Eternal Tower: Atreia Era

The sunlight in the basin gradually slanted westward, casting long shadows of the three people.

After two hours of rest, Lynn's body was full of ether, and his early-stage high-level strength was completely stabilized.

The three fragments of the Eternal Tower floated silently in his palm, radiating a gentle yet powerful force of creation, resonating with each other and growing ever more steadfast.

It was as if it was constantly nourishing his body, helping him adapt to the new power more quickly.

Gavin's back wound has mostly healed, and he no longer needs a cane to walk.

The power of light within him had been restored to its original state, and his eyes remained calm and sharp, always alert to the movements around him.

Lina's wounds have scabbed over and fallen off, and she is in increasingly good spirits.

The staff of light in his hand gleamed with a faint golden light, and after many fierce battles, it had become even more pure.

Her control over light magic has become increasingly skillful, and she is now capable of handling things independently.

"We've rested enough, it's time for us to set off."

Lynn stood up, gripped the Judgment of Light tightly in his hand, and the light from the three fragments flowed from his palm into the blade.

This added a touch of fiery luster to the already dazzling golden blade.

—Perhaps sensing the aura of the Western Blazing Domain, a faint trace of flame patterns was interspersed within the light of the fragments.

"The Domain of Blazing Flames is far from here, and its environment is treacherous, enveloped in raging flames."

Furthermore, powerful fire-type shadow monsters guard the area; we must be extremely vigilant and not be careless in the slightest.

Gavin nodded, raised his hand to straighten his armor.

The staff of light in their hands emitted a soft golden light, and a faint barrier of light quietly unfolded, enveloping the three of them.

"The flames of the Blazing Domain are not ordinary flames, but shadow fire corrupted by the power of shadow."

It can not only burn the flesh, but also erode the spirit, making it difficult for ordinary defenses to withstand.

Lynn, you have just broken through to the early stage of the advanced level. Try to familiarize yourself with your new power as much as possible. When you encounter danger, do not rush to exert your power.

Lina, you are responsible for supporting defense and healing, while using light magic to suppress the shadow fire.

The three of us maintained our formation and cooperated with each other.

Lina gripped her staff tightly and nodded with a determined look in her eyes.

"Don't worry, mentor, I will definitely provide good support and won't hold everyone back."

Moreover, through these battles, my light magic has improved, and I should be able to withstand the corruption of shadow fire.

The three bid farewell to the Shadow Bear once more, as the Shadow Bear let out a low growl.

She gently nuzzled Lynn's arm with her head, her eyes filled with reluctance and determination.

"Take care on your journey. If you encounter any danger that you cannot overcome, send a signal towards the Misty Forest, and I will do my best to come and support you."

I will always protect the spirit of the ancient tree and safeguard the Misty Forest, waiting for you to return with all the fragments.

Thank you.

Lynn gently patted the Shadow Bear's head, his heart filled with gratitude.

"We will definitely gather all the fragments and purify the shadow power of Atreia. Then, we will protect this land together."

After bidding farewell to the Shadow Bear, the three headed west.

As they continued westward, the surrounding environment gradually changed.

The once dense forest is becoming increasingly sparse, replaced by withered weeds and exposed rocks.

The temperature in the air gradually rose, and the originally fresh air became dry and scorching, with a faint smell of sulfur.

In the distance, a strange orange-red halo appeared on the horizon, and the halo grew stronger and stronger.

The aura of fire and the power of shadow in the air grew stronger, clearly indicating that they were getting closer and closer to the Domain of Blazing Flames.

After walking for about a day, the surrounding temperature had become incredibly high, and the ground was scorching hot.

Even the rocks underfoot gleamed with a scorching red light, and the weeds had long been baked until they were withered, yellow, and brittle, crumbling at the slightest touch.

The smell of sulfur in the air grew stronger, mixed with a pungent, burnt odor.

The orange-red halo in the distance had already occupied most of the sky.

Flames could be faintly seen dancing in the sky, along with the outline of a continuous, undulating volcano.

The Domain of Blazing Flames finally appeared before their eyes.

The entrance to the Realm of Blazing Flames is a vast canyon.

The canyon walls were scorched black by the flames, covered with dark red cracks from which molten lava oozed and hissed.

The lava flowed slowly down the rock wall, gathering into a small lava pool at the bottom of the canyon, radiating a suffocatingly high temperature.

At the entrance to the canyon, a dense aura of shadow and fire lingered.

The two forces intertwined, forming a strange and powerful pressure that made it difficult for anyone to get close.

"This is the entrance to the Realm of Blazing Flames."

