After securing enough contribution points and handing over the golden banknotes to Gongyi Tianheng, Gu Zuo gladly and diligently took his disciple token to the Medicine Pavilion.
This time, Tianheng directly delivered him to the Medicine Pavilion's gate and watched Gu Zuo join up with Elder Huo.
Elder Huo never expected Gu Zuo to return so quickly and was a little surprised: "Does Student Gu want to go now?"
Gu Zuo's face was slightly red: "Yes, I've already earned the contribution points… En, I sold a prescription."
Elder Huo recalled Gu Zuo's fortuitous encounter and understood clearly: "Since it's like this, I'll lead you to the Black Prison at once."
Gu Zuo naturally didn't object. He happily said: "Many thanks, Elder Huo!"
Hence, Elder Huo handed over the affairs of the Medicine Pavilion to another Elder who was resting in a side hall. He himself led Gu Zuo out of the Medicine Pavilion.
Outside of the pavilion, he saw a graceful figure. He was a young man with an exceedingly outstanding appearance. His disposition and presence were peerless. One would know at a glance that his potential was limitless. He was certainly a dragon among men.
Gu Zuo waved his hand: "Big… Young master!"
Gongyi Tianheng smiled as he walked over. He first saluted to Elder Huo: "Disciple Gongyi Tianheng greets Elder Huo. Ah Zuo's matter has troubled this Elder with worry."
Elder Huo twirled his mustache.
Although he had ambition, he also knew restraint and had a balanced bearing. Very good.
It seemed he really wasn't fickle or sleazy.
Seeing this kind of person, Elder Huo thought back to his previous conjecture and increasingly realized why Gu Zuo had such admiration. Moreover, Gu Zuo was loyal and devoted, and wasn't willing to throw himself to other future prospects halfway through.
After smiling, Elder Huo's att.i.tude was very friendly: "Martial artists can't enter the Black Prison. If Student Gongyi feels rea.s.sured, I will go in to accompany Student Gu."
Tianheng naturally showed a hint of happiness: "Then, I'll have to make a request to this Elder."
Gu Zuo listened to the two's responses and didn't interrupt. He obediently waited on the side.
Afterwards, Elder Huo summoned an enormous wild bird.
The three got on the wild bird and only felt the wind whistling on both sides as the wild bird shot into the sky. With a couple flaps of its wings, the bird had already crossed over many mountain peaks as it flew towards the depths of the Inner Sect.
The location of the Black Prison was a fairly hidden one.
After all, the criminals imprisoned here were all once extremely vicious and evil people. Although there were barriers upon barriers of defense, ones that no one could escape from under normal circ.u.mstances, there would always be worries about that one-in-million chance. Nevertheless, the cleverest people were those who were isolated from the world.
The wild bird spiraled down into a deep valley. It didn't take it long to descend and land onto a tract of yellowed earth.
Up ahead was a large and deeply hidden cave entrance. The opening was guarded by at least several hundred Xiantian martial artists. The qi energy was tremendous and was interwoven into a huge net, which enshrouded the entire valley. Along the mountain walls were many caves where gigantic crossbow machines were put in place. These crossbows were different from the norm. The arrows installed on the crossbows were astonishingly heavy, and the arrows were forged from materials that could damage true qi. When these crossbow arrows cut through the air all at once, hundreds of thousands of arrows would appear. Even Immortal Realm martial artists would nurse grievances.
In addition, there were countless locked chains that sealed the cave entrance — Even Immortal Realm martial artists wouldn't have been able to tear them open — The chains formed a great lock in the middle, locking up the sole entrance that probably would only allow a single person to pa.s.s at a time.
Gu Zuo swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
This place…was a little scary.
In modern times, the prisons he'd seen weren't nearly as bad as this. Those were already imposing enough, but compared to this one here, they were simply playing around.
Elder Huo watched Gongyi Tianheng and said: "All martial artists can only stop here." Then he asked, "Will Student Gongyi wait here, or…"
Tianheng gave an unhurried smile: "Ah Zuo being in the Black Prison isn't actually bad. But if he comes out without anyone keeping watch at the gate, I won't feel at ease… So, I'll wait for him here."
Elder Huo looked at Tianheng's gaze, which was different.
— It seemed he was really preparing to do this?
After that, Elder Huo looked to the mountain walls again.
The Black Prison was no ordinary place. It was fine to go in with the company of others, but outside, the countless crossbow arrows were pointed towards the s.p.a.ce in front of the cave entrance. If a martial artist stood here, it was the equivalent of exposing themselves beneath the arrows. Although one would know that the other side wouldn't shoot, it was still like sitting on pins and needles. It was as if one could lose their life here at any moment.
Wanting to stop here and wait for the pharmacist to come out from the Black Prison… That courage was extraordinary.
On the contrary, Gu Zuo didn't think that much about it. He only said with deep concern: "This won't interfere with big…young master's affairs?"
