Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The Floating Life Realm connection was successful.

Wen Jueqian opened the character panel scroll.

"Character Status":

Name: Wen Xianyin

Realm: Foundation Establishment, Early Stage (1%)

Spiritual Root: Mid-grade Water Spiritual Root

Spiritual Energy: 1000/1000

Health: 3000/3000

Divine Sense: 120/120

Cultivation Method: *Cold Abyss True Solution: Foundation Establishment Volume* (Mystic Grade, Mid-rank)

Spells: Mystic Ice Thorn (Lv.3), Water Dragon Vortex (Lv.3), Mist Concealment (Lv.3), Ice Shield (Lv.3), Sweet Rain Curse (Lv.3), Water Mirror Art (Lv.3)

The public beta 1.0 level cap was Qi Refining Perfection. What he was testing now was the 2.0 version, Foundation Establishment. It would only go live after a sufficient number of players across the server reached Qi Refining Perfection in the official release.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the starting map, Jiangning City, had grown sparse in resources and challenges. The system guidance now pointed toward several mist-shrouded ruins and secret realms on the map.

He selected the dungeon called Mirror Abyss.

Reflecting on past lives, questioning the true heart.

"System Notice": Do you wish to enter the heart-tempering dungeon, "Mirror Abyss"? This dungeon's progress is independent. Death has no penalty, but special endings may be recorded.

"Confirm."

After a moment of darkness.

Wen Jueqian sat up and found himself wearing patched, coarse cloth.

"System Notice": You have entered the Mirror Abyss dungeon.

"Current Identity": Lin Shitou

"Realm": Mortal

【Quest】: Travel a hundred li to the "Azure Cloud Sect" to participate in its decennial recruitment and test your spiritual root aptitude.

"Status": Hungry.

On the map, the words "Azure Cloud Sect" glowed faintly.

Wen Jueqian followed the endless crowds of those seeking immortality. He arrived at the foot of the mountain where the Azure Cloud Sect's gate stood.

Amid swirling clouds and mist, the towering mountain gate loomed, appearing and disappearing from view. White jade steps stretched upward like a heavenly ladder, piercing into the clouds.

On the vast plaza, hundreds of young men and women queued up, pressing their hands onto the jade discs to test their spiritual roots one by one.

When it was Wen Jueqian's turn, he placed his hand on the disc.

The disc trembled slightly, then lit up in four colors: blue, green, yellow, and red.

The middle-aged cultivator in charge of testing glanced at him expressionlessly. "Lin Shitou, pseudo spiritual root, four mixed elements, inferior spiritual energy affinity. Does not meet admission standards."

"Wait."

A voice rang out, interrupting the cultivator's judgment.

The crowd parted on its own, forming a passage. Wen Jueqian looked up.

There, on the high platform beside the seated Azure Cloud Sect Master, stood a young man in a moon-white dharma robe.

His features were extraordinarily handsome, and his bearing was gentle and refined, like polished jade.

Wen Jueqian clicked the character introduction.

Lin Yichen: Only son of the Azure Cloud Sect's Grand Elder, personal disciple of the Sect Master, and possessor of a single-element wood-type heavenly spiritual root—a once-in-a-century prodigy.

At that moment, Lin Yichen's gaze fell on Wen Jueqian.

Lin Yichen spoke: "Though this boy's spiritual root is poor, his temperament is acceptable. My cave abode lacks a servant to tend the herb garden. I'll take him."

"System Notice": Do you wish to become a servant disciple at the Azure Cloud Sect? Note: Servant disciples have scarce resources and must complete heavy daily chores.

Wen Jueqian clicked "Yes."

The testing cultivator quickly bowed. "Since Senior Brother Lin has spoken, there's no objection. Lin Shitou, hurry and thank Senior Brother Lin!"

"System Notice": Quest complete.

Obtained identity: Servant disciple at Lin Yichen's cave abode, Azure Cloud Sect. Obtained rewards: Coarse Daoist robe (×1), Low-grade spirit stone (×1), *Spirit Guidance Art* (×1).

Wen Jueqian began completing the daily tasks of a servant disciple: watering, weeding, loosening soil, and other chores.

At the same time, he began cultivating.

With a pseudo spiritual root, according to the *Spirit Guidance Art*, sensing spiritual energy alone would take months, and drawing it into the body could take over a year. Yet Wen Jueqian managed to sense qi after just three days of "meditation," and half a month later, he succeeded in drawing qi into his body in one go, stepping into Qi Refining Layer One!

