53: A gluttonous feast inside the death row
Demon Suppression Division Prison, third underground level.
This was the most yin place in the entire Southern Commandery, where sunlight could not reach. The air was filled with the musty smell of rotting straw mixed with old bloodstains, and the walls were covered with various torture instruments, their dark red residue long dried.
The further down one went, the heavier the cold Qi became.
When the Centurion leading the way pushed open the heavy refined iron gate of the third level, a visible white cold current instantly surged out, causing even him, a Martial Artist in the Late Stage Kaiyuan Realm, to shiver involuntarily, his eyebrows instantly frosting over.
"He's inside."
The Centurion stopped at the entrance, pointing to the cell at the end of the corridor, which was sealed by countless Talismans, his eyes full of apprehension:
"That Monster is inside. When it was caught yesterday, it was just a bit stronger, but for some reason, the Nine Nether Cold Poison in its body suddenly erupted today, and even three Formation Masters couldn't suppress it."
He looked at the grim-faced 'Poison Cultivator' beside him, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion and warning:
"Sir, let me be frank. Patrolling Commissioner Yan is watching from the 'Sky-Gazing Mirror' upstairs. If you truly have the ability, gold and silver treasures will be yours; but if you're just a charlatan..."
The Centurion made a throat-slitting gesture.
Lin Que (disguised) tightened his gray robe and ignored the Centurion's threat.
His gaze was fixed on that cell.
The Secret Canon of Self-Sacrifice within him was operating frantically, emitting a hungry roar. And in his sleeve, the thousand changes multi-treasure pearl, transformed into a bracelet, also began to heat up slightly, pointing to a certain spot within the cell.
There, not only was his 'experience package,' but also the last fragment of the myriad treasures pearl!
"Open the door."
Lin Que's voice was hoarse, and he extended a withered finger:
"This bit of cold Qi can't freeze an old man to death."
"Hmph, good words cannot persuade a ghost determined to die."
The Centurion snorted coldly and waved his hand, signaling the jailers to open the Restriction.
Rumble—
As the thousand-jin heavy Dragon-Slaying Stone rose, the scene inside the cell was finally revealed.
It was a Monster whose limbs were chained by thick profound iron chains. Its body was covered in black fur, its eyes were white, and it was rolling and roaring in pain on the ground.
Beneath it was a flickering crimson Formation.
And at the core of the Formation, a crescent-shaped black remnant iron was pressed down, emitting a faint spiritual light, attempting to suppress the Nine Nether Cold Poison within the Monster's body.
myriad treasures pearl fragment!
Lin Que's eyelids twitched. So the people of the Demon Suppression Division had mistaken this fragment for some kind of spiritual material to suppress evil, using it to suppress the Formation core.
What a waste of heavenly resources!
"Roar—!!"
The Monster sensed the Aura of a living person and pounced fiercely, the iron chains stretching taut, emitting a grating sound.
Terrifying Nine Nether Cold Poison spewed out with its roar, and the entire cell instantly turned into an ice cave.
"Ah!!"
The two jailers at the door screamed, struck by the cold Qi, and half of their bodies instantly lost sensation.
"Quick, close the door!!" The Centurion cried out in alarm, turning to flee.
However.
A hand steadily blocked the falling Dragon-Slaying Stone.
Lin Que stood in the center of the cold current, his gray robe fluttering, and an extremely strange smile appeared on his disguised face:
"Why panic?"
"The patient's emotions are unstable; they need treatment."
With that, in everyone's horrified gaze, he stepped into the cell, which was cold enough to freeze an elephant to death, and with a backhand... Bang!
He actually pulled down the Dragon-Slaying Stone from the inside!
The cell door was tightly shut.
Trapping him and the out-of-control Monster inside... outside the cell.
The Centurion and the jailers looked at each other.
"This person... is crazy?"
"Trapping himself with that Monster? Isn't that seeking death?"
"Quick! Report to Patrolling Commissioner Yan!"
...Inside the cell.
As the Dragon-Slaying Stone fell, the outside view was cut off (except for the hidden peeking Formation above).
"Roar!!"
Although the Monster had no reason, it instinctively remembered this Aura. It was created by this person, and it had a deep-seated fear of him.
It cowered in the corner, letting out threatening growls at Lin Que, but dared not approach.
"Good boy."
Lin Que shed his disguised stoop, straightened his back, and walked step by step towards the Monster.
With each step, his Aura climbed a notch.
His bronze-colored skin glowed with a dark golden luster under the dim light, a sign of the Bronze Skin and Iron Bones operating at full power.
He walked to the center of the Formation and glanced at the black remnant iron under his feet, which was serving as the Formation core, but did not rush to take it.
Patrolling Commissioner Yan must be watching.
The act had to be complete.
"Evil beast, the Nine Nether Cold Poison has attacked your heart. This old man will help you 'extract the poison'."
Lin Que shouted, and one hand slammed onto the Monster's crown!
Boom!
The Origin Nine Nether Cold Poison within the Monster's body, as if finding an outlet, surged madly into Lin Que's body along his arm!
