Chapter 1000: Dungeon

As the two lines of characters floated up before his eyes, Chen Ling slowly straightened his body, the smile on his face gradually fading.

At this moment, Chi Tong's life force had been completely extinguished by Hong Xiu's killing intent. Even so, he still glared fiercely at Chen Ling, unable to rest in peace.

Until his death, Chi Tong couldn't comprehend how Chen Ling had escaped the Silver King's memory exchange, showing no flaws for such a long time. Furthermore, he had even managed to turn Hong Xiu to his side right under everyone's noses...

“With his work ethic, he would be a valuable asset anywhere...” Hong Xiu glanced at the files piled high on Chi Tong's desk and sighed deeply. “It’s a pity he chose to serve the Silver King.”

“As long as he belonged to the Way of the Thieving God, he had to obey the Silver King, regardless of his personal wishes,” Chen Ling said indifferently.

“To consolidate his absolute authority in the Way of the Thieving God, the Silver King took away the Way’s ‘Eighth Rank.’ He certainly achieved his goal, but the drawbacks are obvious. If he had delegated authority to Chi Tong this time, allowing him to advance to the Eighth Rank, our plan wouldn’t have succeeded so easily... Ultimately, Chi Tong died because of the Silver King’s ambition.”

Chi Tong was not foolish. Since the Flame Usurpers took control of the Limitless Domain, he had single-handedly managed the government. He was also the only one among all the Thieving Saints with leadership abilities. Unfortunately, he encountered a king who didn't trust him, and a 'freak' who could retain his memories even under the Silver King's influence.

Even Fang Liangye, who was performing the 'empty fort strategy' outside, was a creation of the Silver King...

Hong Xiu moved Chi Tong's body under the desk to conceal it. Chen Ling raised a hand and waved; the blood splattered on the floor instantly solidified and reshaped, then was thrown out the window. In less than ten seconds, all traces of Chi Tong's demise were erased from the scene.

“We don’t have much time. With Chi Tong dead, I don’t know if the Silver King will sense anything,” Hong Xiu said, her expression extremely grave.

Chen Ling hummed in agreement, then pushed open the office door, his face still disguised as Chi Tong’s, and spoke in a deep voice:

“Someone!”

A few seconds later, a Flame Usurper hurried over.

“Lord Chi Tong, what are your orders?”

“I need to go to the dungeon.”

“...The dungeon?” The Flame Usurper seemed perplexed but did not refuse Chi Tong's command. “Yes, I’ll go get the keys and lead the way for you immediately.”

The Flame Usurper left briefly, then returned with a large set of keys, leading Chen Ling and Hong Xiu deeper into the church.

As the Flame Usurper used the keys in his hand to unlock two consecutive doors, a narrow staircase leading underground appeared before Chen Ling.

Empty cells passed by Chen Ling as they descended, the surrounding light growing dimmer and dimmer, as if some force was suppressing it. This was Chen Ling's first time entering the deeper parts of the church. He remained vigilant, his peripheral vision scanning the surroundings for any potential dangers.

However, it became clear that with Hong Xiu by his side, there was no danger within the entire church. A faint wisp of killing intent occasionally emanating from Hong Xiu directly repelled the encroaching darkness, ensuring their kerosene lamp remained brightly lit.

“Lord Chi Tong, we’ve arrived at the dungeon... Do you have any instructions?” the Flame Usurper asked cautiously.

Chen Ling did not answer. He slowly walked forward along the narrow stone path, his gaze scrutinizing the cells on both sides one by one...

The first few cells near the dungeon entrance were mostly empty, but the deeper they went, the more prisoners were confined within the cells.

Some were mages captured during the Limitless Monarch’s reign, others were members of the Rat Party arrested during the Silver King’s era. All of them were huddled in dark corners, only their cold eyes silently fixated on Chen Ling as he passed by their doors.

Suddenly, Chen Ling stopped in front of one of the cells.

Inside the dim, crude cell, a black-haired woman clad in knight's armor sat upright on the bed like a statue, her eyes closed as if in meditation or thought. Sensing Chen Ling's gaze, her eyes snapped open like drawn swords, sweeping across the space.

The moment their gazes met, a chill surged from Chen Ling's feet to his head, as if he had been targeted by a dangerous beast!

This oppressive feeling didn't come from the knight's rank, but from the anger and killing intent contained within her soul—a powerful aura permeating from the world’s northernmost, most frigid lands.

Undoubtedly, the soul imprisoned within this knight's body was that of the world's foremost female Asura, the Chief Enforcer of Aurora City.

Similar to Chen Ling and Fang Liangye's situation, the disparity between Hong Xiu and the Knight was too vast. Even with their memories exchanged, the Knight's memories were still affected by Hong Xiu's body, becoming stern and deadly. And Hong Xiu's memories, infused into the Knight's body, made that body's gaze full of oppressive power!

The Knight's gaze swept over Chen Ling, then shifted to Hong Xiu beside him. Their eyes met across the space, and the air seemed to momentarily still.

“You are...” The Knight looked at the enforcer’s trench coat, her brows furrowing deeper.

Sensing the change in the prisoners within the dungeon, sweat began to seep from the Flame Usurper's forehead. He rushed to 'Chi Tong's' side and whispered:

“Lord Chi Tong, what exactly are you doing? Please tell us!”

Chen Ling glanced at him indifferently. “Make him shut up.”

The Flame Usurper was stunned.

Before he could react, Hong Xiu casually pointed, and his head exploded with an invisible force. Blood and brains splattered across the floor as a headless body slowly fell, landing with a dull thud.

The entire dungeon fell into a deathly silence.

All the prisoners present began to breathe heavily. They looked incredulously at Chen Ling and the black-clad woman beside him, their minds momentarily paralyzed. Some of them recognized Chi Tong, others didn't, but regardless, that person had just publicly killed a Flame Usurper in the dungeon.

Anyone with an ounce of sense keenly perceived that something was wrong... What had happened outside?

The next moment, they saw Chen Ling slowly raise his hand and tear forcefully at his chin!

As a mask dissipated into thin air, a figure cloaked in a large crimson opera robe replaced the former Chi Tong, standing tall in the dungeon's gloom. The faint light of the kerosene lamp illuminated his deep, dark eyes as they slowly swept over everyone.

“I am Red Heart 6 of the Twilight Society, Chen Ling.”

“Since you are all imprisoned here, it means you are enemies of either the Limitless Monarch or the Silver King...”

“Coincidentally, they are my enemies too...”

“I enjoy causing trouble for my enemies, so... I hope all of you here can become 'trouble'.”

Chen Ling gave Hong Xiu a look. She nodded slightly, then raised her hand and flicked it again. A wisp of killing intent instantly spread throughout the dungeon, and the cursed chains hanging on all the cell doors snapped, simultaneously opening dozens of cages!

The candlelight from the kerosene lamp cast Chen Ling’s robed figure onto the wall, making him look like a demon swaying in flames. He slowly curved his lips into a slight smile and spoke softly:

“The Silver King is away, and the Limitless Monarch is restrained... Ladies and gentlemen, the time has come to rely on your own abilities.”