Gongyi Tianheng slightly smiled as his gaze softened: "Ah Zuo doesn't need to worry. This place is also a kind of training."
It wasn't too clear to Gu Zuo, but Elder Huo understood.
Soon after, Gu Zuo, who didn't understand but didn't seek to get to the bottom of it, followed Elder Huo, who understood but had no intention of talking about it. Together, they walked over to those locked chains.
Through the chained gateway, there were many guarding Xiantian martial artists wearing armor like soldiers. Even though the ones seen were pharmacists who shouldn't have had any fighting strength, long spears were extended and the spearheads were aimed against them.
Elder Huo was composed. He took out a token and flashed it: "We've come to purchase live specimens. I ask that the honorable guards let us in."
Gu Zuo also promptly followed along, taking out his own disciple token for the people to inspect.
Upon seeing this, the guards withdrew their spearheads. Following which, a double-pointed key the size of a palm was taken out and accurately inserted into the large lock in the back.
With a clanking sound, the lock opened.
At this moment, all of the crossbow arrows swiveled around and aimed at Elder Huo and Gu Zuo.
Gu Zuo trembled.
Ah, being pointed at by so many arrows really made one's body feel a chill.
Nevertheless, Elder Huo was used to it. He didn't give the crossbow arrows a single glance as he led Gu Zuo into the darkness of the cave's depths.
Gu Zuo discovered that the darkness actually wasn't very dark… At an interval of every ten steps, there were torches on both sides. There was also a Xiantian martial artist on guard. Their expressions were solemn, and their gazes were gloomy and unfeeling.
Walking through the crosshairs of this kind of surveillance could be considered an ordeal. Gu Zuo pulled his neck back and closely followed Elder Huo. He didn't dare let his eyes wander to either side.
Then, the more they walked, the deeper they went…
Immediately after that, one could hear the pattering sound of dripping water.
Gu Zuo saw the Black Prison.
The meaning of the Black Prison seemed to refer that the path leading to it was very dark. The Black Prison's interior was also very dark.
The more one walked down, the more one could see the tightly-locked cages.
Correct. Perhaps it was for the test subjects; at the very least, all of the prison cells seen up until now were all equipped with bars. The metal bars were thick as thighs and were densely embedded together.
Gu Zuo quietly glanced at one of the prison cells.
Sure enough, in there was a person with messy hair and a dirty face. He looked very pitiful.
But very quickly, he saw the words engraved on the metal railing.
[Jiang De, citizen of Xiyong Country, practiced martial arts since childhood, savage natural disposition, Xiantian stage one martial artist. Once consumed a hundred infant children to satisfy his desire for food. Was captured by the Sect's Core Disciple Bai Xinji, and imprisoned here. Lifelong imprisonment, cannot be released except as a live specimen for medicine refinement.]
No matter who it was, so long as they had a bit of a conscience, they wouldn't sympathize with this Jiang De again after reading these sentences — He was truly worthy of the words "extremely vicious and evil".
If the ones locked up in the Black Prison were all like this, then even being live specimens was letting them off lightly! It wasn't enough punishment for their sins!
Gu Zuo reminded himself not to overdo it.
He decided to choose this guy first!
— Perhaps there were many people further back who'd similarly enrage him, but wasn't the one who he first looked at precisely this person?
Then, Gu Zuo said: "Elder Huo, would you know how to…" He paused, "…Buy?"
Elder Huo found the place Gu Zuo's vision had swept across and lightly sighed: "If Ah Zuo has settled on someone, you only need to insert your disciple token into that groove."
His finger pointed to a spot.
Gu Zuo followed with his eyes and saw on that metal railing, there was a slender crack under the words.
Elder Huo continued: "Once you've finished choosing, you can select a medicine refining room even deeper to work there. However, you need to remember that you can only use these live specimens in the rooms provided by the Black Prison. You absolutely can't take the test subjects away. As a result, there are many pharmacists residing here. They usually order private rooms as to avoid having others intrude and find their research — Even I have a commonly used room here. If Student Gu wants to make use of more live specimens in the future, there's no harm in considering one or two."
It could be said that Elder Huo really treated Gu Zuo with a careful reminder.
Gu Zuo clearly understood, and was very grateful. He promptly said: "I understand. Many thanks, Elder Huo!"
Following which, Gu Zuo walked straight to that cage and inserted his disciple token into the crack.
His disciple token flashed with rays of light, and ten contribution points were already deducted.
This first floor martial artist had now been chosen.
Immediately afterwards, they went to the second floor, third floor, fourth floor…
Gu Zuo's selections weren't slow. He only needed to know the test subject's realm. And when he looked at which imprisoned criminals touched his bottom line, it was very easy to spend "money".
Unwittingly, he'd already chosen a Xiantian stage eight.
T/N: I'll give you three guesses on why I've been able to update so quickly. Also, stay safe everyone.
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