This speed was astonishing—even the other servant disciple NPCs in the cave abode shot him surprised looks.

Even more unusual was Lin Yichen's behavior. This genius senior brother seemed to treat him—a pseudo-spiritual-root servant—with exceptional favor.

Game time sped up rapidly, requiring little input from Wen Jueqian.

After his successful qi induction, Lin Yichen gave him a bottle of Spirit Condensation Pills and allowed him to browse the basic jade slips in the cave abode's scripture pavilion.

After that, he never lacked pills, spirit stones, or other resources—and Lin Yichen even personally guided him during his cultivation sessions.

Wen's cultivation speed accelerated further, from qi induction to Qi Refining Layer One, then Layer Two, Layer Three...

In less than a year, he reached the peak of Qi Refining Perfection.

"System Notice": Hidden investigation quest "Suspicious Progress" has been triggered.

Quest description: With a pseudo spiritual root, your cultivation speed defies all logic. Senior Brother Lin's special treatment is just as unusual. Is there a secret hidden behind all this? Investigate.

Quest objective: Uncover the reason for your abnormal cultivation progress and the special treatment you received.

Wen Jueqian got to work and quickly found two clues.

Clue One: The Dust-Sealed Jade Slip in the Library

Using the access Lin Yichen granted me, I searched through the jade slips in the library. I found one on cultivation physiques, and it contained a vague passage: Chaotic Inverse Spirit Body: absorbs others' spiritual energy and converts it into pure demonic energy; absorbs others' demonic energy and converts it into pure spiritual energy. Cultivation speed far exceeds the norm, especially after absorbing others' spiritual or demonic energy...

Clue Two: Eavesdropping Outside the Grand Hall

Wen Jueqian seized a chance to deliver spirit herbs near the Sect Master's grand hall, took Concealment Powder beforehand, and snuck to the back of the hall, where he faintly overheard hushed voices inside:

Sect Master: "Most of Yichen's demonic energy has been converted. The Chaotic Inverse Spirit Body works even better than expected—it absorbs and converts remarkably fast."

Grand Elder: "Hmm, this kid's physique is indeed top-grade. Raise him well. Not only Yichen, but the demonic energy built up in our own bodies can be gradually transferred to him. Once our demonic energy is fully purged and we return to the righteous path, we can decide later whether to keep him or get rid of him."

Lin Yichen: "Yes, Master, Grandfather. I'll take good care of him."

"System Notification": Investigation task "Suspicious Progress" complete! Truth revealed: You possess the hidden physique Chaotic Inverse Spirit Body, and the Qingyun Sect's higher-ups are using you to absorb and convert the yin-fiend demonic energy produced by their demonic arts cultivation. Your rapid cultivation is exactly because you've been absorbing the demonic energy Lin Yichen and others deliberately fed you.

Rewards: 50 spirit stones, partial info on the Chaotic Inverse Spirit Body unlocked.

"Emergency Task Triggered": Run!

Task Description: You now know your physique's secret. Fearing complications, the Qingyun Sect's higher-ups have decided to lock you up as a tool to convert their demonic energy.

You must flee the Qingyun Sect immediately! Note: The sect's grand formation is partially activated, so you can't just leave the mountain's bounds.

Task Objective: Evade pursuit within the Qingyun Sect for 30 minutes until something changes outside.

Escape starts now!

Knowing the Qingyun Sect's map well, Wen Jueqian ducked into a dense grove of Spirit-Confusing Bamboo nearby.

This bamboo could slightly interfere with divine sense detection.

Behind him came the sound of tearing air and a sharp shout: "He's over there! Don't let him escape!"

Without looking back, he activated his Spirit-Speed Talisman, his speed surging as he bolted toward the abandoned mine tunnels of the outer sect.

The tunnels were a maze, with veins of Spirit-Repelling Ore that absorbed spiritual energy—a perfect temporary hiding spot.

Time ticked by, and the pursuit got more and more intense.

Wen Jueqian was forced to crawl into an Iron-Tooth Rat nest. Countless red-eyed rats squealed and swarmed at him.

He had to burn spiritual energy to cast "Fireball Technique," scaring off the rat swarm and scrambling through in a mess.

At the eighteenth minute, a Foundation Establishment steward's spell grazed him, dropping his health by a third and slowing him down a lot.

"System Notification": 3 minutes left until the task ends! Pursuit intensity maxed out!

Wen Jueqian hid in the corner of a storehouse, set up a small concealment array, and pushed his Breath-Concealment Technique to the max.

"System Notification": Time's up, task completed!

