Chapter 424 - 326: 4th Floor Secret Vault (2)

A special golden Token was pressed against the surface of the light curtain. Ripples spread out, tracing the paths of the runes.

Three seconds later, the light curtain silently split open, forming a gap just large enough for one person to pass through.

The five Elders entered one by one.

The 4th Floor was even smaller, only about the size of half a basketball court. Two rows of bookshelves lined the walls.

A stone pedestal stood in the center, and on it rested several items.

A fist-sized crystal of dark silver, seemingly swallowing all light and shadow around it... the Level Four Eternal Shadow Remains.

A roll of parchment bound with Dark Gold silk thread... the clan’s core Inheritance tome.

Beside it was a thick stack of notes—the collected insights of countless generations of former Clan Leaders and Morning Star Wizards.

And at the very edge... an unremarkable old parchment scroll with frayed edges.

The parchment scroll lay carelessly in a corner of the stone pedestal, covered in dust, looking as if it had been forgotten for many years.

Elder Darcy’s gaze immediately fell upon the old parchment scroll.

Just now, when his Spiritual Power had swept over the parchment scroll, he had sensed an extremely faint... distortion.

The distortion was subtle, like an undercurrent beneath the water’s surface. Without careful Perception, it was completely undetectable.

But he was a Level Three Peak Great Wizard, and his sensitivity to the Rules ran bone-deep.

"This is it."

Elder Darcy’s voice was soft, but certain.

Elder Soron stepped forward, his withered fingers hovering over the parchment scroll as his Spiritual Power scanned it inch by inch.

Three seconds later, he withdrew his hand, his expression turning ugly.

"An Abyssal Aura... It’s been concealed by some kind of Secret Technique, but it’s definitely there."

His voice was thick with suppressed fury. To think such a dangerous object had been placed in the clan’s core Secret Vault.

Judging by the age and condition of the parchment, it had been here for many years.

"The material of this parchment scroll... it doesn’t seem to be from the Wizard World."

Upon hearing this, the pupils of the other three Elders constricted.

They knew all too well what it meant for something not to be from the Wizard World.

"Who knows which former Clan Leader was responsible for this. Let’s take it away and dispose of it."

Elder Darcy waved his long sleeve, and a pale silver Crystal Box flew out from within, hovering above the parchment scroll.

The box opened, revealing an interior inscribed with sealing runes.

An unseen Power lifted the parchment scroll, and it slowly descended into the box.

The lid closed, and all of its aura was instantly sealed away.

The nine Elders returned to the council hall and took their seats again.

The pale silver Crystal Box was placed in the center of the long table.

"How should we handle this?" one Elder asked, his voice hoarse.

"Just destroy it?" another Elder suggested.

"No."

Elder Soron shook his head, his withered fingers tapping gently on the armrest.

"For this parchment scroll to have been placed in the Secret Vault, it must record important information. Perhaps even... the Abyss’s methods of infiltration."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Titus’s corruption, Edmund’s fall, and this parchment scroll... There must be a connection between these three."

Elder Darcy nodded. "Soron has considered this thoroughly."

He looked at the Crystal Box, his eyes profound.

"Let’s seal it for now. When Titus awakens, he can examine it himself. After all... he is still the Clan Leader."

At his words, all the Elders fell silent.

Titus awakening... How long would that take? A year? Two years? Or even longer?

But it was the safest option at present.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

...

The nine Elders passed the motion unanimously.

Elder Darcy stood up, walked to the long table, and pressed his fingers against the surface of the Crystal Box. A blinding silver light shone from his fingertips.

The silver light spread like a living creature, carving complex sealing runes onto the box’s surface.

Each Rune contained the Power of Imprisonment, derived from the Time Rule.

A few minutes later, the seal was complete. The surface of the Crystal Box was now covered in a layer of fine silver patterns.

"Take it to the solitary confinement chamber in the deepest part of the family dungeon."

Elder Darcy withdrew his hand, his voice icy.

"I will leave an imprint. Until Titus awakens, no one is to approach."

Two Guards in Dark Silver Armor stepped forward and carefully lifted the Crystal Box.

Their heavy footsteps faded as they disappeared through a side door of the council hall.

