The shard glowed faintly in Li Feng's palm, pulsating with a quiet rhythm as if alive. His Abyssal Gaze picked up traces of an intricate energy signature embedded within it—a pattern unlike anything he'd seen before.
"What do you mean by 'a clue'?" Xu Mei asked, her Mirage Blade resting at her side.
"This shard came from the Nexus Point," Li Feng explained, his voice steady but intense. "It holds information—fragments of energy signatures that could tell us why these points are becoming corrupted. But I need time to study it."
Zhu Yan scratched his head. "Study? You're not exactly an alchemist or scholar, Feng."
Li Feng smirked faintly. "No, but the Abyssal System isn't just for absorbing energy and gaining points. It can analyze anomalies like this. Think of it as a... translator for the tower's secrets."
Lin Yue's eyes widened. "You mean your system can process information from the tower itself?"
"Not exactly," Li Feng said, slipping the shard into his satchel. "But it can piece together patterns and help us make sense of what we're dealing with."
Xu Mei crossed her arms. "Fine, but we'll need to find a safe place to do that. We're still deep in the tower, and I doubt the aberrations are the only danger."
---
The group retreated to a small cave they had passed earlier, its entrance hidden by thick vines. Zhu Yan set up a small flame for light while Lin Yue erected a faint barrier over the entrance to keep them hidden.
Li Feng sat cross-legged, placing the shard in front of him. He activated his Abyssal Nexus, and the familiar dark-blue interface materialized before his eyes.
[Analyzing Anomalous Shard…]
[Estimated Time: 1 Hour.]
"Looks like we have to wait," Li Feng said, leaning back.
Zhu Yan groaned. "Great. More sitting around while you stare at glowing screens."
Xu Mei shot him a sharp look. "You'd rather be out there fighting more aberrations?"
"Fair point," Zhu Yan muttered.
Lin Yue, meanwhile, sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the shard. "Do you think this corruption is spreading on purpose? Like… someone or something is causing it?"
Li Feng considered her question. "It's possible. The tower has always been unpredictable, but corruption like this feels… intentional."
Xu Mei frowned. "If that's true, we're not just fighting the tower. We're fighting whoever—or whatever—is behind it."
---
The hour passed slowly, the tension in the cave palpable. Finally, a soft chime from Li Feng's screen broke the silence.
[Analysis Complete.]
[Corruption Source Identified: Energy Signature Linked to External Manipulation.]
[Climbers have unknowingly been exposed to altered Nexus Points over time. This alteration enhances individual abilities temporarily but leaves traces of corruption, weakening mental stability and physical resilience.]
Li Feng's breath hitched. "It's worse than we thought."
"What is it?" Xu Mei asked, leaning closer.
"The corruption isn't just affecting the tower—it's affecting climbers, too," Li Feng explained. "Every time someone interacts with a corrupted Nexus Point, they're exposing themselves to something that chips away at their sanity and strength."
Zhu Yan's eyes widened. "You're saying we've all been—"
"No," Li Feng interrupted. "The Abyssal System purified the energy before I absorbed it. And for you, the Celestial Screen's barriers likely protected you during absorption. But it's not foolproof. If this continues…"
Lin Yue shivered. "People will lose themselves."
Xu Mei's jaw tightened. "And the tower will be filled with more aberrations."
---
Li Feng stood, the shard now dim and lifeless in his hand. "There's another layer to this. The energy signature from the corruption doesn't feel natural—it's like it was… placed there."
"Placed?" Zhu Yan echoed.
Li Feng nodded. "Someone's tampering with the Nexus Points. And whoever it is, they're playing a dangerous game."
Xu Mei gripped her blade. "Then we need to find them and stop them."
"Easier said than done," Li Feng said. "The shard's analysis points to a deeper level of the tower. If we want answers, we'll have to go further than we've ever gone."
Lin Yue hesitated. "Do you think we're ready for that?"
"No," Li Feng admitted. "But waiting will only make things worse."
---
The next morning, the group ventured further into the tower, leaving the relative safety of the first layer behind. The terrain grew harsher—craggy cliffs replaced the dense forests, and the air carried a biting chill.
The second layer of the Celestial Tower was known as the Stone Wastes—a barren expanse where powerful Tier-3 beasts roamed freely. Few climbers dared to linger here, and those who did often didn't return.
"We stick to the plan," Li Feng said as they climbed a narrow ridge. "Avoid unnecessary fights, focus on finding the next Energy Pillar—Nexus Point, I mean—and gather more clues."
"Sounds simple enough," Zhu Yan said. "Except for the part where we avoid fights in a place full of things that want to eat us."
Lin Yue gave him a nervous glance. "Let's just hope they're not as strong as the aberrations."
As if on cue, a deafening roar echoed through the wastes.
"Why do you always jinx us?" Xu Mei hissed.
The group froze as a massive creature emerged from the shadows—a Tier-3 beast with jagged, stone-like armor and glowing red eyes.
Li Feng's Piercing Sight activated instantly, scanning the beast for weaknesses.
"Left hind leg," he said quickly. "There's a crack in the armor. We need to exploit it."
The beast lunged, its massive claws tearing through the ground as it charged. Lin Yue raised a barrier just in time, the shimmering wall absorbing the brunt of the impact but cracking under the force.
"Go!" she shouted, her voice strained.
Zhu Yan unleashed a torrent of flames, driving the beast back while Xu Mei darted in, her Mirage Blade striking the creature's exposed joints.
Li Feng moved with precision, his spear aiming for the weak spot he had identified. The beast roared in pain as the weapon struck true, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.
"Finish it!" Xu Mei yelled.
Zhu Yan channeled his flames into a concentrated blast, the intense heat melting through the beast's armor. With a final, ear-splitting roar, the creature collapsed, its body crumbling into dust.
---
Panting, the group regrouped, their bodies battered but unbroken.
"That was too close," Lin Yue said, her hands trembling.
"But we did it," Xu Mei said firmly.
Li Feng's gaze shifted to the faint energy trails left behind by the beast. They led deeper into the wastes, toward what he could only assume was another Nexus Point.
"This is just the beginning," he said quietly. "The deeper we go, the more dangerous it'll get."
"But also the closer we'll be to the truth," Xu Mei added.
Li Feng nodded, determination hardening his expression. "And we'll face it together."
Their journey wasn't just about survival anymore—it was about uncovering the tower's darkest secrets.