The Only Way Out, Prison Clan Trial (Seeking Follow-ups)

He had been here for eighteen years (calculated by Earth time; no further elaboration will be made), and Wu Sheng had already set his goal.

With such heaven-defying talent, he couldn't afford to waste it. When he struck, it would be with a force that stunned the world—if he was going to do it, he would become the strongest "Soul-Devouring Demon Tank."

The good news was that Wu Sheng had indeed reincarnated as a Special Lifeform, and in the very Primordial Universe he was familiar with.

The bad news was that while this Special Lifeform had some foundation, it would ultimately require him to fight, contend, and struggle on his own.

The neither-good-nor-bad news was that he had reincarnated into the Prison Clan, becoming a low-ranking member.

The Prison Clan was born from a perilous, treacherous place within the universe, surviving its harshness before venturing out. The appearances, forms, and even life essences of the Prison Clan's experts varied widely—some were rock lifeforms, some flesh-and-blood... some had souls, others did not.

Yet the Prison Clan shared a common trait: all were lives born from that perilous place! They called that dangerous, fearsome land "Prison," and thus their clan was named the Prison Clan!

In other words, Wu Sheng now held three identities: he was a member of the Prison Clan, a Special Lifeform, and deep in his soul, still a human.

Originally, with his chosen identity as a "Soul-Devouring Demon Tank," being born in human territory would have been safer, but it would also have limited his growth.

Now, having reincarnated directly into the Prison Clan's perilous land, though he faced countless unknown risks, it also gave him the possibility of gradually growing stronger.

But it was only a faint possibility. From the records of his inherited memories, he knew that for a Soul-Devouring Demon Tank to defy heaven was still extraordinarily difficult.

The hardest part was that before becoming a Realm Lord, he needed to gain recognition from at least one Source Law.

The Soul-Devouring Demon Tank could be called a favorite of the Wind Source Law, yet in the records of past Soul-Devouring Demon Tanks, fewer than one in ten of those who reached Realm Lord had managed to gain the Wind Source Law's recognition.

And Wu Sheng's transformation would occur the moment he became a Realm Lord. If he missed it, once his Innate Life Core was set, everything would be too late.

Fortunately, he still had the unique advantage of the "Time-Space Shop." If he could activate it and exchange for some Innate Secret Arts or treasures suited to him, there might still be a chance to turn things around.

As for the Primordial Universe's single mandatory command, Wu Sheng felt that as long as the Universe Will wasn't foolish, it would save it for last, making him deal with the Realm Beast Cataclysm!

Otherwise, if it wasted that command early, when the Realm Beasts truly arrived, he could just put in minimal effort, drag his feet, and still fulfill the agreement—leaving it helpless and glaring at him with no recourse.

"Wrong!"

Wu Sheng suddenly sat up from the grass, revealing his body covered in black fur, his face also thick with black hair. Only his pair of blood-red eyes showed a deep shock.

"I chose the second agreement. If my strength never improves, the Primordial Universe Will might just give me a suicidal command, and I'd have no choice but to obey!"

Wu Sheng finally realized the gravity of the problem. Though he was now the weakest Special Lifeform, beneath the Primordial Universe's notice, What if it decided he had no value? Would it let him live peacefully through an entire cycle of reincarnation?

"I have to get stronger! At least enough to seem useful, so I won't be casually discarded as a pawn by the Universe Will."

Wu Sheng rubbed his forehead with his small, fur-covered hand. He hadn't expected that no matter which world he was in, there would be endless troubles.

This feeling of not having his life under his own control was unbearably unpleasant.

"Black Boy, you're here! You scared me to death!"

From a corner of the sky, an ape-man in black armor, his face also covered in black fur, flew over. Before even landing, he shouted in relief.

Wu Sheng looked at his anxious expression, feeling some gratitude, but he still couldn't get used to the name "Black Boy."

The black-armored ape before him was a member of the Wu Gang Clan among the countless Prison Clan members, a Star Grade second-stage martial artist.

In the Prison Clan, Planet Grade corresponded to Earth Grade, because in this perilous land, Planet Grade beings couldn't yet fly using their own gravitational fields. Star Grade was called Sky Grade, as they could already rely on their own strength to break free from the land's restraints and fly to a certain extent.

"I just came here to wander around. Got tired and lay down to rest. Sorry for making you worry."

Though in his heart, Wu Sheng already regarded him as family, he still couldn't bring himself to say the word "father."

"It's fine if you're okay. We just fought a battle with the Bone Snail Clan today. Many clansmen died, but we still won. Once my rewards are distributed, I'll be able to buy you a First-Order Force Battle Suit. Then I'll feel at ease."

The black-armored ape looked at the adopted son he had picked up eighteen years ago, his eyes full of warmth.

The Prison Clan was indeed bloodthirsty, but even at the lowest levels, there was a unique depth of affection.

This Star Grade second-stage black-armored ape had once had three sons, all of whom died tragically, and even his wife had been lost in a clan war.

Perhaps it was the heavy pain of losing his wife and sons that made him soften when he saw the newly born Wu Sheng in the wild, leading him to take him in and raise him.

Without him, Wu Sheng would probably have been dead for eighteen years by now.

"Thank you, but I probably won't need it."

A flicker of gratitude passed through Wu Sheng's eyes, but he politely refused the black-armored ape's kindness.

"Why? Without a battle suit to protect you, it'll be hard for you to survive."

"I... I want to participate in the Blood Trial!"

Wu Sheng's blood-red eyes looked seriously at the black-armored ape.

In truth, Wu Sheng's body was quite similar to the Wu Gang Clan's, only his blood-red eyes set him apart.

"No, I won't agree. Others avoid that place at all costs, so why do you want to rush in? Do you know that your three older brothers were all taken there and died miserably inside?"

The black-armored ape, hearing Wu Sheng's words, retorted angrily.

"I want to get stronger. In the clan, even if we win a big battle, the rewards are always meager. Only by joining the Blood Trial can I get a large number of rewards. And there, opponents are all at the same level fighting each other. I have some confidence."

Wu Sheng's gaze remained firm.

"Same level doesn't mean equal strength. Some of them are already at Earth Grade peak, and you're only Earth Grade third-stage. What can you use to compete with them? Wait until next time—by then, with your progress, you should reach Earth Grade peak, and it'll be much better. When that time comes, I won't stop you."

The Black-Armored Ape pleaded, knowing that the adopted son he had raised was advancing rapidly and possessed great talent, but with strength at merely Earth Grade, Third Order, his chances of survival in the Blood Trial were far too slim.

After all, that was a bloody slaughter where out of one million Prison Clan members, only a hundred would ultimately survive!

Moreover, once one chose to participate in the Blood Trial, they had to continue taking part in all subsequent Blood Trials.

From Earth Grade to Sky Grade, from Sky Grade to Nirvana... all the way until becoming a powerful Domain Lord or even Realm Lord.

Killing—endless, unceasing killing—only those who survived to the end were true Prison Clan members.

Yet the vast majority would fall along the path forward.

"Yes, I too would prefer to wait until Planet Grade, Ninth Order, but I have no time left!"

Wu Sheng lamented inwardly.