Chapter 129: The Pool [1]

Saint Laurent Empire, Northern Territory.

Alves Duchy.

Behind the manor’s main building, a long corridor paved with white stone bricks stretched deep into the mountainside. Illuminating magic crystals were embedded along both walls at intervals of a dozen or so steps, their gentle glow reflecting off the ancient patterns carved into the stone, making the entire passage seem exceptionally quiet.

Victor walked at the front, with Cecilia, dressed in a silver-white gown, beside him. Meanwhile, Evelyn had remained in the reception area with the accompanying attendants.

According to their previously agreed arrangements, only a handful of people would participate in the upcoming treatment, while the royal guards had already been accommodated on the other side of the manor.

"I remember you once told me that the Alves family’s Moonlight Sacred Spring was never opened to outsiders so easily."

Cecilia spoke as she examined their surroundings.

"What? Have you finally decided to let me in?"

Victor glanced at her.

"That was then. This is now."

"Oh?"

A faint smile appeared at the corners of Cecilia’s lips.

"What’s the difference?"

"Back then, I hadn’t received the Inferno Prison Secret Realm Entry Token from you."

"..."

Cecilia’s footsteps paused, and she turned to look at him with an expression somewhere between amusement and exasperation.

"Victor, can’t you occasionally say something that makes people happy?"

"Am I not telling the truth?"

"So, in your eyes, I’m worth less than a Secret Realm token?"

"Not exactly." Victor considered the question seriously for a moment. "At least you’re prettier than the token."

Cecilia glared at him. "You’d better just shut up."

Victor burst into laughter.

Seeing his completely unconcerned expression, Cecilia couldn’t be bothered to argue further, although she couldn’t help feeling somewhat emotional.

If this had happened in the past, this fellow would probably have seized the opportunity to shower her with all kinds of flattering words.

But now, not only did he show no intention of trying to please her, he seemed to enjoy teasing her more and more.

And strangely enough, she seemed to have grown accustomed to this way of interacting with him.

The two continued forward and soon reached the end of the corridor.

Standing before them was a silver-white stone door nearly five meters tall, its surface engraved with intricate moon patterns. Several healers dressed in white robes were waiting outside, and when an elderly man with graying hair spotted Victor, he immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Young Master, the Sacred Spring is ready."

"Thank you for your hard work, Master Morris."

Victor nodded.

Morris was a high-level healer who had served the Alves family for many years and was also one of the individuals responsible for managing the Moonlight Sacred Spring.

According to the family’s original schedule, there was still some time before the Sacred Spring’s next regular opening. However, after receiving Victor’s request, the family had adjusted the mana-accumulation formation ahead of schedule, specifically opening the spring for this treatment.

"Your Highness."

Morris turned toward Cecilia and bowed respectfully.

"Based on the information the Young Master sent us in advance, we’ve already adjusted the Sacred Spring’s mana concentration. However, before officially beginning, we still need to confirm your current physical condition."

Cecilia nodded.

"Of course."

She was no stranger to this procedure and cooperatively approached the examination formation beside them.

A moment later, silver-white light rose from the base of the formation.

Morris suspended an examination crystal in front of Cecilia’s chest and carefully observed the constantly changing mana patterns within it. His originally calm expression gradually grew solemn.

"It is indeed an Abyssal-type corrosive power, and it has already formed an extremely complicated connection with the mana circulation around the heart."

He withdrew the crystal and turned toward Victor.

"Young Master, Her Highness’s current condition is considerably more stable than the situation initially recorded in the documents, but the remaining power is still extremely stubborn. If we attempt purification recklessly, we could easily damage her normal mana channels."

"I know."

Victor replied.

"That’s precisely why we need the Sacred Spring."

Morris nodded and gestured toward the stone door.

"The Sacred Spring’s formation has already been adjusted. Her Highness may now enter the pool."

At this point, he paused.

"As for the subsequent auxiliary treatment the Young Master mentioned..."

"I’ll handle it."

Victor interrupted him.

"You and the others will remain outside to maintain the formation. Unless I personally notify you, no one is to enter."

Morris had clearly already received instructions from the family and raised no objections.

"Understood."

As the healers moved toward their respective control stations, the silver-white stone door slowly opened with a deep mechanical rumble.

A wave of cool, pure mana immediately rushed toward them.

Victor raised his eyes.

Beyond the door stood an enormous circular stone chamber.

At its center, a spring pool more than ten meters in diameter lay quietly embedded in the ground. The crystal-clear water shimmered with a faint silver radiance, while layer upon layer of magical patterns were engraved across the bottom, making it seem as though countless tiny streams of moonlight were slowly flowing beneath the surface.

Even more astonishingly, there were no lighting devices anywhere on the chamber’s ceiling.

Instead, an enormous translucent crystal floated at the center of the dome, continuously scattering the moon-attribute mana stored within it toward the pool below.

Dense yet gentle energy filled the air.

Although Victor did not cultivate moon-attribute mana, he could still feel the circulation of mana within his body becoming somewhat smoother.

"As expected of a precious resource belonging to a ducal family."

He couldn’t help murmuring in admiration.

Hearing this, Cecilia turned toward him.

"You’re admiring something that belongs to your own family?"

"Precisely because it belongs to my family, I should appreciate it properly."

Victor smiled.

"What if someone squanders the entire family fortune someday?"

Cecilia stared at him, momentarily unsure how to respond.

After all, when it came to extravagance and wasting money, she genuinely wasn’t certain anyone among the Alves family’s younger generation could compare to the old Victor.

However, she ultimately restrained herself and chose not to say it aloud.

The two descended the steps toward the spring pool.