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Early the next morning, Ryan was taken by Mulder to Edinburgh to buy the items on the list. Edinburgh was a large town with merchants traveling from all over, so everything that Stuart required could be purchased there.
Under Mulder's guidance, Ryan quickly found a suitable store to buy cinnabar, yellow paper, three animals, roosters, and other ritual items. Since money was not an issue, Ryan bought more than necessary and ensured he picked only the highest quality goods. After hiring a local worker to transport the supplies on a wheelbarrow, Ryan and Mulder returned to the Oval. Upon arrival, Overton checked the items and commented, "There was no need to buy such high-quality goods. It's a waste of money."
While unloading the supplies, Ryan responded, "Cummins, this book belonged to a powerful figure on our side, someone so feared that no one dares to utter his name. Since we are dealing with his remnants, I figured it would be wise to use the best materials. Besides, money isn't an issue for me, so why not spend it for peace of mind?"
Standing beside them, Mulder and McGrath exchanged speechless glances, as if they couldn't comprehend the logic of the wealthy.
By three-quarters past noon, everything was prepared. Overton donned a feathered crown and an apricot-yellow robe. Holding a whisk in one hand and a bell in the other, he walked to the center of the courtyard, which was already covered with talisman paper and red ropes. At the heart of the formation lay the diary.
Overton approached the square table positioned before the formation. The table was filled with offerings, incense, and candles, and in its center stood the tablet of the Mirror for Aid patriarch. Lighting three incense sticks using the red candle on the table, Overton bowed respectfully three times before placing them in the incense burner in front of the tablet.
Turning to Ryan, he instructed, "Hold onto the red rope connected to the formation. Once activated, the circle will transmit all contained memories to you through the rope. This precaution ensures that any counterattack from this evil object is mitigated. However, you will not receive anything related to cultivation."
Ryan nodded. "Thank you, Cummins. My only concern is uncovering the conspiracies this figure had against my teacher. As for his practices, they are filled with darkness—I want no part of them."
Once ready, Overton stepped into position, shaking the bell as he chanted. As he spoke, Ryan noticed the talismans vibrating in sync with his words.
Suddenly, a black light shot out from the diary toward Overton, only to be blocked by the formation's red light. A fierce standoff ensued for several seconds before Overton shouted, "Summon the ancestor to descend!"
Instantly, the black light was forced back into the diary, while a white mist-like energy traveled along the red rope toward Ryan. He closed his eyes, absorbing the incoming memories. What he failed to see was the look of astonishment on Overton's face as he observed him.
The transferred memories primarily consisted of events from the year the dark figure, Voldemort, released the Basilisk, along with a minor portion of fragmented, neutral soul remnants. However, Voldemort had clearly concealed key details when creating the Horcrux, leaving Ryan with only the knowledge that Hagrid had been expelled due to his association with spiders.
Yet, one significant discovery emerged—Ryan noticed Voldemort wearing a ring set with a black gemstone, which he identified as another Horcrux: the Resurrection Stone.
A completely unexpected gain was that Ryan had now acquired the ability to speak Parseltongue. It seemed that when Overton summoned the ancestor's spirit, it clashed with Voldemort's Horcrux, allowing Ryan to glimpse deeper layers of magic.
However, unlike Harry or Voldemort, Ryan's Parseltongue was an acquired skill and would require practice to master fully.
As the memory transmission ended, Ryan opened his eyes to see Overton seated nearby, looking visibly exhausted. McGrath and Mulder were beside him, offering tea and water.
Seeing Ryan regain consciousness, Overton sighed and said, "My young friend, this entity was indeed a true demon. There were hidden traps within the diary that nearly ensnared me. Fortunately, I invoked the ancestors in time, preventing any harm. Still, I was careless."
Ryan felt guilty seeing Overton so drained.
Reaching into his instrument, he retrieved a batch of freshly harvested sunlight crystals and handed them to Overton. "I am sorry to have troubled you, Cummins. These are some of my medicinal supplies, imbued with the power of life and sunlight. They might be useful to you."
Overton accepted the container and studied it carefully. His eyes widened in surprise before he said, "This is invaluable! I will enter a brief retreat to recover. Do not worry about me." With that, he turned and disappeared into the main room, closing the door behind him.
By the time dinner approached, Overton emerged from his retreat, looking rejuvenated. Spotting Ryan, he expressed his gratitude. "Treasures like these are rare nowadays. Thank you for gifting me something so precious."
Ryan smiled and replied, "They are not considered rare where I come from. At least, not particularly."
Curious, Overton asked, "Then why are they so precious here?"
"Because the energy of yang and righteousness within them neutralizes yin and evil forces," Overton explained. "I used them to cultivate this afternoon and broke through a minor bottleneck. Such an item is invaluable in this age of declining spiritual power."
Pausing, Overton added, "No wonder foreigners are so powerful. With such resources, they naturally have an advantage over evil spirits."
Ryan couldn't help but chuckle at Overton's assumptions, though he chose to remain silent on the matter.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Overton turned to Ryan with a serious expression. "You mentioned that you traveled to Britain in search of a path, correct?"
"Yes," Ryan confirmed. "Unfortunately, despite my travels, most sects guard their teachings closely, and I have gained little."
"Then, would you be willing to become my disciple?" Overton suddenly asked.
Ryan was caught off guard. Although this was one of his goals, he was still curious about Overton's reasoning. "Cummins, I was told before coming here that sects in Britain carefully examine potential disciples. Given my existing inheritance, I assumed it would be even harder for someone like me to join a sect. Why accept me so easily?"
Looking slightly embarrassed, Overton explained, "Firstly, we live in an age where spiritual power is waning, and demons are running rampant. Holding onto outdated traditions of exclusivity will only weaken our efforts. Secondly, when I summoned the ancestor's spirit, I saw the golden light of merit surrounding you—more than even my sect leader possesses. This suggests that you have saved thousands of lives. It confirms your righteousness, and in this world, merit is paramount. Finally, I hope that by teaching you, I too may benefit from the glow of your virtue."
Understanding Overton's reasoning, Ryan considered his next step. "My teacher does not restrict his disciples from learning from others, as long as they do not practice dark arts. If you are willing, I would be honored to become your student."
Overton nodded in approval. With that, Ryan officially became his disciple, setting him on a new path of learning and cultivation.
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