Wu Dian lay quietly on the ground for over an hour, gathering his strength. When he finally stood up, his body felt foreign yet invigorated, unlike the frail state he was used to.
An hour earlier, it had all felt like a dream—an impossible stroke of fortune. To confirm it was real, he had punched himself, wincing at the pain.
"What is this black book? What kind of history does it hold?" he muttered, his voice tinged with awe and apprehension.
As his heart steadied, Wu Dian became acutely aware of a profound transformation. His once-weak bones, brittle from years of malnutrition and beatings, now radiated vitality.
Warmth coursed through his body, a gentle yet potent energy that seemed to heal and strengthen him from within.
He moved slightly, and his bones emitted a crystalline sound, like a melody being played. Shocked, he rolled up his sleeves and examined himself.
The bruises and wounds that once marked his body had vanished. Even the scars of old injuries were gone. His skin, now smooth and tender like a newborn's, gleamed with health.
"I can't believe this…" he murmured, his fingers tracing where wounds used to be. As he rubbed the areas, dead skin flaked off, revealing vibrant, flawless skin beneath.
The realization hit him hard—this miraculous recovery was tied to the golden skeleton that had emerged from the black book.
Yet, despite his transformed body, his cultivation remained at the Tempered Body Third Stage. The lack of progress in his realm left him slightly disappointed.
Wu Dian recalled the fantastical stories of legendary inheritances, told in hushed tones during his childhood.
Tales of miraculous encounters, where men stumbled upon ancient relics and rose to prominence, seemed like mere myths. How many truly managed to defy fate and achieve greatness?
Yet here he was, living such an impossible story.
"This black book… it has to have an extraordinary origin," he muttered. The words etched on its first page echoed in his mind: Proud golden body, rules the fence, indomitable spirit, will it descend!
He realized that while the black book's secrets felt like sheer luck, they were unlocked through his own perseverance. It had been his pillow for a year, enduring his unyielding spirit, and now it had rewarded him.
As his thoughts deepened, the black book suddenly appeared before him, snapping shut and falling to the ground. Startled, Wu Dian picked it up, his mind racing. With a mere thought, the book vanished into his body, only to reappear with another.
"This… this black book…" His voice trembled as realization dawned. "Could it be made from soulstone?"
The very thought sent shivers down his spine.
Soulstones were the stuff of legends, formed from the convergence of countless souls and vast vitality over millennia.
Their rarity was matched only by their value. Even a piece no larger than 3.5 centimeters was priceless, yet this black book, measuring 30 by 7 centimeters, was far beyond comprehension.
Wu Dian's hands grew clammy as he considered the implications. If the existence of this book were to be discovered, it could plunge entire dynasties into chaos.
Even the mighty Han Dynasty might crumble in the ensuing bloodbath.
Realizing the danger, Wu Dian swiftly concealed the book within his body and hurried back to his hut. His heart pounded as conflicting emotions consumed him—excitement at his fortune and dread at the dangers it brought.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Wu Dian clenched his fists. His current strength was far too inadequate to protect such a treasure.
His mind drifted back to his struggles three years ago, to the hardships he had endured to join this martial school.
"If I don't grow stronger, I'll never keep what's mine," he resolved.
Turning his attention to the book, he focused on its first page. The phrase Proud Golden Body stood out prominently.
He didn't know its full significance yet, but he was certain it wasn't trivial. And with so many pages still unexplored, he knew the black book held far more secrets waiting to be uncovered.
For the first time in years, Wu Dian felt a spark of hope—a path to strength, a future he could claim.
Just as Wu Dian was settling into his thoughts, a commotion erupted outside his hut. Raised voices and hurried footsteps echoed across the sect grounds. Curious, he got to his feet and stepped outside, squinting at the activity.
Disciples were gathering in droves, their excitement palpable. The air buzzed with energy as they pointed toward the front gate. Wu Dian's brow furrowed, and despite his reluctance to mingle, his curiosity got the better of him.
He joined the throng, weaving through the crowd until he reached a vantage point. What he saw froze him in place.
The sect leader, flanked by several elders, was escorting a young man through the gates. The man's every step exuded authority and poise. His striking features, coupled with his calm demeanor, made him seem otherworldly.
"That must be him... Lei Ying," Wu Dian whispered to himself, his hands unconsciously clenching at his sides.
The female disciples were in a frenzy.
"Did you see that? He smiled at me!" one squealed.
"No, it was me! He looked right at me!" another insisted, her face flushed with excitement.
Amid the chaos, Lei Ying's gaze swept over the crowd—and landed on Wu Dian.
The brief glance wasn't hostile, yet it carried an unsettling weight. Lei Ying's warm, faint smile made Wu Dian's skin crawl, as if the young lord had seen through his very soul.
A chill ran down Wu Dian's spine, and his instincts screamed at him to retreat. Yet he forced himself to stay still, his face calm even as his heart raced.
The disciples around him, oblivious to his discomfort, continued their raucous chatter.
"He's so perfect!"
"That smile could kill!"
But for Wu Dian, it wasn't admiration that filled his thoughts—it was fear.
"Did he notice something about me?" Wu Dian wondered, his mind replaying the moment Lei Ying's gaze locked onto him. He felt exposed, vulnerable, as though Lei Ying had glimpsed a secret he wasn't even sure he had.
The unease gnawed at him, and he clenched his fists tighter. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning—he was still too weak. If someone like Lei Ying were to uncover the secret of the black book, Wu Dian wouldn't stand a chance.
"I need to grow stronger—faster," he resolved, his eyes narrowing with determination.
Lei Ying's entourage moved deeper into the sect, the commotion gradually fading. But for Wu Dian, the encounter left a mark, a reminder that the world around him was full of dangers he couldn't yet face.
Without another glance at the dispersing crowd, Wu Dian turned back toward his hut, his mind racing with plans for the path ahead.
The Heaven's Pavilion Sect remained abuzz with activity well into the evening. The banquet hall shimmered with warm lantern light, the clinking of cups and laughter reverberating off its walls.
Every disciple present vied for a moment of Lei Ying's attention, their toasts brimming with flattery and admiration.