Chapter 31
Jiang Liuya was taken back to the Nine Netherworld Sect and thrown into the dungeon.
She watched helplessly as her loved ones died tragically before her eyes, their blood splattering as they lay lifeless in pools of blood. And she, her core destroyed, her spiritual roots crippled, lost all her cultivation, becoming a helpless cripple at the mercy of others.
What does it mean to kill someone by destroying their spirit?
She was like a soulless puppet, staring blankly at the dungeon ceiling, seemingly devoid of any life.
It seems that all the tears I've shed in my life have been shed in these two days.
The dark dungeon was filled with an aura of despair and death.
The dim candlelight flickered on and off, creating an atmosphere of extreme oppression.
Faintly, one could hear the disciples guarding the position whispering among themselves.
"This female cultivator isn't a disciple of the sect, is she? What did she do wrong?" a guard disciple asked in a low voice.
"It is said that she killed... " Another disciple lowered his voice.
"What a pity, with such good looks, it would be better to..." His words carried a lewd undertone.
"Don't cause trouble, or you'll drag me down with you!" another disciple hurriedly stopped him.
"Ahem, Peak Master Ning is busy with the crystal mine... Brother, how about this..."
"Bring it here first, then we'll talk," another disciple said, seemingly persuaded.
Footsteps approached, and suddenly, the iron door of the cell was opened with a creaking sound.
A disciple, with a lewd appearance, sneaked in. His eyes were filled with wicked desire, as if he were sizing up prey, carefully examining the female cultivator before him.
Even injured, pale-faced, and with a blank expression, Jiang Liuya remained exceptionally beautiful. In the dark dungeon, the flickering candlelight added to her poignant beauty; her fragmented appearance was all the more captivating.
The man became increasingly engrossed in watching, and his feet unconsciously moved forward. Just as he was about to get closer, his companion reached out and stopped him.
"Brother, we already agreed that you have to bring the stuff over first, otherwise I won't take the risk."
...
They went about their business without a care, as if the female cultivator in front of them was just an inanimate object to be manipulated, priced and disposed of at will.
It makes sense, really. Jiang Liuya's core has been destroyed, her spiritual root crippled, leaving her with no strength to struggle or resist. Moreover, she has offended a powerful figure, and her death is imminent. The only reason she's still alive is to prolong her suffering, to watch her struggle in despair and endure her torment.
With a clang, the iron gate slammed shut again, and the two walked away with leisurely steps.
In the dim light, a flicker of emotion returned to Jiang Liuya's empty eyes.
Their former pride was trampled underfoot at this moment.
She once boasted of her exceptional intelligence, believing that even without outstanding spiritual talent, she could achieve great things on the path to immortality through her own wisdom and diligent practice. But it turns out, an ant can never rise above its mortal form.
At this moment, she was as lowly as dust, and even the lowest-ranking disciples could trample on her at will, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
A rage ignited in her eyes. They wanted to take advantage of her vulnerability, to humiliate her? She'd drag those two devils down to hell with her, even if it meant her death!
Jiang Liuya struggled to her feet, and with her movement, the wooden bed beneath her creaked painfully.
She carefully examined the interior of the cell.
In the dimly lit cell, a candle flickered weakly in the darkness from a niche.
The stone bricks in the corner were mottled, with stones peeling off and exposing jagged rock layers. Three steps away, there was a wooden table, its protruding corners stained with dark red, rust-like stains.
There is nothing else.
Jiang Liuya found a stone in the corner of the wall. The stone had sharp edges and was a handy tool.
She gripped the stone tightly and used it to scrape against the wooden table. The sharp stone rubbed against the rough surface of the table, making a "shush" sound in the quiet space.
She kept shoveling the stones with all her might, each stroke sending up tiny wood shavings that danced in the dim light. She shoveled away for a very long time; in the dark dungeon, she couldn't see the sun, nor knew whether it was day or night. Her fingers developed blisters, which burst, the blood seeping out and staining the stones in her hands red, yet she still didn't stop.
Finally, a pile of sawdust appeared on the ground. She looked at the pile of sawdust, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes, and finally stopped.
Then, she slowly rose, her steps unsteady. She walked to the alcove, blew out the only candle that provided a sliver of light, and darkness instantly enveloped the entire cell.
Jiang Liuya made a hand seal, a "spirit guiding seal".
Someone once told her that controlling the spiritual energy of heaven and earth does not depend on the level of one's cultivation.
The Spirit Guiding Technique can attract surrounding spiritual energy for one's own use, and can still be used even if one has lost one's spiritual power.
Thinking of that person, a pang of sorrow gripped her heart. That person had always been aloof and arrogant, cold and resolute towards her.
My current situation is worlds apart from that person's.
The brief encounter was nothing but a joke...
The "Spirit Guiding Technique" attracted the spiritual energy from the surrounding area. The spiritual energy in this dungeon was sparse, and it drifted slowly and faintly. The wisps of spiritual energy seemed to be guided by an invisible hand, gradually becoming more active.
Jiang Liuya focused intently on manipulating the spiritual energy she attracted. Although the spiritual energy in the dungeon was pitifully scarce, it was enough. As long as she could keep the wood chips gently suspended in the air, that would suffice.
The wood shavings from the drill were polished to an extremely fine and light consistency, evenly distributed throughout the not-so-spacious space. Each tiny particle was a sharp blade he had personally honed, now suspended in the air, awaiting only a signal.
Finally, Jiang Liuya quietly curled up in the corner, silently waiting for the right moment to trigger it.
finally……
"Brother, you've kept me waiting for so long." The guard's voice came from outside the cell, breaking the long silence.
"You think Gu spores are so easy to get?" another disciple complained, then changed to a lewd tone and continued, "When I do 'that' later, you keep an eye on things for me..."
"Alright, you can go in now. Just make sure she doesn't die."
Next, a rustling sound came from behind, as if someone was tidying up clothes or preparing something. A person walked over with hurried footsteps, the sound echoing clearly in the empty dungeon passage.
The iron door to the cell was then opened again.
Inside the cell, the candlelight had been extinguished, and in the dim light, a figure could be vaguely seen on the bed. The figure lay there quietly, motionless.
The man rushed over impatiently, groping around with anticipation and excitement, but something felt off. In the dim light, he looked closer and realized that it was the female cultivator's outer garment, with a pillow underneath?
He looked around and shouted outside, "Brother, where is she? Where did she go?"
The disciples outside heard the noise and came over, saying as they walked, "Weren't you staying inside the whole time?"
His tone was tinged with amusement and nonchalance, as if he wondered if his companions inside had lost their minds and couldn't even find him.
After all, the people imprisoned in this dungeon were all "disposed" good-for-nothings who had no ability to escape or cause trouble.
"Why is it so dark in here?" A disciple entered the cell and lit a tinderbox in his hand.
The moment the spark ignited, the wood chips suspended in the air suddenly exploded, and a muffled "boom" erupted in the cell.
There was no dazzling magical light, only the most primal and brutal flames that expanded and instantly devoured everything in front of them.
The scorching heatwave surged outwards in a ring shape.
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