36: Chapter 36 The Golden Body is Initially Formed, Physical Training Begins!

The next morning.

Chen Ran carried a wooden bucket and walked slowly along the patrol corridor as usual.

His footsteps were light and his breathing was steady, as if he were not the same person who had killed five seventh-grade Martial Artists in the Mass Grave last night.

Walking to the front of cell Ding-72, Chen Ran stopped.

Inside the cell, Wang Hailong remained in the same posture as yesterday, curled up in the pile of hay.

It was just that his breath was even weaker, like a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

Hearing the footsteps, Wang Hailong opened his eyes with difficulty.

When he saw Chen Ran's calm face, a glimmer of hope flashed in the depths of his murky eyes.

Chen Ran did not speak; he only pulled something from his bosom and threw it through the gap in the prison door.

It was a lock of hair tied with a red string.

Wang Hailong's pupils dilated suddenly.

He tremblingly reached out his blood-stained hand and gripped the lock of hair tightly in his palm.

That was his daughter's hair.

"Are they... safe?" Wang Hailong's voice was hoarse beyond recognition, carrying a hint of unbelievable ecstasy.

"They headed south," Chen Ran said indifferently. "I gave them some travel money. As long as they don't return to the capital and live under assumed names, it won't be difficult for them to survive."

"Good... good..."

Wang Hailong suddenly laughed.

His laughter was low, as if rolling in his throat, but it revealed a sense of relief.

He knew what kind of person he was. A lackey of the powerful and a cold-blooded executioner.

The sins he had committed in this life were not enough even for the eighteenth level of Hell.

But in the end, he had still protected his only attachment in this world.

"Brother Jailer, you are a man of your word." Wang Hailong raised his head and stared fixedly at Chen Ran. "I, Wang Hailong, have never admired anyone in my life, but I admire you."

He took a deep breath, as if trying to squeeze out the last bit of strength in his life.

"Listen well, the formula for the Glazed Golden Body Art is..."

Wang Hailong's voice was extremely low and his speed was extremely fast, passing the obscure formula into Chen Ran's ears without missing a single word.

Chen Ran listened quietly, firmly engraving every word into his mind.

When the last word was spoken, Wang Hailong seemed to have been drained of all his strength, and his whole body instantly collapsed.

He leaned against the cold wall, looking at the vent at the top of the cell, where a faint ray of morning light shone in.

"Little brother, I won't hold you up. Troubled times are coming; I hope you can survive to the end."

Wang Hailong muttered to himself, severed his own Meridians, tilted his head, and completely lost all signs of life.

Chen Ran stood outside the cell door, looking at Wang Hailong's corpse, his eyes showing some surprise.

In this world, no one can keep a secret, except for the dead.

Wang Hailong knew his secret and had to die.

However, he had not expected that Wang Hailong would actually choose to give up his life on his own.

The moment Wang Hailong breathed his last, the ancient heavenly book of prison suppression in Chen Ran's mind suddenly burst into dazzling golden light.

The pages flipped frantically, making a "rustling" sound.

[Prisoner Wang Hailong has died.]

[Participation: Extremely high (fulfilled his dying wish, saved his wife and daughter)]

[Settlement reward: Obtained "Glazed Golden Body Art" (incomplete version completed, directly reached Entry-Level)]

[Settlement reward: Obtained five years of Internal Energy.]

Golden light poured out from the heavenly book of prison suppression, instantly flowing through all of Chen Ran's limbs and bones.

Chen Ran felt as if a furnace had been ignited within his body, and scorching energy was rushing wildly through his Meridians.

On the surface of his skin, a faint glazed luster faintly emerged.

His muscles, bones, and even internal organs were undergoing a qualitative change under the washing of this energy.

"Glazed Golden Body Art", Entry-Level!

Chen Ran closed his eyes and carefully felt the changes in his body.

He could feel that his Physical Body strength had increased by several times more than before.

If he were to face those five seventh-grade Martial Artists from last night again now, he wouldn't even need to dodge; he could withstand their attacks with his Physical Body alone.

"Is this the power of a top-tier physical refining Cultivation Technique..." Chen Ran marveled inwardly.

