CHAPTER 184: CHAPTER 182: DRAGON LOCK

"Is this the effect of the Snake Gallbladder?" Xiao Tian was thrilled by the changes in his body.

"Yo, have you recovered almost completely?"

Just as Xiao Tian was excited, Ghost Face, who had been absent for two days, finally appeared in front of him again.

Seeing the joy on Xiao Tian’s face, Ghost Face directly asked, "Feeling the changes inside your body?"

Xiao Tian looked at Ghost Face in surprise, "You knew?"

Ghost Face did not answer Xiao Tian but directly stepped forward, "Follow me!"

Xiao Tian followed behind Ghost Face with a face full of doubt. They walked to a relatively open area, with clear spring water beside it.

Ghost Face stepped aside, and the scenery in front suddenly came into Xiao Tian’s view.

Before Xiao Tian was a strange facility composed of countless wooden screws. At the top of this facility hung several ropes, with several pieces of wood hanging on them, swinging back and forth like pendulums.

This facility was incredibly intricate, with countless screws rotating like gears, operating seamlessly and smoothly.

Although he didn’t know what this facility was for, it was incredible that such a sophisticated facility could be created in just two days; indeed, Ghost Face was a genius!

"What exactly is this?" After looking for a long time, Xiao Tian finally responded and asked.

"This is something I learned secretly from a Super Soldier research lab abroad, called the Dragon-locking Array. With this device, a country could train an ordinary person to fight one against a hundred, immune to swords and bullets. However, the casualties from using this facility were extremely high, with only two out of a thousand people surviving, so the lab was shut down—but I still believe that the director of that lab was one of the greatest geniuses in the world."

After Ghost Face finished speaking, he walked to the facility and opened the door, "Although it’s put together with some simple instruments, and the iron pillars have been replaced with wood, the principles are more or less the same. Wanna give it a try inside?"

"What?"

Looking at the countless pieces of swinging wood and various mechanisms, Xiao Tian couldn’t understand how a normal person could endure staying inside.

"You want me to go in there?" Xiao Tian asked.

Ghost Face answered, "Although there are other methods of training, if you want to reach a level enough to defeat those people before being found, this is the only choice."

Looking at the mechanisms moving back and forth inside the Dragon-locking Array, Xiao Tian thought that though it would be manageable for a short while, staying inside for a long time could lead to exhaustion, possibly even death inside.

Seeing Xiao Tian deep in thought, Ghost Face said no more, leaving Xiao Tian alone in front of the Dragon-locking Array, dazed.

After Ghost Face left, Xiao Tian suddenly gritted his teeth and jumped directly into the Dragon-locking Array.

As he entered the mechanism, the wood from all sides started colliding toward him.

Bang!

Xiao Tian struck the wood with his palm, his hand tingling from the impact.

To avoid being hit by the wood, he had to constantly use both hands and feet to counter the incoming wood pieces.

Amidst the mechanism’s operation, numerous iron spikes moved within the small space where Xiao Tian was, forcing him to dodge these spikes while dealing with the wood.

Xiao Tian couldn’t imagine what his fate would be if these woods were replaced by iron pillars—likely, he wouldn’t last long before dying in there.

After about two hours in the Dragon-locking Array, Xiao Tian’s physical strength was greatly depleted. His reflex speed dropped significantly, and a few spikes pierced his waist, dripping blood.

At this moment, he was persisting purely on gritted teeth.

"No... I can’t leave."

Xiao Tian understood that without familiarizing himself with the Dragon-locking Array’s attack patterns, progress would never be achieved.

Bang.

The wood would never cease attacking Xiao Tian, and thus, he persisted inside with clenched teeth.

After an unknown amount of time, feeling a thread of danger, Xiao Tian finally jumped out from the Dragon-locking Array. By then, the sky had already dimmed.

"Half a day, was it?"

At this moment, Xiao Tian, covered in blood, his face swollen, walked with heavy steps back to the tree where he had rested before.

Sitting by the tree, Xiao Tian endured the pain, closing his eyes slowly as he recalled the Iron Chain Cross River mantra in his mind. He began regulating his breath, soon entering a wondrous state of cultivation.

In this state, he could not sense external information, almost as if he were asleep.

"Wake up!"

After an unknown period, Xiao Tian suddenly felt someone tapping his shoulder.

Opening his eyes, it was already dawn, with the sky showing a dim light.

Xiao Tian then realized that the wounds on his body didn’t hurt much anymore! And the swelling had mostly subsided. He was puzzled, as it had only been one night.

Even more astonishingly, the vigor within his body after recovery was stronger than the previous day...

Just as Xiao Tian was getting excited, Ghost Face suddenly said, "Quiet, listen!"

Not far ahead, behind a bush, a giant creature about three to four meters long seemed to be sniffing something.

Because it was too dark around, Xiao Tian couldn’t see the creature’s appearance clearly.

Ghost Face, noticing Xiao Tian’s doubt, whispered, "I haven’t seen such a creature either; it should be a mutated African leopard."

"Mutated?"

During Xiao Tian and Ghost Face’s conversation, the mutated leopard suddenly raised its head, its glowing green eyes staring directly at the two.

Ghost Face suddenly realized the danger, never expecting the mutated leopard to have discovered them!

Ghost Face broke into a cold sweat, shouting directly, "Run, we can’t take this beast!"

Swish, swish, swish!

But the beast behind was incredibly fast, quickly catching up to Xiao Tian.

Xiao Tian punched straight toward that mutant leopard.

"Roar!"

The Mutant Leopard let out a deep roar, and its massive claw swung directly at him.

Man and leopard, fist and claw collided.

Initially, Xiao Tian thought he could handle a wild animal, but the next moment he changed his mind as the immense strength of the Mutant Leopard struck him, sending him flying with little resistance.

He landed in a distant bush, thankfully gripping some branches to soften the impact; otherwise, he might have lost half his life!

"How can this thing be so strong?"

Xiao Tian couldn’t believe it; such a terrifying leopard existed in the world!

Xiao Tian lay motionless in the bushes, muscles tense!