Stirling then turned his gaze to the second item, the booklet drawn in rough.

  Stirling considered for a moment. Then, he grabbed a charcoal pencil from the kitchen. He drew some symbols on the booklet's cover and added the words Dynamic Marking.

  Dynamic marking, such an advanced concept — if it will work…

  "This enhancement requests a lifespan of 1 year. Enhance?"

  Holy crap! It works!

  Stirling looked at the prompt with delight and immediately selected yes.

  One year of lifespan seems long to him now. However, a map with dynamic markings would offer even greater benefits.

  [Get Quicksand Map]

  A map that uses wind direction and the movement of sand and rocks to predict the surroundings' changes. Please watch it often; you might find a surprise.

  Remaining Lifespan: 7 Years and 11 Days

  Stirling glanced at the new atlas. He hurried to open it and found that the multi-page book had turned into a single thick sheet of parchment.

  Under the dim light, Stirling saw many symbols marked on the parchment. These symbols looked very real with clear meaning, like the maps from the games he had seen on Earth before time traveling.

  The three grass patterns stood for herbs, while the boar's head symbolized a wild animal. A big red cross marked a spot nearby, drawing Stirling's eyes.

  What does this mean? A forbidden area? A dangerous place?

  Stirling speculated, but he had a certain memory of this place.

  This is a wonderful treasure. In the future, there will be an enormous boost in safety and efficiency when going out.

  Stirling, with a beaming smile, folded the map of the quicksand with great care and put it aside. Then he picked up the scythe again.

  To be honest, there was no need to enhance such a farm tool. Even if it became sharper, it would be redundant for cutting grass. And if one only had a weapon but no experience or skills to kill wild beasts, it would be rather inadequate. Yet, the scythe reminded Stirling of something else.

  Are there any divine martial arts in this world?

  The moment this thought occurred to him, Stirling felt a sudden urge to act. After those wild events, who could claim there are no gods in this world?

  If there is a god, there must be a god's martial art! In this dangerous new world, Stirling faces fierce indigenous people. Without superb fighting skills, he likely won't survive more than a few days.

  Recalling this, Stirling hurried back to Larry's room to search. Finally, he found an old and shabby piece of clothing.

  Stirling held the piece of clothing and found scissors in the room. He cut the clothing into rectangular pieces. Then, he stacked them and sewed them together with thick thread.

  Immediately after, Stirling drew on the piece of cloth with a charcoal pencil.

  He drew a simple, tiny figure on each piece of cloth. These tiny figures were doing all kinds of distinct movements. Finally, on the first piece of cloth, there were the words God's Fighting Art.

  If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

  Go ahead! Let us make it!

  After finishing all this, Stirling felt a surge of excitement. He focused hard on the cloth on the table. All his hopes rested on this moment.

  "The enhancement requests a lifespan of 1,462 years and seven months. Enhance?"

  The cold reminder hit Stirling like a bucket of ice water. It washed away his enthusiasm completely.

  Are you kidding me? Over a thousand years? If I were over a thousand years old, why would I still practice martial arts? ！

  Stirling was speechless.

  There's one piece of good news: this can indeed enhance a divine-level martial art. Stirling thinks his draft is too basic. That's why the enhancement cost is so high.

  After thinking for a while, Stirling tried again. He erased the word god-level on the cover and wrote advanced again.

  "The enhancement requests 132 years and 7 months of your lifespan. Enhance?"

  Got it! This system does not allow any loopholes at all!

  Despite his mental preparation, Stirling still felt dejected at that moment. Luckily, he didn't surrender. He erased Advanced and wrote Basic Combat Skills.

  "The enhancement requests 6 years and 7 months of your lifespan. Enhance?"

  Made it!

  Stirling looked at the prompt in front of him. After a moment's hesitation, he gritted his teeth and made a decisive choice: Yes.

  All in!

  As Stirling made his choice, a soft glow surrounded the book on the table. The stitching was rough, made from rags. The light shrank in an instant and disappeared into the book. Then, the book changed completely.

  [Aether Book]

  This is a great basic combat art. It comes from an ancient, unknown civilization. The major function is in developing a kind of internal energy, another name being Aether. These skills promote balance and peace, helping to prolong life.

  [Life Remaining: 5 months and 11 days]

  Aether? As a history PhD, Stirling remembers that in many mythologies, Aether is the original energy that created the universe. It's also called the fifth element, which only the gods can breathe and use. As the source of light, it possesses the power of purification and immortality. But later, Einstein's theory of relativity long disproved the existence of the Aether. It's unexpected that a skill book for cultivating the Aether appears in this odd world.

  Stirling picked up the book and noticed it had turned into parchment. This magical ring again amazed him.

  It really works? Do modern physics theories not hold true in this world? Turning to the first page apprehensively, Stirling came across a passage.

  Everything in the universe will end. Yet, the Supreme Way can return to its origin and last forever.

  What is this? The author's notes? They are too abstract.

  Stirling grumbled, then turned to the second page.

  On this page, images finally appeared.

  A tiny figure sat cross-legged on the ground, striking a strange pose like yoga, which Stirling had seen many times on the Earth. The key point of this position showed the right foot's sole pressing against the left knee. The figure leaned back on the ground.

  What is this?

  Stirling took his time reading the first page. Then, he realized it was about sleeping posture.

  Interesting.

  Stirling muttered to himself, then continued flipping through.

  The following pages detail various resting positions, such as sitting, standing, and meditating.

  Which foreswearing, Stirling found that Aether Skills was all about learning to rest. He couldn't help but feel disappointed, wondering what use such martial arts could have and where aether comes from

  But at this moment, he had no other choice but to study this so-called fighting book. After all, the ring enhanced it, so it would have miraculous effects.

  Stirling looked at the last jar of herbs on the table and gave up. He had less than a year left to live. The burning issue of the day was using the fighting book to strengthen his physique. After that is to use the oil lamp to trap the shadow hornet, then he can earn some years of real lifespan.

  But Stirling still worried about the two bodies in his small room he had yet to deal with.

  After much thought, Stirling came up short on a solution. He could wait only until daybreak. He didn't dare to sleep, so he sat or lay down using the Aether Techniques and practiced.

  Place your right hand against your left kidney. Straighten your left leg, bend your right leg. Hold your right shoulder with your left hand and lean back at a slight angle…

  Stirling took the position at Aether Skills without delay. He practiced it for the first time and used the unique breathing technique from the book.

  Inhale! Exhale! Inhale! Exhale!

  As Stirling's chest rose and fell, he felt a wave of burning energy. After ten minutes, it surged from his lower abdomen, flowing up his right arm to his head.

  It works!

  Stirling rejoiced, believing the ring indeed worked. It was improving his physical condition. This was a miraculous feeling he had never experienced before!