Chapter 631

Chapter 631: Apprentice Prison Guard Wang Chen (Part 1)

The gentle rain fell on the heavenly street, softening the air like butter, while the grass appeared green from a distance but vanished up close.

As the sky drizzled lightly, Wang Chen held his oil-paper umbrella and walked along the main street.

Calm and unhurried, neither fast nor slow.

He had been in Yongle Immortal City for half a month, yet he still hadn’t gotten enough of the city’s unique scenery.

The immortal city had both wind and rain, reportedly a result of a Nascent Soul true immortal pushing back against the majority; otherwise, formations could easily create a constant climate all year round.

Wang Chen also enjoyed this changing weather, as it resonated with the natural way.

His footsteps paused in front of a wine shop with the sign “Xu Ji” hanging out front.

After putting away his umbrella, Wang Chen entered the shop and told the shopkeeper behind the counter, “Boss, please bring me a flask of Jing Hong wine and cut half a pound of tough bull tendon meat.”

As he spoke, he placed a piece of Intermediate Spirit on the counter. “Please pack another portion of the same.”

“Sure thing!”

The chubby wine shop owner smiled: “Just a moment, your wine and meat will be right up.”

Wang Chen nodded and found a window seat to sit down.

The shop assistant brought a steaming cup of spiritual tea to him, and he sipped while reminiscing about his experiences over the past half month.

It felt somewhat unreal.

Half a month ago, Wang Chen entered Yongle Immortal City with his gold voucher and pill book. To obtain a spot in the immortal registry, he applied for a job at the Forbidden Prison Office, but unexpectedly, a Golden Core true master took him directly to the dungeon.

Later, Wang Chen learned that this true master was named Lu Peng, one of the Golden Core prison guards in the Forbidden Prison Office.

Thus, he became an apprentice prison guard at the dungeon in Yongle Immortal City, currently interning in District C6.

The Yongle dungeon consisted of nine levels, numbered A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I, with each level further divided into nine districts, making a total of eighty-one areas.

The lower the level, the more dangerous the prisoners were, and the worse the conditions became!

Although the working conditions were quite poor, the benefits for prison guards were excellent. As an “intern,” Wang Chen could enjoy a work schedule of three days on and one day off.

Additionally, there was free accommodation, three meals a day, and even job subsidies!

Most importantly, as long as he successfully “converted” and worked at the Forbidden Prison Office for three years without major mistakes, he could apply for a spot in the immortal registry.

For Wang Chen, that was more than enough.

Today was his day off.

A flask of just-right warm wine and a plate of evenly sliced tough bull meat were placed on the dining table.

Wang Chen poured himself a cup from the wine flask.

He downed it in one go.

The wine was rich and red, flowing down his throat like fire, providing a pleasantly fiery sensation.

The tough bull meat was very chewy, cooked to perfection in seasoning, leaving a fragrant taste that greatly satisfied his hunger.

This tough bull meat and Jing Hong wine were specialties of Xu Ji wine shop, which Wang Chen found delightful after trying them a few times. Thus, on his days off, he always came to indulge.

Of course, wine and meat were not cheap, but living in an immortal city was already a challenge, and the prices were incomparable to those on the ground.

The wine shops were bustling with activity. Wang Chen had barely taken his seat when the place was nearly full.

New patrons entered, glancing around, and upon noticing the empty seat opposite Wang Chen, they approached, hoping to share the table.

However, as soon as they caught sight of the wooden badge engraved with the character “Prison” hanging from Wang Chen’s waist, their expressions shifted, and they quickly retreated.

Wang Chen was already accustomed to this.

The residents of the immortal city, or the cultivators, mostly regarded the Forbidden Prison Office with dread, reacting with fear, disdain, or disgust whenever they saw Wang Chen with his prison guard badge.

He didn’t need to try to blend in; he was naturally ostracized by others!

It felt as though he had become some kind of pariah.

Wang Chen paid no heed. Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he picked up his packed wine and meat and strolled leisurely back to the Forbidden Prison Office.

He soon arrived at District C6.

District C6 was vast, housing nearly a hundred cells, along with numerous dormitories for the prison guards to live in.

Wang Chen knocked on the door of one of the dormitories.

An old cultivator with graying hair sat on a mat, and as soon as he saw Wang Chen, he sniffed the air and said, “Let me guess, Little Wang, did you bring the Jing Hong wine and tough bull tendon meat from Xu Ji?”

“You’ve got it!”

Wang Chen gave the old cultivator a thumbs-up.

Then he handed over the packed wine and meat.

“Not bad, not bad!”

The old cultivator’s face lit up with delight. He eagerly unwrapped the oil-paper package and immediately grabbed two pieces of meat, stuffing them into his mouth.

He devoured the food with the speed of a whirlwind, finishing off a flask of wine and a bag of meat in the blink of an eye.

Afterward, he licked his greasy fingers and grumbled, “Little Wang, bring more wine and meat next time! This isn’t even enough to fill the gaps in my teeth. You’re just teasing my appetite; show some respect for your elders!”

Wang Chen, facing this complaint from someone who had clearly benefited, smiled wryly and replied, “This Golden Core cultivator doesn’t have any spare spirit stones at home. You know full well how expensive the Jing Hong wine and tough bull tendon meat are.”

“As a mere apprentice prison guard, this is all I can afford.”

The old cultivator’s name was Dan Lingfeng, a high-level Purple Palace cultivator. It was said he had worked in the Forbidden Prison Office for over thirty years, making him a true veteran.

After Wang Chen was sent to District C6 by Lu Peng, the supervising officer assigned Dan Lingfeng to guide him.

Wang Chen learned a great deal from this old guard.

His ability to adapt quickly to the dungeon environment was largely thanks to Dan Lingfeng’s guidance!

Thus, every few days, Wang Chen made sure to buy some good wine and meat to “honor” this seasoned veteran.

It was always worth it.

The old cultivator chuckled, “From the sound of it, you’re eager to get promoted, aren’t you?”

The apprenticeship period for an apprentice prison guard ranged from one to three months, depending on performance. It wasn’t impossible to get promoted sooner.

After all, the benefits of being a formal prison guard were far superior to those of an apprentice!

The former received a salary, and it was quite substantial!

Before Wang Chen could respond, Dan Lingfeng snorted, “Young man, you really don’t know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is. Do you think if you get promoted, you’ll be allowed to stay in District C6?”

“Chances are, they’ll send you to the lower districts, because the personnel quota there has never been filled!”

The Ninth Level Dungeon of the Forbidden Prison Office was divided into three upper districts (A, B, and C), three middle districts (D, E, and F), and three lower districts (G, H, and I).

“If you’re sent to the lower districts, do you think you’ll survive three years to earn your spot in the immortal registry?”

“Don’t kid yourself!”

After a few drinks, Dan Lingfeng couldn’t help but ramble on: “Let me be honest with you—out of ten people sent to the lower districts, maybe one or two can last a year. And to last three years? It’s one in a hundred!”

“So, the longer you stay here during your apprenticeship, the better. It’s best to hope that after your promotion, you’ll be assigned to the middle districts; at least your chances of survival will be much higher.”

With that, the old cultivator’s head drooped, and he fell into a deep sleep.