Imprisoned for a Trillion Years, I Was Worshipped by All Gods!-Chapter 551 - 107-True Strength Comes from Within

"So powerful?!"

After hearing the black-robed woman's lengthy explanation, Alan couldn't help but feel tempted.

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Don't be fooled by the Stone of Sage's small size—it wasn't just a gemstone. This seemingly ordinary gem possessed three extraordinary abilities: matter transformation, high-efficiency healing, and soul capturing. It was an all-in-one miracle artifact.

Unable to resist any longer, Alan stepped forward, intent on entering the rift and retrieving the Stone of Sage.

"Wait!"

The black-robed woman's sudden voice halted Alan just as he was about to step through.

"A sacred relic like the Stone of Sage? You really thought it would let itself be taken so easily?"

"The immense vital energy within it isn't just for show. After countless ages, that power has certainly evolved into a primal consciousness of its own."

"Something akin to a guardian spirit. It might seem dormant and weak now, but the moment you step in, it will awaken. And once it does, absorbing it will be nearly impossible."

"Then what should I do?"

Alan now looked like a student eager to learn, standing still and awaiting her next instruction.

"Do this: manifest a portion of Hell into the material world, and use it to lure the Stone of Sage into entering it voluntarily."

"Understood!"

Alan nodded and immediately closed his eyes, focusing on his connection to Hell.

Moments later, behind him slowly unfurled a surreal scene—a phantasmal tableau of Hell, filled with roaring flames and countless tormenting visions.

As the fiery illusion spread out behind him, Alan noticed something peculiar: the Stone of Sage, deep within the rift, had suddenly drawn much closer.

At the same time, the strange heartbeat sound that had been echoing around him came to an abrupt halt.

The gemstone transformed into a mass of crimson light—and without warning, it shot straight into Alan's chest.

"Urgh!"

Alan cried out in pain instinctively.

He could feel it clearly—every cell in his body was screaming in agony as the red light surged through him.

Even his soul felt assaulted, as though it were being torn apart by an invisible force, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

In that moment, he was like a small boat in a raging storm, tossed about in endless waves, trying to stay afloat.

One misstep, and he'd lose control of his own body entirely.

"Senior... this—this doesn't feel right! Why does it hurt so much?!"

Alan called out for help, panic creeping into his voice.

But the black-robed woman fell silent for a long while before speaking again.

"I'm starting to think... maybe it's still too soon for you to be touching the Stone of Sage."

"Huh?!"

...

"What do I do—what the hell do I do now?!"

Alan's mind was spinning.

He still only had a vague understanding of the Stone of Sage—let alone the Hell dimension within him.

Were it not for the black-robed woman's guidance, he would've been completely in the dark.

And because of that, now that something unexpected had happened, he was like a headless chicken, unable to think of any solution.

All he could do was pray for a miracle.

Then... a miracle really did happen.

The hellish landscape behind him—once vivid and raging—suddenly faded away entirely.

In its place, a blood-red crystal heart emerged from Alan's chest, pulsing powerfully.

Alan was stunned. When he looked down, he realized something else: his entire body had become transparent.

Only that crystal heart remained vividly visible.

Suddenly, the heart burst into a blinding light.

Bathed in the radiance, Alan felt a strange but overwhelming sensation of comfort and release—like soaking in a hot spring during the coldest depths of winter, holding a glass of vintage wine in his hand.

But then, the wine glass shattered, and the sharp fragments pierced his skin, while the surrounding spring slowly turned into icy crystals that stabbed into his flesh.

Though the Stone of Sage was releasing vast amounts of vital energy, healing his battered body and torn soul, the process of binding it to him was equally destructive.

It was a brutal cycle—one of annihilation and rebirth—repeating over and over within him until, finally, both extremes slowly settled into silence.

No one knew how much time passed before Alan finally opened his eyes.

His vision was filled with countless white specks floating around him.

Looking closely, he realized they were stars embedded in the night sky.

He took a deep breath and lifted his head slightly—only to feel gravity suddenly pulling him downward.

His body plummeted rapidly toward the earth.

Alan didn't resist. He let himself fall.

Just before he hit the ground, several blood-red tendrils shot out from his chest, looking like thorny branches. They wove themselves into a shield-like shape that absorbed the impact of his landing.

Startled, Alan sat up quickly and asked the black-robed woman, "What are these threads?"

"They're the physical manifestation of vital energy," she explained. "They can act on their own to protect you in moments of danger. But they can also be shaped into powerful weapons."

"Try visualizing a hard material in your mind and applying it to the vital energy."

Alan followed her instructions. Instantly, the threads sprouting from his chest crystallized into a diamond-like substance.

Diamond—the hardest known material in the world.

"I did it!"

Alan's face lit up with excitement. With matter transformation and vital energy combined, his offensive and defensive capabilities had grown more versatile than ever.

Even if he were to face Duke Mogan again—the powerful mage who could draw metallic minerals from the earth—Alan now believed he could win.

Sensing his overconfidence, the black-robed woman let out a cold laugh.

"The Stone of Sage is still just an external force. Thinking you can rely on it alone to defeat a tier-diamond mage is arrogant."

"Wait, then what's the point of having it?" Alan scratched his head.

The woman sighed lightly.

"This being your first Sealed Artifact, the Stone of Sage is more of a lesson than a weapon. It helps you understand what Sealed Artifacts are, so the next time you encounter one, you won't be so easily thrown off."

"Also, since you're not the original master of the Stone of Sage, its effectiveness is limited. As things stand now, you're probably only able to utilize about a quarter of its total vital energy."

"But that's already more than enough. In this world, very few people even know what vital energy is, let alone how to control it."

"So, this power is best used as a surprise tactic—something unexpected in battle. Your top priority right now is still the same: sharpen your magical skill, temper your physical body, and find a high-quality staff to absorb."

"In the end, external power is unreliable. Only your own strength is true strength."