Suffering Pilgrimage

Bridge of Sins

Considering that this bridge leads directly to the territory of the Order, it was envisioned by Luo Di as a magnificent bridge with a giant metal structure.

But when he arrived at the so-called bridge, he saw nothing at first glance.

Before them lay only a cliff gleaming with metallic light, while the opposite side was shrouded in white mist, and it was unclear how far they would have to cross to reach the other side.

Only by standing on the edge of the cliff and observing carefully can one slowly discover the so-called "bridge".

The entire bridge is made of extremely thin iron wires, spaced 0.5m apart, totaling 166 wires.

The wire itself is so thin that it is difficult to see with the naked eye. If an individual of normal weight stands on it, their body will be easily cut by the sharp wire.

Moreover, this is not an ordinary cut. These wires are produced from the Order Cluster, and once they are cut by the flesh, they will cause several times the physical pain and also affect the mental level.

Crossing the bridge is not easy.

Currently, we can see many the Devil completing this step, which is also the most difficult step in the Suffering Pilgrimage.

These the Devil are completely different from the Spinewalkers; their bodies are even inferior to those of humans, being short and thin.

Moreover, they were severely malnourished and thin, probably weighing less than 50 pounds each.

They pressed their bodies against the wire and crawled across the bridge.

Even if they are very light and distribute their weight to the maximum extent, their bodies can still be cut, and pain will flow into their bodies through the wounds and affect their nerves.

Once the pain causes the body to tremble, the wire will cut more areas, and the pain will intensify further.

Layer upon layer of suffering eventually leads to the individual being consumed by pain, sliced into pieces, and falling off the bridge.

Those crossing the bridge are required to move almost without any unnecessary movements, maintaining a single line.

Luo Di and Agatha were already standing on the edge of the cliff, and the crow and the iron rod had all been concealed.

"These must be the pilgrims from before, right?"

"Yes, the Suffering Pilgrimage —to gain the recognition of the Order and to be given the Hell Object, one must embark on a journey to the Grand Monastery on foot."

It requires crossing the Pain Mountain Range, traversing the Pain Plains, and stepping over the Bridge of Sins.

Pilgrims must be physically able to endure pain and lose as much weight as possible during their journey in order to cross the bridge.

Two years ago, when I crossed the Bridge of Sins, I weighed only one-tenth of what I weigh now.

"Do we also need to step on the barbed wire to get across?"

"No need for that. We are already individuals recognized by the Order, and there is no requirement to cross the bridge. We can cross in any way we want."

Of course, if Luo Di wants to try it, that's fine with me, since you are Lord Hook's chosen disciple and haven't gone through this conventional process.

Don't underestimate this assessment process.

Any the Devil who completes Suffering Pilgrimage through sheer willpower has already developed a profound understanding of suffering far beyond what they experienced when they first embarked on the journey.

"Hmm, I'll go over and try it later."

Luo Di stepped forward and looked at the bottom of the cliff, which seemed to have no end, like an abyss.

Is this part of Hell Rift?

"Yes, most of the huge fissures you see in True Hell lead straight to the depths of hell. Throwing that rat's head down will fulfill the bounty requirement."

"Shall we throw it together?"

Agatha waved her hand, "No need, it was mainly you who made the kill, I just helped a little."

Moreover, this is your first time in the True Hell, so contributing is even more important to you... As long as Luo Di can find some time to come to the monastery to see me and tell me more stories, that will be enough.

I'm really curious to hear what happened to that 'class monitor' afterward, and whether it's what I think.

"Um."

Luo Di really needed to make a contribution and he really wanted to buy some hellish products, preferably products that he could bring back to Earth.

They removed the black head hanging from the side of the saddle and threw it into the ravine.

A glimmer of molten lava seemed to flash deep within the dark, deep rift valley.

Immediately afterwards, a peculiar ash floated up, as if it had a mind of its own, and drifted toward Luo Di, the individual who had thrown the Wanted Criminal's head.

Luo Di did not reject it but continued to breathe normally, inhaling the ashes into his mouth.

Immediately afterwards, the voice of hell echoed in my brain.

<Scylla. Blacktail has been confirmed dead; Hell Contribution has been inhaled>

Luo Di could clearly feel the ash in his lungs, then being carried into his bloodstream through the alveoli and flowing throughout his body.

If he needed to, he could simply cut his finger to expel the so-called contribution as blood crystals for use in the merchant guild's transactions.

"That's interesting..."

