Chapter 482: The Upper Realm (VIII)

"Well, shall we see what this old academy has been hiding?"

Gray approached the enormous stone door, followed by the two princesses.

Atrinae, who was still coiled around his wrist, raised her little head and examined the carvings.

Her nine-colored scales reflected the silver light coming from the walls, and her tongue flicked occasionally as she sensed the Mana circulating through the chamber.

Gray placed his palm against the door.

Nothing happened.

He pressed a little harder.

Still nothing.

"..."

Scarlett looked at him.

"What’s wrong?"

"Nothing. I was expecting something to happen."

"Perhaps the door requires a key."

"Mayhaps."

Elira walked toward the left side of the door, examining the inscriptions.

"There’s writing here. It’s an ancient language, but I can recognize some of the symbols."

She brushed away a layer of dust.

"Three paths... three offerings... one entrance?"

Scarlett approached the opposite side.

"There’s something carved here as well. It looks like a sequence of symbols representing different types of energy."

Gray turned his head.

"Three offerings, you say?"

Elira nodded.

"That’s what the inscription suggests. We probably need to provide three different forms of energy to activate the mechanism."

Gray examined the door again.

There were three circular depressions near its center, each surrounded by a different symbol. The first resembled a sun, the second a crescent moon, and the third an unfamiliar star.

"Well, that’s convenient."

He looked at the two princesses.

"Scarlett, Elira, would you kindly lend me your energy?"

Scarlett raised an eyebrow.

"You’re asking us to activate the door?"

"Precisely."

"And what are you going to do?"

Gray smiled.

"I’ll supervise."

Scarlett stared at him.

Elira burst into laughter.

"HAHA! You’re unbelievable! You bring us into an ancient ruin, and now you’re asking us to open the door while you supervise?"

"Leadership is about delegating responsibilities."

"You’re not our leader!"

"Not officially."

Scarlett sighed.

Nevertheless, she approached the crescent symbol and released a small amount of her crimson Demonic Energy into the depression.

The symbol immediately lit up.

VMMMMM!

A faint crimson glow spread across the door.

Elira stepped toward the sun symbol and placed her palm against it. Pale violet energy flowed from her hand, causing the second symbol to shine.

Two of the three depressions were now illuminated.

Gray glanced at the remaining star.

He raised his hand and released a small amount of pure Mana.

TING!

The final symbol lit up.

For a moment, the entire door remained motionless.

Then...

GGRRRRRRRRR...

The enormous stone structure began sliding sideways.

A gust of cold air swept through the chamber, carrying the smell of dust and something... metallic, to say the least.

Elira stepped back.

"Well, that worked."

Scarlett looked at Gray.

"Your supervision was certainly valuable."

"Thank you, Princess. I appreciate your recognition."

"Don’t push your luck."

Gray laughed and stepped through the entrance.

The room beyond was considerably different from the previous chamber.

Instead of another enormous hall, they found themselves inside what appeared to be an old reception area.

Several stone desks stood along the walls, and rows of wooden shelves contained dusty objects that had survived the passage of time.

There were also several statues.

A dozen stone figures stood on either side of the room, each wearing the long robes of ancient scholars.

Some held books, others carried weapons, and a few were depicted holding strange objects that Gray couldn’t immediately identify.

Elira looked around with interest.

"This must have been the academy’s reception hall."

Scarlett glanced at a broken desk.

"An academy receptionist? Even ancient institutions had people responsible for paperwork?"

Gray approached one of the statues.

"Of course. Someone had to deal with students who arrived late, failed their examinations, or destroyed academy property."

Scarlett looked at him.

"Are you speaking from experience?"

"Not yet."

"Yet?"

Gray smiled.

Before Scarlett could question him further, a faint mechanical sound echoed through the room.

K-CHAK!

The statues’ eyes suddenly lit up.

Elira froze.

"...Did those statues just move?"

One of them turned its head.

Then another.

A moment later, all twelve stone figures stepped down from their pedestals.

THUDD! THUDD! THUDD!

Their stone bodies were covered in ancient runes, and faint Mana began circulating through their joints.

Scarlett immediately drew her sword.

"Gray, behind me."

Gray glanced at her.

"How considerate."

"Don’t make me repeat myself."

Elira raised her hand, gathering violet energy.

The statues slowly approached.

Then the largest one, which stood in the middle of the room, opened its mouth.

"Welcome... students..."

Its voice was rough and mechanical, as though the words had not been spoken for thousands of years.

"Please... present... your identification..."

Silence.

Gray blinked.

Scarlett lowered her sword slightly.

Elira looked at the statue.

"...Identification?"

The stone figure tilted its head.

"Please... present... your identification..."

Gray looked toward the two princesses before turning to look at the statue again.

"Do you accept academy registration documents from another institution?"

The statue remained silent.

"Please... present... your identification..."

’This thing is going to be troublesome...’ Gray sighed.

He reached into his storage ring and pulled out his Demon Academy student identification card.

The moment he presented it, the statue’s eyes flashed.

