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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3 : Crimson Harvest

The surface of the lake stilled, but Liu Yang didn't lower his bow. He stayed perfectly still, eyes narrowed, watching for movement.

Then—fwip—the half-broken arrow wrapped with the bamboo slip broke free from the corpse pile and zipped through the air toward him. He caught it cleanly.

"Good," he muttered. "It's still intact."

Two blood-smeared coins drifted toward shore, pulled as if by an invisible force. They hovered in front of Liu Yang before landing neatly in his palm. The metal was warm—almost pulsing.

A notification flickered across his vision.

[Congratulations—First Kill Achieved]

You have slain the Iron-Scaled Carp (Rank F Beast).

Rewards Granted:

•2 Ruby Blood Coins

•1 Kill Essence Coin (Bound)

A second window unfolded.

[Kill Essence Coins]

These are crystallized essences harvested from fallen Tower beasts.

• Can be absorbed by the player to strengthen their body and foundation.

• Can be infused into weapons to repair or permanently increase quality.

• Can be used in crafting and evolution rituals at higher levels.

Warning: Overuse without proper foundation may cause essence deviation or core contamination.

A small, dark red coin materialized beside the ruby blood coins—heavier, colder, and etched with a strange spiral rune.

Liu Yang held it up between his fingers. "So this is kill essence…" He could feel something inside it—like a compressed heartbeat—dark and predatory.

Perfect.

He pocketed the ruby coins into his school pants, then held the kill essence coin in his palm. Its weight carried a scent—iron, blood, and something else… something alive, like a trapped heartbeat.

"I didn't think I'd get something this good so soon," he smirked.

He unrolled the bamboo slip from around the arrow shaft and held it flat between his hands. The faint green inscriptions pulsed. Then he pressed the Kill Essence Coin against it.

"Let's see if I can toughen up my bait hook a bit. I don't want it breaking while fishing~."

The moment metal touched bamboo, a sharp hum tore through the air.

ZZZZZZZT—!

Dark red energy spilled from the coin like smoke, coiling around the bamboo slip. The coin trembled, cracking down the center as its essence bled out and soaked into the mystic wood.

Symbols lit up across the slip—veins of crimson threading through jade green. The energy didn't just merge—it was devoured.

Then—

CRACK

The coin crumbled into dust between his fingers, fully absorbed.

A notification appeared:

[Essence Infusion Complete]

Item: Mystic Bamboo Slip

Infused: 1x Kill Essence Coin

Result: +5 Endurance

Current Bonus: +5 Endurance

The bamboo slip now felt… heavier. Denser. Like a weapon instead of a talisman. Liu Yang flicked it with his fingers—it didn't even bend.

"Not bad," he muttered, satisfied. "Five points just like that, huh? Essence coins might be better than I thought."

He wrapped the bamboo slip back around the arrow. The mystic strip pulsed once and secured itself automatically.

If he could keep feeding kill essence into it, this thing wouldn't just survive the trial—it could evolve into a spirit weapon.

And he still had twenty-four more fish to kill.

"Alright," he said, lifting his bow again. "Next."

The lake waited in heavy silence.

He picked up the jagged arrowhead that had been wrapped inside the bamboo slip earlier. "Those things were drawn in by this powder, right?" he muttered, slicing open the padded tip of an arrow.

White dust spilled out, drifting like snow before falling into the water. He didn't care—he nocked the arrow and pulled.

The bow groaned, his forearm veins bulging from the strain. This time, he didn't aim for a bronze bell.

He smirked, eyes narrowing.

"If this world wants me here…" His grip tightened on the string. "…then I'll test everything it has to offer."

A tremor shivered through the water below.

He drew to full extension. —

Swish!

If I really transmigrated into my own novel… then as its author, I'm obligated to see how it ends. This time, I won't abandon it halfway.

The arrow cut beneath the surface, vanishing into shadow. The powder dissolved in the dark.

Grrrr—

A low growl rumbled from the depths. A huge shadow surged toward the faint green glow of the bamboo slip. An iron-scaled carp had taken the bait.

"Not so fast~," Liu Yang said as the return prompt appeared in his vision.

The bamboo slip began to glow—trying to return to him—but the water erupted as the carp lunged and swallowed it whole. It broke the surface with a violent thrash, but before it could dive—

Thwip! Thwip!

Two arrows struck its armor-plated hide in rapid succession.

The iron-scaled carp convulsed and tried to retreat underwater—but its body stiffened. Something inside it was pushing outward—the bamboo slip was answering.

The carp's stomach writhed. Flesh split. Blood foamed.

"This is my chance to farm more of them," Liu Yang said. He reached over his shoulder and drew another arrow. 

He exhaled.

"Let's farm some essence."

The lake began to churn. Dark shapes spiraled upward in hungry circles.

Liu Yang didn't wait.

He was fired.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Arrows rained into the water—not to kill, but to mark. Each impact released clouds of powder.

