「The next day.」
Jiang Chaosheng got up and washed.
He walked out of his bedroom. On the food cart by the door was a prepared breakfast, covered by a thermal lid.
Jin Meiting was no longer there.
She had already gone out to carry out the task Jiang Chaosheng had given her.
If Jin Meiting was capable enough, she would be able to bring the red-haired young man’s sister over tonight.
The second member of the Taboo Association would then be born.
Jiang Chaosheng had a habit of eating breakfast, but today he broke his routine.
Today was the first day of the lunar month, the day to provide Soul Power to the Taboo Sculpture in the basement.
He was somewhat eager to go and meet that Taboo Item.
Jiang Chaosheng went downstairs, picked up the Soul-Sealing Demon Jar from the shelf, and followed the steps in the back hall all the way to the basement.
....
The simple, ancient black wooden door to the basement stood open.
Jiang Chaosheng glanced at the abyss-like darkness within, then stepped inside.
The moment he entered the basement, the three hundred and sixty-five bronze candelabras placed throughout the vast space burst into eerie green flames with a WHOOSH.
Jiang Chaosheng surveyed his surroundings in surprise.
The green flames gave off no heat. In fact, they felt slightly cool.
In the very center hung eight long yellow cloths, covered in Profound Mysteries written in red cinnabar.
Jiang Chaosheng knew that the Taboo Sculpture was within the circle of yellow cloths.
He walked forward, gently lifted a cloth, and saw the scene inside.
It was a sculpture in the shape of a White Jade Skull, draped in a tattered black robe. It held a small black box in its arms and sat upon a Golden Throne.
The bones of the White Jade Skull made a CREAKING sound,
like two rusted gears that hadn’t been lubricated in a very long time grinding against each other.
The White Jade Skull actually, slowly, raised its skeletal head.
Suddenly, the candlelight flickered, the air grew thick, and a terrifying pressure washed over him.
If an ordinary person were present, one with a strong mind would be unable to resist kneeling and kowtowing to it, while one with a weak mind would probably be scared to death on the spot.
Jiang Chaosheng frowned.
"Be quiet."
The previous Manager had said that the most terrifying thing in the entire antique shop was the Taboo Sculpture.
It was best to perform three kneelings and nine kowtows upon entering the basement.
Jiang Chaosheng found this absurd. He would never kneel to anyone, not even a living, breathing god.
’Big deal. At worst, you’ll just deepen the curse on me, and then you, this sculpture, can forget about ever getting any more Soul Power.’
’Who’s afraid of who?’
As soon as he spoke, the candlelight stopped flickering, and everything returned to normal.
The empty eye sockets of the White Jade Skull seemed to hold a gaze, staring intently at the Soul-Sealing Demon Jar in Jiang Chaosheng’s hands.
It had actually compromised with Jiang Chaosheng, desperate for him to release the Soul Power for it.
Jiang Chaosheng opened the Soul-Sealing Demon Jar.
The Soul Power materialized, flowing out like streams of milky-white vapor.
The White Jade Skull Sculpture seemed to begin breathing.
The streams of Soul Power were entering the mouth and nose of the White Jade Skull.
Jiang Chaosheng narrowed his eyes, looking at the White Jade Skull on the Golden Throne.
’Item Number [0-01, Emperor].’
Jiang Chaosheng was slightly surprised.
’An item number starting with ’0’ means the Taboo Item is related to the Deities.’
’This White Jade Skull is actually a Taboo Item of the Deities, and it’s ranked first!’
Jiang Chaosheng suspected that this White Jade Skull was the remains of a Deity.
"It seems the Deities are quite different from the gods of mythology."
After all, he had never heard of any god called ’Emperor’.
After about ten minutes, the White Jade Skull mechanically absorbed all the Soul Power and lowered its head again.
Jiang Chaosheng watched the White Jade Skull for a long time, then took the Soul-Sealing Demon Jar and left the basement.
...
「Oasis Hospital, South Sea Development Zone.」
This was a high-end private hospital in the South Sea, colloquially known as the ’Aristocrat Hospital’.