"Identification... accepted..."

Scarlett followed, presenting her own insignia.

"Identification... accepted..."

Elira did the same.

"Identification... accepted..."

The twelve statues suddenly stopped moving, and then the central figure raised one stone hand.

"Welcome... new students..."

A small opening appeared in its chest, revealing a collection of old wooden tokens.

"Please... collect... your orientation badges..."

Gray stared at the tokens.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Elira began laughing.

"HAHAHAHA! We just entered an ancient underground academy, and the first thing it asks us to do is collect orientation badges!"

Scarlett covered her forehead.

"You’re telling me this entire place still has an active reception system?"

Gray walked toward the statue and collected three tokens.

"Well, at least the academy takes its administrative responsibilities seriously."

He handed one token to Scarlett and another to Elira.

Each bore a faded inscription.

[Welcome, New Student.]

[Please Follow Academy Regulations.]

Scarlett stared at hers, then at Gray.

"Keep this away from me."

"Why? It’s a nice souvenir."

"I don’t want a souvenir from this old academy..."

Elira held hers against her chest.

"I think it’s adorable. Perhaps I’ll keep mine."

Gray smiled.

"See? Elira understands the value of preserving historical artifacts."

Scarlett gave her rival an irritated look.

"Of course she does. She’ll preserve anything as long as it gives her a reason to annoy me."

Elira laughed.

After passing through the reception area, they found a long corridor lined with doors.

Each door had an inscription above it.

LIBRARY.

TRAINING GROUNDS.

ALCHEMY DEPARTMENT.

SPIRITUAL BEAST RESEARCH.

ARTIFACT FORGING.

Gray stopped.

His eyes slowly moved from one inscription to another, but they quickly returned to the fourth door.

"Spiritual Beast Research..."

Atrinae raised her head.

Her tongue flicked excitedly.

Gray gently stroked her scales.

"Interested, little one?"

The serpent rubbed her head against his finger.

Elira noticed the interaction and smiled.

"She’s adorable."

Scarlett looked toward the door.

"Perhaps there are records about ancient snake-type beasts inside. We should examine the department."

Gray nodded immediately.

"Agreed."

They approached the door.

Unlike the previous entrance, this one had no obvious energy depressions. Instead, a small inscription was carved into the center.

ONLY THOSE WHO POSSESS A BOND MAY ENTER.

Gray looked at Atrinae and smiled.

"Well, that’s convenient."

He placed his hand against the door.

Nothing happened.

Atrinae raised her head, looked at the inscription, and suddenly slipped away from Gray’s wrist.

"Eh?"

The little serpent slithered across his shoulder before jumping toward the door.

Her tiny head touched the inscription.

TING!

The entire door illuminated.

A voice echoed from within.

"Bond recognized."

Gray blinked.

Scarlett looked at the snake.

Elira stared.

Then both princesses turned toward Gray.

He looked at Atrinae, and Atrinae looked back at him.

For a moment, they seemed to share a silent conversation.

Then Gray smiled proudly.

"See? She’s intelligent."

Scarlett crossed her arms.

"She opened the door by touching it."

"Exactly. An excellent demonstration of intelligence."

"Gray..."

"What?"

"You’re praising her for touching something."

Gray gently picked up Atrinae and placed her back around his wrist.

"She’s still young. We should encourage her."

Atrinae raised her head proudly.

Elira burst into laughter.

"HAHA! You’re treating her like a little child!"

Gray nodded.

"Of course. She’s my little snake."

Scarlett shook her head.

"I refuse to believe you’re the same person who killed six Upper World students without blinking."

Gray glanced at her.

"People contain multitudes, Princess."

"You’re impossible."

The Spiritual Beast Research Department was surprisingly well preserved.

Unlike the reception hall, whose furniture had deteriorated considerably, this room was protected by several layers of ancient formations.

Rows of glass containers stood along the walls, although most were empty, and several large tables were covered with old documents and research tools.

In the center of the room stood a massive stone tablet.

Gray approached it.

Atrinae immediately became attentive.

Her nine-colored scales began shining, and her small body tightened around his wrist.

"Oh?"

Gray looked down.

"Did you find something?"

The serpent flicked her tongue.

Scarlett approached the tablet.

"There are inscriptions here."

Elira moved to the other side and began reading.

"These appear to be research records. The academy was studying spiritual beast evolution, bloodline refinement, and the relationship between spiritual beings and their bonded cultivators."

Gray’s attention sharpened.

"Can you read any of the specific records?"

Elira brushed away some dust.

"Give me a moment."

She examined the inscriptions, occasionally comparing them with the symbols on the surrounding tables.

After several minutes, she finally spoke.

"Interesting. There’s a record about a creature called the Nine-Colored Serpent."

Gray’s eyes narrowed.

Atrinae immediately raised her head.

Scarlett looked toward him.

"Isn’t that..."

"Yes."

Gray approached the tablet.

Elira pointed at a section of the inscription.