Reward: Mirage Breath Concealment Art

Suddenly, an earth-shaking boom rang out from outside!

"Enemy attack! It's the Cangshui Sect and the Yuqing Gate!"

"Quick! Activate the mountain protection formation!"

Chaos erupted outside in an instant, and the pressure of pursuit suddenly vanished.

Wen Jueqian cautiously peeked out from his hiding spot.

Outside, cultivators in different robes were locked in fierce combat with Qingyun Sect disciples.

The Qingyun Sect's secret demonic arts cultivation had been exposed, drawing a punitive expedition from the righteous alliance.

Just as he was looking for a way out in the chaos, a flash of moonlight blocked his path.

Lin Yichen still looked handsome and otherworldly, though his face was a bit pale, his gaze complicated as he looked at him.

"Shitou, come with me."

He extended his hand. "The sect is no longer safe. Your physique is special—you can absorb demonic energy and turn it into spiritual power. Come with me, and I'll keep you safe and teach you the true supreme mystical arts. With your body, your cultivation speed will rival a Heavenly Spirit Root's. Devour demonic and spiritual energy alike, turning both to your use—your potential will be limitless! In time, attain the Dao through demonic means, roaming free between heaven and earth—how is that not a thousand times more thrilling than the so-called righteous path bound by rules?"

"System Notification": A fateful choice point triggered! Choose carefully.

Option One: Accept Lin Yichen's proposal and flee with him. Embrace the demonic path, embarking on a cultivation journey with lightning-fast progress. The future brings the risk of demonic corruption, with death possible at any moment. But power will be within easy reach.

Option Two: Refuse Lin Yichen, cut ties immediately, and confess part of the truth to the attacking righteous sects (hiding your physique) to seek their protection and return to the righteous path. The road ahead is stable but resources are limited, cultivation is slow, and you'll need great perseverance and luck to hope for higher realms.

This was a critical story branch.

Wen Jueqian thought it over and chose Option One first.

Lin Yichen's lips curled up as he swept both of them up, ready to flee in the chaos.

But the moment they rose into the air, a golden sword light slashed down from the heavens!

Along with a righteous, furious roar: "Demonic scum, where do you think you're going?!"

Wen Jueqian only saw Lin Yichen spit blood and fly backward, then the sword light's residual wave caught him—screen went black.

"System Notification": You have died. Too weak, you became a pawn and cannon fodder for the demonic path.

Indeed, the demonic path advanced at terrifying speed, but the risks were extremely high.

Wen Jueqian chose to load his save, this time picking Option Two.

Lin Yichen's gaze turned icy, killing intent flashing through it. But sensing a powerful divine sense already locked onto this spot, he snorted coldly, said nothing more, and vanished in a streak of light.

Wen Jueqian was then found by cultivators from the Xuantian Sword Sect who arrived shortly after. He hid his physique's secret, claiming to be just a menial disciple who'd narrowly escaped.

After that, he joined the Shuiyun Pavilion.

The game then quickly showed the rest of Lin Shitou's life.

Age twenty: Joined the Shuiyun Pavilion as an outer disciple.

Age twenty-two: Daily cultivation—meditation, qi refinement, tending spirit fields, patrolling the sect.

Age thirty-five: Got a minor fortune—explored an ancient cultivator's meditation cave, acquiring a low-grade magical artifact and several mid-grade spirit stones.

Age seventy-nine: Hit a bottleneck at early Foundation Establishment. Tried refining pills for help, but with scarce resources and high failure rates, blew through all his savings.

Age one hundred thirty: Lin Shitou was still struggling in the outer sect's lower ranks.

Age one hundred seventy-two: Nearing the end of his lifespan, he barely scraped together enough resources and, in his seclusion chamber, failed to break through to late Foundation Establishment. "System Notification": Ending: The Mediocre Righteous Path.

Evaluation: Remaining steadfast in purpose, the path of cultivation stayed steady, yet limited by aptitude and opportunity, ultimately failing to defy destiny, and perishing at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Achievement unlocked: "Diligence Makes Up for Lack of Talent."

Reward obtained: Chaotic Inverse Spirit Body Fragment (1/10).

Enter the next level of the "Mirror Abyss"?

Two vastly different endings, neither of which can be considered "good," are indeed cleverly designed by A.

Is it the choice of the demonic path, fraught with extreme risk but offering rapid access to formidable power?

Or the choice of the righteous path, as difficult as reaching the heavens, yet steady and sure?

Further binary choices await in subsequent levels of the Mirror Abyss instance.