Ancient Tome

The sun neared the end of its descent as Ding Wei completed his day's work at the compound. A pink band of light adorned the horizon, casting the last remnants of daylight. His work had taken longer than usual to complete thanks to the work of his cousins.

Fatigue settled in, exacerbated by the aches of his battered body. The long walk to his home became torturous.

His small shack stood on the outskirts of the village, nestled within Guangzhu Forest. On a good day, the journey would take thirty minutes, but today it stretched to twice that duration.

Passing by were the workers who planted the rice paddies along the road out of Guangzhu, making their way home. They cast glances at his bruises and swollen face but remained silent. They had seen him in such a state many times before and the sight had become quite normal. Additionally, they were too weary from their hours of toil under the scorching sun to engage in conversation. Any exchange would have to wait until after they had a proper meal and some rest.

Probably at the village tavern where they often made fools of themselves or played card games.

Ding Wei veered off the gravel road, traversing a narrow footpath that meandered through the forest. Moments later, he halted, spotting something unusual along his way.

It was a book—a weathered tome, bound in aged leather. Intricate patterns adorned the cover, featuring concentric rings and ancient symbols. Even to an inexperienced individual like him, it was unmistakably recognizable as a cultivation array. This book held the secrets of cultivation.

Cultivation books were rare and expensive, so Ding Wei eagerly seized the opportunity, concealing it beneath his robe. He felt a twinge of guilt, but discovering it mere hours after vowing to surpass his cousin felt like an act of destiny. Perhaps the heavens had orchestrated this event?

In any case, it would serve him well. If he heard anyone inquiring about the book, he could always return it. No harm done. In fact, leaving such a precious resource exposed to the elements would have been a terrible fate. What if it got wet or covered in dirt? He was actually doing the owner a favor!

With his justifications in place, Wei nodded and hastened home.

His humble shack, constructed from scraps of wood and metal, offered little space. On windy days it rattled and shook, threatening to collapse. It was hardly big enough to accommodate his bed, a table, and a cupboard. Cooking took place outside in a pot, washing in the nearby river, and he did his... business... in the privacy of the bushes away from his house.

It was a stark contrast to his previous living conditions, but he had adapted over the years.

Excited, he settled onto his bed and retrieved the book. Illuminated by the flickering light of his oil lamp, its ancient and mysterious appearance intensified. Lines crisscrossed the cover like time-worn wrinkles, and the leather was an odd tinge of green. It came from no animal Ding Wei could recognize.

Upon opening the book, he found it empty. But then, to his surprise, purple ink materialized on the page, transforming into words. Startled, Ding Wei dropped the book.

"Prove Your Worth." it proclaimed in a jagged font. As soon as he read the words, the page flipped over, revealing two entries.

On the left, a breathing technique beckoned. It bore the modest title of Inferior Seven Cyclic Breaths. Wei couldn't help but find the name underwhelming. However, the technique on the right held a far more appealing name.

Shadow Steps. It was a movement technique, usable even in the Awakening Realm. When mastered, it would enable the practitioner to dart forward, moving silently at many times their normal speed for a single step. Alongside the descriptions were neat illustrations and diagrams, rendered in the same purple ink.

Ding Wei leafed through the remaining pages of the book, hoping to find more awe-inspiring cultivation techniques, only to find it utterly blank.

"This must be a test. If I can learn both of these techniques, I'll unlock even greater knowledge!"

Although frustrating, he comprehended the logic behind it. Mastering the fundamentals before delving into more advanced techniques ensured a solid foundation. If the book had contained fire-breathing or cloning methods, he might have disregarded the Shadow Steps.

He sighed. Yes, there was wisdom in the way the book operated... But he wouldn't have said no to the ability to breathe fire.

Nonetheless, a technique that granted superhuman speed? He was more than ready for that. However, the thought of practicing the exercises with his weary legs sent a shiver up his spine. Learning the Shadow Steps technique would have to wait.

As for the breathing technique...

He revisited the instructions, ensuring a thorough understanding. Breathing Techniques formed the bedrock for every cultivator. It allowed mortals to transcend their limitations and sense the Qi both within and beyond. Ding Wei had received his own technique as a gift from his mother on his seventh birthday, sparked by his desire to be as remarkable as his cousin Chen. It had cost his mother one-hundred gold pieces—enough gold to buy three houses in Guangzhu—and had traversed three countries to reach him.

In other words, it was a top-tier breathing method. Ding Wei harbored little hope that this new technique could surpass it.

The Seven Inferior Cycling method was... cyclic. After every seventh breath, one would pause without breathing for a short period before commencing again. Over time, the pauses would lengthen, and the breaths would gradually extend. The writer emphasized progressing at a comfortable pace, never straining to extend the pause or prolong the breath.

"Alright, I need to hold my hands like this..." Wei murmured, intertwining his fingers with extended index fingers.

The gesture aimed to guide the flow of energy through the proper meridians, in the correct sequence. Once proficient, practitioners could abandon the hand positioning.

Upon completing the first cycle, Ding Wei's eyes widened in astonishment.

His cultivation, which had stagnated at the first level of the Awakening Realm for nearly three years, abruptly leaped to the peak. It was a mere half-step away from the Eye-Refinement Level. In a matter of minutes, he had achieved more progress with this technique than he had in the preceding five years!