The Secret Cult Chronicles of the Decaying Lake Manor

This place might have originally been an unused guest room, but now it has changed.

A large, long table was placed in the center, on which various refining equipment were neatly arranged, and each drawer of the multi-drawer cabinet against the wall was labeled.

The Viscount sat on a high-backed chaise lounge on one side of the room, still wrapped in a thick morning robe.

A taciturn, middle-aged man with slightly graying hair stood beside him like a statue.

George recognized him as Thomas, the Viscount's personal servant.

Upon seeing George enter, the Viscount attempted to stand up using a sturdy cane he was leaning against.

George quickly stepped forward and took his arm.

Even after transmigrating, he remained nearly 1.9 meters tall, making him a head taller than the Viscount—he had to lean forward slightly to catch the Viscount.

The viscount did not refuse his help and leaned against him, and George could feel the thinness of his arms under the robe.

However, he only managed to stand firm for a moment before slowly sitting back down in the chair, his breathing becoming slightly more rapid.

"You shouldn't force yourself to get out of bed, Father," George said.

"Lying in bed waiting for fate to come is not the style of the De La Porte family." The Viscount's voice was still weak.

He gestured towards the room.

"This room is temporary, but it contains the basics. The main laboratories and library in the tower are not yet open to you until you prove your discretion. I hope you understand."

George glanced at the equipment and materials cabinets and nodded.

The viscount looked pleased and satisfied.

"I have less than three months left. You need to grow up quickly so that after my death you can inherit the name of Viscount Rotten Lake and support the Delapor family and the manor. It all depends on you..."

"Father..." George knew what attitude he should show at this moment.

The Viscount gently raised his hand, leaned back in his chair, and his ashen face appeared lifeless in the light streaming in from the window.

Only those eyes still shone with some kind of inner light.

He spoke slowly:

"George, you have crossed the threshold and seen the glimmer of light beneath the surface of the world. But this is not a gift to celebrate."

He paused, seemingly observing George's reaction.

George simply stood there quietly, his expression focused.

The Viscount continued, "Every step forward on this path is accompanied by unpredictable dangers and costs: getting lost in the dream realm, spiritual depletion, ritual backlash, contact with contamination..."

"Any mistake could lead to your demise, or even endanger others—and that's just the danger from the power itself."

"The Kingdom's government is fully aware of the existence of supernatural phenomena and has established a special agency to monitor and manage them."

The Viscount picked up a small booklet from a nearby table and handed it to George.

"The Anti-Suppression Bureau, supported by Highgarden nobles and Anglican clergy, maintains peace for mortals, and any uncontrolled supernatural forces are their targets for elimination or incorporation."

"Those who are publicly recognized as extraordinary within the kingdom must operate under its supervision, abide by its rules, and assume corresponding obligations, while also losing a great deal of freedom."

"That's why many people who know the inside story, like your grandmother and uncle, have chosen to stay away from this path, a path from which there is no turning back once you step on it."

The Viscount's gaze seemed to pierce through George, looking into the distance.

"Living in the world of appearances and enjoying the tranquility of ordinary life, even if that tranquility is fragile and short-lived... is not necessarily a wise choice, and may even be considered a lucky one."

George asked, "Is there no turning back?"

"Yes, the knowledge and power beneath the surface of the world, and the thirst for it after acquiring it, are things that no ordinary person can give up on their own."

The viscount shook his head slightly, his voice carrying a complex emotion.

"Now, in this mansion, the only true extraordinary beings are you and me. My days are numbered, and you have just begun your journey."

Aside from a few family members, the only people who knew the truth were Carson, Thomas, and old Hanmo, the Night Watchman on the island.

They are proven, experienced assistants we must rely on.

"Promotion depends on talent, resources, and comprehension, and the family has the knowledge and resources to help in this regard."

At this point, the Viscount nodded slightly to the butler and his personal male servant: "You may go out first and wait outside the door."

"Yes, sir," the two replied in unison. Carson glanced at George, then left the room with Thomas.

Only the father and son remained in the room; the viscount leaned forward slightly.

"Now you are a new sprout just beginning to see the world. Let me introduce the path we will take to climb it."

Then, the Viscount began to explain basic extraordinary knowledge to George in concise language.

"You are now beginning to understand spirituality, experiencing a fusion of mind and matter; you are now a 'veil breaker' or an 'awakener.' This is the starting point for glimpsing reality, and this level is divided into three stages: initial understanding, enlightenment, and yearning..."

After briefly explaining the three stages of the Awakened that George already knew, the Viscount began to reveal the subsequent levels.

"Above that, there are the 'Law-Bearers' who choose their paths and prepare their deeds, the 'Eternal Ones' who complete their deeds and ascend to immortality, and the 'Divine Revelers' who are able to travel beyond the world. And above them are still ranks, all the way to the exalted 'Sevi'..."

George was already getting restless when he heard "going beyond the world," and now he asked a question.

"Siwei? I think I've seen that name before."

"The 'Sivi' are transcendent beings who wield the laws; their existence rightfully resides at the pinnacle and deepest reaches of the world," the Viscount replied with a solemn expression.

"They can be roughly defined as the personification of principles, that's all I can say. Principles originate from the world, and from Sivi—both are equal."

George raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Outer Gods?

"...Our path of ascension is largely about emulating the will of the Saviors, using their power to change our own nature and delve into the spiritual realm."

The Viscount paid no attention to George's expression and thoughts. After speaking, he gave a wry smile.

"As the most accomplished extraordinary individual in my family's history, I can only stop at the level of the immortals."

"Our De La Porte family has passed down the path of the 'Candle' principle through generations."

Despite his weakness, the viscount's tone still carried a hint of pride stemming from his family's heritage.

"Spirituality, illumination, alchemy... the change comes from the fire, and cannot be reversed. Our power is rooted in it, and the rise and fall of our family is tied to it."

"The first viscount served the kingdom through alchemy, the second expanded this craft, until..."

He coughed a few times, then said, "The path to ascension is long and arduous; you still have much to learn."

"Now, let's talk about the current trouble. You witnessed the changes in the Decaying Lake with your own eyes. The source of that blood is hidden beneath the surface of the world, in the first layer of the spirit realm—the Dream Realm."

Only by entering the dream realm and observing from a spiritual perspective can one truly see its existence.

The viscount gestured to a small glass bottle and a long-handled red crystal spoon on the gilded table next to him.

"I need you to enter the dream realm and retrieve a sample of that 'blood' from the lake. Only then can we find a way to purify it."

"The manor servants are unable to collect the spiritual essence, so this is something that must be done by you."

The Viscount continued:

"For those who have just awakened, entering the dream realm on their own is not an easy task, and there is no need to be discouraged if they fail."

Importantly, when a spirit enters the dream realm, your physical body will be completely defenseless and extremely vulnerable.

He pointed to the recliner beneath him.

"You can use this chair. I'll stay here and help you out."

As he spoke, he took a small crystal bottle out of the pocket of his morning robe.

"This is the 'Dream Elixir,' which can help you reach the boundaries of the dream realm more smoothly and reduce the difficulty of your first attempt."