"What's going on?" Han Li asked with furrowed brows.
"There's no need to be surprised, Brother Li. The white crystal powder on the stone platform is made from the bones of a type of mutant beast. It's originally a material used to refine beast cores, and it has the effect of stimulating the opening of one's profound orifices.
It's only used here to reveal the true profound orifices of the examinee, "Chen Yang explained with a calm expression.
Shi Chuankong was initially a little taken aback, but he soon discovered that there was nothing wrong with his body, and after hearing Chen Yang's explanation, he relaxed. Although he was still a little displeased, he didn't stop the crystal powder and allowed it to absorb.
The profound orifices on his body continued to light up one by one, and they only stopped after reaching the 52nd one.
A hint of surprise flashed through Han Li's eyes upon seeing this.
Daoist Xie stared at the white crystalline powder with a hint of confusion in his eyes. He seemed to have some recollection of this powder, but he couldn't recall where he had seen it at this point.
Shi Chuankong had originally wanted to conceal some of his strength, but he was completely exposed now. He walked down from the stone platform with an unfriendly expression.
"Please don't be angry, Brother Shi. In addition to revealing all of one's profound orifices, the crystal powder also has the effect of promoting one's cultivation. You can only use it once today, and you won't have the chance to use it again in the future," Chen Yang hurriedly consoled.
Shi Chuankong silently sensed the changes in his body upon hearing this, and his expression eased slightly.
"Shi Chuankong, 52 profound orifices," the round-faced Record Officer said with a smile.
The Record Officer with long ears and a square face opened the book in his hand. The cinnabar brush moved like a dragon and a snake, recording Shi Chuankong's situation.
"Fellow Daoist Li, it's your turn." The round-faced Record Officer turned to Han Li with a smile.
Han Li nodded his head and walked up to them.
Han Li climbed up the stone platform, and stood in the position where Shi Chuankong had previously stood. Then, he took a deep breath, and silently operated the 'Great Circulation Star Essence Art'. His body immediately shone with a white light, and his Mysterious Apertures also lit up one by one.
After all thirty-seven profound apertures were lit up, the white crystal powder on the ground also surged up and attached to Han Li, but there were no changes on his body.
A hint of surprise flashed across Chen Yang's eyes when he saw that. He did not expect that the number of Mysterious Apertures that Han Li had was much less than Shi Chuankong.
"Li Feiyu, 37 Mysterious Apertures." The round-faced Deacon glanced at Han Li and said.
After the square-faced recorder finished recording, he nodded at Chen Yang.
At this time, Han Li also walked down from the stone platform and returned to their side.
"There are no problems with the assessment of the two Daoists. Since you have reached the level of Obedient People, you can join Fellow Daoist Chen Yang. Congratulations." The round-faced Deacon cupped his hands at the three people and said with a smile.
"It is also the honor of our Qingyang City to have the three Daoists to join us. Congratulations."
As soon as Chen Yang's voice fell, a loud "boom" suddenly came from above, causing the whole stone room to shake violently.
The expressions of Han Li and the other two people changed slightly, but Chen Yang and the other two people looked as usual.
"Brother Li, Brother Shi, don't be surprised.
The four floors above us are our Qingyang City's Mysterious Fighting Arena. At this moment, there should be a battle going on. "Chen Yang said with a smile.
"Mysterious Fighting Arena?" When Shi Chuankong heard this, he immediately became spirited.
They had always been keen on gambling. When he first met Han Li in Yuanhuang City, it was in a similar place.
A smile appeared on his face. Just as he was about to open his mouth to ask, he suddenly felt dizzy. His feet felt weak and his head was heavy. He fell forward involuntarily.
Just as he was about to hit Chen Yang, the latter smiled and took a step back, letting him fall to the ground.
"You …"
Han Li immediately knew that something was wrong. But as soon as he opened his mouth, his mind sank like a stone piercing through the air.
His heart tightened and he quickly bit the tip of his tongue, trying to activate the Spirit Cultivation Art. But then he found that his sea of consciousness had unknowingly become lifeless. At the same time, the strength in his body suddenly disappeared without a trace, as if it had been sucked out.
Before he could think of anything, he felt his vision go black and his whole body fell forward.
No matter how strong his Divine Sense was, he still couldn't support it at this time and completely fainted.
Before the scene in front of him completely darkened, he only saw a tall and fierce-looking figure walk in from the door.
When Chen Yang and the other two people saw him, they immediately bowed respectfully to him and said respectfully, "City Lord."
The fierce-looking man was naturally none other than the City Lord of Qingyang City, Du Qingyang.
"Well done, Chen Yang," Du Qingyang said as he glanced at Han Li and Bai Xiaochun.
"It's because of the White Profound Beast Bone Powder, City Lord. It's very effective, haha …" Chen Yang chuckled.
Daoist Xie was enlightened upon hearing the words "White Profound Beast", and he realized that Han Li and Bai Xiaochun had fainted due to the White Profound Beast Bone Powder invading their bodies.
Unfortunately, it was already too late for him to know this.
