Not only did the Yellow Springs not receive an enhancement, but the slight mutation in its body actually led to a weakening.
The degree of weakening was minor, but it was said that subsequent experiments all failed.
Over the course of half a month, although the overall strength of Yellow Springs hadn’t changed much, its peak state remained terrifying, yet it developed numerous mutations that could only be described as burdensome.
Unwilling to accept this, Yellow Springs seemed to sense an evolutionary opportunity, but it never expected that the small probability of experimental failure would happen to it.
It conducted multiple experiments attempting to change this. These experiments resulted in bodily mutations, with some areas gaining slight enhancements while other places became fragile and bloated, completely weakening it.
It still remained terrifying, but the door to evolving into a higher level predator seemed to have closed.
This information came from within the experiment team. A laboratory member was captured in the Eighth District while addressing a physiological need.
It seems that under the influence of Yellow Springs, all personnel associated with the radiation mutation project began to experience bad luck.
Upon learning this information, Morioka Hitomi and Master Lingqing both simultaneously thought of what Wen Xishu had said.
It’s been just a month... and it’s already come true?
Returning to the Eleventh District and sorting through all the intelligence, Morioka Hitomi felt both surprised and delighted.
Delighted because Yellow Springs remained terrifying, but as long as this enhancement failed, the situation wouldn’t be entirely hopeless.
Surprised because if Yellow Springs’s condition was truly caused by Brother Wen Xishu...
Then he mastered a power greater than that of Lian Wang and the Goddess of Suffering.
"He truly is a creator of miracles," Morioka Hitomi couldn’t help but marvel.
Master Lingqing said:
"Yellow Springs seems to be trapped in a predicament. It desires enhancement, but the failed experiments have weakened it. The more it tries to correct this mistake, the more it weakens."
"With little accumulation, if it never realizes this... perhaps it will grow weaker and weaker."
A starved camel is still bigger than a horse, and even after multiple weakenings, Yellow Springs remains one of the most terrifying monsters in Hujiang.
However, the battlefield situation has quietly changed.
"I really want to find Brother Wen Xishu and verify this," Morioka Hitomi said excitedly.
...
...
Bunker, Three Towers Academy, Principal’s Office.
Upon arriving at the Bunker, Wen Xishu immediately headed to the Principal’s office.
Due to Tang Rui’s mission, Wen Xishu temporarily lost contact with the Principal.
After spending several days and nights in Jiangcheng, Wen Xishu believed that the old principal must have already completed the slaughter.
So when he returned to the Bunker, the old principal was already waiting for him.
"You’re here," Albert smiled immediately upon seeing Wen Xishu.
He had been somewhat worried about Wen Xishu, as Wen Xishu’s aura had suddenly disappeared, and he himself had traveled to Hujiang.
Wen Xishu said:
"I’m sorry to have made you worry, Principal. Did you... kill Yellow Springs?"
Although he had an idea, he still wanted to confirm.
Speaking of this, the old principal became as happy as a child:
"Hahaha... Killing from outside the Tower is truly fascinating. I’m looking forward to embarking on the Slaughter Tower journey with you again."
"However, Yellow Springs was a bit too low-level for me."
"If it were decades ago, defeating it might have yielded more bountiful rewards to me."
"But even the rewards for killing from outside the Tower are quite good."
This is akin to in an online game, where beginners can level up by killing a few goblins or chicks.
But Albert’s level was too high, so even slaying a monster like Yellow Springs, which troubled an entire battle district, offered him little growth value.
Thankfully, killing from outside the Tower has its own style.
Albert said:
"Yellow Springs’s abilities are intriguing, a very crafty mechanism, but its values were too low, not worth bothering with."
"In this encounter, I also gained an insight into an Underworld aura. It’s a type of special energy akin to summoning undead creatures."
"I’m thinking of whether I can integrate it into a new martial art. Something akin to the Undying Fist. Of course, this is just an idea. I haven’t fully mastered this power yet."
"If successful, it would definitely help in the fight against the Zodiac."
Wen Xishu was a bit disappointed. It seemed that the old principal had only gained some insight but hadn’t converted it into an actual boost in combat power.
In fact, this was similar to the case with Sagittarius.
