The world within Ye Lin surged violently. The ground cracked, and from beneath the Worldroot Pillar, a dense darkness began to seep upward. It was not ordinary darkness, but a void that felt cold and draining. Each drop that touched the earth made the field of hearts within Ye Lin flicker, and several transparent heart-fruits withered instantly.
"THIS IS THE VOID!" screamed the butterfly tattoo, its voice laced with a fear Ye Lin had never heard before. "IT ERASES MEMORIES! IT ERASES SOULS!"
The great eye on the Worldroot Pillar emitted a dim light, as if struggling to hold back the tide of darkness. "You must leave, new Guardian. I will hold it. This is not your time to face it."
"Leave where?" Ye Lin asked, his heart clenching. The strength that once flowed from the field of hearts now felt like it was being pulled away, weakening him.
"To the world outside," answered the Pillar's Eye. "Create more. Your foundation is not yet strong enough to resist eternal void. Seek the scattered pieces of yourself out there, among the living. They are the key to making you whole."
Suddenly, from the rising darkness, a giant hand formed—not a shadowy hand, but one made of nothingness, devouring light and sound around it. The hand reached toward the Worldroot Pillar.
"GO NOW!" cried the Pillar's Eye, its light growing fainter.
Ye Lin felt a powerful tug from his smaller shadow. He saw his hut, his field of hearts, and the golden corn seed in his hand. He knew the Pillar could not be saved now. He had to grow stronger, so that one day he could return and face this threat.
With a sudden pull, Ye Lin felt himself torn from his Inner World. His vision spun, and the familiar sensation of being ripped apart engulfed him.
When his awareness returned, Ye Lin felt the coldness of the ground. The air was thin, and a faint sulfur scent stung his nose. He opened his eyes. The sky above was deep crimson, just like the moment he had first died at the edge of the cliff.
He was somewhere strange—not Luoshui Village, nor the ruins of the Venom Leaf Sect. He lay on barren land, surrounded by smoking craters and twisted, dead trees. Far in the distance, a colossal structure loomed, resembling a jagged tower made of black bone.
"Where... is this?" he whispered. His body was still clad in rough clothing formed from black mist, now slightly tattered. The iron butterfly wings on his back felt lighter, and the bone dagger in his hand still pulsed.
The butterfly tattoo glowed. "REAL WORLD. LOCATION: CURSED ZONE. VOID ENERGY CONCENTRATION: HIGH."
"Cursed Zone?" Ye Lin tried to stand. His knees felt weak. His strength had partially returned, but a deep exhaustion clung to his soul. The battle with the void in his Inner World had drained him.
A small shadow appeared beside him, now as tall as Ye Lin's waist. Its face was serious. "We were pulled here by something. Maybe remnants of the void energy that seeped through."
Suddenly, the ground ahead cracked open. From below, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged, followed by a massive body resembling a stone spider. The creature radiated a foul aura, with ancient carvings etched across its shell.
"BRING NEW SOULS TO OUR MASTER!" the creature roared, its voice thunderous.
Ye Lin felt a familiar pull within—one that drained his power. The creature was not attacking his body, but trying to siphon his soul's essence.
"THAT'S A HARVESTER BEAST!" the butterfly tattoo shouted. "THEY DEVOUR SOUL FRAGMENTS TO MARK LOCATIONS FOR THE COLLECTOR!"