Chapter 709: Chapter 331: Wildfire Spreading (Part 3)
"Permission Level: Associate Professor.
Special Annotation: mber of the New Star Plan.
Spiritual Contamination Resistance: Requires real-ti testing to determine specific value."
The construct extended an arm made of crystal.
The surface of the crystal flowed with strange runes, pointing towards a shadow-swallowed dark door deep within the library:
"Please proceed to the testing area for contamination resistance assessnt.
This is a necessary procedure for entering the forbidden area. Any attempts to bypass this procedure will be considered a direct threat to the school’s safety."
Ron followed the construct through the dark door and imdiately felt the change in air quality.
The atmosphere here seed compressed by so invisible weight, with every breath requiring extra effort.
He could hear faint heartbeat sounds emanating from within the walls, as if the entire building were the innards of so giant creature.
The testing chamber was a perfectly circular space, with no decorations, only pure black walls and floor.
A giant crystal ball, about two ters in diater, floated in the center of the room, its interior swirling with nauseating dark mist.
The mist did not remain stationary but within the sphere ford intricate spiral patterns.
Each rotation released a weak but extrely dangerous spiritual shockwave.
"This device..." Ron activated "Extraordinary Recognition," carefully observing the crystal ball.
In his specialized vision, the surface of the sphere was covered with a dense network of runes, constantly absorbing and transforming the surrounding energy.
More terrifyingly, he could sense that inside the sphere, the fragnted consciousness of so living entity was indeed sealed.
"Did you notice sothing?" The construct seed to notice the change in his expression.
"This is not simply a testing device," Ron calmly analyzed:
"The sphere contains actual spiritual fragnts of Abyssal Creatures, adjusted by the rune network. This design... is quite ingenious, but also extrely dangerous."
"A keen observation," the construct’s tone carried a bit of appreciation:
"Indeed, these spiritual remnants co from various advanced creatures slain by the Abyss exploration team.
Their resentnt and chaotic consciousness have been refined to test Wizards’ resistance to contamination."
It paused for a mont and continued to explain:
"The test will be conducted in two stages.
If you feel discomfort at any stage, please imdiately indicate to stop."
The construct’s energy core began to pulse slowly, each flicker dropping the room’s temperature by several degrees:
"A special reminder: there was once an associate professor who thought himself ntally strong, only to have his latent contamination fully activated during the test.
When we found him, he was gnawing on his fingers, weeping while laughing and saying, ’finally found true delicacy.’
This detail made Ron’s expression even more solemn.
The horror of spiritual contamination lies in its ability to fundantally distort the victim’s perception and values.
The contaminated often cannot perceive their abnormalities, instead, they consider their twisted state as ’normal,’ even ’beautiful.’
Moreover, he felt that the intelligence and emotional expression of this ’construct’ seed not quite like artificial intelligence?
"I understand the risks." Ron nodded in acknowledgnt, walking towards the testing crystal ball.
When he was three ters away from the sphere, the first stage of the test began quietly.
The mist inside the crystal ball suddenly surged violently, releasing a repulsive ntal pressure.
It was not simply fear or anxiety, but a more fundantal existential negation.
As if countless voices were whispering simultaneously in his ears:
"You shouldn’t exist..."
"Your efforts are aningless..."
"Death is the only relief..."
"Why struggle? Why not embrace the void?"
But for Ron, who had been cultivating the "Star Eater’s Ravings," this level of ntal impact was almost negligible.
His ditation Technique itself was established on communication with Exotic Realm beings, long adapting his spiritual structure to oppression from higher dinsions.
"First stage passed, duration thirty-seven seconds," the construct was recording the data:
"This speed is excellent at the associate professor level, proceeding to the second stage test."
The crystal ball began to change colors, shifting from dark gray to deep purple.
The mist’s density also increased significantly, nearly completely obscuring the structure inside the sphere.
The ntal impact of the second stage was more complex and cunning.
It was no longer simple negation and despair but attempted to fundantally distort Ron’s cognitive structure.
Hallucinations began to erge before his eyes:
He saw himself transform into a mass of writhing tentacles, devouring all his companions, yet feeling unprecedented satisfaction;
He watched as Ailan’s erald figure rotted and lted before him, turning into a pool of foul-slling pus, yet her voice continued to thank him for ’liberating’ her;
He even saw the entire Central Lands collapse beneath his feet, countless innocent lives vanishing due to his actions, yet he stood atop the ruins, laughing maniacally...
These illusions tried to make him believe that destruction and decay were the true ’joy,’ while reason and order were rely self-deceptive shackles.
But these distorted temptations could not sway Ron’s core reason.
The ntal resilience honed in the pursuit by Ti Hounds and the threat of the ’Devourer’ allowed him to clearly distinguish reality from illusion.
More importantly, his persistent pursuit of ’self-control’ provided him with a strong ntal anchor.
No matter how tempting the illusions, he would never relinquish control over his own destiny.
"Second stage passed, duration one minute and forty-two seconds," the construct’s voice carried evident surprise:
"Testing complete, total duration less than three minutes."
The construct’s voice bore disbelief:
"Contamination resistance level: A . This is a high rating at the associate professor level, granting you safe access to most of the forbidden area’s content."
It paused for a long ti, seemingly processing so complex data:
"According to historical records, only six associate level personnel have received an A
rating, four of whom later successfully advanced to Great Wizard, one beca the leader of the Abyss exploration team..."
The construct didn’t ntion the sixth person’s fate, but Ron sensed a foreboding hint from its slightly dim energy core.
After passing the test, a previously invisible door appeared on the wall.
The door itself was a piece of art, composed of so living material that breathed autonomously, its surface covered with a network of pulsating veins.
As Ron approached, the veins began to pulse faster, as if welcoming a long-lost guest.
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