In a premium sea-view hospital room, a pale, gaunt woman sat in a wheelchair.
Her name was Xia Li, the current head of the South Sea’s Xia Family.
Even if someone hadn’t heard of the Xia Family, they had surely heard of the World Dream Group, which the family founded.
The World Dream Group was involved in various industries in the South Sea Development Zone, including food and beverage, healthcare, education, general tourism, apparel, and automotive.
You could say that every person in the South Sea Development Zone was tied to the World Dream Group from birth until death.
Of course, that was only because the World Dream Group had no plans to enter the funeral industry.
Xia Li, the current head of the World Dream Group, the high and mighty queen of the development zone.
However, even a heaven-blessed prodigy whose strategic vision far surpassed her predecessors now had to bow to her illness.
She was gravely ill.
With ALS and a congenital heart condition, even an Immortal could only watch as she walked step by step into Hell.
"President Xia, you should just sign the contract."
The lawyer urged from beside Xia Li.
A trace of sorrow appeared in Xia Li’s eyes.
’My body has already reached an irreversible state.’
’Lately, I’ve vaguely felt that even speaking has become difficult.’
The lawyer wanted her to sign the will, transferring the group to her younger brother, Xia Qiming.
Xia Li knew exactly what kind of person Xia Qiming was.
He was a master of wining, dining, womanizing, and gambling—the South Sea’s most notorious rich brat.
’If World Dream were handed over to him, the two-hundred-year-old legacy of World Dream would soon be on the road to ruin.’
Xia Li wanted to hand World Dream over to someone else, like a capable and strategic executive from within the company.
’The bloodline tradition isn’t important. The legacy of the World Dream brand is what truly matters.’
Unfortunately, she no longer had any way to get a message out.
Her phone had been taken away a few days ago.
She was the only one living on this floor.
In all these days, not even a nurse or doctor had come by.
’In other words, I’ve been placed under house arrest.’
Seeing Xia Li dawdling, the lawyer said in a low, serious voice:
"This is what the shareholders want as well."
Xia Li let out a soft, bitter laugh.
’Once she signed the contract, the World Dream Group would be in her brother Xia Qiming’s hands.’
’He’s just a child who loves to play. The shareholders would probably eat him alive, leaving not even the bones.’
Xia Li wanted her brother to be a happy, carefree rich kid, not wade into these muddy waters.
She looked out the window.
’I wonder how my brother is doing out there.’
’Is he also being bullied by the other shareholders?’
’The shareholders must really want a puppet for a leader.’
The lawyer finally lost his patience. He leaned down and said coldly in Xia Li’s ear:
"President Xia, don’t be difficult.
Young Master Xia said that as long as you sign the contract obediently, he will let you wait for death here in peace.
If you don’t sign, then don’t blame Young Master Xia for resorting to certain... methods.
Don’t forget, Oasis Hospital is under Young Master Xia’s name.
Making it so you can neither live nor die? That’s very easy to arrange."
The corner of Xia Li’s eye twitched. She looked at the lawyer in disbelief.
’Originally, I thought it was the shareholders who had used some tactics to gain control of this hospital.’
’It turns out I was overthinking things.’
The backstabbing from the shareholders had made her feel humiliated.
But the rage from her brother’s betrayal shot straight to her head.
’Clearly, after their mother passed away, I had cared for my brother in every possible way.’
’What a heartless... idiot!’
The lawyer felt that his threat had achieved its purpose and gave Xia Li a mocking glance.
This powerful figure, who had once sat high above the clouds, was now being trampled under his feet. He felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
The lawyer smiled with satisfaction.
"President Xia, think it over. I’ll come see you again tonight."
With that, the lawyer turned and left the hospital room.
Xia Li’s eyes were filled with sorrow.
’If only a god would save me.’
She, who had never believed in Deities, had now hoped countless times in her heart for a god to save her.
Suddenly, the door was pushed open.
It was a nurse.
A nurse who exuded a bewitching charm from the very marrow of her bones.