C8 Could It be That I Am a Genius?(2)

Moments later, Zhong Wen found himself in an area behind the valley, where all the buildings were single-story houses. The east, west, and south sides were connected, forming a rectangle with the northern mountain, encircling a central lake.

As described in the Chronicles of Vale of Healing, this was where the Lord and disciples of the Vale of Healing resided.

Without hesitation, Zhong Wen headed straight for the largest room on the south side—the very bedroom of the Vale's Lord.

Upon opening the door, the spaciousness of the Lord's quarters took Zhong Wen aback. The room was roughly five to six times larger than his temporary quarters in Whispering Blossoms, with a decidedly austere layout. Aside from a landscape painting at the entrance, there were no other adornments. Past the entryway, a massive square table dominated the center, with the Lord's bed tucked in one corner and a writing desk in another.

Medical tomes were scattered atop the square table, while the desk in the corner held paper, ink, and several notebooks filled with the Lord's insights on medicine.

In both Whispering Blossoms and Vale of Healing, people preferred a hard pen made from an unknown material to the traditional brush, finding it quicker to write with and producing a deeper color than a pencil.

After closing the notebook, Zhong Wen approached the bed and gently drew back the curtain, revealing a sight that far surpassed his expectations.

Before him lay a complete human skeleton, its jade-white bones glistening and sitting cross-legged on the bed, showing no signs of decay. The skeleton was draped in a pure white garment, with hands extended from the wide sleeves resting atop its legs. A simple black ring adorned the right middle finger's bone.

This had to be the Lord of the Vale of Healing.

Gazing at the jade-white skeleton on the bed, Zhong Wen was flooded with emotions—admiration, fear, and gratitude all at once.

After a moment of reflection, he stepped forward and offered a deep bow to the skeletal remains of the Vale's Lord.

"Senior, I am grateful to your journal for guiding me here. Though the cause of the ancient civilization's destruction remains a mystery, as well as why you were never laid to rest, I am here now. As a fellow inheritor of the ancient writing, I vow to elevate the legacy of the Vale of Healing in this era!"

With these words, he shamelessly reached for the black ring on the skeleton's right index finger, indifferent to the sentiments of its former owner.

The Chronicles of Vale of Healing describe the Lord possessing a Divine Weapon.

A treasure that had once filled Zhong Wen with envy as he read novels in his past life.

The storage ring!

The diary revealed that even in ancient times, Runemasters skilled in spatial runes were exceedingly rare, and those who could inscribe such runes on a mere ring were unparalleled.

Due to the complexity of crafting spatial adornments, this master only managed to create five rings, two bracelets, and one necklace in his lifetime.

Thus, in ancient times, owning a spatial accessory was an emblem of prestige.

The Lord of the Vale of Healing, due to his godly medical skills, saved the life of the severely wounded Traceless Sage, who in gratitude, bestowed upon him a storage ring.

Even as the leader of the Empyrean Knights, one of the Seven Great Super Sects, Traceless Sage lamented the loss of the ring for a long time.

It was a perfect fit!

Zhong Wen slipped the black ring onto his finger and admired it from every angle, feeling as though its size and design were made just for him.

The Lord had noted in his journal that the material of the storage ring was particularly unique, capable of autonomously absorbing spiritual power from the air to power the internal runes, ensuring it never ran out of energy. The user simply needed to channel a sliver of spiritual power into the ring to access its inner space.

Zhong Wen calmly closed his eyes and summoned the "Sanctum of Scrolls."

He was about to peruse the cultivation methods he had collected in the valley when he noticed a line of small text on the panel beneath the bookshelf.

After cataloging a hundred books, a prompt appeared for a reward draw: 1. Huang Rong's Cookbook; 2. Indestructible Vajra Divine Power; 3. Map of Ancient Sects.

Zhong Wen was ecstatic, feeling like a realm jumper for the very first time.

The Indestructible Vajra Divine Power was a must-have!

He eyed the three rewards, silently praying, "Let's draw!"

The panel updated with a message:

"Congratulations, you've received Huang Rong's Cookbook!"

The cookbook materialized in the "General Knowledge" section of the shelf.

Damn! Zhong Wen couldn't help but let out a curse.

