The energy of the Star Stone was like sweet rain, nourishing Ye Chen's parched physique and meridians. The quenching and cultivation overnight yielded far greater results than several days of hard work prior. As the first light of dawn once again seeped into the shack, Ye Chen opened his eyes, a sharp glint contained within them. Though his appearance was still disheveled, his entire being, from spirit to energy, had been renewed.
He gently moved his body, his joints emitting light cracking sounds. A surge of power, far more abundant than yesterday's, flowed through his limbs and bones. The dull ache in his Dantian had also lessened considerably, no longer feeling like needle pricks whenever he exerted himself.
【《Basic Body Tempering Art》 Proficiency increased to: Proficient （512/1000）】
【Physique strength significantly increased, with enhancements to strength, endurance, and recovery.】
【Dantian injury repaired by 3%.】
Looking at the information on the system panel, Ye Chen felt a surge of excitement. At this rate, if he could continue cultivating with the Star Stone, not only would his cultivation be restored, but he might even lay a more solid foundation than the original owner!
However, as he held the Star Stone in his embrace again, his brow furrowed slightly. The starlight on the stone's surface had clearly dimmed, and the cool, vast energy within had also weakened considerably. Evidently, the energy within was not inexhaustible.
“I must find more of this ore, or find other resources to substitute,” Ye Chen thought to himself. The Black Marsh was fraught with danger, and Zhao Hu was like a sword hanging over his head; without strength, all talk was in vain.
Wang Tiechui, who had also woken up beside him, rubbed his eyes. Seeing Ye Chen looking full of vigor, he grinned foolishly, "Ye Chen, you look much better!"
“Mm, I feel a bit better,” Ye Chen nodded, dividing half of the remaining coarse grain biscuit and offering it to Wang Tiechui. “Eat something. We need to find a way to get more food and ore today.”
The two hastily filled their stomachs and re-entered the dim mine shaft. With yesterday's experience, Ye Chen no longer dug blindly. He swung his pickaxe while practicing the 《Basic Body Tempering Art》, and at the same time, constantly paid attention to the movement of the Ascension Token in his embrace, hoping to sense the presence of a Star Stone again.
However, after a morning's work, the Ascension Token remained silent. This branch mine tunnel they were in seemed to only contain the single Star Stone from yesterday. Their only gains were a few pieces of ordinary Black Iron Ore, and the slow increase in proficiency for 《Basic Body Tempering Art》 and 《Mining》.
Around noon, the miasma within the mine shaft became denser, forcing the two to temporarily retreat to the bottom for a rest. As Ye Chen leaned against the rock wall, silently regulating his breath, a muffled argument drifted from another main tunnel.
“...Steward Zhao, this… this is simply too much! Even if we brothers work ourselves to death, we can’t dig that much!” a tearful plea rang out.
“Hmph, if you can’t complete the task, you’ll be punished! Those are the rules of the mine!” a haughty, cold voice responded. It was the Overseer, Zhao Hu.
Ye Chen’s heart stirred. He gave Wang Tiechui a look, and the two quietly approached the source of the sound, hiding behind a rock to observe.
In a slightly wider area of the main tunnel, Zhao Hu, accompanied by a few followers, was surrounding four or five emaciated miners. Only a few pieces of ore were scattered on the ground, clearly far from meeting the quota. The leading miner was an elder with graying hair, who was pleading earnestly.
Zhao Hu wore a cruel sneer. He flicked the whip in his hand, and with a crack, struck the elder's back, leaving a bloody mark. “Old man, you talk too much! Since you can’t dig enough, you’ll pay with something else! I heard your granddaughter came to visit a few days ago and left you a jade pendant she wore close to her? Hand it over!”
The elder’s face changed drastically. He clutched his chest. “No… no! That’s the only memento Ling'er’s mother left…”
“You have no say in this!” Zhao Hu’s eyes sharpened, and he signaled his followers to step forward and snatch it.
