Chapter 238: Founder’s Inheritance
Chapter 238: Founder’s Inheritance
[Floor 100]
Aldren’s hands trembled slightly within his wide sleeves.
The half-step domain master, known for his impassive demeanor, now gazed up at the glaring 100th Floor inscription, his lips parting slightly, yet no sound escaping.
A full thousand years had passed, and the prophecy, passed down through generations among the academy’s elite yet considered almost impossible, had truly become a reality before his very eyes.
"A thousand years of waiting," Carmilla whispered, her melodious voice carrying a solemn reverence. "The founder’s prophecy has finally been fulfilled."
Seris simply gazed silently at the tower bathed in golden light.
Two clear tears of joy and relief silently slid down her pale purple eyes, but a smile of unparalleled pride and tenderness bloomed at the corners of her lips.
"Husband did it..." Seris murmured softly, without a trace of surprise in her tone.
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Inside the Heavenly Ascendent Tower.
Rhain stepped off the glowing staircase and finally set foot upon the one hundredth floor.
Unlike the previous levels, there was no vast arena.
It was simply a modest, circular chamber forged from a pure white jade.
The moment both of his boots touched the jade floor—
[Ding!]
The mechanical voice of the System echoed clearly within his mind.
[Location Sign-In Node detected: Stormveil Academy — Heavenly Ascendent Tower (100th Floor).]
[Would you like to sign in?]
Rhain’s dark grey eyes brightened.
He had climbed a hundred floors of a millennium-old death trap for this exact moment.
’Sign in,’ Rhain confirmed internally.
[Location Sign-In Successful!]
[Congratulations! You have received the Origin Item: Seed of Darkness.]
[Item automatically sent to System Inventory.]
Seed of Darkness?
Rhain’s eyebrows rose a fraction.
The name alone carried an incredibly powerful weight, but before he could even project his consciousness into the System Inventory to read its description, the space in the center of the jade chamber suddenly rippled.
Before him, brilliant spiritual light rapidly coalesced, forming the figure of the middle-aged scholar in flowing white robes.
The Founder.
However, unlike the combat manifestation on the ninety-sixth floor, this figure radiated no oppressive aura.
He simply looked at Rhain with a gaze full of profound relief and admiration.
"A thousand years..." the Founder spoke, his voice carrying the vicissitudes of centuries. "I have waited in this lonely tower for a thousand years."
He clasped his hands behind his back, a deeply gratified smile appearing on his face.
"You have shattered every expectation I held. To crush all physical obstacles with such overwhelming dominance is a feat worthy of praise," the Founder said, his tone full of satisfaction. "But strength alone does not make a supreme ruler. It was your mind that truly astounded me."
"To remain entirely unmoved by the temptation of eternal peace... and to stand with an unshakeable will even when the person you love the most turns her blade against you. Your mental fortitude is truly unprecedented."
Hearing the Founder’s praise, Rhain did not show any signs of pride.
Instead, a slightly unpleasant expression surfaced on his handsome face.
His dark grey eyes darkened with a trace of displeasure.
He was fully aware that the ninety-ninth floor was merely an illusion designed to break his mind.
But even so, seeing Seris staring at him with eyes full of hatred had felt like a needle twisting in his heart.
It was a sight he absolutely never wanted to witness again, real or fake.
Noticing the subtle darkening of Rhain’s expression, the Founder let out a chuckle.
"It seems that trial left a bitter taste in your mouth," the Founder said. "But it is precisely because your love is so genuine that your ability to see through the illusion and shatter it is so impressive. You have surpassed everything I had ever dared to dream."
The Founder’s expression gradually turned solemn.
"The reason I left this tower behind before my departure was twofold," the Founder explained, "First, to find a true successor to my inheritance. And second, to find someone with the strength, the vision, and the will to take my Stormveil Academy to even greater heights."
The Founder slowly raised his right hand.
A spatial ring, entirely translucent and shimmering with a mystical, ancient light, materialized in his palm.
It was an object that had not seen the light of day in a millennium.
"This Spirit Ring..." the Founder stated, his eyes showing a sentimental light. "It was my personal spatial ring from a thousand years ago, before I traversed beyond the confines of this region."
