Chapter 614 - 253: Second Level
’This is the perfect opportunity. I’ll see if I can break through to the Fourth Layer of the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body in one fell swoop.’
Chen Qing thought to himself. Without further delay, he straightened himself up and headed toward Prison Peak.
He arrived at Prison Peak and entered the first level of the Black Water Abyss Prison. A wave of cold, sinister Evil Qi immediately washed over him.
’The Evil Qi has gotten thicker again...’
Chen Qing mused internally as he circulated the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Vajra Body. The Qi and blood throughout his body surged like a blazing furnace, warding off the invading Evil Qi.
’What is the deal with this Black Water Abyss Prison? Why is such pure Evil Qi constantly welling up from deep underground? What is its source?’
As he was pondering this, a voice drifted from a cell deep within the circular area. It was Luo Xiangru, her tone achingly seductive and tinged with a plaintive note, as if speaking directly to the listener’s very soul:
"Sweet little brother, you haven’t visited in a while. Do you know how much I’ve suffered? My body aches, too... This godforsaken place is so cold and lonely, with no one to talk to. My heart feels so empty, and it feels like ants are crawling all over my skin..."
Chen Qing’s expression remained unchanged as he replied coolly, "You jest, Madam Luo. The Evil Qi here may be heavy, but it’s perfect for tempering my Martial Arts. I’m afraid I can’t accept your ’kindness’."
"Hee hee hee..."
Luo Xiangru let out a light, silvery laugh, her voice growing even more cloying and seductive. "Sweet little brother, why be such a spoilsport? My Cultivation may be sealed, but the things I can do with this body... they’re etched into my very bones. I could never forget them... If you’re willing to come in and get a little closer with me, I guarantee you’ll experience a pleasure that’s to die for, an ecstasy that will make you feel like you’re soaring through the heavens... That feeling is a thousand times more blissful than your bitter training in Martial Arts. I promise, one taste, and you’ll never be able to forget it..."
Her voice was laced with hooks, full of a primal allure that could easily stir a man’s most basic instincts.
Chen Qing, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. He walked straight to his usual post, sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes to focus his mind, and ignored her completely.
Seeing that Chen Qing was completely unresponsive, Luo Xiangru poutingly tried a few more explicit taunts. When she still received no reply, she found it dull, snorted, and finally fell silent.
’What a clueless man!’
Just then, the figure of Master of the Seven Sufferings, dressed in a black monk’s robe, slowly emerged from the entrance to the passageway leading to the second level.
His steps seemed slightly heavier than usual, and his face held an almost imperceptible pallor. Clearly, continuously purifying the turbulent Evil Qi had taken a significant toll on him.
His gaze fell upon Chen Qing, and sensing the surging Qi Blood Power that was like a hibernating dragon elephant, he stepped forward and asked, "Donor Chen, it seems your Cultivation has progressed again these past few days."
Chen Qing rose and replied respectfully, "Thanks to you, Master, I’ve made some small progress."
He could also sense a hint of fatigue in the master’s aura.
Master of the Seven Sufferings nodded. He observed the faint Dark Gold Luster circulating around Chen Qing’s body and his majestic Qi and blood, then mused for a moment before saying, "Your Flesh Body is now tenacious, and your Qi and blood are robust and full of yang energy. Your resistance to this Evil Qi far surpasses that of an ordinary person. Entering the second level should pose no problem for you now."
Unlike previous Defenders who relied solely on their Cultivation to brute-force their resistance, Chen Qing possessed a Buddhist Sect Body Refining Secret Technique. The very essence of his Qi and blood contained a certain Buddhist Zen, giving him extremely high resistance to the sinister Evil Qi.
Hearing this, Chen Qing’s interest was piqued. He asked, "Master, what kinds of people are imprisoned on the second level?"
He had been at the Black Water Abyss Prison for some time now and had a general understanding of its six-level structure. Rumor had it that the Sixth Layer wasn’t actually a prison, meaning only five levels were used to house inmates.
The first level primarily held spies and traitors of the Astral Force Realm, as well as experts from various factions who had special status or had committed heinous crimes, such as Luo Xiangru and Fang Hui.
Master of the Seven Sufferings said slowly, "The second level mostly holds those with even more special identities, or people with unusual physiques or Cultivation Techniques. This includes remnants of ancient tribes and those who have practiced forbidden Cultivation Techniques. Further down, starting from the Third Layer, is the primary area for imprisoning True Essence Realm cultivators. As long as you don’t set foot on the Third Layer, and you patrol the second level carefully, you should be fine with your current constitution."
"The True Essence Realm!?" Chen Qing’s gaze sharpened, and he nodded slightly.
The levels below the Third Layer were the truly terrifying parts of the Black Water Abyss Prison, holding experts capable of unleashing a storm of blood and terror in the outside world.
Master of the Seven Sufferings continued to caution him, "The further down you go, the Evil Qi not only becomes denser and purer, but its ability to corrode one’s Heart and Spirit grows stronger. While this is highly beneficial for honing your Qi and blood and tempering your physique, the risks also increase dramatically."
"Once the Evil Qi seeps into your bones and Divine Soul, it is exceedingly difficult to expel. Moreover, in a place with such dense Evil Qi, Heart Demons are easily born. The risk of succumbing to cultivation deviation is far greater than in the outside world. You must remember: do not, out of curiosity, ever venture to the Third Layer."
"Yes, this junior will remember the master’s teachings," Chen Qing replied solemnly.
Seeing that he had taken the warning to heart, Master of the Seven Sufferings gave a slightly weary nod. "Good. Since you understand, I won’t say any more. The Evil Qi here is turbulent, so be extra careful on your patrols."
With that, Master of the Seven Sufferings turned and left, evidently having overexerted himself and needing to rest and recover.
Chen Qing took a deep breath and thought to himself, ’The Evil Qi on the second level is even denser than on the first. This is the perfect chance to go down there to cultivate. After all, an opportunity to temper my body with Evil Qi like this doesn’t come around every day.’
.......