CHAPTER 524: CHAPTER 526: I WANT TO GROW UP

This place is an active volcano, but not every active volcano has an energy stone. Xia Xiao and Shitou had visited all the active volcanoes in the country, and now here, Xia Xiao was uncertain. However, since they had come to this country, it was natural to take a look to avoid missing out.

"I sense energy fluctuations here," Shitou said.

"Could it be that the volcano is about to erupt?" Xia Xiao worried. In case the volcano erupted, it would be dangerous, and because she was physically sensitive, Xia Xiao already felt somewhat hot being here.

"I only feel a strong fluctuation," Shitou stated and then asked Xia Xiao, "Do you want to go check it out?"

"Let’s go." They had come all this way, so naturally, they would check it out, but Xia Xiao still asked, "If the volcano erupts, could we hide in the space and be safe?"

Shitou wasn’t sure of that either; nature’s magical forces were difficult to predict, and he couldn’t guarantee safety.

Nevertheless, Xia Xiao didn’t back down. She and Shitou reached the crater, and according to what Xia Xiao had researched, this crater had erupted twice in history, and aside from this massive crater, there were several smaller ones.

Suddenly, Shitou exclaimed with joy, "It’s an energy stone. I feel very strong energy fluctuations."

Feeling Shitou’s excited voice, Xia Xiao was also thrilled, "But how do we get inside, from here?"

"Into the space, I’ll take you."

As soon as Shitou finished speaking, Xia Xiao instantly entered the space, and in a flash, Xia Xiao and Shitou appeared inside the volcanic cave.

Heat hit their faces, but perhaps because of Shitou, Xia Xiao didn’t feel too uncomfortable.

"Where is the energy stone?" Xia Xiao only saw a sea of fire and felt the oppressive energy. It was terrifying; she couldn’t dare to think about what would happen if it erupted.

"It’s below; let’s go into the space first."

As soon as Shitou spoke, Xia Xiao took him and flashed into the space.

"Why aren’t you speaking?" Xia Xiao asked when she noticed Shitou was quiet.

Shitou replied with a mix of complexity, joy, and worry, "There is a very large energy stone here, very large."

"Isn’t that great news?" Xia Xiao’s eyes lit up. If this place really had an energy stone, it couldn’t be better.

"But I can’t swallow it," Shitou said with a tone tinged with bright sadness. Having such a big piece of fat in front of him but being unable to swallow it was truly heart-wrenching.

"Just absorb it bit by bit, who told you to swallow it all at once?" Xia Xiao said.

"It won’t work. This is an energy stone from an active volcano. The energy is too strong and can’t be absorbed slowly—it must be swallowed in one go."

"What would be the consequences of swallowing it all at once?" Xia Xiao asked.

"It would explode."

"What do we do then?" Xia Xiao also became anxious. If Shitou exploded, she and the space would be done for.

"Do you want to take a chance? Maybe I can succeed."

Shitou’s voice came through, but Xia Xiao hesitated, fearful of death.

"Do you want us to look elsewhere, and if we find nothing, we could return here? Knowing that there is an energy stone here, it won’t run away."

Shitou was silent, internally struggling, but it also cherished its life. After all these years, it didn’t want to ruin everything by destroying itself.

"Fine, let’s look elsewhere," Shitou eventually said.

Xia Xiao knew Shitou was feeling bad and gently caressed Shitou, "Can you tell me, what would happen if you successfully attracted the energy stone and became satiated? Are you going to become a god, or leave this world?"

"I want to become human."

Shitou suddenly said this, startling Xia Xiao. She had thought of many things but hadn’t considered that Shitou wanted to become human.

"I have been awakened with spiritual wisdom for so long that I’ve forgotten the time, not knowing how many years it has been. I’ve always had a strong desire, which is to be human for once. Not a stone, not an object, not a soul, or an invisible being. I just want to be a person with a sense of presence."

"I want to live like humans, to eat delicious food, to play fun games, to really experience it."

As Shitou continued, Xia Xiao couldn’t help but feel sad. She had been with Shitou for decades, how could she not know Shitou’s loneliness and isolation? No matter how much she kept Shitou by her side, setting it amid human environments, Shitou was still just an inconspicuous stone.

"Then, will you directly transform into a person?" Xia Xiao asked.

"No, I will transform into a soul, then reincarnate as a person."

This had always been Shitou’s wish, but now that the opportunity was right in front of it, Shitou was worried. The energy was too great; swallowing it might just lead to self-destruction.

"Let’s go, let’s look elsewhere," Xia Xiao and Shitou left the volcano.

Xia Xiao continued to travel around Country J, seemingly as a tourist, but she almost covered the entire Country J.

However, energy stones were indeed very rare, except for that one active volcano, there were none elsewhere, and it wasn’t certain that active volcanoes would have them.

"There are other countries, the world is so big, we can look around," Xia Xiao comforted Shitou.

After staying in Country J for nearly half a year, Xia Xiao then set off to return home. Upon exiting the airport, she was picked up by Gao Jiaxing’s security officer, but seeing Gao Jiaxing in the back seat, Xia Xiao was startled.

Overseas calls were very expensive, but Xia Xiao contacted Gao Jiaxing daily to report her safety. Just before planning to return home, Gao Jiaxing called, saying he missed her, and Xia Xiao immediately booked a ticket to return.

"Why did you come too?" Xia Xiao’s face showed a smile.

"You must be having so much fun out there that you don’t want to return," Gao Jiaxing, dressed in military uniform, was sitting upright, his face solemn and serious.

Xia Xiao got in, and as the car door closed, Gao Jiaxing firmly grasped her hand, tightly.

"Madam, the boss was promoted," Officer Xiao Zhang couldn’t help sharing the good news with Xia Xiao.

Xia Xiao’s eyes shone, looking at Gao Jiaxing, "Congratulations. Why didn’t you tell me over the phone? I would have come back earlier."

Gao Jiaxing’s face, originally joyful, suddenly became stern, and he couldn’t help but pinch Xia Xiao’s cheek, "If I hadn’t called you, you wouldn’t have wanted to come back, would you?"

Ouch, that hurts.

Gao Jiaxing loosened his hand and rubbed Xia Xiao’s cheek, Xia Xiao looked at Gao Jiaxing accusingly, "It’s not true. I was already planning to come back, and your call just happened to coincide."

Gao Jiaxing pulled the curtain, suddenly pulled Xia Xiao over, and pressed her onto his lap, "You’re tired; rest for a while."

Xia Xiao wanted to say she wasn’t tired, as she had already slept on the plane, but seeing Gao Jiaxing looking somewhat tired, she obediently snuggled into his arms.

Gao Jiaxing rested his head on Xia Xiao’s shoulder, closed his eyes to rest, and although Xia Xiao wasn’t sleepy, she eventually fell asleep unwittingly.