Chapter 250: No Exit

Chapter 250: No Exit

Yisen led Luo En along the cobblestone path toward the City Gate, occasionally nodding to roadside vendors. Luo En observed the surroundings—the air carried an indescribable scent. It wasn’t like contamination or decay, but rather a peculiar metallic tang, mingled with a chimera-like iron-tinged aroma resembling blood, laced with a subtle vibrancy that made the air itself feel as though it were breathing.

"Magesir has already noticed the air’s peculiarity, haven’t you?" Yisen glanced at Luo En’s furrowed brows and explained, "That’s the so-called Abyssal Breath, a unique product at the intersection of Abyssmana and the superficial world."

Luo En nodded slightly. His senses were far keener than ordinary humans’. He could not only detect the scent but also perceive the faint, continuous energy fluctuations within—like distant heartbeats. These fluctuations carried an irregular rhythm, both familiar and alien, stirring an irresistible urge to explore deeper.

Yisen then described the various enhancements Abyssal Breath granted residents. Luo En found this transformation fascinating—consistent with what he’d read in the Abyssal Life Compendium, yet far more detailed.

"Are there other transformations?" Luo En pressed, already considering how to apply this to his bloodline research.

Yisen paused, his eyes flickering with complexity. "Many develop unique abilities. A friend of mine could sense Abyssal energy fluctuations, foreseeing impending danger. Once, during an expedition, he suddenly ordered everyone to stop—seconds later, the ground ahead collapsed, saving the entire team."

His voice darkened. "But the cost is great. On average, our lifespans are nearly a third shorter. Despite appearing strong, few here live past fifty."

He gestured toward an elderly woman across the street. Her skin was nearly pitch-black gray, her eyes transformed into glowing purple crystals. "That elder is only forty-three, yet her body is already deteriorating rapidly. The Abyss grants power but reaps our lives in return."

Luo En mentally recorded these insights, blending academic curiosity with risk evaluation. "You mentioned Abyssal Breath grants special abilities—do these follow any patterns?"

Yisen dodged a drunken dwarf before answering. "Some patterns exist, but nothing absolute. Take dwarves who mastered excavation—they develop spatial perception underground. Spirits adept at weaving might gain thread manipulation. Explorers in the Black Sand Wastelands often develop faint sand-control abilities."

He tapped his chin. "Simply put, Abyssal Breath amplifies innate talents and traits, then twists them into something extraordinary."

"So these transformations aren’t entirely negative", Luo En mused, watching a group of locals pass by.

Yisen gave a short laugh. "Seems that way, but the true cost isn’t shortened lifespans—it’s being marked by the Abyss, forever trapped here."

Luo En’s eyebrows lifted. "Marked?"

Yisen’s gaze grew shadowed. "Prolonged exposure to Abyssmana triggers a bodily transformation, tethering us to Abyssal Breath. Leave too far or too long, and we unravel. Headaches, hallucinations, emotional instability at first. Later, full mutation—becoming mobile Abyssal radiation sources, contaminating everything."

His voice wavered. "I’ve seen it. My Shu Shu was chosen for an experiment requiring two months outside the Abyss. When I saw him again in the cage…"

Yisen trembled. "His skin cracked open, black crystals spreading across his body. His eyes multiplied, scattered across his head. Worse—he lost all rationality, reduced to a beast ruled by instinct."

Luo En sensed genuine terror in Yisen’s words. This wasn’t hearsay—it was firsthand experience.

"The guards had no choice…" Yisen trailed off, but the implication was clear.

"Truth is, even if we could leave, we wouldn’t want to." Yisen shook off the memory. "Lacking Abyssal Breath feels like withdrawal—an addict’s craving. First comes restlessness, then excruciating pain, until you break completely."

Luo En nodded thoughtfully. This matched the Abyssal Life Compendium’s "Abyssimprint" phenomenon, though less severe. Abyssmana was a true double-edged sword—bestowing power while enslaving souls.

"Rumors say mages once tried removing these imprints", Yisen scratched his head. "Over drinks, an apprentice told me they used rare potions. At first, subjects’ skin returned to normal, eyes stopped glowing. On the seventh day…"

He grimaced. "The experimental subject went mad, ripping his skin screaming something crawled beneath. In the end—" Yisen sliced his throat. "They found black crystals fused with his blood, inseparable."

Luo En absorbed the information silently. Abyssimprint ran deeper than he imagined—altering not just bodies and spirits, but even blood itself.

He finally asked, "What happens to the uncontrolled ones? Are they executed?"

Yisen shook his head, gesturing toward a grim structure within the walls. Towering walls lined with spikes, its gates forged from dark red metal, etched with eerie runes.

The entrance was guarded by fully-armed sentries wielding specially-crafted spears, their tips glowing with a sinister purple light.

"They'll be sent to the 'Detention Cells.'"

He hesitated a moment, as if weighing whether to disclose such information.

"Each outpost has such facilities built in. Ostensibly for protecting ordinary residents, but in reality—"

He leaned closer to Luo En, lowering his voice. "They also serve as experimental sites for mages, with specialized protocols allowing mages to purchase uncontrolled individuals as research subjects."

