Lady Allen’s voice dropped low, her fingertips gently sliding across the projection. Those explorers devoured by the Black Sand gradually disappeared into the sand:
"The sand starts to seep into their equipment, corroding their skin, drilling into their lungs. The entire process is silent and slow, like a meticulously planned murder."
As for the detailed process of how the sand murders, she, as an observer, could not see it, and naturally could not record it.
But Ron could feel it, a real fear seeping from Lady Allen’s description and the projection.
The flicker of memory in her eyes and the slight tremor of her fingertips both told him that this was not a fabricated warning but a nightmare she had personally experienced.
Lady Allen’s voice suddenly became more serious.
In the projection appeared a strange mist, its surface constantly changing shapes, with countless tiny light points flickering inside, looking just like a starry sky confined:
"But the most dangerous existence starting from the 3rd Floor is not those powerful mutants or the active sands, but the ’Chaotic Spirit Monster.’
A genuine fear flashed through her eyes, which was extremely rare for the unflappable Lady Allen.
The mist in the projection materialized, slowly rotating between the two.
"They are anomalies of the Abyss, appearing like a mass of constantly shifting mist, with countless tiny light spots flickering inside, like a starry sky imprisoned..."
As she described, the mist suddenly rotated violently, forming a small vortex, and the image of an explorer in the projection vanished instantly.
"When they fix their gaze on you, you will be randomly transported to any layer of the Abyss, any place."
Her voice became extremely low:
"A companion of mine was once targeted by a ’Chaotic Spirit Monster.’ In an instant, he disappeared from my sight.
Years later, I found part of him in a corner of the sixth layer... just a part. Judging by the traces, he might have been struggling to survive there for months, but ultimately failed to escape."
Lady Allen paused, her gaze becoming profound:
"The most terrifying thing is, the more a team reaps in the Abyss, the more mutants they hunt, the greater the chance of encountering ’Chaotic Spirit Monsters’... it’s like a self-protection mechanism of the Abyss itself."
A flash of painful memory flickered in her eyes:
"I once led a team to the 3rd Floor to collect the ’Black Sand Essence.’ Luck was on our side, and we gathered enough materials in just three days.
But on the way back, three ’Chaotic Spirit Monsters’ appeared simultaneously, scattering the entire team into the corners of the Abyss.
Only I and two others eventually found the way back... the others never came out."
Ron’s brow furrowed slightly, pondering the strategic adjustments this new information required:
"It sounds indeed troublesome. Is there any way to avoid these ’Chaotic Spirit Monsters’?"
"Theoretically, special energy shielding devices can reduce the chances of being discovered by them,"
Lady Allen replied, her fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the teacup.
"But there is no completely effective method; the best defense is not to be greedy—once you’ve collected enough materials, leave the Abyss immediately instead of taking further risks."
She clasped her hands around the teacup, her deep green eyes sparkling with concern:
"The most dangerous thing in the Abyss is not those visible monsters, but its corrosion of the human heart.
Greed, fear, despair, anger... these emotions are infinitely magnified in the Abyss, ultimately devouring a person’s sanity.
I’ve seen too many explorers, initially determined, finally dragged into an abyss of no return by their own desires."
At this point, she seemed to remember something important, straightened her back, and the projection vanished entirely, restoring the room’s lighting to normal.
Lady Allen placed the teacup aside, crossed her hands on her lap, her expression solemn and earnest.
"Speaking of which, I must remind you of something—now is a golden period for you to enhance your strength.
Having just broken through to become an Official Wizard, your spiritual contamination has been completely cleared, and at this time you will undergo a rapid growth period in magic power, usually lasting one to two years. This means both your body and spiritual power are gradually transitioning to a higher level."
Lady Allen’s gaze turned sharply intense.
She leaned forward, her fingers tapping lightly on the table to emphasize:
"This is an extremely precious time window, and many wizards may only have this one chance in a lifetime.
During this period, your body will also automatically adapt to the growing magic power, forming a more stable and efficient circulation system."
A wisp of magic bloomed at her fingertips, forming a tiny growth curve graph, perfectly illustrating the enhancement phase she described:
"Don’t waste this precious time. Enhance your strength as much as possible before truly stepping into the Abyss.
Once you begin exploring the Abyss, spiritual contamination will accumulate again, and at a speed far beyond your experiences on the surface.
By then, the difficulty of learning new magic will multiply, and you will have to spend more time and energy dispelling the contamination."
After confirming that the other party clearly understood the importance of this growth period, she waved away the projection:
"In short, before you enter the Abyss, it’s best to at least stabilize at the Morning Star Level."
She stood up, walked to the window, and the sunlight outlined her silhouette with exceptional clarity.
"Even the most experienced exploration teams rarely go beyond the sixth layer. Those deeper levels are entirely beyond the capacity of an ordinary Official Wizard; only top-tier individuals at the Dark Sun Level can possibly linger in the sixth layer briefly. And those deeper levels..."
She turned around, a flash of fear passing through her eyes:
"It is said that only a Great Wizard can survive there, and it can only be for short explorations. The rules there are completely twisted; the concepts of time and space become blurred, and thoughts themselves become malleable materials, capable of being twisted and shaped by external forces."
She walked back to Ron, placing her hands gently on his shoulders, her voice becoming unusually solemn:
"Remember, the temptation of the Abyss often coexists with danger.
The most precious materials are often hidden in the most dangerous places;
and those seemingly most beautiful sights might be the deadliest traps.
Always stay vigilant, never underestimate the Abyss’s strangeness and cruelty.
Be especially wary of those moments in the Abyss when you suddenly ’luckily’ discover exactly what you need—that is usually a trap set by the Abyss, to lure you into deeper, more greedy explorations."
Her voice grew even lower:
"Finally, and most importantly—no matter what you see or hear in the Abyss, do not respond to those voices that speak directly to you.
Especially those that sound like familiar people or promise to fulfill your deepest desires.
Those are all traps, and once you respond, your soul becomes marked, becoming prey for the Abyss."
"Thank you for your detailed guidance and generous gifts."
Ron stood up, bowing slightly to Lady Allen, his eyes shining with sincere gratitude:
"I will remember these teachings and verify and refine them in practice."
Lady Allen smiled faintly, a hint of gratification flashing in her deep green eyes, as if she finally fulfilled a long-held promise.
She reached out and gently patted Ron’s shoulder.
"From the moment you stepped into my herb store, I could see you were different. I only hope when you stand at a higher place, you occasionally look back at the scenery along this road."
Sunlight streamed through the window, gilding Lady Allen’s hair with a layer of gold.
She turned around, giving Ron one last look, her eyes filled with complex emotions:
Expectation, worry, pride, regret, and an indescribable emotion, like looking at a distant shadow from the past.