Chapter 178: Atlas of Calamities
Chapter 178: Atlas of Calamities (Requesting Monthly Vote)
"Huff..."
Lin Qi plopped down onto a meditation cushion, crossed his legs, and began adjusting his posture to endure the invisible spiritual pressure. Others, equally talented, quickly followed suit, closing their eyes to brace themselves.
At first, the relentless mental barrage felt like motion sickness on a turbulent bus ride. But after a while, everyone adapted, like seasoned travelers settling into the rhythm.
Soon, Lin Qi grew fully accustomed to the pressure. His eyes snapped open, sharp and resolute, as he rose to his feet.
"Brother Qi, let's head to the next floor!" Jiang Tao suggested, opening his eyes.
"The first layer's spiritual pressure isn't strong enough. We should push further", Guo Heng added.
"Agreed!" Zhou Xi Yin, Li Zhou, and Wang Qiufeng nodded in unison, their gazes steady.
While a few companions remained behind, feeling unwell, the group ascended the spiral staircase to the second floor, which mirrored the first. But the moment they stepped into the blue-marked zone—
Boom!!
It felt as if a sledgehammer had slammed into their skulls. Waves of spiritual energy crashed over them from all directions, crushing their bodies like a tidal surge.
Lin Qi furrowed his brow, grabbed a cushion, and sat down, gritting his teeth against the onslaught.
"Agh!!"
A few cried out in pain. Zhou Xi Yin, Jiang Tao, and Wang Qiufeng winced, their faces contorted with agony. Compared to the first floor, the intensity here was exponentially worse.
"I can't take it anymore!" Lü Xiang groaned, clutching his head as he bolted back to the white zone.
"Same here!"
"Too much!"
One by one, others succumbed, their faces pale and haggard, as if they’d pulled an all-nighter for three days straight.
Half an hour later, Li Zhou staggered up, drenched in sweat, and retreated to the white zone. Collapsing onto the floor, he felt dizzy, like he’d spun in circles for hours.
"Ugh..." Li Zhou shook his head violently, battling nausea. Looking around, he saw only a handful still holding out.
Zhou Xi Yin followed soon, her delicate features twisted in pain. Then Guo Heng, Wang Qiufeng, and finally Jiang Tao, who lurched into the white zone and collapsed, muttering, "Can't take it anymore..."
Only Lin Qi remained.
Twenty minutes later, he’d endured the pressure for nearly an hour. His mind felt like a boat battered by endless waves. Just as he neared his limit, Xiaochan’s voice cut through:
"Master, an hour’s up!"
Lin Qi’s eyes flew open, blazing with intensity.
[You withstood the spiritual pressure. Your spirit is tempered. Spiritual Power +0.1]
[Your spirit is tempered. Spirit +0.1]
...
[Spiritual Power: 32 → 33]
...
Staring at his status panel, Lin Qi blinked in surprise. A new attribute—Spiritual Power—had appeared, its value slightly higher than his Vital Energy.
"Spiritual Power needs to be stronger to sharpen perception", he mused, finally stepping into the white zone. Relief washed over him, though the dizziness lingered.
"Brother Qi, amazing!" Jiang Tao grinned, rubbing his head.
"We hit our limit in half an hour. But you... the Academy Head’s spirit is the strongest among us", Zhou Xi Yin praised.
As the group cheered, Ao Feng descended the staircase, his striking features smirking.
"Sixth Institute’s Senior Disciple, why stop at the second floor?" His tone dripped with mockery.
Lin Qi merely narrowed his eyes. "Not today."
Ao Feng scoffed, "You’ll miss out. The pressure here’s too weak." As he vanished, Jiang Tao clenched his fists.
"Brother Qi, I saw Huo Wanyang on the third floor!" Jiang Tao later reported. "He’s been here longer than us!"
"His Spiritual Power must be formidable..." Guo Heng frowned.
"Let’s head back", Lin Qi said calmly.
---
Back at his villa, Lin Qi devoured a nutrient-rich meal, then chugged three Revitalizing Elixirs to ease his lingering dizziness.
"The Spiritual Cultivation Arena sharpens the spirit but drains it more than a full day in the Scarlet Realm", he thought, heading to the training hall.
Later, after two hours of drills, he messaged Lu Wei.
"Lin Qi", Lu Wei’s round face appeared on the green hologram, "Spiritual Martial Arts demand mastery of the intangible. They’re harder than Primordial Energy Arts, requiring rare resources and months—even years—to master. Be patient."
Lin Qi nodded.
---
The next morning, Lin Qi received two sleek metal boxes at his doorstep. Back in the temperature-controlled training hall (25°C), he opened one.
"Time to begin", he muttered, placing his palm on the box.
...
The chapter ended with Lin Qi preparing to activate the Atlas of Calamities, the air thick with anticipation.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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