18: Chapter 18 Getting It 18: Chapter 18 Getting It Editor: Atlas Studios Anvis unfastened the clasp and opened the heavy cover.
The yellowish parchment of the pages had now turned a deep yellow, almost brown.
Its luster and texture became exceptionally ancient, as if it had traversed an immeasurable span of time in an instant.
On the previously empty front page, a bizarre and enormous symbol now stood out.
The symbol consisted of spirals emitting an ominous aura, twisted and changing zigzags, and peculiar dots of various sizes.
The ink used to depict it was also peculiar.
In Anvis’s eyes, this blackish-green ink seemed to be constantly flowing.
Gazing intently at this mysterious pattern, Anvis continually compared it in his mind, attempting to decipher the meaning behind the symbol.
But ultimately, this attempt was deemed a failure.
The peculiar symbol, like the book’s material, exceeded his current knowledge scope.
He tried turning to the second page, but noticed that the subsequent pages couldn’t be turned, as if strongly glued together.
An unusual feeling arose, and Anvis immediately understood the reason for his inability to read:
His spiritual power wasn’t enough!
He couldn’t withstand the mysterious knowledge within the book.
At this moment, the Duke suddenly clapped his hands.
This sound seemed to shut off some kind of switch, and the abnormal feeling inside the room disappeared instantly.
Anvis shivered all over, and like waking from a dream, he raised his head.
The connection with the book naturally severed.
An odd feeling rose within his heart, as if some kind of change had already occurred.
At this moment, the sound of the hourglass returned to normal, but in the upper half of the hourglass, the silver-blue sand had visibly diminished by a large portion.
“Since your spiritual power touched this book, three Magic Times and thirty-two minutes have passed.”
Noticing Anvis’s gaze, Duke Carrot spoke calmly.
Has it really been that long?!”
Anvis was taken aback, and his eyes involuntarily carried a hint of astonishment.
In his perception, it seemed only less than three minutes had passed.
“Does it feel like not much time has passed?
This is the Lakana Effect: when your spiritual power quality is too low, yet you try to analyze High Rank spells, you experience this time illusion.”
The Duke spread his hand, and a complex spell structure, akin to a blossom, appeared in his palm, which then slowly transformed into dissipating light particles from top to bottom.
“Had I not interrupted just now, you would have exhausted your spiritual power without realizing it.
Continuing like that might even damage your Spirit Sea.”
“If your Rank reaches the Fourth Rank or above, even if it’s still insufficient to complete the analysis, you can detect something amiss after excessive spiritual power consumption and immediately terminate the connection…”
Saying this, the Duke suddenly noticed an issue with his own words.
“Of course, this is not your fault, quite the opposite, it’s a good thing!”
“As a member of the Olivendi Family, you must not make the fatal mistakes that ordinary professionals commit: blindly pursuing advancement speed, while neglecting your most fundamental foundation.
An early ripe Black Honey Fruit will taste green and bland.
Even though we possess a bloodline, at the same Rank, differences in foundation will lead to vastly different strength disparities.
You must remember, all future strength growth will be built upon your initial foundation.
Every tiny bit of gradual accumulation now will be magnified a million times in the future!
It is only by thoroughly reaching the limit that can’t be elevated further in your foundation, by ascending with the most perfect posture, can you travel farther on the path of a professional!”
“I understand, Father.”
Anvis nodded slightly, subconsciously becoming alert to the recent incident.
Having dual memories, he should have realized something was wrong immediately, yet he unwittingly fell into the trap.
This was undoubtedly a wake-up call for his originally relaxed mindset.
“So, what do you plan to do?”
Duke Carrot nodded, tapping his finger on the table to draw Anvis’s attention.
“Although this book’s power aura is somewhat eerie, I can sense that it bears no malice towards you.
And the fact that its concealed state can obscure my perception, there’s no doubt, it is at least a Ninth Rank, or even a Peak Ninth Rank Magic Artifact!
I just checked the Book Collection Room’s catalog.
It’s one of the initial collections from the Book Collection Room, d by the first Family Head, Lord Audric.
This also means that you are the only one in thousands of years able to sense and control it.”
“Father, may I have this book?”
Anvis immediately grasped the implication in the Duke’s words and smiled as he made his request.
A High Rank Magic Artifact would provide him with an undeniable enhancement in strength.
Most importantly, the memory of young Anvis didn’t recall it, making it a variable of destiny.
In his current situation, any such variable was invaluable.
“The books in the Book Collection Room are the family’s public property, and I cannot authorize the gifting of any one of them to you.”
Gently stroking the carving on his cufflink, the Duke raised his gaze, looking into Anvis’s slightly surprised and puzzled expression, speaking slowly and evenly.
“But, if you truly want it, I can temporarily lend it to you.
In return, you will need to contribute three or more books of the similar type to replace it in the future.”
“Do you accept this condition, Anvis?”
The Duke casually settled the matter, and during this process, neither of them mentioned the specific future timeline.
At the same time, the thick book in Anvis’s hand suddenly burst into blazing white flames.
Anvis was startled and instinctively withdrew his hand holding the book.
But he immediately realized, even though the entire book was burning, these white flames emitted no heat.
Once Anvis’s hand left it, the book didn’t fall but levitated steadily in the air.
As the white flames burned, luminescent runes emerged on the cover, then gradually crumbled, dissolving into dark blue light particles.
A mass of light particles mingled in mid-air in the study, stretching into a dark blue star river.
Reflected by the quietly burning white flames, it seemed mysterious and magical.
Soon, all the runes on the cover dissolved, and a ring with an emblem on the Duke’s index finger lightly glowed, causing the flames to vanish as suddenly as they had appeared.
However, if it undergoes some unknown change in the future, inform me immediately, understand?”
Anvis grabbed the book hovering in mid-air again.
At the moment of contact, his heart suddenly stirred, and the hefty book instantly shrank to the size of a palm.
“Acknowledged, have you?
The Duke knowingly nodded, retrieved a piece of paper from the drawer on the desk, and stamped it with the emblem ring.
When the ring touched the paper, a colorless Magic Light flickered briefly, leaving a mark like an ice crystal.
“Take this to Leonard, and have him bring you to the Moon Castle storeroom to obtain materials for making a book chain.”
The Duke casually tossed the paper to Anvis, who elegantly extended a hand to catch it.
“Then, I shall take my leave, Father.”
Receiving the Duke’s assent, Anvis bowed in respect, then quietly exited the room.
After he left, Duke Carrot gazed at the doorway, rhythmically tapping the table with his finger, his brows faintly furrowed.
“Ancient Secret Scripture?
He contemplated, then reached once more to the lowest drawer of the desk, tracing a complex miniature array on the deepest wooden board.
A faint light flickered, and the wood with the array rippled like water, silently opening an extremely hidden compartment.
Simultaneously, a fragrance both elusive and otherworldly, seemingly from an infinite distant domain, wafted forth.
Inside that compartment lay a palm-long, antiquely styled dark silver key.
The entire key was made of some unknown metal, its handle intricately engraved with vine-like patterns, and its surface was exceptionally dull, as if it had weathered ancient aeons.
Caressing the cool metallic quality of the key, the Duke suddenly let out a faintly mocking laugh.