Chapter 8 - Chapter no.8 Rebirth in the Abyss

I have been trapped in this underground prison for what felt like an eternity. The damp, dark, and cold walls of the prison surrounded me, and the musty smell of decay filled the air. It was a lonely existence, with only the occasional visit from my captors who brought me food and water. But even those visits were rare, leaving me to survive on whatever scraps I could find in the small chamber.
At first, I was lost in the darkness, unable to see anything beyond the faint outline of my own hand. But as the days turned into weeks, my eyes slowly adapted to the lack of light. It was as if my body had grown accustomed to the darkness, allowing me to see every crack and crevice of the prison walls. I could even make out the symbols etched into the walls, which I assumed held some sort of ancient knowledge or story.
But it wasn't just my eyes that had changed. Something else had happened to me, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. And then it hit me - I had been bitten by a monstrous centipede. The venom had coursed through my veins, burning like fire as it spread through my body. But somehow, I had fought against it and survived.
I looked at the centipede's corpse lying nearby, the crystal eye on its forehead glowing in the darkness. I wondered what kind of creature it was, or if it was a demon that had been sealed away in this prison. The venom from its bite had changed me in ways that I couldn't even begin to understand. My senses were heightened, my strength increased, and I could now see clearly in the dark, as if it were daylight.
I couldn't help but be intrigued by the centipede's venom and the effect it had on me. I knew I needed to learn more about it, to figure out what had happened to me and how I could harness this power to my advantage. And so, with a determined step, I approached the centipede's corpse and touched its first pair of legs. The forcipules secreted the glowing venom, and I dug the legs into the back of my hand, feeling the scorching heat rush through my veins.
The pain was almost unbearable, but I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, determined to fight through it. As the venom coursed through my body, I realized that the pain wasn't as bad as I had feared. It was almost... bearable. And with each passing day, the pain lessened, and I felt myself growing stronger, both physically and mentally.
As I spent my days studying the cave's murals and injecting the centipede's venom into my body, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards my newfound friend. I even named it Wilson and played with its corpse.
...
Months melded together in the abyss of the prison, a routine of physical training, studying the enigmatic murals, and integrating the centipede's venom into my being. My persistence birthed an acceptance that, while I would not languish here eternally, I would utilize my incarceration constructively, fortifying my strength for vengeance. A day materialized when I stood before the prison's iron door, Qi pulsating through my nails, a testament to relentless days of mastery and control. With meticulous application, I scored the unyielding metal with a claw mark, my newfound abilities asserting their potency. Exhaling deeply, I struck the iron door with a fist, embedding a clear indentation in the sturdy barrier, a manifestation not of Qi, but of raw physical might, forged through the venom's relentless crucible. My path towards escape, and ultimately revenge, was becoming undeniably tangible.
Turning, I cast a sidelong glance at the mural, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. "How would you rate that, Alexander?" I queried the ancient murals in the prison walls, fully anticipating the stoic silence that hung heavily in the damp cell. Slightly pivoting, I directed my attention to the now-still carcass of the centipede. "And you, Wilson? What do you think of my progress?"
The expected silence ensued, my only companions remaining steadfast in their quiet observation. I huffed, a chuckle breaking through my stern demeanor as I addressed my unconventional audience. "You two are nothing but haters," I playfully admonished the mural and the corpse, finding a peculiar comfort in the silence that had become my steadfast companion within the imprisoning stone walls.
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[ Demon Prison Cave - Entrance ]
As the group of cultivators approached the entrance of the prison, their footsteps echoed loudly against the stone walls. The cave was damp and chilly, with an unsettling sense of foreboding that hung heavy in the air. The dim light of their torches flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move and shift in the corners of their vision.
At the entrance, a slab of rock jutted out from the wall, rough and rectangular. It was unremarkable, just another piece of stone among many, but suddenly it lit up with a soft, pulsing cyan light that seemed to come from within the rock itself. The light grew brighter and brighter, until it filled the cave with an otherworldly glow, pushing back the shadows and revealing the space beyond.