「No. 7 Wisteria Lane, Third Basement Level.」

Ian sat cross-legged in the center of the stone chamber, his eyes slightly closed.

After receiving Aidele’s message, his Spiritual Power had spread out silently.

It covered the entirety of Wisteria Lane, the entirety of the East District of East City.

He was sensing the hidden Abyssal Aura emanating from the 4th Floor of the Secret Vault.

An hour ago, the aura was still there. Though faint, it was clearly discernible.

But now...

Ian opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, three Star Orbits slowly rotated.

"That Abyssal Aura has completely vanished."

He muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the silent stone chamber.

"That’s fine. The crisis is averted for now, so I can move on to the next matter."

Gaga emerged from the Shadows, landed on his shoulder, and stared at Ian’s face.

"Ian, what were you just doing?"

"Nothing much, just confirming a few things."

Ian rubbed its small head, giving it a thorough inspection.

"Tier Two Middle Stage! And very stable, gaga. To reach the Late Stage... I’m still short a lot of resources."

"...I just advanced, and now I have to get stronger again, gaga."

Gaga puffed out its chest, its feathers fluffing up slightly.

"If I had lots and lots of Shadow Crystals, and some high-quality Blood Essence..."

"Plus some special Shadow Magic Potions, it would probably take... a year?"

The little one’s childish voice was filled with uncertainty.

’A year isn’t long, but it isn’t short either,’ Ian calculated in his mind.

"Alright, I’ll prepare the resources for your advancement first. I probably won’t be going out for a while."

He turned and walked to the workbench in the corner of the stone chamber.

He spread out a sheet of Parchment and picked up a Feather Pen to start writing.

"At least twenty Tier Two Shadow Crystals, five vials of Blood Essence from Tier Two Shadow Demons."

"Main ingredients for the Shadow Magic Potion: Ghost Grass, Tomb Moss, Shadow Spring Water..."

"Supplementary materials..."

Lines of text appeared on the Parchment, quickly filling an entire page.

Ian put down the pen, picked up the Parchment, and blew the ink dry.

"This... should be enough for you to advance to Tier Two Late Stage."

He looked at Gaga. "I will gather all of it before I open the next Otherworld projection."

Gaga’s small eyes instantly lit up, like two burning stars.

"R-Really, gaga?"

"You’re my best partner. Why would I lie to you?"

Ian watched Gaga’s excited expression, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.

’A Tier Two Late Stage Shadow Messenger... should be able to carry me into the Shadow World for a short time, right?’

He was really looking forward to that moment.

Gaga was suddenly filled with warmth and nodded vigorously.

"Ian, I can definitely take you inside."

The little fellow’s tone was full of confidence as it patted its chest with its small wings.

"The Shadow World... that’s the home turf of us Shadow Creatures! Inside, my power will increase by at least fifty percent!"

"And I’ll be able to travel farther, dodge enemy attacks..."

It chattered on and on, as if someone had opened a chatterbox.

Ian listened quietly, the silver glint in his eyes flickering slightly.

The Shadow World...

It was a dimension completely different from the Wizard World, with disparate Rules and unique properties of Energy.

Every World Cluster would give birth to a relatively independent Shadow World.

No one knew just how many World Clusters existed in the entire Void Universe.

Its vastness and ubiquity were in no way inferior to the Nightmare World and the Abyss World.

It was only that each Shadow World was relatively independent, making it far less renowned than the latter two.

’If I can enter the Shadow World, even briefly, it will be an entirely new source of resources for Gaga and me.’

’I have to gather these resources as soon as possible. I’ll go to Stormwind City tomorrow.’

Ian put away the Parchment, placing it in his Dimension Ring.

’I’ll visit Lucian and see if I can trade for anything good.’

Stormwind City, one of the Seventeen Cities of the Eastern Border, was famous for its bustling trade.

Its City Lord, Lucian, was a Level Three Thunder Wizard, known for his forthright personality and wide circle of friends.

"Gaga, we’ll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

Ian turned and walked towards the stairs.

Gaga spread its wings slightly and landed on his shoulder, its small eyes filled with anticipation.

"To Stormwind City! To find yummy food! To find treasures!"

Ian chuckled and rubbed its head. "We’re mainly going to find resources."

"Okay, but we can get something to eat while we’re there, gaga."