"According to this, the Nine-Colored Serpent is an extremely rare spiritual beast whose bloodline possesses an unusual ability to adapt to different forms of energy. Its evolution is difficult because its bloodline requires several distinct sources of vitality."

She paused.

"There’s also a reference to an ancient Undying Snake."

Gray’s smile disappeared.

Then it returned, considerably wider.

"Continue."

Elira examined the next section.

"The Undying Snake’s Orb is mentioned as one of the materials capable of awakening the dormant potential of certain serpentine spiritual beasts. But the record doesn’t describe the exact process."

Gray’s gaze remained fixed on the tablet.

’So the information was correct.’

He gently stroked Atrinae.

"Did you hear that, little one? We’re getting closer."

The serpent rubbed against his fingers.

Scarlett smiled faintly.

"You’re quite attached to her."

"Naturally."

"More than you are to most people, it seems."

Gray looked at her.

"Are you jealous, Princess?"

Scarlett’s expression froze.

Elira immediately turned toward her.

"Oh?"

Scarlett glared at Gray.

"Why would I be jealous of a snake?"

"Who knows? Perhaps you wanted me to stroke your head as well." Gray shrugged.

Silence.

Then Elira burst into laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! Scarlett, you’re turning red!"

"I’m not!"

"Your face says otherwise!"

Scarlett’s hand moved toward her sword.

"Elira."

The silver-haired princess immediately stepped behind Gray.

"Please protect me, Gray!"

Gray looked between them and sighed.

"Can we finish the research before someone destroys the ancient academy?"

They spent another hour examining the department’s records.

Although most documents were damaged, Elira managed to recover several useful pieces of information.

Some described the evolution of rare spiritual beasts, while others discussed methods of strengthening the bond between a cultivator and their spirit companion.

Gray copied the most relevant records into a storage crystal.

He also found something else.

A small metal container hidden beneath one of the research tables.

Inside rested three pale blue crystals.

The moment Gray opened the container, a faint pulse of Mana spread through the room.

His eyes brightened.

"Pure Mana Crystals."

Scarlett approached.

"Are those valuable?"

Gray looked at her.

"Extremely."

He picked one up and examined its structure.

Unlike ordinary Mana crystals, which contained energy mixed with various impurities, these three were exceptionally pure.

They had likely been refined using the same formation that maintained the department’s preservation barrier.

Gray smiled.

’Wonderful. Even a small collection like this is useful.’

Elira looked at the crystals.

"Are you going to absorb them?"

"Not immediately. I’ll keep them for later."

He placed them inside his storage ring.

Scarlett shook her head.

"You’ve been here for barely two hours, and you’ve already started collecting everything that isn’t nailed to the floor."

Gray glanced around.

"That’s not true."

He pointed toward a nearby table.

"That one is nailed to the floor."

Elira laughed again.

Scarlett simply turned away.

By the time they left the Spiritual Beast Research Department, the three had learned considerably more about the ancient academy.

The building had once served as a major research institution, and its records showed it maintained several departments devoted to rare physiques, spiritual beasts, ancient bloodlines, and the study of different forms of energy.

It was also considerably larger than the portion they had explored.

There were still several corridors that remained unvisited, with each one of them leading to a different section of the underground structure.

Gray looked toward the next passage.

A faint current of Mana drifted from within.

"Well, where should we go next?"

Elira examined the inscriptions on the nearby walls.

"The library is probably the best choice. We might find more detailed records about the academy and its history."

Scarlett nodded.

"Agreed. We should also look for information about the fragment of the broken star you mentioned."

Gray smiled.

"Wonderful. Then let’s head to the library."

He took a step forward, and suddenly stopped as if remembering something.

Scarlett looked at him.

"What now?"

Gray glanced at her, then toward Atrinae.

"Nothing. I was wondering whether the ancient academy had a cafeteria."

Scarlett stared.

Elira blinked.

"...A cafeteria?"

"Yes. We’ve been exploring for hours, and I’m starting to get hungry again."

For several seconds, neither princess spoke.

Then Elira covered her mouth.

"HAHAHAHA! You’re thinking about food again?"

Gray shrugged.

"Exploration requires energy."

Scarlett closed her eyes.

"You’re unbelievable."

"Thank you."

"That wasn’t a compliment!"

Gray laughed and continued walking.

Behind him, Elira caught up with Scarlett and whispered something.

Scarlett immediately shook her head.

"No."

"But wouldn’t it be funny?"

"No."

"We should ask him whether he wants to have dinner with us after the expedition."

Scarlett’s cheeks gained a faint shade of red.

"Why would I ask him something like that?"

Elira smiled mischievously.

"Because you’ve been looking at him all morning."

"I have not!"

"Of course. You’re merely checking whether he’s about to steal another ancient artifact."

Scarlett glared at her.

Elira laughed and hurried ahead.

Gray, who had heard every word thanks to his heightened senses, smiled to himself.

’Interesting.’

He glanced at Scarlett.

She was doing an admirable job pretending nothing had happened.

’Maybe this little expedition will help more than I thought it would,’ his lips silently curled up in delight.