Chapter 293: The Breath

Chapter 293: The Breath

Luo En sat in the observation cabin of a small, high-speed Airship, his eyes fixed on the rapidly shifting landscape below the crystal window.

The vessel, named the "Flying Lightning", was a lightweight craft specifically designed for short-range, high-speed transport.

A conventional Airship required five to six days to travel from Dawnport to the nearest Abyss Outpost, but the "Flying Lightning" could complete the journey in just a day and a half.

Such Airships came at a steep price in Central Lands rental stations—nearly double the standard rate for ordinary models.

Yet for researchers racing against the clock, the cost was unquestionably justified.

"I'd usually take the teleportation array, but recently the network's been unstable", Reynolds remarked, already seated across from Luo En. He took a sip of his mana-infused beverage, his tone tinged with frustration.

"Last week, a colleague suffered three days of headaches after teleporting—diagnosed as temporal displacement due to mana flow disruption. The Observatory suspended all non-urgent teleportation operations."

Luo En gave a slight nod. "Teleportation is a double-edged sword. It's efficient, but risks can't be ignored."

"Especially near the Abyss region", Reynolds added. "Abyssmana subtly disrupts spatial structures, causing minor coordinate deviations during teleportation."

"While most deviations only shift your arrival point by a few meters", he continued, his gaze darkening, "occasionally the effects are far more severe... like materializing midair, or inside solid matter."

"Midair's survivable", Luo En frowned.

Reynolds managed a bitter chuckle. "Two years ago, the Observatory lost an outstanding young researcher when his coordinates shifted. Half his body merged with a high-density defense wall."

He shook his head, as if shaking loose unpleasant memories. "So yes, even if Airships are slower, they're far safer."

Luo En nodded, etching the warning into his mind. These firsthand accounts carried more weight than any textbook example.

Suddenly the cabin dimmed. He turned to see the Airship entering a sinister cloud bank of gray-black hues.

These weren't ordinary water vapor clouds but mana clusters with faint fluctuations. Their color ranged from deep gray to near-black, jagged edges resembling monstrous bite marks.

"Nightmare Clouds", Reynolds' voice turned serious. "We've entered the outer perimeter."

He gestured to the ominous formations outside. "These form when Abyss mana escapes into the atmosphere. Concentrations have diluted a hundredfold, yet they still contain trace Abysstrait."

"Is the Airship protected?" Luo En asked cautiously, activating his Transcendent Perception to evaluate the clouds' potential hazards.

"More than adequately", Reynolds replied confidently. "The 'Flying Lightning' has triple-layer protection—physical barriers, mana isolation fields, and a purification circuit to filter any contaminants that breach the first two layers."

He tapped the window. "Feel that? That nearly invisible layer on the surface repels Abyss contamination."

Luo En nodded—he'd sensed the subtle energy fluctuations upon boarding.

Beyond the clouds, the Airship decelerated, revealing a landscape starkly different from Central Lands' lush abundance.

The terrain burned dark red and deep brown, as if soaked in countless creatures' blood. Sparse vegetation twisted into grotesque forms—trees contorted like struggling human figures. Distant hills bore irregular outlines resembling curled-up giant beasts.

But most striking was the horizon's gaping black rift—the Abyss's maw.

This colossal void resembled a wound splitting the earth, endlessly exhaling gray-black vapors like some alien entity breathing.

Luo En's gaze remained fixed on the chasm.

"Stunning, isn't it? My first reaction was the same", Reynolds followed his stare. "The Abyss's mouth shifts shapes depending on viewing angles. Sometimes a crack, sometimes a vortex, even taking forms resembling living mouths."

Luo En felt his spirit fluctuation intensify as they approached, his mind sharpening yet tingling with unease and pressure.

"Normal reaction", Reynolds noted. "Everyone responds differently to proximity. Some feel exhilarated, others fearful. It's your spirit's natural response to Abyssal Breath—nothing to worry about unless it reaches overload levels."

"I sense the pull", Luo En stated calmly. "Like the Abyss itself breathing—each exhale releases those gases, while each inhale creates an invisible tug."

