CHAPTER 251: CHAPTER 173: THE WASTELAND WHERE THE GODS DIED (PART 2)

There are even rumors that he once made a brief stop at the thirteenth level, the "Void Boundary"—a feat exceedingly rare for anyone below a Great Wizard.

He spent some more time browsing the other books on the shelves to make sure he hadn’t missed a better option.

Despite spotting some intriguing tomes such as "Soul Splitting and Reformation: The Price of Immortality" and "Under the Stars: Footprints of Ancient Gods,"

Ron ultimately confirmed that "Abyssal Creatures Atlas" was the best choice for his research direction.

He carefully reached out to touch this tome, and his fingertips immediately felt a peculiar coldness, accompanied by a weak electric-like sting.

When his Spiritual Power made contact with the book, it seemed as though some consciousness was responding, examining this new reader.

"Unbelievable..."

He cautiously took the book down, feeling the depth contained within it.

Turning to the first page, he confirmed that this was indeed the complete version he sought.

Unlike regular books, "Abyssal Creatures Atlas" began not with a preface or a table of contents, but with a warning.

Written in bright red ink, the strokes were frenzied, the script slightly pulsing on the page as if written directly in blood:

"Whoever reads this book, be ever vigilant of your own soul.

Knowledge is both a beacon and an abyss;

Those who understand too much may become what they seek.

As you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back at you."

Beneath this warning was a peculiar seal, shaped like an eye, with the pupil a tiny vortex, seemingly slowly rotating on the page.

Decision made, Ron headed towards the central multi-dimensional structure with the heavy tome in his arms.

As he approached, the eye-shaped sphere at the top opened once more.

A blue-black light scanned over the book, seemingly conducting some sort of soul-level registry.

"Choice confirmed: ’Abyssal Creatures Atlas’ (Thirteenth Edition Imprint), recorded by Selwyn Audric, a work transcending time, of high archival grade."

A multi-layered voice issued from the sphere, sounding both as if it came from afar and directly within Ron’s mind:

"Confirm to take out? Once confirmed, special permissions will be voided."

Ron hesitated slightly, but swiftly replied, "Confirm."

As he uttered the word, an almost imperceptible energy fluctuation transmitted from the book into his body, forming an invisible yet real connection.

"Record complete."

The sphere returned to tranquility once more, but at the last moment, supplemented in an almost inaudible tone:

"May knowledge illuminate your path, wherever it may lead."

Ron turned and walked towards the exit, watched by the alien guard golems.

Numerous red crystalline eyes simultaneously observed his every move until he stepped out of the Obsidian Gate.

The old guard was waiting outside, his face turning pale upon seeing the book in Ron’s hands:

"The ’Abyssal Creatures Atlas’? By truth... this is indeed a... rather bold choice, young man."

Ron responded calmly, "Knowledge is neither good nor evil; it depends on the user’s original intent."

The old guard looked at Ron solemnly, his voice low, almost a whisper:

"It is said Audric never truly left the abyss; he merely brought his discoveries back to the Surface World in book form, though this isn’t original, I still hope you exercise utmost care in your studies."

Ron pondered for a moment, remembering this warning: "Cautious use of knowledge is a required lesson for every wizard."

"May your wisdom surpass your curiosity."

The old guard cautioned one last time: "Remember, as you explore the mysteries of the abyss, countless eyes are also watching you through the rifts of knowledge."

Back in the workshop, Ron immediately entered his most secret laboratory.

He activated multiple Isolation Arrays to ensure the following research would not be disturbed or leaked.

Subsequently, Ron carefully placed the eagerly awaited "Abyssal Creatures Atlas" on the reading platform.

As its pages unfolded beneath his hands, Ron was amazed to discover that this atlas was unlike any ordinary book.

The contents seemed alive, changing and unfolding with the reader’s focus.

Words continuously flowed and reorganized, and illustrations appeared in astonishing three-dimensional effects when observed.

Some pages even emitted specific scents and sounds, making reading a fully immersive sensory experience.

"The abyss, referred to in ancient poetry as the ’eternal deep,’ recorded in mythology as the ’wilderness of dead gods,’ and regarded by wizards as a ’forge of power,’ is a wondrous space."

As he read, a faint black halo appeared around the text:

"It is not, as Surface World mortals imagine, a simple underground world or demon lair. It more closely resembles an independent universe bubble, a folded reality governed by twisted rules, composed of at least thirteen (possibly extending to infinity) different dimensional spiral levels."

With this description, a three-dimensional image emerged on the page:

An inverted spiral structure, broad at the base and gradually widening downwards, ultimately disappearing into an indescribable dark vortex.

This image was not static but rotated slowly, subtly changing form with each turn, showcasing its multi-dimensional traits.

Ron turned past the preface and arrived at the first Chapter—"Overview of Abyssal Geography."

The book detailed the overall structure of the abyss, but these descriptions were far more complex and incredible than Ron had anticipated.