Chapter 036 Still Too Conservative.

Book of Darkness

A mysterious magic book containing powerful black magic, created by Sithorn, the god of black magic, one of the Four Ancient Gods. The magic recorded in this book is completely opposite to the "Book of Weishan Emperor." Moreover, the corrupting influence of the Dark God Book is strong and can induce people to use the spells contained within it. Although the magic recorded in it is powerful, there are no moral restrictions on its use; everything is centered on achieving one's goals.

To be honest, Luo Bai never expected to pick up a "Book of Darkness" when he went out for a meal!

You see, Karma Taj explicitly prohibits the use of black magic. If the Ancient One knew about this book, would he still allow it to exist?

Although the Time Stone is currently in his possession, it would still be easy for the Ancient One to deal with him.

Looking at the book in front of him, Luo Bai fell into a dilemma. The "Book of Darkness" is highly corrosive and makes people want to read it. At that moment, he couldn't help but feel drawn to it.

Thoughts of the Ancient One came to mind, and his hands began to shake. Fortunately, Natasha Romanoff interrupted his thoughts: "You take a book with you when you go out?!"

Her words snapped Luo Bai back to reality. He knew the power within the Dark God Book was immense, but he also understood that, with his current strength, it was impossible to control its corrosive nature. Without saying a word, Luo Bai opened a portal and discarded the book. However, he didn't just throw it away; instead, it shrank into the teleportation space.

Once the book was out of sight, Luo Bai finally regained his composure. "Sorry, I was distracted just now," he said.

Natasha Romanoff smiled and replied, "It doesn't matter. But you'd better eat well while you're here. After eating, you can go back and study magic at your own pace."

Luo Bai nodded, but at that moment, he felt somewhat absent-minded. He knew that a long time ago, the ancient god Sithorn, who had fallen into darkness, was forced into exile in other dimensions to avoid being devoured by the God Eater. Before escaping, Sithorn recorded all his evil deeds and spells on indestructible parchment, creating the "Book of Darkness."

This "Dark God Book" is the hope Sithorn left on Earth before his exile, serving as a channel to influence the planet and release energy. In simple terms, it is what Sithorn uses to recruit believers.

Luo Bai knew that all magic in the Marvel world is "borrowed." In other words, it relies on the power of ancient gods. If you learn white magic, you must borrow the power of Emperor Weishan. Although Emperor Weishan may ask for repayment, the price isn't too steep.

But if you learn from the Book of Darkness and "borrow" power from Sithorn, the cost will be high. What this ancient god desires is the soul.

As for why these ancient gods "borrow" power, it pertains to the need for believers. Although it isn't explicitly stated among the Ancient Gods, all gods in the Marvel universe essentially require followers. Believers provide power to ancient gods, and Sithorn, as an Old God, is no exception. Thus, the "Book of Darkness" can be understood as Sithorn's means of finding believers. Anyone who learns its contents will become a believer in Sithorn and dedicate their most valuable possession—their soul—to empower him.

Therefore, this book ensures that users can comprehend it regardless of their origin. While the "Book of Darkness" is said to be a magic tome, it can also be interpreted as a magical weapon created by Sithorn, granting it a form of autonomous consciousness. This implies that it may choose its own host.

Clearly, Luo Bai has a high probability of being selected. However, he genuinely didn't understand why he received this book! After all, learning from it requires a soul sacrifice. No matter how one looks at it, it seems unwise to learn from it.

Could it be that Lady Luck was certain he wouldn't be affected?!

This isn't just random speculation on Luo Bai's part. While the Dark God Book is indeed corrosive and can lead to corruption, whether it's viewed as black magic or not ultimately depends on the reader. With a strong will, a book cannot control one's consciousness.

It's said that learning black magic will lead to corruption and make you an evil mage. But take the Ancient One, for instance; she also absorbed black magic!

It's not inherently wrong to do so. As for why the Ancient One absorbed black magic, it isn't because white magic lacks power. Perhaps those like Wei Shandi are simply too conservative. They "borrow" power from others gradually, unlike Sithorn, who offers enough power to destroy worlds and even extend one's lifespan.

The Ancient One must protect the Earth and confront Domu and many dark magicians. What would happen if she didn't absorb some black magic power?

This led Luo Bai to ponder that the arrival of the "Dark God Book" might not be a misfortune, but rather a blessing, perhaps allowing him to enhance his strength.

Luo Bai was lost in thought when he suddenly realized that Natasha Romanoff had called him several times. Noticing his lack of response, Natasha Romanoff raised her voice: "Luo Bai?!"

This time, Luo Bai snapped back to reality. "What are you thinking about? The food is getting cold," Natasha Romanoff said helplessly.

Luo Bai shrugged, sheepishly replying, "Something unexpected happened, and I was just lost in thought."

Seeing his serious expression, Natasha Romanoff grew a little concerned and asked, "Is the Earth in trouble?"

"Not exactly, but I've encountered some challenges," Luo Bai admitted.

He was unsure whether to share his dilemma with her. He felt torn between the decision to learn and not learn.

"I know I might not be able to help you, but if you want to talk, I could lend an ear. Maybe I can offer some insight if you're feeling confused," Natasha Romanoff said softly.

As an agent, she excelled at comforting people. However, in this matter, it would be wiser for Luo Bai to consult the Ancient One rather than her.

"That's not necessary. Let's eat quickly. I have something to attend to later," Luo Bai declined her offer.

At this point, he just wanted to finish eating and find the Ancient One. Although Luo Bai was learning magic rapidly, he wasn't so strong that he could skip meals, and he was genuinely hungry now.

Feeling both hungry and anxious, Luo Bai ate quickly. Natasha Romanoff couldn't help but remark, "I can see that you're very anxious, but before you leave, I want to ask you something."

Luo Bai, still eating, replied, "What's the matter?"

"About yesterday, a hammer suddenly fell from the sky. Do you know what happened?" Natasha Romanoff inquired.

A hammer fell from the sky?!

"Thor's hammer?!" Luo Bai blurted out, guessing.

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