Chapter 2: The Chronicles of Flame and Yellow, Mountain and Sea; The Academy of Immortal Martial Arts

“Sigh! Let’s hope nothing goes wrong. If something really does happen, I’m afraid I’ll not only lose my golden job, but even my life might end here.”

Returning to the attic where he lived, Qin Lang collapsed face-down onto his bed, mumbled to himself for a while, and promptly fell into a deep sleep.

As for whether trouble would soon arise, or if he might meet his end here, he was completely unconcerned.

When the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself out.

If those above wanted him dead, as a mere mortal, there was no way he could escape their grasp.

After three years of being soaked in the heavenly dungeon, he had long since become indifferent to life and death; his only regret was not having tasted the pleasures of life.

Even just a glance at the women of Misty Rain Pavilion would be enough for him...

Just as he was drifting into sleep, within his spiritual world, the golden orb transformed into a black book, and five golden runes appeared.

Annals of Yanhuang Mountains and Seas.

The book opened of its own accord; the first page revealed four large golden characters:

Five Elements Immortal Technique.

As these words appeared, the second page turned itself, and lines of dazzling golden script began to emerge as if being typed out one by one.

At that moment, the Five Elements Immortal Technique activated on its own. The spiritual energy from the world around him gathered and poured into his body through his pores, transforming into true essence within him, merging into his meridians, passing through his qi sea, and opening his dantian.

Qin Lang was unaware that, as he slept, he was gradually becoming an immortal cultivator. Though only a novice among novices, compared to ordinary people, he now had a lifespan of three hundred years.

Every advancement in the Qi Refining stage granted him ten more years of life...

At dawn, Qin Lang woke refreshed, stretched heartily, grabbed his washbasin and cloth, and left his room.

Gazing at the blinding sunlight, he felt fortunate to see another bright morning—he had survived another day.

He still had no idea that he had already become an immortal cultivator.

Though his cultivation was low, in this world teeming with cultivators, he could at least be counted as a speck of dust.

...

After washing, Qin Lang made his way to the dining hall. By this time, it was already crowded, everyone lining up for breakfast.

Those coming to the hall weren’t just the dungeon executioners; there were also members of the Celestial Guard.

The Celestial Guard, dressed in their distinctive uniforms, were responsible for guarding the wide heavenly dungeon prisoners. Compared to the executioners, they attracted even more attention.

The dungeon was not for demons or monsters, but rather for the imperial relatives of the Immortal Dynasty, those who had committed grave offenses, or ministers who had been framed or disgraced.

Of all those imprisoned here, only one in ten ever walked out alive—sometimes, not even one. The death rate was a staggering 99.99%.

Receiving his share—a dozen steamed buns, a roasted chicken, and a large basin of vegetables—Qin Lang joined his four familiar companions.

“Brother Qin, why do you look so spirited and rosy today? Did something good happen?”

The burly, broad-shouldered, red-faced man eyed Qin Lang in surprise. In his memory, Qin Lang usually looked pale and dispirited, as if he was about to meet his end.

But now...

“What do you mean something good? Clearly he had a steamy dream, staging a passionate scene with the girls from Misty Rain Pavilion,” joked the tall, robust man before him, whose rosy face, towering frame, and powerful build made him resemble a tiger or wolf.

“Hahaha!”

As soon as this was said, everyone burst out laughing, drawing glances from others in the dining hall.

Qin Lang’s own face darkened like charcoal.

After a moment, he turned to the red-faced man on his left. “Brother Zhou Yang, do I really look so energetic and healthy today?”

At these words, everyone fell silent, staring at him in astonishment.

Did this kid really not know what had happened to him?

Seeing that he wasn’t lying, the group fell into silence, each exchanging glances.

“Brother Qin, I wouldn’t lie to you. Today you’re not only full of energy, but your complexion is also exceptionally healthy,” Zhou Yang said, disbelief in his eyes.

Qin Lang’s transformation unsettled them, even making them suspect it was a trick.

But on closer inspection, it was clearly genuine.

“Brother Qin, Old Zhou’s right. Today you look absolutely vibrant, just like a rose in spring,” the giant nodded in agreement.

Qin Lang was speechless.

The first answer was fair enough.

But the second—comparing him to a spring rose? Why not say he spent last night as a porcelain vase in Misty Rain Pavilion?

“Brother Qin, Zhou and Liu are right; you really have changed a lot. We can hardly believe what we’re seeing,” responded Yuan Fang, the plain-featured, honest-smiling young man beside Liu Lin.

“Brother Qin, you do look much more energetic and healthy than before, almost like a different person,” added Li Yuchun, the clean-featured, ordinary-looking young man to Zhou Yang’s left.

...

As they enjoyed breakfast, Wu Li walked over and sat down beside them.

