Chapter 420 418-The Glowing Stone
At this moment, Ethan carefully examined the stone statue and noticed that its design was incredibly peculiar.
The statue's hands were clasped together in a prayer-like gesture, and in the center of these clasped hands, there was an identical recess for placing a stone, just like the one he had found earlier.
Could it be that there was another stone hidden here, and someone had taken it as well?
The thought left Ethan feeling somewhat frustrated.
It seemed that he had arrived too late; the previous individual had taken both stones and left him with nothing.
If there was another stone hidden within the smaller chamber, where could the second stone be now?
Could this second stone be the key to unlocking the seal?
While this possibility seemed plausible, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
If the second stone were indeed the tool to break the seal, then the person who had previously entered this chamber with both stones should have already unlocked it.
Upon closer examination, Ethan noticed that the shape of the recess between the statue's clasped hands was remarkably similar to the one he had seen before.
It was a perfect match for the stone he currently held.
This situation left Ethan feeling extremely perplexed.
Could it really be possible that there were two stones in the world with exactly the same shape, down to the last detail?
The thought was quickly dismissed by Ethan himself, as he knew it was virtually impossible to find two identical objects in this vast world; no two things were exactly alike.
Could they just be two stones that looked very similar?
Ethan doubted this possibility too.
The resemblance between the recesses was uncanny, and he couldn't believe that such a similarity could be mere coincidence.
If that was the case, was this recess also meant for the same stone he had found earlier?
This idea left Ethan puzzled and unsure of what to make of it.
On a whim, Ethan decided to try something.
He took out the stone he carried and attempted to place it in this new recess.
To his amazement, the stone fit perfectly again.
It seemed that this recess was indeed intended for this particular stone.
Why, then, would there be two different recesses for the same stone?
And why was the second one so well hidden, embedded in a statue in this secret chamber?
These questions made the situation even more baffling to Ethan, who couldn't figure out what it all meant.
But before he could ponder further, Ethan suddenly felt the stone in his hand move.
It seemed as if it were being pulled into the recess by the stone statue.
Without any time for Ethan to react, the stone slid deeper into the recess.
What was happening?
Before Ethan could fully comprehend the situation, he felt the stone in his palm suddenly grow scalding hot.
Ethan clenched his hand tightly around the stone, enduring the searing heat.
He knew that this stone contained potent energy, and he had no intention of letting go.
If he did, and the stone was absorbed by the stone statue, he would lose a valuable opportunity.
Ethan was determined not to release his grip under any circumstances.
However, just at that moment, Ethan witnessed a sight that left him utterly astonished.
The stone within the recess in his hand began to emit a deep crimson light, illuminating the entire chamber.
This was the first time Ethan had ever seen a stone emit light, and he was momentarily at a loss to explain it.
But the most astonishing revelation was yet to come.
In that instant, Ethan felt the radiant light emitted by the stone possess a profound power.
It bathed him in warmth, and as if imbued with life, the light started to permeate his body.
One wave of warmth after another flowed into him.
What on earth was happening?
Ethan found himself bewildered by the unfolding events.
While still grappling with confusion, he sensed all the warmth converging into his Dantian, the body's energy center.
It was then that Ethan felt his strength seemingly beginning to surge.
Could it be that the seal containing the stone's energy had been unlocked?
Considering this, Ethan felt it was indeed a strong possibility that the stone's sealed energy was being unlocked.
He was exhilarated by this realization and decided not to resist anymore, allowing the continuous flow of power to surge into his body.
After a while, the glowing light gradually dimmed, and Ethan felt the heat from the stone dissipate, leaving it as an ordinary stone once more.
When he tried to remove the stone from the statue's hands, he discovered that it was now immovable.
Only then did Ethan realize that, after all its energy had been drained, the stone had merged with the statue, becoming indistinguishable from it, with no visible seam or joint remaining. n)-0veLb1n
It had become a part of the statue.
This magical transformation was a first for Ethan, leaving him utterly amazed.
At that moment, Ethan felt a surge of energy within his body, clearly the ancient power he had just absorbed.
His body was still adjusting to this new energy, indicating that fully assimilating it would take some time.
Ethan then sat down on the ground, focusing on absorbing and transforming this energy into his own.
It was a lengthy and complex process.
The ancient energy was of a particularly potent and robust nature, roaming fiercely throughout his body.
It was clear that fully absorbing and mastering this powerful force would require patience and effort.
After a considerable period, Ethan finally absorbed all the energy into his Dantian.
Now transformed into a part of his own strength, this ancient power significantly enhanced Ethan's capabilities, filling him with exhilaration.
His power had grown substantially stronger.
Eager to understand the full extent of his newfound strength, Ethan quickly checked his current status:
[ Attributes: HP 128000, Spiritual Power 710000, Strength 33000, Constitution 50000, Agility 18000 ]
The first thing Ethan noticed was his HP.
His HP had now astonishingly exceeded 120000, a clear testament to the profound impact of the ancient energy on his strength.
A health value of 120000 was enough to keep Ethan excited for a long time.
He had been overjoyed when his HP first broke one hundred thousands, but now it had skyrocketed to a staggering 128000, a thought that filled him with immense excitement.
But Ethan's elation didn't stop there.
Apart from the increase in HP, all his other attribute values had also improved significantly.
Ethan himself hadn't anticipated that the mystical power from the ancient era would bring such a tremendous boost to his abilities.
It appeared that he had indeed stumbled upon a truly remarkable treasure.
Having absorbed the energy sealed within the stone, Ethan was ready to leave the stone chamber.
As he stepped out of the secret chamber and back into the larger stone room, he felt a sense of accomplishment and newfound power coursing through him, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As Ethan gazed at the scattered fragments of the stone men and animals, a question occurred to him.
Since the energy sealed within the stone could be unlocked and absorbed in this secret chamber, why hadn't the person who took the stone earlier absorbed its power?
Why had they left this opportunity for Ethan?
This thought struck Ethan as particularly odd.
He pondered for a moment, glancing back at the open stone door, and then it dawned on him.
The stone door had not been open previously.
Presumably, the person who took the stone earlier hadn't discovered the secret chamber because the door had remained closed, thus being unable to unlock and absorb the energy sealed within the stone.
With this realization, Ethan understood the answer to his question.
It seemed that he was indeed deeply connected to this stone.
While others had taken the stone before him, they had not managed to unlock its power.
In a twist of fate, the stone had ended up in Ethan's hands, and he had successfully absorbed its energy.
It appeared as though the energy within the stone was destined to be absorbed by Ethan.
With these thoughts in mind, Ethan glanced back at the stone case.
It seemed that the treasure it once held was always meant to be his.