Golden Bell Shield

Shen Che's mind stirred, and a transparent panel, visible only to him, unfolded before his eyes.

[Time Manipulation System]

[Host: Shen Che]

[Time Value: 10]

[Cultivation Techniques:]

[Black Tiger Saber Technique (Level 2)+]

[Golden Bell Shield (Level 4)+]

The panel was concise and clear, with a distinct plus sign following each of the two cultivation techniques.

This thing is indeed for leveling up skills.

Shen Che's gaze fell upon the Golden Bell Shield.

The Black Tiger Saber Technique was for killing, but the Golden Bell Shield was fundamental for survival. In this godforsaken place, staying alive was paramount.

He focused his intent on the plus sign behind Golden Bell Shield.

[Do you wish to consume 10 Time Value to upgrade Golden Bell Shield to Level 5?]

"Yes."

The moment the thought formed, a warm current surged from his dantian, filling his limbs and bones in an instant. He could clearly feel his muscles and bones emitting subtle tremors, his skin becoming tougher, and his blood essence flowing faster.

Shen Che clenched his fist, feeling the surge of strength within him. His original single-arm strength was around 400 jin; now, it had increased by at least 100 jin.

500 jin!

He gasped. To advance the Golden Bell Shield from Level 4 to Level 5, by his own estimation, would have required at least one to two years of arduous training. Now, the system had accomplished it in a mere ten Time Value, in less than a second.

The efficiency was simply outrageous.

This cheat is a bit too powerful.

Shen Che suppressed his excitement, sheathed his saber, and walked out of cell number 91.

As soon as he stepped out, he was hit by a foul, sour stench. By the entrance of cell number 90 next door, a Probationary Demon Suppressor, also clad in black robes, was leaning against the wall, retching violently, his face ashen. Inside the cell lay the corpse of a Demonic Beast, split in half, its innards spilled across the floor.

It's normal to react like this during one's first kill, especially a grotesque Demonic Beast like that.

Shen Che walked past him, his expression unchanged.

The instant he passed the entrance of cell number 90, the cold, mechanical voice in his mind sounded again.

[Ding! Detected absorbable time energy. Do you wish to absorb?]

Shen Che stopped.

[Absorption successful. Gained Time Value: 10 points.]

He turned to look at the Demonic Beast corpse in the cell. Then he glanced at his status panel.

[Time Value: 10]

Could it be... I don't need to kill them myself? As long as I get close to a dying Demonic Beast, I can gain Time Value?

A bold thought surfaced in his mind. He turned and walked towards cell number 89 next to it. The Probationary Demon Suppressor in this cell had already completed his mission and left, leaving behind only the corpse of a Wolf Demon with its neck severed.

Shen Che approached the cell door.

[Ding! Detected absorbable time energy. Do you wish to absorb?]

[Absorption successful. Gained Time Value: 5 points.]

Holy crap.

It really is like that!

Shen Che's heart pounded. This was a massive loophole, no, a massive benefit! He no longer had to risk his life fighting Demonic Beasts; he could just follow behind others and pick up the spoils.

On the first floor of the Demon Suppressing Prison, nearly a hundred Demonic Beasts were held captive.

Tonight, all these Demonic Beasts would be slain by them, the Probationary Demon Suppressors.

For him, this was a massive treasure trove!

Shen Che no longer hesitated. He took a step forward and began his "scavenging" journey along the corridor.

Cell number eighty-eight held a Pig Demon, pierced through the heart with a sword.

[Absorption successful, gained 8 Time Points.]

Cell number eighty-seven held a Snake Demon, cut into several pieces.

[Absorption successful, gained 12 Time Points.]

Cell number seventy-five held a stronger Bear Demon, which yielded a full 20 Time Points.

[Absorption successful, gained 20 Time Points.]

Shen Che was like a diligent bee, flitting between the cells.

The system's prompts continuously sounded in his mind, and the Time Points on his panel soared.

50... 100... 200...

By the time he finished the last room on the first floor, his Time Points had reached an astonishing number.

[Time Points: 400]

Jackpot!

This was a huge profit!

Shen Che walked to the end of the first floor, where a deeper stone staircase led to the second floor of the Demon Suppressing Prison.

A heavy black iron gate blocked his path. The entrance was deserted.

He remembered the warning from the supervisor, Chen Xiao.

"Your activity is limited to the first floor only. No one is permitted to go to the second floor without authorization!"

Chen Xiao had also mentioned that the Demonic Beasts on the second floor were extremely powerful, far beyond the caliber of these Body Tempering Realm cultivators on the first floor.

The mere demonic aura emanating from them was something these Probationary Demon Suppressors couldn't withstand.

Go back, or go down?

Shen Che stood before the iron gate, lost in thought.

This assessment opportunity was rare. Who knew when he would have another chance to enter the Demon Suppressing Prison so peacefully again.

The Demonic Beasts on the first floor were generally in the Body Tempering Realm, and the highest Time Points they offered was only 20.

What about the Demonic Beasts on the second floor?

According to the Demon Suppression Division's classification, the second floor held General-level Demonic Beasts, corresponding to cultivators in the True Meridian Realm.

How many Time Points would a General-level Demonic Beast yield?

One hundred? Two hundred?

Risk and reward went hand in hand.

Let's do it!

Fortune favors the bold!

Shen Che no longer hesitated. He placed his hands on the cold black iron gate and pushed with all his might.

The gate creaked and slowly swung inward.

A demonic aura ten times more potent than that on the first floor washed over him, chilling, violent, and chaotic.

Shen Che's breath hitched.

He felt as if he had been thrown into the deep sea, surrounded by invisible pressure crushing his body and eroding his will.

With a Body Tempering Realm physique, he couldn't even breathe smoothly in such an environment.

No, this was too much.

With his current strength, he wouldn't be able to pick up any loot on the second floor, let alone survive. He'd probably be corroded by the demonic aura and die of exhaustion after just a few steps.

He had to increase his strength!

Shen Che immediately opened his system panel.

His gaze was fixed on the Golden Bell Shield section.

[Golden Bell Shield (Level 5/13) +] [Time Points: 400]

"System, max out Golden Bell Shield for me!"

[Consuming 50 Time Points, Golden Bell Shield upgraded to Level 10.] [Consuming 100 Time Points, Golden Bell Shield upgraded to Level 11.]

[Consume 100 Time Points, Golden Bell Shield upgraded to Level 12.]

[Consume 100 Time Points, Golden Bell Shield upgraded to Level 13!]

Total Time Points consumed: 350.

The numbers on the panel rapidly decreased, finally stopping at 50.

An unprecedented, terrifying power exploded within him!

It was as if a thunderclap echoed through Shen Che's body.

His Blood Essence roared like a great river, surging through his limbs and bones.

His muscles and bones chimed in unison, emitting crisp sounds like metal striking metal.

Golden Bell Shield, Level 13!

It was done.

The dense demonic energy surrounding him could no longer exert any pressure on him.

The surging Bloodline Power within him formed an invisible barrier, isolating all the chilling aura.

His powerful aura even pressed back against the surrounding air, emitting faint crackling sounds.

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