Pov: Vik
Soon, saint Dadichi sacrificed himself. From his spine, the gods made a weapon that looked like a small, symmetrical metal scepter with a central sphere and ribbed, claw-like prongs extending from both ends. But more than anything, it was indestructible; it sliced through Vritra's scales like paper. From then on, it became the main weapon of Indra, the king of gods. After that, many stories and legends featured the Vajra as an indestructible weapon.
Remembering that story, I suddenly had an epiphany as I looked at the skeleton of Chakor. The concept of the Vajra isn't indestructibility; it's the selfless sacrifice of a pure soul who only wants the well-being of everyone.
Just like Chakor, he was betrayed by the very world he swore to protect. Even after that, he sacrificed himself to kill the dragon, perhaps going down the wrong path. Yes, I had been wrong. This skeleton did not contain a way to get the Vajra; this skeleton is the Vajra.
With that thought, I looked at Chakor's skeleton again. My view changed; it was no longer just a simple skeleton. It had become a sacred artifact, representing Chakor's selfless sacrifice. It refused to be destroyed; it was indestructible against any power or energy in this world. This was something that legends had recorded as indestructible through the ages.
I kept watching the skeleton while letting my strange fire burn it, but nothing happened. The skeleton refused to fade away. I made up my mind and tried to lift it again, but I failed once more. While struggling, I received a call from my disciples.
I remembered that my disciples were still facing the dragon and the Lin family. I quickly prepared to go rescue them. While talking with Lu Xiaoran, I learned they had evacuated and were now heading toward a manor in the city.
I felt slightly relieved upon hearing this. I then looked outside through a narrow gap in the catacombs to assess the situation with the dragon. The environment outside was catastrophic. Thunder clouds filled the sky, lightning flashed continuously, and the ground was covered with dark miasma. Visibility was low; one could not see more than a few meters, yet I could faintly make out the shadow of the dragon.
Gullnor, the dragon, was growing continuously. Even I felt a sense of dread just looking at him. The situation was becoming increasingly dangerous. Despite the miasma, I spotted the Gullnor and members of the Lin family kneeling before him. I relied on my heightened senses and eyesight, avoiding the use of spiritual energy, which the dragon could sense.
Keeping an eye on him, I noticed that the Lin family ancestors and members were slowly rising. After bowing to him one last time, they moved toward the city. Only a few Lin family members, including Lin Yang and her parents, remained kneeling before the dragon.
It was as if Gullnor had ordered them to leave for the city, and that felt wrong. Azure Mountain City had no forces capable of standing against those five ancestors at the Body Integration realm. Just then, I remembered something.
I asked the system, "System, is your communication function working well?"
System: "Yes, host. My communication functions have been working well since we left that Heaven-suppressing zone."
Vik: "Then please contact Louriel. She gave us her contact information. Dial that number."
Soon, the system established communication, and I heard Louriel's voice.
Louriel: "So you finally decided to seek my help, Vik."
Hearing this made me feel a bit guilty since I had never contacted her before. Last time, I ended our conversation abruptly because of Lina. Still, considering the dire situation, I said, "Louriel, I need your help. Several people, with realms ranging from Golden Core to Void Refining, are coming to attack the city. Among them are five ancestors at the Body Refining realm. I need you to protect my disciples and, if possible, evacuate them and others for a few minutes while I find a solution."
She replied, "No need for evacuation. I have enough strength to handle a few Body Refining realm cultivators. I can do that, but I can't help you with that dragon. I sense that dragon is a genuine Chosen One, unlike Lin Chen. I advise you to make a deal with him since you both can't kill each other; you are both protected by fate, just like me."
I listened to her words and considered them. The system had sensed this before, and from Chakor's story, I confirmed that Gullnor was a Chosen One, like me. If I couldn't kill him, then he couldn't kill me either. The system had already told me that it's an ironclad rule of fate that Chosen Ones can't fight each other.
But Lin Chen was an artificial Chosen One created solely for releasing Gullnor. Even if Gullnor didn't kill him, who could say if there were other schemes at play, with a third party capable of killing Chosen Ones? I decided to end the story of Gullnor to prevent current and future threats.
I said, "Don't worry, Louriel. I won't be the one to kill him."
With that, I cut off the communication and contacted my disciples to inform them about Louriel's reinforcements.
Afterward, I returned to the task of figuring out how to lift Chakor's skeleton. I asked the system numerous times, but it had no solution. Then I thought about it: Chakor's power source was never spiritual energy. What he cultivated was an energy called Prana, similar to my Kundalini energy.
I asked the system to show my status to confirm some doubts.
"DING: SHOWING HOST'S STATUS."
"Name: Vik
Age: 100 years
Bloodline: Poison Overlord Naaga
Physique: Void body, Cosmic stellar body, Quantum magic circle, prototype World-seed foundation.
Affinity: Omni element, #!?unknown fire, Void element, #?!unknown
Realm: Void Traveling realm (early stage), 7th Circle Magic realm (early stage), 7th Stage Body refining realm (early stage), #$@###### 1st Stage of Root Chakra (Muldhara) in Kundalini#@$$@#
Possession: 8000 medium grade spirit stones, 700 high-grade spirit stones
Artifact: none
Spiritual fire: unknown fire
Cultivation techniques: Nirvana Qi refining technique, Chaos Titan body refining technique, Nuclear spirit gathering technique, Void magic technique, Abyss soul refining technique, Maya manifestation technique (unused), Quantum magic technique.
Special powers: Shape-shifting, Poison mastery
Accepted disciples: Lu Xiaoran, Roman Blackwood
System reward: none
System mall: available (tap to view)
Teaching building: Anonymous hall
System mission: Complete 100 successful classes with your students.
Evaluation: a mysterious and arrogant snake.
I could clearly see the first stage of my Root Chakra (Muldhara). I tried to channel energy from this power system within my body. I had never focused on or developed this power system I had accidentally gained. This Kundalini energy felt mysterious and dangerous; I sensed danger each time I thought of using it. But the situation was dire, so I had to try this option.
Making up my mind, I willed the dormant Kundalini energy in my body to awaken.