Chapter 174

Wasteland Where Gods Die

At dawn, Luo En arrived early at the central School Library.

In his hand, he held the special privileges badge earned as one of his rewards from the Bloody Arena—a token granting him access to select a precious ancient text from the Restricted Collection.

"Champion of the Bloody Arena, Apprentice Lalf."

Luo En calmly presented the badge to the guard. "I’m here to use my special privileges."

The elderly guard took the badge, examined it closely, then nodded.

"Verification complete. Please follow me, Young Master Lalf."

The guard turned and led Luo En past the main hall, down a narrow corridor usually off-limits to apprentices.

At the corridor’s end stood a massive door forged from obsidian. Carved into its surface were intricate runes and depictions of strange creatures, their forms twisting like living things under the candlelight.

A faint, eerie sound seeped through the door cracks—no language Luo En recognized, but a disquieting whisper, a blend of hissing and murmuring.

The guard inserted the badge into a slot at the door’s center and muttered an incantation.

As the spell finished, the obsidian door rumbled with a deep, resonant boom, as though a sigh had echoed from the depths of existence itself. Slowly, it creaked inward, revealing a yawning darkness.

"The rules of the Restricted Collection are simple", the guard whispered, his voice unnaturally low, as if fearing to disturb whatever lurked in the shadows. "You have one hour to choose. Only one book may be taken—no damage, copies, or alterations of any kind. Once inside, the guardian golems will monitor you constantly. Any violation results in immediate expulsion and permanent loss of access."

His expression hardened as he added the final warning: "And above all, ignore any voices or whispers. They are merely echoes of knowledge. No matter what you hear, do not respond."

Luo En nodded firmly. "I understand."

"Good luck, young man."

The guard stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter, his eyes flickering with an unreadable emotion.

Taking a deep breath, Luo En stepped into the treasure trove of knowledge. The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, sealing him away from the outside world.

Inside, he found himself in an irregularly shaped chamber. The walls, made of a glowing, strange material, pulsed with vein-like patterns, giving the entire space a rhythmic, living energy.

More unsettling was the way the room’s boundaries seemed to shift subtly as his gaze moved, as though the space itself breathed.

At the chamber’s heart stood a crystalline structure of multidimensional geometry. It resembled a tower at first glance, but shifting perspectives revealed entirely different forms—each angle a new, impossible shape.

Floating above it was an eye-like sphere, its iris a deep, indigo abyss, the pupil a black vortex that seemed to devour all light.

"Now this is interesting", Luo En mused, "this eerie, mage-like atmosphere I was expecting."

Scanning cautiously, he noticed several guardians stationed at the chamber’s edges. These were no ordinary stone golems, but grotesque constructs of semi-transparent, dark-blue crystal.

Their forms were vaguely humanoid but distorted—elongated limbs, malformed heads, joints bending in unnatural directions. Most disturbing were their "eyes", clusters of red crystals of varying sizes embedded across their bodies.

Luo En gave them a brief glance before focusing on his task. Time was limited. He needed to find the right book efficiently.

Approaching the central structure, he felt ancient energy fluctuations radiating from it. He tried to decipher the indexing system. Rather than a mere classification tool, it seemed to function as a thought-responsive device, intuitively guiding seekers to knowledge that resonated with their needs.

Closing his eyes, he concentrated, projecting the concepts "Transcendent Biology", "Abyss", and "Bloodline" into his mind’s forefront.

The eye-like sphere reacted instantly. Its iris darkened to purple, the vortex pupil expanding into an inky whirl.

Following its guidance, Luo En arrived at a shelf formed from dark-purple biological bones and an unknown metal. The archival records here varied wildly—some were ordinary books, others writhed like living organisms. A few appeared solidified from semi-fluid substances, their surfaces bubbling and popping with tiny eruptions.

At the shelf’s center, a single book immediately drew Luo En’s attention.

It was massive—nearly the size of an adult’s torso—bound in an unfamiliar organic leather. Viewed straight on, the cover bore the title Abyssal Life Compendium in Common Tongue. From the side, ancient runes etched themselves into the spine. At certain angles, incomprehensible geometric symbols emerged, triggering mild vertigo when stared at directly.

"This is exactly what I’ve been seeking", Luo En’s heartbeat quickened.

He’d first learned of Abyssal Life Compendium from Liliya and had since pursued every lead about it.

Rumored to be penned by the Dusk Sun Rank mage Serwina Odrich, the book chronicled nearly a century of exploration through the Abyss’s first to thirteenth layers. Some whispered she’d even survived a brief visit to the Thirteenth Layer—"the Void Border"—a near-mythical feat for anyone below Archmage status.

He spent more time scanning the shelf, ensuring no better option was missed. Though tempted by titles like Soul Fragmentation and Reformation: The Price of Immortality and Beneath the Stars: Footprints of the Forgotten Gods, his research focus made Abyssal Life Compendium the clear choice.

Reaching out, he touched the book. A strange coldness met his fingertips, accompanied by a faint electric tingle. As his spiritual energy touched it, something—some presence—seemed to awaken, studying him in return.

