Otherworldly Desert Dust

Early in the morning, the small village was bathed in the first rays of sunlight, a lush tapestry of herbs and flowers lending everything a soft, filtered appearance. The village, nestled in the valley, had always been remarkably tranquil and unique. But the town that had sprung up with the prison on the outskirts disrupted the painting-like scene, adding an incongruous stroke.

Wu Hen woke up and had to go to work in the town.

Ding Di also went to the town with Wu Hen, and in addition, the village chief and the other villagers brought their fruits to the town’s morning market.

The villagers’ fruits were not directly and obligatorily handed over.

They sold them as usual, only the prices were regulated, meaning they earned less than if they traded directly with other villages. This was what Ding Di referred to as paying an extra tax.

But from the villagers’ demeanor, their resistance wasn’t very strong; they simply grumbled a few complaints.

Clearly, the villagers were accustomed to a life of independence, not having to pay imperial grain taxes. The sudden takeover by a prison-town feel left some a bit unwilling.

The residents of the town, on the other hand, were quite pleased. They could finally purchase tasty vegetables and fruits. After all, on this land, malnutrition did not just lead to illness, but rather, gradually degenerated into dreadful Evil Spirits.

"White Radish, there you are! I was saying it’s been days since I’ve seen you."

"How’s the pay here? Going to a bigger place to work doesn’t necessarily mean better than cultivating herbs."

"Young people are restless in small places, always wanting to run to bigger towns, but then they end up working like beasts of burden in the cities. Our village’s cattle don’t even work like that; they must return to their sheds to sleep before dark."

The villagers greeted Wu Hen enthusiastically, though they inevitably gave him some good-natured ribbing.

Wu Hen was speechless.

Despite what had happened the previous night, the villagers had grown accustomed to it, and seemed resigned to their fate. They even grumbled about the village chief, saying they should have fled west the night before, perhaps to enjoy a few more days of freedom.

Wu Hen and Ding Di reached the center of the town. As for the negotiations between the village and town, Ding Di showed no interest.

He found a few white-clothed court officials and vouched for Wu Hen’s identity.

Wu Hen was acquitted on the spot, but that did not exempt him from obligatory labor. He still had to contribute to the thriving town, and if luck struck with another Dark Energy Spring Eye, the town could continue mining and expand its scale.

When his identity was still in doubt, Wu Hen only had to work a few hours a day. The rest of the time, he’d chat with the girls and the old women in the town, or drink and sunbathe with some of the older gents.

But with Ding Di vouching for his identity, Wu Hen found himself working two jobs.

He had to manage Ding Di’s Herbal Garden as well as work as a laborer in the town.

The most frustrating part was that there was no wage for either job!

Such was the life of someone without legal status, with hardly a shred of human rights.

Fortunately, life was still peaceful. After eating his fill each day, he could commune with the loose Spiritual Factors around him. His body grew stronger and he was no longer just a thin dog.

"Wu Hen, collect those ripe medicinal roots and grind them into powder with the mill. Tonight, use them for a Spirit Medicine Bath to enhance your physique," Ding Di advised.

Wu Hen had been working for the old man for a while, and finally, Ding Di offered something of real value.

Wu Hen had long noticed the rich spirituality of the herbs the old man grew, but he refrained from taking any without permission, as they were someone else’s property.

"Right away, thank you, Mr. Ding," Wu Hen said.

As the night fell, the town began to move across the land.

Despite the town’s swift pace, those living within could hardly sense the rapid movement of the entire Prison Town, much like riding on a smooth train.

Following Mr. Ding’s instructions, Wu Hen took his Spirit Medicine Bath.

Immersed in the bath, he clearly felt something like damp and cold air steaming out of his organs. Through his Perception, Wu Hen could even see that this dampness took on a black, blood-like hue, like a disease that had lingered in his body for too long.

"This body of yours has been severally eroded by Dark Radiation. I worried that one night you would transform into an Evil Spirit," Mr. Ding said as he added wood to the fire under the bath barrel.

"Is Dark Radiation really that terrible?" Wu Hen asked.

"You should have seen the Dark Engine and encountered Dark Energy. The entire Da Xuan relies on Dark Energy technology and holds a very high position in the Cang Chu Divine Realm. Even powerful beings of the Upper-class Clan are wary of the entire Da Xuan Dynasty. You’ve experienced it yourself—a small town’s infrastructure is enough to deal with top cultivators like you... But with great power comes great restrictions. In the process of our continuous mining, research, and use of Dark Energy, it’s also corroding us," Ding Di explained.

"So, it’s like a slow-acting poison, a chronic curse?" Wu Hen inquired.

"That’s right. Have you been to a city infested with Evil Spirits?" Ding Di asked.

Wu Hen nodded.

The city, teeming with Evil Spirits and growing every day, had left a deep impression on Wu Hen.