Soon, the surface became a red frenzy of cannibalism as carp devoured their wounded.

+1 Kill

+1 Kill

+1 Kill

+1 Kill

Kill Essence Coin (Bound) ×4 Ruby Blood Coins × 8

A flash of jade light cut through the whirlpool—along with a handful of coins, which he pocketed.

"Six down. Nineteen—"

+1 Kill

Kill Essence Coin (Bound) ×1 Ruby Blood Coins × 2

"Eighteen to go," he muttered. Then his hand froze over his quiver—empty.

"What—? Did I use them all already?"

He spun, grabbed a spare from the weapon rack at the edge of the platform, and quickly wrapped the bamboo slip around it.

He drew again. His heart pounded. An electric jolt ran down his legs. His muscles spasmed, and he dropped to one knee.

"Tch—already? A minute and a half is almost up?"

He forced himself back to his feet, his body screaming.

Time till Bodily Failure: 00:00:37

+1 Kill

Kill Essence Coin (Bound) ×1 Ruby Blood Coins × 2

He looked at his pockets and rummaged through them. "Fuck."

He found and clenched the six Kill Essence Coins he was rewarded in his fist. Their metal was warm—almost pulsing—like they weren't coins at all, but condensed heartbeats. He could feel them thirsting for flesh, craving a vessel.

His vessel.

He bared his teeth. "If my body's already failing, I might as well push until something breaks."

He pressed the first coin into his chest. Strength... Endurance... He forced himself to distribute were he wanted the coin to go into, and left the rest to fate. 

A crimson pulse burst beneath his skin. Veins bulged. Muscles tightened until they creaked like old wood under strain.

+0.5 Strength +0.5 Endurance

A shudder tore through his bones. His back arched as his skeleton groaned, bones knitting denser. The coin dissolved beneath his flesh like molten wax.

He gasped—and jammed the second coin against his ribs.

+0.5 Strength +0.5 Endurance

"—Kh!"

Blood trickled from his nose. His muscles swelled. Power flooded him—pure, violent, hungry power that didn't care if his body survived it.

He slammed the third and fourth coins directly into his sternum in one reckless move.

+1.0 Strength +1.0 Endurance

A metallic ringing filled his skull. His heart beat like a war drum, shaking his entire body. Flesh ripped, healed, and ripped again. Every heartbeat felt like it might explode.

Time to Bodily Failure: 00:00:18

"Tch… shut up…"

He forced himself upright. His vision flickered, edges darkening. His veins pulsed black-red like corrupted tree roots. He jammed the fifth coin into his abdomen.

+0.5 Strength +0.5 Endurance

His skin split at the shoulders. Steam rose off his arms. The transformation burned him alive—but he didn't stop.

He raised the last coin—and for a moment, his hand hesitated.

He could feel it. One more, and he'd cross the threshold. Past safe limits. Past reason. Maybe even past humanity.

He smirked.

"Perfect."

He crushed the final coin into his flesh.

Kill Essence Coins Consumed: 6

Final Gain: +3 Strength, +3 Endurance

The world rippled. Every bone in his body cracked at once. Power rushed into him like a flood into a shattered dam. His muscles hardened. His spine straightened. Even his heartbeat sounded… stronger.

He didn't collapse.

He stood taller.

The status panel flickered violently.

True Physical Stats (Updated):

Strength 13 (Common) | Agility 11 (Common) | Stamina 11 (Common) | Intelligence 19 (Rare) | Endurance 15 (Rare) | Luck 17 (Rare) 

His status stabilized. The pain dulled. The pressure lifted.

He laughed—low, breathless, exhilarated.

"So this is what real progress feels like…"

His hands clenched and unclenched with newfound power. The fear of breaking—gone. The fear of death—drowned beneath euphoria.

He raised his bow.

"Alright then," Liu Yang said, eyes burning with vicious resolve. "Let's keep going."

Liu Yang lifted his bow again, the bamboo slip-wrapped arrow trembling in his hand. His body still hummed with the residual power of the Kill Essence Coins, and a dangerous heat simmered beneath his skin.

He took a deep breath, nocking the arrow—and then froze.

A searing pain erupted from his chest, like molten iron tearing through his muscles. His vision blurred. His arms felt impossibly heavy. The Refining Backlash had arrived.

"Ah—ugh—" he gritted his teeth, staggering back. Each heartbeat echoed like a drum in his skull. The world tilted violently.

He barely managed to stagger to the edge of the platform, his mind screaming in agony. The arrow slipped from his fingers. I can't keep myself steady even after enhancing myself. He thought this would be it; it did not look like he'd be able to stay conscious for long. 

Then, a grim idea formed.

The fish had been drawn to the powder on the arrow. They were aggressive, territorial, and bloody-minded. If a large area was soaked in that arrow padding, they'd fight for it all till their last breath.

