102: Chapter 102 Demon-Slaying Team!

The Capital, Sky Prison Branch.

Several jailers roughly stuffed the corpses into burlap sacks,

then with a "thud," they slammed them heavily onto a nearby wooden cart like sacks of rags.

"Damn it, the number of bodies we've sent off these past few days is more than the last three months combined."

A jailer wiped the sweat from his forehead and grumbled in a low voice.

"Tell me about it. Who told them to dare cause trouble in the Capital?"

Soon, a few people took over, pulling the wooden cart into the distance.

These were all corpses of those who had recently died in the Sky Prison, now being taken to the Mass Grave for burial.

Over these past few days,

as the Demon Suppression Division intensified their interrogations of these demonic cultists, many Martial Artists couldn't withstand the pressure and died on the spot.

This was the daily routine of the Sky Prison.

Most prisoners actually didn't live to see the end of their sentences, often dying from various "accidents."

In a neatly decorated room atop the Sky Prison building.

Chen Ran lay on a rocking chair, the wooden table beside him filled with tea and snacks, while a thick scent of sandalwood wafted through the room.

He looked into the distance, his gaze lingering for a moment on the retreating wooden cart.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the heavenly book of prison suppression emitted several rays of light, and in the next moment, several orbs of light flew into his mind.

[Prisoner Ji Kuilin's death detected. Participation settlement complete. Reward: Cultivation Technique - Demonic Fiend Palm.]

[Prisoner Tian Zhijie's death detected. Participation settlement complete. Reward: Cultivation Technique - Dancing Shadow Floating Blade.]

...

A small stream of memories merged into his mind, only to be quickly forgotten.

To him now, the techniques rewarded from ordinary prisoners were no longer enough to support his Martial Dao.

In the Martial Forest, the quality of Cultivation Techniques is categorized from Grade One to Grade Nine.

Beyond these nine grades, there are so-called Top-tier Techniques, and further still, Martial Arts Peerless Skills...

Common techniques like the "Iron Body Technique" or "Yellow Sand Palm" are generally entry-level ranked martial arts.

Low-Three Grade martial arts are considered extremely rare in the eyes of ordinary people.

They are usually given as internal rewards within Gangs or distributed to Utility Disciples by prestigious Sects.

Mid-Three Grade martial arts are typically the signature techniques of ordinary Gangs or small Sects, representing a significant threshold.

But for a true Martial Artist, possessing these techniques only counts as having just entered the Jianghu.

Most of the martial arts recorded in his heavenly book of prison suppression were only of Mid or Low Grade.

These techniques were not of much help to him at his current level.

Only techniques reaching the High-Three Grades could catch his attention.

...

At the tea table, Li Changfeng blew on the tea in his hand and asked casually.

"Brother Chen, have you been resting well lately?"

"It's been alright."

"That's good. I've heard you've accumulated quite a few merits recently. I reckon it won't be long before your position is moved up."

"Thanks, Brother Feng. I'll take that as a good omen then."

"Come, come, drink some tea."

Chen Ran smiled faintly as the two chatted back and forth.

Over this period, his relationship with Captain Li Changfeng had become much more familiar.

The Internal Affairs Department wasn't considered a popular department within the Demon Suppression Division.

Members of this department were generally weaker, responsible only for guarding prisoners and assisting in investigations.

However, if one rose through the ranks step by step, they could still land a decent position.

Lately, his merits had been steadily increasing.

Some observant people had already noticed that it wouldn't be long before Chen Ran received a promotion.

Thinking it was never wrong to build good relations in advance, quite a few people had been secretly sending gifts lately.

While the two were chatting.

Suddenly.

From the main gate of the Sky Prison ahead, a chorus of panicked cries and rapid footsteps rang out.

"Move! Everyone, get out of the way!"

"Don't block the path! Fall back to the sides!"

Accompanied by several harsh shouts.

Several gate guards came running back, scrambling and crawling with pale faces, as if they had seen something utterly terrifying.

The cries immediately shattered the original peace, and Chen Ran's brow twitched slightly.

Following that, a heavy and ear-piercing clanking of iron chains was heard.