This was a terrifying energy capable of instantly freezing and cracking the Meridians of a Spirit Sea Realm Cultivator.
But within Lin Que's body... [High concentration of Nine Nether Cold Origin detected!]
[Source: Monster (self-created entity).]
[Absorbing...]
[Side effect judgment: Meridians frozen, Divine Soul frozen, internal organs necrotic!]
[Transference initiated!]
Lin Que sneered in his heart: "Transference target—still you!"
Buzz!
A perfect closed loop formed.
The Nine Nether Cold Poison entered Lin Que's body from the Monster's body, where the System stripped away the purest energy for Lin Que, and the remaining destructive 'side effects' (pain, damage) were then returned to the Monster's body in multiples by the System!
Owoo—!!!
The Monster let out a scream ten times more agonizing than before!
It felt as if it was being cut into a thousand pieces! The Nine Nether Cold Poison in its body was drawn out, replaced by an excruciating pain of its Soul being torn apart!
It furiously slammed against the ground, the chains sparking.
And from the outside, it seemed.
That 'Poison Cultivator' was performing some overbearing secret art, forcibly suppressing the Monster!
"What a domineering method!"
Upstairs, Patrolling Commissioner Yan, peeking through the Formation, watched the figure in the screen, pressing the Monster's head, with white smoke emanating from his body, and a flicker of surprise appeared in his eyes:
"Resisting the Nine Nether Cold Poison with his Physical Body, then neutralizing it with Internal Energy... This person's physique is actually stronger than that of ordinary Body Cultivators."
Inside the cell.
Lin Que was now feeling an exhilarating tingling sensation on his scalp.
That Nine Nether Cold Origin, purified by the System, was like cool jade liquid, madly pouring into his Dantian.
The river of true essence, which had already reached the Late Stage, began to swell and surge rapidly!
Boom!
A muffled sound, like a dam breaking, came from within his body.
Lin Que's body shook, and two substantial rays of light shot out from his eyes.
Kaiyuan Realm Perfection!
Only one step away from the coveted Spirit Sea Realm—transforming Qi into liquid!
"Phew..."
Lin Que let out a long breath of turbid Qi, which directly blasted an ice pit into the opposite wall.
He looked down at the Monster under his feet.
This poor Monster had been tormented to the brink of death by rounds of 'side effects,' lying on the ground like a dead dog, not daring to move a finger. The Nine Nether Cold Poison in its body had also been drained, leaving only its purest Physical Body strength.
"Good performance."
Lin Que patted the Monster's head, then seemingly unintentionally kicked away the now-ineffective crimson Formation.
Using his body as a screen, his toe lightly hooked.
That black remnant iron, used as the Formation core, instantly disappeared, sinking into his boot sole (it was actually absorbed by the thousand changes multi-treasure pearl).
Click.
In his sleeve, the thousand changes multi-treasure pearl emitted a satisfied crisp sound.
The last puzzle piece was in place.
A subtle yet powerful fluctuation flowed around Lin Que's wrist, but he fiercely suppressed it.
[myriad treasures pearl completeness: 100%.]
[Ultimate form unlocked: Thousand Transformations.]
[Acquired Artifact Spirit Divine Ability: Spirit Devour (can devour high-grade Magic Treasures to evolve).]
Lin Que suppressed the urge to check the Magic Treasure's attributes, slowly withdrew his hand, and turned to walk towards the Dragon-Slaying Stone.
He once again resumed his grim and weak appearance, even forcing out a mouthful of black blood, hanging at the corner of his mouth.
"Open the door."
His voice was hoarse and tired, conveying a sense of 'having done his best' and world-weariness.
Rumble—
The Dragon-Slaying Stone rose.
The Centurion and jailers at the door anxiously peered inside.
They saw that the Monster, which had just been so ferocious, was now like a docile kitten, curled up in the corner, trembling, all its cold Qi gone.
And Mr. 'Poison Cultivator,' pale-faced and staggering, walked out, holding a tattered cloth to wipe his sweat.
"Fortunately, I did not fail in my mission."
Lin Que coughed twice, showing his 'blood-stained' hand to everyone:
"The Nine Nether Cold Poison has been extracted, but this Monster's wild nature is hard to tame. I expended thirty years of cultivation to suppress it..."
The Centurion was dumbfounded, then showed ecstatic joy.
It worked!
It really was suppressed!
"Divine Doctor! Truly a Divine Doctor!!"
The Centurion excitedly stepped forward, his attitude making a complete U-turn:
"Quick! Please take a seat of honor! Patrolling Commissioner Yan is waiting in the side hall to personally reward you, sir!"
Lin Que wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a subtle glint flashing in his eyes.
Patrolling Commissioner Yan?
Perfect.
Since I've taken your things and used your territory for cultivation, it's now time... to see what other good things I can 'borrow' from your so-called 'treasury'.
"Lead the way."
Lin Que walked with his hands behind his back, his body stooped, and amidst the worshipful gazes of the jailers, he headed deeper into the Demon Suppression Division.
How was this walking into a trap?
This was clearly a mouse falling into a rice bin, eating its fill and then taking some to go.