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Chapter 2: The Book of Arts

When Eve lifted the lid, the room instantly filled with the briny scent of the ocean, the faintly charred aroma of fruitwood, and the fresh fragrance of herbs, making one’s mouth water.

One plate held a pale blue lobster tail, sourced from a special lobster species native to the Empire’s southern seas.

Its taste was extraordinary, and not only was it expensive, but the shipping alone to the royal capital cost no less than 5 gold coins.

Beside it was a leg of pork from a Battleboar cooked to just ninety percent doneness.

Battleboar meat was firm yet succulent, fatty without being greasy, lean without being dry, and it greatly aided the cultivation of Battle Qi.

Although Rein had no talent for Battle Qi, his mother, Leila, still made him eat some every day in hopes of a miracle.

Eve pulled a glass stem cup and a bottle of red wine from under the serving cart.

She first gently wiped the glass with a cloth, then opened the wine and poured half a glass, placing it beside the dishes.

She then took a napkin, softly tied it around Rein’s neck, and stepped aside with the wine, ready to refill it.

Rein ignored all the noble etiquette, for such delicious food demanded enthusiastic enjoyment.

Eve watched Rein’s slightly wild eating manner without a change in expression.

This was Master Rein; only if he ever began dining with the painstaking precision of an aristocrat would she find it strange.

Soon, Rein alternated mouthfuls of meat with sips of wine and quickly finished the delectable meal.

He swore he had never tasted such exquisite cuisine before.

Eve stepped forward, wiped the sauce from Rein’s mouth with a napkin, and said.

“Master, Lord Rein asked me to tell you that you are grounded at home during this time and may not leave the manor without his permission.”

Hearing this, Rein nodded to show he understood, and Eve quietly wheeled the serving cart away.

After Eve closed the door, Rein eagerly took the necklace from his neck and held it in his hand.

Staring at the small object that looked remarkably like a book, Rein wondered what it could be.

Since it had crossed worlds with him, it must be extraordinary, but he still hadn’t figured out how to use it.

For half an hour, Rein tried burning it, soaking it in water, even dripping blood on it… but there was no reaction.

Then he infused it with the little mana he had left, and the little book absorbed the energy and began to rustle open as if stirred by a wind.

It then transformed into a stream of light that shot into Rein’s mind, causing him to faint and slump heavily onto the bed.

Within Rein’s consciousness.

A peculiar tome appeared, classical and weighty, brimming with a profound sense of history.

As it stood at the center of Rein’s mind, it also revealed the name of this treasure to him.

The Book of Arts.

It recorded all breathing techniques, combat skills, meditation methods, magic, and even secret arts on the continent of Saultis from ancient times to the present.

As long as it received sufficient energy, it could grant you the breathing technique or combat skill you desired. (Remember this)

It could even allow you to enter a state of sudden enlightenment immediately when learning a new skill.

And since it had just been activated, Rein had a free opportunity to exchange for any cultivation method or skill.

Rein gazed at the tome before him, his breath heavy.

Changing fate by defying the heavens!

He stepped forward to leaf through the recorded meditation methods; what he needed most now was one that matched his innate talent.

No sooner had he thought this than the Book of Arts (henceforth referred to as the Ancient Tome) (TL: This is literally what’s written) began rustling its pages.

After a moment, it stopped on a single page.

Rein moved closer to examine the meditation method the Ancient Tome had selected for him.

A world-class meditation method!

The Abyssal Meditation Method.

Abyssal Meditation Method: This technique was not crafted by man but naturally formed within the Abyssal Demonic Cavern by heaven and earth; only those with full-attribute magical talent may learn it, lest they lose their mana in mild cases or perish instantly in severe ones…

Upon mastering it, one’s mana would flow endlessly like a great river, allowing infinite expansion of one’s total mana reserve, and even when not meditating, it would automatically absorb nearby mana for continuous practice.