Before he could react further, new text appeared on the panel:

"Record 100 panacea books for a chance to draw a reward: 1. Map of Ancient Sects; 2. Ancient Dragon's Fury; 3. Galeforce Blade Technique."

"Let's draw!"

"Congratulations, you've received the Map of Ancient Sects!"

While Zhong Wen was lamenting his poor luck, another message popped up:

"Record 100 alchemy books to draw a reward: 1. History of the Puidorin Kingdom; 2. Puidorin Kingdom Beauty List; 3. Galeforce Blade Technique."

"Let's draw!"

With little hope for his luck, Zhong Wen was surprised to see the reward announcement:

"Congratulations, you've received the Galeforce Blade Technique!"

A platinum-grade sword technique appeared in the "Arcane Technique" category on the shelf.

At last, an arcane technique was his.

Zhong Wen breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat compensated.

After a short wait, with no further draws forthcoming, he refocused on the newly acquired Art of Eternal Breath.

"The heavenly way cycles, one breath sustains life..."

The ancient writing zipped by, and quickly, the diamond-grade cultivation method was committed to memory.

The Art of Eternal Breath, despite its diamond grade, wasn't a method for conquest but rather a cultivation technique aimed at longevity and health.

The cultivation method started off with a moderate pace of progress, but its advantage lay in the spiritual power's ability to circulate and grow within the body autonomously. The cultivated spiritual power was balanced and harmonious, offering significant health benefits. At advanced levels, the spiritual energy became a ceaseless flow, capable of healing wounds, curing diseases, and extending one's lifespan.

Moreover, the spiritual power characteristic of the Art of Eternal Breath was mild, preventing any conflicts when practiced alongside other methods. On the contrary, it could enhance the effects of other practices.

While it wasn't a dominant or unbeatable technique, Zhong Wen had no other options at the moment. He reflected on the instructions in the text, contorting his body into the prescribed posture, and silently recited the mantra. With that, he embarked on his first step in cultivation: inviting the spirit into his body.

As the Art of Eternal Breath's author explained, drawing the spiritual power from the cosmos into one's body was a lengthy endeavor, with the duration varying from person to person. Even for the most gifted cultivators, this initial phase could take about a week.

Zhong Wen, therefore, remained patient. He intended to get a taste of the cultivation experience before stopping, planning to delve deeper once he returned to Whispering Blossoms.

To his surprise, it wasn't long before he sensed a wisp of Qi entering his body through his breath, slowly traveling down his chest and settling above his dantian. Soon after, a second wisp followed.

With time, the influx of Qi grew, quickening in pace within him. Zhong Wen's dantian brimmed with an increasing volume of Qi, causing a sensation of warmth to spread throughout his body.

As he began to feel parched and considered halting his practice, the Qi amassed at his dantian started to coalesce, and the swelling sensation gradually subsided.

Moments later, Zhong Wen perceived the Qi in his dantian forming a semicircular arc, from which a soothing energy radiated, coursing through his limbs and bones. The earlier heat had vanished, replaced by a refreshing coolness that left him feeling thoroughly invigorated.

Is this the Root Chakra?

Having read the "Art of Eternal Breath," Zhong Wen had gained a deeper insight into the path of cultivation. To practice a cultivation method, one must first draw spiritual power into the body. Once enough spiritual power has accumulated, the practitioner can then sequentially open the twelve Root Chakras, the nine Sacral Chakras, and the six Heart Chakras.

Those who have unlocked the Heart Chakra are far from ordinary, possessing immense power and the potential to live for over two hundred years.

The realms of the Divine Protector and the Sage, which lie beyond the Heart Chakra, seemed incredibly distant to Zhong Wen.

The book stated that in ancient times, even the most exceptional talents needed two to three months to open the first Root Chakra. Those with lesser gifts could spend an entire year just trying to draw the spirit into their bodies.

Yet, feeling the current state within himself, Zhong Wen was nearly certain he had already accomplished this feat.

What took ancient prodigies two months, he had managed in a mere quarter of an hour. Could it be... am I a super genius? The kind that emerges once in ten thousand years?

Or were the people of ancient times simply less capable?

In any case, cultivating swiftly was always beneficial, providing Zhong Wen with an additional measure of self-defense in this strange world. Without dwelling on the confusion, he focused on channeling the spiritual power within him into the black ring adorning his right hand.