noveltune Chapter 37 A Strange Encounter at the Ancient Books Museum
Chapter 37 A Strange Encounter at the Ancient Books Museum
Lin Chen followed his senses and quickly walked over, his footsteps light and hurried, the soles of his shoes making a soft tapping sound on the stone floor. It was a row of bookshelves specifically for storing miscellaneous scrolls and fragments, covered in a much thicker layer of dust than the rest of the shelves. A light touch left a gray mark on his fingertip, clearly indicating that no one had touched them in a long time. In the corner of the top shelf, a dusty rosewood box lay askew. The box's color had darkened with age, its original purplish-red hue turning into a near-black dark brown, but the carving was exquisite. Some star-shaped patterns were faintly discernible on the lid—the lines smooth and powerful, as if carved stroke by stroke with a knife. It seemed to have slept here for countless years, covered in a thick layer of dust, like a forgotten old object, quietly awaiting someone's arrival.
It was as if an invisible force was calling to him; the sound wasn't audible, but resonated directly in his heart, like a drop of water falling into a calm lake, creating ripples. Lin Chen took a deep breath, his chest heaving. He stood on tiptoe, stretching his arm as far as it could, his fingertips first touching the cool surface of the wooden box, then carefully removing the sandalwood box. The box was heavier than he had expected, and its coolness spread along the lines of his palm to his wrist, invigorating him. Although the surface was covered in dust, the wood was warm and smooth like jade; his fingers could feel the delicate texture, like caressing an old piece of jade.
The wooden box had no clasps or seals, only the unique star pattern of the first Martial Emperor engraved in the center of the lid—a special pattern composed of seven stars, each arranged at an angle corresponding to the Big Dipper in the sky, its simple lines conveying an indescribable sense of vastness. Lin Chen's fingers gently touched the mark, feeling a slight warmth at his fingertips, as if something was seeping from it. At the same time, the Star Martial Core within his dantian vibrated slightly, like two strings resonating in unison. He gently lifted the lid; without any resistance, the wooden box opened with a very soft click.
Inside lay a yellowed, thread-bound ancient book. The paper was as thin as a cicada's wing, the edges slightly brittle, and several corners had curled up, revealing the dark backing paper beneath. However, it was relatively well-preserved, without large areas of damage. The cover bore four ancient seal characters: *Xingwu Basic Boxing Classic*. The characters were powerful and vigorous, each stroke carrying a sharp, ruthless edge, yet subtly conveying a sense of compassion.
Lin Chen's heart leaped! The thud was heavy and rapid, as if it would burst his chest. He felt his temples throbbing, his fingertips slightly cold, and his throat dry. He instinctively held his breath, his hands trembling slightly—not from fear, but from an almost reverent tension. The Star Martial Basic Fist Manual—the name alone revealed its direct connection to the Star Martial lineage! He quickly opened the ancient book, his movements as gentle as if caressing a fragile treasure, afraid that even the slightest pressure would crush the pages. The handwriting was vigorous and powerful, each stroke carrying immense weight—the very handwriting of the First Martial Emperor—he had seen the rubbing of the First Martial Emperor's manuscript in Old Master Su's collection, and the handwriting was identical. The book detailed the cultivation methods of Star Martial power, basic techniques, and the profound connection between the Star Martial core and the Evil-Suppressing Array. The text was written in a simple and easy-to-understand style, clearly explaining the originally obscure principles of stellar power operation. Sometimes, a complex concept could be made clear in just a few words. Unfortunately, this boxing manual was missing a third of its contents. Starting from a certain page in the middle, the content on how to reinforce the seal with the Star Martial Core was blank, as if it had been deliberately torn out, leaving jagged paper scraps, and rough fibers could be seen at the broken edges.
The instant his fingertips touched the pages of the ancient book, the Star Martial Core within his dantian suddenly trembled violently! The vibration was more intense than ever before, as if something had exploded within him. The Star Martial Core, like a ignited star, burst forth with a dazzling silver light—a light invisible to the naked eye, directly reflected in his senses, more blinding than the midday sun. A powerful suction force emanated from the Star Martial Core, spreading along Lin Chen's meridians to his fingertips, like an invisible river drawing in all the characters from the ancient book. The entire process occurred in an instant, as fast as lightning streaking across the night sky, yet Lin Chen felt as if an eternity had passed, each second stretched into an endless moment. Countless golden characters danced, reassembled, and deduced in his mind, like millions of fireflies swirling in the night sky, or like an invisible hand piecing together scattered fragments into a complete picture. This was the Star Martial Core's most crucial ability: automatically deducing and completing incomplete cultivation techniques. No matter how incomplete the cultivation technique is, as long as there is sufficient basic information and knowledge, the Star Martial Core can deduce it to its complete form.
Lin Chen was overjoyed. A surge of joy welled up from the depths of his heart, rising to his throat, almost making him burst into laughter. But he knew this wasn't a place for cultivation; he couldn't disturb the dozing researcher. He quickly found a secluded corner—a recessed reading area in the southeast corner of the fourth floor, furnished with an old desk and a hardwood chair, surrounded by tall bookshelves, resembling a small, secret chamber. Lin Chen sat cross-legged on the chair. The hardwood seat made his thighs ache slightly, but he was oblivious. He closed his eyes, held his breath, and focused intently on sensing the deduction of the Star Martial Core. In his mind, the golden characters were like a ceaseless galaxy, constantly arranging, combining, verifying, and correcting. Each deduction was like a shooting star streaking across the sky, leaving a brilliant trail, ultimately deduce the most reasonable cultivation path.