After hours of experimentation, Xue Wen finally pieced together several shocking truths about his newfound powers.
The first discovery left him speechless, he could directly convert the energy from food into Marrow Essence, a feat unheard of in his memories.
And it wasn't a simple conversion either.
The richer and higher the quality of the food, the greater the amount of essence he could refine.
When he ate ordinary vegetables or grains, the Marrow Essence that flowed into his bones was faint, like a trickle of water seeping into parched soil.
But when he devoured meat from a Sacred Beast, the essence gushed forth like a roaring river, far denser and purer than anything food should have been able to provide.
The second revelation shook him even deeper.
According to the inherited memories of his body, most Bonebearers could only awaken a single bone.
For instance, if one awakened their humerus, it was either the left or the right humerus, never both.
To awaken two bones was so rare that even in the entirety of the Blue Swan Kingdom, there was not a single living example.
Only in dusty historical records were there whispers of cultivators with dual bones, individuals who shook the heavens with their might and defied the natural order.
But him? Xue Wen lowered his hand to his jaw, tracing the line of his mouth, and felt a chill creep into his heart.
He had awakened not one, not two, but four bones, all four of his canines.
Quadra Bones. Such a thing was not only unheard of, it was something the world might not even allow.
No recorded history spoke of such a being, not even in the legendary annals of the most heaven-defying geniuses.
"Dual bones were already considered a war against the heavens," Xue Wen whispered, his throat tightening. "Then what am I?"
His mouth went dry.
He swallowed hard, his mind racing with possibilities and fears.
'If I can refine food into essence… can I also refine things that are not food?' The thought struck him like lightning, sending a shiver down his spine.
His heart pounded wildly in his chest. If that were true, then the limits of his ability were far beyond anything this world had ever seen.
"I have to test this out," he muttered, rising abruptly from the bed.
His eyes swept the room until they landed on an old, weathered book tucked in the corner.
It was a martial arts manual meant for ordinary humans rather than Bonebearers. Without hesitation, Xue Wen tore out a single page, crumpled it slightly in his hand, and, grimacing, forced himself to swallow it whole.
The paper scratched against his throat, dry and unpleasant, but he forced it down into his stomach.
Closing his eyes tightly, he waited, his body tense with anticipation.
A moment later, his eyes snapped open, gleaming with disbelief.
"This… it's really happening! Even paper is being converted into Marrow Essence!" He felt the dry page melt inside his stomach, breaking apart and transforming into that familiar warm current which rushed toward his canines.
The effect was weaker than food, but it was still real, undeniable.
His hands trembled as he dug into his small leather pouch.
His fingers brushed against smooth, cold stones before pulling one out, a Marrow Bead.
Marrow Beads were forged from condensed Marrow Stones, each one containing a frighteningly pure amount of essence.
In this world, special techniques existed to refine Marrow Stones, but they were costly and inefficient, wasting enormous amounts of energy in the process.
Even when turned into pills, nearly half of the original essence was lost.
Worse still, most Bonebearers couldn't absorb essence efficiently.
The higher the star rating of one's awakened bone, the more essence they could draw in.
But for a lowly one-star Bonebearer like Xue Wen's original self, ninety-nine percent of the bead's energy would normally be wasted.
He clutched the bead tightly, his expression firming into determination. "But… if I truly absorb everything without waste…" His teeth ground together, his jaw set. "Then let's see!"
Without another thought, he tipped his head back and swallowed the bead whole.
Closing his eyes, he focused intently.
Almost instantly, his body shuddered.
The bead dissolved within his stomach like ice thrown into fire, and waves of boundless energy surged toward his four awakened canines.
Not a drop was lost.
"Hahaha!" He threw back his head, his laughter booming through the room. "A hundred percent absorption! No!, better than a hundred percent! Even the impurities in the bead, the waste everyone else can't use, it's all being converted into essence for me!" His heart soared with ecstasy.
Outside the closed door, Ding Mei was sweeping the hall when the sudden roar of laughter pierced her ears.
She jumped in fright, her slender shoulders trembling.
Her broom slipped from her hands, clattering against the floor.
Her heartbeat quickened, unease welling in her chest.
She looked toward the door with wide, worried eyes.
'What's happening? Should I go and check?' Her lips pressed together, torn between concern and hesitation.
But in the end, she forced herself to stay still. 'No… he said he was cultivating. If I disturb him and something goes wrong…'
Inside, oblivious to her turmoil, Xue Wen's excitement only grew.
He pulled out bead after bead from his pouch, tossing them into his mouth and swallowing them like candy.
Each time, the same miracle occurred, pure Marrow Essence flooding into his body, his four canines glowing faintly in his spiritual perception.
Hours passed.
His skin prickled as if it were being remade.
His bones creaked and crackled, emitting muffled popping sounds.
Power surged through his limbs, his muscles knitting themselves tighter, denser.
His veins pulsed with a rushing river of energy, the current far too powerful for what should have been possible for a mere one-star Bonebearer.
At last, Xue Wen opened his eyes, his breath misting in the air like steam.
A faint golden hue shimmered across his skin before fading.
He clenched his fists, marveling at the explosive strength in his body.
"I'm already halfway into the Bone Formation Realm. If this pace continues, then with just my monthly income alone… I could reach Bone Cracking in mere days!" He inhaled sharply, his chest rising with exhilaration. "According to my memories, even three-star Bonebearers would never have such monstrous speed. Hahaha…"
His laughter rang out again, booming and unrestrained.
This time, Ding Mei could no longer endure it.
Fear gnawed at her heart, convincing her that her husband might have suffered deviation in cultivation, perhaps even lost his sanity.
Her hands shook as she reached for the door.
With trembling fingers, she pushed it open, her beautiful face filled with anxiety as she stepped inside.