Chapter 684
by fanqienovelChapter 684: Escaping the Sea of Suffering
From beginning to end, Wang Chen had no idea what was outside the door.
He guessed it was either magical spirits or Evil Spirits, at least at the "Fierce" level, and it was very likely to have reached the "Ling" rank.
He had been stationed at the Northern Evil Eye for nearly a year, sweeping and clearing anomalies from the outer to the inner ring areas, yet he had never encountered such a terrifying presence.
If he had truly faced it, Wang Chen might have been done for!
This also served as a stark reminder to him; the Evil Eye area was far more complex than he had imagined, and the dangers lurking within were unpredictable.
He would have to be even more cautious in the future!
But what Wang Chen did not expect was that the malicious tide vanished the very next day, and more people arrived.
The one who came was none other than Changsun Yong!
“Congratulations, you can return now.”
The Prison Official from the Evil Abyss smiled as he spoke to Wang Chen. “Your guarding task has come to an end.”
It’s over?
Wang Chen was utterly surprised.
He had thought he would have to stay here for another year or two and had already steeled himself for it.
Yet now, he could leave!
Wang Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Where am I going back to?”
“Back to the Forbidden Prison Office, of course.”
Changsun Yong explained, “The higher-ups are already aware of your situation. There will be corresponding compensation and rewards, and your duties are likely to change. In any case, it’s good news!”
He chuckled, “What, are you reluctant to leave?”
“No, no, not at all!”
Wang Chen quickly denied it. “It’s just that becoming a Lesser Steward was a bit unexpected.”
Even if he were reluctant, he couldn’t admit it; doing so would only invite suspicion.
Who in their right mind would want to stay in the Evil Eye?
In truth, Wang Chen no longer wished to remain here either, even though it was a quick way to earn Virtue points.
“You’ve been quite fortunate.”
Changsun Yong said with a meaningful tone, “The newly appointed Master Wang has reviewed the records, and it seems things have been set right.”
Wang Chen’s heart stirred: “Thank you, Prison Official!”
Though Changsun Yong didn’t say it outright, Wang Chen could read between the lines.
He had managed to escape this sea of suffering and would receive compensation and rewards; this Prison Official must have played a part in it.
Even if the other party had merely gone along with the flow to earn a favor, Wang Chen still felt compelled to express his gratitude!
Without hesitation, Wang Chen retrieved a Pure Evil Energy Pearl from his storage bag and presented it with both hands. “Just a small token of my appreciation, please accept it, Prison Official.”
“Hmm?”
Changsun Yong initially paid little attention and even considered teasing a bit. However, upon noticing the Evil Energy Pearl in Wang Chen’s hand, his eyes lit up: “You’ve got quite the luck!”
Though the Evil Energy Pearl was valuable, it wasn’t particularly rare for a Half-step Golden Core cultivator like him.
But a pearl of such exceptional quality was a different story!
Seeing Wang Chen’s pained expression, as if parting with a treasure, the Prison Official chuckled: “Never mind, keep it for yourself.”
Confident in his status, he had no desire to take what someone else cherished.
Wang Chen, however, promptly tucked the Evil Energy Pearl into Changsun Yong’s robe sleeve: “If the Prison Official doesn’t accept it, I, as a Lesser Steward, won’t feel at ease.”
Truth be told, compared to the likes of Sima Changming and Master Ye, Changsun Yong was a man of higher morals.
Wang Chen gave the Evil Energy Pearl willingly, without any reluctance.
“Very well,”
Changsun Yong didn’t refuse or push it away. After a moment’s thought, he said, “If Master Wang inquires, I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Having accepted the pearl, he felt it only right to fully assist Wang Chen, especially since he found him quite agreeable.
Wang Chen expressed his gratitude once more.
Feeling that the gift of the Evil Energy Pearl warranted more, Changsun Yong shared some insider information with Wang Chen.
For instance, it was confirmed that Sima Changming and Master Ye, who had previously troubled Wang Chen, had perished. The reasons remained unknown, but the new Master Wang, an enemy of the former, had initiated a comprehensive investigation upon taking office.
This investigation uncovered Wang Chen’s unjust assignment to the Northern Evil Eye.
Of course, Changsun Yong had spoken on Wang Chen’s behalf; otherwise, resolving the matter wouldn’t have been so straightforward.
In essence, Wang Chen had finally escaped his ordeal.
As he left, the Prison Official informed Wang Chen that he might receive the Yongle Immortal Registry ahead of schedule!
The following day, the cultivator replacing Wang Chen arrived at the Safe House.
The replacement looked miserable as he completed the handover with Wang Chen.
His mournful demeanor almost moved Wang Chen to tears of sympathy.
Without the Immortal body technique or the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil, this place was indeed a hell for an ordinary Purple Palace cultivator!
But sympathy aside, Wang Chen made his exit faster than anyone.
After over half a year, returning to the immortal city felt like stepping into a different world for Wang Chen.
Whether they were Dao practitioners or demon cultivators, all had desires and emotions; even an Ascendant holy being couldn’t completely sever these ties.
No matter how well Wang Chen could endure solitude, he couldn’t forever shun the allure of prosperity and noise.
Upon his return to the Forbidden Prison Office, a chief steward greeted him.
Changsun Yong hadn’t misled Wang Chen; the higher-ups had clarified his situation and proposed a compensation and reward plan.
Firstly, Wang Chen received his Yongle Immortal Registry two years early, officially becoming a member of the immortal city.
From then on, he was no longer a solitary loose cultivator but had his identity recognized by the Nine States Immortal Alliance, granting him free access to all the immortal cities within the alliance.
Secondly, the Forbidden Prison Office awarded Wang Chen five hundred Immortal merits and a set of cultivation resources, along with eligibility to enter the Treasure Vault.
Immortal merits were akin to the merits Wang Chen had earned in his sect, quantified by specific numbers, which could be exchanged for techniques, magical artifacts, elixirs, talismans, and cultivation resources, among other things.
The exchange took place at the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion!
Lastly, the Forbidden Prison Office granted Wang Chen a month-long vacation.
Although he had obtained the immortal registry, he remained a member of the Forbidden Prison Office and would continue to serve until his contracts were fulfilled.
As for new assignments, Wang Chen would await further instructions from the Forbidden Prison Office.
But one thing was certain: he would no longer be sent to guard the Evil Eye, or even the Evil Abyss.
In summary, Wang Chen had truly escaped his suffering, and the clouds had parted to reveal the moonlight!
After receiving his rewards and compensation, Wang Chen immediately headed to the Treasure Vault.
Located in the heart of Yongle Immortal City, the Treasure Vault was a grand twelve-story structure, a true landmark.
Adjacent to it stood the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion, the symbol of Yongle Immortal City’s power core!
After presenting his identity token to the guards and passing verification, Wang Chen entered the Treasure Vault for the first time.
The interior of the Treasure Vault closely resembled that of Wanbao Pavilion, likely modeled after it.
However, instead of a charming young lady, a stern middle-aged cultivator attended to Wang Chen.
Wang Chen got straight to the point: “Do you have any methods for refining and using external elixirs available for exchange?”
He had obtained an external elixir from the Little Cauldron but lacked the methods to utilize it, leaving it unused in his Xumi Ring.
“Yes,”
The middle-aged cultivator flipped through a tome: “The Xuan Zhen External Elixir Technique requires six hundred and fifty Immortal merits to exchange.”
Six hundred and fifty Immortal merits?
Wang Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
As a member of the Forbidden Prison Office, he earned Immortal merits through his work, and with the five hundred merits he received as a reward, he had enough to exchange for this external elixir technique.
“I’ll take it!”