Free Web NovelChapter 1242: Chapter 953: Undying and Eternal Life (Part 2)
"I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
"Damn it! Stop talking about it, or else I would never have remembered. Now that you mention it, I’m starting to feel hungry too!"
"Rumble rumble~"
Eager to confirm the old man’s words, the sound of growling stomachs echoed intermittently amidst the whispers.
Jiang Yuanjian observed that even now, the ten Evil Cultivators who were deceived were still led by Peng Dahai, sticking close together and whispering among themselves. He found it amusing and reminded them, "Hey, you ten ’big girls’, you’ve been thoroughly fooled by this old man, yet still kept in the dark.
Just now he personally told me to have you seduce Demon Cultivators, with each exchange earning thirty to a hundred Essences.
He enjoys the benefits alone, hoarding four-fifths of your labor’s fruits, leaving only a small portion for you to share. Otherwise, those who lure enemies with their bodies would have surpassed him in merit long ago and wouldn’t have to deceive me and end up in such a predicament."
The eerie group, trying to band together, suddenly realized, and when they looked at Peng Dahai, their eyes were filled with anger and resentment.
Previously, concerned about being abandoned by their upper echelon and losing the benefits of the Leisure Sect members, they were forced to compromise and cater, even resorting to cross-dressing to seduce Demon Cultivators.
Now, having fallen and freed from the other’s shackles, and realizing they had been deceived, the likes of Chen Li weren’t good people either. They turned hostile and grabbed Peng Dahai for questioning.
The chaotic dungeon erupted into further turmoil, while the remaining new eerie beings merely looked on with amusement.
Corrupted, their nature became increasingly twisted. They were originally a bunch of unscrupulous Evil Cultivators, now more cunning, extreme, and obstinate. Each sought personal gain, only keen to see others fall into traps. At this point, they completely turned against each other, unlikely to trust or band together again.
"Master, hurry up and issue the task!" Tian Cheng and Tian Kuo, who long felt like test subjects and had their temper worn down, impatiently said, "We can’t stand the hunger any longer. Let’s hurry up and work for food so we can eat and rest well."
The old man waved to signal for patience, then lowered his voice, "Jiang, last time I observed the Water Bell clearly. Without food and drink, it takes twenty-four hours for complete recovery. Now, bringing so many subordinates, what are your instructions?"
Jiang Yuan considered that the sliced eerie beings, in a polluted environment, could fully recover in two days and nights. Their self-recovery Speed was acceptable. When the number of eerie beings increased, he could let them compete to use merit to avoid the slicing rights, combined with restrictions on food and water, making future management easier.
"Keep an eye on them and have them hurry to clear away," he said, taking out a pile of ordinary axes, pickaxes, and shovels from the Storage Bag.
Tools infused with Spiritual Power like Magical Artifacts and Magical Treasures would be contaminated by eerie presence, whereas these common tools, purchasable with a Gold Coin, remained unaffected. Though less efficient, there’s strength in numbers, and they were exceptionally durable due to being immortal.
Soon enough, the Flame Sea dungeon would be cleaned out, and with Ice Flame, it could be purified and officially opened!
After packing the tools into his already polluted but still usable Storage Bag, the old man clapped his hands loudly, "Everyone, quiet down and hear a word from me. You are now eerie beings, possessing the immortal traits of eerie beings, forget all past grievances.
Follow me, under Jiang’s guidance, start a new life!
Now, there’s an opportunity to accumulate merit through labor and exchange it for delicious food and water. However, the number needed is limited. I must see your sincerity to entrust you with significant duties."
With that, he took out a steaming, mouth-watering roast chicken and a glass bottle filled with water from the Storage Bag.
The aroma spread, and the crystalline water in the bottle rippled, tantalizing the new eerie beings, making them crave and salivate. They could even imagine the refreshing sensation of a full bottle of water pouring into their mouths!
The more they craved, the hungrier and thirstier they felt, immediately making some eerie beings look malicious.