Seeing the conflict escalate, Ye Chen’s brow furrowed. He was not a saint; with his own safety precarious, he lacked the ability and the will to meddle in others' affairs. However, Zhao Hu's greed and cruelty made him even more vigilant.
Just then, his gaze inadvertently swept across a section of the rock wall behind the arguing crowd. That section of the rock wall was covered in thick, dark moss, appearing no different from any other part. However, the Ascension Token in his embrace suddenly emitted a faint, almost imperceptible warmth!
This warmth was far less intense than when he had sensed the Star Stone yesterday, intermittent, as if something was blocking it.
Ye Chen’s heart leaped! There was something! Right behind that patch of moss!
He immediately concentrated his spiritual sense, observing the rock wall carefully. Soon, he discovered an anomaly – the fluorescent moss in that area was unusually sparse, and its color was darker. The air around it also seemed colder. If not for the Ascension Token’s prompt, he would never have noticed.
“Tiechui,” Ye Chen lowered his voice, pointing in that direction, “look over there. Does it seem a bit different?”
Wang Tiechui followed his gaze and shook his head blankly. “It doesn’t look any different. It’s all just dark rocks and moss.”
Ye Chen said no more. He was certain the Ascension Token wouldn’t react without reason. While Zhao Hu and his men were focused on the miners, he pulled Wang Tiechui along, using the shadows of the tunnel for cover, and silently crept towards the rock wall.
The closer they got, the clearer the warmth from the Ascension Token became. Ye Chen reached out and touched the thick black moss; it felt cold and slippery. He forcefully peeled back a corner of the moss, revealing hard rock behind it.
“It’s solid behind there,” Wang Tiechui whispered.
Ye Chen did not give up. He recalled the feeling of digging for the Star Stone yesterday, concentrated his spiritual power, and simultaneously circulated the 《Basic Body Tempering Art》, injecting a trace of Qi and Blood energy into the Ascension Token.
Buzz!
The Ascension Token trembled slightly, and a faint golden flowing light, even more subtle than yesterday's, shot out and entered the rock wall.
The next moment, something strange happened. The seemingly solid rock wall, upon being touched by the golden light, rippled like water, displaying a slight, unreal distortion before returning to normal.
“Huh?” Wang Tiechui rubbed his eyes. “Did I just see things?”
Ye Chen’s mind, however, was clear as day! A formation! Or perhaps a natural force field akin to an illusion! There was definitely something behind there!
He suppressed his excitement and observed carefully. He discovered a very hidden crevice at the base of the rock wall, almost completely obscured by moss and debris. The crevice was small, barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through sideways.
“There’s something inside,” Ye Chen stated confidently to Wang Tiechui. “Guard this for me, I’m going in to take a look.”
Although Wang Tiechui didn't understand, he had an inexplicable trust in Ye Chen. He immediately gripped his pickaxe and looked warily in Zhao Hu's direction. “I’ll guard it, don’t worry!”
Ye Chen hesitated no longer. He carefully cleared the debris from the crevice entrance, took a deep breath, and, turning sideways, squeezed through with difficulty.
The crevice was extremely narrow at first, only allowing passage for a person. After a few more steps, it opened up suddenly.
A cold aura, several times more concentrated and almost suffocating, washed over him, mixed with a faint, peculiar scent like sandalwood and old books. Before him was a natural small cave, only about ten feet square, with no signs of artificial excavation.
In the center of the cave sat a skeleton clad in a tattered gray Daoist Robe. The skeleton had likely sat in meditation here for countless years; its flesh and blood had long since vanished, leaving only its pearly white bones, still in a seated posture. Between the skeleton's fingers was a Star Stone, almost identical to the one Ye Chen held, except this one was larger and its starlight was even more brilliant!
And in front of the skeleton lay two more items: a palm-sized, ancient-looking, dark yellow cloth bag; and a deep purple talisman, faintly crackling with lightning.
