with a gaping mouth. Overcome with shock and momentary joy.

"Ha, senior please bring my nephew back, PLEASE, I'm begging you", Lu Xun was in a state of total frenzy. "I'll give up my right to the inheritance of the immortal for my nephew, you can give it to him, he is much less of a coward than me."

The old haggard shook his head, "you have already been chosen by the inheritance, plus as a spirit, I no longer have any qi left."

"Then why the fuck did you bring my hopes up, you walking BASTARD, AHH", Lu Xun screams.

"Calm down the future young master, as long as you're cultivation reaches a high enough level, there should be no problem for you to resurrect your nephew and whoever else you want.", reassures the old haggard.

"Really?" questions Lu Xun, still skeptical.

"Yes, now follow me to the place of inheritance."

The old haggard led Lu Xun to a hidden room within the cave. The room was as large as a farm field, filled with rocks and rubble. At the center of the room stood a 5 meter long stone plaque with images of a being etched upon it. The being was covered in a cloak, with piercing eyes and corpses enveloping the mysterious figure.

'This is less like a majestic immortal and more like a devil', Lu Xun became panicked. 'What have I gotten myself into…"

"Now future young master, please show respect to master and fulfill your potential"

Lu Xun did as he was told, too fearful to do otherwise. As he bows, the plaque melts, turning into blistering red liquid. The red liquid wraps around Lu Xun's body, causing him to suffer a pain similar to a thousand needles piercing his skin. As the red liquid enters his body, black runes appeared on his skin, covering his whole body. He no longer looked like a simple villager and more like a vulgar demon.

'Sigh…', the old haggard for the first time shows an appearance of weariness. 'It seems like I have completed my mission, it is now time for me to join my master in the afterlife once and for all. Poor child, he may see this as a gift in the heavens in the future, but really this is a curse I wouldn't wish on my worst of enemies.'

Unbeknownst to Lu Xun, the old haggard starts to slowly turn into dust, all that was left in his place is a small black bone. To which race it belonged to is unknown, but it gave off a demonic aura. The bone submerged into Lu Xun's forehead, merging with his soul.

As Lu Xun became the true master of the strange bone, rather than wake up, he became submerged in a vision.