The aftermath of the Trial of Truth left the academy in a state of buzz and speculation. Li Feng's encounter with the Abyss had become the subject of hushed conversations, though none dared to confront him directly.
In their dormitory, Zhu Yan paced back and forth. "You know, Feng, I get the whole 'mysterious chosen one' vibe you've got going on, but this Abyss thing is… unsettling."
Xu Mei leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Unsettling doesn't cover it. Whatever the Abyss is, it clearly has a connection to you. And that means it's a threat to us, too."
Li Feng sat by the window, his Piercing Sight flickering as he stared into the distance. "The Abyss isn't a threat," he said finally. "Not yet. It's an opportunity. One we need to understand before we decide how to deal with it."
Lin Yue, seated quietly in the corner, raised her voice. "But… what if the Abyss demands something? What if it turns against you?"
Li Feng turned to face her, his expression calm but resolute. "Then I'll deal with it. Just like we dealt with the Trial."
Later that evening, the Celestial Screen emitted a soft chime, notifying climbers of a new directive.
[Directive Issued: Energy Pillar Anomaly Detected. All Tier-1 and above climbers are required to investigate.]
Xu Mei read the notification aloud, frowning. "An anomaly? That doesn't sound good."
"It's never good," Zhu Yan muttered. "But it's mandatory, so we don't have a choice."
Li Feng's Abyssal Nexus pulsed with a familiar warmth, and a notification appeared before him:
[Nexus Alert: Convergence Point Activity Detected. Unique Resources Expected. High Risk, High Reward.]
He hid the notification from view, his mind already strategizing. "We need to prepare. This isn't going to be like the Trial. Anomalies are unpredictable, and the academy's directive means we won't be the only group out there."
Xu Mei nodded. "We'll stock up on supplies. Lin Yue, focus on strengthening your barriers. Zhu Yan, keep your flames sharp."
"And you?" Zhu Yan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Li Feng smirked. "I'll keep an eye on the competition."
The Energy Pillar, located deep within the wilderness outside the academy, loomed like a beacon of raw power. Its vibrant, shifting hues illuminated the surrounding forest, creating an otherworldly atmosphere.
Several groups of climbers had already gathered at the perimeter, their Celestial Screens glowing faintly as they scanned the area. The tension was palpable; everyone knew that competition here wouldn't just be against the anomaly, but against each other.
Xu Mei surveyed the crowd. "Recognize anyone?"
Zhu Yan pointed discreetly. "That's Feng Wei's team. They're Tier-2 climbers. And over there—Luo Chen's group. They've got numbers and experience."
"Great," Xu Mei said dryly. "We're surrounded by sharks."
Li Feng activated his Piercing Sight, analyzing the anomaly. The Energy Pillar's core pulsed erratically, its energy flow unstable. His Abyssal Nexus whispered fragments of insight:
[Nexus Points Within: Energy Amplifiers, Essence Shards, Abyssal Residue. Extraction Protocol Recommended.]
He turned to his group. "We need to move fast. The anomaly's unstable, which means it could collapse at any moment. Our goal is to extract as much as we can without drawing too much attention."
Zhu Yan frowned. "And if someone tries to stop us?"
Li Feng's gaze hardened. "We'll deal with them."
Entering the anomaly felt like stepping into another world. The air shimmered with energy, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to hum with power.
"Stay close," Xu Mei warned, her Mirage Blade at the ready.
As they navigated the anomaly, Li Feng's Piercing Sight picked up faint traces of Nexus Points. "This way," he said, leading them to a clearing where several glowing nodes pulsed faintly.
"These are Nexus Points," he explained. "Absorbing their energy will give us Celestial Points and Combat Rating boosts, but it'll be taxing. Lin Yue, focus on defending us while we extract."
The group nodded, each approaching a Nexus Point.
For the others, the process was grueling. Zhu Yan gritted his teeth, sweat dripping as he endured the strain. Xu Mei's Mirage Blade flickered erratically, her energy fluctuating as she absorbed the essence. Lin Yue held steady, her barriers shimmering protectively around them.
Li Feng, on the other hand, absorbed the energy effortlessly. His Abyssal System processed the essence with precision, converting it into Abyssal Points.
[Energy Absorbed: +20 CP, +20 CR.]
[Abyssal Points Gained: +40.]
"Unfair," Zhu Yan muttered, collapsing onto the ground as his Nexus Point dimmed. "How are you not even breaking a sweat, Feng?"
Li Feng smirked, but before he could respond, the anomaly shuddered violently.
A new notification appeared on his Celestial Screen:
[Warning: Tier-2 Aberration Detected. Threat Level High.]
The ground cracked, and a monstrous figure emerged—a Tier-2 aberration, its form a grotesque fusion of stone and energy. Its roar sent a shockwave through the clearing, knocking several climbers off their feet.
"Scatter!" Xu Mei yelled, her Mirage Blade igniting with a brilliant glow.
The aberration lunged, its massive claws swiping at the nearest climbers. Chaos erupted as groups scrambled to defend themselves.
Li Feng's group held their ground. "Lin Yue, barriers! Zhu Yan, keep it distracted! Xu Mei, aim for its joints!"
As they moved into position, Li Feng activated his Abyssal Gaze, analyzing the aberration's structure. Its core, buried deep within its chest, pulsed erratically—a weak point.
"We need to hit the core," he shouted.
Zhu Yan unleashed a torrent of flame, drawing the aberration's attention. Lin Yue reinforced their defenses, her barriers holding firm against the creature's relentless assault. Xu Mei darted in and out of its reach, her blade chipping away at its stony hide.
Li Feng waited for his moment.
The aberration reared back, preparing to strike. "Now!" he yelled, sprinting forward.
Using his spear, he vaulted onto the creature's back, his Abyssal Gaze locking onto the core. With a powerful thrust, he drove his spear into the weak point, the energy surging through him as the creature let out a deafening roar.
"Zhu Yan!" he called.
Zhu Yan didn't hesitate, focusing his flames on the exposed core. The combined assault overloaded the aberration, its form collapsing in a burst of light and energy.
As the dust settled, a notification appeared on Li Feng's Celestial Screen:
[Tier-2 Aberration Defeated: +60 CP, +1 CR.]
[Abyssal Points Gained: +120.]
The crowd of climbers stared in awe.
"What just happened?" one of them muttered.
"That guy… took down a Tier-2 aberration like it was nothing."
Li Feng ignored the whispers, turning to his team. "Everyone okay?"
Xu Mei nodded, though she looked winded. "Barely."
Zhu Yan grinned weakly. "I'm alive, so that's a win."
Lin Yue managed a small smile. "We did it."
Li Feng glanced back at the Energy Pillar, its light dimming as the anomaly stabilized.
"This is just the beginning," he said quietly. "The tower has far greater challenges waiting for us."