Chapter 315: Abyss Virus

Chapter 315: Abyss Virus

The research lab still blazed with light deep into the night, though in the endless flow of illumination radiating from Crystal Spire, it was merely an unremarkable flicker like a wisp of flame.

Luo En sat alone at his oak desk, a personal asset ledger spread before him. His Consciousness Library only stored critical core content, so he still needed to manually record basic data records like this.

"I've been in this world for nearly four years now. It's been one year and one month since I became a Full Mage..."

His fingers traced the densely marked calendar pages. Each red dot represented an experiment or breakthrough.

Time felt simultaneously real and surreal, as if yesterday he'd still been struggling in the Black Mist Jungle to gather ingredients for foundational potions.

And seven months had already passed since that "Rainbow Ring" competition ended.

Luo En's eyes drifted toward an official notice on the desk corner, its faintly oppressive aura making the paper seem almost alive.

Each letter shimmered in special mana-infused ink, aggressively asserting its presence:

"Mandatory Attendance Notice: Victory Return 'Welcome Ritual' for Archmage Cassandra·Saint·Manji"

" Mandatory"—the very word revealed the event's true nature.

In Crystal Spire, where academic freedom was paramount, such forceful language was rare.

Yet now, every mage above Full Mage rank was required to attend this welcome ritual. No exceptions. No excuses.

This wasn't an invitation—it was an order.

Even more telling, a final line scrawled in deep crimson ink at the notice's bottom read:

"Absence will be considered open defiance of Schoolalliance authority. Consequences will be borne by the offender."

That blood-like shade reminded Luo En of the wounds he'd seen on explorers returning from the Abyss Outpost.

"In two weeks, the Conquerors' leader will return to Crystal Spire..."

According to information gathered from various channels, Cassandra had returned from her otherworld conquests bearing unprecedented knowledge and resources. These acquisitions would grant the Conquerors formidable leverage.

For traditionalists unwilling to follow the radical path, the coming days would likely prove turbulent.

He exhaled deeply, forcing his focus back to the asset ledger. No matter how the world shifted, strengthening his own capabilities remained the most reliable insurance.

[Financial Status: Current Holdings: 58 Complete Mana Stones]

This number had grown significantly over time, providing reassuring stability.

His most reliable income came from his fixed salary as an assistant professor—2 Complete Mana Stones monthly, totaling 12 every half year. Modest but dependable.

With the spread of his "Treasure-Grade Genius" reputation and the practical effectiveness of his improved formulas, his client base had expanded several-fold within months. From just a handful of wealthy apprentices, his steady customers now included several Full Mages.

Potion orders alone generated 6-7 Complete Mana Stones monthly—a considerable sum among mages of his rank.

Unexpectedly, course fees became another boon.

His exceptional teaching quality and student word-of-mouth propelled his three courses to legendary status across Crystal Spire. Despite charging double the tuition of other assistant professors, enrollment remained at capacity. The premium pricing ironically became a symbol of "worth every penny."

Monthly course fees alone brought 4-5 Complete Mana Stones—enough to make senior lecturers envious.

Expenditures primarily covered experimental materials, auxiliary tools, and "Ink's" unique maintenance needs.

Though he personally created the Autophagic Slime Mold, maintaining its optimal condition required vast Abyss materials. Especially after that blood sample incident with Franca, "Ink's" recovery demanded additional nutritional supplements.

Still, his financial situation remained healthy—even prosperous.

Luo En couldn't help recalling those days in Black Mist Jungle, meticulously budgeting every single Mana Shard Fragment. That desperate poverty now felt like a distant dream.

Beyond physical wealth lay contribution points—the aspect he currently prioritized most. In an academic institution like Crystal Spire, contribution points often better reflected one's true value than mere Mana Stone assets.

[Total Research Contribution Points: 3800]

His first paper, "Design and Optimization of Mobile Simulation Combat Devices", earned 1200 points—a strong foundation.

His second, "Commonality Exploration of Advanced Potion Enhancements", gained 1300 points. His detailed analysis of optimizing mana structures for over a dozen common potions earned high praise from the review committee.

His third paper, "Mechanisms for Promoting Beneficial Mutations During Bloodline Formulation Processes", also brought 1300 points. This practical innovation even attracted attention from senior bloodline modifiers.

