Chapter 239: Trial
Just the promise of food and a place to stay was enough to satisfy everyone, and now they could even grow stronger—some of the previously noisy crowd instantly quieted down.
Several people in the crowd had flickering gazes, their feet itching to step forward and show off their strength, but after seeing that twelfth-rank person, they halted their steps again.
Compared to that twelfth-rank, their own level was still a bit too low.
But the allure of being assigned to open up new territory was right in front of them. If they didn’t seize the opportunity now, it might be hard to ever get another chance.
Jiang Che saw their hesitant steps and immediately shook his head.
"It’s not just the higher the rank, the sooner you can go out. We’ll go by everyone’s labor assessment. If your rank doesn’t meet the requirements for assignment, then once you qualify, you’ll be sent out directly."
As soon as Jiang Che spoke, those restless footsteps came to an instant stop. They’d thought since Jiang Che’s strength wasn’t great now, he’d definitely try to boost his power and sending people out would be his priority.
What could be more important than strength?
Slightly raising their heads and catching Jiang Che’s eyes, they saw that his gaze toward them carried no emotion—no joy, no surprise.
It was as if whether they stepped forward or not made no difference to Jiang Che at all.
Jiang Che glanced at those people—for him, strength was not what he valued most. Artisans in the past, even without power, could craft wondrous things.
It’s all about skill, not brute force.
Raw strength can certainly accomplish many things ordinary people can’t, but for the Survivors now, their physical power is more than enough.
Jiang Che was even worried that those with high-level strength might be too rough and might break the things he wanted built.
Looking at Jiang Che’s cold, indifferent gaze, they couldn’t help but shiver, then quickly bowed their heads.
"From now on, just follow Feihu’s arrangements."
After casually giving a few instructions, Jiang Che left the residential area.
Once again, he returned to the depths of the Dungeon, projecting his Spiritual Power into Ding Ning’s dungeon. His body itself didn’t follow.
According to Ding Ning’s instructions, his Spiritual Power might face countless deaths—this was a special training, no holding back.
Jiang Che wouldn’t slack off just because death here wasn’t real. The pain of Spiritual Power’s death etched itself deeper than physical destruction.
Jiang Che entered a ward deep within the dungeon, confident that, even if someone entered the dungeon while he was away, they wouldn’t open the neighboring ward while being pursued inside.
He felt a sense of disorientation—the scene before him was oddly familiar.
Back in Red Pearl Mental Hospital, it was just like this—everyone else in Anding District, while he stayed in the wards.
Now too—everyone else was in Anding District, he was in the wards.
Jiang Che sat on the hospital bed, eyes slowly closing.
The door was tightly shut; the bleak room had little light, not a trace of anyone inside, and the lamp was dim at best.
After greeting Ding Ning, Jiang Che’s consciousness began to sink.
Ding Ning took a deep breath, fingers intertwined, a ghostly blue light weaving before her, an energy vortex rapidly condensing.
Opening this passage wasn’t difficult, but it still took some effort.
An ordinary Lord could do something like this, but almost none ever do.
There’s nothing to gain from it.
This kind of channel doesn’t let the body cross over—it’s only a one-way path.
Only lets Spiritual Power from the human side enter here.
Lords simply wouldn’t do this—it’s a losing proposition. Even if a human comes, only their Spiritual Power clears the dungeon, and success brings no increase in strength.
If it’s just to give some orders, there’s no need to pull a human’s Spiritual Power over.
If it’s to train them?
The other Lords would just laugh when they heard about this—who would waste effort training a human?
Ding Ning’s body trembled a little; her recovery hadn’t been great, and opening a Spiritual Passage now was a huge drain.
Hua said nothing from the side, because some things simply had to be done.
The only thing she could do was to support Ding Ning, shielding from the other Lords’ probing, and set up a Spiritual Dungeon for Jiang Che’s training.
Only after a long while did Ding Ning finally exhale in relief.
The passage before her stabilized quickly. Ding Ning released her grip.
She felt Jiang Che’s spirit form rushing through and, after a pause, turned to walk aside.
"Let’s just begin, no need for greetings." Ding Ning watched the passage intently.
Hua nodded, then pulled Jiang Che’s Spiritual Power into a side dungeon.
Jiang Che felt as if his brain was spinning endlessly inside a washing machine, only calming down after a long while.
His wavering spirit form finally touched down. What he saw first were hand and feet as solid as flesh—touching himself, he found the sensations between his fingers even sharper.
Glancing around, he found the place dead silent, darkness all around, except a distant bright spot, shaped like a door.
"Ning, are you there?" Jiang Che softly called toward the light; his voice fell into the dark, returning in faint, eerie echoes.
No one answered from far away—only the grinding, creaking sound of teeth came in reply.
Jiang Che froze for a moment, then quickly regained focus.
He was well aware this wasn’t a game—he had serious business here.
Training!
So it starts now?
Jiang Che held his breath and cautiously edged toward the light—the closer he got, the louder that teeth-gnashing grew.
Near the door, he could also hear deep breathing from behind.
The white light was blinding; just a single step away, and he still couldn’t see what lay beyond—he could only make out the gnashing teeth and drooling sounds from the other side.
The breathing beyond the light was thick and heavy.
There was no way of knowing what was outside unless he went out.
Jiang Che frowned, stood at the threshold, and looked into the darkness around him. Certain that there was no other exit, he stepped through.
"That decisive?!" Hua and Ding Ning were watching him clear the stage—this was a trial Hua had set on purpose.
There was nothing to this checkpoint—as long as he didn’t look back, he wouldn’t die. The gnashing and howling would just stay in his ear.
It was as if an evil spirit in the dark was on his heels, whispering faintly by his ear.
"This test is about courage." Ding Ning watched Jiang Che on the screen intently.
Jiang Che had already stepped out of that passage now.
Ding Ning had already said—there would be no mercy here. If he slipped, his Spiritual Power would die instantly.
Leaving the passage, he found himself in an entirely new, cramped room—at one end of a corridor.
The breathing was right ahead, at the bend at the end of the corridor.