Chapter 5: Feather Book
As the black symbol in his palm changed, a thick, pitch-black book appeared in Zhang Yu's hand.
"Feather Book?"
Looking at the two big characters on the cover, Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback.
Then, along with a skip of his heart, the black book automatically flipped open to the first page without the wind.
"This should be the table of contents, right?"
Looking at the table of contents, except for the preface on the first line, all the following lines were blurry and illegible, as if they had been censored.
Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Does this mean there's only the preface for now?"
With a flick of his mind, he flipped open the preface. On the left page was a portrait of a character, and on the right page were rows of data and information.
"Is this me?"
The portrait on the left page showed Zhang Yu sitting cross-legged with his eyes gently closed, as if in meditation.
His expression was so vivid that it seemed as if the person in the painting was still breathing.
Especially with a faint glow circulating inside, Zhang Yu felt that it probably represented the flow of his internal magical power.
On the right page were rows of data and information:
Zhang Yu
Dao Heart: Level 1
Magical Power: 7.7
Physical Strength: Level 0.83
Martial Arts: Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves Level 1, Barehanded Combat Level 1
Dao Techniques: Basic Breathing Method Level 1, Basic Heart Refining Method Level 1
"This is me?"
"The above are various immortality cultivation qualities and data. The Dao Heart level here is the same as the school's detection, unable to be precise to the decimal point."
"Then what about below?"
"According to what that evil god said, it's about unleashing my potential. But just detecting doesn't count as potential. I can get tested every day at school."
"There must be other wonderful uses."
Thinking of this, Zhang Yu decided to test it. He focused his attention on the numerical attributes and shouted in his heart, "Feather Book! Add some points for me!"
Seeing the data on the book remaining motionless, Zhang Yu sighed that the evil god really didn't unleash his potential at all.
Trying to turn to the next page, he found four big characters "To Be Continued" written on it.
Connecting it with the content not yet shown in the table of contents before, Zhang Yu guessed in his heart, "What does this mean? Could it be that this ability can be upgraded? And only after upgrading will there be subsequent functions?"
He could only flip back again, constantly focusing his attention on his rows of data and skills to see if any effect would occur.
Just as he focused his attention on "Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves Level 1", suddenly he felt that line of characters jump slightly and was directly dragged. It moved back and forth on the page with his thoughts.
When Zhang Yu was dragging "Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves Level 1" on the page, wondering what it was for, when it touched the character portrait, it suddenly solidified and was directly absorbed by the Zhang Yu in the portrait.
Along with this absorption, Zhang Yu felt as if a spring of clear water was pouring down on his crown of the head, and an indescribable feeling surged in his heart, making him feel a strange connection with the Zhang Yu in the portrait.
At the same time, the originally sitting cross-legged portrait suddenly stood up and began to practice Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves move by move.
And above the portrait, a line of small characters had emerged: Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves Level 1+
Seeing the small "+" at the end, Zhang Yu was immediately excited: "Here it comes! My potential has really been unleashed!"
His attention quickly focused on the "+". It felt as if he was pressing it with his thoughts.
In the next moment, the "+" blurred slightly and then turned into "(0/10)".
Then an enlightenment rose from Zhang Yu's heart: Practice Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves ten times to complete the martial arts upgrade.
Looking at "Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves Level 1 (0/10)" on the Feather Book, Zhang Yu was amazed: "Practice ten times to upgrade this martial art?"
He knew that since the start of school, he had practiced Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves many, many times, but he never had a feeling of upgrading.
"Ten times?"
Zhang Yu couldn't wait to try. With a step forward, accompanied by a bang, his whole body's flesh and blood twisted like a huge python, bursting out with layers of power.
Although when practicing Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves at school, Zhang Yu would use equipment, it was just to increase the effect of practice.
In fact, as the most basic body-refining martial art, Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves can be practiced with or without equipment. Moreover, cultivators can focus on different aspects such as strength, speed, and agility according to their own tendencies.
For example, the original Zhang Yu chose a direction of balanced development in strength and speed and didn't become a big guy.
At this moment, Zhang Yu could be seen moving back and forth in the small room. His feet landed on the floor, making a bang, and his whole body's flesh and blood were constantly expanding and contracting and gradually heating up.
But before he could practice a few moves, there were shouts from around: "Are you sick? Tearing down the house at night?!"
Zhang Yu immediately stopped, helpless in his heart: "The sound insulation of the rented house is too poor. I can't practice martial arts at night."
Looking at the Feather Book emerging in his palm, Zhang Yu couldn't hold back the restlessness in his heart and just wanted to have a big burst of practice and finish practicing Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves ten times in one go to see the effect.
"Should I change the place?"
"I remember there's an abandoned building not far away..."
...
In the darkness.
The sound of bang, bang, bang kept echoing in the stairwell of the abandoned building.
Accompanied by the flashing neon lights on the distant street, the figure of a young man occasionally emerged in the shadows.
It was Zhang Yu who rushed to the abandoned building to practice Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves.
At this moment, he looked solemn and was practicing the exercises of Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves move by move. After a while, he was already sweating all over, looking steaming hot.
Zhang Yu had already been exhausted all morning during the day. Eventually, he collapsed on the ground. Without the assistance of needles, pills, or dietary supplements, he felt sore all over as soon as he started practicing Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves. Every movement and every use of strength brought the pain of tearing muscles and tendons.
However, thinking of the changes on the Feather Book, his spirit was invigorated. Finally, he persisted and finished practicing Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves once.
Panting heavily, Zhang Yu couldn't wait to open his palm, and the Feather Book emerged again following his thoughts.
Looking at "Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves Level 1 (1/10)" above, an expression of joy couldn't help but appear on Zhang Yu's face.
"This is my potential?"
"It seems really possible to upgrade Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves to Level 2..."
"I will finish practicing ten times tonight!"
Zhang Yu couldn't wait to start the second round of Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves.
But after a moment, he sat down on the ground, exhausted, feeling as if his hands and feet no longer belonged to him.
"I can't do it anymore. I've reached my limit. It looks like I can only try again tomorrow."
Just as Zhang Yu decided to stop practicing and rest before going home to sleep well, a chill suddenly surged from his heart.
At the same time, a voice sounded in his mind.
"Please abide by the ritual agreement, strive to fulfill your wish, and don't deliberately slack off or delay. 10."
"Please abide by the ritual agreement, strive to fulfill your wish, and don't deliberately slack off or delay. 9."
"Please abide by the ritual agreement, strive to fulfill your wish, and don't deliberately slack off or delay. 8."
As the countdown continued, the chill in Zhang Yu's heart became more and more intense, as if something was about to burst out of his body and tear his flesh and blood apart.
"Ritual... agreement... wish..." He immediately realized, "So it's because I plan to study hard, get into a prestigious university, join a major sect, and make money to fulfill the second wish."
"So, if I slack off in this process, it will be regarded as deliberately slacking off or delaying the completion of the wish?"
"If I don't listen, will I die under the backlash of the ritual?"
Hearing the countdown unconsciously reaching 3, Zhang Yu quickly jumped up.
Accompanied by a scream, he gritted his teeth and endured the pain of tearing muscles and tendons and began to practice Body Strengthening Thirty-Six Moves.
And at the moment he started practicing, the countdown just now disappeared completely.