The Abyssal Garden: No Room for the Idle

"What?"

"Our spiritual energy is being passively drained, and both Physical Strength and Vitality are dropping at a rate of 1% per minute."

"...."

The eyes of those present slightly shifted, "It's really happening... but why wasn't there any notification just now?"

"The power of Paradise has disappeared, and now the bodily attribute panel, as well as the digitization, is also gradually fading," Su Qi paused, looking towards the top club players, "I think you understand what I mean."

Their expressions turned extremely grave as they checked their own attribute panels. These powers, inherent to the players themselves, ensured that all players could use digitization and skills, and tools, even without system intervention.

Once gone... the good news was... they could immerse themselves in the game more.

The bad news was... real death loomed over them.

"Let's go! Move faster!" the Ghost-faced Magician and others' faces drastically changed, promptly responding without any hesitation.

And many players gritted their teeth, intending to rush forward!

The dark red eerie glow brought distortion, terror, as if spectral whispers were generating all sorts of strange illusions, bursting out around the energy!

This also simultaneously presented an extremely tricky situation!

As everyone gritted their teeth and walked, they suddenly felt the ground fiercely split open. Many screamed in fear, jumping to the sides, while the ones who accidentally fell, plunged into the Abyss!

But in reality, when everyone snapped back to their senses, they were horrified to find no cracks had appeared—it was purely an illusion.

Those who fell into the Abyss... all lay on the ground... either unconscious or completely silent!

Those lagging behind also caused a decrease in the number of people resisting the impact, adding just that bit more pressure on each individual.

Ethan Dawn, wiping sweat, said, "...This mess... should we really be helping? Just being nearby is already so difficult."

"Do you have a better idea?"

Su Qi, looking at the deep red exclamation mark of the Destruction countdown, said, "Now I'm even more certain... to solve all this, the source is in that pit."

And at that moment.

Their eyes once again showed a hint of terror, "Careful!"

They all saw over a dozen hyenas, with sharp fangs and bodies pierced by various spikes, charging at them!

Luckily, Zero and the others didn't hesitate and directly killed these death hyenas with weapons without bursting their spiritual energy!

Su Qi narrowed his eyes, looking towards the pit.

The twisted eerie… the illusions bursting out seemed to be events that had happened in this city before, including the hyenas they themselves had encountered.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Su Qi gently began, "from now on, follow my command."

The massive energy erupting from the central pit, and the impacts generated were unconsciously rippling, just the tip of the iceberg, yet it had already plunged the players into a dire situation.

There was no room for discussion.

"Those who chase me most vigorously, stand at the very front."

"The rest arrange themselves in a V-formation behind, in case of an emergency, protect yourselves first, then help others."

So many players gathered here could resist two to three Seventh Rank monsters together!

But in reality, at this moment.

Facing the aftermath of the energy impact, the players could only manage to share a minuscule part together—if too many fell, they might as well just remake.

Oh.

There is no remake option, so never mind.

"You," Penelope Bloom looked at Su Qi, "If you're going to command, you might as well step back, and we can protect you."

"Me?" Su Qi, "Brother Chun and I will lead."

Ethan Dawn, biting his teeth as he walked, heard this guy and suddenly looked up:"??? What does this have to do with me?"

"Don't be modest, your investigative ability is very special and useful," Su Qi gently said, "so I have a very important task for you next."

Ethan Dawn's mood fluctuated, blankly asking, "What task."

Twenty seconds later.

Ethan Dawn looked at the huge rattle drum in his hand, his eyelids twitching, "This is that face monster's rattle drum from before, right?"

"It seems a bit similar."

"What do you mean a bit? This is clearly it!"

Ethan Dawn's eyes widened, now filled with many questions, "Wasn't it handed over to Final Home? How is it in your hands!"

"It's not important."

Su Qi whispered gently, "The most important thing right now is this moment. You stand beside me, and when something sinister descends later, you strike it hard."

This thing also carried a spiritual impact similar to the old monster with a human face, originating from the same pollution. Without the ability to use Spiritual Energy, it proved to be much more useful.

Ethan Dawn took a deep breath and said, "I get it, but isn't this something anyone could do? What does this have to do with my abilities!"

He actually thought his abilities would come in handy!

-----------------

The road ahead was only a kilometer long... but the various twisted and eerie encounters arrived wave after wave.

Disasters, misfortunes, bloodshed, and even sharp icicles from the sky.

There was also a rich variety of monsters.

With difficult steps, under the residual impacts and Su Qi's commands, everyone moved forward step by step as if crossing a chasm.

Everything before their eyes was genuinely bizarre power.

No one dared to take it lightly.

"Time is running out."

Su Qi kept an eye on the deep red exclamation mark, which now included a countdown unlike before, constantly reminding him of all the changes.

And now,

Everyone had finally reached the edge of the abyss. Each person trembled, an overwhelming sense of terror overloading them, their heartbeats audibly frantic.

Yet they couldn't help looking curiously into the pit.

"What is actually down there?"

"Who is that terrifying presence?"

At that moment, for some reason, everyone wasn't restricted by the untouchable and insurmountable limits.

They could clearly see a person sitting in the pit, wearing a yellow robe, gaunt as if dead, with only the horrific energy being sucked out of him visible.

Su Qi watched this scene.

He understood why everyone could look directly; everyone had been marked when they reacted. Each person could earn the right for direct contact, but at the same time... if they were unable to assist,

This mark might backlash. Encountering a ruthless master, they could be cursed to the most terrifying places, facing endless bizarre tribulations!

"It seems that perhaps due to the mark being blocked... I'm consequently unpopular."

After all, his constitution was complex.

And at that moment,

The yellow-robed corpse sitting in the middle actually moved, slowly raising its head. Its face and robe seemed fused together, with no features visible, but its voice was faint and hoarse as it came through:

"...help...help me..."

Everyone was utterly silent.

The previous offer of help was merely a polite response in absence...

And now,

Although everyone could look directly and see that it was merely a corpse, a profound oppressive feeling originated from within, giving everyone a chilling sensation.

No one dared to respond lightly.

Su Qi, however, didn't have that concern. He found that after integrating the Evil God's Eye, his resistance to various so-called oppressive feelings was quite high; as long as it wasn't causing direct damage, he wouldn't have a problem.

He pulled out a megaphone: "Comrade below, don't panic, I can help you!"

Everyone: "...."

But the other party silently looked at him with that black hollow face.

Although everyone had the mark and the right to contact, when the other's gaze fell upon them, everyone's bodies stiffened and trembled. The presence of a truly superior being, even if just a corpse, was still too much for the weak to bear.

"..."

The other side was silent for over ten seconds, seemingly conflicted and puzzled.

Eventually, it finally expressed its request.

"....ancient whisper...."

"...chant...."

Its voice faint and hoarse, it continued:

"...Recovery..."

"Anxious Land....Temple..."