6 Chapter no.6 Demon Prison Cave - Stage 1

The sprawling expanses of the Xuanjie Realm, a celestial dominion beyond the mortal coil, cradle continents of unimaginable magnitude, each dwarfing the entirety of our terrestrial universe. Amongst these vast lands, the Wuji continent emerges as a pinnacle where the Murim, practitioners of ancient martial arts, burgeon and cultivate their powers. Wuji is embroidered with a tapestry of numerous sects, each harboring its own beliefs, practices, and rituals. However, despite their multifaceted doctrines, these sects fundamentally bifurcate into two primary categories: orthodox and demonic. The orthodox sects, wielding the majority's might, craft the moral and ethical compass of the realm, dictating the threads of right and wrong that weave through the sociocultural fabric of the Murim world. In stark contrast, those who dare to defy these majority-crafted tenets are branded as demonic sects, painted with a brush of rebellion and malevolence. Where the orthodox sects gently coax mortals born with spiritual roots into their fold, establishing benevolent master-student kinships and shepherding them away from the Earthly realm with fairness, the demonic sects employ a more insidious method. This nefarious approach, known as the savior parasitic method, sees individuals snatched from their homes, cast into horrific prisons, only to be "rescued" under the guise of protection. In the sinister embrace of the demonic sects, these individuals, tethered by a deceptive lifeline, are meticulously molded into lethal weapons, their loyalty coerced and unwavering, dedicated to the dark machinations of their saviors. •••••••••••••• [ Black Lotus Cult ] As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the vast expanse of the sea, a group of seagulls gathered on the sandy beach of the floating island. The island was a marvel of nature and magic, wreathed in rings of spiritual Qi that held it aloft in defiance of gravity. The seagulls, however, were unlike any others. Their skin was translucent and pulsing, their wings flapped in slow, deliberate beats, and they were shaped like camel humps, twisted and grotesque. They flew through the air with a strange grace, their movements mesmerizing as they soared high above the island. As the seagulls searched for their next meal, they suddenly fell silent, their attention drawn to the sky. Another strange bird appeared on the horizon, similar to their own twisted form. It flew through the air with the same strange grace, its wings flapping in slow, deliberate beats. The seagulls watched in awe as the bird approached, and they circled around it, their presence filling the sky with a mixture of fear and wonder. As the sun sank lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the beach, the seagulls began to descend, their twisted forms visible in the fading light. They landed on the sand, their movements slow and deliberate, and began to search for food along the shore. Deep beneath the floating island, hidden from the prying eyes of the world above, lay the demon prison cave. It was a vast, dark chamber carved from the heart of an underwater mountain, a place of death and danger where the new members of the Black Lotus Cult were tested to their limits. The cave was said to have been in operation for centuries, and over time it had evolved to become even more impenetrable and secure, its walls lined with ancient runes and powerful enchantments. For the Black Lotus Cult, the prison served a very specific purpose. It was here that the candidates for demonic cultivation were sent, to be broken and molded into weapons for their cause. The process was brutal, stripping away everything that made them human and leaving only a shell of rage and darkness behind as they are manipulated to train and then be molded into monsters that hunt for their master; The Black Lotus Cult. Legends and stories abounded about the demon prison cave, whispered in hushed tones by those who feared its power. Some spoke of a great evil that lay buried within the cave, waiting to be unleashed upon the world. Others claimed that the prison was cursed, and that those who entered its dark halls would never return. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the world above into a warm, golden glow, the seagulls continued their search for food along the shores of the floating island. Meanwhile, beneath the waves, the demon prison cave lay silent and foreboding, a place of death and despair that only its caretaker, Daji, dared to enter. Daji was the keeper of the prison, responsible for ensuring that the prisoners remained under control and that none escaped. She had seen firsthand the horrors that awaited those who fell under the influence of the Black Lotus Cult. The memories of the brutal and inhumane methods used to create demonic cultivators were seared into her mind, to the point that she had even carved out her own eyes in an act of trying to forget the cult's atrocities. Despite her lack of sight, Daji remained fiercely loyal to her duty out of fear, ensuring that the prisoners remained alive and in check. Her fear of what the cult would do to her should she falter only add to her determination to carry out her responsibilities to the best of her ability. The demon prison cave was a constant reminder of the power and danger of the Black Lotus Cult. •••••••••••••• [ Black Lotus Cult - Demon Prison Cave ] The walls were rough and jagged, the result of centuries of erosion and the ceaseless pounding of underground streams. The air was heavy with the smell of damp stone and the echoes of dripping water, creating an eerie, subterranean atmosphere. At the entrance of the prison was a slab of rock ; a rough and rectangular block that jutted out from the wall of the cave. It was unremarkable and seemed to be just another piece of stone among many, but suddenly it lit up with soft cyan light and began to