Stirling lay still, eyes closed. He felt a growing heat rising from his lower abdomen. It soon moved through the meridians to all parts of his body. He even felt a burning sensation in his hands and feet. The heat created a current. It came together and flowed back to his lower abdomen, finishing a big cycle.

  After the cycle ended, Stirling noticed a slight increase in heat in his lower abdomen. He became very interested then and kept practicing the Aether Skills as needed. They could generate internal energy, also known as "Aether". Even Aether wasn't proved to exist on Earth, it was the vital energy of new universe building in legends. It seems that this Aether book has a magic function to produce the legendary energy.

  Stirling didn't realize how often the heat had surged from his lower abdomen. But a ray of light shone through the door's crack onto his cheek, startling him, and he opened his eyes.

  Is it dawn?

  Stirling watched the light and shadow in the hall. He rubbed his eyes and stretched, then he got up and opened the door. But his body felt much lighter, like he had lost over ten pounds overnight.

  The illusion vanished when Stirling stood up, like a sudden hallucination. This left him a bit confused.

  Is this… my leg?!

  Stirling found that his leg no longer hurt in shock after touching the ground. Only then did he realize that at some point, his injured right leg had actually healed!

  Amazing, Stirling clenched his fist, but he didn't seem to notice any increase in strength. He felt his breathing was smooth and his body was much lighter.

  As Stirling was about to continue, a loud noise erupted from outside the door.

  Hearing the sound, Stirling wiped the smile from his face in an instant. He moved to the door and peeked through the crack.

  The villagers crowded the cobblestone road right outside the door. They all wore blank expressions and looked as emaciated as Old Larry. But most of them were carrying large cloth bags on their backs, as if they were about to go on a long journey.

  What are they doing?

  Stirling's puzzle caused him to squint his eyes to observe for a moment. While he was pondering, he noticed an old man approaching.

  Oh, no! Stirling darted aside, then glanced around. He rushed to retrieve the items on the table and closed both his own door and the old man's with care. Then he sat at the table and waited in silence.

  It wasn't long before Stirling heard a knock at the door.

  "Larry, it's time. We should go to the temple."

  The hoarse voice had no emotion, like a walking corpse.

  Stirling in the room felt a surge of irritation without countermeasures.

  The old man started pounding harder on the door because he heard nothing from inside the room.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  The loud noise shook the house's beams. The old man outside had done it on purpose.

  Seeing this, Stirling contemplated it in his mind. He went to the door and yanked the wooden door open.

  "Lar… It's you. Where's old Larry?"

  The old man outside the door seemed somewhat surprised to see Stirling.

  "He got injured while hunting yesterday, and he is lying in bed now."

  Stirling pointed at the closed door.

  "Hehe, at his age, still going out hunting? He might get his eyes pecked out by an eagle."

  The old man glanced at Stirling but said something of profound meaning.

  "What's up?"

  Stirling frowned and asked.

  "Since Larry is not up to it, you go to the temple in his stead."

  The old man spoke in a decisive tone.

  "What a temple? "

  The surprise hit Stirling.

  "Larry picked you up and didn't tell you?"

  The old man chuckled and bared his dry, yellow teeth.

  "In our Rock village, everybody has to go to the Ulan temple to get an oil lamp every month; otherwise, there will be a death in that family. "

  The old man said with a stony face.

  Stirling glanced past the old man at the villagers behind him. They all stared back, waiting for his reply.

  Such a scene left Stirling feeling parched and dry-mouthed.

  He felt that if he dared to say no, these villagers would go crazy and rush up to him, hacking him to pieces.

  At the moment, Stirling could only force himself to answer:

  "OK. Do I need to bring anything?"

  The old man gave a rather ugly smile and said:

  "Bring the flesh or the blood if you have. If there's nothing, bring yourself."

  Bring flesh or blood to a temple? It makes little sense. Stirling wanted to ask further, but he was afraid of exposing his ignorance. He glanced at the villagers in the distance. Many had blood seeping from the packages on their backs. Yet, some had empty hands, showing they had nothing.

  "Fuck! The reason old man Larry wants to kill me is that he wants to go to the temple with my flesh?!"

  A bizarre idea emerged, but Stirling felt it was quite possible.

  At that moment, Stirling swallowed hard but then, with a determined look, said:

  "OK. Wait for a while, please."

  Stirling shut the door and rushed to Larry's room. He pulled out the gigantic piece of dried meat he had found the night before.

  Stirling still felt uneasy. Then, he grabbed some wooden boards and strips of cloth. He packed them up, wrapped everything with great vigor, and carried the bundle on his back. Next, he opened the door again.

  The old man looked at the package on Stirling's back and said with a nod:

  "Follow me."

  He walked towards the queue on his own.

  Seeing this, Stirling gritted his teeth and followed the old man towards the line. When the people in the line noticed Stirling coming, they lost interest in the side and turned back to their blank stares ahead.

  A bunch of maniacs!

  Stirling observed the strange scene. He thought to himself, but with no emotion on his face. He stood at the back of the line, avoiding attention.

  Stirling seemed to be the last household. After Stirling arrived, everyone set off.

  These people are thin and bony, yet they move fast, almost jogging like ordinary people.

  Stirling quickened his pace and followed for a bit. Soon, he felt a tightness in his chest. His breathing sped up, and his calf ached.

  What do these people usually eat? They move even faster than rabbits on Earth.

  Stirling felt puzzled but didn't dare to fall behind. While he walked, a memory of the walking skill from the Aether book flashed in his mind. His heart raced, and he adjusted his breathing to match the manual's description.

  Huff! Puff! Huff!

  Stirling's body arched a little. He sensed the familiar warm Aether current rise from his lower abdomen at once. It followed the same path inside his body as it had the night before. He felt much more comfortable. His shaky steps soon steadied, and he even picked up speed instead of slowing down. He kept pace with the group as if he were enjoying a relaxed stroll.

  This Aether Skill is amazing. Not only can one practice it while sleeping, but even while walking. Not sure if it has only the effect of increasing stamina.

  Stirling hid his joy and kept following the group, showing no emotion. He observed these strange villagers in secret.

  These strange villagers have thin, emaciated bodies and a sense of malnutrition.

  Their faces often look numb and unchanging, like soulless walking corpses.

  Stirling had sensed this from the old couple over the past few days.

  But none of these matters. Stirling can't figure out why the villagers stay. It's dangerous here at night. Could it be that the darkness outside is even more terrifying?