[Teaching Contribution Points: 600]

Accumulated rewards from daily instruction and students' exceptional performances in various tests.

[Elite Group Training Rewards: 800]

He Man's rise to the 34th Backup Mage Sequence position earned 600 talent cultivation points. While not the highest ranking, for an apprentice from commoner origins, it was an extraordinary achievement. Several other students' steady progress added another 200 points.

After all, every Elite Group member was handpicked from hundreds of ordinary apprentices.

"Total Available Contribution Points: 5200."

Satisfied with the figure, Luo En mentally compared it against his situation six months prior. Back then, he'd scrambled to publish even a single paper. Now he possessed contribution points sufficient for exchanging rare resources.

He opened the thick contribution point exchange catalog. Every parchment page listed tantalizing treasures.

Several entries captured his attention, refusing to release his gaze:

[Mana Amplification Crystal Blueprint] - 1000 Contribution Points

"A highly complex alchemy construct capable of temporarily boosting a caster's mana output. Requires intricate mana circuit design and specialized conductive materials..."

Luo En scrutinized every technical detail, already envisioning integrating this amplification device into his "Vitality Mana-Forged Sword" project. Soul Steel's malleability and conductive properties provided the perfect foundation.

If successful, he could craft a true "transformative weapon"—a sharp-edged blade in melee combat, a powerful staff for spellcasting.

His currently vast mana reservoir had begged for practical application. Boosting output would finally leverage his greatest strength.

[Mind Expansion Elixir Formula] - 2000 Contribution Points

The value of this formula was equally formidable.

"Through specialized herb ratios and alchemical processes, this elixir temporarily expands the user's cognitive capacity. Enables simultaneous handling of multiple complex tasks. Effects last 4-6 hours.

Side Effects: Minor headaches and spirit fatigue..."

For a multidisciplinary scholar like himself juggling alchemy, bloodline formulation, enchantment, history research, astrology, and more, this was practically a tailor-made divine tool.

Whenever Luo En found himself stretched to his limit in the laboratory by complex calculations and analyses, he would daydream about how wonderful it would be to process multiple threads of thought simultaneously.

Now, that dream had the potential to become reality.

【Potential Awakening Stone】 – 10,000 Contribution Points

While the price of this item was staggering, its value was beyond measure.

"An extremely rare Abyssal product containing the mysterious power to awaken latent innate talents.

Upon use, there is a 60% chance to awaken a third-tier innate talent, a 10% chance to awaken a second-tier innate talent, and a 5% chance to awaken a special ability of unknown rank. A negligible possibility exists for awakening a first-tier innate talent.

Warning: The process carries risks, potentially causing spiritual trauma or bloodline mutations..."

A 10% chance to awaken a second-tier innate talent – such an opportunity was practically unattainable through conventional channels. Even prodigies born into ancient mage families rarely had access to treasures of this caliber.

The minuscule probability of awakening a first-tier innate talent was even more tantalizing. Yet 10,000 Contribution Points was an astronomical sum – far beyond Luo En’s current accumulation.

"I only have enough points to exchange for the first two items, but that should be sufficient to support my next developmental phase."

Luo En carefully weighed his priorities in his mind. Every choice could shape the trajectory of his future.

The 【Mana Amplification Crystal Blueprint】 was practically essential for the "Vitalitymana-Forged Sword" project.

Meanwhile, the 【Mind Expansion Elixir Formula】 could directly enhance his research efficiency.

Combined, these two would provide powerful support for his work at the Abyss Observatory.

Picking up a quill, he wrote a detailed procurement plan beneath his list:

*"Top Priority: Exchange the Mana Amplification Crystal Blueprint and Mind Expansion Elixir Formula
Total cost: 3,000 Contribution Points
Remaining Contribution Points: 2,200 (reserved for emergencies and future development)
Anticipated benefits: Increased research efficiency, enhanced combat capabilities"*

At the other end of the laboratory, "Ink" curled within a specially designed recovery tank like a sleeping infant in a cradle.

The recovery tank had been custom-crafted by Luo En – a life-support device filled with nutrient-rich Abyssal essence solution.

Under the gentle circulation of the mana pump, the pale violet liquid flowed continuously, nourishing the wounded life within.