Lynn stopped in his tracks, the three shards in his palm slightly warm, their light flickering, conveying a strong warning.

"The resonance of the fragments is growing stronger; the fifth fragment lies deep within this fiery domain."

However, the shadow and fire energy here is too concentrated, and the fire-type shadow monsters within are likely to be formidable.

Gavin frowned, sensing the oppressive aura around him, his tone grave.

"That's right, this pressure is even stronger than the Silent Commander we encountered in the Misty Forest."

Moreover, it's also affected by the corrosive power of shadow fire; we must handle it with caution.

Lina, immediately activate the power of light to strengthen the light barrier around us and resist the erosion of the shadow fire;

Lynn, you lead the way, using the primordial power of the fragments to purify the surrounding shadow power.

We'll follow behind you, going deeper and deeper.

Lina nodded immediately and activated the power of light within her body.

The staff in his hand emitted a dazzling golden light, and the barrier of light instantly became thicker.

It tightly enveloped the three of them, isolating them from the high temperature and the corrosive power of the shadows.

Lynn gripped the Judgment of Light tightly, and the light from the three fragments surged, a golden chain of light extending from the fragments.

Radiating pure, primordial power, it swept across the shadowy forces at the canyon entrance. Wherever the golden light passed,

The power of shadow dissipated as quickly as ice and snow melting, and the smell of burning in the air also faded somewhat.

The three of them cautiously stepped into the canyon; the rocks beneath their feet were scorching hot.

Even with the protection of the light barrier, one can still feel the scorching heat.

The three of them could also feel waves of scorching heat. On the rock walls on both sides of the canyon,

Sparks flew intermittently, and the hissing sound of flowing lava and crackling flames mingled together.

Like the whispers of hell, it sends chills down your spine.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, the surrounding shadow power and flame aura became increasingly intense, and the fragment in his palm became increasingly hot.

Lynn could clearly sense a powerful aura rapidly approaching.

That aura contained a rich blend of fire and shadow power, making it even more powerful than that of the Ghostly Commander.

"Watch out! A monster is approaching!"

Lynn gave a stern warning, and the Light Judgment in his hand instantly condensed into a golden light blade, while his high-level early stage aura was fully unleashed.

It collided with the surrounding shadowy flame aura, causing violent energy ripples in the air.

Gavin and Lina immediately went into battle mode, Gavin's staff glowing with golden light, ready to launch an attack at any moment.

Lina gripped her staff tightly, vigilantly observing the surrounding movements and reinforcing the barrier of light.

Before the words were finished, a huge fiery figure leaped up from the lava pool deep in the canyon, streaking across the sky with sparks, and pounced on the three of them.

The figure was enormous, like a giant lizard, covered in dark red scales that burned with raging shadow fire.

Its eyes were blood-red vertical pupils, revealing a bloodthirsty madness; its limbs were thick and powerful, and its claws were as sharp as knives, gleaming with a scorching cold light.

Its tail was long and thin, with a huge ball of dark fire burning at the end, radiating suffocating heat and oppressive force.

It is the guardian demon of the Blazing Domain, the Shadow Fire Lizard, whose strength far surpasses that of the Silence Commander.

Having reached the mid-stage of the advanced level, they are skilled in manipulating shadow fire and possess extremely strong defensive capabilities.

"These lowly humans dare to trespass into the Domain of Flames, coveting the power of the fragments! They're utterly courting death!"

The Shadow Salamander spoke, its voice hoarse and scorching, like burning magma.

The shadow flames surrounding him surged instantly, engulfing the entire canyon in a sea of ​​fire.

"I am the guardian of the Realm of Flames, the Shadow Salamander! Today, I will burn you to ashes as a sacrifice to the power of shadow!"

Before the words were even finished, the Shadow Salamander lashed out with its tail, which was burning with shadow fire, and swept towards the three of them.

The tail, imbued with immense fire and shadow power, swept through the air with a piercing crackling sound, unleashing a massive fire shockwave that hurtled towards the three of them.

Wherever it passed, the rocks were instantly melted, turning into scalding lava.

"Lynn, restrain its movements! Lina and I will join forces to suppress its Shadow Flame!"

Gavin shouted sharply, his staff flashing as a thick blade of light shot towards the fire shockwave.

"Light Slash - Break!"

The golden light blade collided violently with the fire shockwave, producing a deafening roar.

Golden and fiery light scattered in all directions, the temperature in the air rose again, and the surrounding rocks were shaken and tumbled down.

Lina exerted her power simultaneously, her staff gleaming with dazzling golden light, and several golden ropes of light wrapped around the Shadow Fire Lizard's limbs.

"Light Binding!"

