Chapter 786: Dawn Martial Contest: Testing the Edge (41)

After using the azure bird to open the nearby mechanism, a pillar shaped like a key slowly sank into the great formation before them; with a "click", a staircase leading directly to a deeper level appeared nearby.

"The two of you, the way is open. Once you descend to the bottom of the Nether Prison, do not act rashly." Xueyi led the group to a gate that seemed to connect to the netherworld, chains scattered all around; as soon as they arrived, Jiaoqiu felt a chill sweep over his face, making one unconsciously feel oppressed.

"Behind this door lies a cavern where the great enemy of the fox people, Summon Thunder, is imprisoned."

"From behind the door came rising and falling roars; there is no doubt it is the true form of Summon Thunder."

"Following custom, the Yaoqing Envoy arrives at the Luofu Immortal Vessel once every hundred years to confirm the imprisonment of this wicked creature and its condition. Although the Ten Kings Office has sentenced Summon Thunder to the punishment of the Avici Sword Tree, making him suffer endlessly for eternity, I understand well that what the Yaoqing envoys most want to see is Summon Thunder's dying state as he breathes his last."

"Unfortunately, over the past seven hundred years they have all returned disappointed; it is an unkillable evil beast."

Jiaoqiu slowly opened his eyes: "If the world's utmost poison could be made into medicine and exchanged for an innocent life, perhaps it could slightly atone for the countless blood crimes he has committed."

"Could the method to heal the general be you, Summon Thunder?"

——

Labyrinth Meal.

???

Maluxi'er heard Jiaoqiu's words and was so shocked she nearly dropped her ladle into the pot.

"Wait? What does he mean by that? Is he planning to turn Summon Thunder into medicine?"

No matter how you look at it, this doesn't seem like an idea a normal fox person would come up with!

Lai'ousi sat cross‑legged, gnawing on a half‑eaten roasted scorpion‑lion tail, sauce still smeared at the corner of his mouth; he raised his head and said lightly, "It might not be medicine, but food instead."

"... That's even more absurd!"

"Think about it carefully, Maluxi'er." Lai'ousi wiped the corner of his mouth, "Since Summon Thunder can't be killed no matter how you try, and always regenerates, what if we ate him? Say, made him into roasted meat? Would the power of Abundance still work in the stomach? I feel it's definitely worth researching..."

"I think you're just eager to research it." Qierchake gave Lai'ousi an annoyed glance; this guy can't stop talking about eating, willing to shove anything into his mouth. "We don't even know exactly what illness General Feixiao has, but to me she seems perfectly fine—she can eat, drink, sleep, and beat people up; there's no sign of a fatal disease at all."

"I've heard that early stages of some fatal illnesses show no symptoms, only appearing in the late stage; it's also possible that Feixiao is just toughing it out." Maluxi'er said, "As things stand, I'm more inclined to believe that Summon Thunder obtained this immortal, undying body by having consumed something related to Abundance in the past, such as certain medicines..."

"Earlier it was said that 'crimson dragon blood' could be highly effective; maybe this time the blood of the Strife‑person war chief really has a similar effect."

——

Suddenly, Moze sensed something, whipped his head around, and saw a fox person dressed in cloud‑rider attire leading countless Strife‑people marching over.

"\"This time, the Yaoqing envoy will also return disappointed. But I and my brothers are different…\""

Xueyi warily drew her weapon, holding it before her chest: "Who?!"

The fox person said unhurriedly, "I am a low‑ranking strategist of the Rhinoceros‑Dog Hunt Group; you may call me… Modu."

"Officer! The lower level has been invaded—send reinforcements quickly!"

Xueyi also tried to contact those above, but Modu ruthlessly cut her off: "Down in the Nether Prison, no one can hear your cries. Thank you for opening our prison, Judge. Leave the rest to us."

Modu waved his hand, and the Strife‑people behind him swiftly surrounded the three of them.

Jiaoqiu's gaze darkened: "No wonder I've been smelling that familiar beastly odor all along—it wasn't my imagination. Moze, attack!"

Before his words even faded, Moze appeared like a ghost behind one of the Strife‑people and dispatched it with ease. Although these Strife‑people are battle‑hardened, they are still far inferior to Moze and Xueyi. But once we reached the bottom of the Prison‑of‑Captives, the place is swarming with their kin; even a mech descended from the sky, blocking our three.

"\"Once you enter the Prison‑of‑Captives, usable 'troops' are everywhere. \" Modu laughed arrogantly, "I advise you to surrender quickly… haha, of course I won't spare your lives—at least that saves you pointless suffering."

Seeing the situation turn sour, Jiaoqiu whispered to Moze behind him, "Moze, look for a chance to leave."

"... Not yet."

Yet the Strife‑people flung themselves at the gate like moths to a flame; no matter how the three of them killed, they couldn't stop this horde. Seeing two slip through the gate, Xueyi reached out to block them, but Modu struck her aside.

"No, we must hold the gate—under no circumstances can we let them in!"

However, it was already too late——

Accompanied by the sound of flesh being torn from within the gate, a wolf pup bitten to pieces was hurled out, slamming straight into the wall.

"\"Creak… creak…\""

A heart‑pounding footsteps sounded.

Two massive iron‑clad claws gripped the door panels; a hulking shadow, almost large enough to block the entire gate, slowly stepped out from within.

——

In the dungeon, seeking an encounter—did I get something wrong?

"This… this big?!!!"

Hesitiya's eyes were about to pop out; she had thought this Summon Thunder was merely a slightly larger Strife‑person, but this is surely an exaggeration—he feels bulkier than all the Strife‑people present combined.

How did Jingliu manage to capture him back then?

Could you demonstrate it again?

"So, how could Jiaoqiu possibly think of turning such a huge creature into medicine to cure Feixiao? It seems Summon Thunder might eat him for breakfast before he could even be refined into a remedy." Weierfu stared intently at Summon Thunder; the monster's muscles were knotted and bulging, and though he had gone seven hundred years without food or drink, it hadn't weakened him—if anything, it had made him even stronger.

That suffocating pressure, even when observed from afar through the tavern's canopy, made Weierfu feel extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, there are no similar monsters in the dungeon; otherwise, we'd have to gather all Oulali adventurers of rank three and above to subdue it.