Chapter 275 - 273: The Strange Guan Tianming
Chen Yuan squatted in a corner, silently writing down cultivation techniques. They were all common Profound Level techniques.
Of course, these cultivation techniques weren’t for Chen Yuan’s own use. He had obtained them when he had sacked powers like the Qingyang Palace back in the day.
At the same time, Chen Yuan glanced over. Behind the old man was a dense pile of manuals, stacked taller than a person, which were likely all collected cultivation techniques.
After he finished writing out the technique, the old man confirmed there were no issues and had Chen Yuan wait to the side while he continued to interrogate the others.
However, some of the captured Martial Artists weren’t so honest, and had made some alterations to their cultivation techniques.
After all, no one was willing to have their cultivation technique leaked for nothing.
But the old man merely swept his gaze over it and sneered, "Kid, you think you can fool me by changing a few words? I advise you to be a bit more honest."
The Martial Artist was instantly horrified. He never expected that his little trick would be seen through in a moment.
Chen Yuan was also slightly surprised. ’Although this old man only has a Condensing Truth Realm cultivation, his eye is truly sharp.’
Even if Chen Yuan were given a Yellow or Profound Level technique now, he wasn’t confident he could spot any inconsistencies at a glance. He would have to cultivate it first to sense them.
𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
’To have such a discerning eye, this old man must have a foundation built on reading at least a thousand cultivation techniques.’
A burly man from the Sun-piercing Alliance standing nearby sneered, "You dare play these petty tricks in front of Elder Qi? You’re simply courting death!
Elder Qi is our Sun-piercing Alliance’s Chief Instructor. All the cultivation techniques the Sun-piercing Alliance gives to its young disciples were compiled by him.
Within our Sun-piercing Alliance, some Primordial Pill Realm Grandmasters were once Elder Qi’s disciples. It’s ridiculous that you’d dare to pull a fast one in front of him.
We told you to be honest, but you just had to cause trouble. You’re just asking for it!
If we don’t teach you a lesson, I see you won’t know how the word ’death’ is written!"
With that, the burly man walked over with his saber, ready to relieve the man of a "part."
Although Elder Qi’s attitude had been cold before, he now frowned slightly and shouted in a low voice, "Old Third! Stop!"
Elder Qi held great authority here. As soon as he spoke, Old Third just snorted coldly and walked back with his saber.
"Stop with the petty tricks. Honestly write out your cultivation techniques. Once the Sun-piercing Alliance has investigated the situation, we will naturally let you go."
After that little episode, the other Martial Artists present no longer dared to play any more petty tricks and obediently wrote down their cultivation techniques.
Chen Yuan stood to the side, observing. ’From what that burly man said, although this Elder Qi’s cultivation isn’t that strong, his understanding of Martial Dao theory is brilliant. His status in the Sun-piercing Alliance must not be low.’
’But even though he seems to have a cold personality, he doesn’t take things to the extreme.’
’And his face constantly carries a trace of sorrow, as if he’s worried about something.’
One hour later, after everyone had finished writing out their cultivation techniques, Elder Qi waved his hand and had his men take Chen Yuan and the others to the detention area.
Elder Qi glanced at the time. It was already dark outside, so it was unlikely any more people would be brought over.
He had his men load the cultivation technique manuals onto a small cart and personally pushed it into a hall deep within the Sun-piercing Alliance’s headquarters.
"Alliance Leader, today’s cultivation techniques have all been delivered."
Elder Qi said respectfully at the entrance to the hall.
"I know. You may leave."
As his voice fell, the hall doors suddenly opened. A surge of True Qi rushed out, sucking the entire cart of manuals into the great hall before the doors slammed shut with a BOOM.
Elder Qi looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he opened and closed his mouth without a single word coming out.
He was a veteran of the Sun-piercing Alliance and a trusted confidant of the current Alliance Leader, Guan Tianming, whom he had always served.
But lately, the Alliance Leader had been acting more and more strangely. Elder Qi wanted to advise him but didn’t dare, nor did he know where to begin. He could only sigh and turn to leave.
Not long after Elder Qi left, Guan Tianming’s low roars could be heard from within the hall.
"How many more cultivation techniques do you need to ’eat’ to continue your deductions? Are you trying to trick me?"
"Their Skill Level is too low? Where am I supposed to get you so many Celestial Level Techniques? Don’t tell me you want me to go fight the Murong Family and steal all the cultivation techniques in Longcheng?"
"Of course I know I have no way out! The Sun-piercing Sword is acting up, the people in the Sun-piercing Alliance are unsettled, and the Murong Family is eyeing us like a tiger from the outside. If it weren’t for all this, do you think I would believe your bullshit?"
"There’s no more time! I’ll trust you one last time. If you haven’t produced a result in another month, I’ll throw you into a pill furnace and burn you to ashes!"
Guan Tianming’s voice was filled with rage, but even more so with urgency, panic, and a hint of greed. None of which was heard by Elder Qi.
The place where Chen Yuan and the others had been interrogated was on the first basement level, but now they were being led even further down.
The area here was enormous, its size nearly matching that of Sun-piercing Valley above.