Agatha, who was standing nearby, caught the glint in Luo Di's eyes and quickly said:

"If you, Luo Di, are interested in making contributions, we can come to the Grand Monastery to discuss it in detail. We might be able to form a team, just like the simulation you described, and earn contributions together as a team."

"Good."

"Then let's get ready to cross the bridge. Luo Di, do you really want to experience walking across the bridge? It might take quite a while."

"How long does it typically take to experience one session?"

"At the pace of a typical pilgrim, it would take a full thirty hours to climb up there. But don't worry, the Ash Storm won't appear in the bridge area. Just keep climbing."

"Okay, I understand."

"Then I'll wait for you on the other side of the bridge."

Agatha once again gathered all her strength and threw the iron rod, which flew across the bridge in the same way and quickly disappeared into the Between the Mists.

Luo Di stared at the thin wires barely visible to the naked eye, and at the pilgrims, whose weights were far less than his, slowly crawling along.

call...

Luo Di could think of many ways to walk on the barbed wire.

For example, constructing a torture device with the same hardness on the sole of the foot, or wrapping steel wire with a tentacle structure, etc.

"Since this is the path that every monk must take, I also need to take it seriously and experience the so-called pilgrimage... There must be a reason why the ordination group arranged such a difficult Suffering Pilgrimage."

I don't need special skills; I need to go through it in the simplest way, like a pilgrim.

No ability was used.

Luo Di even put his shoes into his backpack and stepped barefoot onto the bridge in front of him.

The moment your foot touches the steel wire, a faint sound comes from the sole of your foot, barely louder than the rustling of grass.

Bloodshot veins covered Luo Di's eyes.

His right leg, which was on the tightrope, was instantly sliced in half, only stopping completely at the kneecap.

The pain inflicted by the wires was completely different from that of torture chambers; it felt as if tiny wires were probing every nerve and piercing every blood vessel.

"No, my current weight makes it impossible for me to step onto the wire normally. Even if I can endure the pain, I still can't cross this bridge."

All pilgrims who come here have lost weight beforehand.

Weight loss is necessary.

Or, to put it another way, the pilgrims accepted by the Grand Monastery were emaciated bodies with almost no nutrition, which were used as the prototypes to recreate the bodies of the monks.

It's definitely too late for me to do regular physical weight loss now... How about this?

Gray floats in the brain.

The Characteristic Ability bestowed upon him by the class monitor was activated - [Disguise].

Luo Di imagined himself as an individual without a skeletal structure, and tentacles immediately attached themselves to various parts of his body, softening his bones.

Gradually, the fundamental characteristics of the body are altered.

Luo Di's strong body, as a spine master, became soft, even the main Metal Spine became soft, like a piece of dark soft tissue.

(Some bodily excretion and shedding are essential.)

Sudden weight loss.

Stepping onto the wire again, whoosh! This time the cut only cuts the sole of the foot to a depth of about 5 to 10 centimeters without affecting normal movement.

that's all.

Savoring just the right amount of bitterness,

Walking on a tightrope invisible to the naked eye,

Crossing the Bridge of Sins on foot

The camouflage provided by the pituitary gland interacts with the suffering, further deepening the connection between the corner and Hell System.

From initially trying to walk slowly, to walking normally, and then starting to jog after an hour.

Luo Di's thoughts gradually drifted away from the bridge.

Instead, he returned to high school and to long-distance running training in Physical Education Class... He had completely adapted to the pain in his feet, and it had become a feeling of stepping on the track.

As Agatha said.

Luo Di crosses the Bridge of Sins in his physical body, experiencing a pilgrimage unique to monks, and gaining a completely new understanding of suffering.

Not only that,

The tranquility brought by the pilgrimage integrated all of Luo Di's previous killing trials in the Nest City and his combat experience from encountering Wanted Criminal, transforming them into special nutrients that were absorbed by his spine.

The Metal Spine changes and grows slowly during this process.

As Luo Di's thoughts wandered through the campus, he noticed that there were fewer and fewer people on the track.

His classmates couldn't keep up with his pace, and they fell behind and disappeared.

When he was the only one left on the entire track,

The finish line has appeared.

However, the destination here is not the white line, but a [door] hidden in the Thick Fog.

Luo Di could only vaguely make out the outline, or even just a somewhat incomplete one.

"This is... my door!"

Just as Luo Di realized this and tried to get a clearer view of the so-called door, snap! He had already stepped onto the metallic ground and crossed the Bridge of Sins.

The "door" hidden in the Thick Fog of thought has long since disappeared.

Only shallow and fragmented memories remain deep in the brain.