# Chapter 3: Black Tower
Sitting on the single bed inside the cell, Su Xiao looked around. The lighting was somewhat dim, but still sufficient to see.
On a small table beside him, there was a half-eaten sandwich and a dagger stuck into the table, along with a pile of adult books stacked together. A pocket watch hung on the wall, and nearby, splattered bloodstains marked the surface, as if someone had been brutally beaten here.
An old-fashioned mechanical printer was running, with a small glass bottle embedded on it containing a semi-solid energy resembling iron sand.
Analyzing his current situation, Su Xiao determined that the world he was in had a technological level far behind the modern era. Electricity existed, but as for technological products like computers and cell phones, there was no point even thinking about them.
The electricity in this world was probably not abundant. The light outside the cell was produced by some kind of gas burning inside the lamp fixture, flickering on and off while emitting a faint burnt smell.
"I have three colleagues you've already beaten into taking leave. They're still recovering at home. If you could show us some mercy... could you... leave?"
The burly man outside the cell door spoke words completely at odds with his physique. From the dried bloodstains on his cuffs and the scars on his hands and face, this was definitely not a kind-hearted person. One of the benefits of becoming stronger was making thugs like this speak politely.
"Quiet. I'll leave in half an hour."
"Really? Then I'll wait for you for half an hour."
The burly man walked away somewhat reluctantly. The cell door remained open, ready at any moment to welcome Su Xiao's departure.
[Entering World: Demon Spirit Star (World Conquest War Zone)]
World Difficulty: Lv.42 ~ Lv.72 (Primordial World)
World Source: Cannot obtain World Source in this world.
World Introduction: The beginning of everything is also the end.
[Chaos Era·159: Fear of the darkness and unknown beyond the walls made people dare only to live within the walls. The severance of civilization left them knowing nothing about what lay beyond. They only knew it was dangerous out there, and those who knew the truth about the outside had all died of old age. At this point, aside from the continuation of the race, only some fragmented records remained. Hope was about to be extinguished.]
[One day, a brave person raised a torch, stood on the high wall, and called upon their kin to take up arms, walk out of the walls, and enter the boundless darkness beyond.]
[No one responded. The numbed people just looked up, staring foolishly at that brave person. No one could have imagined that this single spark would ignite the entire world.]
[One day, two days, half a month passed. It wasn't until a month later that a young man, annoyed by the constant shouting, climbed up the high wall and stood together with that brave person. The young man's thought was to kick this annoying fellow off the wall. In the end, he didn't do it. He didn't become the villain who trampled out the spark.]
[After half a year of effort, that brave person finally recruited 42 companions. They took weapons and food and walked out beyond the walls.]
[Chaos Era·160: Crushing defeat. 43 people walked out beyond the walls, wearing crude armor and wielding crude weapons. They suffered a devastating defeat. Only 2 managed to return alive. One of them, after entering the walls, was eroded by an energy resembling black iron sand and died. Only one member of the exploration team survived, but after speaking three sentences, he also died.]
[Beyond the walls, there were leaves, water, and food.]
[Beyond the walls, it was vast.]
[Beyond the walls, there was hope.]
[Chaos Era·162: A total of 560 exploration team members set out. They wore simple armor and carried tempered weapons, heading into the darkness beyond the walls. Before departing, the exploration team's leader named the team 'Black Tower' — a tower of flame illuminating the darkness. The Black Tower was established.]
[Chaos Era·165: Only 6 members of the Black Tower escaped back within the walls. 4 died from 'Black Smoke' erosion, 1 had his heart bitten through by an aberrant beast and barely made it back. The last person was unconscious for nearly three months before awakening. He did not die from 'Black Smoke' erosion and even initially mastered this power. His body became stronger, but that was all.]
[Same year, the Black Tower faction temporarily perished due to no one joining.]
[Chaos Era·295: Within the walls where average lifespan was only 30 years, that fortunate fusionist lived for 130 years. Though aged, he did not die of old age. After preparing everything, the Black Tower faction was reawakened.]
[Chaos Era·398: Over a hundred years of preparation and the inheritance of will, the Black Tower faction set out again. They were an expeditionary force, going to explore the place where Black Smoke erupted.]
[Same year, the expedition returned. Among them, several dozen successfully fused with the 'Black Smoke'. Their changes were the same as the first fusionist — their bodies became stronger. Until one of them had part of his soul fuse with the 'Black Smoke'. He was the first transcendent being in history.]
