CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 270: KEEP A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE

"Ahhhhhhhh!!"

The piercing scream, unhuman in sound, echoed back and forth in the enclosed underground prison, causing all the prisoners to clench in fear, their terrified eyes fixed on Zhu Haomiao.

On the other side, the youth raised his hand, fingers slowly and menacingly curling into a spiral grip, as if seizing something invisible, using laborious force to drag it outward.

And a few meters away, Huo Hong was convulsing in pain on the ground, curled up, feeling as if a venomous snake was coiling tighter around his heart, gnawing and slowly strangling it, while countless Gu worms bit into his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.

The wave of incomparable pain surged stronger each time. Huo Hong’s mouth gaped, his body convulsed uncontrollably, blue veins bulging on his forehead. He wanted to scream for mercy, but couldn’t even make a sound, only producing a bellows-like wheezing.

Heh heh heh heh...

Looking at the twitching, convulsing "Overlord Blade" on the ground, alongside Zhu Haomiao who seemed to be pulling something with his raised hand, Yan Yunsheng felt a chill race up from his tailbone to the top of the skull, making his entire body tingle as if electrified.

What kind of Magic Skill is this?!

He wasn’t new to torturing prisoners, but he had to admit, many Jianghu people’s spines were truly resilient!

Moreover, once they reached a certain Grade, Martial Artists could control their flesh and blood with such mastery that ordinary torture was hardly effective, let alone making them spasm and soil themselves in disgrace.

This pain seemed to transcend the physical, reaching deep into the soul...

On the other side, as if pulling something from afar, Zhu Haomiao’s arm suddenly yanked back, and his five fingers clenched tightly.

Pop~

An invisible emerald mist rose from Huo Hong’s body, instantly vanishing into Zhu Haomiao’s palm.

[Book of Black]: Devours Source Quality, [Body] +0.1

Zhu Haomiao’s eyes suddenly brightened as he looked at the fainted but alive Huo Hong, his lips curving up in delight.

The combination of Orochi’s divinity and the authority of [Gluttony] can strip Source Quality from a living being?!

The key is this is an extremely strong offensive method, catching ordinary enemies off guard!

But in a flash, Zhu Haomiao realized that the ease with which he extracted Source Quality from Huo Hong was mainly because these prisoners were all shackled and their True Qi restrained, unable to resist.

To use this move in actual combat, with his current [Gluttony] at level LV.1, it seems rather difficult...

However... he never lacked offensive means...

The Eight Basic Forces, [anger], and even the authority of [Pride], which one isn’t stronger than [Gluttony]?

The key is that it can enhance Basic Attributes!

Thinking of this, Zhu Haomiao unconsciously cast a greedy, hungry gaze towards the other cells, as if eyeing delicious and fat meat.

The hunger-filled, appetite-driven gaze swept through the prison like a cold breeze, making all the prisoners instinctively curl up in the farthest corners, shivering and as silent as cicadas in winter.

Even Yan Yunsheng by his side felt a creepy chill, not daring to meet the boy’s eyes, which flickered with a ghostly light.

Just as he was about to randomly pick another "lucky audience member" to savor their taste, Zhu Haomiao suddenly felt something, frowned, and clicked his tongue in regret.

He felt a hint of fatigue, not on a physical level, but on the soul’s divinity level!

It seems... to enhance position and the level of [Gluttony], in order to continually increase the frequency of applying this move...

With a lingering sigh, Zhu Haomiao abandoned the bold idea of taking a bite from each prisoner and left the prison with Yan Yunsheng, gently inquiring as they walked.

"Yan Captain, how long is Huo Hong going to be held here?"

"Uh, the Ministry of Justice has already determined the verdict, to be executed next autumn after questioning."

Hearing this, Zhu Haomiao slightly nodded.

According to [Da Zhen]’s law, the death penalty is handled cautiously. From capture to trial, sentencing, to execution, a few years’ delay is normal.

This is to prevent wrongful imprisonment but also results in overcrowded prisons everywhere...

The cautious handling of the death penalty is inherently sound, but now, with chaos flaring everywhere, great bandits cross prefectures unchallenged, and small thieves hold entire regions.

The inefficient, decaying state apparatus can no longer maintain its functions, unable to deter power-wielding fiends.

It’s time to resort to severe measures during troubled times!

Thinking of this, Zhu Haomiao couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head.

Did he get carried away with the "playacting method"?

His most important current task is to establish the [Yanhuang Armory], as for the rise and fall of the local indigenous states, just go with the flow.

Leaving the prison, Zhu Haomiao raised his head to the heavens, calmly exhaling a deep breath.

Mysteriously, he sensed that his destiny line shifted again after killing three jail-breaking criminals, and his Qi Fortune had further increased!

In the river of time, within this all-encompassing chaotic system, any slight change could lead the world in a completely different direction!

If the Heavenly Dao in the future lets "Li Lin" bear the responsibility of ending the chaotic times, trying is worth it...

But ultimately, he must leave, not getting too entangled with this world.

Tearing down cities, breaking mounts, ravaging nations singlehandedly... these small tasks might be attempted, but he would not involve himself in overly taxing and troublesome matters!

Having undergone the baptism of the First Layer Heaven, Zhu Haomiao has gradually matured into a seasoned descender.

When dealing with matters of the Illusion Realm, he possesses a detached mindset.

Engaging in the worldly pleasures yet remaining aloof!

Enjoying without addiction!

Behind Zhu Haomiao, Yan Yunsheng observed this enigmatic superior, feeling a strange, contradictory temperament without reason.

Profound and unfathomable, wickedly charming... like an otherworldly sage who has seen it all.

Yet, at the same time, seemingly filled with curiosity towards everything, like a child full of innocence.

Just then, a clerk walked up, discreetly handing Yan Yunsheng a stack of silver notes, whispering a few words before leaving low-key.

After a while, Yan Yunsheng cautiously approached Zhu Haomiao.

"Inspector, this is your share."

Casually accepting the silver note without even looking, Zhu Haomiao tucked it into his belt pouch, nodding with a smile.

"The rest is yours to distribute; be sure to reward and punish distinctly, so every brother is convinced."

Knowing this was a test, Yan Yunsheng calmly bowed his fists in salute, "Rest assured, sir."

Seeing his confident demeanor, Zhu Haomiao patted him on the shoulder.

"In the future, when I’m not here, you’ll preside and be on duty."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yunsheng shuddered, his head lowered in genuine fear, "This subordinate dare not."

"I don’t have much time to deal with trivial matters. When I appoint you to preside, just do it; no need to worry."

Patting Yan Yunsheng’s shoulder again, Zhu Haomiao stepped away, gradually disappearing from sight.

"Just an Inspector, set your sights further."