She carefully flipped the stone over and saw a ring of fine patterns running along the edge, looking as though they were artificially engraved, yet also resembling a natural texture.
“What kind of magic item is this?”
“This is a Magic Engraving Stone,” Bai Xuan explained patiently. “A magic effect is sealed inside, which can temporarily grant the corresponding ability to someone else. I want you to try activating it and feel its specific effects.”
“Of course, I will compensate you for your help.”
“There's no need to pay me! It's already my honor to be of help to you,” Yvonne said, quickly waving her hands and shaking her head.
She looked at the engraving stone in her palm, her curiosity thoroughly piqued. “Just tell me how to use it, and I'll try it right now.”
Bai Xuan instructed carefully, “Hold it in your palm and guide your intent to activate it. The usage is similar to a magic scroll.”
“This engraving stone has a Strength Augmentation magic sealed inside. Unlike a scroll, it can be used repeatedly without any limit on the number of uses.”
Yvonne took the engraving stone solemnly. She looked down and studied it closely for a moment, then raised her eyes to Bai Xuan, still seemingly unable to believe that he was willing to hand such a special magic item over to her.
Receiving an encouraging nod from Bai Xuan, she tightly clenched the engraving stone in her palm.
“Don't rush to activate it just yet,” Bai Xuan said. He turned and walked toward a pile of decorative rocks in the corner of the yard.
A massive decorative rock stood by the base of the wall. Its surface was covered in mottled pits and craters, and its height far exceeded Yvonne's. By all appearances, it was incredibly heavy.
Stopping beside the boulder, he turned to look at Yvonne, who had followed close behind. “Try to lift this rock first and see if you can manage it.”
Yvonne froze instantly. Her gaze darted back and forth between the massive rock and Bai Xuan, her face filled with disbelief. “Me? Lift this rock?”
Bai Xuan nodded gently. “Just give it a try.”
Yvonne sized up the heavy boulder once more, finding the request rather unrealistic.
She slipped the engraving stone into her coat pocket first, then stepped directly in front of the boulder. Wrapping both arms around its sides, she took a deep breath and exerted all her strength to lift it upward.
The heavy rock only wobbled slightly, showing no signs of leaving the ground.
She did not give up. Gritting her teeth, she continued to apply force until her cheeks turned red. The rock wobbled a bit more, but it remained firmly embedded in the ground, completely unmovable.
After several attempts, she had no choice but to stop. Panting slightly, she relaxed her strained hands and looked up at Bai Xuan.
“That's enough,” Bai Xuan said. “Now, try to activate the engraving stone.”
Yvonne retrieved the engraving stone from her pocket, held it in her palm, closed her eyes, and slowly channeled her mana into it.
The surface of the stone quickly emitted a soft glow, carrying a warm touch, as if tiny fragments of energy were slowly seeping into her through her palm.
In the next second, a surge of abundant power erupted from the engraving stone. It spread up her arms like fresh water flowing into dried-up channels, quickly filling her shoulders and back.
She instinctively straightened her back as the power continued to expand, flowing through her limbs. It filled her entire torso, leaving her feeling exceptionally light yet incredibly strong.
She could clearly sense that the engraving stone's mana was being consumed at a slow, steady pace, much like a steadily burning candle flame that would not suddenly gutter out.
At this rate of consumption, maintaining this power for several days would be no trouble at all.
“Try the rock again,” Bai Xuan's voice sounded from the side.
Looking at the massive decorative rock in the yard, an inexplicable surge of confidence welled up in Yvonne's heart. She felt as though she could easily lift or even shatter the giant boulder.
She bent down, wrapped her arms around the rock, and lifted with a sudden burst of strength.
The heavy stone lifted off the ground with ease—far more easily than she had anticipated. She had not even used her full strength.
Holding the boulder that was even taller than herself, she stood frozen in place, still unable to fully comprehend this sudden explosion of physical power.
She looked at the rock in her arms, then up at Bai Xuan, murmuring in awe, “This is unbelievable.”
She gave her arms a gentle nudge to test the weight of the boulder, confirming that none of this was an illusion.
“If the monster tide from earlier today were to strike again, I could hold off all the low-rank monsters by myself, excluding those few high-rank ones.”
She slowly lowered the giant rock back to the ground, its heavy thud kicking up a small cloud of dust. Straightening up, she brushed the dirt from her palms, still deeply shaken by the raw power she now possessed.
“This power has an additional effect,” Bai Xuan said. “Can you feel it? Another special force hidden within the mana.”
Yvonne held her breath and focused, carefully sensing the unfamiliar energy mixed within her body. After a moment, she nodded. “I feel it. It's different from basic mana. It feels as though... it can be attached to attacks.”
“Try to channel it and unleash it against this rock.”
Yvonne took half a step back and clenched her fist. She precisely channeled that unique energy, and an invisible barrier of force instantly enveloped her entire arm.
Without intentionally gathering her strength, she swung her fist and struck the decorative rock in front of her. At the moment of impact, she estimated that she would, at most, leave a dent and a few cracks.
However, the result far exceeded her expectations. The boulder instantly cracked and exploded from the point of impact, shattering into several large pieces that piled up against the base of the wall. The jagged, rough fractures looked as though they had been violently forced apart by a powerful internal force.
Maintaining her punching posture, Yvonne stared down at the back of her hand. It was completely unharmed, without even a single scratch. Her face was a mask of utter astonishment.
She turned to look at Bai Xuan, her voice trembling with awe. “This... this effect is too overwhelming. If this power were applied to a weapon, the destructive force would be immeasurable.”
“That should be enough. Place the engraving stone on the ground,” Bai Xuan said. “Next, we will test its effective range.”
Yvonne opened her hand, glanced at the engraving stone resting in her palm, and gently set it on the ground. She then began to slowly step backward, intending to measure the maximum distance before the power faded.
Holding onto the lingering mana, she took measured steps back. One step, two steps, three steps.
Upon taking her fourth step, she froze. She could clearly feel the power granted by the engraving stone vanish entirely, disappearing without a trace like a receding tide.
“The power is completely gone,” Yvonne murmured. An inexplicable sense of emptiness washed over her, a feeling she couldn't quite define as either regret or reluctance. She then turned and walked back.
Bai Xuan bent down to pick up the engraving stone, stored it inside his Space Ring, and said calmly, “Thank you for your help.”
Yvonne quickly shook her head and waved her hands. “You are far too polite. It was my honor to have the opportunity to test such a precious item.”
She looked down at her fist, where fine stone dust still clung to the creases of her fingers. Brushing her palms clean, she quietly tucked away the novel, surging emotions she had just experienced.
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