The Medallion novel Chapter 253

Unbeknown to him, Rocky saw the source of the rich spiritual power he had felt, when he carefully picked up the glinting package and opened it. He beheld an exquisitely embellished brocade box. He could not believe that he was holding it in his hand! Apart from the box, he saw the package also contained a book and a map.

Placing the brocade box securely in the package, Rocky scrutinized the book whose pages were frayed at their corners, because it was obvious that countless hands had turned them. It was titled, 'Demonic Fire Codex'. Now that he had taken a closer look at it, he grasped that it was about a spiritual martial arts skill, and meant for the spirit manipulators, who were at the Heavenly Stage. Next, he opened the creased and dusty map and began studying it, after he had smoothened the lines and blown the dust off. Initially, he was confused by the many marks around, what looked like a route on the map. Then, his focus shifted, and he noticed a cross that was drawn in one part of the map. From what Rocky could see and put together, it seemed like was a treasure map.

Now that he had seen the book and the map, he picked up the brocade box with much trepidation. Its well-crafted magnificent exterior told Rocky that something even more splendid was inside. It was plain that its contents were extremely significant - otherwise, why would anyone get such a magnificent container? He could discern that it contained important things, but what were they - that was the million-dollar question. Curious to find out, and get his answer, Rocky slowly opened the brocade box. While he was doing that, he was blinded for a few seconds, when a scarlet ray surged from the narrow opening and illuminated the surroundings. However, his eyes quickly adapted to the bright light. When he looked inside the brocade box, he was surprised to see a giant scarlet pearl, the size of a ping pong ball. Also, besides being colorless, it was transparent. Rocky was bewildered by what he saw next - bright flames dancing inside the scarlet pearl! Those rising flames were indeed sending out a forceful spiritual power.

Amazed and moved, "What's this?" is what Rocky could say. To take a closer look, he then, took the scarlet pearl out of the box. He could not still figure out its significance, even though he had been observing it for a while. However, what he could tell, was that it was much more than a rare treasure, like a Dark Heaven Egg or Heaven Divine Lotus Seed, which could be refined.

Now that Rocky had understood that the scarlet pearl was unique, he channeled his spiritual power into it to study it further, and comprehend what it was all about. Most unexpectedly, within a few seconds, it auto-ignited in his hand, and before he knew what was happening, leaping flames began rising towards the cave's high ceiling. Also, they were growing bigger by the minute. Shortly after that, the pearl gradually rose and flew into the air with the upward thrust the conflagration had created. Magically, like shape-shifters, the flames took the forms of several formidable dragons, started flying around the pearl, and lit up the entire cave, from top to bottom, leaving no dark corners. This scene of the fire, incandescent light, and spiritual power held Rocky spellbound.

However, that did not continue for long. Soon, the flames around the pearl disappeared, and it started falling down from the air. But the ever watchful Rocky did not let it hit the ground, and he caught it midway.

"I wonder if this a Spiritual Weapon like the Frozen Wind Dagger?" Rocky murmured to himself. With his focus then shifting to the corpse that was in front of him, countless questions bothered him, he thought, "Who is this? Why did this person carry these treasures to the cave? Why, and how did this person die?"

Unfortunately for Rocky, he could not figure out the answers to the questions that puzzled him. Therefore, collecting his thoughts, he put the three treasures into his pocket. Then, noticing a token around the corpse's waist, he glanced at it. When he reached out to take it, he recognized the flame-shaped sign on it. Rocky was convinced that he had seen it earlier, for otherwise, its sign could not look so familiar.

"Could it be the Roaring Flame Empire's sign?" Rocky could not stop himself from thinking about it. Nevertheless, he soon remembered that once he had seen the sign at the Beast Evaluation Contest that had been held at the Super Beast Farm. It was the same Roaring Flame Empire's flame-shaped sign, that Carter had used during the event.

"Most probably, this person is from the Roaring Flame Empire?" Rocky thought as he looked at the dead body once again.

Apart from the token around the corpse's waist, Rocky could not see any other signs that would reveal its identity. However, he was sure about one thing, that the person had been a great spirit manipulator. Rocky could deduce that from the three treasures he had recovered from the bag. A brilliant spirit manipulator dying in the cave did not augur well.

All of a sudden, a sonorous sound from above, interrupted Rocky's thoughts. On looking up, he saw a huge and long shadow appear above him. The dark apparition's eyes emitted hellfire and were fixed on him.

Seeing the dangerous light sparkling in the shadow's eyes, Rocky ran for his life. Horrified, he could see a colossal mouth, its gigantic, jagged jaws wide open, with blood oozing from its innards, descend on him. Rocky wished his feet were wheels, and he could push them at the speed of light. Nevertheless, he was running as fast as he could, when he felt that something long, wet, and slippery had grabbed him. He realized that he was in the coils of the shadow's tongue, which was taking him into its cave-like mouth. When Rocky was inside, he was terrified, as it seemed to him that he was in a place of never-ending darkness.