A cold wind howled through the desolate, ancient forest.
Wang Xiao's eyes shot open.
He stared, stunned, at the overgrown weeds and desolate trees surrounding him.
'Wait, why does my perspective seem a little off?'
He tried to move, only to find himself bound by something.
He turned his head to look.
A corner of a red swaddling cloth immediately came into view.
Wang Xiao's eyes widened, and he swallowed instinctively.
'Holy shit, how did I end up as a baby?'
'An abandoned baby in the middle of nowhere, at that!'
'Did I seriously just transmigrate only to die right away?'
'Book of Space-Time, get out here! We need to have a talk!'
'In a forest this huge, with the body of a baby, I'll be lucky to last a single day.'
'I might even get snatched up by some wolf or leopard.'
'This is Hell difficulty right from the start! How is anyone supposed to survive this?!'
Perhaps sensing Wang Xiao's agitation, lines of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Controller of the Book of Space-Time: Wang Xiao]
[Current Realm: Tier Zero Life]
[Current Status: Consciousness Travel]
[Talent Activated: Analyze All Things]
[Time Remaining: 30 years]
Wang Xiao stared at the text, his eyes glinting.
'Thirty years? In my current state, I doubt I'll even last a day!'
Wang Xiao was speechless. He then looked at the Talent section.
'Analyze All Things... what does that do?'
Wang Xiao frowned.
He moved his little head from side to side and discovered small lines of text appearing in his field of vision.
[Infant's Swaddling Clothes. Analyze?]
[Foxtail Grass. Analyze?]
[Dead Pine Tree. Analyze?]
[A Rock. Analyze?]
Wang Xiao's gaze shifted, focusing on the foxtail grass. His consciousness formed a small hand and clicked 'Yes'!
In that instant,
a huge amount of information flooded into Wang Xiao's mind.
In a flash, Wang Xiao understood everything there was to know about foxtail grass!
[You have successfully analyzed Foxtail Grass. You have obtained the Plant Breathing Technique.]
Instantly, countless details about the rhythm and key principles of the Plant Breathing Technique flooded into Wang Xiao's mind.
Wang Xiao felt his breathing instinctively grow even, and his heartbeat became exceptionally slow.
He faintly felt as if he were merging with the surrounding vegetation!
'So this is the power of Analyze All Things? It's completely broken!'
Wang Xiao's eyes lit up.
Analyze All Things could completely break down the composition of any item.
Not only that, but it could also deduce a corresponding ability from the analysis, simplify it, and make it his to use!
This was simply heaven-defying!
Most importantly, he could keep this Talent even after leaving this world.
'Still, I need to figure out how to survive in this world first. I can't just waste these thirty years.'
'With the Plant Breathing Technique, I should be able to hold on for a few more days!'
Wang Xiao didn't remain idle. He began to constantly use his Analyze All Things Talent, analyzing everything around him.
[You have successfully analyzed the Dead Pine Tree. You have obtained the Withered Wood Revives Spring False Death Technique.]
[You have successfully analyzed the Rock. You have obtained the Hardening Technique.]
In that moment,
the methods for circulating the Withered Wood Revives Spring False Death Technique and the Hardening Technique were all mastered by Wang Xiao.
If any so-called geniuses were to witness this speed of comprehension, they would probably want to bash their heads against a wall and die from shame.
Unfortunately, wrapped in his swaddling clothes, Wang Xiao's field of vision was extremely limited.
Aside from the Plant Breathing Technique, Withered Wood Revives Spring False Death Technique, and Hardening Technique, he didn't obtain any other abilities!
However,
as Wang Xiao grew more proficient with his Analyze All Things Talent,
the "Analyze?" prompt no longer appeared before his eyes.
Instead, he could instantly trigger an analysis with a single thought.
For the next while,
Wang Xiao lay bored amidst the grass, quietly waiting for a passerby to rescue him.
「A day passed in the blink of an eye.」
After a full day and night without food, having drunk only a little dew, Wang Xiao was starving and listless.
If it weren't for the Plant Breathing Technique sustaining him, he would have starved to death long ago.
'Holy shit, a whole day and night and no one has come by. Am I really going to die here?!'
Wang Xiao started to grow frantic.
He could already feel his condition deteriorating.
If no one came soon, he probably wouldn't make it through the night!
Just as Wang Xiao was considering whether he should start crying to make some noise,
RUSTLE RUSTLE RUSTLE—
a soft rustling sound suddenly reached his ears.
It wasn't the sound of footsteps, but of something crawling along the ground!
'Shit, it's a snake!'
Wang Xiao reacted in an instant.
Without a moment's hesitation, he activated the Hardening Technique, causing the skin all over his body to harden!
Simultaneously,
he circulated the Withered Wood Revives Spring False Death Technique.
In an instant,
his breathing ceased, and even his heart seemed to stop beating!
Just as he finished doing all this,
a giant python over ten meters long appeared before him, dragging its enormous body.
A foul stench wafted from the massive serpent's mouth.
The python circled Wang Xiao, observing him silently.
Thick saliva dripped onto Wang Xiao's face.
Wang Xiao kept his eyes shut, not moving a muscle.
A moment later,
the python was finally convinced that the strange object before it was merely a rock, and it began to drag its massive body away.
However, just then,
a powerful voice suddenly rang out.
"Vile beast, I've finally found you! Taste my blade!"
As the voice fell,
a gleaming sword flew through the air and slashed toward the python, whistling as it cut through the air!
SHINK!
The sword pierced straight through the python's vital spot, and blood gushed forth.
The python instantly let out a hiss and swept its tail, sending Wang Xiao flying toward the newcomer!
The newcomer was a man of about fifty, dressed in a black robe. With his long beard, he had the air of a sagely immortal.
Seeing Wang Xiao flying toward him, he let out a soft "Hmm?" He raised a hand, and an unknown power surged in his palm. With a gentle flick, he caught Wang Xiao and cradled him in his arms.
"A baby? Is he dead?"
The middle-aged man frowned.
An infant's body would have a hard time surviving a blow from that python's tail.
The python's strike had left Wang Xiao dizzy, and if not for the protection of the Hardening Technique, he would have been a goner.
Seeing the middle-aged man, he knew he was temporarily safe. He quickly deactivated his false death state, opened his mouth, and began to wail.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up.
"Such a powerful cry. It seems you're not badly hurt. Tsk, little one, you have an impressive constitution."
"In these chaotic times of war and strife, for us to meet here must be fate."
"After I finish off this python that has been terrorizing the common folk, I will take you back to my sect."
Holding Wang Xiao, the middle-aged man rushed toward the giant python, which was pinned to the ground by the sword.
However,
Wang Xiao didn't get to see the man's heroic slaying of the python.
Once he knew he was safe,
he could no longer fight off his exhaustion and passed out.