The end of the second layer is a cell.
But unlike the other cells, this one doesn't imprison a Strange Monster, but an arm.
An arm covered in dark green-black scale armor, looking nothing like a human hand.
The arm is pierced through with iron chains, subjugated in the deepest part of the cell.
Standing before the cell.
Shen Changqing's expression was grave.
In his line of sight, he could clearly see that the flesh and blood of the chained arm was still throbbing constantly, as if it were a living creature.
At the same time.
He recalled the information he had seen.
Name: Unknown
Level: Low-level Demon Evil
Description: An arm of a Demon Evil
The introduction, compared to those of the Strange Monsters before, couldn't be any simpler.
Yet—
The simplest introduction did not mean the Demon Evil arm was weak; on the contrary, it was because the Demon Evil arm was terrifyingly powerful.
The first time he saw the Demon Evil arm, Shen Changqing was shocked by it.
He could hardly imagine.
What kind of existence could produce such a thing.
Even an arm that had been chopped off wouldn't die completely, and instead required the Demon-Subduing Division to lock it away.
He stood in front of the cell for a long time.
Shen Changqing kept an eye on any change in his interface.
But to his disappointment, from start to finish, the Slaughter Value on the panel did not increase at all.
"Strange!"
"Could it be that each spot can only yield Slaughter Value once?"
Shen Changqing's brow furrowed slightly. The last time he gained Slaughter Value was in the final cell of the second layer.
Yet,
when he came again this time, he didn't get a single bit of Slaughter Value.
Shen Changqing couldn't help but speculate.
Perhaps a cell could only grant Slaughter Value once.
Thinking this, he turned his gaze to a pitch-black passage behind the cell.
That was the way to the third layer.
Normally,
A Probationary Demon Hunter patrolling the Demon-Subduing Prison only needs to patrol up to the second layer.
The reason is simple.
The second layer contains a powerful cold, and a newly arrived Probationary Demon Hunter, without much achievement in Martial Arts, can barely rely on their Qi and blood to traverse the second layer, and that's already the limit.
As for the third layer and beyond, those regions are for the older Probationary Demon Hunters, who go down when patrolling.
That is to say,
by patrolling to the end of the second layer, Shen Changqing had already completed his mission and could return directly.
However—
"If I return immediately, although I've completed the Demon-Subduing Division's task, my idea of gaining Slaughter Value in the Demon-Subduing Prison will come to nothing."
"Right now, only Slaughter Value can rapidly enhance my strength."
"If I don't have Slaughter Value, with only my own talent, it'll be hard for me to stand out in the Demon-Subduing Division—"
Shen Changqing's gaze was sharp.
Only by standing out in the Demon-Subduing Division would he be qualified to rise higher.
And only by rising higher could he get better treatment and improve his strength even faster in the Demon-Subduing Division.
There would be so many tasks in the future—without enough strength, how could he guarantee he would survive?
"Demons run rampant, Strange Monsters are rampant; there is no such thing as pure land in this world. Only by relying on one's own strength can you carve out your own path!"
He had two goals in coming to the Demon-Subduing Prison.
One was to obtain Slaughter Value, the other was to figure out the rules of the Slaughter Value system.
Completing the Demon-Subduing Division's mission was just incidental.
Even if there were no Demon-Subduing Division mission, Shen Changqing would still find a way to visit the Demon-Subduing Prison.
After all, gaining Slaughter Value in the Demon-Subduing Prison, then accumulating strength before undertaking other missions, was much better than jumping into them unprepared.
It has to be known—
There is never a truly safe mission in the Demon-Subduing Division.
Things like patrolling the Demon-Subduing Prison are about the least dangerous among all missions, but there's still a risk of death; as for the other missions, their danger speaks for itself.
Therefore,
The third layer of the Demon-Subduing Prison was a place he had to go.
If he couldn't acquire Slaughter Value, then he could not, in a short period, raise his strength to a sufficiently powerful Realm.
Having made his decision,
Shen Changqing stepped forward resolutely, heading toward the third layer.
——
As soon as he entered the third layer, a billowing cold rushed at him.
That cold threatened to freeze Shen Changqing's flesh instantly; then a wailing rang in his ears, which quickly turned into sobs, as if someone were quietly weeping.
At the same time,
he felt like he had fallen into a bottomless hell, beset by countless Demon Evil and Strange Monsters—
The barrage of strange phenomena left him frozen in place.
A few seconds later,
The surging Qi and blood within his body dispelled the cold.
When the chill faded, all the voices and illusions in his ears disappeared as well.
When the illusions lifted.
The scene of the third layer appeared fully before Shen Changqing's eyes.
"Phew!"
He let out a breath; his expression remained calm, but the shock in his eyes had not fully faded.
Although he had already guessed that the third layer and the second would be very different,
still,
Shen Changqing never imagined the gap would be so great.
