As Aris "stumbled" off the white marble of the martial stage, clutching his chest in feigned weakness, his mind was miles away from the shocked whispers of the crowd.
He walked into the darkness of the locker tunnel, the shadows wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. The moment he was out of sight, he straightened his back. The "sickly boy" vanished, replaced by the cold posture of a predator.
The golden interface was still shimmering in his vision, waiting for the final confirmation.
[Path Selected: The Forbidden Alchemist]
[Integrating Class Protocols...]
A sensation like icy water rushed through his brain. It wasn't painful; it was clarifying. The world suddenly looked... sharper.
[Class Traits Unlocked:]
Passive: 'Truth Seeker' – You can now perceive the molecular structure and Qi-composition of all matter. Skill: 'Reverse Refinement' – The ability to deconstruct a finished pill or artifact back into its raw materials (stealing the creator's "technique" in the process). Skill: 'Abyssal Poison' – You can infuse any creation with a microscopic "backdoor" code that you can trigger remotely.
[Level Cap Broken!]
[Level 10 → Level 11]
Aris looked at the stone wall of the tunnel. Before, he just saw grey rock. Now, with Truth Seeker, he saw a lattice of minerals, held together by weak earth-qi bonds. He knew exactly where to tap it to make the entire wall collapse.
"I see the source code," Aris whispered.
The Emperor's Vault Map
He didn't stay to hear the results of the other matches. He returned immediately to the Shattered Pagoda.
Sitting in the center of the toxic Yin-Spring, Aris retrieved the reward from his victory: a shimmering, semi-transparent scroll made of Starlight Silk.
He unrolled it.
[Item Activated: Map of the Emperor's Vault (Fragment).]
The scroll didn't show a drawing; it projected a complex 3D hologram of the Royal Capital into the air. It detailed the streets, the sewers, and the guard patrols. But Aris ignored the surface. He zoomed in on the Imperial Palace.
Deep beneath the Golden Throne Room, buried under layers of ancient formations, a single red dot pulsed like a heartbeat.
[Target: The Primal Root of the World Tree.]
[System Analysis: This is the primary server node for the Great Qin Empire's Qi.]
[Effect: Consuming a fragment of the Root will accelerate your 'Abyssal Sovereign' Evolution by 20%.]
Aris stared at the red dot. It was the ultimate treasure.
"The Emperor's private garden," Aris mused. "Guarded by the Twelve Spirit Generals and a barrier that vaporizes anything without Royal Blood."
He leaned back, tapping his finger against his knee.
"I can't sneak in. I can't fight my way in. I need to be... invited."
The Plan: The Epidemic
How do you get invited into the most secure room in the world?
You make them need you.
Aris stood up and walked to the Creation Forge.
"System," he commanded. "Open Synthesis Mode. Ingredients: Low-Grade Coal dust, the toxic moss from the Pagoda walls, and a vial of my own blood."
[Warning: These ingredients are incompatible. Result will be highly toxic sludge.]
"No," Aris corrected. "Use the new skill. Abyssal Poison."
He began to work. He didn't act like a mystic sage; he acted like a bio-engineer. He used the coal as a carbon base, the toxic moss as the delivery system, and his own blood as the command key.
He wove his Qi into the mixture, creating a complex, microscopic structure. It wasn't a biological virus. It was a spiritual parasite.
[Crafting Complete.]
[Item Created: 'The Grey Wither' (A False Plague).]
Effect: A non-lethal "disease" that attaches to a cultivator's meridians. It mimics the symptoms of "Qi Deviation" and organ failure. Trait: It feeds on Light and Wood Qi. This means standard healing spells (which use Light/Wood) will only make the virus grow stronger. The Cure: Only an Abyssal Foundation Pill (which contains Aris's specific Qi signature) can neutralize the code.
Aris held the vial of grey dust up to the light. It looked harmless.
"Time to find Patient Zero," Aris said. "Kaelen is currently in the infirmary recovering from his 'accident', isn't he? I should send him a get-well gift."
Three Weeks Later: The Capital in Chaos
It started as a rumor. Then, it became a panic.
A mysterious "Qi-Flu" was spreading among the young geniuses of the Great Qin Empire. It struck the wealthy and the powerful first.
Kaelen Thorne was the first. One morning, his fire-qi simply turned cold. His skin turned a sickly grey, and his hair began to fall out. The family healers poured Holy Light into him, but Kaelen only screamed louder as the "Wither" devoured the healing energy to multiply.
Then, it jumped. The son of the Minister of War. The nephew of the Grand Duke. Even the Emperor's favorite daughter, Princess Ling, fell ill during a tea ceremony.
The Imperial Physicians were powerless. They burned mountains of herbs, summoned high-level healers from the sects, but nothing worked. The capital was locked down. The streets were empty.
[Abyssal Nexus: Status Check]
AP Balance: 1,200 AP (Earning passive AP from the "World Chaos" factor). Market Status: The price of "Healing Herbs" has crashed. The price for "Mystery Cures" has tripled. Identity: The name "Pale Alchemist" has reached the Royal Court.
The Summons
The sun hung low over the Imperial Palace, casting long shadows over the gold-plated gates.
A black carriage with no crest arrived at the main entrance. The guards, usually arrogant and aggressive, rushed forward to open the door with trembling respect.
Aris stepped out.
He was wearing the Mask of the Faceless. He looked like a void in the shape of a man—tall, wrapped in midnight robes, radiating an aura of cold, professional detachment.
A high-ranking official, Head Eunuch Li, was waiting. The man was sweating profusely.
"Master Alchemist!" Eunuch Li bowed so low his hat touched the ground. "Thank the Heavens you accepted the summons. His Majesty is... beside himself."
"I am expensive, Eunuch Li," Aris said. His voice was modulated to a deep, resonant pitch that commanded authority.
"Gold is no object!" Li cried, leading the way. "If you can cure Princess Ling, the Emperor will grant you anything. Titles, land, artifacts... limitless rewards."
Aris walked through the massive vermilion gates. He passed rows of elite guards, layers of defensive formations, and gardens filled with spirit beasts.
Nox, hidden in his shadow, vibrated with excitement. The smell of high-grade treasures was everywhere.
Limitless rewards? Aris thought, a cold grin touching his lips beneath the porcelain mask.
He looked up at the towering golden roof of the Throne Hall. Beneath that building lay the pulsing red dot of the World Tree Root.
I don't want your gold, Qin Long. I don't want your titles.
I'm here to hack your mainframe.
"Lead the way," Aris said. "Let us see this... incurable illness."