Immortal Cultivation: Starting from a Pharmacy Apprentice

Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Assuming the New Post

WHOOSH!

The gate swung open, and a weak, sputtering gust of wind blew out from within.

Inside was a pitch-black tunnel.

The two stone giants walked with one in front and one behind, flanking Bai Mo between them.

As they walked in, large ever-burning lamps along the tunnel walls ignited without a breeze, their flames flickering and brightly illuminating the black jail.

"Ugh... Hah..."

"...It’s morning..."

A series of meaningless sounds of people waking up.

"In great dreams, I first awaken; in this life..."

BAM! THUD!

A stone giant flicked his finger. A surge of energy passed through the cell wall and struck the poetry-reciting man on the forehead, sending him falling stiffly back down.

Bai Mo’s gaze swept over rows of cells built from fine iron and wood. They weren’t completely sealed; gaps remained, like a fenced enclosure.

His eyes finally landed on the man knocked down by the stone giant.

The poem he recited was heroic, but a closer look revealed a man covered in festering sores, with a wretched appearance.

If he were just a person whose appearance didn’t match his spirit, one might still call him a man of character. But being imprisoned here, there was clearly more to his story.

"Don’t be fooled by his body full of hideous sores. Each sore represents a wicked technique; he was once a man of great and terrible renown."

"Each sore on his body represents a life taken. They contain Magic, refined from people with special fates."

’He really is a demon lord!’

As the stone giant explained, Bai Mo turned his gaze toward his towering figure.

’The elder told me I was taking over for two senior brothers, so these two must just be Sect Disciples.’

’But to suppress a demon lord with the flick of a finger... they actually have that kind of power?’

As if sensing Bai Mo’s thoughts, the stone giant explained:

"The two of us have a special status. Here on Mi Mountain, we possess abilities that exceed our own cultivation levels."

"You, Junior Brother, will not have this advantage. You must be careful when dealing with these people from now on."

After speaking, two wooden bars of a nearby cell suddenly parted. He reached his arm inside, grabbed the prisoner within, and slammed him onto the ground.

"This fiend, for example, is a famous lecher in the Cultivation Realm, quite well-known. He could rally all the local deviants."

"He once gathered a group to surround a sect and violate its Cultivators. Before leaving, he even severed their lineage."

The stone giant said calmly.

"This bastard is never honest. He’s always trying to bewitch people with his words, hoping to get out for some air."

By now, the lecher had several broken bones and was in too much pain to speak.

The stone giant withdrew his hand.

"I’m telling you all this to remind you, Junior Brother, that the demon lords imprisoned here are either at Core Formation or are fallen Nascent Souls. It’s rare to see anyone at Foundation Establishment."

"When you deal with them, Junior Brother, you must be careful, and then even more careful."

"If you have any ideas about scheming for their techniques, don’t even think about it. Anything worth digging up, the sect has already dug up. There are better things available for you to borrow and study."

Bai Mo’s expression was placid.

"You have nothing to worry about, Senior Brother."

Seeing his calm and composed nature, the stone giants felt a bit more at ease.

"But to think that even Nascent Soul True Monarchs are imprisoned here... is the sect really not worried?"

Bai Mo recalled the praises the disciples of Divine Dao Mountain had for Kunwu True Monarch, and his estimation of the Mi Mountain black jail couldn’t help but rise several levels.

The stone giants did not have human bodies, but their minds were surprisingly astute.

"Hm? What does Junior Brother think a great Nascent Soul cultivator should be like?"

they asked sharply.

Bai Mo thought for a moment, then said, "Kunwu True Monarch?"

"Heh, Junior Brother, you overestimate them."

"Though they are all Nascent Souls, the abilities of the demon lords in here and Kunwu True Monarch are worlds apart. They can’t even be mentioned in the same breath..."

They walked for a long time, and Bai Mo saw many prisoners of all different appearances.

Some prisoners could still use Divine Techniques in their cells. One slept peacefully amidst an illusion of flowers and grass, their expression serene.

