ENCOUNTER

At first, Liang Chen thought it was the Karil snake who had followed him into the hole during the period he fainted but was relieved when he noticed that it was a human shape. His heart skipped a beat as he realized he was not alone. Intrigued yet wary, he decided to move closer to investigate the source of the mysterious presence.

Drawing nearer, Liang Chen's eyes widened with a mixture of curiosity and disbelief. The figure he had glimpsed turned out to be a mere skeleton, its remains sprawled against the cold cave floor. The skeletal remains wore tattered robes, hinting at the person's identity as a cultivator who had met an unfortunate fate.

A surge of emotions washed over Liang Chen as he contemplated the circumstances surrounding the cultivator's demise. He wondered what had led to this tragic end and what secrets the deceased cultivator might hold within his belongings.

With a mix of trepidation and anticipation, Liang Chen carefully examined the skeletal remains, searching for any clues or remnants of the cultivator's past. In a worn leather satchel nearby, he discovered a weathered diary, its pages filled with faded ink and the musings of the deceased cultivator.

Eager to uncover the knowledge contained within, Liang Chen gingerly opened the diary. The words etched on the pages told a tale of determination and a relentless pursuit of strength. The diary revealed that the cultivator had stumbled upon rumors of a hidden power residing within the human body, waiting to be excavated.

The deceased cultivator had dedicated his life to unlocking this hidden treasure of strength, delving into ancient texts, and embarking on perilous journeys. The entries chronicled his arduous experiments, his encounters with dangerous creatures, and his relentless search for enlightenment.

As Liang Chen read further, he became captivated by the deceased cultivator's unwavering belief in the untapped potential of the human body. This made Liang Chen think of himself and his determination to get on the path of cultivation. The diary contained detailed descriptions of various cultivation techniques, meditative practices, and the cultivation of Qi but one particular one stood out as this technique was described as the result of his hard work over the years, his most prized treasure but at the end, one could feel the sad emotions hidden within the note as the man was very sad that he did not get to taste the fruits of his labor.

Intrigued by the knowledge he had uncovered, Liang Chen felt a newfound sense of purpose and determination welling within him. He realized that the skeletal remains before him were a testament to the sacrifices made in the pursuit of strength and enlightenment.

With the diary clutched tightly in his hands, Liang Chen made a silent vow to honor the deceased cultivator's legacy. He would carry on the quest for unlocking the hidden strength within the human body, using the knowledge contained within the diary as a guide.

Liang Chen did not hesitate and began going through the man's note. It had to be said that the man kept very meticulous data about his work, it made Liang Chen feel as though he was experiencing them himself.

It took Liang Chen a full two days to go through the diary through which during this period he had to eat rats in other to satiate his hunger. After going through the diary Liang Chen was in awe as the man had found an ingenious way to cultivate the body and what was very remarkable about this method was the fact that there were no restrictions on who could cultivate it only physical limitations which could be remedied if one had the determination to push the body to the limits.

The man called it 'totem cultivation'.