Delving Into the Unknown
The captive creature thrashed violently against the unforgiving chains, blood seeping from its nose and mouth. The hair on its hands grew rapidly, an unsettling transformation taking hold. Gradually, its eyes began to bleed, and the once-mighty beast let out pitiful howls of agony. The grim scene unfolded, revealing the torment of at least 40 victims ensnared in a nightmarish plight.
As the chaotic scene unfolded, Xing Xing, seemingly petrified, sought refuge behind Zi Qian, clutching his sleeves and peering imperceptibly from behind his shoulders. This behavior puzzled Zi Qian, as the Xing Xing he knew was not one to be afraid, especially in the face of challenges. A hint of suspicion crossed his mind, but he decided to shrug off those feelings for the moment. Instead, he requested Xiao Rui to escort Xing Xing to her room, urging her to rest and recover from the mysterious ordeal.
As Elder Xu approached Zi Qian, Xiao Yang discreetly slipped out of the room. Elder Xu began, "We haven't yet figured out who caused this outbreak." He continued, "Fortunately, the civilians were not harmed. It seemed staged specifically for the academy." A sigh escaped Elder Xu as he scanned the room. "However, we've identified what's causing these people to behave like beasts."
Elder Xu motioned to the healer, who brought out a mysterious box. Meanwhile, Xiao Yang quietly returned, positioning himself next to Zi Qian, his presence unobtrusive yet noticeable. Elder Xu approached Zi Qian, extending the mysterious box in his hand closer to him. The box held an air of intrigue and urgency, adding to the growing tension in the room. "
"Open it," Elder Xu instructed. Zi Qian hesitantly complied, revealing the unsettling eyeball—the same one the afflicted man had vomited earlier. "This eyeball?" Zi Qian questioned. "That's right, just like us, you also misunderstood it for an ordinary eyeball," Elder Xu chuckled. "Take a look at this," he added. Zi Qian exchanged glances with Xiao Yang before focusing on Elder Xu.
Elder Xu took a piece of wood and lightly pricked the eyeball. Initially, there was no reaction. However, as he was about to prick it again, the eyeball quivered, and eight legs emerged from it, resembling a spider. Despite its attempts to move, it seemed feeble, as if on the brink of death. "This eyeball spider is a parasite. It can only survive within the body of its host for a longer time," Elder Xu explained.
"It's a pity that we found this information only now in our library," Elder Xu remarked. "But don't worry, the Crown Prince said that he will try to help us," Elder Xu reassured, offering a slight smile to Zi Qian. However, Zi Qian, visibly anxious, muttered, "Uhh! The Crown Prince," before abruptly leaving after conversing with Elder Xu. Outside, Zi Qian frantically searched for the Crown Prince, eventually reaching his room. Polite knocks echoed, "Your Highness, are you inside?" No response. Zi Qian knocked again, a sense of urgency in his voice, "Your Highness? Your Highness," but still, there was no answer. Zi Qian gently pushed the door and entered the room, only to discover the Crown Prince buried beneath a pile of books. Without hesitation, Zi Qian leaped over the scattered volumes to reach the Crown Prince. "What are you doing?" Zi Qian inquired as he entered the room. The Crown Prince, surrounded by a mountain of books, replied, "Uh! I'm finding information about that outbreak." Zi Qian settled near him, both of them diving into the sea of literature. As Zi Qian scrutinized a book, his eyes widened at the title, "How to Win a Girl's Heart." He rolled his eyes and tossed the book aside. The next one, titled 'The Romance of the Fisherman,' met a similar fate as he sighed in frustration. The cycle repeated with another book, but this time, Zi Qian didn't discard it; instead, he opened it. The title, however, left him momentarily speechless, prompting him to say, "The Deadly Peril: Secrets of Rare Creatures," catching Xuanming's attention. "Let me see!" Xuanming grabbed the book, eager to explore its contents.
