When Yi Chen was affected by the 'skinning' influence from deep within the manor, Chamberson deliberately stopped and waited, but offered no assistance.
Several minutes passed,
When Yi Chen recovered, he gave a quiet assessment.
"It would be even better if you could resist the Whispers of Divine Skin through your own will next time.
"We still have half an hour of walking ahead of us,
"Before we meet the First Gentleman,
"I have some personal questions I'd like to ask you."
"Sure."
"While eradicating the 'Watcher' at the bottom of the lake, what else did you experience? Did you see any special scenes far beyond the examination area?"
Yi Chen had no intention of hiding anything,
He described in detail how he had suffered the Giant Eye's mental invasion and how his Consciousness Body had been packaged off to the Abyss Laboratory,
Especially the Epic Music that had echoed in his mind,
The silhouette and attire symbolizing the final state of fish,
As well as the Golden Frame that had appeared above his head,
Just as Yi Chen was about to say the ancient name on the frame,
Clap!
Chamberson, who had been walking ahead, spun around at superhuman speed and covered his mouth.
"Never call out an ancient name of such an origin-related nature.
"Not only would you suffer severe, fundamental Diseased Trait contamination,
"It might even expose the exact locations of Zion and the Divine Skin Manor.
"Since you haven't fully joined the organization and this was your first offense, we'll let it go.
"To survive under those circumstances, you indeed have the qualifications to meet the First Gentleman."
"Mr. Chamberson, what exactly was that fish-like individual in the abyss?"
"An ancient existence related to the origin... an existence far beyond your reach. Even I know only the tip of the iceberg.
"As for more information, wait until you reach a sufficient height, then search for it yourself.
"Don't stray from the subject.
"Tell me about what happened at the Seven-Day Graveyard."
"All right."
When Chamberson learned that Yi Chen was merely an untrained, ordinary person by birth who had been hired externally,
He was also rather surprised,
An utterly ordinary person had somehow killed an Initial Diseased merely by gaining enhanced senses... Such a case was almost unheard of in every area under the organization's jurisdiction.
Not to mention that Yi Chen had accepted the Diseased Trait afterward.
"No wonder Albert took the initiative to recommend you~ I'm sure the First Gentleman will also be delighted to have such exceptional fresh blood join the organization."
During their idle conversation,
The two had already descended a hundred meters along the spiral staircase,
Chamberson took out a special high-level seal and unlocked the barred iron door sealing the Lowest Level of the staircase,
Creak~
Because they had been traveling through the Wall Seam and other cramped spaces like the spiral staircase, the feeling of confinement had filled their minds.
As the iron door opened,
Their sense of space expanded dozens of times, and warm candlelight swept away the claustrophobia.
However,
Yi Chen felt no relief. Instead, he became even more oppressed and uneasy.
The so-called depths of the manor
Were actually a medieval church buried deep underground.
The central nave was high, while the side aisles on both sides were low. Long rows of clustered pillars guided visitors toward the altar.
Yet this underground church had no windows whatsoever,
As if it had no intention of accepting divine light descending from heaven,
Nor of communicating with 'above' in any form,
In place of windows were square niches carved into the walls, each holding a candle,
Creating light through human means,
Displaying a certain belief and determination of the organization.
What followed was the most bizarre 'design' and 'individual' that made Yi Chen extremely uneasy.
Above the altar
Hung an 'human' of unknown life or death,
The quotation marks were necessary because although his bodily structure and proportions resembled a human's, he stood nearly six meters tall.
A middle-aged face showed through his disheveled, hanging white hair,
The garment concealing his body was an old, torn Black Suit covered with a few patches,
≮Additional Organs≯
Another 'six' foreign organs had been stitched onto his body, though only four were externally visible.
1. A withered arm installed on his right shoulder blade,
2. An ocean-blue eye embedded in the back of his head,
3. An ear attached to the back of his right hand,
4. A spine covered in skin, connected to his lumbar vertebrae and extending outward like a tail,
The following were invisible:
5. White skin stitched onto his chest, bearing strange tattoos,
6. A human-faced heart completely implanted in the right side of his chest, functioning normally.
All six foreign organs had been taken from the previous First Gentleman, carrying the traits and will they had possessed in life.
