BTTH : The Fallen Genius

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Chapter 82: Reward for Righteousness

Xiao Yan's body was tense as he slowly walked toward the side of the skeleton, his peripheral vision watching every move of the skeleton.

Three steps.

Two steps.

Just as Xiao Yan was one step away from crossing the skeleton, the skeleton suddenly raised its arm bone, blocking his path!

!!!

Xiao Yan instantly focused, swiftly raising his fist, staring intently at the skeleton's actions, his gaze shifting back and forth between the skeleton and the Little Fairy Doctor ( Xiao Yi Xian) behind it.

If the skeleton's target was just him, that would be fine, but Xiao Yan was worried that the skeleton might also consider Xiao Yi Xian a target.

In that case, to avoid her getting hurt, Xiao Yan wasn't sure if he could safely leave with her without damaging the skeleton.

Breaking into someone else's tomb, seizing their inheritance, and possibly about to damage their remains—Xiao Yan's heart couldn't accept that.

However, the dead are still dead.

Xiao Yan's sense of justice might seem obstinate, but he hadn't become so stubborn as to disregard the lives of the living to uphold the dignity of the dead!

Xiao Yan clenched his fist tightly, the hidden energy of the Eight Extremes Collapse slowly gathering in his fist.

If it came to that, he could only apologize!

Just as Xiao Yan had resolved himself, the skeleton moved again.

However, there was no sign of any attack; instead, it reached into the tattered clothing on its body and began rummaging. Just as Xiao Yan was puzzled, the skeleton pulled out two items from its body.

A set of three connected keys and a scroll.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan froze.

These are the keys to the three treasure chests in the secret room? And what's the scroll?

As Xiao Yan's mind began to swirl in confusion, the skeleton handed the two items toward him. Xiao Yan, coming back to his senses, pointed at himself and asked the skeleton.

"Is this... for me?"

After Xiao Yan asked, the skeleton gave a slight nod. Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then slowly reached out his hand, hesitating as he moved it toward the skeleton's hand, which was holding the keys and the scroll.

During this, Xiao Yan was still worried that the skeleton might suddenly attack. However, it turned out he had been overthinking it.

Until Xiao Yan took the two items into his hand, the skeleton made no further movement. Xiao Yan's mind was a complete mess.

What exactly is this?

(Little Yan, could it be that the skeleton wants to give everything to you?)

Yao Chen's voice rang in Xiao Yan's mind, further confusing him.

(Why?)

(...)

Now, even Yao Chen fell silent.

She had made this judgment based on the skeleton's actions, but she didn't know the reason behind the skeleton's behavior.

Just as the master and disciple were both puzzled, the skeleton reached into its clothes again and pulled out something. Xiao Yan and Yao Chen instantly recognized it.

It was a storage ring.

The next second, the skeleton tossed the ring up with its finger, and began gathering all the medical ingredients and gold coins in the cave, causing the little fairy doctor (Xiao Yi Xian) to panic.

"My herbs (medical ingredients)! My money!"

Realizing something was wrong, Xiao Yi Xian immediately tried to grab some of the gold coins, but to no avail.

In just a few seconds, everything in the secret room that could be considered treasure was collected into the storage ring by the skeleton.

Then, the skeleton reached out its hand toward Xiao Yan again, and in its palm lay the storage ring.

This scene left Xiao Yan even more confused. He blankly asked,

"Are all of these... for me?"

The skeleton still didn't speak, but nodded gently.

After seeing the skeleton nod, Xiao Yan slowly extended his hand and took the storage ring from its palm, staring at it in a daze.

The skeleton then turned around and returned to the stone chair, sitting down again.

At this moment, Yao Chen suddenly noticed something and immediately reminded him.

(Little Yan! The inscription has changed!)

Huh?!!

Xiao Yan looked at the stone tablet beside the stone chair, and the original characters slowly disappeared, replaced by two completely different lines.

[It is rare to willingly honor the dead. All treasures in this room are gifted to you. Do not refuse.]

Upon seeing these two lines, Xiao Yan and Yao Chen both understood. Yao Chen couldn't help but feel emotional.

(I see... Little Yan, the respectful bow you gave actually earned you such a favor. I didn't expect this at all.)

Yao Chen understood that, at least among the people she knew, no one would sincerely honor and respect the corpse of someone who had died in their secret room.

They simply wouldn't think there was any need to respect the dead.

The skeleton was guarding its treasure, but conversely, it likely had a small hope, waiting for someone to sincerely honor it, the lonely being who had died in the secret room.

At this point, Xiao Yan finally came back to his senses, smiling lightly and feeling helpless inside.

(Senior Yao, I never thought I could gain anything by honoring someone else's corpse. This is the first time.)

Xiao Yan looked at the items in his hand, his eyes filled with shifting light, (To be honest, I feel really proud right now.)

Although Xiao Yan had never hoped that the righteous path he followed would bring him benefits, on the contrary, he had lost quite a few things because of it.

But now, with the gifts from the skeleton, Xiao Yan felt for the first time that his righteousness had been recognized by someone else.

(Haha... This opportunity could only be given to you.)

Yao Chen chuckled.

The skeleton's power might not mean much in the eyes of true powerhouses.

But those real powerhouses probably wouldn't even care about the treasures in this secret room.

At least for those who could see value in the treasures in the room, the skeleton's threat was certainly fatal.

No one would have thought that Xiao Yan could so easily obtain everything from this secret room.

No. Not easy at all.

Yao Chen silently corrected herself.

What appeared to be a simple ritual was actually Xiao Yan's steadfast commitment to the righteous path, step by step—this was not something that could be done easily.

"Hey!"

At this moment, Xiao Yi Xian came over angrily, staring at Xiao Yan with a look of grievance.

"This is my place! I brought you here."

Implying that he shouldn't think about taking everything for himself, even if the skeleton had given it to him!

"I know~"

Xiao Yan came back to his senses, smiling and waving his hand. In front of Xiao Yi Xian, he took out the Ice Spirit Flame Grass from the storage ring, then threw the ring to her.

"I'll only take this one. The rest is up to you."

"Eh?!"

Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly caught the storage ring Xiao Yan threw at her, staring at him blankly. After a long time, she hesitated and asked,

"Aren't you going to take more?"

Xiao Yi Xian was both surprised and delighted. She had thought that getting half would be the best outcome. She never expected Xiao Yan to take only that one alchemy ingredient and leave the rest to her.

"Because right now, I only need this." Xiao Yan said calmly, putting the Ice Spirit Flame Grass back into his own storage ring, then continued, "Even if it was given to me by the owner of this secret room, I'm not willing to take too much ill-gotten wealth. It would disturb my path."

Xiao Yan explained, not wanting his pursuit of the righteous path to be for the sake of more benefits. If he thought like that, once his righteous path became self-interested, it would become even harder to walk.

This time, however, was an exceptional case, something he deeply understood.

Therefore, this one Ice Spirit Flame Grass was enough.

If not for the need for this alchemy ingredient to absorb the Heavenly Flame and improve the Flame Mantra, Xiao Yan wouldn't even have taken this.

Absorbing the Heavenly Flames, and one day using it to create a body for Yao Chen—this was as necessary to Xiao Yan as his righteous path itself. It was something that had to be done.

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End of Chapter.

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For every 100 power stones = 1 chapter

300 power stones = 5 chapter

500 power stones = 8 chapter