He staggered over to the arrow rack. With trembling hands, he grabbed every remaining arrow, ripping a few's stuffed cloth. He heaved them into the lake.

Splash! Splash! Splash!

The water erupted in chaos. Iron-scaled carp surged toward the arrows, snapping and thrashing. The lake became a frenzy of teeth, fins, and armored scales. They collided violently, attacking one another in their endless hunger.

Liu Yang sank to his knees, the pain clawing through him. He tried to step back—but darkness pressed in from all sides. His limbs failed. His vision flickered.

Status Panel Alert:

Condition: Refining Backlash (Critical) 

Estimated Recovery Time: 1 Week (Unconscious)

He slumped forward, face hitting the floor of the bridge. His body went limp. The pain faded into a dull, endless blackness.

Somewhere in the lake, the frenzy continued. The Iron Scaled Carp tore at each other with savage precision. Within hours, only a handful remained. The bamboo slip in the water pulsed faintly, recording the kills and sending the Kill Essence Coins automatically into his account.

System Notification:

[Hidden Quest Update]

Eliminated Iron-Scaled Carp: 25/25 

Rewards Claimed:

20 Lower Essence Coins

25 Kill Essence Coins (Bound)

Automatic First Trial Clearance

Unique Title: "Lake Devourer"

Liu Yang's body remained unmoving for the next seven days. Even unconscious, his kill rewards piled around. When he finally awoke, his body was aching, bruised, and raw, but his status panel displayed fully updated stats:

True Physical Stats:

Strength 13 (Common) | Agility 11 (Common) | Stamina 11 (Common) | Intelligence 19 (Rare) | Endurance 15 (Rare) | Luck 17 (Rare) 

Condition: Fully recovered from refining backlash

When his eyes opened, the lake was calm. Only the scattered fins and floating scales remained as proof of the week-long carnage he had survived without so much as moving a finger.

Liu Yang sat up slowly, a faint, twisted smile curling on his lips.

"So… I'm really in this tower," he murmured. "I half expected to wake up in my own bed. But if this is real… then fine. I'll see this whole situation through."

[Congratulations to all participants of Earth-71342 for surviving your first week in the Tower's Testing Sector. Starting today, three new features will be made available to you and all denizens of the Tower.

Three glowing icons appeared at the corners of everyone's vision—whether from Earth, alternate planets, or oceanic worlds. The notification flared, then dimmed into a translucent, unobtrusive overlay.

[Daily & Floor Rankings (Top 30): View the strongest on your current floor and across the entire Tower.]

[Live View: Open a panel to search for your friends, acquaintances, or rivals and watch a live feed of their progress. Note: you must input their Reality Number or Player ID to avoid cross-world variants. This feature is also enabled in your birth world, allowing communication between you and your original planet.

[Block & Security: Manage who can view your Live Feed. Options include blocking specific individuals, adding delays, hiding broadcasts entirely, and changing your displayed name or alias.]

Current Daily Overall Rankings (Top 31):

Li Meilin– Earth-71342 

Xie Zhong – Earth-1340

Kael'thir – Veylan-21

Mira Solenne – Oceania -17

Han Rui – Earth-71341

Orrak Stonejaw—Titanborn-08

Liora Vey – Starlight-99

Deng Fei – Earth-71339

Valryn Ashwing – Skybound-22

Yun Yixuan – Earth-71342

Serathis Vorn – Starlight-99

(20 more ranks hidden…)

Current Floor Rankings (Top 7):

Li Meilin– Earth-71342 

Fang Yuren – Earth-71342

Yun Yixuan – Earth-71342

Orrak Stonejaw—Earth-71342

Mira Solenne – Earth-71342

Deng Fei – Earth-71342

Liora Vey – Earth-71342

I've made it onto the rankings, huh? Liu Yang sat up, low laughter rumbling from his chest. I wonder if any of your family is watching, Fang Yuren. He looked at the top of the list and recognized a name in a white font that only applies to dead players.

So she's dead… That's good, at least the timeline's the same in that regard. With her at the top of both rankings, it's a guarantee I'm in the right reality. He thought and reached out to the top of the overall rankings, then began scrolling down.

At the very bottom, a single name stood out:

Liang Xiu – Earth-71342

"There you are, my dearest protagonist~," he murmured, staring at the screen. His fingers tapped Liang Xiu's username, and an action menu slid up: Block · Friend · Private Chat · Follow. He chose Follow.

A blue video tab materialized. Its layout resembled nothing more than a streaming platform: past hour recordings neatly cut, donation features, and chat enabled for those currently in the tower.

He smiled, then typed:

I'll give you one Kill Essence for the Player ID of that white-haired girl. I think she's one of my friends. Tell her this is her brother, Zhang Rui—she'll know who I am.

He lied effortlessly, but he didn't care. If he could secure the protagonist healer now, his chances of survival later would be far more solid.

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