227: Civilization Corridor

The room was ancient and dilapidated. Qin Chi stood inside, his gaze immediately focusing on what lay ahead.

On both sides of the long corridor were moss-covered stone pillars, which appeared to be very old. The railings beside the pillars were damaged, some well-preserved, others already broken.

Beyond the railings was a desolate, dark area, giving off a sense of devouring all who entered.

Within the corridor, at regular intervals, faint candlelight emanated from the stone pillars, providing a weak glow. However, the illuminated range of the candlelight seemed limited, covering only a small area; beyond this range, it could not extend further into the surrounding darkness.

“The content of this trial is to pass through this corridor?” Qin Chi mused to himself.

The trials within the Miracle Corridor were bizarre and varied, covering many aspects. For example, trials Qin Chi had participated in during the [internal test] involved directly simulating a scenario and only beginning after the trial content was announced.

However, the content of this current trial was completely different; no hints were given, only this corridor leading to an unknown destination.

After touching the opportunity light cluster and entering, the throbbing of the heaven-reaching platform ceased. Qin Jin's expression was calm, and without hesitation, he stepped into the corridor.

Thud.

A dull thud echoed in the corridor.

With Qin Jin's current control over his body, it was impossible for him to make such a sound with his footsteps.

The footsteps were, surprisingly, the sound the corridor itself made in response to Qin Jin's movements.

As he walked forward, the footsteps were continuous. Initially, there was only one, but as Qin Jin advanced, guided by the flickering candlelight, at some point, the footsteps gradually increased, becoming scattered and more frequent. It sounded as if other beings were slowly catching up to Qin Jin, walking alongside him.

This was an extremely eerie scene.

Just in that instant.

The footsteps continued to accumulate, and outside Qin Jin's ears, a low murmur, like a song or a lament, began to sound.

The content of the murmur was unclear, but the moment it resonated, Qin Jin distinctly felt a heaviness settle upon him.

Qin Jin's expression remained unchanged. Behind him, a golden light suddenly appeared, and Divine Intent flickered into existence.

Divine Intent could protect one's body!

As Divine Intent manifested and protected his body, the continuous murmurs, resonating around Qin Jin, were instantly suppressed with the force of thunder.

While Divine Intent was clearing the area, Qin Jin was also perceiving and analyzing in his mind.

“It doesn't seem like a power purely acting on the spiritual level, but it can still be intercepted by Divine Intent.”

“This method is quite similar to the eerie techniques of the Mi Sect. Could the reward here be related to the Mi Sect?”

Moving forward, after an unknown number of steps, the corridor ahead came to an abrupt end.

Beyond the broken section, there was only darkness, save for a single candle flame, similar to those along the corridor but more refined, providing light and warmth to the world.

As Qin Chi approached, the candle flame ahead flickered and drifted towards him. As it drew near Qin Jin, the candlelight above dimmed, revealing what was inside.

This was a small candle with golden patterns engraved in its flame-like color. It landed in front of Qin Jin, and information flowed into his mind.

[Candle of Miasma Dispelling]

[When the spirit is clouded and falls into chaos, the candle will automatically ignite with the heart's fire, dispelling the gloom, illuminating the path ahead, and clarifying the mind.]

As the relevant information flowed into Qin Jin's mind, his brow slightly raised: “Is this the reward here?”

“A Precious Candle that can protect the spirit and simultaneously exert a special effect?”

Within the Spirit Ruins, the heaven-reaching platform showed no reaction.

After thoroughly confirming the candle's efficacy, Qin Jin's spiritual power surged out, actively making contact. The candle instantly turned illusory, then directly vanished into Qin Jin's spiritual world.

It retreated to a corner, its flame unlit, appearing unremarkable.

But Qin Chi, who already understood its function, dared not underestimate it.

In the cultivation process of a Martial Artist, spiritual cultivation is equally paramount. Due to environmental factors or the influence of one's own cultivation, a Martial Artist's spirit might become clouded, or even stray onto a wrong path. According to the candle's function, it would automatically ignite at such times, helping the evolutionist return to the right path.

Just as the [Candle of Miasma Dispelling] was collected into his spiritual world.

Ahead, the broken corridor at the discontinuity began to emit mist. Within the mist, the corridor started to repair and extend, spreading forward.

The appearance of the extending corridor was completely different from the ancient and dilapidated first section; it looked magnificently decorated, even opulent. The bronze-gold corridor illuminated its surroundings without the need for candlelight, becoming increasingly splendid as it extended. Each supporting pillar was engraved with beautiful patterns, and on both sides, instead of darkness, there was a brilliant golden mist.

With just a glance, Qin Jin's gaze slightly paused.

He had previously entered a Level 5 area and seen the opportunity light clusters there. The golden mist enveloping this newly formed corridor was extremely similar in color, just a different manifestation.

