How do Tethra even mistook a statue for a monster you say? Well, the statue is so life-like that if you looked it from afar, it really looked like a monster. With its grayish-greenish color, the statue brought a very monstery feeling that deceived Tethra’s eyes. Its smooth-hard texture is also evenly spread that even if you observed it closely, it will still look like the skin of a monster. Fortunately a flaw appeared which opened Tethra’s eyes. The thing that exposed its perfect disguise is the arrow stuck on its right foot back heel.

The monster’s right foot back heel is slightly raised, so, the arrow is perfectly visible inside Tethra’s line of sight. Seeing this statue reminded Tethra of a familiar story. The story about a hero that died because of an arrow wound on the heel. Most people know this story, even more so Tethra, the genius archeologist, he knew those ancient stories like he is the one that experienced it. Yes, it is Achilles. The hero whose death spot got named after, the Achilles Heel or exactly the Achilles Tendon.

“Nice! I got another one of those powers! But, why do the Achilles in this world is a monster?” Tethra muttered confusedly while still walking toward the monster statue. Tethra still got no clue that he was the only one here that didn’t get affected by the monster’s presence. Most people, even with normal observation, will notice if there’s something different about them, but that doesn’t apply to Tethra. He doesn’t care about himself, and he will only observe something of his interest, so he didn’t know that he was the only one that didn’t get harmed by the presence.

Touching the statue, Tethra wondered about the uniqueness of the way he got powers. Practitioners have to cultivate hard to get their powers, meanwhile he only has to stroll somewhere ancient and he will get powers. He wondered what will happen if those practitioners know of this, he chuckled a little. Truthfully, if those practitioners know Tethra called fighting an almost impossible to beat monster and getting trapped in a strange machine, just a stroll, they will probably spurt out blood in anger. Exploring is actually harder than cultivating in silence because adventuring is very dangerous, your life can be reaped anywhere by anyone.

Just as Tethra was about to say ‘Achilles’ to get another power, the statue glowed.

“But I haven’t said anything yet?” Tethra got confused by this but the statue ignored him. Then it projected rows of words. Tethra carefully looked at the words and found that it was actually the same language as the one used here. One time, he asked Elder Pan how they could speak so smoothly even though they use different language.

“Ooh that? You just noticed? I thought you know but didn’t want to ask...” Elder Pan got speechless by this unobservant nature of Tethra. Most people would notice it if they converse regularly, but, even though Tethra conversed with them often, he just noticed now. Still, Elder Pan is Elder Pan, he explained kindly toTethra about that, “It was actually done by the Instant Translation Chip planted on our neck here,” Elder Pan pointed the left side of his neck. “, that was planted after we were born. Everybody use it except those tribes far away from the cities.”

Hearing that, Tethra got sparkles in his eyes because of the translation chip. The Post-Flood earth has instant translation machine, but it’s not a chip and still has to be carried manually. So, it is not as convenient as the chip, which is planted on the neck as soon as you are born. Tethra instantly asked for one from Elder Pan. This concluded Elder Pan’s hypothesis about Tethra’s origin. Elder Pan guessed that Tethra came from an ancient super secret tribe that is far stronger than their community. This hypothesis started when Elder Pan first heard about how Tethra appeared there and got strengthened when Elder Pan saw the qi seal on Tethra’s memory.

Elder Pan gave Tethra one chip and explained the function of it, “This chip will connect to your brain by using qi thread, so it will not disturb anything in your head. Put this on your left neck.” Tethra put it in his left neck immediately, soon it got absorbed inside and there was no trace of it from the outside. That chip really interested for Tethra, and finally, it found its uses here. Reading the writing that was very different from the writing of Post-Flood Earth, Tethra discovered that this statue was actually created by a practitioner that reached the realm of Immortal only by sculpting statue! The Sculpting Immortal!

“To the one that see this statue, this is a message left by me for you only. No, this is not a last will or something, I just want you to know that this statue is made by me, Ling Fan, the Immortal Sculptor. If you read this message, it means that I have reached the realm above. I only want to say that contemplating this statue will bring amazing benefit to the expertise of weaponry, just focus on one weapon only and you may benefit greatly. Lastly, please don’t take this statue home! Jk!” The projected words then dimmed down and went back inside the statue.

A really funny immortal, Tethra thought so. Tethra noticed the mention of realm above, but he ignored it because he already know that. Almost every xianxia has an upper realm which the Immortals ascended to, else they will wreak havoc in this realm with just their sneezes. While thinking that thing, another message projection popped out of the statue again.

“Just for your info, I got inspired after seeing a supreme 8th grade monster that got pierced there by an arrow and died. The monster’s name is Archon and it is a scary big monster that is immune to most weapons. Strangely, when the arrow pierced its back heel, it cried loudly and died. From that scene, I made this statue. My statues usually don’t have this kind of benefits, but this one is weirdly special. So, be sure take advantage of it fully!”

“So, that’s why this statue has a presence this heavy. Sculpted by an Immortal, plus imitating an 8th grade monster perfectly, and lastly the effect of imitating a hero scene made this statue has an even greater presence,” Tethra muttered. Even after waiting for few minutes, there were no other projections, so, Tethra proceeded to take another power for him to use. “Achilles!” said Tethra without taking his hand off the statue. The statue glowed brightly, but this time the arrow stuck to its feet changed to light form, flew, and arranged a word in front of him.

“Archon... yes I know already! So, quick get inside the book!” Tethra impatiently urged the words the get inside the book. Finally the word rearranged into “Achilles” then went inside Tethra’s book. Tethra was happy because he got another power for him to use. He hurriedly checked the word “Achilles” below the “Orpheus”. Tethra slowly traced the word to find its uses.

“So its like usual, strengthening the body to the peak of third cultivation stage. Then additionally, it increases all weapons mastery and resilience against weapons. Wow, cool! This is a specially made enhancement for close combat purpose! Finally I can fight close combat now!” Tethra were eager to try and fight close combat. When he was fighting Bladed Rhino earlier, he couldn’t fight close combat because his skin’s hardness is not on par with it. But now, after using this, he can fight most monsters bare-handed!

“Well anyway, I already finished this, now let’s find a way to get out of here!” Tethra said while searching a clue to get out of this place. That was his original plan, but his plan was fated to not be used at all. The book in his robe vibrated and let out a buzzing sound. The book then flew to the air and glowed rainbow colored light. Some chains came out of its cover and bound the book tightly, but this time, one of the chains snapped and fell. The snapped chains then changed into particles and disappeared. After that wondrous scene, the book again, fell to the ground motionlessly.

“Really, this book is too mystical. I wonder what is those chains and why do they bind my book?” Tethra went to pick up the book on the ground while wondering what sorts of chains were they. He was about to put it inside his robe again when the book buzzed.

“Finally! I came out!” The book spoke without letting out a sound. Tethra knew that it was the voice of this book but couldn’t put reasons why he would even believe it. It’s another wonder how Tethra was able to hear that, but it was an awesome sight itself seeing a book speak... well or an awesome hearing. Anyway Tethra that was getting astonished by the talking book finally spoke after a while.

“You are a book I write myself, not one which I got from ancient ruins, so there is no way a soul was inside like in most xianxia! How the hell do you even able to speak???!!!”