Yet even with such meticulous care, "Ink"’s condition remained concerning.

Their once obsidian-dark body had become nearly translucent. The silver patterns that once shimmered across their form had dulled, like dying stars.

"You've endured far too much recently. Rest well..."

Luo En gently stroked the crystal wall of the tank, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

This life he had personally created had moved him deeply during its moment of crisis.

The slime-like creature seemed to sense its master’s concern, writhing slightly as faint glimmers flickered across its surface patterns. Though it could not speak, its response was unmistakable.

"Rest well. We still have important work ahead once you recover fully." He murmured his reassurance.

This ordeal, painful as it had been, was not without reward.

Thanks to "Ink"’s sacrificial protection, Luo En had obtained extremely valuable experimental data from the terrifying mana conflict.

Turning toward the analysis bench, he found Franca’s blood components neatly arranged – the fruits of their recent separation work.

"...the true essence of the 'Preservation Clan' bloodline."

Studying the analytical report in his hand, Luo En fell into deep contemplation.

These findings completely overturned his understanding of ancient bloodline systems, revealing a truth far more complex and sinister than he had imagined.

Through "Ink"’s near-self-sacrificial deep analysis, he had identified three critical characteristics of the Preservation Clan bloodline:

First: Abnormally Low Erosion Rate

This discovery was the most perplexing.

By all logic, the very essence of Abyssal factors was chaos and corrosion.

Any organism exposed to Abyssal mana inevitably suffered spiritual contamination and physical mutation.

This was the fundamental danger of Abyssal exploration – and why most explorers had such short professional lifespans.

Yet in Franca’s blood samples, these Abyssal factors exhibited behavior that defied natural laws.

The chaotic mana, which should have ravaged the host’s consciousness like a wildfire, remained eerily docile.

Through precise measurements, Luo En found its erosive properties had been reduced by nearly half!

"This degree of attenuation cannot possibly be natural."

He recorded his judgment in the report:

"This must be the product of an extremely advanced artificial formulation technique. The complexity of this technology far surpasses any bloodline formulation method I currently understand."

Even more unsettling was that this "gentling" process resembled a dormant volcano – capable of activation through specific stimuli.

Under certain triggering conditions, these dormant Abyssal factors could revert to their original destructive nature.

He boldly hypothesized that every Preservation Clan family’s bloodline might harbor such ticking time bombs.

Second: Exceptionally Stable Bloodline Structure

What concerned Luo En even more was the stability of the bloodline structure itself.

Typically, Abyssal factors exhibited strong mutation tendencies, constantly reorganizing and evolving under environmental pressures.

While dangerous, this mutation was key to Abyssal creatures' ability to adapt to extreme environments.

Yet within the Preservation Clan bloodlines, this natural evolutionary tendency had been almost entirely suppressed.

"As though some invisible force has 'frozen' the bloodline in a specific state..."

Peering through the microscope at the blood sample, Luo En observed Abyssal factors that moved mechanically along predetermined paths – like prisoners bound by immobilization spells.

The artificial manipulation was so blatant that it raised a chilling possibility:

Was the so-called Preservation Clan system truly meant to protect these ancient bloodlines – or to control and exploit them?

Third: Unbelievable Fusion Adaptability

To verify his hypothesis, Luo En conducted a series of fusion experiments.

He introduced Preservation Clan blood samples to various Abyssal creature specimens he had collected:

"Sand Sea Hunter" eyeball essence – fusion success rate: 84%

"Ecological Suoyi Insect" tissue fragments – fusion success rate: 87%

High-purity Abyss Crystal fragments – fusion success rate: 79%

Even extremely unstable Abyssal spores – fusion success rate: 62%

Each experiment yielded astonishing results.

Abyssal factors that should have repelled and devoured each other demonstrated perfect compatibility when exposed to Preservation Clan blood.

"This has already transcended the boundaries of conventional bloodline studies..."

Luo En recorded the data, his shock evident:

"This extreme adaptability is almost... as if it were designed to be a 'universal interface.'"

Under normal circumstances, the fusion success rate between different Abyssal creatures rarely exceeded 30%, almost always accompanied by violent rejection reactions and unpredictable side effects.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end