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Chapter 15: Ocular Tremors, Flesh Proliferation
Chapter 15: Ocular Tremors, Flesh Proliferation
Back in his dorm room, Luo En didn't rest immediately. Instead, he began his daily meditation practice.
Since advancing to the [Apothecary Apprentice] class, he'd noticed his perception of spiritual energy had become far keener. Today's breakthrough during physique forging—understanding "Rhythm"—had opened a completely new perspective.
"If the Solar Corona Breathing Technique mimics the sun's patterns..." Luo En flipped open his worn copy of the Basic Meditation Manual, "then does spiritual energy itself follow specific patterns?"
He examined the foundational rune depicted in the book—a simple design of three curved lines. Previously, he'd only copied it mechanically, but now he realized: the arrangement of these three arcs subtly embodied a rhythmic structure.
Testing this theory, he began tracing the rune with varying tempos.
[Basic Meditation Initiated]
As the first arc formed in his mind, he no longer rushed to complete it. Instead, he focused intently on the flow of spiritual energy.
Fascinatingly, whenever a section of the rune resonated with spiritual energy's natural fluctuations, that arc stabilized instantly.
"So that's it", Luo En finally understood.
This rune wasn't just a tool for channeling spiritual energy—it was a replica of its most natural flow pattern.
[Triggered Special Effect: Spirit Rhythm—Meditation effectiveness slightly increased]
[Basic Meditation Experience +1]
[Basic Meditation Experience +1]
[Basic Meditation Experience +1]
[Daily cultivation limit reached. Recommend rest.]
The surge of experience points—significantly more than usual—confirmed his theory.
As Luo En prepared to continue meditating, shouting erupted outside.
"Someone ascended again?" He stood, opening the door just as a familiar figure darted past.
It was Luo Ke, his fellow recruit from the Black Mist Jungle, sprinting toward the testing hall with wild excitement.
"Looks like another candidate's broken through", Luo En remarked.
Andie had heard the commotion too, stepping out from his nearby room.
"These incidents are increasing lately. The closer we get to the evaluation deadline, the more reckless people get."
Luo En understood. As time ran out, those losing hope often took desperate risks—either attempting forbidden spells or purchasing dubious "special elixirs."
"Let's go observe. Every success story offers valuable lessons."
Andie waited as Luo En locked his door. "We might spot some hidden secrets."
The testing hall sat at the Dormitory Area's center, housing a specialized crystal sphere that measured spiritual energy intensity.
When they arrived, a crowd had already gathered.
Luo Ke stood before the crystal, pale-faced but eyes burning with excitement.
"It's started", someone whispered.
As Luo Ke pressed his hands to the sphere, dark red mist churned violently inside. Moments later, a moderately bright symbol formed—but it flickered erratically like a dying bulb.
"He actually qualified!" Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
This surprised many. Luo Ke had barely scraped by as a Sixth Class Star, just like Luo En. Now he'd reached the apprentice-level spiritual energy requirement nearly three months early.
"What method did he use?" Discussions erupted.
But Andie's expression darkened. "Something's wrong."
"What do you mean?" Luo En whispered.
"Look at his pupils." Andie restrained Luo En with an arm, slowly stepping back. "They're too unfocused."
He gestured to Luo Ke's trembling hands on the crystal. "This is a prelude to spiritual energy losing control."
Indeed, amid the astonished crowd, Luo Ke suddenly clutched his head with a pained groan.
His previously clear gaze turned chaotic. His mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"Damn!" Andie yanked Luo En backward. "Get back—"
Before he finished, Luo Ke screamed.
Bloodshot eyes bulged as his spiritual energy surged violently. The air thickened, suffocating everyone present.
"Classic drug side effects", Andie gritted. "He actually dared use that kind of forbidden elixir!"
Luo En noticed the crystal's red mist suddenly thickening, the symbol within twisting grotesquely—a terrible omen.
Just as panic spread, a white-robed figure materialized in the hall's center.
The apprentices scattered like waves, eyes filled with unrestrained fear and reverence.
That instinctive terror wasn't unfounded.
At the apex of Black Mist Jungle's hierarchy, Full Mages wielded near-absolute power. But even more terrifying than that power was the invisible oppression they radiated.
Luo En remembered Andie explaining: when spiritual energy surpassed a critical threshold to reach Full Mage status, the mage's mana underwent a strange activation, forming a special energy field called a "Domain." This Domain constantly emitted penetrating radiation—something even the mages themselves struggled to fully contain.
Though most used techniques to minimize the radiation, simply being within two meters of a Full Mage could trigger severe physical reactions—dizziness, nausea, fever, and prolonged exposure might even lead to organ failure. The weakest individuals could die within minutes.
This was why mages isolated themselves, their residences fortified with layers of protective wards—not just to guard privacy and research, but to prevent accidental casualties.
Luo En felt the air grow viscous as the white-robed figure approached. Breathing became labored. A strange prickling sensation spread across his skin, as if countless needles poked him.
And this was from over ten meters away. The apprentices forced to remain nearby fared far worse—several turned ghost-white, one already bleeding from the nose.
Yet no one dared protest. No one dared leave. To a mage, such actions might be considered disrespect—and the consequences could be dire.
This was the terrifying gap between power levels.
The apprentices revered mages not just from fear, but because within each burned the desperate hope of becoming such a supreme being.
"Enough. If you can't handle it, back away", the white-robed mage said coldly, waving his staff. A silver halo expanded, forcing everyone against the walls.
Only the convulsing Luo Ke remained in the center.
"Interesting", the mage mused. "Looks like he consumed Spirit Catalyst—and overdosed."
From his robes, he produced a crystal vial containing black liquid. "Perfect opportunity to test this new formula."
Andie's face twisted, recognizing the situation. "Don't look—" he hissed, but Luo En knew he must remember this.
This was the mage's world—where the strong treated the weak as test subjects, life and death determined by a single whim.
Luo Ke's shriek pierced the air as invisible hands forced the black liquid down his throat. His body convulsed violently, something writhing beneath his skin.
The mage clenched his fist. The silver halo tightened, restraining the now-uncontrolled Luo Ke.
Now completely feral, Luo Ke's eyes trembled violently, reflecting shifting geometric patterns.
"Ah, classic Ocular Tremors", the mage observed calmly. "The most common reaction when mortals glimpse forbidden truths."
Circling his captive like a researcher studying a lab rat, he added, "So the Spirit Catalyst he consumed likely contained mutated creature eye extracts."
Suddenly, Luo Ke's skin rippled as something twisted beneath—like worms beneath flesh. His right arm swelled, skin splitting to reveal writhing muscle.
"Flesh Proliferation", the mage chuckled. "Rare to contract two Heteromorphic Contaminations simultaneously."
Luo En endured the sickness welling in his gut, noting how the mage's own eyes trembled slightly—a side effect of prolonged occult knowledge exposure.
Luo Ke's screams took on an inhuman timbre as his flesh reconfigured into grotesque limbs and organs before disintegrating.
"Stop watching! Return now!" Andie dragged Luo En away, but those images had already seared themselves into his mind.
Back in their dormitory, Luo En remained silent.
The visions replayed relentlessly—Luo Ke's geometric eye patterns, the writhing flesh, the air's distortion.
What was happening? Why did a spiritual energy-enhancing elixir cause such horror?
"Andie..." Luo En finally broke his silence. "Have you seen these symptoms—those ocular tremors and flesh proliferation—before?"
The blond boy's face turned deathly pale. "Luo En, this isn't something you should be asking about right now!"
(End of Chapter)
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