The Southern Forest did not welcome An. The air here was heavy, and the silence was not the peace of nature, but a dead silence, as if life itself was holding its breath. The tall, ancient trees still stood, but their canopies were dotted with unhealthy patches of yellow.
He didn't follow the path; he followed the data. He moved methodically, stopping every few hundred meters to use his hand trowel to take a soil sample and apply his Deep Analysis skill. Each analysis drained a small portion of his mental energy and spiritual power, but in return, an invisible map of the contamination began to form in his mind.
[Negative energy concentration: 3.7%]
[Negative energy concentration: 4.1%]
[Negative energy concentration: 5.2%]
The numbers were increasing. He was heading in the right direction. The source of the contamination lay deeper in the forest, to the southwest.
He passed a small stream, its once-clear water now a murky gray. He collected a water sample in a glass vial.
[Deep Analysis Complete]
[Target: Spiritually Contaminated Water]
[Spiritual Qi Structure: Unstable, contains corrosive energy that disrupts the life force of living creatures.]
Everything pointed in one direction. Something was constantly leaking this corrosive energy into the environment, like a wound leaking toxic pus.
As he went deeper, the silence was broken. But it wasn't the sound of life, but of madness. A hoarse, guttural growl echoed from the bushes ahead. An immediately hid behind a tree, his hand gripping the iron dagger.
A red shadow shot out. It was a rabbit. But it was unlike any rabbit he had ever seen. Its fur was matted with blood and mud, its eyes were as red as burning coals, and foamy drool dripped from its mouth.
[Creature: Frenzied Rabbit (Contaminated)]
[Level: 3]
[Note: Its mind has been corroded by negative energy, making it extremely aggressive.]
The mad rabbit Lina had warned him about. It didn't hesitate, charging towards An like an arrow. Its speed was much faster than a normal rabbit's.
An didn't meet it head-on. He activated his Guerilla Tactics skill, sidestepping and letting the rabbit rush past. He spun around, the dagger in his hand drawing a swift arc, aiming for its flank.
Swish!
[-12 HP]
The rabbit let out a piercing shriek, spun around, and bit An's leg.
[-3 HP]
A sharp pain shot up, but An was used to this sensation. He stepped back, keeping his distance, his yellow eyes coldly analyzing the beast's movements. It was ferocious, but had no tactics, only madness.
After a few dodges and counter-attacks, An found an opening. When the rabbit lunged again, he didn't retreat but stepped forward, his iron dagger plunging straight into its neck. The rabbit struggled for a moment, then went still.
[You have gained 20 EXP]
An panted, looking down at the bite on his leg. It wasn't deep, but it was still bleeding. He was about to leave, but something unusual on the rabbit's corpse made him stop. A patch of fur on its chest seemed slightly raised and had a faint black glow.
Curious, he used his dagger to slice open the skin there. Beneath the flesh lay a small, black object the size of a thumb, emitting a cold stream of negative energy. It looked like a piece of opaque black crystal. He carefully picked it out, and immediately, a stream of detailed information appeared in his mind as he activated Deep Analysis.
[Deep Analysis Complete]
[Item: Demonic Energy Crystal (Low Purity)]
[Spiritual Qi Structure: Negative energy crystallized by an external source.]
[Effect: Contains unstable, corrosive energy. Can be used as a material for dark magic or curses. Long-term exposure is harmful.]
An stared at the crystal. This wasn't just a sample. This was a resource. A dangerous resource, but also an incredibly valuable one for someone like him who needed spiritual qi to cultivate.
The crystal also seemed to vibrate slightly, as if being pulled in a specific direction.
Southwest.
An placed the crystal in a glass vial, marking it carefully. He now had a compass.
Following the direction the crystal pointed, he walked for another half an hour. The contamination grew denser. The surrounding trees began to lose their leaves, their branches bare, and the ground turned a blackish-gray.
And then, he saw it.
Ahead was a rocky hill, and at its base was a dark cave, looking like a scar on the face of the earth. The air around the cave entrance was cold and heavy, carrying the foul stench of decay. He didn't need to analyze to know that this was the source of it all. He had found the center of the contamination.
Now, the question was, what was inside?