Reynolds' face lit with approval. "Perceptive observation. Yes, the Abyss generates cyclic attraction. Most feel it only near the mouth, but those with exceptional sensitivity detect it from distances like this."

"In 69th Town, I felt Abysstide cycles, but this feels completely different."

Reynolds lowered his voice, eyes gleaming. "The Observatory's core research includes this 'breathing.' Mainstream theory links it to higher-dimensional mana flows—a dimensional barrier's self-regulating mechanism."

He leaned closer, sharing a secret. "Some scholars even speculate Abyss tides correlate with activities of certain entities. But that's speculative—no concrete evidence yet."

Luo En nodded, mentally cataloging the information. Every detail about the Abyss would prove crucial for future exploration.

"We've arrived", Reynolds announced, pointing ahead.

The Airship descended toward a massive area enclosed by towering walls of deep gray, their surfaces embedded with countless silver runes faintly shimmering in sunlight.

Luo En's Transcendent Perception confirmed the near-perfect mana isolation field surrounding the 137th Outpost—the newest addition to the Cassandra Tower Lord's Abyssal Chasm Observation Network established decades ago.

"Though not as developed as 69th Outpost", Reynolds explained with builder's pride, "this is currently the largest new outpost. Closer proximity to the Abyss means no native inhabitants, but it serves both as a research hub and complete trade nexus like most outposts."

The Airship landed on a specially designed platform. As the hatch opened, a pungent mix of rust, exotic herbs, and sulfur greeted them.

Stepping out, Luo En immediately sensed the outpost's stark contrast to Central Lands.

The outpost divided into distinct zones:

Central: A bustling trade plaza with makeshift stalls.

Right: Neat rows of warehouses and laboratories for researchers.

Left: Rest and supply areas with basic inns and food vendors.

Furthest: A reinforced inner wall separating the outpost from the Abyss—the Observatory's Core Area.

By the plaza, a scarred elderly guardian was engaged in a heated negotiation with a merchant, his eyes bulging like diseased orbs while his forearms were covered in hardened tissues.

A group of female explorers passed Luo En by. One's spine was unnaturally curved, while another bore a face twisted into an inherently repulsive shape.

"Mutation?" Luo En muttered, eyes sweeping over the obviously abnormal crowd.

"This is standard for Abyss explorers", Reynolds nodded.

"No matter how cautious one is, prolonged exposure to the Abyss inevitably causes varying degrees of aberration. Mild exterior transformations are most common, though some develop deeper mutations. A few become completely unrecognizable." He pointed at his eyes. "I consider myself relatively fortunate—only minor form transformation in my pupils."

"Forget that", he shook his head, gesturing toward the plaza's center. "Let me first take you to the core trading zone. Most materials you seek will be there. But before we proceed, I need to report to the office to obtain your temporary pass."

Pushing through the bustling crowd, they arrived at a dome-shaped gray building. Its surface shimmered with a mana barrier, and two burly guards stood at the entrance. Seeing Reynolds, the guards immediately waved him through but scrutinized Luo En with sharp gazes.

"Outpost 137 Safety Management Office", Reynolds explained while walking. "To ensure stability for the newly built outpost, all visitors require temporary passes. As a Full Mage, your clearance process is simpler, but basic records are still mandatory."

The procedure was surprisingly efficient—likely thanks to Reynolds' internal connections. Within half an hour, Luo En received a silver hexagonal badge engraved with his name and access privileges.

"This isn't just identification", Reynolds explained. "It's a foundational protection device. The rune array inside weakens low-level Abyss contamination and triggers alarms in emergencies."

Leaving the office, they headed directly to the trading district. As they passed the final quarantine belt, a vast chaotic marketplace unfolded before them. Unlike the polished, orderly shops of the Central Lands, this trading zone resembled a hastily constructed maze, with tents, wooden shacks, and metal structures crammed together in a complex network.

Some stalls displayed bizarre items Luo En had only read about in books—black matter constantly shifting shapes within a transparent container; a glass jar holding purple liquid pulsing with sinister light; an ordinary-looking stone causing visible spatial distortions in the surrounding air.

