The aftermath of the sparring match left the academy buzzing with rumors. Li Feng's group, already noted for defeating a Tier-2 beast, had now bested one of the academy's strongest contenders. Yet, while their reputation soared, so did the weight of expectations and curiosity.
That evening, they convened in their dormitory. It was a quiet space, one they had made their own over the weeks of training. The air was heavy with a mix of pride and unease.
"We need to celebrate," Zhu Yan announced, holding up a flask he'd smuggled in. "Come on, we're the talk of the academy!"
Xu Mei crossed her arms. "Talk is cheap, Zhu Yan. Do you realize what this means? Every climber will be watching us now."
Lin Yue glanced down nervously. "She's right. We've made enemies today."
Zhu Yan waved a dismissive hand. "Enemies or not, a win is a win. Right, Feng?"
Li Feng didn't respond immediately. His thoughts lingered on the brief flash of crimson energy he had noticed during the fight with Feng Wei. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but there was no mistaking the unstable fluctuation in his opponent's energy. It didn't seem natural.
Before he could voice his thoughts, a sharp pulse resonated through his body.
[Warning: Foreign anomaly detected. Nexus Point activity identified nearby.]
The sudden notification from his Abyssal Nexus startled him.
"What's wrong?" Xu Mei asked, noticing the change in his demeanor.
Li Feng rose to his feet. "There's another Energy Pillar nearby."
"Another one?" Zhu Yan groaned. "Can't we have one night to breathe?"
"No," Li Feng said firmly. "If we don't act, someone else will. And this one feels… different."
The forest was eerily quiet as they made their way to the location. Guided by the Abyssal Nexus, Li Feng led them deeper into the shadows. The moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy above, casting everything in a muted, silvery glow.
"This place feels... wrong," Lin Yue whispered, her voice trembling.
Xu Mei unsheathed her Mirage Blade, her eyes scanning their surroundings. "Stay alert."
As they reached the clearing, a sight unlike anything they had encountered before awaited them. In the center stood what appeared to be another Energy Pillar. However, unlike the blue-hued ones they had seen before, this one pulsed with a dark crimson light, radiating an ominous energy.
"That doesn't look normal," Zhu Yan muttered, gripping his staff tightly.
Li Feng activated his Abyssal Gaze. The patterns of energy around the pillar were chaotic, almost alive. Crimson tendrils snaked outward, infecting the surrounding air and ground.
"This isn't just an Energy Pillar," he said grimly. "It's corrupted."
"Corrupted?" Xu Mei echoed.
Before Li Feng could elaborate, a guttural growl broke the silence. The group turned, weapons at the ready, as figures emerged from the shadows.
The creatures were humanoid but grotesquely twisted. Their eyes glowed with the same crimson light as the pillar, and their bodies were warped, with jagged limbs and cracked skin.
"Are those… climbers?" Lin Yue asked, horror in her voice.
"They were," Li Feng said, his gaze narrowing. "Now, they're something worse—Aberrations consumed by the corruption."
L
The corrupted climbers moved with unnatural speed, charging toward the group with frenzied growls.
"Barrier!" Li Feng shouted.
Lin Yue reacted instantly, her hands glowing as she erected a shimmering wall of energy. The first aberration slammed into it, the impact reverberating through the clearing.
"Zhu Yan!"
"On it!" Zhu Yan unleashed a wave of flames, forcing the creatures to stagger back.
Xu Mei darted forward, her Mirage Blade slashing at one of the aberrations. The blade struck true, but the creature barely flinched, its corrupted energy absorbing much of the impact.
"These things are tough!" she called out, retreating quickly.
Li Feng's Abyssal Gaze focused on the creatures, analyzing their energy patterns. Amid the chaos, he spotted faint disruptions near their chests, where the crimson energy pulsed erratically.
"Focus on their cores!" he shouted. "That's their weak spot!"
The team adjusted their strategy. Lin Yue's barriers funneled the aberrations into tighter spaces, limiting their movements. Zhu Yan bombarded them with concentrated bursts of fire, while Xu Mei used her blade to exploit the openings created.
Li Feng moved with precision, his spear glowing with Abyssal energy. Each strike targeted the core of the corruption, causing the crimson energy to dissipate with each successful hit.
The battle was grueling, but the team's coordination ultimately won out. As the last aberration fell, the group regrouped, breathing heavily.
"What the hell was that?" Zhu Yan asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
Li Feng's gaze shifted back to the crimson pillar. Its light had dimmed slightly, but it still pulsed with an ominous energy.
"This pillar is the source of the corruption," he said. "If we don't deal with it, more will come."
"How do we deal with it?" Lin Yue asked hesitantly.
Li Feng approached the pillar cautiously. The Abyssal Nexus pulsed in response, offering a new notification:
[Corrupted Nexus Detected. Purification Required for Full Absorption.]
He placed his hand on the pillar. The Abyssal Nexus activated, sending energy surging through his body. The corruption fought back fiercely, its dark energy clawing at his mind.
"Feng!" Xu Mei called out as the pillar's crimson light flared, enveloping him.
"I'm fine!" he managed, his voice strained. "Just… keep watch!"
The process was agonizing. The corruption whispered to him, promising power in exchange for submission. Memories of past failures surfaced, threatening to overwhelm him.
But the Abyssal Nexus burned brighter, pushing back against the darkness. It purified the corruption bit by bit, its energy stabilizing the chaotic patterns.
Finally, the crimson light faded, replaced by a soft, blue glow.
[Corruption Purified. Nexus Point Absorbed. Abyssal Points Gained: +200.]
Li Feng staggered back, his body trembling from the effort.
"Are you alright?" Lin Yue asked, rushing to his side.
He nodded weakly. "Yeah. Just… give me a minute."
Zhu Yan looked at the now-dormant pillar. "That was insane. What kind of Energy Pillar was that?"
Li Feng hesitated. "It wasn't an Energy Pillar. At least, not anymore. This one was something more—something twisted."
Xu Mei's expression darkened. "If these things exist, then the tower isn't just a test of strength. It's something else entirely."
As they made their way back to the academy, Li Feng's thoughts were heavy. The Abyssal Nexus's silence was unsettling, as if it, too, was processing the encounter.
For the first time, he felt a sliver of doubt. The tower had always been portrayed as a path to power and glory, but now it seemed to hide a darker purpose.
"We've stepped into something far bigger than us," he thought. "But whatever's coming, we'll face it."
As they reached the edge of the forest, a new notification appeared on his Celestial Screen:
[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Source of Corruption.]
Li Feng's eyes narrowed. "This is only the beginning."