The Myrk Vault was divided into two sections one for Living Myrks, and one for Dead.
Roland leaned over the first container in the Dead section and read the plaque.
Myrk: Corefire Glowfly
First Rank - Support
The first line was the Myrk's name. The second listed its rank and type.
New students, those choosing their very first Myrk, were only allowed on the Vault's first level, where only First-Rank Myrks were stored.
Nothing like throwing students into one of the most important decisions of a Myrks Master's life without giving them any real information.
Not even an explanation of Myrk types… or a short description of what each one actually does. Roland thought, a cold smile tugging at his mouth.
He understood exactly why the clan kept it that way, especially when the plaque itself barely contained five words.
For Roland, who carried more than three hundred years of experience, this place held no mysteries. He knew Myrk types inside and out, and he knew what every one of these could do.
The Valen Clan was, frankly, slightly below average as far as sect quality went. They didn't possess anything truly extraordinary or arcane.
Of course, they did have a few Myrks unique to their own collection, ones no one else in the world held, but compared to what the strongest clans had, they weren't even worth mentioning.
Corefire Glowfly is just a mediocre support Myrk that emits pure light, Roland thought, already losing interest as he moved on to the next container.
Support Myrks were defined by what they lacked: no offensive skills, no defensive techniques. They were exactly what the name implied, support tools for a cultivator.
A Myrk that only produced light might seem useless at first glance, but for cultivators traveling at night or fighting in caves, it could save a life more than once.
But Roland was currently in Valen Village, and he had no plans to travel far anytime soon. For him, it was pointless, especially since his first Myrk would also become his Life Myrk.
And he couldn't afford to choose a Dead one.
Passing the Corefire Glowfly, Roland stopped at the second container. Inside floated a strange Myrk shaped like a small anchor.
Myrk: Stone Anchor
First Rank - Defensive
Its ability was simple: it increased the user's body weight, preventing knockback.
Nothing like making your own life harder, Roland mocked silently as he kept walking.
At first glance, preventing knockback sounded useful. But Roland, who had survived hundreds of battles, knew knockback wasn't always a bad thing.
If an opponent could send you flying ten steps with a single strike, that was a clear signal they were physically stronger than you by a wide margin.
In that case, knockback could be an advantage: it created distance, buying you time to attack from range, or run away.
Only someone with a death wish would insist on trading blows up close with an opponent who outclassed them physically.
His gaze shifted to the third Dead Myrk, which looked like a tiny, rusted blade.
Myrk: Rusted Blade
First Rank - Attacking
This one formed a small dagger of Ancient Essence. During combat, it could generate rust on the opponent's weapon.
Also completely useless, Roland thought after a quick assessment.
To even apply the rusting effect, that dagger has to physically touch the enemy's weapon or armor somehow.
And beyond that, stronger Myrks Masters didn't rely on ordinary weapons. Which meant this Myrk was only truly useful against normal people.
Moving on, Roland approached the next container. Inside was something that looked like dried, woody animal hide.
Myrk: Wroughtwood Hide
First Rank - Defensive
A defensive Myrk that transformed the Myrks Master's skin into something slightly wood-like, toughening the body against cuts and slashes.
Not a terrible defensive ability, Roland admitted.
Most First- and Second-Rank Myrks Masters still relied on weapons, usually swords, so protection against blades had real value.
But…
Its drawback was severe: it drastically reduced agility and speed.
Even with its defensive benefits, sacrificing mobility while you were only a First-Stage Myrks Master was basically begging for a quick death.
Roland turned to the last two containers and stepped up to the first of them, which resembled an eyeball.
Myrk: Copper Eye
First Rank - Support
It allowed the Myrks Master to see more clearly through smoke and fog.
Simple, but one of the better Dead Myrks in this batch, Roland thought.
Still not something I want.
No point wasting time on Dead Myrks.
There's nothing here worth...
He started to turn away toward the Living section.
Then, as he passed the final container, something caught his eye.
A tiny human foot.
Except it wasn't quite human, its shape was wrong, and it had only four toes.
"That…" Roland said aloud, stopping dead.
He leaned in, staring at the plaque carved into stone.
Myrk: Silent Step Myrk
First Rank - Support
This Myrk completely silenced a Myrks Master's movement.