"Materials from the first to third Abyss layers are all available here", Reynolds introduced, "and usually priced much lower than official channels."

"How safe are these materials?" Luo En asked, simultaneously using his "Transcendent Perception" skill to evaluate the energy fluctuations around him.

"All materials entering the trading zone undergo preliminary purification and encapsulation", Reynolds replied. "While we can't eliminate Abyss traits entirely—that's where their value lies—at least they won't cause immediate environmental contamination."

Guiding Luo En through several aisles, he stopped at a relatively spacious area. "This is the core exchange zone. High-quality Abyss samples concentrate here."

The central stalls appeared far more professional than the outer ones, many equipped with protective barriers and detection devices. The vendors were no longer common explorers but specialists—alchemists or researchers.

Reynolds led Luo En directly toward a large tent at the zone's center. Its exterior was clad in metallic fabric, while its interior resembled a small laboratory with precision instruments and storage containers neatly arranged.

A muscular man stood at the entrance. His right arm was composed entirely of metal and crystal composites, gleaming coldly under the light. The energy fluctuation from his aura clearly marked him as a Full Mage.

"Kaso!" Reynolds greeted enthusiastically. "This is the bloodline modifier I told you about."

Kaso turned around, revealing a rugged face. His left eye was normal brown, while the right one bore an unnatural blue-white hue with an oddly shaped pupil.

"Welcome, newcomer", Kaso said in a surprisingly gentle voice that contrasted his burly appearance. "Reynolds mentioned you—here to buy high-quality Abyss samples?"

Luo En nodded. "Indeed. I'm seeking special materials suitable for bloodline research."

"You've come to the right place", Kaso grinned, displaying sharp teeth. "I specialize in Abyss samples from the third layer downward—guaranteed quality and purity."

He turned toward the tent's interior, gesturing for them to follow. "Come—let me show you something truly valuable."

Inside, the tent proved far more spacious than its exterior suggested, clearly utilizing spatial expansion magic. A massive display table dominated the center, surrounded by rows of sealed storage cabinets.

Kaso retrieved a small crystal key and opened one cabinet. Carefully removing a silver container, he placed it on the display table.

"Refined 'Void Slime' from the third layer", he announced proudly, "with purity reaching 85%." Opening the container revealed profound black liquid with a metallic sheen, its surface rippling as if countless tiny lives moved beneath.

"This is the prime base material for formulating autophagic slime mold", he explained. "Far purer than the crude market varieties—its effects are several times stronger."

Activating "Transcendent Perception", Luo En meticulously evaluated the liquid's energy flow and purity. Compared to common samples, this Void Slime demonstrated significantly superior mana stability and minimal impurities.

"One standard unit for how many Mana Shard Fragments?" Luo En asked directly.

"Market price usually ranges from 200 to 260, but for Reynolds' sake and since you seem to know your stuff—160?"

Kaso offered a discount.

"Indeed cheaper than market averages", Luo En acknowledged.

"Truth be told, Void Slime isn't difficult to harvest", Kaso explained, "but storage and transportation costs are high. Many merchants inflate prices greedily, but I prioritize stable client relationships over short-term profits."

He retrieved several other containers. "Mutation Catalyst, mana conduit—these are all in stock with premium quality."

Over the next hour, Luo En thoroughly inspected each material's traits and quality. Eventually, he acquired a complete set for cultivating autophagic slime mold at a satisfactory price—only narrowly missing his expected five complete Mana Stones.

"These materials will let you cultivate an impressive autophagic slime mold", Kaso nodded, helping pack the items into specialized storage boxes. "Contact me anytime for more Abyss supplies."

"One more thing", Luo En added. "I also need high-mana-content Abyss materials for mana replenishment and transformation experiments."

Kaso pondered, then grinned. "I guess you're not after common types?"

"Exactly", Luo En confirmed. "I need crystallized products with extremely high mana density—best from below the fourth layer."

"That complicates things", the man scratched his beard. "Fourth-layer materials are already rare. With recent Abyss activity anomalies increasing exploration risks..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end