“This corridor trial actually encompasses multiple areas?”

“Does it also have an entrance in the Level 5 area?”

“This time, I haven't even passed the Level 5 area's challenge, yet I can trigger the latter half. Is this how the trial's rules work, or have I met some hidden conditions?”

All sorts of thoughts arose in his mind.

Looking at the golden corridor ahead, Qin Chi's expression became slightly solemn, and he took a step forward.

It was like crossing the boundary between ancient and modern.

The moment he entered the golden corridor, Qin Jin clearly felt his primordial power become more active.

As he walked forward, his primordial power became even more vibrant under the influence of the external environment. This place seemed like a treasure ground for cultivation, imbued with profound mysteries.

However, Qin Jin did not relax his guard in the slightest.

As he walked forward.

Suddenly, though his body remained still, the Divine Intent behind him revealed its power at that moment, a great halberd striking down, directly severing a shadow that had reached out from an unknown place.

The shadow had an arm-like appendage. The moment it was severed, it fell to the ground, making a sound as it dropped. As it hit the ground, it continued to extend and entangle, leaving a ‘black handprint’ on the surface of Divine Intent, and a pulling sensation was felt.

It looked as if it wanted to drag Qin Chi's spirit out of his body.

Qin Jin's expression remained unchanged. Above his Divine Intent, a sharp edge manifested, one intent evolving into a weapon's forward, to clear away the threat.

The shadow dispersed.

The handprint on Divine Intent was subsequently cleared.

This was just the beginning.

After the first attack, it was as if a floodgate had opened. Within this splendid corridor, some shadows crept along the ground, while others emerged from the void. Myriad bodies and shadows, all different in appearance—some humanoid, some beast-like, some utterly bizarre and indescribable.

This seemingly glorious place contained countless specters.

The shadows entangled and came, directly targeting Divine Intent, directly targeting the spiritual world.

Qin Jin's expression was serious, his steps unfaltering. The edge of his Divine Intent grew sharper, tearing apart the attacking shadows, while threads of lightning flowed around his body, clearing any remnants.

He continued to delve deeper.

Initially, the attacking shadows were like small squads, few in number, but later, they became like a continuous tide. The surface of the originally splendid corridor was gradually completely covered by shadows, as if eroded, transforming into an endless darkness, even dimmer than the initial ancient corridor, with no lights visible.

It was at this moment.

With a slight deepening of his eyes, within the Spirit Ruins, the Thunder Marsh trembled.

In the next instant, spirit and power resonated. The lightning surging from the Thunder Marsh carried a distinct quality. With Qin Jin at the center, lightning surged forth, evolving and constructing, illuminating this dark place in moments, forming a Thunder Prison!

Nine Heavens Thunder Prison Heart Sutra!

Qin Jin's mind was calm, and he advanced quickly. The Thunder Prison expanded rapidly. At a glance, nine pillars of lightning formed its base. Within the Thunder Prison, lightning surged, evolving into different forms.

As the Thunder Prison expanded, the attacking shadows were directly cleared away. Any resistors were immediately drawn into the Thunder Prison, where extraordinary creatures formed by lightning tore at them, eliminating them.

Lightning, by its very nature, was the bane of mysterious entities.

At a glance, the most frequent form to appear was that of a dragon.

This magnificent corridor, originally tainted by blackness, was now, as Qin Jin delved deeper with the Thunder Prison accompanying him, rapidly cleared of everything, restoring its original appearance.

Deeper, forward.

The attacking shadows increased, and Qin Jin also enhanced the power of the Thunder Prison.

Finally...

Upon reaching a certain area, the corridor ahead no longer had unknown shadows appearing, but instead, a similar broken section as before. There, only a palm-sized object hung in mid-air.

Qin Chi sensed it.

The heaven-reaching platform, which had ceased its throbbing after entering this corridor, throbbed for an instant upon his arrival here, before becoming steady once more.

“Is this what the heaven-reaching platform needs?”

“No, the initial throbbing was not just this intense.”

Qin Jin's thoughts raced. The Thunder Prison did not stop, and he accepted his second reward in this corridor.

[Fragment of Civilization (Daystar #17)]

[The boundless Star Sea holds countless secrets. There was once a small interstellar civilization called the Daystar Civilization. After its decline and ruin, for unknown reasons, it transformed and solidified into a microscopic civilization scene within the Star Sea. Later, it shattered during the Civilization War, becoming forty-two fragments of civilization, scattered across the Star Sea.]

[Known Effect 1: Can be cast into the interior of the Civilization Fragment for tempering.]

[Known Effect 2: Can activate Civilization Pressure, aiding one's own training.]

[Known Effect 3: Can play the Elegy of Civilization.]

