Chapter 83: Evolution Island (IX)

“Hah,” Luo Hanya struggled to stand, squeezing out a faint, barely audible sound from his throat, only for it to stop abruptly. Though his body was in dire condition, he had not yet lost his reason. He was acutely aware of his circumstances. The demonic shadow lurked in the nearby abyss; its earlier appearance was merely a response to the noise he made upon being cast down here—perhaps it was only making a routine inspection, curious about what had intruded upon its domain.

Luo Hanya hardly dared to breathe. Clenching his teeth, he tried to control his shattered body. He made an attempt, but it was futile; he no longer even had the strength to retrieve an item from his satchel.

Motionless, Luo Hanya lay on the ground, guiding the chaotic energy within him as he silently practiced his martial art, the Supreme Tai Chi. Through years of training, this art had become an advanced technique for him, granting him even greater control over his body. He regulated his breath for a long while, then slowly opened his eyes. With great effort, he opened his satchel and retrieved a vial of Life Potion he had obtained earlier. He bit off the wooden stopper and swallowed the potion in one gulp.

Barely managing to sit up cross-legged, Luo Hanya circulated his Supreme Tai Chi, channeling the restorative effects of the potion throughout his body. After about two minutes, he suddenly opened his eyes, and, moved by the experience, performed a set of Tai Chi forms. The sequence was much the same as usual, yet Luo Hanya now seemed to have gained a new insight; each movement was smoother, and as he finished, he carried a subtle air of mastery.

“Respected player, congratulations on comprehending the subtleties of martial arts. Your martial arts skill has advanced to intermediate level, and your Supreme Tai Chi technique has also reached an advanced grade.

Name: Martial Arts (Intermediate)
Effect: Further enhances bodily control, increases unarmed attack damage, and allows you to comprehend martial arts skills on your own.
Note: Martial arts? I think I am beginning to understand.

Name: Supreme Tai Chi
Type: Martial Technique
Technique Grade: Advanced
Effect: Significantly boosts constitution, further increases bodily control.
Note: This is a profoundly intricate art—let us see how much you can comprehend. In the martial world, there is a saying: ‘Feng, did you get beaten up again because you don’t know Tai Chi?’”

Luo Hanya nodded with satisfaction, glanced at his health value, and grinned in relief, as if celebrating a narrow escape from death. His health, once a faint red when he had first awakened, had now turned a pale green—he was largely out of danger. He stretched his limbs, his eyes flickering with thought. “It seems bodily control is crucial in this game. With enough control, one can unlock the full potential of many items. If my Supreme Tai Chi hadn’t advanced, that Life Potion might have only restored me to a minor injury. For players without such bodily control, it might merely let them stand up.”

He looked around. The darkness remained unbroken; the magma within the abyss no longer boiled, nor did waves of fire surge forth. Only the faint red glow of the molten rock offered any visibility. Treading lightly, Luo Hanya moved through the dim hall. By that weak red light, he was surprised to see the statue in the distance had survived the demonic shadow’s sweep—no, it bore not a single mark!

Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, Luo Hanya wondered if the darkness was playing tricks on him. Without hesitation, he activated his demonic transformation, using its night vision to carefully inspect the statue. But it was no illusion—the statue was indeed unscathed.

Astonishment surged within him. “How is this possible? What material is this statue made of, for it to be so impervious? Even that near-apocalyptic force left no trace upon it.”

“Near-apocalyptic?” Luo Hanya repeated the words, eyes shining as a realization dawned. “Before the demonic shadow’s gaze swept over me, as the rocks were melting, something was left behind—those faintly glowing specks.”

“If those tiny particles were gathered together, wouldn’t they look just like this?”

Not daring to delay, Luo Hanya scoured the hall for those shimmering motes. But to his dismay, they had vanished as if they had never existed.

With a grave expression, Luo Hanya’s mind raced. “Those glowing particles definitely existed; I couldn’t have imagined it. Now, there are only two possibilities: someone took them, or they merged with the stone.”

“If someone had entered, there would have been a commotion—the demonic shadow would never have let them go. So, those particles must have merged back into the rock.” Luo Hanya’s eyes narrowed as he nodded. “Those particles were left behind after the shadow melted the stone. It makes sense that they would reintegrate.”

“Perhaps the island’s extraordinary hardness is due to those mysterious particles!”

“Wait! Why does this black statue remind me so much of that black spatial ring?” A thunderous revelation struck him. “I was turned into a statue after touching that thing. If not for the demonic shadow, who knows how long I would have remained trapped.”

“Could it be that this statue is also a person ensnared within?”

“Yes! That must be it. No matter how I look at it, this is a lifelike figure—definitely a person! No, a humanoid being!” Luo Hanya’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he licked his lips and stared intently at the nearby statue.

Approaching the statue, Luo Hanya observed its features—an elf, by the look of it. He gingerly reached out and touched the statue. Suddenly, the arrow held in its hand burst into brilliant light. A divine beam descended from the heavens, and in an instant, his surroundings transformed completely.

It was dusk. The sky was growing darker, and the leaves in the thicket trembled, making faint rustling sounds. The jingling of bells grew clearer, accompanied by sharp hoofbeats and the clatter of metal. Suddenly, a white horse streaked past like a meteor. In the twilight, its bridle sparkled with countless dazzling ornaments, as if studded with gems that mirrored the stars. The rider’s cloak billowed behind him, his hood cast back to let golden hair stream in the wind. From his body, a white light seemed to shine through silk, radiating a subtle glow.