Divine Path System

"Huh?" Sia let out a groan the moment she touched the chair.

Varian could feel a slight repulsion of the hostile chi in her body. But it was only a slight reaction, like someone trying to push a car uphill.

"Hm…" Sia's expression turned peaceful and her breathing was now gentle.

'…If the suppression effect was stronger,' Varian sighed in disappointment and turned to the white orb.

[What would you like to—]

"How do I suppress the hostile chi in her body?" Varian asked in a hurry.

The white orb flashed and answered after a while.

[The record you have to read is…is…is the chi rep—] The voice trailed off again.

"Hey!" Varian's expectant expression crumbled in an instant and fury filled his face. "At least tell me where the goddamn book is! I will read the hard copy."

[…The records are all within me.] The voice replied in a shaky tone. [I…I can't find any records…why? How? When?]

"Your sister!" Varian flipped a middle finger in irritation and dashed to the ground floor. He let Sia follow him closely.

Once back on the ground floor, Varian checked the records and tried to find a book. To read a book. Any book.

[Can't…why can't I find any book?] The voice was more confused than him.

Varian slammed the chair and climbed to the first floor.

This time, he managed to get a few letters from a book's title.

[…T-h-e g r e a t w a r…?]

He went to the second floor. The situation improved. He got a few words.

[The resources of….]

But that's it. Nothing helpful.

So, he went to the third floor. Here, he got a complete sentence.

[The Mind Path represents Soul.]

"Soul…So what?" Varian clenched his fists.

"Ha…Huf…" Sia's painful breathing sounded in his ears.

Varian turned around and saw her furrowing her brows. Blood started to leak out of her lips.

"Sia!" Varian retrieved even more healing potions from the ghost ship and poured them all on her.

But…

"Shit!" Varian lowered his head as he couldn't see Sia's worsening situation.

Her heartbeat started to grow weak. The hostile aura in her body…it began to grow reckless.

Even though she fainted, her aura kept fighting the hostile chi. But now, she's at her limit.

Varian didn't know long she could last until the hostile chi destroys her body. But he did know it wouldn't exceed a few minutes.

"Arghh! Where is the solution?" Varian kicked the chair in frustration, but the purple thing didn't even shake.

Shaking his head, Varian shot towards the fourth floor.

[Access any historical documents of the devas!] The voice greeted him.

Varian wasn't interested in the records anymore.

The fourth floor had only twenty-five chairs, each nobler and elusive than the ones on the third.

Varian sat Sia on one of the chairs and carefully observed the reaction.

"Eh…ah?" The hostile chi in her body slightly slowed down.

As expected, the chairs grew more and more powerful with each floor.

While the one on the first floor hardly had any effect on the hostile chi, the chair on this floor actually slowed it down!

But…

'It's only delaying the problem, not solving it.'

Varian gritted his teeth and climbed the stairs once again, carrying Sia.

Unlike the previous floors, there was a white barrier on the fifth floor, right at the end of the staircase.

And incidentally, the upper portion of the staircase was filled with skeletons.

"This…" Varian recalled the stuff he read about the Mystic Castle.

There were at least forty recorded people who entered it to date.

Looking at the hundred-odd skeletons, it seemed that way more people entered this place.

But no one returned.

Not one.

Varian sucked in a breath of cold air as a chill ran down his spine.

He entered a place where no one ever escaped from. What would happen to him?

As tension was beginning to build up in his heart, he heard the pained breathing of the girl behind him.

"Ha…argh!"

Varian squared his shoulders.

He could think of everything later. Now, saving her took precedence over everything else.

Varian quickly moved past the skeletons. Since his speed was too high, the skeletons were blown away and rolled down the stairs.

"…"

Finally, he reached the white barrier.

The place, which presumably, every one of those skeletons tried to enter but couldn't.

Varian tried to enter the white barrier, but it repulsed him directly.

"Argh!"

Rubbing his stinging forehead, he tried again.

"Fuck!"

Varian ignored his bleeding forearm.

"Damn!"

His right leg.

"You!"

His left arm.

"Let!"

His right arm.

"Me!"

His left leg.

"In!"

His torso was bounced back and Varian collapsed on his back.

Staring at the ceiling blankly, he muttered. "H-how do I enter?"

[This is a secretive area. Only eligible people can enter.] The voice said.

"Secretive…?" Varian squinted his eyes and recalled a conversation in the golden room.

[B-But you can easily find them in the Imperial Library. Your current qualifications are more than sufficient to be received with the utmost respect.]

Right. That's what the golden room's spirit told him. If that's the case, then…

"I'm the Scion. I have the qualifications to enter." Varian stood up and said to the white barrier.

[S-Scion…? Hm…check…check….proven true.] The voice shook lightly and the white barrier opened up.

Varina grabbed Sia and rushed in.

[S-She…is…not allowed!] The voice suddenly said, but it sounded a bit unsure.

"She is my companion. She is naturally eligible." Varian caught its uncertainty and insisted.

[B-But…]

"As the Scion, I have this much authority. You have forgotten the regulations since you can't even remember yourself anymore." He said in an assertive voice.

[I-Is that so…] the voice muttered in confusion.

Varian felt a bit embarrassed inside. After all, he was going to lie so blatantly. But it wasn't enough for him to stop. This wasn't the first time, it surely won't be the last time.

"Scion never lies." Varian gave a righteous smile.