At the words "research subjects", Luo En's interest perked slightly. As a bloodline modifier, he well understood the research value of these "experimental subjects." Abyss mutation tissue samples and blood often contained unique mana structures and genetic fragments, providing irreplaceable insights for bloodline research.

"Of course, such transactions come with strict regulations." Here, the man's eyes flickered cautiously, gauging the mage lord's reaction. "Mages must sign special contracts ensuring experimental subjects don't fall out of control. If accidents occur—"

"Let me guess", Luo En interrupted calmly. "The responsible mage must compensate?"

Yisen nodded, surprise flickering across his face at the mage lord's unexpected familiarity with these rules. "Precisely. And the compensation is extremely costly. A mage months ago lost several complete mana stones after a subject escaped and caused three deaths. Naturally, the reputational damage was worse—their school won't receive official experimentation permits at the Abyss Outpost for at least a decade."

Luo En mentally filed away this information. While intrigued by Abyss experimental subjects, he currently had no intention of entering this field. His bloodline research priorities lay in further developing and fusing the Chimera bloodline, plus helping Daire and Ai Lan enhance their bloodline potency to complete metamorphosis. For now, he had no desire to risk other uncertain paths.

They continued walking until reaching the main City Gate of 69th Town. Towering and imposing, the gate was constructed from dark brown stone. Its surface bore intricate runes glowing faintly blue in sunlight. Each rune cluster followed precise geometric arrangements, forming a complex protective array network.

"These runes are part of the defensive formation", Yisen explained, pointing at the glowing patterns. "They slow Abyss mana infiltration to protect residents from excessive corruption."

He gestured toward an especially complex rune cluster. "These primary purification nodes were specially designed by Crystal Spire enchanters. They convert infiltrating Abyss mana into relatively harmless forms. Because of these runes, the Abyssal Breath inside the city is weaker but more refined, avoiding those physical discomforts."

The guards at the City Gate quickly verified Luo En's Mage Insignia before snapping to formal salutes, refraining from any unnecessary inspections. This reverence and fear toward full mages was universal across the Abyssal Continent Cluster, where mage status towered over nearly all other cultivators.

As they passed through the gate, Luo En immediately sensed a subtle mana transformation. The city's Abyssal Breath was indeed weaker than outside, yet more refined—a filtered, purified result that felt less oppressive, even strangely comfortable. Like drinking icy water on a sweltering summer day—refreshing yet invigorating.

"Welcome to 69th Town, Mage Lord", Yisen declared with an exaggerated welcoming gesture, pride gleaming in his eyes. "While our humble town pales compared to the Central Lands' splendor, it possesses unique charms."

Luo En surveyed the scene. The streets twisted in winding paths, paved with deep gray stone slabs. Buildings lined both sides, wildly varying in architectural style. Some appeared as ordinary stone houses, others as living metal constructs constantly shifting surface patterns. More striking were structures seemingly formed from modified colossal creature skeletons, gleaming pearlescent under sunlight.

Most eye-catching stood a soaring tower of transparent crystal. Each crystalline segment continually shifted angles, creating the illusion of slow rotation.

"That's the Monitoring Tower", Yisen explained, following Luo En's gaze. "Its apex crystal changes color according to Abyss activity levels, displaying seven ranks from tranquil blue to dangerous red."

Luo En observed the tower's peak glowing serene pale blue—indicating low current Abyss activity. The streets swarmed with diverse species. Besides gray-skinned humans like Yisen, exotic races abounded. All bore similar Abyss mutation traits—gray skin, glowing eyes, unnaturally elongated limbs, or abnormal surface patterns.

Noticing Luo En's observations, Yisen smiled. "Under Abyss influence, species boundaries blur. Our shared mutation traits ironically bridge divides. Unlike the outside world's rigid species divisions, we're equally marked by the Abyss."

He shrugged, a trace of dark humor in his tone. "This collective curse forged our unique harmony."

As they ventured deeper into the bustling streets, the crowd thickened. Vendors' cries, bargaining haggles, and strange music blended into a vibrant cacophony. Yet an invisible repulsion field formed around Luo En. The crowd unconsciously parted, creating a clear path. Noisy merchants and customers fell silent, eyes filled with reverence. Those near him bowed deeply upon seeing his chest insignia.

"Clear a path! Mage Lord approaching!" A scar-faced giant with a sleeve badge barked, shoving aside obstructing youths. His voice carried unmistakable reverence.

As a full mage, Luo En's mere presence was silent intimidation. His radiation field and mana fluctuations warned all perceptive cultivators of imminent danger, instinctively prompting distance.

Yisen expected this reaction, pride swelling his chest. Guiding a mage through town would earn him enviable bragging rights for months.

"Our destination awaits, Mage Lord." He gestured toward an open plaza ahead. "This is 69th Town's largest trading hub—Abyss Market."

Luo En's gaze swept the bustling market square beyond the crowd. Spanning several football fields, the market divided into dozens of zones selling various goods—food, equipment, potions. One section even offered "special services" ranging from divination to "therapeutic care."

"Seems unusually lively today", Luo En noted, observing the denser-than-expected crowd.

"Aye, you saw the Monitoring Tower's readings earlier. We're currently in the trough phase of the Abyssal Tides." (End of Chapter)

Chapter end