If he hadn't broken through to the third layer in the Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art, he would have fallen straight into the Illusory Realm the instant he entered the third layer.
After all, abundant Qi and blood can somewhat shield one from the Illusory Realm's effects.
At that time,
unless someone else happened to find him by luck,
otherwise,
he would have likely been stuck in place, his body frozen by the cold, with no way to survive.
In that moment,
Shen Changqing's alertness toward the Demon-Subduing Prison rose several levels.
"I used to think the Demon-Subduing Prison was dangerous, but as long as you did not step into restricted areas, you'd be safe.
Now it seems that even without stepping into those zones, your life could still be in danger.
If you don't have a certain level of strength, you don't even have the right to walk freely in the Demon-Subduing Prison."
On his first trip to the Demon-Subduing Prison,
Shen Changqing had the urge to go into the third layer.
But at that time, having just gained Slaughter Value and needing to study it, he put aside that impulse.
Looking back now,
not going to the third layer then had unquestionably saved his life.
He gathered his thoughts.
Shen Changqing walked toward the nearest cell.
He did not take out the Demon-Subduing Prison Manual, because the one Liu Chang gave him was incomplete, containing only information on the second layer.
The later layers,
were not recorded at all.
And Shen Changqing's own mission was just to patrol the second layer; Liu Chang hadn't thought he'd go into the third on his own.
The cells on the third layer were the same size as those on the second.
Standing before the cell door.
He saw a lump of fleshy tissue pulsing.
The flesh was a bit different from normal color; aside from its deep redness, it was also veined all over with blue lines, as if someone had carved on it.
The flesh throbbed rhythmically, as though it were a living thing.
"The last cell of the second layer held a Demon Evil arm, so if I'm not mistaken, this flesh before me should be Demon Evil flesh!"
Shen Changqing's expression was grave.
He didn't really understand what a Demon Evil was.
As a Probationary Demon Hunter, he wasn't qualified to know about matters too advanced.
But when it came to Strange Monsters,
Shen Changqing knew a bit more.
At this moment,
A familiar cold aura wafted from the cell, seeping quickly into his body.
Feeling that chill invade, not only did Shen Changqing show no vigilance, but he even looked a little delighted.
Immediately,
He steadied his heart and looked at his own panel.
Name: Shen Changqing
Faction: Great Qin's Demon Suppression Division
Identity: Probationary Demon Hunter
Martial Arts: Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art (third layer, can be upgraded)
Slaughter: 3
"Last time I got Slaughter Value from the Demon Evil arm; this time from the Demon Evil flesh—"
Looking at the increased Slaughter Value, Shen Changqing fell into thought.
In the Demon-Subduing Prison,
there were Strange Monsters and Demon Evils.
But no matter how many Strange Monsters there were, he could not get the Slaughter Value he wanted from them.
In contrast,
He could get Slaughter Value from the remains and flesh of Demon Evils.
Because of this, Shen Changqing couldn't help but speculate whether Slaughter Value could only be obtained from Demon Evils.
"I need to verify this!"
Shen Changqing made up his mind, then looked at his Slaughter Value and willed a round of advancement to start.
He had no intention of holding onto unused Slaughter Value.
First,
So long as you don't wander randomly, the Demon-Subduing Prison is a safe place.
This time, boosting his own strength would give him a better shot at surviving longer on the third layer.
He could even take this chance, perhaps, to see the fourth layer.
Though he'd resisted the third layer's impacts, Shen Changqing still understood his Qi and blood were being consumed with every passing moment.
It wouldn't be long before he could no longer bear it.
So, from any perspective, strengthening himself was necessary.
With that thought—
The Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art advanced.
With experience from previous advances, Shen Changqing was gradually getting used to the pain that came with Martial Arts upgrades.
Soon,
One point of Slaughter Value was consumed, and Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art rose to the fourth layer.
After a brief rest,
He started the next round of advancement.
——
After about half an hour, Shen Changqing's unmoving body suddenly trembled; a surge of potent Qi and blood rose from him, but quickly faded.
Name: Shen Changqing
Faction: Great Qin's Demon Suppression Division
Identity: Probationary Demon Hunter
Martial Arts: Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art (sixth layer, cannot upgrade)
Slaughter: 0
"The sixth layer!"
Looking at the information, a smile appeared on Shen Changqing's face.
The Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art was considered the entry-level skill for Probationary Demon Hunters; its main purpose was building one's foundation and enhancing physical defense.
He chose this Martial Art,
Because, when he joined the Demon-Subduing Division, he had advice from seniors.
In fact,
Many Probationary Demon Hunters focus on the Thirteen Protectors Tempered Body Art.
And it, being chosen as one of the enlightenment Martial Arts for Probationary Demon Hunters, even if its Grade limitation isn't high, is still by no means something ordinary Martial Arts can compare to.
After reaching the sixth layer,
Shen Changqing felt that the cold of the third layer had lessened significantly for him.
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