She looked at Ron standing three meters away from her, not feeling offended, just let out a soft laugh and got straight to the point:
"No need to be so tense. I heard you are deeply interested in the Abyss, even going so far as to spend a fortune to purchase parts of the Scorpion from that gladiatorial event. This unusual interest in the Abyss reminds me of myself when I was young."
Her words carried an inexplicable emotion, as if it were a memory, yet also a warning.
"The pursuit of knowledge is the nature of all wizards."
Ron cautiously replied, "And the Abyss, as a realm full of unknowns, naturally draws exploration."
"But not all explorations are harmless."
Corina slowly raised her hand, reaching for her mask:
"Some truths, once seen, can never be forgotten."
Saying so, she slowly unveiled her mask, revealing the true face underneath.
Ron felt a sudden jolt of fear.
The silver-haired witch’s face was nothing like that of a normal human.
It was a face severely distorted.
The skin appeared unnaturally pale, almost transparent, with the wriggling blood vessels visible underneath.
The left cheek was covered with scattered silver scales, very similar to those on Maxim, yet the range was broader.
The right eye had completely transformed into an oval, with no pupil, only constantly shifting light patterns flowing on the surface.
The lips were almost nonexistent, replaced by a crack that nearly traversed the entire lower half of the face, revealing peculiar teeth inside that did not conform to human physiology as she spoke.
Even with Ron’s current mental fortitude, this sudden visual shock made him involuntarily take a step back, fingers clenching instinctively.
Corina noticed his reaction but showed no displeasure.
On the contrary, she seemed accustomed to such a response.
"No need to panic, Apprentice Ralph."
She said calmly, her voice still that harsh metallic scraping sound.
But now Ron could see it was because her vocal cords had completely mutated:
"This is the greatest gift the Abyss has left me, unless I achieve the rank of Great Wizard, it cannot be erased in a lifetime."
Ron averted his gaze, the more he looked, the more he felt a chill creeping up his spine.
This degree of mutation far exceeded the silver scales displayed by Maxim.
He quickly controlled his reaction, regaining his usual composure: "You are also an Abyssal Explorer?"
"Indeed."
Corina nodded: "Maxim should have already mentioned his experience to you. At that time, I had just been promoted to Morning Star Mage not long. We were part of the same exploration team, entering the Abyss Sixth Layer ’Maze Domain’ together."
She slightly wobbled her crossed legs, restraining some of the radiating field from her body, signaling Ron to come closer:
"That exploration, we paid a heavy price. Out of twenty team members, only the two of us came back alive, and our current condition, you have already seen."
Ron cautiously moved to a distance of two meters from Corina, listening intently.
This was a rare opportunity to hear about the real situation of the Abyss from another personal experience.
"But it was precisely this exploration that allowed my spiritual power to increase at a speed much higher than ordinary people."
Corina continued, that silver eye flickering with strange light:
"My spiritual talent is only fourth-class, but at less than fifty years old, I reached the critical point of the Morning Star Level, which is almost impossible on the normal meditation path.
Many wizards unwilling to venture into the Abyss, even if they meditate hard for a lifetime, would only reach my current level."
She caressed the scales on her face, her expression complex:
"But the price is what you see, once stained by the curse of the Abyss, it can never be completely cleansed.
It becomes a part of you, constantly reminding you of the reality of that experience."
Ron nodded slightly: "But you still seem to think this exchange is worthwhile?"
"The answer to this question depends on each person’s pursuit."
Corina’s voice grew deeper:
"For those wizards eager to break conventional limits and seek higher realms, the Abyss is a shortcut, but at the same time it is a road full of thorns."
She suddenly changed the subject: "By the way, I heard you are practicing a special meditation technique?"
Ron was startled, but showed no outward reaction:
"Yes, a Gem Level meditation technique taught by Lady Allen."
"’Star Eater’s Ravings’, right, heh... This meditation technique is almost known to everybody among the Official Wizards at the Crystal Tower."
Corina directly said the name, catching Ron a bit off guard:
"’Star Eater’s Ravings’ is an introductory method preceding the Crown Meditation Technique. This meditation technique, leading to higher levels, often helps cultivators accumulate spiritual power faster, but it also accelerates the accumulation of spiritual contamination."
Her voice carried a warning:
"This meditation technique will make you more susceptible to the influence of curses when entering the Abyss. Moreover, to cultivate to higher levels, you must also enter the Abyss for breakthroughs. This is precisely why I specifically asked to meet you today, as we already have an unbreakable tie with the Abyss."
’Star Eater’s Ravings’ actually has such a hidden peril. Damn it, Lady Allen never told him about these risks previously, could it be...
"There’s no need to think too ill of Lady Allen. The meditation technique can actually be changed after being promoted to an Official Wizard, and shifting from a high-tier technique to a lower-level one will be easier, whereas the reverse might be challenging."