Turning the pages of the book, Xuanming suddenly came across the image of the eyeball spider. "Here it is!" he exclaimed, prompting Zi Qian to move closer to get a better look. "Look! Something is written about them here!" Zi Qian exclaimed, his eyes fixated on the text accompanying the image of the eyeball spider in the book. The story unfolds of the Spider Eyeballs' origin. Created through a dark ritual by the twenty first Fox Clan leader, a Nine-Tailed Fox called Yu Xuan, these creatures emerged from the fusion of human eyes and spider legs, infused with an evil essence. In an arcane rite fueled by darkness, human lives were offered as tributes, their human eyes was plucked from their sockets with a chilling precision.The ritual's dark legacy lingered until the demise of the Nine-Tailed Fox in a great battle 10000 years ago, leaving the Spider Eyeballs seemingly extinct,their story preserved in the pages of the ancient book since for countless generations, the foxes of the Clan, mindful of the dark legacy that stained their lineage, abstained from the forbidden ritual. Yu Xuan? I've never come across that name," Zi Qian remarked. Xuanming reassured, "This book encompasses all creatures; we might uncover more about him within its pages." They turned the page, revealing a captivating portrait of a seemingly 18-year-old young man. His fair complexion, luscious pink lips, and pale brown-green eyes exuded an air of enchantment. Clad in a neat and majestic red attire, he sported a star earring on one ear while the other remained bare. His long white hair was meticulously tied.
Zi Qian, struck by the man's striking appearance, pondered aloud, "How could someone so handsome be involved in such a terrifying act?" Xuanming responded sagely, "Looks can be deceiving. The more attractive a person, the more adept they may be at concealment." In that moment, unwittingly, Zi Qian found his thoughts drifting towards the enigmatic Xiao Yang. Zi Qian hummed thoughtfully as he delved into the narrative of Yu Xuan. Born as the illegitimate child 15,000 years ago, he was the offspring of the Fox Princess and the God of Wind, who was then married to the Goddess of Fate. Yu Xuan's early years were marred by adversity as he faced rejection and insults due to his illegitimate status. Despite the God of Wind's efforts to guide him toward righteousness, Yu Xuan succumbed to the influence of his malevolent mother, ultimately swayed to the darker path. In stark contrast to her malevolent brother, Yu Xuan had a twin sister who embraced the path of righteousness. She ascended to become the Goddess of Stars, a beacon of celestial goodness. The annals of history tell that approximately 10,000 years ago, Yu Xuan met his demise at the hands of the God of War lingyun, his younger step brother and son of the Goddess of fate and God of Wind , putting an end to his malevolent ambitions.
"There's only this much information," Zi Qian sighed. "Do you know about the great battle 10,000 years ago?" he inquired. "There isn't an abundance of information about that ancient battle, but I know someone who may hold the true story," Xuanming shared. "Who is it?" Zi Qian pressed. "You'll find out when the right time comes," Xuanming cryptically replied. "Well, Young Master Xue, I couldn't take you to that special place due to recent incidents. I promise to take you there on another day," the Crown Prince assured with a smile . "But, Your Highness, where did you acquire these books?" Zi Qian inquired. "Considering what Elder Xu mentioned, there's no information about these spiders."
"Yeah, that's correct. These books are from the forbidden library of the Palace. Without my father's knowledge, I had some guards fetch them for me," Xuanming admitted.
"A forbidden library?" Zi Qian murmured.
"Yes, these books aren't meant to be read because they can unveil many secrets, including powerful spells," Xuanming explained.
Zi Qian scoffed, "How to Win a Girl's Heart and The Romance of the Fisherman are forbidden books?"
"Ah, those are my books," Xuanming clarified. "Wait a minute! What is that thing on your hair?" Xuanming exclaimed as he approached Zi Qian, picking up white fur-like strands from the back of his hair. "White fur?" the Crown Prince questioned, examining its texture. "Where did this come from?" Zi Qian wondered aloud, only for the mysterious fur to inexplicably vanish from his hand. He looked at Xuanming in shock, seeking an explanation.