Nanate, Kunwa and Beibei had lost track of time. Record after record, slip after slip changed hands, passing through their fingers, shimmering in their mind's eyes.
200,000 years....perhaps a little more than that. That was how old this Space Time Duplicating Dimension was. Beibei looked upwards and saw the silver membranous layer still rotating around the inner sphere. Generations upon generations had lived and died within this dimension, never knowing that a world existed outside. 200,000 years.....it was beyond her comprehension, surreal and unbelievable.
When the last slip was returned back in the fine slot of the tray of the last chest, the small room became eerily silent. None of the three could come up with any words. An entire civilization had lived, thrived and died within the confinements made by man. And now they were trying to drag on ahead with the rotten carcasses of life and memory, still trying to live on, no matter what the price.
Beibei felt that the other group was very probably correct. There did seem to be a problem with the Bulonos. Even the death of the first Bulonos itself was suspicious. Seeing the lifetime of the other four Bulonos, the first Bulonos seemed to have lived on for a very, very short time. This itself seemed rather strange.
The three looked at each other in a daze, still unable to believe that the vast deserts, large city, Main Sect....everything they had come to accept as part of their life....was actually just a mirage! None of it truly existed....yet it did exist. The deep sense of anxiety that had kept them awake for many a nights in the past five and a half years was starting to take a shape.
"Can we really trust everything that is written here in these records?"
Kunwa was still grappling with the words recorded in the thin slips in his hands. He felt speechless at what he had just read. Was the Main Sect truly corrupted by the Black Miasma? What was the truth behind all the sacrifices recorded in these slips?
"Probably most of it is. But don't believe all of it too soon. We still do not have any idea why the Sect behaved the way it did. If it was really taken over by the black miasma, then this dimension would have come to an end far sooner. There is probably something else behind these strange happenings in the lands."
The air filled with heavy sighs, as the three pondered on what path they needed to take next. They were far too weak to go and face the Bulonos or even the Sect Leader. Not that it was definite that the Sect Leader would know everything. After all, Lunaeria was person from this dimension itself. And it didn't seem like she remembered anything about her life on the outside.
"Perhaps we can take a look at the Ancient Sand Runes. That is where the sacrifices take place. Maybe we'll understand the purpose behind these sacrifices if we see it ourselves."
"It's going to be very dangerous. If it is truly the core point of the black miasma, it will be very dense in that area. We are not too strong and might get infected by the miasma."
"Then....should we return back the way we came?"
Beibei paused, wondering what was waiting for them outside.
"The black miasma around this sphere is too dense. There might be creatures of the dark waiting for us outside. We need to be very cautious when we go out."
After a long time, the three finally stood up and walked over to the first room. No matter what, they needed to talk to the spirit of this sphere before making any more plans. As soon as they stepped inside the room, the middle aged man floated over, his lips turned upwards into a small smile.
"Are you ready then?"
Seeing the confusion filled questioning looks, his smile grew larger.
"Well....it is a heritage bestowing sphere. All the manuals on techniques and cultivation, all the tools and other things kept in these chests are the heritage of our Guardian Family. Half the heritage was carried away by the groups who chose to try and leave the lands. This is only half of what we once had. Since you are the only people to come here in such a long time, then these all belong to you. You can take your time and go through all the chests, and select whatever you fancy."
"And....what about those which we do not select?"
"Once I hand over the heritage of our family over to you, my work will be done. My soul has already depleted a lot in the past thousands of years. Moreover my duty has already been fulfilled. Once you leave then my soul will self-destruct. This space is created from a part of my soul, so everything will be destroyed. Nothing will remain behind."
The three stared at the spirit as if he had suddenly turned into a creature of the dark and turned into black miasma. This entire space was filled with innumerable treasures of more than 200,000 years. There were some which they had even brought in with them from the outside world when the dimension was created. And he was ready to destroy everything just like that?!
The man looked at them, and laughed bitterly.
"Don't look so shocked. This has always been the way of each clan. It is so even in the outside world. Every clan which has existed for thousands of years, has its own secrets, techniques and methods it developed on its own, tools and weapons with which the clans build their name and fame. And when a clan is eradicated, then it is only right that all these secrets be buried with the clan. How can we hand over what we have created over thousands of years, with our sweat and blood and many sacrifices, to go on to the hands of another clan?"
"Then by that same philosophy, why would you want to hand over your heritage to us? We are neither connected to you, nor do you know of us."
The man's smile turned wider. The three glanced at each other, wondering why the simple smile seemed rather scary to them.
"That is a very good deduction. Of course nothing comes free in this world. So, in order to get this heritage.....you have to become my Direct Disciple and form the Clan Disciple Bond."
Beibei frowned in bewilderment. This man already knew that they were disciples of the Main Sect, and yet he wanted them to become Direct Disciples of the Guardian Clan? What sort of a weird scheme was this?