…

Rein marveled at the Ancient Tome’s grand design; a world-class meditation method was the highest rank of such techniques and was rumored to enable one to reach the level of a “God.”

Without hesitation, he touched the Ancient Tome, which immediately radiated a dazzling torrent of golden light that surged into his body the next moment.

It felt just like when he absorbed memory that evening.

His head ached.

His head throbbed painfully.

But as Rein endured it, he could feel the dark-golden mana unique to the Abyss coursing through him.

He had succeeded.

He had successfully mastered the Abyssal Meditation Method.

“Hahaha.”

He howled toward the sky in the spiritual realm, expressing his surging emotions.

Mastering the Abyssal Meditation Method catapulted Rein, an intermediate magic apprentice, past the advanced magic apprentice stage and straight into Rank 1 junior mage.

The vast mana that the Abyssal Meditation Method had augmented within him increased Rein’s combat power by more than tenfold.

After all, a mage’s mana determines their main combat strength; the higher the mana, the more spells they can cast, and the greater their power.

Unlike warriors or knights, who must hone their skills and muscle memory.

He was truly a noble mage.

Seeing the Ancient Tome’s once-bright appearance fade, Rein resolved to find as many high-energy items as possible to recharge it.

After exiting the spiritual realm, Rein woke on his bed, sensing the continuous flow of dark-golden mana in his body and realizing it was not a dream.

“Cecily.”

Rein called to his personal maid, Cecily Levin.

In an instant, Cecily opened Rein’s door and entered, timidly looking down at the floor as she said.

“Master, did you call me?”

Seeing the girl’s fearful expression, Rein immediately recalled the original master’s scenes of beating Cecily.

He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the silver-haired girl; what a sin the original master committed to beat such a sweet girl.

Rein softened his tone as he said, “Come here, Cecily.”

Cecily instantly knelt and said with a sobbing tone, “Master, I haven’t done anything wrong today; please don’t hit me.”

Rein stood and approached Cecily, making her fearful gaze deepen until she almost resigned herself.

Then he suddenly lifted her into his arms and set her on the edge of the bed.

Yet Cecily still looked at Rein with terrified eyes, so he rolled up the sleeve of her maid uniform to reveal her arm.

Seeing the bruise on Cecily’s arm, his expression tightened.

“Cecily, go find Jonas and have him give you some Blood-Reviving Ointment, then fetch those magic books I threw away earlier.”

Cecily, unaccustomed to this different Rein, was at a loss and couldn’t react for a moment.

Seeing her stunned, Rein raised his tone slightly.

“Cecily?”

“Ah, yes, Master, I’ll go right away.”

Hearing Rein’s words, Cecily came to her senses, quickly rose from the bed, and opened the door to leave.

Soon, Cecily returned with several other maids, carrying many magic books.

The magic books were of various types, some detailing spells and others meditation methods.

After putting down the magic books, the other maids hurriedly left Rein’s room, and Cecily stepped forward to hand him the Blood-Reviving Ointment.

“Master, here are the magic books and the Blood-Reviving Ointment.”

Rein, without taking the imperial ointment Cecily offered, looked at her still-fearful face and said.

“You’re still as timid as ever, Cecily.”

“I… I’m sorry, Master.” Cecily’s eyes glistened with tears.

Rein pointed at the ointment in her hand and said.

“Go find Eve and have her apply it to your wounds and bruises; having bruises is unbecoming.”

Cecily looked at the precious elixir and hesitated as she said, “Master, it’s not necessary; these injuries will heal quickly without the Blood-Reviving Ointment.”

Rein frowned and feigned sternness as he said, “What? You’re not even going to listen to me?”

“No, no, Master, I’ll go find Sister Eve right away.”

Cecily saw Rein was slightly angry, and hurried to her feet to look for Eve.

Watching Cecily’s retreating figure, Rein added, “Don’t hold back… use it all; I’ll check with Eve later to see how it goes.”

Cecily paused at the door, turned back, and nodded to Rein.

“Yes, Master.”

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