Chapter 652

Chapter 652: Evil Abyss (Part 2)

Faced with the provocation of the monsters, the old guard did not waste words.

He strode forward and approached the bars, raising his hand to strike forcefully against one of the iron bars.

Wang Chen watched closely from behind and saw that the spot where the old guard’s palm landed was engraved with the True Seal character for "Thunder."

Crack!

In the next moment, lightning flashed inside the cell, and powerful bolts of thunder suddenly struck the mountain demon, causing the great beast to scream in agony, its fur standing on end.

The old guard pressed against the true seal characters, activating the prison’s restrictions, and struck the mountain demon dozens of times before stopping.

At this point, the mountain demon lay on the ground, twitching and flailing, as if it had a seizure, foaming at the mouth with a dazed expression, clearly having experienced unimaginable pain.

"These beasts just never learn!"

The old guard growled, “So we have to beat them every day, all the time, until they remember!”

He pointed to the True Seal inscriptions on the bars and said, “Use this to hit them.”

Wang Chen nodded silently.

There were more than seven true seal characters carved on the bars, each representing a different punishment spell.

This was truly a paradise for sadomasochism enthusiasts!

The mountain demon’s wails gradually turned into whimpers, which surprisingly had some rhythm to them.

“Let’s go.”

The old guard spat some pickled vegetables into the cell with disdain, then picked up the Qingyang Lantern again and led Wang Chen to inspect the next cavern.

It must be noted that the patrol route during the day is different from the duties at night, which is why the old guard needed to lead the way this time, to avoid going the wrong way.

But more importantly, it was for experience!

Wang Chen lacked experience and needed the old guard to guide him.

Thus, they passed through one cavern after another, where Wang Chen encountered more than a dozen monsters and demons,

as well as one demon cultivator.

Or rather, a Demon Lord!

According to the old guard, this fellow had caused a stir throughout the Yongle Immortal City when he was captured.

Originally, he was a practitioner at the peak Purple Palace, young, with a smooth journey of cultivation, and achieving Golden Core was almost a certainty.

However, he was invaded by external evil during his condensing elixirs process, turning his elixir into a black gold and falling into the Demonic Path, committing numerous outrageous crimes, leading to cries for his execution when caught.

Yet, the upper echelons of Yongle Immortal City clearly did not wish for his death but chose to secretly imprison him in the Evil Abyss.

As for the reason, it was something beyond the understanding of the lower-tier guards.

“Many things are better left unknown than known.”

The old guard said meaningfully, “That way, you can live a little longer.”

Lifelong Experience indeed!

Wang Chen noticed that the old guard stood at least twenty steps away from the cell.

A seasoned guard was so cautious that one could imagine the kind of formidable being imprisoned in the cell!

Wang Chen peered into the cell.

The dim light, the Qingyang Lantern’s inability to penetrate, and the obstruction of the iron bars meant that even with his sharp eyesight, he could barely discern a person’s silhouette.

The old guard hesitated briefly, then stepped forward five paces, lifting the Qingyang Lantern high.

Now Wang Chen could see clearly.

The Demon Lord stood facing the stone wall, his back turned to Wang Chen and the old guard.

He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his white robe immaculate, exuding an air of scholarly refinement that starkly contrasted with the grim surroundings.

“Playing tricks.”

The old guard sneered, then retrieved a letter from his storage bag.

With a few deft movements, he folded the letter into a Paper Crane, using his magical power to send it floating into the cell.

Even such a gesture couldn’t deter others’ greed; it had been stolen!

The white-clad cultivator caught the Paper Crane, unfolded it, glanced at it briefly, and then turned around.

He lifted his eyelids, and his black eyes surprisingly radiated an innocent light.

It was as if he was inquiring or probing for something.

In the next moment, the white-clad cultivator’s gaze met Wang Chen’s, and the corners of his mouth curled into a faint, enigmatic smile.

His smile carried an indescribable eeriness.

Yet, Wang Chen’s expression remained impassive, his eyes steady and unflinching.

With a Soul Points score of 25, his Spiritual Power far surpassed that of other cultivators at his level. Though the prisoner before him wielded strange abilities, he posed no threat to Wang Chen.

What reaction was needed?

“Be careful.”

The old guard cautioned once more, “Don’t get lost in the future.”

He continued to guide Wang Chen along the patrol route.

The night stretched endlessly, the underground was shrouded in gloom, and monsters and demons lurked in the shadows, biding their time.

As they walked, observed, listened, and noted, Wang Chen followed the old guard to the end of the patrol route.

“The demon imprisoned here is rather special. It’s said that a certain influential figure has taken an interest in it and left it here to temper its disposition.”

The old guard whispered to Wang Chen, “You’d best not provoke it.”

Him, or it?

Wang Chen didn’t press for details—caution was all that mattered.

To his surprise, it turned out to be “her.”

Inside the cell, a graceful woman sat on the edge of the bed, leisurely combing her hair with a wooden comb while gazing into a mirror.

She was meticulous and deliberate, tending to each strand of hair with care.

The old guard suddenly leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, “She’s quite stunning, isn’t she? Though we can’t provoke her, there are ways to get a taste of her charm. Would you like to hear?”

A taste of her beauty?

Wang Chen’s expression suddenly turned peculiar: “Are you suggesting we take action against the monsters?”

Is he courting death?

The old guard chuckled darkly.

He didn’t offer a direct explanation, but his expression was akin to that of a seasoned veteran observing a greenhorn in a game.

Wang Chen shook his head.

Even if it were true, he would pretend not to have heard it.

This old guard wasn’t a bad person, but he clearly had a few screws loose; following his advice would be a sign of one’s own lack of intelligence.

“Hello, outsider.”

Just as Wang Chen was about to retrace his steps, he suddenly heard a faint voice.

The voice was so weak it seemed almost unreal.

Huh?

Wang Chen discreetly scanned his surroundings, confirming that the voice emanated from within the cell.

Mountain Ghost!

The graceful figure before him was not a real human but a monster in disguise, yet her form was crafted with such precision that it far surpassed any crude imitation.

“Fellow traveler…”

In the next moment, the address shifted once more.

Wang Chen turned on his heel and walked away.

He was already struggling to keep himself safe and had no idea how long he would be trapped in the Evil Abyss.

Provoke a great beast with a mysterious background?

He wanted to live long enough to escape.

“My name is Hua Li…”

Wang Chen quickened his pace.

Since his patrol duty was nearly complete, he could return much faster.

Tonight, he had truly broadened his horizons—he had encountered six or seven great beasts, each one distinct!

To express his gratitude to the old guard, Wang Chen brought out his treasured spiritual wine and offered it to him.

They gathered in his dormitory, or rather, his cavern.

Each guard here had their own cavern, serving as a private residence.

Though the conditions were modest, it was more than adequate to host a guest or two.

“Good wine!”

The old guard greedily took a large swig, his face brimming with satisfaction.

He caressed the goblet in his hand and sighed, “Thanks to you, I haven’t tasted such fine wine in many years.”