As soon as Bhoumik's fingers made contact with the crystal, a flood of ancient knowledge surged into his mind. It was like a torrent of information—thousands of years of cultivation techniques, martial arts, and secrets of the Frozen Sun Sect, all pouring into him at once. He grabbed his head, gritting his teeth as a sharp headache throbbed, almost blinding him. His body swayed, but he forced himself to stay upright, his hands trembling from the sheer weight of the knowledge now inside him.
"Maya... it's too much...!" he muttered, his voice strained.
Maya, sensing his distress, uncoiled from his arm and shifted into her medium-sized form, her glowing purple and black eyes narrowing with concern. "Bhoumik, what's happening?" she asked, her voice echoing in his mind.
"I... I just gained the knowledge of the entire sect, but it's overwhelming," Bhoumik replied, sweat dripping down his forehead. He sat on the ground, closing his eyes, trying to focus. His thoughts were scattered, fragments of techniques and teachings clashing within his mind.
Suddenly, a deep, ancient voice echoed in his head, cutting through the chaos. "So, you have come, boy. After all these years, someone has finally touched the crystal once more."
Bhoumik's eyes snapped open, startled. "Who... who are you?" he asked, looking around, even though he knew the voice wasn't coming from the physical world.
"I am the founder of the Frozen Sun Sect," the voice replied, slow and heavy with the weight of time. "You have unlocked a fraction of my legacy. But if you truly wish to inherit the full power of the sect, you must delve deeper into its secrets."
The voice grew fainter, and before Bhoumik could respond, it was gone.
He took a deep breath, focusing his thoughts. The headache began to subside, and his mind started organizing the fragments of knowledge. After a few moments of silence, he spoke again. "I need to go deeper into the ruins," he said, opening his eyes.
Maya, still in her serpent form, tilted her head. "What did you see? Did you gain all the knowledge of the sect?" she asked.
"Not everything," Bhoumik admitted. "The knowledge I have is incomplete. According to the founder, if I want the full techniques and cultivation arts, I have to explore further and uncover more secrets." He stood up slowly, regaining his composure.
Maya nodded. "Then we should continue. These ruins hold more than just old scrolls and dusty techniques. There are hidden treasures and dangers as well."
Bhoumik took one last glance at the crystal, now dim and lifeless, before turning toward the deeper part of the ruins. "Let's go," he said.
As they proceeded deeper, the air grew colder, and the walls of the ruins began to change. What had once been smooth stone turned into rough-hewn rock. Icicles hung from the ceiling, and a sense of ancient power filled the air. After some time, they arrived at a large stone door covered in intricate carvings, the runes glowing faintly in the dim light.
"This door..." Bhoumik said, examining it closely. "It must lead to the deeper chambers."
Maya slithered forward, her massive body coiling around the stone door. "Step aside," she said. With a quick, powerful motion, she pushed the door open, revealing a long, sloping pathway that led underground.
"Thank you," Bhoumik said as Maya shrank down and re-coiled herself around his arm.
As they descended the stone steps, the temperature continued to drop, and soon they were surrounded by ice-covered walls. The flickering light from the crystals embedded in the rock provided just enough visibility for them to make their way down.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, the pathway finally leveled out. Bhoumik stepped into a vast underground chamber, his breath catching as he saw the enormous beasts standing before him. Each one stood at least three meters tall, their fur alight with flickering flames. Their glowing red eyes locked onto Bhoumik, and they growled, low and menacing.
"What are those?" Bhoumik whispered, his eyes wide.
Maya slithered off his arm and transformed back into her medium form, her eyes narrowing as she observed the creatures. "Fire wolves," she said. "They're dangerous, but low-ranked beasts compared to me."
As the wolves growled and moved closer, Bhoumik instinctively took a step back, his heart pounding. He prepared himself for a fight, but before he could act, Maya released a wave of her ancient serpent aura. The air shimmered, and the fire wolves immediately halted, their growls turning into whimpers as they submitted to the overwhelming pressure of her bloodline.
Bhoumik watched in awe as the wolves lowered themselves to the ground, their fiery tails tucked between their legs. "They're… submitting?"
Maya smirked, her fangs glinting in the dim light. "They fear my bloodline. Ancient beasts like me can control lesser creatures with just our presence. You don't need to worry about them now. In fact," she added, glancing at Bhoumik, "with my aura over them, you can command them as well."
Bhoumik was stunned. "You mean... I can control them?"
"They won't resist you as long as they sense my aura," Maya explained. "It's a temporary submission, but they'll follow your commands."
Bhoumik couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude. "Maya, I don't know how to thank you," he said earnestly. "If it weren't for you, I would have been dead several times over already."
Maya flicked her tail dismissively. "Save your thanks for later. You still have work to do here."
Nodding, Bhoumik turned his attention to the large wooden door at the end of the chamber. The wolves remained submissive as he walked past them. Placing both hands on the door, he pushed with all his strength, the ancient wood groaning as it slowly opened to reveal a vast room beyond.
Inside, rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretched toward the ceiling, each shelf filled with scrolls, tomes, and ancient texts. A thick layer of dust covered everything, undisturbed for what must have been centuries. Bhoumik's eyes widened in amazement as he stepped into the room.
"Is this… the Frozen Sun Sect's archive?" he muttered, taking in the sheer magnitude of the room.
Maya slithered forward, her eyes scanning the shelves. "Yes. These are the techniques and martial arts left behind by the sect's founder. You've already absorbed some of this knowledge from the crystal, but here lies the complete collection."
Bhoumik reached for one of the scrolls on a nearby shelf, carefully unrolling it. As his eyes scanned the text, he recognized the same cultivation techniques that had been implanted into his mind earlier. "It's all here," he said in awe. "Everything from the crystal… it's written here."
He carefully placed the scroll back and sat cross-legged in the center of the room, closing his eyes to meditate. "I need to start cultivating immediately," he said, his mind already focusing on the ancient techniques.
Maya watched him for a moment, then sighed. "You've just entered this world and already you're rushing to cultivate. Are you sure you're ready?"
Bhoumik nodded. "I can feel the knowledge inside me. I just need to tap into it."
With that, he began to focus, clearing his mind and regulating his breathing. He reached out with his senses, trying to connect to the spiritual energy in the air. But after a few moments, he frowned, opening his eyes. "It's not working. Something's blocking me."
Maya tilted her head. "You're not the first to face this. Sometimes, starting the cultivation process requires a massive surge of spiritual energy. You might need to find a source of power to break through this initial barrier."
Bhoumik sighed and stood up. "So, I need to find a stronger source of energy before I can begin. Great." He dusted himself off and turned toward the exit, but Maya's voice stopped him.
"Wait," she said, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room. "There's something else here. I can sense it... behind the left wall."
Bhoumik followed her gaze. "A secret door?"
Maya nodded. "Go check it out. There might be more hidden here than just these scrolls."