[In the face of enormous threats, selfishness was suppressed. The number of Black Tower organization's transcendent beings began to skyrocket. But not long after, they discovered that the 'Black Smoke' near the walls had been used up by them. The true nature of this 'Black Smoke', originally representing the unknown and death, turned out to be life and transcendence, along with comprehensive beneficial enhancement. The first battle over 'Black Smoke' broke out between two transcendent beings. They fought on empty stomachs.]
[Chaos Era·519: The high walls were demolished by the Black Tower. They didn't need a retreat route. Amid people's wails, the walls were smashed down. A black spot appeared on the Black Tower's previously glorious image.]
[Chaos Era·629: 'Black Smoke' became the most precious rare substance. Its miraculous properties were continuously discovered. When ordinary people inhaled it into their bodies, as long as they stabilized it through special methods, they could enhance themselves and extend their lifespan.]
[If 'Black Smoke' was fused with part of one's soul, an object visible only to the fusionist would be born. This object could be a sword, a seed, or a special life form. Along with this came the awakening of transcendent abilities corresponding to one's own characteristics.]
[People who fused their souls with Black Smoke were called Miracle Workers. 'Black Smoke' was renamed Soul Energy.]
[Solar Era·629: Because the Soul Energy above was collected by people, a ray of sunlight shone down from the sky. This almost miraculous scene shocked everyone. Only later did they realize this was a natural phenomenon — day and night were very normal things. Without the nourishment of Soul Energy, plants began photosynthesis. People gradually adapted to sunlight and came to love this warm feeling.]
[People gradually forgot the former dark age and welcomed the light.]
[Solar Era·3629: Times changed. Kingdoms and empires rose and fell. Until a certain Miracle Worker performed a secondary structural transformation on the object formed by combining Soul Energy with their own soul. That object was a Holy Seal.]
[By absorbing the Holy Seal into the body and continuously imagining and perfecting its form in the mind, Miracle Workers could become stronger and continuously break through their limits. This genius who created the Holy Seal became the first leader of the Magic Association. The word 'magic' came from records of the ancient era. To seem more mysterious, this genius named his organization after it.]
[Magic Era·1590: Order was established. The Western Continent and Eastern Continent were fully explored. Major powers rose simultaneously. The era of empires ended. This was the era of the Magic Association, the Healing Divine Cult, the Steam Alliance, and the Fate Church.]
[The Black Tower organization, which first raised the 'torch', played many roles in the tide of the times. Now, the members of the Black Tower were observers in the darkness. Some Black Tower members were detached from worldly affairs, some were notorious, and some were respected. The Black Tower was sometimes good, sometimes evil — unfathomable, yet deeply feared.]
Magic Association: The strongest faction in this world. Masters the method of constructing Holy Seals. Lawful camp (this camp image is only the Magic Association's camp image on the Eastern Continent).
Healing Divine Cult: Firmly believes Soul Energy is dangerous, but only Soul Energy can restrain Soul Energy. At present, the Healing Divine Cult can only rely on the power of Soul Energy, hostile toward the Magic Association.
Steam Alliance: Technology is everything! Everything else is heresy. To date, due to no major breakthroughs, they rely on Soul Energy. Occasionally hostile toward the Magic Association.
Fate Church: Often engages in confusing behavior. Hostile toward all factions. Firmly believes Soul Energy is a gift bestowed by deities.
Geographical Environment:
Western Continent (Hunter's current location): Harsh environment, chaotic and disorderly. Various small and medium-sized factions run rampant. The Magic Association is secretly attempting to artificially create Soul Energy here, making this place even more dangerous and chaotic.
Eastern Continent (World Conquest War zone): The Eastern Continent has a good environment, bright sunshine, picturesque scenery. All four major factions — Magic Association, Healing Divine Cult, Steam Alliance, and Fate Church — are located here. This is a prosperous and civilized place, the polar opposite of the Western Continent.
Hunter's Faction: Black Tower.
Warning: Do not mention anything about Reincarnation Paradise to creatures of this world. If the warning is ignored, execution will be carried out after verification!
Tip: Merit system activated. Killing enemy contractors can obtain 3 to 5 merit points. If the World Conquest War is won, rewards will be given based on the number of merit points.
[World, beginning.]
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