He gently pushed the ring forward, allowing it to float toward Rhain.
"Inside, you will find my personal collection. There are multiple Mystic-Grade weapons and artifacts, as well as several martial arts that I deliberately withheld from the Grand Library. But the most precious treasures within are not objects."
The Founder looked deeply into Rhain’s dark grey eyes.
"Within that ring lies my cultivation experience from the very first day I stepped onto the martial path, all the way until I broke through to the Domain Master Realm. Furthermore... it contains my complete understanding of the Law of Darkness, refined to 80% comprehension."
Rhain’s pupils contracted to pinpoints.
Eighty percent!
A Half-Step Domain Master struggled their entire life to breach the ten percent threshold.
For the Founder to leave behind a eighty percent comprehension of a profound law like Darkness... it was far more valuable than even multiple Mystic grade artifacts.
"I collected and comprehended these things painstakingly throughout my life," the Founder sighed softly. "I was afraid that if they were to fall into the hands of an unworthy successor, my lifelong efforts would be utterly wasted, or worse, used to bring ruin. That is why I sealed them at the pinnacle of this tower."
Rhain’s consciousness rapidly swept through the Spirit Ring.
Just as the Founder had said, mountains of priceless treasures lay dormant inside.
His eyes quickly bypassed the Mystic-Grade weapons, locking onto an ancient, glowing scroll.
"In addition," the Founder added, "there is an Emperor-Grade martial art recorded in that ring. It is a finger technique I stumbled upon during my youth. With your comprehension, it will serve you well."
An Emperor-Grade martial art!
But as Rhain continued to scan the contents of the ring, his attention was abruptly drawn to a small, completely inconspicuous object resting in the corner of the spatial dimension.
With a thought, Rhain withdrew the object.
It was a small, broken sword fragment.
The blade was silver, etched with a few incredibly intricate, incomprehensible golden patterns.
It radiated absolutely no essence, looking completely ordinary, yet giving off an inexplicable, ancient aura that made Rhain’s heart skip a beat.
"What is this fragment?" Rhain asked, looking up at the Founder.
The Founder stared at the broken silver blade, and a complex look flashed across his spiritual eyes.
"To be completely honest, I am not sure," the Founder admitted, shaking his head slowly. "I found it by accident while venturing through a deadly ruin in my youth. For hundreds of years, I tried everything to uncover its true use, but I never succeeded. However, my instincts as a Domain Master told me that it is definitely not a simple object."
The Founder smiled faintly. "I left it here so that the future generations might find the secret behind it. Perhaps you are the one destined to unlock its mystery."
Rhain silently nodded, carefully storing the mysterious sword fragment back into the Spirit Ring.
"This junior, Rhain, thanks the Founder for this profound grace," Rhain spoke with a bow.
The Founder stared blankly for a moment, before he gave a small nod.
Seeing this peerless prodigy who possessed such unyielding arrogance now showing genuine respect and gratitude, the last lingering worry in his heart completely melted away.
"Good. Very good," the Founder murmured.
"And finally," the Founder said, his translucent form beginning to flicker and slowly turn into dissipating light.
He raised his hand one last time.
A token materialized and floated toward Rhain silently.
The token was engraved with a single, majestic character: Stormveil.
"This token is the ultimate reward of the Heavenly Ascendent Tower," the Founder declared, "It is my personal token. Whoever holds this is the true, unquestionable leader of the Stormveil Academy."
The Founder looked at Rhain, his eyes filled with a deep trust.
"I do not know who the current Dean of the Academy is, nor does it matter anymore. As long as you show this token, every Preceptor, every High Preceptor, and the Dean themselves must respect your decisions as if they were my own decrees."
The Founder’s body was now dissolving rapidly, turning into thousands of glowing fireflies that drifted toward the ceiling of the tower.
"Take care of this Academy for me," the Founder’s voice began to slowly fade. "That is the only thing I ask of you in return..."
"I will," Rhain replied solemnly, gripping the token in his hand.
With a final, gratified smile, the Founder completely vanished, leaving Rhain entirely alone on the one hundredth floor.