Roland stood there for a long moment, silent, eyes fixed on the Silent Step Myrk.
Even though it was a First-Rank Dead Myrk, its ability was lethal in the right hands.
Even if I were a Third-Stage Myrks Master, I'd still find this useful.
And despite being Dead, if he delayed refining it, and somehow managed to obtain a Bile-Weave Myrk as his Life Myrk, then this would be perfect support.
The temptation tightened around him like a noose. For a few seconds, he almost let himself sink into that future.
Then he shook his head and forced himself away, heading for the Living Myrks.
I can't afford wishful thinking.
Right now, he didn't even know where a Bile-Weave Myrk was. He was searching blind.
Building my future on the hope that luck would smile would be foolish.
Three hundred years of experience had taught Roland that risk was a tool, not a whim.
The higher the stakes, the greater the reward, but he only reached for it when the choice made sense… not when it was reckless.
He faced the first of the seven Living Myrks.
It looked like a feather shaped into a blade. Roland read the plaque.
Myrk: Keenwing Myrk
First Rank - Attacking
An offensive Myrk that formed essence into sharp feathers around the user's hands.
Decent at mid-range, Roland thought, recalling its strengths.
But its raw damage was below average. It couldn't pierce armor properly, and even against bare skin it rarely struck clean through. Controlling the feathers was also irritatingly difficult.
Worse, it fed on bird feathers, hard to acquire in Valen Village, which drove the price far above market value.
With that in mind, Roland moved to the second Living Myrk.
Inside was a miniature iron hook.
Myrk: Iron Grip Myrk
First Rank - Support
Its ability sharply increased grip strength, and striking power.
Below average, Roland decided without a second glance.
Then he paused.
The next five plaques were different.
Where the earlier writing had been black and slightly sloppy, these were penned in blue with meticulous care.
So these are the Valen Clan's own Myrks, Roland thought.
The next Myrk was blue and shaped like a shell.
Myrk: Shell Echo Myrk
First Rank - Support
A useful one, its ability detected movement in water.
For the Valen Clan, who lived across the many islands on the lake, it was genuinely practical.
Roland's gaze shifted to the plaque above the next one.
Myrk: Mistveil Myrk
First Rank - Defensive
When activated, it released chilled energy that condensed around the Myrks Master, forming a swirling, semi-liquid zone of fog.
That barrier didn't just obscure vision, its dense flow also slowed and dampened the momentum of incoming projectiles and strikes.
That's a solid defensive ability, Roland thought, considering it more seriously. Especially since it fed on cold vapors from the lake, excellent value for the cost.
He moved on to the next plaque.
Myrk: Water Needle Myrk
First Rank - Attacking
This one fired tiny, tightly compressed jets of water at enormous pressure.
A good skill for fast kills...
But it fed on blue toads. Raising it was a nightmare: catching those things was a pain, and buying them was absurdly expensive.
As Roland's eyes drifted to the container itself, he found it empty.
Looks like most students picked this one, he noted, mildly.
He looked at the next plaque.
Myrk: Deepwater Leech Myrk
First Rank - Support
Its ability increased the regeneration speed of Ancient Essence within a Myrks Master's Core.
But just like the Water Needle, this container was empty too.
A very useful ability for Myrks Masters with weaker talent, after all, their essence reserves were smaller and recovered far more slowly than those of A-rank geniuses.
But it only worked in watery regions. On dry land, it stopped functioning.
With that in mind, Roland dismissed it and turned to the final Living Myrk.
It looked like a long, coiled blue vine.
The plaque read:
Myrk: Deepwater Weave Myrk
First Rank - Attacking
A highly flexible Myrk. It allowed the user to manipulate water into a water-whip for offense, or into a liana for movement.
Among all these Myrks, this one was the most famous within the Valen Clan… and the hardest to master.
But once you did, its versatility became an overwhelming advantage.
Roland stared at it, weighing his final decision.
For an average student, mastering the Deepwater Weave Myrk could take months, years, if they wanted perfection. That was why, despite its versatility, few would choose it.
But for me, it wasn't an issue.
In my previous life, I had mastered it completely.
So out of every Living Myrk available, this was the one that suited he best.
With that thought, Roland finally reached out toward the container and chose the Deepwater Weave Myrk as his Life Myrk.