"Incredible…"

Carefully, he lifted the tome, feeling its vast, layered knowledge. Flipping the first page, he confirmed it was the complete version he sought.

Unlike ordinary books, the Compendium opened not with a preface but a warning. Written in crimson ink with frantic strokes, the text pulsed faintly on the page, as if etched in blood:

*"To all who read this: guard your soul diligently.
Knowledge is both lamp and abyss;
Those who know too much may become what they seek.
When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back."*

Beneath the warning was a peculiar seal—a stylized eye with a vortex for a pupil, slowly spinning on the parchment.

Decision made, Luo En carried the weighty volume toward the central crystalline structure. As he approached, the eye-like sphere reawakened.

A beam of blue-black light swept over the book, scanning it on some unseen level.

"Selection confirmed: Abyssal Life Compendium (Thirteenth Edition Imprint), recorded by Serwina Odrich. A text beyond time, ranked among the library’s highest treasures."

A layered voice, both distant and intimate, echoed—part sound, part direct impression in his mind: "Confirm removal? Once confirmed, this privilege will be void."

Luo En hesitated only briefly. "Confirm."

As the word left his lips, a subtle energy pulse flowed from the book into his body, forging an invisible but tangible connection.

"Recording complete."

The sphere dimmed, but as its final whisper faded, it murmured so softly it seemed almost imagined:

"May knowledge light your path, wherever it may lead."

Turning, Luo En headed for the exit, the grotesque golems watching in unison. A thousand red crystal eyes tracked his departure until he stepped back through the obsidian door.

The elderly guard waited outside, his face paling at the sight of the book.

"Abyssal Life Compendium? By Truth itself… This, this is a dangerously bold choice, young man."

Luo En replied evenly, "Knowledge has no inherent morality. It is the wielder’s intent that defines it."

The guard’s gaze darkened. "They say Odrich never truly left the Abyss. She merely brought her discoveries back in book form. This may not be the original, but tread carefully, apprentice."

Luo En paused, absorbing the warning. "Caution in knowledge is a mage’s first lesson."

"May your wisdom outweigh your curiosity", the guard murmured. "Remember—when you peer into the Abyss, countless eyes peer back through the cracks in this book."

Back in his most secluded workshop, Luo En immediately entered his private laboratory.

Luo En activated multiple Isolation Formations to ensure his upcoming research would remain undisturbed and secure.

Then, he carefully placed the long-awaited Abyssal Life Compendium on the reading stand. As the pages unfurled beneath his hands, Luo En was astonished to find this compendium unlike any ordinary book. Its content seemed alive, shifting and unfolding in response to the reader’s focus. The words constantly flowed and reorganized, while the illustrations displayed stunning three-dimensional effects when observed. Some pages even emitted specific scents and sounds, transforming reading into a full-sensory immersive experience.

"The Abyssal Realm—called 'Eternal Deep' in ancient poetry, 'the Barren Expanse where gods perish' in myths, and 'the forge of power' by mages."

As he read, a faint black halo formed around the text:

"Far from the simplistic underworld or demon's den imagined by surface dwellers, it resembles an independent universe bubble—a Folding Reality governed by twisted rules, composed of at least thirteen (possibly infinite) dimensions spiraling outward."

With these words, a three-dimensional image emerged on the page: an inverted spiral structure, wide at its base and widening endlessly into an indescribable dark vortex. The image wasn’t static—it rotated slowly, subtly transforming with each revolution to reveal its multidimensional nature.

Luo En flipped past the preface to the first chapter—"Abyssal Geography Overview."

The book described the Abyssal Realm’s structure in meticulous detail, but its revelations were far more complex and unfathomable than he’d anticipated.

The first and second layers, known as "the Crimson Shallows", appeared at first glance to be wilderness under an eternal blood-red sky. However, the text revealed thousands of "spatial vesicles" hidden beneath this ordinary surface—each possessing its own unique ecosystem. Boundaries between these vesicles were blurred and unstable; a single misstep could transport an explorer into an entirely different environment.

The third layer, "Obsidian Sands", where the Lion Scorpion originated, superficially resembled a cursed desert. Deeper analysis revealed its shocking truth—the "sand grains" were actually microscopic lifeforms, each with its own consciousness and purpose. The entire desert functioned as a vast swarm intelligence, expanding through relentless consumption and assimilation.

However, the true horror lay in descriptions of the fourth layer and beyond—realms that defied surface dwellers’ comprehension.

The fourth layer, "Twist Jungle", was an ecosystem violating natural laws. The distinction between plants and animals blurred as lifeforms evolved in unfathomable ways. Trees might suddenly morph into beasts, while animals could root themselves as plants. Some creatures exhibited both plant and animal traits, while others existed beyond classification entirely.

The fifth layer, "Eternal Night Sea", was a fluid region where space itself had been twisted...

