"This heart... it is a person's heart," Alice revealed, her voice tinged with both fascination and unease. The blackened crimson hue and the surging energy emanating from the organ made it abundantly clear that this was no ordinary artifact.
" Alice, what should we do with this thing? "
Seraphine's voice trembled with nervousness as she turned to her companion, Alice, seeking guidance amidst the intense energy that pervaded the room. Even without any mana in her body, she could feel the powerful waves of demonic energy coursing through the chamber.
Alice, ever the analytical mind, reassured her with a calm voice, "Although the information on the Murim world lies beyond the confines of this book, I can access it through the multidimensional database. Let me analyze the details of this beating heart on the altar."
Despite Alice's ability to access information from multiple dimensions, it is important to note that her access is not limitless. She can only access information that appears in literature or novels originating from Earth, which means that her knowledge is limited to certain types of books. Additionally, she may not have access to information that is not included in these books, such as secrets or information that has never been mentioned in the book.
As Alice delved into her research, a revelation emerged. "It appears that this demonic heart belongs to a heavenly demon that inadvertently found its way into this dimension over ten thousand years ago. This place, and its story, have been long forgotten in both realms."
Through her research, she discovered the heavenly demon transmigrated from a murim novel originating from Earth. However, there was no information on how he ended up in this world. Alice was left puzzled by the mystery of the heavenly demon's unexpected appearance.
Fortunately, Alice can access information on how to handle the demonic energy. She was able to find various cultivation techniques and secrets written in the book. However, these techniques are new and might cause an uproar if they go to the public.
Seraphine listened intently, her eyes widening with each revelation. She had never anticipated encountering such a significant artifact with ties to another dimension. The weight of responsibility pressed upon her as she contemplated the best course of action.
"In handling this relic, we must consider that demonic energy, or qi as it is known in the Murim world, is a completely different concept from mana. Those who possess accumulated mana cannot handle it effectively," Alice explained, emphasizing the stark difference between the two energies.
Pausing for a moment, Alice continued, her voice tinged with certainty, "To rectify the situation, I believe the best approach is to purify it. It is likely that the contamination is the cause behind Damian's loss of sanity in the original story."
"Purify... but how?" Seraphine's voice trembled with confusion as she realized she lacked the necessary tools or powers to accomplish such a task.
Alice's response carried a tinge of concern, her voice filled with careful consideration. "There is indeed only one method at our disposal, but I must warn you, Seraphine, it will prove to be quite troublesome."
Seraphine leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Tell me, Alice, what is this sole method you speak of?"
Alice's words were tinged with caution as she revealed her analysis of Seraphine's unique body composition. "Based on my analysis, your body is ill-suited for both mana and qi. If you were to absorb this demonic energy, it would surely lead to a painful demise."
Seraphine's brows furrowed as she contemplated the gravity of the situation. The path ahead seemed arduous and fraught with danger.
"However," Alice continued, her voice unwavering, "if you follow my instructions, derived from the vast knowledge within the database, you can separate the contaminated substances from the pure demonic energy without direct contact to your body."
Seraphine's heart raced with uncertainty. The prospect of the procedure weighed heavily upon her, and she couldn't help but question the difficulty it entailed. "Is it truly that challenging, Alice?"
Alice's response carried a mix of reassurance and caution. "The process will undoubtedly place a burden on your mind and body. You may experience fever or even faint from the intensity of concentration required. However, rest assured that it will not claim your life."
Seraphine took a deep breath, summoning her resolve in the face of uncertainty. "We won't know until we try, Alice. Let us proceed. Guide me through the steps."
Normally, it would take a group of trained professionals to safely remove and purify a demonic relic in the murim world. However, with the guidance of Alice, who can give Seraphine direct access to the necessary information via her mind, she can perform the process on her own. But she knew this would take a toll on her body as she must use a large amout of mental energy for the purification.
As Seraphine extended her trembling hand toward the pulsating heart, Alice's guidance directed her to focus on the elements beyond the demonic energy, seeking to extract the contaminated substances. The strain of concentration weighed heavily upon her, her entire being consumed by the process.
Seraphine focused her mental energy to vaporize the toxic substances from the dungeon. her body was put under immense stress. The burden was starting to weaken her, making it difficult for her to maintain her concentration and keep pushing through.
"Concentrate harder, Seraphine. You're almost there," Alice encouraged, her voice a steady presence amidst the chaos within Seraphine's mind. The pain grew more intense, her head throbbing and her nose beginning to bleed. Yet, Seraphine pressed on, unwavering in her determination.
With a resounding cry, Seraphine released the final extraction, her body collapsing to the ground. The purification process had reached its completion, successfully removing all contamination without direct contact. Exhausted and battered, Seraphine lay motionless, her consciousness teetering on the edge of darkness.
"This is not the time to rest, Seraphine! You must remove the heart from the altar for the knight to come help you!" Alice's urgent voice pierced through Seraphine's fading consciousness, rousing her from the brink of oblivion.
Summoning the last vestiges of her strength, Seraphine crawled inch by inch toward the altar. Her body was drained, both mentally and physically, but the gravity of the situation propelled her forward. With a final surge of determination, she reached out and grasped the demonic heart, her grip tight and unwavering, before finally succumbing to unconsciousness.
As the heart was taken from the altar, a remarkable shift occurred within the dungeon. The once oppressive crimson mist began to dissipate, gradually vanishing from the depths of the dungeon and even the entrance. Above ground, the knight squad, initially stunned and skeptical, could hardly believe their eyes. They descended into the dungeon, their footsteps filled with awe and disbelief.
The sight that greeted their senses was nothing short of an overwhelming spectacle. Countless treasures adorning the chamber, like gold and jewels piled as tall as mountains, greeted the knights' eyes. Seraphine, however, was more focused on reaching the altar and had bypassed the vast treasures kept in the room. The knights also spotted a few traps, worn out and malfunctioning from the passage of time.
It took the knights some time to navigate their way through the dungeon, eventually arriving at the altar room. Their eyes fell upon a young girl with tousled brown hair lying on the ground, her breath labored. Clutched tightly in her hand was the demonic heart that caused all of the problems on this wasteland.
"Sir Henry, it appears Seraphine has succumbed to exhaustion in her efforts to mend the crimson mist," one knight informed Henry as he approached Seraphine's motionless form, checking her condition. Though she was alive, her fever ran high, indicating the toll her actions had taken.
Henry cursed under his breath, the weight of his responsibility and the consequences that awaited him weighing heavily upon his shoulders. "Carefully lift her and let us make our way out of here," he commanded his subordinates, urgency lacing his voice. The priority was to ensure Seraphine's safety and seek proper care.
As they emerged from the dungeon, the entrance was quickly concealed to prevent any unwanted visitors from discovering their newfound treasure trove. The sun, its descent imminent, urged them to hasten their return to the estate.
"Damn it," Henry muttered quietly, his thoughts consumed by the wrath that awaited him at the hands of the young master. With a sense of urgency, he spurred his horse onward, leading his group back to the estate, the fading daylight casting long shadows as they raced against time.