"And if we do not wish to form this bond?"
"Well, then my soul will go into auto destruct mode immediately. And everything you see will burn to dust. Of course, you will be ejected out of the sphere, but you will not be able to touch even a single chip of wood or stone inside here."
Beibei, Nanate and Kunwa were startled by this declaration which came out of nowhere. They were left speechless by the shamelessness of the man. This was an unheard of method, where the master was trying to threaten people into becoming disciples!!
The three glanced at each other, calculating all the pros and cons in their minds. It was not against the rules to become a disciple of another clan, while also being a disciple of one sect. So technically, there was nothing wrong with this demand.
Moreover, it did make sense. The clan which had probably already died out, had left behind such a demand so that they could find some successors, who would carry on the name and methods of their family into the outside world. Finally Beibei lifted her head and nodded.
"Fine. We do not have a problem accepting you as our master, and becoming a core disciple of your clan. But we cannot make any promises. After all, we are still stuck in this duplicating dimension."
The man sighed. Partly in relief, and partly in sorrow.
"Fine. Once we complete the Disciple Bonding, a part of my remaining essence will bind with each of you, signifying that from henceforth you three are my Direct Disciples, and also the Core Disciples of the Stryae Clan. There are a few rules you will have to follow once you become a part of the Clan."
The three looked on wordlessly, trying not to anticipate what these so called 'Rules' might be. The spirit looked at each of them, his smile giving way to a more solemn expression.
"Firstly, you will have to promise to carry on the name and techniques of the clan. You may follow other techniques as well. How ever since you have now been accepted into a clan, remember that henceforth, whatever you do, in all your words and deeds, you will be representing your clan."
The three paused for a bit, allowing the first rule to settle inside their mind, then nodded in equally grave manner. With the first rule itself, they could feel the burdens and responsibilities this bond was going to bring for them.
"Secondly, it is now your responsibility to establish and expand this clan. For this you will need to not only find a space where you can build the clan, but also need to recruit more disciples in the future. The rise and fame of this clan will now be your greatest responsibility."
The three looked at each other. This was a sort of given anyway. Establishing any clan meant bringing in more disciples to strengthen its foundation. But...
"We are still inside the Duplicating Dimension, which is completely controlled by the Main Sect. I doubt they will allow us to establish another Sect out here."
The man halted at Nanate's question, a small frown forming on his broad forehead.
"The second and third rule will only be applicable if and when you leave this duplicating dimension. If you are unable to find a way out, then leave this heritage to others in this dimension, who might be able to find a way out in the future. Please....make sure that you do not let it die with you."
Beibei was surprised at the pleading tone which seemed to humble the tall and straight man. He looked like he had been a great warrior in his time. Yet only a segment of his essence remained, trying to pull through and finish his duties of this life. She swallowed her doubts and nodded in answer.
"Well, then. Thirdly, if and when you do manage to find a way out of this dimension, you must search for any survivors of our clan who might have managed to escape from this duplicating dimension. Unite with them. Do not worry. Since you will be carrying the mark of our clan, even if they do not know you, they will have to accept you as part of the family."
The three once more looked at each other and couldn't find any hesitation in the other. All the rules stated sounded very serious, but were actually pretty much what they had expected. Moreover, the two later clauses could only become active if they found a way out of here. That was not something they could comment on at present.
Seeing the acceptance in their eyes, the spirit brought out a six sided bowl made from Mythirin Stone. This stone had a translucent and gelatinous quality, making the bowl look as if it was made from a plasma membrane. It also had the power to combine the blood of a person with soul essence of another person.
The three of them made cuts on their palms, and let out a few drops of blood into the vessel by turns. All the while, the spirit of the man stood next to them chanting something in a strange language in a very monotonous voice.
Once the three had given their blood, the man made some gestures in the air, and various inscriptions lit up in the space around him. As he kept on chanting, the spirit within gradually started dissipating, and formed a thin stream of soul essence, which then merged into the bowl.
The man ended his chanting, and the lit inscriptions dispersed into the air. The spirit still remaining standing before them, was already many times more fainter than what it had been before.
The blood of the three and soul essence of the spirit was rolling around inside the vessel. Within moments, a thick silver and viscous liquid poured out of the gelatinous stone bowl, and the blood and soul essence merged into the liquid, forcefully being combined together.
The man once again started chanting, and the combined liquid separated into three parts, rolling around in the bowl till it hardened enough to form three gelatinous balls. The man finished his chanting's with a flick of his fingers, and the gelatinous balls flew into the air, swiftly entering their glabella.
The three kids knelt down. With their knees parted, they bowed down simultaneously, the placed both hands straight before them on the ground.
"Ha-ha! Good kids. From this moment you are a part of the Stryae Family. Good-good! Now you may rise and select whatever pleases you from the chests here. These will now become your heritage from your new family."