The sixth layer, "Labyrinth Domain", formed a multidimensional spatial fold—not merely a physical maze, but a labyrinth of cognition and logic. Here, even the most fundamental cause-and-effect relationships unraveled. Results might precede causes; paradoxes became the norm rather than exceptions.

The book warned:

"The true danger of the Labyrinth Domain lies not in its complex structure, but in its erosion of explorers’ minds. Prolonged exposure to this environment gradually aligns human thought patterns with Abyssal logic, eroding understanding of 'normal' concepts. Once this transformation begins, it becomes nearly irreversible, as victims will perceive the surrounding world—not their own minds—as the source of abnormality."

...

The ninth layer, "Soul Abyss", was even more abstract—a boundary between existence and nonexistence. Here, thoughts and emotions manifested as visible entities, while fragments of memories and dreams drifted through the void. Souls became directly observable and manipulable, like physical objects.

...

The deepest thirteenth layer, "Void Boundary", transcended language itself. This section of the book contained only smudged ink and blank spaces, as if the author had struggled to translate their visions into words. The few surviving descriptions were riddled with contradictions—"infinite narrow spaces", "burning frost", and "deafening silence" painted paradoxical images.

Subsequent chapters detailed Abyssal Curses, far more comprehensive than Luo En’s prior knowledge:

"Abyssal Curses are not mere physical orspiritualafflictions—they represent fundamental transformations of existence. Every creature lingering in the Abyss gets redefined, rewritten into the Abyss’s 'dictionary' as part of its grammatical system."

"Curses of the first to third layers primarily affect physical forms—skin hardening or softening, senses twisting or intensifying, organ locations and functions transforming. While partial reversal may occur upon leaving the Abyss, no records confirm complete recovery."

"The fourth to sixth layers begin altering mental structures—perception, thought patterns, and emotional responses undergo fundamental shifts. Victims may develop entirely new understandings of time, space, and causality, even evolving thought processes beyond mortal language."

"By the seventh layer, curses directly reconstruct soul essence—not simple 'infection' but complete 'rewriting.' Those lingering too long cease being creatures 'changed by the Abyss'—they become conscious fragments of the Abyss itself, living embodiments of its influence."

The book emphasized a disturbing phenomenon—the irreversible, contagious nature of Abyssal Curses:

"Even brief exposure to the Abyss’s deeper layers leaves explorers unconsciously importing its logic into reality. Their thoughts, speech, and very existence become extensions of the Abyss reaching into the surface world. A seventh-layer-cursed individual could gradually align a conversation partner’s mind with Abyssal patterns through prolonged dialogue alone."

This revelation prompted Luo En to recall the mage sects and Abyssal cults condemned by mainstream arcane circles. Perhaps these were collective manifestations of the infection—a clandestine network of Abyssal-changed beings spreading its influence through the surface world.

Further chapters cataloged Abyssal biomes. The most common category was "mutants"—creatures originally from the surface, later transformed by Abyssal mana. While these were extreme mutations of familiar lifeforms, he could still grasp their evolutionary logic.

What truly astounded him were the descriptions of native Abyssal creatures—beings fundamentally alien to surface biology. The book meticulously recorded dozens of such entities, each defying natural laws:

"Void Wanderers"—mana constructs without fixed forms, existing simultaneously in multiple spatial locations, unimpeded by physical barriers;

"Thought Hives"—collective consciousnesses formed of thousands of tiny entities, each holding part of the group mind, with complete intelligence only manifesting through their unity;

"Chronophages"—time-consuming entities that devoured the "timelines" of objects, accelerating aging or regression in their targets...

The most terrifying native Abyssal creatures were "Soul Eaters"—entities existing solely in the ninth layer’s "Soul Abyss."

The book devoted an entire chapter to these horrors:

"Soul Eaters exist not in the material realm but as 'conceptual beings' within the domain of souls and thoughts. Their greatest terror lies not in destruction but contagion—any soul touched by a Soul Eater will gradually acquire its traits, eventually transforming into a new Soul Eater."

"This transformation is insidious and imperceptible. Victims typically remain unaware of their change until it’s too late. Initial symptoms manifest as minor memory gaps, followed by dulled emotional responses, then abnormal perception of others’ souls, culminating in an irresistible 'appetite'—an unquenchable hunger for other souls."

"Most terrifyingly, once this transformation begins in the surface world, it becomes nearly irreversible. The only known 'treatment' involves soul division surgery—excising and sealing the infected portion. However, this itself is an extremely dangerous forbidden spell with an abysmal success rate."

Yet, as the Abyss’s dangers increased exponentially with depth, so too did the treasures and opportunities it contained.

When Luo En flipped to the chapter "Abyssal Materials and Wonders", he found its content far more systematic and detailed than imagined.

"Abyssal materials shouldn’t be viewed as mere substances but as 'frozen fragments of twisted reality.'"

The book explained:

"Every Abyssal material can interfere with or overwrite surface-world physical laws to some degree."

This was precisely what Luo En found most intriguing. However, as he prepared to read further, a sudden dizziness struck him. He quickly reached out to steady himself against the desk…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end