[Known Effect 4:]

Complex information flooded his mind. As Qin Jin quickly understood, his gaze fell on the [Civilization Fragment] before him.

Its appearance was rather ordinary. At a glance, it contained scenes of a Star Sea and planets within. If described, it resembled a broken piece of a shattered cosmic landscape globe.

“A golden-tier reward is indeed extraordinary.”

Qin Jin slowly exhaled, his eyes filled with curiosity as he gazed at the fragment: “Was this once a civilization that truly roamed the Star Sea?”

“After its destruction, the entire civilization became microscopic.”

Being within the Miracle Corridor, Qin Jin did not intend to waste time delving deeper here.

After putting away the [Civilization Fragment], his gaze immediately focused on what lay ahead.

His eyes sharpened.

At the broken section, a new corridor extended. If the first stage was ancient and dilapidated, and the second stage was magnificent but harbored undercurrents, then this newly extended third stage of the corridor was one of extreme desolation.

The moment one looked at it, the word 'ruins' would involuntarily come to mind; everything was in a state of destruction.

The latest extended corridor was only about a hundred meters long. Within these short hundred meters, there were countless broken sections, and time had left significant marks on them. The only striking feature was the brilliant red mist that enveloped the corridor as it extended.

The mist was red, yet it did not appear eerie; instead, it gave a sense of brightness.

“Indeed.” Qin Jin's mind settled.

He had come because of the throbbing of the heaven-reaching platform. The Civilization Fragment had caused a throbbing, but it didn't match the initial intensity. At that time, he had already thought that this corridor might continue to extend, perhaps reaching deeper areas within the Miracle Corridor.

Now, this newly extended hundred-meter corridor confirmed his conjecture.

Thoughts flickered. Qin Jin maintained the Thunder Prison and stepped into this dilapidated corridor shrouded in red mist.

He stepped in without any hindrance, his thoughts racing.

“This part of the corridor should already be located within a light cluster in the Level 6 area.”

“I am now entering here, yet I have not encountered any resistance.”

Qin Jin's thoughts gradually became clear: “Perhaps it's because the trial involved in this corridor is not solely related to strength. Some extraordinary individuals might also be able to pass the trial using other means.”

His thoughts were completely clear.

After this official launch, the challenge content in different areas of the Miracle Corridor had changed, but the core principle remained the same: it was still closely related to one's own strength.

However, within the Miracle Corridor, there were some opportunities and trials that might not be limited to strength, perhaps talent, or compatibility. Therefore, such opportunity trials might appear, where the trial itself involved multiple areas. As long as one met the standards within the trial, they could obtain rewards from higher-level areas without needing to break into the subsequent areas.

Thinking of this, Qin Jin suddenly saw the light.

Red mist surrounded him as he stepped onto this ruined corridor, walking forward.

“This corridor seems to have a deeper meaning.”

The Enlightenment Treasure Art was quietly deployed. Qin Chi organized everything, and a coherent understanding gradually formed in his mind: “The initial ancient dilapidation perhaps symbolizes those civilizations that had not yet received enlightenment, adhering to all things ancient. Those murmurs were like chains hindering the advancement of civilization, until they obtained 'candlelight' guidance to break the old ways.”

“Like the Starfire Federation's beginning in the Star River.”

“The middle stage is like a civilization at its peak, appearing extremely magnificent on the surface, but harboring hidden currents within. This is something that most civilizations, except for a few with special systems, cannot avoid.”

“Then now, this third stage—”

“Does it symbolize after a civilization has been completely destroyed?”

“This is clearly a Civilization Corridor.”

Walking along, Qin Jin observed everything around him, gaining understanding.

There were no attacks, no hidden tricks; everything seemed to have returned to tranquility.

Until, after a dozen breaths, he reached the latter half of the corridor.

It was as if he had crossed a certain cordon. In an instant, everything around him seemed to freeze. Red mist surged, gathering furiously above, and in a flash, formed a symbol in the sky.

To be precise, it was a character.

It was a character Qin Jin had never seen before, but the past gift from Venerable Observer, which granted him the special ability to face a Divine Body directly, now took effect, allowing him to discern the meaning of this character.

It was the character for [Death].

The moment the character formed, Qin Jin clearly felt transmission ripples appearing around him, spontaneously generated within this space.

This seemed to be a built-in protective measure of this trial.

When it was confirmed that the trial participant could not pass the final step, they would be directly teleported away, preventing them from perishing here.

Everything happened in an instant. As the [Death] character condensed, Qin Jin himself sensed danger and was already acting with full strength. The shadow of his Cave Heaven faintly appeared, the Thunder Prison rapidly expanded, and lightning surged out, flashing and sparkling.

He looked at the character in the sky, his eyes steady, and silently uttered a phrase in his heart.

“This might be—”

“The Death Wail of Civilization?”