He stood up and took out three books and placed the cup and rotated it. A door revealed itself and there were upward stairs.
[Chain Mission 5 completed]
[INT+ 1]
"Follow me", he said and Raj followed behind.
Raj's mind raced, the weight of each revelation hitting him like a tidal wave, his voice was strained with disbelief that he just blurted, "What the hell is going on". His whole life he has been living a dull life and by chance the lightning struck him, he got the system that was actually not part of the chip, know about cultivation, know that his family poisoned him and now all his questions will be answered.
After 2 minutes of walking, he saw a full spacious room filled with ancient to new items and some strange stones. The walls were lined with shelves and display cases, showcasing objects that seemed to hum with an energy Raj could almost feel. Raj was shocked with disbelieve.
Acharya was happy to see Raj's face with shocked expression because when he was a kid, he had the same expression when seeing it first time. "Welcome to the Archive," he said, his voice echoing slightly in the vast room. "This is where we keep the knowledge and artifacts of our order. It's a place few have seen."
"This is where our history and secrets are stored," Acharya explained, walking further into the room. "Here, you'll find the answers to many of your questions. But first, you need to understand that the poison was a test every family member had gone through".
Raj followed Acharya, his eyes darting from one object to the next. He noticed a large, ornate chest in one corner, its surface intricately carved with symbols he didn't recognize. Beside the box it was a glowing orb suspended in mid-air, casting a soft, ethereal light, he can feel the energy that can destroy the whole continent.
Acharya paused, turning to face him. "You have passed the test the test, Raj. So today I am giving you a chance to join and take only one of the ancient artifacts or anything and knowledge of our ancestors", saying this he handed Raj an old looking book.
Raj stared at the book, its leather cover worn and weathered with age. He could feel the weight of its history in his hands, and his curiosity intensified. The room around him seemed to pulse with an almost palpable energy, and he felt a sense of awe and trepidation.
Acharya continued, "This book contains the fragments of our family knowledge, a key to understanding the deeper mysteries of our family. It is up to you to choose artifact, wisely. The artifact you select will help you in your future path or can help in other way that even you don't know. Some of these objects have power beyond our imagination because we don't know how far can it be used for and we even haven't reached the limit but they come with responsibilities and challenges."
Raj's eyes flicked over the various artifacts. The glowing orb intrigued him; its light seemed almost alive, and he could sense its immense potential. The ornate chest, however, drew him in with its intricate carvings and the promise of hidden secrets. The strange stones scattered around the room hinted at unknown powers and ancient wisdom.
He took a deep breath and approached the glowing orb. The light it cast seemed to reach out to him, and he felt a pull, as if it were calling to something deep within him. But as he extended a hand toward it, he hesitated and turned his attention to the ornate chest.
Acharya watched him closely, his expression unreadable. "Think carefully, Raj. The choice you make will set the course of your future."
Raj stared at the orb, mesmerized by the way it pulsed like a living thing. He could feel the power radiating from it, tempting him with promises of unimaginable strength. But his gaze shifted to the chest. It was quieter, less imposing, but there was something about it—a mystery, a weight of history that felt... personal. The orb promised power, but the chest whispered answers, answers he had been seeking for years. He closed his eyes, took a breath, and made his choice.
Acharya nodded hesitatingly. "Well, it is your choice. The chest it is. So let me tell you about it first", He said pointing at the chest.
After few minutes in Raj's room,
, Raj ran his fingers over the chest's intricate carvings, feeling the cool metal under his skin. His thoughts wandered to his grandfather's words, "Let me explain something about this box. This box is actually from our first ancestor and since no one is able to open it. My great-great grandfather's grandfather was the one to choose this box and became a great figure in past but even then, he couldn't able to open this box".
In last he told me to read the old book and choose the path that I want to take.
So, in the last Raj scanned the box and couldn't find anything instead some traces of fire spiritual energy, in the last he put it in his inventory and started his tortures meditation.
But before he start's meditating Lily spoke to him, "Master, please use the box when you meditate"
"How?"
"Just put that on your lap and absorb spiritual energy of the box", Lily replied.
He did and put the box on his lap and started absorbing (meditating). This time it was way more painful than before because this time he was only absorbing fire spiritual energy.
The moment Raj began absorbing the fire energy, it felt like his entire body had been set ablaze. His skin blistered and cracked, blood seeping from open wounds, and his bones felt like molten metal, twisting and warping under unbearable heat. His muscles screamed in agony, each fiber torn apart and rebuilt in the furnace of spiritual energy. He clenched his teeth, every second a battle against the urge to let go, to surrender. But he couldn't. He wouldn't. Lily's words echoed in his mind, urging him on, even as the flames inside him threatened to consume everything.