The first light of dawn seeped through the cave's cracked entrance, painting jagged lines on the rocky floor. My body ached like it had been hammered with a thousand blows, but the system's auto-recovery had done its job. My core felt stronger, more stable. The jade rested warm in my palm, pulsing with quiet power. I sat up slowly, muscles stiff, and checked the system screen.
[Core Stability: 70%]
[Heaven-Rebellion Points: 2]
[Skill Cooldowns: Shadow Step (15s), Poison Fang (Cooldown 5s)]
[Quest Progress: Survive the Night - 3 hours remaining]
The hunters hadn't given up. That much was clear. Outside, the faint sounds of footsteps and voices echoed through the trees.
"He's not getting far," one voice sneered. "I'll gut him like a fish when we catch him."
I clenched my fists. I wasn't just running anymore. I was fighting back. I spent the morning sharpening my skills using the Ascension Tree. Three Heaven-Rebellion Points burned a hole in my pocket. I focused on improving Qi Veil, the passive skill that masked my presence.
[Qi Veil upgraded: Detection reduced by 50%]
[New Skill Unlocked: Silent Step (Active) - Move without making noise. Cooldown 60s]
A whisper of a smile touched my lips. With Silent Step, I could move through the forest like a ghost. The hunters wouldn't hear me coming. Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed my side. I yelped and dropped to one knee. Blood soaked through my robes. A hidden trap. The sect's cruelty knew no bounds. I cursed through gritted teeth and tore the wire free. The system flashed a warning:
[Health Critical: 15%]
[Poison detected - ongoing damage]
[Suggested action: Use Poison Fang to cleanse poison]
I gritted my teeth and activated Poison Fang again. The venom coursed through my veins, fighting the trap's toxin. Slowly, the burning pain faded. I couldn't afford to get careless again. The sect had me cornered. But I wasn't broken. I was rising. Then, a cold voice echoed in my mind - not from the system, but somewhere deeper:
"Your rebellion is a cancer. We will excise you."
I glanced at the jade. The glow dimmed for a moment, then flared fiercely. The fight was far from over, and so was I. The poison had been a harsh reminder - the sect's hunt wasn't just about catching me; it was about breaking me.
Every step I took felt like walking through a spider's web - tight, sticky, designed to trap. My ribs ached from old wounds, and my body still trembled with exhaustion, but the system pulsed steadily.
[Core Stability: 75%]
[Heaven-Rebellion Points: 4]
[Skill Cooldowns: Shadow Step (12s), Poison Fang (Ready), Silent Step (Cooldown 55s)]
[Quest: Survive the Night - 2 hours 10 minutes remaining]
The time pressure was suffocating. I needed to find the safe zone fast. The forest grew darker, the trees twisting into grotesque shapes under the weight of night. The silence was broken by the faint sound of footsteps, multiple, moving cautiously. I went completely still.
Activating Silent Step, I melted into the shadows. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat, I watched as a squad of sect hunters passed within meters, oblivious to my presence. They spoke in hushed tones.
"Jin Ranziel can't hide forever."
"The Grand Elder wants this done by dawn."
"He's a threat to the sect's future."
A chill ran down my spine. If the Grand Elder was personally involved, this hunt was about more than just punishment. It was a message. I needed more power, fast. Back in the cave, I had focused on defense. Now, offense was the only option. I opened the Forbidden Ascension Tree again, spending two Heaven-Rebellion Points.
[Skill Unlocked: Spirit Chain (Active) - Bind enemy's Qi to immobilize target for 10 seconds. Cost: 15% HP. Cooldown: 60s]
The cost was high, but so was the reward. Suddenly, a rustling nearby drew my attention. A small, injured spirit beast, barely more than a kitten, but it radiated faint Qi. Could I kill it and absorb its essence for a quick boost? I hesitated, then struck swiftly.
[Enemy killed: Tier 1 Spirit Cub]
[Heaven-Rebellion Points: 5]
[Core Stability: 80%]
The jade's glow brightened. I was healing faster now. But then, the system flashed an alert.
[Incoming Transmission - Unknown Sender]
"You cannot win this war alone, Jin Ranziel."
"Find the Broken Tower. Find me."
"Time is running out."
No signature. No clue. Just a cryptic message. My mind raced. Who was this? An ally? Another enemy? Or a trap? One thing was clear: I couldn't do this alone. The path ahead was darker than ever. But I wasn't backing down.
The cryptic message echoed in my mind as I pushed deeper into the dark forest.
