Chapter 562: True Wealth
Chapter 562: True Wealth
Adam snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. The space above him trembled ever so slightly and then, a brass ring appeared, falling right onto his palms.
As soon as he caught the ring, the voice echoed inside the chamber once again, "The Ring of Insight - a Rank 2 artifact that grants the user the ability to see the truth behind all illusions, lies, and deception!"
"Hmm, not bad." Adam scanned the brass ring. "But still useless to me."
With a flick of his hand, he put away the ring inside his storage earring, planning to give it away to one of his students or his friends.
Strangely enough, after having experienced the last illusion, selling the ring wasn't the first thought that appeared inside his mind.
Instead of moving to the next test area, he stood there in his spot thinking about the last trial where he had to face his desire for wealth.
Having been brought up in abject poverty in his childhood, he had placed great importance on amassing wealth.
He believed that if he had a lot of money, then a lot of the problems in his life could be solved. And for the problems that could not be solved through money, he could use his fists instead. However, the last test caused a rift in the belief that he had held since he was a little child. Furthermore, he knew that if it wasn't for the white lotus clearing his mind, he would have definitely failed the test where he had to face his desire for wealth!
"Money isn't true wealth, huh?" Adam smiled bitterly. "But only a wealthy person has the right to say that..."
This inheritance set up by the founder of Saratoga truly tested him on a different level. It was just as that lady in the painting had said - this was unlike the other inheritance that he left behind.
Adam exhaled a deep breath and looked at the pair of stone doors that had suddenly made themselves visible on the other side of the chamber.
He thought of dealing with his philosophy of wealth and material possessions after he'd completed this inheritance. He began walking toward the doors, but just when he was about to push them open, the voice once again sounded inside the room.
"The third test requires the seeker to spend sixty days inside the chamber. Please make sufficient preparations!"
Adam's hand froze. He looked at the doors before him with an incredulous expression.
"What in the world! Sixty days? Just what sort of test is that?"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
He lowered his hand and stood there for a few moments, deep in thought. Then, he looked up and asked, "Can I know the name of the test?"
"The Trial of Endurance!"
Adam began stroking his chin, wondering, Endurance, huh? And sixty days? I think I have an idea about what the next test is going to be...
From the moment he stepped foot inside this inheritance, its tests and rewards reflected certain philosophical principles, challenging Adam's mind and character.
"This place doesn't test your reasoning, but wisdom..." Adam repeated the words of the old woman inside the painting.
He then looked at the stone doors and thought to himself, If the next test is going to take me two months, I will definitely have to make certain arrangements.
It will be very weird if I go missing for two months without informing the others. At the very least, I've to inform a couple of people in the castle.
He cast one final glance at the stone doors before turning around and exiting the inheritance ground.
...
Marian Lake.
The light of the twin moons, Selene and Luna, cast a silver glow, illuminating the calm surface of this mystical lake.
A young elf, who looked to be in his early thirties, sat on a boulder on the banks of this lake. The oil lantern placed beside him highlighted his handsome appearance.
He had long blond hair that cascaded down his shoulders, giving it the appearance of a golden waterfall. His eyes were a vibrant green, reflecting an aura of vitality.
As he gazed at the tranquil lake, suddenly a subtle gust of wind blew by, causing gentle ripples to form on the surface of the water body.
Although he couldn't sense anyone near him, he knew that his friend had arrived. He knew that this strange gust of wind wasn't a natural phenomenon.
"Are you sure you weren't trained to be an assassin by Lord Berger?" Said the elf in a calm
tone.
Despite scanning his surroundings with his mana, he still wasn't able to sense the presence of the newcomer.
Suddenly, a taunting voice sounded from right beside the elf.
"Did I scare you, little elf?"
The elf turned his head to the side and found a young man donning black robes sitting on the boulder right beside him. He had long black hair and a trimmed beard that framed his chin.
Seeing the amused look in the raven-haired young man's eyes, Daneli scoffed. "Hmph! Who's scared of you, you ugly bastard?"
"Hehe," Adam couldn't help but chuckle. He then took out two ceramic cups and poured the wine from the gourd hanging over his shoulder.
Smelling the phenomenal aroma of the wine, Daneli couldn't help but become eager to taste it. However, he didn't show it on his face.
"Here," said Adam as he offered a cup to his old friend.
Daneli downed it in one go and sincerely praised it after savoring the flavor for a few moments, "I must say, Adam, your wine-making skills improve every time you make a new one."
"Heh." Adam had a smug expression on his face hearing the compliment.
He waved his hand and conjured a large gourd of wine from his earring. The next moment, without another word, Daneli touched the gourd and kept it inside his storage ring. Then, he glanced at Adam and asked, "So why did you want to meet? Outside the castle, no less."
Adam's expression turned solemn and he weaved a simple hand gesture, erecting a formless mana barrier around the two for privacy purposes.
Seeing him make such cautious preperations, Daneli realized what he was going to talk about.
So he turned serious as well.
Adam then looked at the elf and asked with a somber look.
"What is the status of the Cult of Bones?"