At the head of the group was a towering figure, an ogre with skin of a deep shade of blue. Its surface was almost iridescent in the light, reflecting the glow in mesmerizing patterns. The creature wore a simple tunic of dark blue cloth, tied at the waist with a thick rope. Its horns jutted out from its forehead, gleaming and golden, as were the snakes that slithered out of its back, their scales catching the light and shimmering like precious metals.
The other cultivators trailed behind the ogre, their attire a mishmash of styles and colors. Some wore sturdy leather boots and long, flowing robes of various shades, while others wore simple tunics and trousers. Their weapons were strapped to their backs or hung at their sides, ready for whatever dangers lay ahead.
Daji, the caretaker of the Demon Prison Cave, watched them warily from the shadows, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Be careful," she warned them. "This place is not to be taken lightly. There are dangers here beyond what you can imagine."
The ogre, who led the group, snorted in amusement. "Don't worry your old bones, caretaker. We'll be fine. Besides, we're only here for a little bet. What could go wrong?"
Daji felt a knot form in her stomach as she watched the group of cultivators approach the entrance of the prison. She knew the danger that lay ahead, the horrors that awaited those who dared to venture into the depths of the demon prison cave as this place was designed to keep people in.
Despite her warnings to be cautious, the group of cultivators paid little heed to Daji's words of caution. They were eager to prove themselves and win the ogre's bet, ignoring the fact that the prisoners were desperate for freedom. Daji couldn't help but worry about the innocent children who might get killed if they offend these cultivators.
As the group continued on, their torches casting eerie shadows that seemed to mock her warning, Daji's frustration grew. She knew that these cultivators were disrespecting her, ignoring her wisdom and experience. With a heavy sigh, Daji retreated back into the shadows, her heart heavy with the weight of the lives that would be lost either by the cult's actions or these cultivators' bloodthirsty nature.
As the group entered the depths of the cave, the ogre turned to its companions, a sly grin spreading across its face. "Let's make a bet, my friends," it said, its voice deep and rumbling.
"What do you propose, boss?" one of the cultivators asked, eyeing the creature warily.
"I propose we see who can find the most treasure in this forsaken place," the ogre replied, its eyes glinting with excitement. "The winner gets to keep a bag of Chrysotiles, of course."
The cultivators exchanged skeptical glances, but they knew better than to argue with the ogre. With a shrug, they agreed to the wager, and the group set off deeper into the prison, their torches casting flickering light on the rough walls and floor.
.....
Xiao Fei made his way through the dark and winding corridors of the demon prison cave, his heart heavy with the knowledge that countless innocent children had been trapped and left to die in this terrible place. His mind was consumed with the thought of their suffering, their pain, and their despair. But he refused to let his emotions consume him, knowing that he had a job to do, and that job was to save the lives of those that survived so they can grow to serve the Great Black Lotus Cult.
As Xiao Fei made his way through the prison, he couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over him as he could see how the children had fought and struggled for food in their cells. He saw the desperation etched on their faces before they joined the ranks of the dead.
As he moved from cell to cell, he was met with the same heartbreaking sight. Lifeless bodies of children who had already perished littered the cells, their faces gaunt and their eyes empty.
But then, he saw something that caught his attention. A cell that was different from the others. It was cleaner, less decrepit, and there was a faint light coming from inside. He moved closer, his senses on high alert, and peered inside.
There, huddled together in a corner of the cell, were two children - Xie Dongyi and Chun Jiao. Their bodies were frail and weak, surrounded by the corpses of other children. They looked up at him with pleading eyes, begging him to save them.
"Get up," he commanded, his voice cold and harsh. "If you want to be saved, you need to move."
Chun Jiao and Xie Dongyi stumbled to their feet, their bodies weak and shaky. They looked up at Xiao Fei with fear and uncertainty, unsure of what was to come.
Xiao Fei could sense their fear, but he didn't have time to coddle them.
"Follow me," he said, turning on his heel and moving quickly down the dark corridor.