"That is the consequence of our abuse of Dark Energy. We control the strongest substance in the universe and are, in essence, making a deal with the devil. One misstep could plunge an entire city, an entire empire, into Hell," Ding Di elaborated.

"Is there any way to prevent this Dark Radiation?" Wu Hen asked.

"The larger the city, the higher the probability of Evil Spirits’ birth because the operation of a vast city is inseparable from the drive of Dark Energy. Whenever significant actions are taken, thousands of Dark Engines start up, and those involved in related work are affected by the Dark Radiation. Unless you can reach the upper strata, with ample resources, good maintenance, a health team, and keep away from those high-risk areas," Ding Di said.

"So even in such a highly developed technological civilization, farming villages and simple small towns still exist, as dark radiation has less impact on these residents," Wu Hen said.

"Yes, after the year of service by our village is over, everyone will probably choose to go independent," Ding Di nodded.

The effects of the spirit medicine bath were very noticeable.

As strands of dark radiation-induced malady were steamed out of his body like chill air, Wu Hen felt like a layer of shackles had been removed from this body, and all of his bodily functions were significantly enhanced.

"Second Rank Physique!" Wu Hen’s face showed pleasure.

It had been such a circuitous journey, but there had finally been a significant improvement.

Although the improvement from First Rank to Second Rank only enhanced Wu Hen’s physique by about ten times, all his abilities were based on the foundation of his living body’s physique, and his combat strength had increased by much more than tenfold.

"I feel I can challenge the Prison Town. I’ll go and speak to the Prison Director and ask him to unleash the Prison Town’s strongest form for a battle with me. I will take back my dignity of that day!" Wu Hen limbered up and started to get cocky.

Ding Di picked up a stick of firewood and knocked it on Wu Hen’s head, scolding him irritably, "I told you to keep a low profile. What are you being arrogant about?"

"Heh, I’m just joking. Everyone in the town is very enthusiastic and friendly. They treat me as one of their own. How could I possibly destroy their home over some petty dignity?" Wu Hen said.

"Do you remember you once asked me what the sun in the sky is?" Ding Di said.

"Can you tell me now?"

"You need to know, it also has eyes," Ding Di said.

"Could it be that you made this artificial sun??" Wu Hen guessed.

Wu Hen remembered Zai Wu!

That sun hanging high in the Evil Soil.

Was there a possibility that it was the artificial Heavenly Light of the Da Xuan, which for some reason had gone out of control, becoming an existence like the Evil Spirit!

"There’s still much you need to learn," Ding Di said.

Wu Hen nodded and didn’t stubbornly argue anymore.

He understood that it was not that the old man in front of him didn’t want to explain things clearly, but that different universes have different perceptions. If he hadn’t witnessed a Prison Town attacking him with his own eyes, he would have just found Ding Di’s mere words absurd and unbelievable.

With such different perceptions, he could only come to understand this place through personal experience. Moreover, Ding Di wasn’t very clear about what kind of strength Wu Hen truly possessed. It was like a small horse crossing a river; only oneself understands how deep or shallow the river is, which also varies relative to the life form’s level of brilliance...

In short, Ding Di could only remind Wu Hen that with his current combat strength and understanding of this place, he was not yet at the level where he could unleash punches to crush all obstacles in his way.

Wu Hen wasn’t rash either.

First, he needed to understand what this magnetic prohibition was that could suppress his extraordinary power, the principles behind it, and how to break it.

"Wuu wuu wuu~~~~~~~~"

Suddenly, a series of alarm sounds came from the direction of the town, and the strong searchlights lit up again.

"An enemy attack?" Wu Hen immediately leapt out of the medicine bath tub.

Ding Di frowned.

"Thump thump thump~" Soon, there was a knock at the door.

The situation seemed quite urgent; the person outside didn’t wait for the door to be opened and directly pushed in, as the door wasn’t locked tightly.

It was the Prison Chief, a woman who stepped in wearing tall leather boots, catching Wu Hen just as he stood up from the bath tub. No longer a ’thin dog’, Wu Hen stood with confidence, hands on his hips, eying the woman who had barged in.

"Come with me. The Prison Director would like your help in resolving a problem," the woman said, trying to maintain her gaze and speaking rapidly.

"Is it a prisoner escape?" Ding Di asked.

The Prison Chief furrowed her brow and hesitated before finally saying, "A powerful and cunning Evil Spirit has been born in the prison, which has killed two Prison Guards and seven prisoners. The Prison Director has indicated that if you solve this problem for us, you will be rewarded with a canister of Dark Energy."

Dark Energy was like the Spiritual Spring, something that could directly help Wu Hen improve his cultivation.

This stuff was hard currency in this world, and Wu Hen didn’t mind taking action.

Especially as he was idle anyway, and having just advanced to Second Rank Physique, it would be a good opportunity to establish his authority.

"Alright, I’ll be right there."

"Please, at least put on some trousers!"

"Oh..."