"Find the Broken Tower. Find me."
It was vague, but hope sparked; an ally could be the edge I desperately needed. My body ached, ribs still throbbing, but the system pulsed steady in my vision:
[Core Stability: 82%]
[Heaven-Rebellion Points: 6]
[Skill Cooldowns: Shadow Step (10s), Spirit Chain (Ready), Silent Step (Ready)]
[Quest: Survive the Night - 1 hour 45 minutes remaining]
I glanced around. The forest felt endless, but the map in my mind was clear: head east, toward the Broken Tower - a ruined ancient structure whispered about in sect legends. Pushing through thorny bushes and gnarled roots, I spotted the tower's silhouette under the moonlight - crumbling stone reaching toward the sky like a broken finger. The air grew heavy with Qi, thick and oppressive. I could feel eyes watching.
"Welcome, rebel," a voice called out from the shadows.
I tensed, ready for attack. A figure stepped forward - a woman, cloaked in dark robes, eyes sharp and calculating.
"I am Seris. I've been waiting for you."
My mind raced.
"Why help me?" I asked cautiously.
Seris smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Because the sect's corruption runs deep. And because you're the first to challenge it from the inside."
She gestured toward the tower's base.
"Inside lies a secret. A power that can turn the tide. But you must prove you're worthy."
The system chimed: [New Quest: Trial of the Broken Tower - Unlock Forbidden Ascension Branch]
My heart pounded. This was it - the chance to rise beyond a crippled rebel and become a true threat. I nodded.
"Show me."
As I stepped into the tower's shadow, a cold wind howled, whispering promises of power and pain. The trial had begun. The Broken Tower's entrance was a gaping maw of shadow and stone, swallowing me whole. The air inside was thick, charged with ancient Qi that made my skin prickle. Seris stood beside me, silent and watchful.
"The trial tests your spirit and your will," she said softly. "Many enter. Few emerge."
The system beeped in my vision:
[Trial of the Broken Tower - Stage 1: Spirit's Endurance]
[Objective: Survive the elemental onslaught]
[Reward: Unlock Forbidden Ascension Branch]
I swallowed hard. No turning back. Suddenly, the walls erupted in flames, swirling around me without burning. Heat pressed in, but I stood firm. My body screamed to run, but I focused my Qi, weaving the energy into a shield.
[Skill Activated: Stone Skin - Damage reduction +30% for 60 seconds]
The flames licked at my skin, but the shield held. I felt my core pulse, responding to the challenge. A sudden roar echoed as fiery beasts formed from the flames, their eyes burning like embers. They charged. I dodged and countered, using Shadow Step to evade attacks and strike with Poison Fang. Each kill fueled my system, stabilizing my core further.
[Stage 1 Complete]
[Heaven-Rebellion Points: 8]
[Core Stability: 70% → 85%]
[New Skill Unlocked: Flame Roar (Active) - Unleash a wave of fire. Cost: 20% HP]
Seris nodded approvingly.
"Well done. But this is just the beginning."
The tower trembled. Stone cracked. I braced myself. The next trial awaited. The rumble beneath my feet grew louder, shaking loose dust from the cracked walls of the Broken Tower. I steadied myself against the cold stone, heart hammering in my chest. The trial was far from over. Seris's eyes narrowed as she watched me from the shadows.
"This tower tests more than strength. It tests your very soul," she said quietly.
The system's screen glowed, announcing a new challenge:
[Trial of the Broken Tower - Stage 2: Echoes of Power]
[Objective: Face the spirits of your past and prove your will]
[Warning: Psychological and physical damage possible]
A chill ran down my spine. I swallowed and stepped forward. Inside the chamber, ethereal lights flickered, revealing ghostly figures - familiar faces from my past, twisted and distorted by pain. They whispered accusations, doubts, and fears, forcing me to relive every failure and every loss.
The system beeped:
[Sanity Stability: 60%]
[Core Stability: 85%]
I gritted my teeth and focused my Qi into a shield to block the mental assault. Each whisper cut deeper, but my resolve hardened. I raised my hand, channeling energy into the jade. A sudden flash of power blasted the spirits away. The chamber shook. A booming voice echoed:
"Only those who conquer their past may claim the future."
Seris stepped forward, handing me a glowing crystal.
"This will anchor your spirit, protect you in the coming trials."
I nodded, slipping the crystal into my pocket. Outside, the tower's shadows stretched long. The dawn was near. But the true battle for my soul was only warming up.
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