The light rope, carrying pure light power, flew toward the Shadow Salamander's limbs, attempting to restrain its movements.

However, the shadow fire surrounding the Shadow Salamander was too powerful; the moment the light rope approached, it was scorched and sizzled by the flames.

It turned to ashes in an instant, making it impossible to get close to its body.

Lynn's eyes sharpened, and the power of light and the power of creation within him instantly merged.

The light from the three fragments was fully injected into the Judgment of Light, causing the blade to gleam with a dazzling golden light, and faint golden flame patterns to entwine around it.

The fragments were indeed resonating with the fiery aura of the Blazing Domain, and this resonance added even more heat to his power.

He thought to himself: The Shadow Fire Lizard, a mid-stage high-level creature, far surpasses the Ghostly Commander in both defense and fire power; a direct confrontation is definitely not a good strategy.

My fingertips tightened slightly, and my palms were damp with sweat; a hint of nervousness crept into my heart.

This was the first time he had faced such a powerful monster since breaking through to the early stage of the advanced level.

But he quickly suppressed his panic and silently thought: I have already broken through to the early stage of the high level, and with the support of the fragments, I may not be unable to fight!

"Purification of Light - Blazing Slash!"

Lynn moved like an arrow released from a bow, a faint golden light emanating from his feet, using the power of the fragments to nimbly dodge the surrounding sparks.

The Judgment of Light in his hand, imbued with the power of creation and the resonance of flames, slashed precisely towards the chest of the Shadow Fire Lizard—

He could see clearly that although the scales on his chest were thick, they were not as firm as those on other parts of his body.

It may be the only breakthrough, and there is no room for error.

A hint of disdain flashed in the Shadow Salamander's eyes, and it suddenly raised its thick claws.

The raging shadow fire, accompanied by a scorching wind, slammed fiercely towards the Judgment of Light, as if to shatter the golden longsword.

"Bang!"

The golden blade and the sharp claws collided violently, and a deafening roar echoed through the canyon.

The golden light and the shadow fire clashed and sizzled, sparks flying everywhere, instantly burning small craters into the ground.

Lynn felt a sudden numbness in his arm, a violent oscillation within his body, and a dull ache in the web of his hand.

I could barely grip the hilt of the sword, and the tension in my heart intensified.

Such strength, even more ferocious than expected. But he gritted his teeth, refusing to let go, and a surge of energy coursed through him:

Fortunately, my power of creation can suppress its shadow fire.

If we persevere, we will always find a weakness. Once we let our guard down, my mentor, Lina, and I will all be in danger.

The Shadow Salamander was jolted back two steps by the impact, and the scales on its claws were cut open by the light blade.

Dark red blood seeped out, falling onto the scorching rocks, where it was instantly dried, filling the air with a pungent, burnt smell.

This small victory eased Lynn's tension somewhat.

"Impossible! How could a mere early-stage high-level brat like you possibly hurt me!"

The Shadow Salamander let out an angry roar, and the shadow flames around its body surged instantly.

Like a wildfire, it illuminated the canyon in a fiery red glow.

A massive dark fireball rapidly condensed in its mouth, growing larger and larger.

The scorching heatwave nearly melted the barrier of light, radiating a suffocating pressure.

"Shadow Fireball - Boom!"

The shadow fireball, carrying destructive power, shot towards Lynn.

Wherever it passed, the air was scorched and distorted, and rocks melted into lava.

Lynn's pupils contracted sharply, his heart sank, and a strong sense of crisis swept through his body, making his breathing slightly catch in his throat.

Such powerful fire! Even with a barrier of light protecting him, if he were hit,

I will also be seriously injured, and then I will be unable to protect my mentor and Lina.

He forced himself to calm down, his fingertips turning white from the effort, and kept repeating to himself:

Don't panic. The strength of an early-stage high-level cultivator is not just for show. The primordial power of the fragments is the nemesis of the shadows. We can definitely hold them off.

Lynn did not back down at all. The Judgment of Light in his hand once again gathered all its power, and the light of the three fragments also surged.

A thick, golden barrier of light instantly unfolded, like a sturdy shield, firmly blocking in front of him.

He stared intently at the rapidly approaching shadow fireball, his palms clammy with cold sweat, his heart pounding wildly, the tension almost threatening to engulf him—

Success or failure hinges on this moment; we must stop them.

"Bang--!"

The shadow fireball struck the barrier hard, and a violent explosion erupted instantly.

The golden barrier shook violently, its light dimmed rapidly, and it was on the verge of shattering, while shockwaves swept out like a whirlwind.

Lynn was violently shaken and forced back three steps, the rock beneath his feet cracking under his weight.

