Soul Absorption Art

Meanwhile, news also arrived from the Hundred Flowers Brothel.

Zhang Qiang, the centurion, led the Brocade Guard in successfully raiding the hidden brothel, rescuing a large number of imprisoned women.

These women had been tortured beyond recognition. The moment they saw sunlight, many burst into tears.

Zhang Qiang confiscated all the gold, silver, and account books from the hidden brothel, and rounded up all the remaining members of the Joyful Union Sect.

Prince Rong anxiously awaited news in the palace. He paced back and forth in the hall, a vague sense of foreboding in his heart.

Finally, a eunuch hurried in and whispered a few words in his ear.

The emperor, who had just been laughing and talking with Prince Rong, was now consumed by rage.

"Hundreds of lives, comparable to the casualties of a small battle! I pride myself on being a wise ruler, yet such a thing has happened even in the capital, under the very nose of the Son of Heaven!" The emperor slammed his hand down, the tea in his cup splashing all over the table.

Prince Rong was startled by this sudden outburst, his hands fidgeting in his sleeves. He cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, what has happened?"

"Uncle, about the hidden brothel of the Hundred Flowers Brothel, the remnants of the Joyful Union Sect, don't you think you owe me an explanation?" The emperor's eyes were as cold as ice.

Prince Rong's face turned ashen the moment he heard the words "hidden brothel."

"Your Majesty... you... you..." Prince Rong muttered to himself.

"Uncle wants to ask how I found out, doesn't he?" The emperor stared intently at Prince Rong. "Uncle probably doesn't know that Li Chen Zhou has already led people to raze the Chen residence, along with such filthy places as the Hundred Flowers Brothel. Everyone involved has been taken back to the Imperial Prison. Does Uncle still want to hide it from me?"

At this moment, Prince Rong felt weak all over, his body swaying, almost falling to the ground.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, quietly watching Prince Rong. "Uncle, what do you have to say now?" His voice was calm, but with a hint of majesty.

Prince Rong fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, "Your Majesty, this old subject is guilty, this old subject deserves to die! Please spare my life!"

The emperor looked at Prince Rong, a flash of disappointment in his eyes, along with a hint of killing intent. "Uncle, I have always respected you. As a member of the imperial family, the one in charge of the Court of the Imperial Clan, I have given you great trust, yet you have done such a heinous thing. If I were to spare you, how would I answer to the hundreds of innocent souls who died, how would I answer to the people of the world?"

Prince Rong collapsed to the ground, knowing that his fate was sealed.

"Guards, take Prince Rong into custody in the palace prison for now, and send all members of Prince Rong's household to the Ministry of Justice prison. After investigation, they will all be executed."

As Prince Rong was sentenced and imprisoned, a resounding chime rang in Li Chen Zhou's mind.

"Ding... completed task: Human Trafficking. Uncovered the human trafficking industry chain and brought the criminals to justice. Reward: Ten years of internal energy."

"Congratulations to the host for completing the task and allowing the departed souls to rest in peace.

Acquired Divine-grade Skill: Soul Absorption Art.

Beginning fusion..."

A myriad of ant-like tingling sensations suddenly surged into Li Chen Zhou's meridians, instantly transforming into a refreshing clarity like a divine enlightenment.

"Divine-grade attributes are being unlocked. Current conversion rate is one-tenth. Increase of 10% for every hundred years of internal energy absorbed."

Feeling the changes in his body, Li Chen Zhou couldn't wait to go to the Imperial Prison.

Entering the Imperial Prison, the tunnel walls were covered with years of dark brown bloodstains, the sound of dragging chains and faint groans echoing in the damp air.

Meeting the person in charge of the Imperial Prison, Li Chen Zhou asked first:

"How is that Eight-Faced Buddha doing?"

The person in charge of the Imperial Prison suddenly revealed a twisted smile: "Not bad, strong physique. The eighteenth type of torture has already been carried out to the tenth type."

"Did he confess anything?"

The person in charge of the Imperial Prison took out a confession, grinning as he said, "Here's what you want."

"Thanks for the hard work." Li Chen Zhou replied, "Don't let him die too easily."

"Don't worry, I'm using fifty-year-old ginseng soup to keep him alive!" The person in charge of the Imperial Prison rubbed his scarred palms, his right hand missing half a little finger...

"Lord Li, catch more of these people who are locked up and don't care about their lives or deaths next time, so I can give my men some practice. Now we have to be careful when torturing others, for fear of accidentally killing them."

Li Chen Zhou listened and said with a smile: "Don't worry, the world is never short of scum. I'll send you those scumbags from the court one by one."

The person in charge of the Imperial Prison's eyes narrowed with excitement upon hearing this: "Then I'll thank you in advance, Lord Li."

Looking at a special term that appeared in the confession in his hand, Li Chen Zhou pondered: "Heavenly Desire Palace?"

He then put away the confession: "Take me to the Nether Twins."

"This way, please."

Walking into the Nether Twins' cell, Li Chen Zhou turned to the person in charge of the Imperial Prison and said, "I'll have to trouble you to step out for a moment. I have some things to ask them alone."

"No problem, Lord Li, please feel free." He left after speaking.

The dim candlelight shone on Li Chen Zhou's face, making him look so cold and ruthless.

"Lord Li, you must have spared our lives for a reason, right? As long as you let us go, we will follow your lead." Sword Fiend quickly pledged his loyalty. This was the Imperial Prison, and the jailers of the Imperial Prison were all perverts. No one could face them and remain unyielding.

"I don't need filth like you. I spared your lives for this moment."

Saying that, he placed his hands on their heads: "Soul Absorption Art."

Sword Fiend's throat made a 'gurgling' sound, his eyeballs bulging from congestion; Knife Fiend's neck veins bulged, but he couldn't make a sound.

The two men's internal energy, essence, and spirit continuously poured into Li Chen Zhou's body.

After a short while, they were completely drained.

Li Chen Zhou noticed that as the essence of the Nether Twins flowed in, a strange warmth arose in his dantian.

Li Chen Zhou opened his information panel to check:

Host: Li Chen Zhou

Martial Arts Realm: Sixth Rank, Mid-Stage (58/70)

Skills: Thirteen Guardian Golden Bell Shield (Mastery), Three Abyssal Slashes (Mastery), Thousand Faces (Mastery), Soaring Illusionary Steps (Mastery), Hell Soul Exchange Scripture (Mastery), Soul Absorption Art (Mastery). God-level Attributes Unlocked: 10%.

Internal Energy Cultivation: 58 years (calculated as one year of basic cultivation for an ordinary person)

Lifespan: 31 years

Weapon: Blood Demon Blade

Li Chen Zhou was surprised to find that his lifespan had actually increased by two years.

The fact that the Soul Absorption Art could convert the essence of others into his own lifespan made Li Chen Zhou increasingly eager to hunt down experts.

After calming down, he turned and walked out of the prison gate.

The head of the Imperial Prison saw Li Chen Zhou come out and quickly asked, "All done?"

"Yes, go in and clean up."

The head of the Imperial Prison was stunned. He peered inside and saw that both of them were already lifeless.

Just as the head of the Imperial Prison was about to speak, Li Chen Zhou asked, "What's your name, brother?"

"Yan San."