The notification on Li Feng's Celestial Screen lingered before his eyes, the faint glow casting a strange light in the dim dormitory.
[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Source of Corruption.]
Objective: Investigate the origins of the corrupted Energy Pillars. Progress deeper into the Celestial Tower for clues.]
His pulse quickened as he read the details. The corruption wasn't just an isolated phenomenon—it had roots that stretched deep into the tower itself. But what unnerved him more was the emphasis on "clues." It wasn't just about defeating enemies; it was about unraveling a mystery that no one else seemed to notice.
"What's wrong?" Xu Mei asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Li Feng shook his head. "Nothing. Just… thinking about what happened back there."
Xu Mei's brow furrowed. "You absorbed that corrupted energy, didn't you? Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," he assured her. "The Abyssal System purified it before I took it in. But what worries me is how that pillar got corrupted in the first place."
"Corrupted Energy Pillars… If more of those show up, the tower will become even more dangerous," Zhu Yan said, his voice unusually serious.
Lin Yue nodded. "We need to be careful. If even climbers can turn into those… things, then anyone could be at risk."
Li Feng's gaze darkened. "Exactly. And I don't think this was a random occurrence."
The next morning, the academy courtyard buzzed with activity. News of the group's victory over Feng Wei had spread, but whispers of their encounter with aberrations in the forest were also circulating.
As the group made their way to the training grounds, they noticed a familiar figure waiting for them—Instructor Qian.
"I heard about your little expedition," he said, his tone unreadable.
Li Feng inclined his head. "We encountered something unusual."
"Unusual doesn't begin to cover it," Qian said, his eyes narrowing. "Corrupted climbers, you say? And an Energy Pillar unlike any other?"
"Yes," Li Feng replied. "The corruption was emanating from the pillar itself. It was unlike anything we've seen before."
Qian stroked his chin thoughtfully. "This isn't the first time such rumors have reached my ears. But an actual sighting… That's different."
"You've heard of this before?" Xu Mei asked, her voice tinged with surprise.
The instructor nodded. "Scattered reports, mostly from deeper levels of the tower. Corrupted climbers, strange energy fluctuations, and pillars that don't behave as they should. But until now, there's been no concrete proof."
Li Feng exchanged a glance with his teammates. "So, what does it mean?"
"It means the tower is evolving," Qian said gravely. "And not in a way anyone can predict."
Later that day, the group found themselves in the academy's archive—a vast chamber filled with scrolls, books, and records detailing climbers' exploits, tower phenomena, and more.
Li Feng's Abyssal Gaze allowed him to quickly sift through documents, his eyes scanning for anything related to corruption or aberrations.
"Here," he said, pulling out an old, tattered scroll. The others gathered around as he unrolled it.
The text was faded, but the illustrations were clear. They depicted climbers standing before a massive, blackened pillar, their forms twisted and distorted.
"Beware the Crimson Shade," the text read. "For it heralds the breaking of balance. The tower's blessings become curses, and the climbers its tools."
"That doesn't sound ominous at all," Zhu Yan muttered.
Xu Mei frowned. "The breaking of balance… Do you think it's referring to the corrupted Energy Pillars?"
"Maybe," Li Feng said. "But there's more here."
He pointed to a passage that detailed a group of climbers who had tried to investigate the corruption. According to the scroll, they had disappeared without a trace, their last known location deep within the tower's third layer.
Lin Yue shivered. "Are we heading there too?"
"We don't have a choice," Li Feng said firmly. "If we ignore this, it'll only get worse."
That night, as the group prepared for their next venture into the tower, Li Feng sat alone, staring at his Celestial Screen.
The Abyssal Nexus pulsed faintly, its presence a constant reminder of the power he wielded—and the responsibility it carried.
[Abyssal Nexus Insight Available.]
[Would you like to review?]
He selected the option, and a new interface appeared.
[Corruption Dynamics: The Abyssal System identifies corrupted energy as a byproduct of unstable tower mechanics. Purifying such energy yields greater Abyssal Points but poses significant mental strain. Recommended Action: Proceed with caution.]
Li Feng leaned back, letting out a slow breath. "Unstable mechanics… So the tower itself is flawed."
But why?
The following morning, the group entered the tower once more. The first layer was as they remembered it—lush forests, teeming with low-tier beasts. But something felt off.
"Do you feel that?" Lin Yue asked, her voice hushed.
Li Feng nodded. The air was heavier, the energy denser. His Abyssal Gaze revealed faint traces of crimson light lingering in the atmosphere.
"We're getting closer to another Nexus Point," he said.
"Energy Pillar," Zhu Yan corrected.
"No," Li Feng said. "This one's different. Just like the last."
They moved cautiously, their senses heightened. The deeper they ventured, the more distorted the environment became. Trees were twisted and gnarled, their leaves blackened. The ground was littered with bones—both human and beast.
"Stay close," Xu Mei said, her Mirage Blade at the ready.
As they reached a clearing, the Nexus Point came into view. This one was larger than the last, its crimson light pulsating erratically. Around it stood a dozen aberrations, their forms even more grotesque than before.
"We can't take all of them head-on," Lin Yue whispered.
"We won't have to," Li Feng said. "Lin Yue, create a barrier to separate them. Zhu Yan, use your flames to funnel them into one spot. Xu Mei, cover me—I'm going for the Nexus."
"What are you going to do?" Xu Mei asked.
"Absorb it," he said.
The plan unfolded with precision. Lin Yue's barriers cut off half the aberrations, forcing the others into a narrow path. Zhu Yan unleashed a torrent of fire, keeping them at bay while Xu Mei struck with surgical precision.
Li Feng sprinted toward the Nexus Point, the Abyssal Nexus activating as he approached.
[Corrupted Nexus Detected. Initiating Purification.]
The process was even more intense than before. The corruption resisted fiercely, clawing at his mind with visions of despair and failure. But Li Feng held firm, channeling the Abyssal System's energy to counter the darkness.
Finally, the crimson light faded, replaced by a calm, blue glow.
[Corruption Purified. Abyssal Points Gained: +250.]
[CR +1.]
The remaining aberrations crumbled to dust, their forms unable to sustain themselves without the Nexus's influence.
As the group regrouped, panting and bruised but alive, Li Feng held up a glowing shard he had retrieved from the Nexus.
"This," he said, "is a clue."
Xu Mei frowned. "A clue to what?"
"To the tower's secrets," Li Feng said. "And why it's turning against us."
Their journey was only just beginning.