"Permission Level: Associate Professor.
Special Annotation: Member of the New Star Plan.
Spiritual Contamination Resistance: Requires real-time 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 assessment.
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 immediately felt the change in air quality.
The atmosphere here seemed compressed by some 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 some 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 meters in diameter, floated in the center of the room, its interior swirling with nauseating dark mist.
The mist did not remain stationary but within the sphere formed intricate spiral patterns.
Each rotation released a weak but extremely 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 fragmented consciousness of some living entity was indeed sealed.
"Did you notice something?" The construct seemed to notice the change in his expression.
"This is not simply a testing device," Ron calmly analyzed:
"The sphere contains actual spiritual fragments of Abyssal Creatures, adjusted by the rune network. This design... is quite ingenious, but also extremely dangerous."
"A keen observation," the construct’s tone carried a bit of appreciation:
"Indeed, these spiritual remnants come from various advanced creatures slain by the Abyss exploration team.
Their resentment and chaotic consciousness have been refined to test Wizards’ resistance to contamination."
It paused for a moment and continued to explain:
"The test will be conducted in two stages.
If you feel discomfort at any stage, please immediately 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 mentally 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 fundamentally 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’ seemed not quite like artificial intelligence?
"I understand the risks." Ron nodded in acknowledgment, walking towards the testing crystal ball.
When he was three meters away from the sphere, the first stage of the test began quietly.
The mist inside the crystal ball suddenly surged violently, releasing a repulsive mental pressure.
It was not simply fear or anxiety, but a more fundamental existential negation.
As if countless voices were whispering simultaneously in his ears:
"You shouldn’t exist..."
"Your efforts are meaningless..."
"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 mental impact was almost negligible.
His Meditation Technique itself was established on communication with Exotic Realm beings, long adapting his spiritual structure to oppression from higher dimensions.
"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 mental impact of the second stage was more complex and cunning.
It was no longer simple negation and despair but attempted to fundamentally distort Ron’s cognitive structure.
Hallucinations began to emerge 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 emerald figure rotted and melted before him, turning into a pool of foul-smelling 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 merely self-deceptive shackles.
But these distorted temptations could not sway Ron’s core reason.
The mental resilience honed in the pursuit by Time 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 mental 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 time, seemingly processing some 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 became the leader of the Abyss exploration team..."
The construct didn’t mention 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 some 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.