In addition to the Cultivation Technique, he also gained five years of Internal Energy.

Adding to his previous accumulation, his total Internal Energy had reached a terrifying ninety-five years!

Ninety-five years of Internal Energy; among sixth-grade Martial Artists, this was absolutely a number without precedent or successor.

But Chen Ran's brow furrowed slightly.

He discovered a problem.

Although his Internal Energy was as vast as the sea, its quality still remained at the sixth-grade level.

It was just like a large vat of water; although the quantity was large, it was still essentially water.

And those fifth-grade and fourth-grade masters, their Internal Energy had been compressed and refined, turning into ice, or even iron.

"If the quality isn't enough, make up for it with quantity." Chen Ran sneered inwardly.

He never believed in things like "challenging beyond one's rank" or "pure Internal Energy".

In his opinion, as long as I have enough water, I can still smash your ice and submerge your iron.

If ninety-five years isn't enough, then one hundred years, two hundred years!

As long as he hunkered down in the prison, his Internal Energy would increase infinitely.

One day, he would be able to use this overwhelmingly desperate amount of Internal Energy to crush all enemies in the world.

Chen Ran opened his eyes, the glazed luster in his eyes flashing and disappearing, returning to that calm look.

He picked up the wooden bucket and turned to leave cell Ding-72.

Returning to his residence, Chen Ran closed the doors and windows, eager to test the power of the "Glazed Golden Body Art".

He walked to the table and picked up a refined iron dagger.

Although this dagger could not be counted as a divine Sharp Weapon, it was sharp enough.

Chen Ran took a deep breath and activated the "Glazed Golden Body Art".

In an instant, a faint glazed luster appeared on his left arm, and his muscle lines became as hard as rock.

He gripped the dagger with his right hand, not using any Internal Energy, relying only on pure Physical Body strength, and slashed fiercely at his left arm.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out in the room.

Chen Ran looked down.

The sharp dagger was actually deflected by an invisible force the moment it grazed his left arm.

On his skin, only a faint white mark was left; not even the skin was broken.

"What strong defense!" A trace of surprise flashed in Chen Ran's eyes.

This was only the Entry-Level "Glazed Golden Body Art".

If he could Cultivate it to Major Achievement, or even Perfection, wouldn't his Physical Body truly be able to become indestructible and immune to all techniques?

Chen Ran put down the dagger, walked to the corner, and picked up a bluestone slab used to press pickles.

This bluestone slab weighed over two hundred jin; although he didn't find it difficult to lift usually, he still needed to use some Internal Energy.

But now, with just a single-handed grab, it was like picking up a piece of tofu; he easily lifted the bluestone slab over his head.

"Strength has also increased by at least double." Chen Ran silently evaluated in his heart.

The "Glazed Golden Body Art" not only improved defense but also greatly strengthened his Physical Body strength.

Now, even without using Internal Energy, relying only on Physical Body strength, he could easily crush an ordinary seventh-grade Martial Artist.

"Ninety-five years of Internal Energy, plus the 'Glazed Golden Body Art'..." Chen Ran clenched his fist, feeling the power within his body that seemed capable of destroying everything.

His current strength had far exceeded the category of the sixth-grade Peak.

Even if he were to face a fifth-grade master, he would have the power to fight.

Even, if the opponent underestimated him, he would have a full chance to kill them.

"However, I still cannot be careless." Chen Ran quickly calmed down.

The prison was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and the waters of the imperial court and the Jianghu were even more unfathomable.

His little bit of strength, in front of those real big shots, was still not enough.

"Continue to keep a low profile and continue to become stronger." Chen Ran set the tone in his heart.

As long as he didn't actively cause trouble, delivered meals on time every day, and checked in, his strength would grow like a snowball, getting stronger and stronger.

One day, he would be able to keep a low profile until he was invincible in the world.

Chen Ran dispersed the Cultivation Technique, and the glazed luster on his body gradually faded, returning to being that unremarkable jailer.

He pushed open the door and took a look at the gloomy sky outside the prison.

The day of the autumn executions was almost here.

In the past few days, the atmosphere in the prison had become increasingly oppressive.

Those serious criminals sentenced to death were either wailing in despair or cursing in madness.