The ether within his body became disordered, his throat tightened slightly, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

But he quickly regained his footing, and the primordial power of the fragments surged into his body through his palms, rapidly calming the chaotic ether.

He gritted his teeth and silently vowed: I cannot fall. My mentor and Lina are still behind me; I am their support.

They are also the guardians of Atreia, and they must hold on, even if it costs them their lives, to prevent them from being harmed.

"Lynn, are you alright?"

Lina quickly activated her power of light, and a soft golden light fell upon Lynn.

"Light heals!"

The golden light merged into Lynn's body, instantly stabilizing the ether within him and completely eliminating the slight tremors that had been affecting him.

"I'm fine."

Lynn shook his head, wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes growing even more determined.

The ether within his body gradually recovered under the nourishment of the fragments, but the tension in his heart had not completely dissipated.

The impact just now was too dangerous; a slight misstep could have led to utter destruction.

He gripped the Judgment of Light tightly, his knuckles turning white, his mind racing, a hint of gravity barely perceptible in his voice:

This Shadow Salamander is incredibly strong, and its defense is absurd. Normal attacks can only scratch its fur, failing to harm any vital organs.

It reacted most violently to the wound in its chest, just now. Gavin was right; the chest must be its weak point.

Its shadow fire is too powerful; I could be corrupted if I'm not careful.

If I get distracted, my mentor and Lina will be in danger.

We must work with the mentor and Lina to suppress its flames.

Only then can I seize the opportunity to attack its vital points and defeat it in one fell swoop; there is no room for the slightest mistake.

"This Shadow Salamander is very strong and has extremely strong defense. Ordinary attacks cannot hurt its vitals at all."

We must join forces to find its weaknesses in order to defeat it.

Gavin nodded, his gaze fixed intently on the Shadow Salamander.

"Its weakness should be on the scales on its chest, from Lynn's attack just now."

It has already scratched the scales on its chest, where the defenses are relatively weak.

Lynn, continue targeting its chest to draw its attention;

Lina and I joined forces to suppress its shadow fire with light magic, weakening its power.

"If we divide the work and cooperate, we will definitely defeat it!"

"clear!"

Lynn and Lina responded simultaneously and launched another attack.

Lynn took a deep breath, suppressing the still-unsettled ethereal fluctuations within his body and the lingering tension in his heart, and his figure flashed.

Using the speed advantage granted by the fragments, he skillfully dodged the Shadow Salamander's claws.

He silently calculated in his mind, his nerves taut to the limit:

Right now, the mentor and Lina are suppressing its flames; its movements have become sluggish.

This is the perfect time to attack; once this opportunity is missed, it will be difficult to find a weakness again.

The Judgment of Light in his hand precisely locked onto the wound on the Shadow Salamander's chest.

The fierce move showed no mercy, and it slashed down hard.

The Shadow Salamander roared and wildly swung its claws.

It slammed its fist towards Lynn, and a dark fireball once again condensed in its mouth.

The Shadow Salamander tried to repel Lynn, but its fire power was suppressed by Gavin's light magic, and the fireball condensed much more slowly.

Lynn felt a slight sense of relief, but dared not slacken in the slightest, and continued to concentrate on dealing with each attack.

Gavin seized the opportunity, rapidly waving his staff, unleashing several blades of light towards the Shadow Salamander's limbs.

In an attempt to restrain its movements, he chanted obscure incantations of light.

A golden beam of light burst forth from the staff, shooting towards the Shadow Fire Lizard.

"Light Purification - All Areas!"

A golden pillar of light, imbued with pure luminous power, enveloped the Shadow Salamander.

The shadow fire surrounding it was suppressed, causing its flame power to weaken slightly.

Lina also exerted her power at the same time, and the staff in her hand emitted a dazzling golden light.

A massive shield of light unfolded behind Lynn, protecting him from the Shadow Fire Lizard's attacks.

At the same time, Lynn activated the power of light within his body, condensing it into several tiny blades of light.

The arrow was aimed at the wound on the Shadow Salamander's chest, further weakening its defenses.

The Shadow Salamander was completely suppressed by the power of light, and the shadow flames around its body gradually dimmed.

Its movements became increasingly sluggish, its scales began to fall off, and the wound on its chest deepened, with dark red blood seeping out continuously.

The shadow and fire powers within his body were rapidly depleted.

Its eyes were filled with anger and resentment as it roared madly, yet it was helpless.

As Lynn looked at the scene before him, the tension in his heart gradually dissipated, replaced by an increasingly firm belief.