"City Lord, should I take him to your secret chamber in a moment?" Chen Yang asked with a smile.
"There's no hurry, I have other plans for him," Du Qingyang replied with a wave of his hand.
The two of them didn't avoid Daoist Xie at all, as if they didn't take him seriously at all.
Daoist Xie stood off to the side and didn't try to rescue them, nor did he flee blindly.
Only now did Chen Yang recall that Daoist Xie was still present, and he asked, "Then this puppet …"
"Lock those humans and demons up for now. You know what to do with them.
As for this puppet, it has some self-awareness, but it's not very useful, so you can do whatever you want with it, "Du Qingyang instructed as he glanced at Daoist Xie.
After that, he clasped his hands behind his back and left.
"Become my servant, or be torn apart into a pile of scrap metal; your choice?" Chen Yang asked as he turned to Daoist Xie with a cold expression.
Daoist Xie didn't say anything and merely glanced at Han Li before cupping his fist in a salute toward Chen Yang.
"This puppet of yours doesn't have much combat prowess, but it's quite smart.
This damned place is very boring, so it's not bad to have a puppet like this around, "Chen Yang chuckled.
After that, he turned his attention away from Daoist Xie and squatted down before producing a pair of black stone vials, then placing them on Han Li's and Shi Chuankong's arms before popping the corks off the vials.
Two three-inch-long black centipedes crawled out of the bottle's opening. Their two eyebrow-like white antennae crawled across Han Li's arms before easily biting through their skin and burrowing into their bodies.
Daoist Xie was greeted by the sight of a pair of black centipedes rapidly slithering up their sleeves before forming a ring around their chests.
"Congratulations, Captain Chen Yang. I'm sure you'll be the vice-city lord of Qingyang City in the future," the round-faced Record Keeper said as he cupped his fist in a congratulatory salute.
"Haha, I'll be counting on that," Chen Yang replied with a smug smile.
Daoist Xie's gaze fell upon Han Li and Shi Chuankong, and a dark look flashed through his eyes.
… …
After an indeterminate period of time, Han Li slowly woke up.
His surroundings were completely dark, and he was currently in a dark stone chamber. The stone chamber wasn't very large, only having a radius of around forty to fifty feet. The walls were all inky-black, and there was almost nothing in the room aside from a stone bed at the center.
He was currently lying on the bed with a bone shackle around his wrists and a pair of bone shackles around his ankles that were as thick as an arm.
Han Li struggled with all his might against the shackles, but they didn't budge in the slightest.
"Don't even think about it; these shackles are all specially made, and even those with over a hundred awakened apertures won't be able to break free."
Right at this moment, a voice sounded from outside, following which a tall and broad figure strode in. It was none other than Chen Yang.
Behind him was a dark-skinned Young Man in a grey robe, who was standing with his head lowered in a respectful manner.
"Chen Yang, I don't think I've done anything to harm you, and I've already agreed to join Xuan City. Why are you plotting against us?" Han Li wasn't surprised by Chen Yang's appearance, and he glanced sideways at him as he slowly asked.
"Tsk tsk, Fellow Daoist Li's calm in the face of danger is truly a good disposition. However, your words are laughably naive. Do you really have to offend me for me to deal with you?
This Accumulated Scale Spatial Realm is a prison, and we're all vicious prisoners. Do you really expect to see justice and justice here? "Chen Yang sneered with disdain.
"I've been enlightened. Now that I've fallen into your hands, how do you plan to deal with me?" Han Li furrowed his brows upon hearing this.
"Fellow Daoist Li, don't worry. Although we're prisoners, we're not bloodthirsty demons. This is the Xuan Arena of Qingyang City. Us prisoners have nothing to do apart from hunting scaled beasts and cultivating. Our days are very dull, and watching gladiator fights and gambling can be said to be our only pleasure.
And this Xuan Arena is the City Lord's treasure bowl. Fellow Daoist Li, you're a human, and humans are extremely rare in the Accumulated Scale Spatial Realm. If you participate in the competition, I'm sure there will be many people watching. "Chen Yang smiled faintly, but this smile made people shudder.
"You captured me for this reason?" Han Li heard this, narrowed his eyes, and asked in a low voice.
"Xuan City doesn't support useless people. If you want to live a good life here, then fight well in the competition. As long as you can prove your worth, perhaps you can fight for your freedom." Chen Yang didn't express an opinion, and said faintly.
Han Li's expression was uncertain when he heard this.
"I'll leave this person to you." Chen Yang no longer paid attention to Han Li, and said to the grey-robed Youth behind him.
"Don't worry, Master Chen. I'll train this person well. There won't be any mistakes." The grey-robed Youth hurriedly promised.
"Very good!
I'm tired, I'm going to rest for a while. "Chen Yang yawned, then turned around and walked outside.
"Fellow Chen, where are Fellow Shi and Daoist Xie?" Han Li saw that Chen Yang had left and hurriedly raised his voice.
However, Chen Yang didn't pay any attention to Han Li, and his figure quickly disappeared outside.