System: Replicating The Heavens

Ice Elf Empress entered this 'universe' several dozen years ago and left behind a drop of her Soul Origin before leaving. Alex's mother was born in the Essence Sky World this way. Since she was able to enter and exit this universe at will, Ice Elf Empress is undoubtedly an extremely strong individual.

Although her clone had died, she was still alive somewhere. Since he was born from a clone in the Essence Sky World, the true body of Ice Elf Empress can be considered his mother as well, and not at the same time.

He'll see when he leaves this 'universe'. If he can find out about Ice Elf Empress, then it'll be good. If not, it doesn't matter either.

One thing is sure though that Alex wanted to know why Ice Elf Empress entered this 'universe' and left behind a drop of her Soul Origin that gave birth to her clone.

.....

The land where the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon is located is one of the most dangerous and mysterious places in the Essence Sky World. This land is filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional howling winds that carry the scent of decay. The entire region is cloaked in a thick deathly fog that makes it difficult for anyone to see far ahead.

The ground here is full of dry cracks, as if no life has existed here for countless years. Strange dark rocks jut out from the earth like broken bones, and a sickly pale light barely illuminates the area even during the daytime.

The air here is heavy and filled with an oppressive aura that weighs down on anyone who enters. This deathly energy here directly clings to the skin, making it hard for people to breathe. Even powerful cultivators like Divine Emperors can feel their energy being suppressed by the strange force that dominates this land.

At the farthest edge of this forbidden land, there was a vast valley. Hidden deep within that vast valley surrounded by towering jagged mountains was the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon. This dungeon looks nothing like what its name suggests. Instead of a typical underground maze or prison, it was in the form of a gigantic ancient tower.

The tower seems to be made of only one extremely huge dark obsidian-like stone. The entire tower is covered in strange symbols and runes that seem to glow faintly with a sinister light, giving off a furious and thunderous sensation. Most importantly, the top of the tower cannot be seen since it pierces into the sky. It is so tall that its top disappears into the thick ominous clouds above.

The base of the tower is massive, with its foundation buried deep into the cracked earth. Around the base, strange black vines crawl along the surface, pulsing with a faint energy, as if feeding off the deathly aura ruling this land. The entire structure feels alive, as though it has its own consciousness, watching over anyone who dares to approach.

"What a marvelous sight!"

Alex and Aurelius were standing right in front of this tower, appreciating its dark beauty. Truly, just the outer appearance of the tower is enough to give anyone a horrific sensation. In fact, they had a feeling that the closer they went to the tower, an invisible pair of hands would try to affect their emotions.

"Indeed," Aurelius agreed with Alex. The sight of this tower was truly out of this world. No one would expect something like this to exist.

However, his gaze was somewhat different from Alex's. Alex was gazing up at the towering structure piercing the clouds. Its grandeur seemed to have the power to affect anyone looking at it deeply, as if the very sight could stir one's emotions. In contrast, Aurelius fixated solely on the front, as if the massive tower didn't exist. To him, there was only a dungeon with a giant entrance.

When they heard about this Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon, they thought it might be an ancient ruin that was hiding an entire world within a secret dimension. Passing through the entrance of the ruin will lead to that secret world.

However, now that they were in front of this huge tower, they were shocked to witness that the tower had several floors, and the floor was adorned with sharp jutting spires from outside. Large foreboding entrances were also there to lead people inside. It is just that reaching these entrances was no easy task, for there was no path that directly led there.

Most importantly, these entrances were shrouded in darkness, and a cold suffocating air was flowing from them, as if warning all who came close to stay away. The tower itself seems to hum with an otherworldly power.

[Treasure: Tower of Wrath.

Grade: ███ Treasure.

Details: The Tower of Wrath is one of the seven towers that represent the Seven Deadly Sins. This tower specifically symbolizes "wrath" or intense anger and rage. It is a massive structure that radiates a fiery, destructive, and deathly aura, capable of affecting those near it. Those who are easily affected by the tower's power might find their emotions heightened just by being close to the tower.

The tower itself holds immense power, able to control furious storms of energy and unleash devastating attacks. Its main ability is to amplify the user's strength through their anger, making them unstoppable in battle when consumed by wrath. However, the danger is that this same power can overwhelm its owner if they lose control of their emotions.

Legends say that only a person who can master their own anger can fully control the Tower of Wrath. If the user fails, the tower's immense rage will consume them entirely.

Note: This tower currently has no master.

??

??]

The information about the Tower of Wrath surprised Alex a lot. There were seven such towers out there somewhere.

Alex couldn't even see its grade. It actually showed an error that confused Alex.

Even if there was no information, it should have shown question mark signs (??) instead of directly showing an error. This can only mean there is something that confused the system itself.

However, Alex is not in a position to do anything about it. He can only sigh and let go of this matter.

He can tell that the most important things about this tower were supposed to be described in the "Note" portion. Unfortunately, there was nothing much there aside from question marks.

The Replication System didn't help him much this time. Moreover, Alex was sure he wouldn't be able to replicate this tower due to insufficient soul force.

"Should we enter then?" Aurelius shifted his glance and asked.

"Sure," Alex nodded, keeping his eyes on the sky. "Which floor do you think we should enter?"

"Which floor?" Aurelius looked puzzled. "What are you talking about? The entrance is right there."

Following Aurelius' gesture, Alex saw only the tower's wall. There was no entrance where Aurelius was pointing.

Yet, Alex paused, frowning slightly as he sensed something unusual.

Spatial distortion!

He could feel a subtle ripple in space at the exact spot Aurelius indicated. Thanks to his space talent, Alex was able to perceive this distortion that others likely couldn't.

Alex suddenly realized something. He had a strong sense that the giant tower he was seeing was concealed from everyone else's sight. For some reason, only he could see this tower. More importantly, this tower was definitely not the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon he had come for.

As for the entrance being pointed by Aurelius, which he couldn't see but others could, it is likely the true entrance to the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon.

"Why can't I see the entrance to the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon, but Aurelius could?"

Alex couldn't help thinking deeply. He kept looking at the subtle spatial ripple and suddenly tried to look for its information. A list of information did appear in front of him in the form of a system interface.

[Name: Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon.

Type: Legacy Ground.

Detail: When the Tower of Wrath was caught in a spatial turbulence, it collided with an unknown sanctuary, breaking off a corner of that sanctuary. This fragment is a part of a legacy trial known as the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon. It was carried along by the turbulence and eventually hurled into the Essence Sky World along with the Tower of Wrath.

Inside the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon, there exists an incomplete miniature world where the trials are set. Due to the incomplete nature of this world, once someone successfully completes all the trials, the source energy sustaining the world will be depleted, causing it to crumble entirely.

Note: Upon completing all trials, a secret passage will open, leading the person to the sanctuary connected to the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon. Afterward, the passage will permanently close, never to be opened again.]

Alex suddenly realized something.

First of all, the Four Direction Purgatory Dungeon is indeed a treasure since it has an incomplete world inside. Unlike the rumors, no one can control this dungeon's world since it'll crumble the instant someone passes all the trials.

Second, it is a legacy ground for some kind of place called "Sanctuary" that definitely exists outside this "universe".

And last, Asna's disappearance seems to be related to those trials.

Could it be that she passed all the trials and entered the passage that led her to the Sanctuary?