≮Suspension Method≯
Iron chains descended one after another from the church ceiling,
Wrapping around his limbs,
Nailing into the skin of his back,
Passing horizontally through the back of his neck,
Suspending his entire body above the altar in the shape of a cross,
The iron chains touching his flesh seemed to have been imbued with a certain vitality. The cold steel had turned warm, and flesh-colored skin had even grown across their surfaces.
This was the current First Gentleman, the seventh master of the Divine Skin Manor—Alexis Jin Claude.
So this is the First Gentleman...
Upon seeing this scene,
Yi Chen became puzzled and even nervous about the reward he was about to receive.
When he reached the steps before the altar together with White Owl,
The First Gentleman slowly opened his eyes,
For a moment,
The skin all over Yi Chen's body began to writhe.
"Since the review panel has given you such a high evaluation, ascend the final holy steps and accept my skin."
"Yes."
Only then did Yi Chen understand.
The highest-tier reward in the examination, the "Gentleman's Skin," had been taken directly from the master of the Divine Skin Manor.
Although he did not know what the skin was used for,
It would certainly be of tremendous help to his future development.
Haa... He drew a deep breath.
Yi Chen did not hesitate much,
Doing his best to keep his steps measured and his behavior elegant,
Just as he stepped onto the stairs,
Clang, clang~ The chains moved.
The suspended First Gentleman, Claude, landed on the altar, bent down, and stared at the short young man before him.
"Make contact with me."
At the same time, he extended his hand.
Their palms touched,
In that instant,
Yi Chen could no longer control the 'sexual transformation' of his skin. It became completely uncontrollable, flowing like liquid.
Likewise,
An indescribable skin seemed to flow toward him like liquid.
It was as if their "skin was being exchanged."
This sensation of liquid flowing
Made him recall a memory that should have been deleted: a black sea filled with ink, whose flowing waves would sweep away a portion of something inside his body.
Hum!
During the process of "transferring skin," the First Gentleman, Claude, sensed a tug of death coming from within Yi Chen... It even slowly formed a small black vortex that actively drew in his skin.
"Death?"
The withered arm grafted onto Claude's back suddenly swung over, forcibly interrupting their contact.
However,
Yi Chen, immersed in the state of acceptance, had no idea what was happening outside.
When he opened his eyes again,
A piece of "Gentleman's Skin," measuring 10 cm × 10 cm, had appeared in his hand.
He could clearly sense that the skin was alive.
At the same time,
White Owl Chamberson, standing below the steps, also revealed a rare expression of astonishment.
It's that large?
He had seen some extremely outstanding newcomers meet the First Gentleman before, but he had never seen anyone receive such a large piece of skin.
Clang, clang~ The chains moved.
The First Gentleman returned to his suspended state.
At the same time, a black box appeared above the altar.
"Keep your skin safe and go perform the acceptance ritual... I'm also curious what kind of gentleman you'll be identified as."
"Yes."
Yi Chen hurried to the altar, placed the skin in the box, and held it against his chest.
Before parting,
The First Gentleman deliberately added one more thing, though these words were directed more at White Owl.
"Through the skin contact just now, I discovered that your physique is extremely ordinary. You haven't undergone any basic training... You're more like an 'outsider.'
"Chamberson, this young man will need to catch up on his basic training. He'll need to spend several times more time than others.
"If necessary, apply to the academy for extended Secluded Cultivation.
"In any case, I'll leave this matter to you.
"Talents must be cultivated properly. We don't have much time left."
"Yes."
When his voice faded,
The white skin additionally attached to the First Gentleman's chest reflected an incomprehensible ancient pattern.
Spatial Compression
In the blink of an eye,
Yi Chen and Chamberson had returned to the side hall of the examination review.
It was as if meeting the First Gentleman had happened only in a dream.
Feeling the black box in his hands and the vibrant Gentleman's Skin inside,
The excitement, joy, and satisfaction of obtaining a top-tier prize surged wildly through him.
"Going to the bottom of the lake... really was the right choice."
Before you continue