The Ascension Token in his embrace grew intensely warm, resonating with the Star Stone in the skeleton’s hand!
Ye Chen’s heart pounded uncontrollably.
Opportunity! This was the true opportunity!
He suppressed his excitement and first bowed respectfully to the skeleton. “Junior Ye Chen, I have inadvertently entered your resting place. I beg your pardon for any intrusion.”
After the rites, he cautiously approached.What first attracted his attention was the purple talisman. As he drew near, he felt a destructive aura that made his heart palpitate.
【Discovered 'Thunder Fire Talisman' （One-time use）, containing violent thunder and fire power. Can heavily injure Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators upon activation.】
【《Talisman Identification》（Beginner） Proficiency +15!】
Foundation Establishment Stage! Ye Chen gasped. This was definitely a life-saving trump card! He carefully picked up the Thunder Fire Talisman, felt its surging power, and solemnly put it away.
Next, he picked up the dark yellow cloth bag. The bag felt as light as nothing in his hand. Its material was neither cloth nor leather, and it was embroidered with mysterious runes in silver thread. He tried to open it, but found that the opening seemed to be sealed by an invisible force, making it impossible to pull open.
【Discovered 'Storage Bag' （Low-grade）, requires Spiritual Power or Spiritual Sense to open.】
【《Item Identification》（Beginner） Proficiency +10!】
A Storage Bag! Ye Chen’s eyes lit up with surprise and joy. This was an essential treasure for cultivators! Unfortunately, he currently had no Spiritual Power, and his Spiritual Sense was still far out of reach, making it impossible to open for now.
Finally, his gaze fell upon the larger Star Stone. He reached out and gently took the stone from the skeleton's hand. The moment the stone left the skeleton's palm, the pearly white bones seemed to lose their last support and, with a clatter, scattered to the ground, turning into a pile of dry bones.
Ye Chen was silent for a moment, then bowed again. Then, without hesitation, he placed this new Star Stone against his forehead and activated the Ascension Token.
Star energy, ten times more potent and pure than yesterday's, surged into his body like a breached river!
【Absorbed a large amount of unknown star energy, physique rapidly quenched!】
【《Basic Body Tempering Art》 Proficiency skyrocketed!】
【Physique strength greatly enhanced!】
【Dantian injury accelerated repair! 10%…15%…20%…】
The intense energy wash brought tearing pain, but Ye Chen gritted his teeth, fully circulating the 《Basic Body Tempering Art》, guiding the energy to nourish his physique and repair his Dantian. He could feel his bones becoming denser, his muscle fibers tougher, and his meridians widening…
After an unknown amount of time, when the Star Stone's light dimmed once more, Ye Chen’s eyes snapped open, and a far more powerful aura than before flashed past him!
【《Basic Body Tempering Art》 Proficiency increased to: Proficient （125/5000）】
【Physique strength reached the current realm's limit.】
【Dantian injury repaired by 35%!】
【Strength, agility, and perception comprehensively improved!】
He felt the surging power within him and the noticeable improvement in his Dantian, a surge of ambition filling his heart. Although his cultivation had not yet been restored, his current physical strength was likely comparable to a Body Cultivator at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining!
“It’s time to go,” Ye Chen put down the now ordinary Star Stone remnant, carefully hid the Storage Bag and Thunder Fire Talisman, bowed once more to the pile of dry bones, and then quickly retreated from the cave.
Outside, Wang Tiechui was anxiously looking around. Seeing him emerge, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Ye Chen, are you alright? You were inside for so long, and Zhao Hu and the others have already left.”
“I’m fine, Tiechui, let’s go,” Ye Chen patted his shoulder, his eyes sharp. “Let’s go back, we need to properly ‘digest’ this haul.”
With the Thunder Fire Talisman as a trump card, a stronger physique, and that mysterious Storage Bag… Ye Chen knew that his situation in the Black Marsh would completely change from this moment on!