—Sealed for centuries, unleashed at last.
Ray, who had just broken through in his soul cultivation due to the relic, looked to the left and right, searching to see if there was more ore like this. That relic had helped him break through, and on the screen, it displayed 1/9. If there were more, he might gain even greater insights that could help him in the future. Ray could only hope that the relic was a fortuitous encounter—and not a curse.
He then stood up and began walking out of the vault. As he stepped outside, he saw two ladies arguing about something. Diana was insisting on going inside the vault to check what was taking Ray so long, while Alicia was trying to calm her down, explaining that the spirit of the vault wouldn't allow anyone else to enter and that there was no need to worry—Ray would come out soon.
Seeing Ray finally emerge, both women turned to look at him. Diana came running toward him, and Alicia, sighing in relief, also moved closer.
Diana immediately asked, "What happened? What took you so long? And why didn't you pick up my call?"
Ray only smiled and said something cryptic—something in code that only Diana could understand. He subtly told her that he had broken through. Diana nodded in understanding, saying nothing further. He had taught her the Earth language to keep secrets between them. Though he trusted Alicia, he didn't trust her enough to share everything.
Ray then turned to Alicia and expressed his intention to proceed to the Vault of the Wood Stage. Alicia nodded and motioned for him to follow her.
As Ray entered the second vault, the Wood Stage Vault, he felt the same ancient aura envelop him. Inside, he discovered even more refined manuals and began reading them. However, it seemed that these techniques required him to awaken his cultivation further before he could properly learn them. Though tempted to take them now, he decided to only select what would be useful for him in his current state.
He looked around carefully and found talismans and formation disks—some of which he could already use due to his soul cultivation. Still, he searched further, hoping to stumble upon another relic like the previous ore that helped him break through. That kind of luck came once in a blue moon.
Eventually, he chose two protection talismans and one formation disk for soul cultivation, along with another for general protection. He wore both talismans immediately; they activated on their own. If someone tried to assassinate him, the talismans would automatically respond. However, they were only effective against cultivators of the Wood Stage. If the attacker was of higher strength, say at the Iron Level, they might not save him completely—though they could still give him a fighting chance to survive. These talismans were single-use, meaning they could potentially save his life twice if triggered correctly.
After securing those items, Ray walked out, finding the two ladies still waiting for him. He told them he was done with the Wood Stage Vault and ready to move on to the Iron Vault.
Inside the Iron Vault, Ray again felt that same ancient aura—but this time, it was stronger. The energy radiated from weapons, scrolls, formations, pills, and other powerful items. Ray took his time browsing everything—manuals, weapons, talismans, pills. The sheer number of attractive options overwhelmed him. But he could only choose one.
Then, his eyes fell on a sword embedded in the ground. It immediately reminded him of the legend of King Arthur, who pulled a sword from stone. He chuckled to himself—it felt like a childhood dream. Wanting to feel that same cool, legendary moment, he decided to try his luck.
What he didn't know was that this sword had been here since ancient times. No one had ever managed to lift it. Every child born into the Richard family had tried, and none had succeeded. Over time, it became a tradition within the Richard Kingdom—to attempt lifting the sword during their visit to the Iron Vault.
Ray, not bound by this tradition, didn't hesitate. He grabbed the sword and began to pull.
To his surprise—and to the shock of the very vault itself—the ancient sword began to rise. It was as if the sword had finally awakened after tens of thousands of years. It had found someone worthy.
As Ray held the sword, he felt like a hero chosen by fate. For a moment, he basked in that feeling.
Curious about the blade's sharpness, he pricked his finger—and instantly, it sliced his skin with terrifying ease. As soon as his blood touched the blade, the sword began to shiver with excitement. Somehow, Ray could feel the sword's happiness. It delighted in drinking his blood, as though recognizing its true master.
But it didn't stop.
The sword began to rapidly absorb Ray's blood, far more than expected. Ray panicked. He tried to pull his hand away, but he couldn't. It was as though the sword had bound itself to him.
In desperation, Ray cried out, "If you suck any more blood, I will die!"
Immediately, the sword halted.
Then, a voice echoed in Ray's mind.
"Master, I feel that you will become someone special someday. Hurry and grow strong—wield me at my peak. You are not ready yet, but I will wait. I was sealed here by my previous master, who proved unworthy. I've waited so long. My power is limited now, but I will awaken alongside your growth."
The sword continued:
"There are many seals within me. You must break them, one by one, with your strength. The stronger you become, the more of my power will be unlocked. I will now go into hibernation within you, Master. Call upon me whenever you need."
With that, the sword flew into the air, spinning and dancing around Ray. Then, like the ore before, it merged into his body.
Ray was overwhelmed with excitement. He had found two incredible treasures during this vault expedition. He vowed to keep this a secret—for now, he would only tell his mother later.
What Ray didn't realize was that a mysterious being had been watching all along—the spirit of the vault. It never revealed itself to anyone except the king. The spirit wanted to report everything to the king, but it held back. It was waiting… waiting for something to happen. Until then, it would remain silent.
Ray stepped out of the Iron Vault, his face glowing with excitement. The two women noticed and smiled. Although he looked a bit pale—still recovering from nearly being drained of blood—he wore a bright, victorious smile that confirmed he had obtained something incredible.
Trying not to look weak, Ray said confidently, "Let's go to the library."