The old man knew all too well the nature of eerie beings and quickly stored the food and water, speaking sternly, "Everyone, don’t forget, I am also an eerie and, protected by Jiang, possess my own Storage Bag.
As long as I live, the Storage Bag cannot change hands, even if stolen, the contents cannot be obtained.
You also witnessed Jiang’s Divine Artifact earlier, specifically restraining eerie beings! Any disobedience or uncooperative eerie here was slain by him. Anyone wishing for a good life, feel free to try stealing!"
The threat seemed effective, and he smiled kindly, stroking his beard, "Of course, Jiang has always been merciful, and will no longer easily slay disobedient eerie beings.
He owns many polluted Ghost Realms and can banish those beyond taming.
First, beaten half-dead with the Soul Hook, then tortured by thirst and hunger, and forced to battle monsters in the Ghost Realm. After self-healing, again beaten half-dead with the Soul Hook. Forever sleepless, unable to seek death, constantly enduring extreme pain and torment, torn apart by monsters, slowly healing—such a life without end... tsk tsk, it’s hard to imagine a more bitter fate!"
Death, within certain limits, is not terrifying.
Especially for those already fully resigned Evil Cultivators, it’s just a knife no matter how you slice it, and at least brings relief. Yet wanting to die but being unable to, enduring pain and suffering day and night without ceasing, is the most terrifying of all.
"Ha! I’ve never heard anyone saying there’s a time when wanting to die but unable!" A new eerie defied, running with tremendous Speed toward a nearby cliff!
The force of the impact showed its determination to die, so much so that all eerie could hear its neck cracking against the cliff, a "crack" of bone breaking.
"The whole head almost fell off; I don’t believe this could survive."
"Shh! Look, its hands and feet are still moving."
"Must be the convulsions before death, even for an eerie that can’t possibly survive like this..."
...
The eerie group felt fortunate someone was selfless enough to make an attempt, while the old man watched pleasantly, appreciating the bravery demonstrated.
"Ah! It hurts!" The eerie with the broken neck had its head awkwardly hanging, yet still shouted, "It hurts like hell, quick, swiftly sever my head for relief!"
On hearing this, the old man took an axe from the Storage Bag and handed it to Tian Cheng, "Go, chop his head, hands, and feet off; I’ll give you a glass of water."
Tian Kuo tried to snatch the good offer but didn’t dare, only softly pleading with the old man for a chance.
Seeing this, the old man grabbed a sickle for Tian Kuo, "Then, make it more thorough. As your brother severs the head and limbs, slice him into meat strips, and I’ll also give you water."
The brother duo couldn’t hide their joy, grabbed the tools, and proceeded with a grisly act hard to describe.
Even though all present were ruthless Evil Cultivators, the sight left a pallor on their faces—a severed head and limbs, and he still cried out in pain; even as the flesh was sliced to reveal bare bone, twitching and cries of agony persisted.
Not until the old man called for a halt did the eerie realize that after all the hacking, not a single drop of blood spilled!
Then, the broken body began to wriggle, automatically assembling itself.
A moment later, the eerie who had attempted suicide by cliff stood whole before everyone again, save for the lingering pain driving it to despair, even without a trace left from the chopping.
"I’m delighted an eerie demonstrated for everyone," the old man withdrew the tools, rewarding the brothers with water, smiling, "This way, I needn’t waste my words.
To reiterate: unless Jiang mercifully uses the Divine Artifact to grant death, you can’t die nor stay dead, enduring extreme pain constantly!
And you can completely avoid such suffering—just listen obediently to me, earn merit, enjoy rich meals, without fearing death from expiring Lifespan, relish the immortality!"
The eerie beings, eyes fixed on their demonstrating brother, wore solemn expressions, caught in silence.
Peng Dahai looked hopelessly at the peer who painfully wailed over not being able to die, murmuring, "Immortality... undying and unending... this damn thing is clearly the scariest Curse!"
The previously coveted immortality lay before them, yet none of the eerie could muster a smile.
Death, at this moment, was impossibly distant, a freeing escape method coveted yet unattainable!