The Sun-piercing Alliance had also gotten its start by resisting the Court, just not as violently as the Sun-Swapping Alliance, which had directly raised the banner of rebellion.
But the Sun-piercing Alliance was also worried about being purged by the Court, so when they established their base in Sun-piercing Valley, they hollowed out the mountain beneath it to stockpile provisions and resources.
However, after the Court completely abandoned You Province, the Sun-piercing Alliance’s preparations became useless. Once the resources and provisions in this underground space were depleted, it was completely abandoned. Now, it had become a place to imprison these Independent Martial Artists.
The moment they entered, they were hit by a wave of damp, foul air. At the same time, there was a searing heat—a heat that bored straight into one’s heart.
Chen Yuan frowned slightly, sensing that something was wrong.
With his Dao Body at Minor Achievement, he now possessed a Pure Body, making him extremely sensitive to any external sensations.
If this searing heat had come from the outside in, it would have had no effect on Chen Yuan.
But this heat was able to directly assault his state of mind, which he could clearly perceive. This was rather strange.
’But it’s probably not a poison or anything like that. I wonder if there’s something strange about this place.’
A massive iron gate inscribed with an array was pulled open, and Chen Yuan and a few others were shoved inside.
Looking around, they saw a vast space with very little light. Only a few glowing minerals hanging from the ceiling cast a dim, hazy glow.
There were several hundred Martial Artists in the entire space. Some were curled up in corners, while others were sprawled arrogantly on the open ground in the center. There were even chairs carved out of stone.
A few injured Martial Artists had even been thrown into a corner, their life or death status unknown, emitting a foul, bloody stench.
Chen Yuan knew with a single glance that these people hadn’t been beaten by members of the Sun-piercing Alliance, but had been severely injured by other Martial Artists after being thrown in here.
These people had all been indiscriminately captured by the Sun-piercing Alliance, and they were all simmering with anger.
Moreover, while some of them were relatively decent folk, others were vicious criminals. Once they were all thrown in here, conflicts and friction were inevitable.
Judging by the Sun-piercing Alliance’s methods, they just threw people in and left them to their own devices. There was clearly no order here, so naturally, whoever had the biggest fist was the boss.
Seeing the newcomers enter, all the Martial Artists present turned their gazes toward Chen Yuan and the others.
Some of their gazes were indifferent, some were mocking, and others were filled with greed and malice.
On a stone chair in the very center, a burly, bloated man stood up and walked toward Chen Yuan with four of his lackeys.
"I am the ’Iron-Armed Hulv,’ Du Yang, and everyone in this First Prison is under my control!"
Du Yang pointed at Chen Yuan’s group and sneered, "Listen up and remember this. In this place, there’s only one meal a day, at noon. When the food is served, I eat first. Only after I’m done do you get to eat.
When it’s time to sleep at night, you can only sleep after I’ve fallen asleep. Otherwise, if I hear anyone dare to snore, I’ll rip out your tongue!
Now, strip naked for me! Hand over any valuables you have on you, and do it obediently!"
When the Sun-piercing Alliance captured them, they didn’t search their bodies directly, only confiscated their weapons.
So some of the people locked up here still had some valuables hidden on their person.
This Du Yang had been a rather infamous bandit in You Province. Now that he was captured and thrown in here, he had become the boss, and no one dared to provoke him.
He made the newcomers strip not only to plunder their belongings, but also to humiliate them.
As long as they obediently stripped today, they would surely never dare to defy him in the future.
If anyone dared to bare their teeth, it would be the perfect excuse to teach them a lesson until they submitted.
He had a Condensing Truth Realm Middle Stage cultivation. The few people who were brought in with Chen Yuan weren’t even in the Condensing Truth Realm. They didn’t dare to confront him and could only aggrievedly prepare to strip.
Chen Yuan, however, was calmly sizing him up.
’Judging by his demeanor, he must be one of the first Martial Artists captured and brought here. He seems to know all the rules.’
Perhaps Chen Yuan was too composed, or perhaps his gaze, which seemed to appraise Du Yang like a piece of merchandise, was too jarring.
Du Yang glared at Chen Yuan and cursed, "What are you looking at, kid? What, you’re not convinced? You want to have a go with me? If you don’t start stripping obediently, I’ll let you taste this place’s methods today!"
The moment his voice fell, Chen Yuan’s figure suddenly blurred. With a whoosh of air, he appeared in front of Du Yang almost instantly.
’So fast!’
Du Yang’s expression changed abruptly as a layer of black Demon Dao True Qi erupted from his body.
Before being captured, he had been a vicious bandit who roamed You Province; his strength was not to be underestimated.
But he came from the dregs of the Martial Artist world. What did his meager strength count for against Chen Yuan?
Before Du Yang could even react, Chen Yuan’s hand had already effortlessly torn through his protective True Qi. He then grabbed him by the head and viciously slammed it into the stone chair behind him!
With a loud CRACK, the stone chair instantly shattered. Du Yang’s head was buried in the rubble, and he was knocked unconscious in an instant.
The other Martial Artists present all looked over, utterly dumbfounded.