Along with the sound of chains came a low, violent roar of a beast.

"Roar—!"

Chen Ran and Li Changfeng exchanged a glance, both seeing a look of surprise in each other's eyes.

At the gate, a squad of Demon Suppression Division elites clad in heavy black armor, radiating a thick aura of blood and slaughter, walked in slowly with heavy steps.

Behind them, several others were pulling a giant cage.

"It's the Demon-Slaying Squad from the Demon Suppression Division..."

The gentle smile on Li Changfeng's face vanished as he muttered a few words under his breath.

The Demon-Slaying Squad was the most dangerous department within the Demon Suppression Division, with the highest casualty rate.

They spent the year wandering through wild mountains and desolate ridges, fighting bloodthirsty and brutal demons and ghosts, and rarely appeared in a place like the Sky Prison, which primarily held human prisoners.

Unless...

they had brought back a live Yao Beast!

Chen Ran focused his gaze on the center of the Demon-Slaying Squad.

He saw more than ten elites of the Demon-Slaying Squad using steel chains as thick as wrists, laboriously dragging two massive Yao Beasts toward the Sky Prison.

At the very front of the prison cart was a Wild Boar Demon of exaggerated proportions.

This Wild Boar Demon was over half a zhang tall, like a moving mountain of flesh.

Its body was covered in ink-black bristles that stood on end, shimmering with a cold, steel-needle-like luster in the dim light.

Its grey-blue skin was covered in crisscrossing scars as if hacked by blades and axes; some raw, dark-red flesh was even visible, making it look hideous to the extreme.

Most terrifying of all were the two tusks, each half a foot long, protruding from its mouth.

"Roar—!!!"

The Wild Boar Demon's crimson eyes bulged, filled with mindless fury.

It twisted its massive body desperately, trying to break free from its restraints.

*Clatter, clatter!*

The thick steel chains were pulled taut by its immense strength, sparking brightly from the friction.

Eight elites of the Demon-Slaying Squad, their faces flushed as they exerted their robust blood and Qi, pulled on the chains with all their might to barely suppress the rampaging beast.

Behind the Wild Boar Demon,

another Yao Beast was being dragged along.

This was a Wolf Demon several times larger than an ordinary wild wolf.

Its silver-gray fur was a mess, matted with mud and dried dark-red blood, clearly having gone through a fierce struggle before being captured.

Unlike the mindless rage of the Wild Boar Demon,

this Wolf Demon appeared much colder.

It crouched low, its emerald eyes glinting with an extremely gloomy and vicious light.

It glared fiercely at the surrounding crowd, a low, threatening growl emanating from its throat.

"Awoo—"

With a shrill and unwilling howl, it also suddenly exerted force, trying to break the chains.

Even though it was bound by heavy shackles, the ferocious aura radiating from it still sent shivers down people's spines.

It wasn't until the Captain of the Demon Slaying Team stepped in that the two Yao Beasts quieted down again.

As soon as the two Yao Beasts appeared,

the jailers who had been relatively calm all changed expression, feeling a chill run down their spines.

The primitive ferocity and sense of oppression from the Yao Beasts were far more terrifying than those of the Martial Artists who were tortured until they were at death's door.

They subconsciously held their breath and backed away toward the walls, fearing the two Vicious Beasts might suddenly lash out.

The originally crowded square was quickly cleared, leaving an unobstructed path.

Finally, the Demon-Slaying Squad marched grandly into the depths of the Sky Prison and disappeared from sight.

...

Li Changfeng watched the two Yao Beasts being dragged toward the deep cells, his expression becoming exceptionally grave.

He turned his head and, lowering his voice, seriously warned Chen Ran beside him:

"Brother Chen, while you're on duty in the Sky Prison during this time, you must be extra careful."

He pointed in the direction where the two Yao Beasts had gone.

"These Yao Beasts are brutal by nature and bloodthirsty. After being locked in a depressing place like the Sky Prison, their temperaments will only become more violent and irritable."

Chen Ran set down his teacup, his eyes slightly downcast.

"I see. Since a new batch of Yao Beasts has been brought in, I'll head over first to register their information."