His arrival prompted Zhou Yang and the others to fall silent, straighten their backs, and stop eating.

Hurriedly setting down his bowl, Qin Lang asked, “Brother Wu, what brings you here? Do you need me to execute someone again?”

With a snap, Wu Li took a storage ring from the space ring on his thumb and placed it on the table.

“According to the laws of the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty, half the possessions of executed prisoners go to the dynasty, the other half is divided—three-fifths to the dungeon, and two-fifths to the executioner. This is your share.”

Being an executioner was a bloody job, but it was a rare golden opportunity.

If you carried out more than ten executions and survived, you could apply to leave the profession.

Unfortunately, such people were few and far between.

Out of a hundred executioners undertaking ten missions, only one would survive.

It wasn’t that the dungeon people killed them, but that after executing someone, the executioner’s mind would be flooded with the victim’s memories of suffering, forcing them to endure agony deep in their bones.

Perhaps this was Heaven’s punishment for them.

But this young man before him, who had started as an executioner at just fifteen and a half, had completely changed Wu Li’s perspective on the profession.

“Ah, Brother Wu, isn’t this a bit much?” Qin Lang eyed the storage ring, tempted but afraid to accept. “Besides, with so much wealth, keeping it on me would be like holding a burning coal.”

“What are you afraid of? With the identity of a dungeon executioner, besides the Celestial Emperor himself, nobody in the land would dare touch a hair on your head.”

“Brother Wu, that’s easy for you to say. If you have cultivation, sure, you’re safe. But as a mere mortal, keeping this will just get me killed.”

...

Night fell. The sky was bright with stars and a silver moon hung high, its light bathing the earth.

Bang!

Suddenly, Qin Lang’s door was kicked open with a loud crash, jolting him from his sleep.

Before he could react, five or six burly men rushed in, pinned him to his bed, and held him fast.

“Hey, hey, hey—”

“Trying to rob me?”

“Keep your hands off my storage ring—”

“Damn it, don’t press so hard on my head—”

“You bandits, you sons of dogs, don’t let me catch you alone or I’ll cut your heads off myself—”

Qin Lang tried desperately to struggle free, but these men held him down so tightly that he couldn’t break loose.

The men pinning him down sensed that, even as a mortal, Qin Lang possessed startling strength—it nearly took all of them to subdue him, leaving them inwardly astonished.

“Stop struggling—it’s useless. Even if you fight with all your might, you won’t break their hold,” came a voice from the distance.

Qin Lang glanced over and saw Wang Kai strolling in, a mischievous smile on his lips.

At this, Qin Lang’s heart clenched and he swallowed hard. Was this guy here to kill him?

“I am Lord Wang. We hardly know each other—at most, we’ve met once or twice. You don’t have to hold last night against me, do you?”

Qin Lang regretted not sheathing his blade sooner; if he had, perhaps his life wouldn’t be in such danger now.

“There’s no need for concern. I’m not here to take your life. I’m here to ask you to help us with something.”

“Can I refuse?”

“No.”

Looking toward the voice, Qin Lang saw Lu Jun approaching, muttering, “This is an order from the Celestial Emperor himself. You must obey unconditionally.”

Wu Li had entered as well.

As soon as he came in, Wu Li signaled to Wang Kai to have his men release Qin Lang.

Qin Lang instantly drew a sharp breath, inwardly cursing. How had killing a prince landed him in such a mess?

“Damn, if I’d known, I wouldn’t have killed that guy last night.”

Irritated, he snatched back his storage ring.

“So, who do you want me to execute this time?” Qin Lang looked at Wang Kai with confusion.

Wang Kai was part of the mysterious “Azure Sky Guard,” a high-ranking figure, second only to one in the world.

The Azure Sky Guard was responsible for slaying demons and capturing monsters that threatened the land.

But what Qin Lang didn’t understand was why the exalted Celestial Emperor himself would want a mere mortal like him to work alongside these people.

“According to our investigation, Prince Liu An of Pingnan colluded with the demon clans and was plotting to wreak havoc inside the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty. We were planning to interrogate him, but you killed him before we could.”

“You can’t blame me! Besides, who told you to react so slowly? You only showed up after I’d chopped off his head,” Qin Lang retorted.

Wu Li and Lu Jun looked embarrassed, helpless.

It was, after all, they who had asked Qin Lang to do the deed.

“I’m not here for idle talk. Listen up: from now on, you’re coming with us to capture a demon.”

“How long will this take? Will I be in danger?”

“Three months. As for danger—don’t worry, my people will protect you.”

“If I help you catch your demon, what do I get out of it?” Qin Lang asked.

Wang Kai replied, “By order of the Celestial Emperor: if you help us capture this demon, you’ll be sent straight to the Immortal Martial Academy to cultivate, shedding your mortal form and truly becoming an immortal cultivator.”

...

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