After lying quietly on the ground for more than an hour, Yang Kai finally stood up, exhausted from the ordeal he had just endured.
Reflecting on the events of the past hour, Yang Kai felt as if he were in a dream, finding it hard to believe that it was all real.
He pinched himself lightly, feeling a slight pain.
"What's going on? What is the origin of that black book?" Yang Kai muttered to himself, unable to make sense of it all.
As he calmed down, Yang Kai noticed something different about himself. Previously, he had been weak, often going hungry and suffering beatings every five days. But now, he could distinctly feel a vibrant life force within his bones, a warm energy spreading from inside, bringing an indescribable comfort.
He moved slightly, and his bones emitted a series of crisp, pleasant cracking sounds, as if they could play a harmonious tune. Furthermore, the pain from the injuries inflicted by Zhou Dingjun earlier seemed to have vanished.
Realizing this, Yang Kai quickly rolled up his sleeves and inspected his body. The bruises and old wounds were all gone, with even his old scars showing signs of healing.
However, he was still as skinny as ever.
He rubbed the areas where the injuries had been, and dead skin fell away, revealing fresh, healthy skin beneath, though not as tender as a newborn's, it was much healthier than before.
"Hiss..." Yang Kai gasped, amazed by the powerful regenerative ability of the golden skeleton that had merged into his body.
Checking his strength, he found he was still at the third layer of Body Tempering, which left him slightly disappointed.
Stories of fortuitous encounters and legendary figures were things Yang Kai had heard and read about since childhood. He knew many who had such luck could leap from obscurity to fame and power.
But those were just stories. In reality, how many people could truly change their lives through a chance encounter? Powerful masters often sought heirs to pass on their legacies before they died. The idea of finding such opportunities by leaping off cliffs or exploring caves was simply unrealistic.
Yet here he was, experiencing his own extraordinary encounter. The mysterious black book and the proud golden skeleton were beyond ordinary.
This was his fortuitous encounter, achieved through his own efforts.
The last four lines on the first page of the black book clearly stated: "Proud bones, golden body; dominator, unparalleled. Only an indomitable spirit can tame it!"
If someone else had found the black book, they wouldn't have discovered its secrets and would have discarded it as rubbish. Because it had been with Yang Kai, sensing his indomitable and resilient spirit over a year, its secrets had been revealed today.
Thus, this encounter was his by merit.
Feeling elated, Yang Kai thought, "A fine horse with a good saddle, a beauty bestowed upon a hero..."
Suddenly, he remembered the black book he had used as a pillow for a year and hurriedly looked for it but couldn't find it.
In his anxiety, he felt a stir within his body. The next moment, the black book appeared before him and fell to the ground with a thud.
Yang Kai was astonished. He picked it up, furrowed his brows in thought, and with a shift of his mind, the black book vanished from his hand. Another shift, and it reappeared.
It seemed like a magic trick, but Yang Kai's face was solemn. He realized the black book could be stored within his body, following his will.
"Could this black book be made of Soul Suppressing Stone?" Yang Kai's own words startled him.
Soul Suppressing Stone! That was a legendary treasure.
Formed in places where countless souls gathered, deep in the abyss where the sun never reached, it absorbed the life force of countless beings over millennia.
There was an ancient saying about this rare stone.
"A black stone of mere inches can devastate countless miles, living beings cannot approach, and not a blade of grass can grow!"
Though exaggerated, the formation of this peculiar stone was indeed brutal. Any life near it would perish instantly.
Its formation took an incredibly long time, thousands to tens of thousands of years.
While the formation process was gruesome, once formed, the Soul Suppressing Stone became a supreme treasure. It could be absorbed into the body and create a unique space within, perfect for storing items.
Though Yang Kai was just a trial disciple of the Lingxiao Pavilion with a lowly status, his knowledge was not lacking. Moreover, the legend of the Soul Suppressing Stone was well-known.
When he first got the black book, Yang Kai hadn't thought of this possibility. But now, seeing it could be absorbed into his body and recalling the golden skeleton emerging from its pages, he recognized the book's material.
Yang Kai broke into a cold sweat on the spot.
The Soul Suppressing Stone only existed in legends and had long disappeared. Yet here he was with one, and a massive one at that!
The legend spoke of a black stone the size of a fingertip being priceless. But his was a foot-long, three-finger-thick black book!
Its value was immeasurable!
If this news spread, not just the Lingxiao Pavilion, but the entire Han Dynasty might be razed overnight.
Yang Kai felt his hands burning and wiped away sweat, relieved the book could be absorbed into his body, avoiding the danger of exposure.
Holding such a precious treasure, Yang Kai knew he had to be cautious. He quickly closed his door, heart pounding.
Yang Kai felt both ecstatic and anxious.
With his current strength, he couldn't possibly protect such a treasure. Although the black book could be stored in his body, avoiding the risk of exposure, Yang Kai still felt insecure.
Only through cultivation and becoming stronger could he safeguard his treasure. Recalling his experiences over the past three years, Yang Kai's fearful eyes turned resolute.
He had come to the Lingxiao Pavilion through hardships for the sake of cultivation.
Since he now possessed the black book, he should explore its potential. The first page had given him the proud golden skeleton, whose purpose was still unknown, but it was certainly extraordinary. And there were many more pages in the book. Could there be only one golden skeleton?
Regarding updates, I currently post two chapters a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. During the ranking challenge, there will be more updates.