Every time Sagittarius was summoned by Wen Xishu, it was for enlightenment rather than an actual increase in combat power.
Because compared to Sagittarius, the monsters killed were too weak.
In theory, such a dimensional gap in kills shouldn’t yield any enlightenment.
But at the level of Sagittarius and Albert, any enlightenment held immense value.
"It’s a pity your level is too low. If you could join me in traveling beyond the ninety-five layers, slaying the creatures there, the rewards for kills from outside the Tower would surely be abundant."
After saying this, Albert felt that this prospect was too distant.
After all, Wen Xishu’s focus was on the Deceit Tower. This meant that Wen Xishu’s progress in the Slaughter Tower was hard to improve swiftly.
Wen Xishu said:
"I’ll do my best, Principal. Perhaps... by the second half of the year, my Slaughter Tower level will also gradually rise?"
Albert asked curiously:
"Are you planning to shift focus from the Deceit Tower to the Slaughter Tower in the latter half of the year? I wouldn’t recommend that."
Wen Xishu pondered for a moment and decided to share his findings with the old principal.
He then started recounting his peculiar Slaughter Tower adventure.
This Slaughter Tower adventure, full of Deceit Tower flavor, deeply captivated Albert.
In the end, when Wen Xishu discussed the rewards he obtained, Albert’s eyes glimmered:
"So you mean... you don’t need to climb the Slaughter Tower, yet your Slaughter Tower level will rise on its own?"
"Is that really possible?"
Wen Xishu added:
"Yes, but it depends on the speed of the task target’s killings. The more she kills on the real Three-Tower Battlefield, the quicker my Slaughter Tower level rises."
Wen Xishu smiled bashfully:
"I might end up on the Celestial Ladder List with the fewest climbs ever made."
Albert laughed heartily:
"Hahahaha... That’s wonderful! Such tasks, such assistance, the more the better."
Though he eagerly hoped his disciple Xun Hui could catch up with him, Albert’s true companions were always Old Jin and Wen Xishu.
Old Jin was the pioneer, while Wen Xishu was the creator of miracles.
The last time he climbed the Tower with Wen Xishu, they defeated Sagittarius.
This time, upon climbing with Wen Xishu, they accomplished killing from outside the Tower, a completely different experience from climbing with Old Jin.
Wen Xishu said:
"Yes, I also hope for more assistance. I must quickly embark on a new Deceit Tower journey to recruit more partners."
He couldn’t rely solely on Tang Rui to keep killing and effortlessly get himself to the ninetieth floor, could he?
Wen Xishu doubted Tang Rui could achieve that level.
After all, many monsters from the seventieth or eightieth floors were already stronger than Tang Rui.
Thus, he still needed to recruit more partners who were qualified for exclusive missions.
The conversation between the two ended here, as Wen Xishu prepared to head back to the Deceit Tower.
Albert was accustomed to this.
The Deceit Tower harbored too many secrets, from the disappearance of Old Jin and Evelyn to the secrets of his former prized disciple Wen Chaohua, all requiring a more advanced level within the Deceit Tower to unravel.
Perhaps even the Bunker’s existence is related to the Three Towers.
"It seems you’re ready for your next adventure."
Wen Xishu nodded:
"Yes, I look forward to the people I’ll meet next."
...
...
Deceit Tower Rest Area.
The constant hustle and bustle made the Deceit Tower Rest Area lively.
Members of the Xishu Divine Teaching had even begun recruiting in the Deceit Tower Rest Area.
This included students from Deceit Tower Academy. Many students were simultaneously members of the Three Towers Academy and followers of the Xishu Divine Teaching.
As always, after rolling the Mad Dice, Wen Xishu appeared in the Celestial Essence position.
Typically, he paused briefly in the rest area to verify and read the mission overview.
Owing to his frequent Tower climbs, people often saw him. Everyone was accustomed to it.
Students from the Deceit Tower Academy even said that the likelihood of seeing Dean Wen in the rest area might be higher than in the Bunker.
Yet this time, Wen Xishu furrowed his brows tightly, discouraging anyone from approaching.
Wen Xishu longed to meet a more powerful entity. But this time, the mission had nothing to do with others.
The mission title had only three words.
"Alter Ego?"