Chapter 373 (2/2)
The heart was surrounded, or rather half-submerged in a pool of liquid. The surging, sticky fluid was another interesting part of the heart. The young ascetic nun took out a crystal bottle as large as her palm and carefully scooped up some liquid.
The sticky fluid surged even when it inside the bottle, dancing to the pulse of the heart.
“What is this?” Hao Ren asked, frowning and looking at the fluid in bottle. “Is it alive?”
“It’s a liquid life form,” the MDT replied. It got out of Hao Ren’s pocket and analysed the fluid in the pool. “Amazingly, this fluid is a part of the Gnarled Grove, an organ of the heart. But, it can live on its own. Once it leaves the pool, it’s an independent creature on its own.”
Hao Ren’s blood ran cold, imagining the possibility of the surging fluid-creature jumping on him suddenly. He took a step back instinctively—he shuddered just from looking at it.
Vivian glanced at Hao Ren, half smiling. “Oh really? My blood magic has a lot more fun than this thing.”
Suddenly, the young ascetic monk called out from nearby. “Here! I’ve found something!”
Everyone scurried over. A pillar, or rather a stone altar of sorts was beside the pool. They did not notice it earlier as they were obsessed with the gigantic heart.
It was well-shaped and carved out of white stone. At three metres across, the altar had mysterious symbols and messy reliefs of the Disciples of Glory on it. Black and heavily weathered substances, probably residue of things used in rituals along with a black, dust-covered, perfectly-preserved, small box were on the altar.
“This is the item left behind by the first pope!” Staring at the altar in awe, Big Beardy said, “True to the holy words, a patrimony which would only be revealed in 3,000 years!”
Hao Ren was equally excited. “So, what is it? A forbidden curse? A new fetish? Another progenitor?”
Big Beardy rubbed his hands in excitement— there goes his characteristically cool composure. “I don’t know. However, we must open it and bring it back to the Pope… as per the sacred decree…. By the goddess’ mercy, the box is still in one piece though everything else was destroyed. This must be the will of God!”
Hao Ren rolled his eyes; he almost could not stand Big Beardy—it was obvious that the box was intact simply because it was well built…
Big Beardy held the box in his hands carefully. As he opened it up, he found a few parchments. They were heavily faded, but well preserved.
There were black writings—probably messages written by the first pope—on the parchments.
Both Big Beardy and Hao Ren took a deep breath; one was imagining some new oracle or sacred words, while one was expecting some secret recipe left behind by some older, white bearded man.
Vivian was not interested in the moldy skins at all. She sauntered thoughtfully along the pool surrounding the heart. Looking down at the pool of red fluid, she was fascinated as it made her think of her own blood magic.
She released a bat out to take a sip from the pool. She was not worried about the red-liquid creature in the pool suddenly attacking her. Because, she had a feeling that the liquid would be easy to control like normal blood.
Vivian’s knitted her brows together as she found it a little salty.
Meanwhile, Hao Ren and Big Beardy had successfully deciphered the writings on the parchment. Big Beardy read it out in his low tone of voice.
“We… came from the stars…”