Another had conjured an illusory sun and moon, which hung above their head, shining brightly.

On and on they went, seeing all sorts of strange sights.

After a full two hours, they finally reached the end.

"When we start running out of cells, the sect sends people over to build new ones. Right now, there are one thousand and eighty-two."

However, from what Bai Mo could see, there were still empty cells. He estimated that no large-scale construction would be needed here anytime soon.

Bai Mo followed the stone giants on their way back, asking about their experiences.

"There’s not much to say, really. Just do your job and don’t pay any mind to the prisoners. They can’t get out, and there’s nothing else they can do."

The gaps between the wooden bars of the cells were not small; it seemed a child could squeeze through.

But that was not the case.

Bai Mo saw one persistent prisoner try to slip out, only to be crushed by the tightening wooden bars, his bones breaking and tendons tearing.

Judging by his expression, he was not regretful, merely unwilling to accept his fate.

"Why not just eliminate these demon lords directly?"

The stone giant laughed. "The vast Cultivation Realm has gone through countless changes, and who knows how many things our predecessors left behind."

"Stone folk like us are descendants of a race from a bygone era."

"Occasionally, a Sea Eye Divine Palace or a demon nest will appear. When they can’t be suppressed, or when there’s no need to suppress them, they must be filled—or sacrificed to—with people."

"See? Whether or not such anomalous events can be pacified depends entirely on whether the prisoners in here are ’fat’ enough."

Bai Mo’s eyes widened at this.

He had never heard of such things before.

"Hehe, such events aren’t that rare. It’s just that most people never encounter them, so they remain ignorant."

The stone giant continued, "If the sect wants to retrieve a prisoner, you verify the order is correct, and then you let them take the person."

"Of course, you’ll also need to coordinate with the War Hall or others to receive and incarcerate new prisoners."

He began to speak about some of the miscellaneous daily duties.

"Occasionally, when there’s a dispute over a disciple’s merits, they’ll come to us for proof of a prisoner’s incarceration. You must comply."

"Later, we will inform you of the procedures..."

Once they started, it seemed the stone giants had countless things to explain.

When they finally finished, Bai Mo raised a question of his own.

"If the sect comes to retrieve a prisoner, what should I check for?"

"Mmm, it’s usually a verbal command from an elder, a token, or something similar. You just need to be certain that the transfer order is authentic."

The stone giant warned gravely.

"It has happened before. A disciple was bewitched, forged a token, and attempted to retrieve a prisoner to help them escape."

"But how could we brothers be so easily fooled? We seized him on the spot and made him stay in the jail for a while himself."

By the time they returned to the entrance of the black jail, the stone giant was closing the wooden gate.

"Is there anything else you’re unclear on, Junior Brother?"

Bai Mo shook his head.

"Not for now."

The two stone giants looked at each other and praised:

"Such a quick study!"

They each extended a finger and touched it to Bai Mo’s head. Specks of white light flowed from their fingertips into his body.

"Alright, we will be leaving shortly. From this day forward, you are the Warden of the Mi Mountain black jail."

"Not a Prison Guard?"

"Since you’re the only one on guard, you’re naturally the Warden. ’Prison Guard’ doesn’t sound as good."

The stone giants left decisively.

"Remember, inspect the prison once every three days. Don’t forget."

Having lost their authority over the Mi Mountain black jail, they seemed somewhat weary. Even the grinding sound of stone as they walked was much duller now.

Bai Mo watched them leave, but unexpectedly, one of them turned and walked back.

"Almost forgot."

A gray-white Daoist robe appeared in his hand, and he draped it over Bai Mo.

"Wear this. When others come, they’ll know you are the Warden of the Mi Mountain black jail."

After speaking, the stone giant pressed something else into Bai Mo’s hand. It was a gray-white stone.

"This is a token from one of our elders. Many years ago, he also stood guard here."

"If you run into any trouble, you can go to him for help..."

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