Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Chapter 637: 637
 

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Three bottles of top-grade Meridian Opening Pills, each containing ten pills, enough for one month’s consumption.

There are also a number of Nourishing Origin, Qi-Nurturing, Soul-Fortifying, and Soul-Strengthening Pills.

Provided for daily cultivation needs.

Two sets of Four-Seasons Regular Wear and two sets of Forbidden Prison Department uniforms, all of them spiritual artifact-grade robes.

A set of Evil-Suppressing, Exorcism, Illusion-Breaking, and Demon-Eradicating Talismans of Four Phases, along with a special talisman belt as a gift.

Last is the monthly salary of fifty Middle Spirit stones.

According to the manager of Supervisory Hall in Area Ji-9, there are additional subsidies during the hot and cold seasonal transitions and the New Year celebrations.

Beyond these benefits, Wang Chen was also allocated a detached house with its own courtyard.

The living conditions were a significant improvement over what he had before.

Wang Chen finally understood why the Forbidden Prison Department had a notorious reputation, yet still had a constant stream of recruits.

The reason lay in the existence of both a channel for promotion and a generous remuneration package.

There are countless cultivators, all willing to risk their lives!

The house assigned to Wang Chen was not far from the Supervisory Hall, nestled amongst the other prison guards’ residences, subtly forming a certain formation.

Upon entering the courtyard, he immediately felt that the Yin Sha Energy here was much less than outside.

There was no presence of Evil Power or malicious intent. As long as one was willing to consume Spirit Stones to activate the Spirit Gathering Array, it would be enough to meet the basic daily cultivation needs and prevent any regression in cultivation level.@@novelbin@@

The cost was that Wang Chen, previously able to rest every three days, now as an official prison guard, could only take a day off every seven days.

The shortage of manpower in Area Ji-9 had reached a critical point!

Bang bang!

Just as Wang Chen was about to take a good look at his new residence, someone suddenly knocked forcefully on the courtyard door.

Standing at the door were two prison guards, one tall and muscular, and the other chubby with a large face that made them look like partners.

“You must be the new guy?”

The muscular prison guard gazed down at Wang Chen with a superior look and asked, “What’s your name, and what’s your cultivation realm?”

Wang Chen frowned slightly.

Unfriendly visitors never brought good news, and these uninvited guests did not seem friendly at all.

Wang Chen did not like the tone of the other person’s voice, but he remained calm and composed, “I am Wang Chen. May I ask for the honorable names of you two?”

The chubby prison guard said with a smile, “I’m Zhu Jiu, and he’s Hu Qi. Little brother Wang Chen, we’ve come with no other intentions, just to show concern for a new colleague. After all, we will be working together in the future, and getting to know each other is necessary.”

“Don’t you agree?”

One playing the good cop, the other the bad cop?

Wang Chen replied with a smile, “Hmm, I am new here, so I ask you two for guidance.”

“No problem at all.”

Zhu Jiu’s eyes narrowed to slits as he laughed, “Actually, we have a bit of an unreasonable request and we hope…”

He deliberately paused, his eyes intently fixed on Wang Chen.

However, Wang Chen had no intention of accommodating, “Since it’s an unreasonable request, there’s no need for Zhu to continue. Best to avoid causing discord among colleagues—that would be rather unseemly.”

Zhu Jiu was taken aback.

His usual patter along with Hu Qi’s imposing presence had never failed in handling new prison guards. He did not expect Wang Chen to not engage, and his tone even carried a hint of mockery.

Zhu Jiu had encountered many arrogant young cultivators before, some from powerful Immortal Clan families with clout and connections he dared not provoke.

But Zhu Jiu had heard that this newcomer, Wang Chen, had no backing and had been sent from Bing Six District to Area Ji-9, seeming quite easy to handle.

And yet he faced a snub!

While Zhu Jiu’s thick skin was unfazed, Hu Qi next to him could not hold back, “Kid, I’m speaking to you out of respect. Yet you put on airs as if you don’t know the meaning of death!”

The prison guard’s gaze at Wang Chen turned vicious, “If you can survive here for three months, I’ll take your surname!”

“Don’t!”

Zhu Jiu quickly pulled at Hu Qi, signaling him to not be too impulsive, and then said to Wang Chen, “Consider it carefully, Wang Chen. It’s not easy to get by in Area Ji-9. If you want to survive, you’ll need friends here!”

“`

Wang Chen believed that what the other party said might be true.

Area Ji-9 was definitely far more dangerous than Bing Six District, and a lone individual was the easiest to run into trouble.

However, even if he wanted to make friends, he would not associate with these two in front of him.

Wang Chen guessed that they were likely after the items he had just received.

Pills, Talismans, and Spirit Stones were all valuable indeed!

If Wang Chen had been timid and easily intimidated from the start, his life afterward would have been difficult.

If you give in once, you will keep giving in; a retreat would lead to endless retreat until there was no ground left to give.

It would be courting disaster.

Wang Chen did not like to stir up trouble, but he was even less afraid of it!

He stated bluntly, “Sorry, I don’t need friends.”

Especially not friends like you!

Hu Qi became furious and immediately rolled up his sleeves, “You brat…”

Zhu Jiu pulled him back again, “Forget it, the newbie doesn’t know any better, good intentions taken for granted. Let’s just go.”

The two left the courtyard with pulls and tugs.

Wang Chen shook his head and closed the door, feeling that there would be troubles in the future.

It was something he had not expected—to have such an unfavorable start in the new district.

But Wang Chen was not afraid.

It was simply a matter of facing each problem as it came.

With the Forbidden Prison Department above them, they would have to play any tricks in the shadows.

They would never dare to be overt!

He put this matter out of his mind and began to settle down in his new home.

This house was much more spacious and comfortable than his previous dwelling, with improvements in the environment, and included a meditation room, a bathroom, a tea room, a guest room, and so on.

All the furniture and items were new.

Wang Chen, who was not on duty today, took out the booklet given to him by the Supervisory Hall and sat down to read it carefully.

This booklet was essentially a prison guard manual, listing hundreds of regulations and stipulating Wang Chen’s work scope and responsibilities, along with basic information about Area Ji-9.

Currently, Area Ji-9 was overseeing a total of one hundred thirty-five prisoners, including Demon Cultivators, Evil Cultivators, and members of the Monster Race!

There were fifty-seven prison guards on the roster, along with several managers and Wardens.

The names and portraits of prisoners, prison guards, and managers were all listed in the booklet.

Clear at a glance!

After browsing through the booklet, Wang Chen had a basic grasp and understanding of the situation in Area Ji-9.

The next three years were not going to be easy!

The booklet clearly recorded that the prisoners held in Area Ji-9 were a mixed bunch with very complex backgrounds.

There were even Golden Core Cultivators.

The danger level was directly marked, a sight daunting enough to unnerve.

Although these prisoners had their Mana and even Soul Power completely sealed, if that could ensure absolute safety, the Yongle Dungeon wouldn’t be such a feared and notorious place.

The following morning, after reporting in on the first day, Wang Chen went to the Supervisory Hall of Area Ji-9 for roll call for the first time.

He received a patrolling route map for the prison area.

The manager of the Supervisory Hall said to Wang Chen with deep meaning, “Young man, watch your steps carefully, and make sure not to take the wrong path.”

Wang Chen nodded.

——–

The first update is delivered.