But his nerves remained on edge, and he dared not be careless in the slightest: victory was within reach, and he could not afford to fail at the last moment. If he relaxed his vigilance and was attacked by it, all his previous efforts would be in vain.

He could feel the power surging within him, and the resonance of the fragments grew stronger, as if cheering him on.

He displayed his early-stage high-level strength to the fullest, each attack precise and ruthless, giving the Shadow Fire Lizard no chance to breathe or retaliate.

Lynn seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, unleashing the full power of his early-stage high-level cultivation.

The light from all three fragments shone brightly, the power of creation and the power of light intertwining tightly, like a golden torrent, all merging into the Judgment of Light.

The golden light emanating from the blade almost broke free of its restraints, with faint sounds of wind, thunder, and flames intertwined, its power reaching an unprecedented level.

He leaped into the air, his figure tracing a golden arc, his nerves stretched to their limit, with only one unwavering thought:

Defeat it, you must defeat it! Clear the obstacles and find the fifth piece!

Protect Atreia, live up to the trust of your mentor and Lina, live up to the expectations of the Shadow Bear, and never let the previous dangers be in vain.

"Light of Creation - Blazing Flames Break!"

The Judgment of Light in his hand, carrying immense, world-destroying power, slashed fiercely towards the wound on the Shadow Salamander's chest.

This strike embodied all his strength, his unwavering determination as a guardian, and his all-or-nothing gamble after suppressing all tension.

"No--!"

The Shadow Salamander let out a piercing scream that echoed throughout the canyon as the Judgment of Light pierced its chest without any resistance.

The power of creation and the power of light surged into its body like a tidal wave, rapidly purifying the power of shadow and fire within it.

Its body gradually became transparent, the shadow flames around it quickly dissipated, and its scales fell off one by one. Finally,

Completely purified by the power of light and creation, it turned into a wisp of black smoke and dissipated into the air, leaving only a dark red crystal.

It fell to the ground, emanating a faint aura of flame and shadow power—

That was the core of the Shadow Salamander, containing rich fire energy, but also mixed with a faint shadow power.

Lynn staggered when he landed, his ether almost completely depleted.

His tense nerves finally relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief; his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

A sense of relief and determination welled up within me: I finally defeated it! This was the first time I had defeated a mid-stage high-level monster since breaking through to the early stage of the high-level realm.

Every moment just now was extremely dangerous, but thankfully I held on. I've really grown up and am now capable of protecting the people around me.

The battle ended, and all three were slightly out of breath, their ethereal reserves mostly depleted.

New wounds, more or less, have appeared on their bodies, and the barrier of light has become much dimmer.

But they showed no signs of fatigue; instead, their smiles radiated a determined resolve.

They successfully defeated the Shadow Salamander, taking another step closer to the fifth fragment.

Lynn walked to the spot where the Shadow Salamander had disappeared, bent down, and picked up the dark red crystal.

The crystal was scalding hot to the touch, radiating a rich, fiery energy.

"This should be the core of the Shadow Fire Lizard, containing powerful fire energy, although it is mixed with a faint shadow power."

However, if purified using the primordial power of the fragments, they might become an aid in our fight against the fire-type shadow monsters.

Gavin walked over to Lynn, looking at the crystal in his hand with eyes full of satisfaction.

"That's right, this core is indeed useful. And we defeated the Shadow Salamander."

The first obstacle to entering the depths of the Blazing Domain has been cleared. The resonance of the fragments is growing stronger; the fifth fragment should be just ahead.

Lina channeled her light power to heal the wounds on the three of them, her face filled with joy.

"Great! We've defeated another powerful monster!"

"Lynn, you're getting stronger and stronger! That attack just now was absolutely amazing!"

Lynn smiled, carefully put away the crystal, and gripped the three fragments tightly in his hand, feeling the strong resonance emanating from them.

"This is not my achievement alone; it is all thanks to my mentor and you."

"Let's rest here for a while, recover the ether within us, purify this core, and then continue deeper into the Realm of Flames to search for the fifth fragment."

The three sat on a rock in the canyon, and Lynn used the power of creation from the fragments to slowly purify the core of the Shadow Salamander.

Gavin and Lina channeled their light power to restore the ether within their bodies, while vigilantly observing their surroundings.

The flames within the canyon still burned, and the hissing sound of flowing lava was still clearly audible, but the shadow energy in the air had been largely purified. They knew,

This is only the first test in the Blazing Domain. Many more powerful fire-type shadow monsters await them.

Obtaining the fifth fragment will definitely not be smooth sailing.

But Lynn and his companions were fearless because the three of them fought side by side.

The power of the three fragments of the Eternal Tower, along with their unwavering belief in protecting Atreia, guides them.