The Bloodfire Chimera stood behind Priyanshu like a silent mountain, its molten-red eyes alert as they descended into the underground section of the ancient city of Dharvak. Nyra walked close, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"Are you sure this is the place?" she asked, gazing at the vine-covered stone door. Strange glyphs shimmered beneath centuries of dust and moss.
Priyanshu smiled. "This is the Whispering Library. A place where forbidden knowledge was hidden by the first generation of cultivators. Knowledge deemed too powerful, too dangerous."
[System Notification]Quest Branch Activated: Secret of the Fallen EraObjective: Enter the Whispering Library and absorb at least one Forbidden Law.Reward: +2000 Karma (System Alignment Split)Split Path:
Learn the Law of Eternal Light (Righteous Path)
Learn the Law of Corruption and Control (Villain Path)
As the stone door slid open, a gust of bitter cold wind escaped, carrying the scent of parchment, ink, and despair. The interior was vast rows upon rows of suspended tomes, scrolls, and glowing runes. They floated midair like ghosts, whispering to each other in long-forgotten languages.
Even Nyra gasped. "This place… it's alive."
As they walked deeper, the whispers grew louder—angry, seductive, fearful, hungry. Priyanshu could feel his consciousness tugged in every direction. One scroll in particular seemed to pulse with a rhythm matching his heartbeat.
It hovered within a protective barrier. A crimson chain sealed it, engraved with a warning:
"Only a soul of dual nature may wield what lies within. For what is gained may never be undone."
Priyanshu stepped forward. "System, what's this scroll?"
[Analyzing…]Forbidden Law Detected: Law of Corruption and ControlThis law allows the host to corrupt spiritual essence, turning any cultivation technique into a dark variant. Includes mind-control, domain erosion, and karma siphoning.
Nyra's eyes narrowed. "This is dangerous, even for you."
He didn't hesitate.
With a flick of his fingers, he drew the energy of his Create and Destroy Domain. Flames of both creation and oblivion danced in his palm as he struck the seal.
BOOM!
The barrier shattered.
The scroll exploded into light—and then into darkness—before entering Priyanshu's soul.
[System Update]You have learned: Law of Corruption and ControlYour domain has evolved into: Dual Heaven Domain – Birth and RuinPassive Unlocked: Corrupt Seed – Infect and manipulate any system-compliant cultivator over time.
Priyanshu staggered back, his eyes briefly turning pitch-black.
He smiled.
"Let the heavens bless who they will… I will corrupt the rest."
Nyra looked at him, stunned. The confident boy was becoming something else. Something darker. Something unstoppable.
As they exited the Whispering Library, the doors sealed shut behind them, never to open again.
And above the ground, thousands of miles away, old cultivators suddenly gasped in terror as forbidden ripples spread across the skies.
A new player had acquired the Law of Corruption.
And he was just getting started.