Martial Peak Chapter 4 – The Black Book

Once his body was thoroughly washed, Kai Yang grabbed the container of blood clotting cream and took a quick sniff. The aroma of the medicine was surprisingly refreshing, nearly causing him to lose himself in the scent before he shook his head to regain focus.

Opening the bottle, Kai Yang initially moved to apply the cream directly to his wounds but hesitated. Instead, he hurried to fetch a fresh basin of water and added a small amount of the ointment to dilute it. After stirring it carefully, he began treating his injuries with the weakened mixture.

(TLN: Ah, the life of a poor person. Too relatable...T_T)

While the blood clotting cream possessed potent effects, diluting it naturally reduced its efficacy. However, since Kai Yang only owned this single bottle, he was forced to use it as sparingly as possible.

By the time the tub of diluted water was exhausted, Kai Yang had finished tending to his body. A lingering doubt remained in his mind, though; the scent of the paste seemed different than before, carrying a slightly spicy note.

Pulling his clothes back on, he retrieved a dark-colored sweet potato and devoured it quickly. Kai Yang then collapsed onto his bed and was soon fast asleep.

Faint light filtered through the holes in the small roof, illuminating the interior of the hut. The living space was incredibly sparse, lacking even a table or chairs. Kai Yang’s entire list of worldly possessions consisted of a single small bed topped with a deerskin blanket and a square-shaped pillow.

The deerskin had come from a deer Kai Yang had hunted in the past; though thin, it provided enough warmth. As for the pillow, he had happened upon it while hunting outside the school grounds.

The pillow was a square, roughly one foot long and three fingers thick. While it possessed the appearance and texture of stone, it lacked the weight a stone of that size should have. Kai Yang didn't know its true nature, but he used it as a pillow regardless and never bothered to investigate further.

This blackstone pillow had been in Kai Yang's possession for a year, yet its identity remained a mystery to him. Nevertheless, it served as an excellent headrest.

Deep in slumber, Kai Yang revisited the day's battle in his dreams. Over and over, he was sent flying by Zhou Ding Jun’s strikes. Time and again he stood back up, persevering through the struggle with a bloody crest marking his chest.

As the dream progressed, that blood crest seemed to grow more powerful. Kai Yang’s sleeping features contorted in pain, yet his expression remained resolute. A single goal burned in his heart: to succeed. Even if he were commanded to sever his own foot or endure the searing heat of flames, he would not shrink back in fear.

Unconscious, Kai Yang failed to notice that the pillow beneath his head had begun to emit a cloudy light that pulsed in sync with his emotions. This glow grew increasingly luminous as time passed.

Within the dream, Kai Yang continued his morning confrontation with Zhou Ding Jun, repeatedly being slammed into the dirt. Upon the thousandth time of falling and rising, his unwavering will suddenly shattered a barrier. He lunged mercilessly at Zhou Ding Jun, who collapsed instantly. The figure of Zhou Ding Jun then blurred and transformed into Kai Yang’s own likeness.

At that moment, Kai Yang’s mind found peace. This tranquility did not stem from defeating an opponent, but from conquering himself. He had triumphed over his internal fear and his yielding heart.

A faint sensation gradually stirred within him; it felt as though nothing beneath the heavens could ever force him to submit again.

In the waking world, the black pillow under Kai Yang’s head suddenly erupted with a black ray of light. This radiance emerged from the black stone and hovered briefly in the air before drilling straight into Kai Yang’s head, vanishing instantly.

Simultaneously, a bizarre presence descended as if from an ancient and desolate realm. It felt like surging tidal waves or a collapsing mountainside of snow; to this presence, any person was utterly insignificant.

Kai Yang’s eyes snapped open, his body drenched in sweat and trembling with sudden terror.

He had been jolted awake by that strange presence.

Forcing a smile as he calmed his racing heart, he thought it was ridiculous that he could scare himself so badly in a dream. Rubbing his face, he glanced at the night sky to check the time and felt a surge of annoyance. He had only managed two hours of sleep, and it was still quite dark outside.

He stood up quickly, folding the deerskin blanket and straightening the blackstone pillow. As he rose, he frowned and turned back to stare at the object.

Something felt off... his intuition told him the pillow was no longer the same.

Filled with suspicion, Kai Yang reached out and lifted the pillow. His hunch was right; the weight had decreased significantly.

How could this stone block suddenly become so light? As he questioned this, even stranger things began to happen.

It was as if a thick book had been tossed into the air, its pages fanning out as it descended. Kai Yang was stunned, momentarily paralyzed and failing to catch it.

With a soft "pa," the blackstone pillow hit the floor and fell open like a book. He stared in disbelief at what was laid out before him.

Was this not a stone? How could it transform into a book so abruptly?

Kai Yang had owned this blackstone pillow for over a year and knew it well. Had he not found a stone back then? Could an old turtle shed its shell and become a snake?

When he leaned down to retrieve the book, he immediately felt a profound connection to it.

Looking closer, he had to admit this really was the pillow he had been using. This thick volume left him speechless, particularly because there were no words on its pages. It was entirely blank. Furthermore, the pages were opaque, and when he tried to gently tear one, it wouldn't budge at all.

The situation forced him to reconsider everything. He had possessed this item for a full year and was only now seeing its true form.

Yet, what was the point of a blank black book? He inspected the object from every angle but found no clues.

It was a mystery. Kai Yang turned to the first page, finding nothing but a blank surface. He stared intently at the empty paper.

After a moment of concentration, a slight change finally occurred. The same eerie presence from his desolate dream manifested once more. A line of golden characters began to materialize on the page.

“Blood is cited, the golden body descends, not a miracle, but a golden immortal!”

These words pierced his very soul, causing Kai Yang to slam the book shut while his limbs shook uncontrollably. He took several deep breaths, eventually managing to steady his heart.

What kind of secrets were hidden within this black book? He had no idea, but he realized that this object he had retrieved from the Black Wind Mountains possessed a grand and ancient history.

After a long silence, he opened the black book once again. This time, he focused on the first line of the page.

It turned out... it hadn't been a dream at all.

Gradually, more lines began to surface.

“Proud golden body, rules the fence, indomitable spirit, will it descend!”

Eight lines consisting of thirty-two words filled the entire page. They projected a dominant aura over heaven and earth, as if the characters themselves were saturated with an overbearing spirit.