emit from the rock, growing brighter. It was a ghostly, pulsing light that seemed to come from within the stone itself, and it filled the cave with an otherworldly glow. The shadows receded, pushed back by the bright light, as a woman walked out. The woman was dressed in robes of deep midnight blue, adorned with intricate silver stitching that glimmered in the dim light of the maze. The hood of her garment was drawn low over her face, casting her features in shadow and lending her an air of mystery. She moved with a purposeful stride, her boots echoing off the walls of the maze with each step. As she walked, she was surrounded by a seemingly endless labyrinth of walls made of gleaming metal. The walls were tall and imposing, stretching up towards a ceiling that was lost in the darkness above. The air was heavy and still, charged with a sense of dread that seemed to seep into the very bones of anyone who dared to enter this place. The woman came to a stop in front of one of the metallic doors, her hand reaching out to touch the cool metal with a gloved hand. Attached to the back of the glove was a crystal, which pulsed with a soft, warm light. As her fingers brushed against the door, the runic array etched into the metal suddenly lit up with an otherworldly glow. She stood there for a moment, her hand still touching the door, as if sensing something beyond the metal and stone. And then, she felt it - a wave of death that rolled over her like a dark, suffocating blanket. She knew, with a certainty, that everyone within that cell was gone. With a hiss of anger, she spat on the ground in front of her, the spittle sizzling as it hit the metal floor. Her eyes burned with fury and frustration, as she gazed at the door that seemed to mock her with its glowing runes. For a moment, she stood there, seething, before turning and storming down the maze, her cloak billowing behind her like a banner of defiance. " Pathetic Bastards !" The keeper of the demon prison cave shouted as her voice echoed throughout the halls. Daji, the Keeper of the Demon Prison Cave, stood before one of the doors of the prison cells located at the entrance of the cave. Her hand was pressed against the door in frustration, her anger evident in the tight set of her jaw and the fury blazing in her eyes. She had taken great care in ensuring that the prisoners at the entrance were well-taken care of, with more food and even the luxury of having multiple companions in their cells unlike the others. Yet despite all her efforts, the prisoners within this cell were now all dead. Daji stood before the metallic door, her eyes narrowed in determination. She reached into her robes and withdrew a small jade slip, which she deftly jammed into the door's inscription array. The array brightened with a burst of energy, the runes glowing with a brilliant light. But just as suddenly, the light sizzled out, leaving the array dark once more. With a hiss, the door slid open, revealing the grisly scene within. A dozen or so corpses littered the floor of the cell, their bodies twisted and contorted in death. Daji surveyed the scene with a critical eye, noting the signs of infighting and the makeshift fortifications that the prisoners had erected in an attempt to protect themselves from one another. She clicked her tongue in disapproval, the sound echoing through the cavernous chamber. This was a waste of time, she thought. These prisoners had squandered their chance at survival, turning on one another in a desperate bid for more food. With a flick of her wrist, Daji summoned a spatial satchel, the bag appearing out of thin air in her outstretched hand. She focused her energy, and with a soft whooshing sound, the corpses were sucked into the satchel, disappearing from sight. Daji looked down at the empty cell, her expression cold and emotionless. She had much to do, and this wasted detour was a hindrance to her plans. She turned on her heel, leaving the cell behind and making her way to the next set of prison cells, her mind already focused on the tasks ahead. The cave was quiet once more, save for the soft echo of Daji's footsteps as she disappeared into the shadows. .... Daji walked down the dimly lit halls of the Demon Prison Cave, her hand trailing along the rough stone walls as she counted the number of cells she had checked. Each cell was worse than the last, the conditions deteriorating with each step she took. Some cells were filled with isolation so complete that the prisoners inside had gone mad from the lack of stimulation. Others were packed with so many individuals that they were forced to live in cramped, unsanitary conditions. As she continued down the hallway, Daji took note of which cells still had living prisoners and which were filled with corpses. She had been desensitized to the grim sight of death. The children were brought here to be broken, their spirits crushed and their bodies destroyed before they could be molded into weapons for the black lotus cult. It was a cruel system, but one that had been in place for thousands of years to create demonic cultivators for the Black Lotus Cult. But it was the last cell that truly tested even Daji's iron will. It was the worst of the worst, a place of complete darkness and isolation, where the prisoner was given the bare minimum of food. Over the past five hundred years, only a handful of prisoners had survived their time in this cell, and Daji was certain that this one would be no different. Daji approached the cell, her footsteps echoing ominously down the cold, stone hallway. The walls were slick with dampness, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of mildew. She shivered, wrapping her robes tighter around herself. This was not a place meant for the living. As she reached the cell, she could feel the chill radiating from the metal door. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the inscription array. Taking a deep breath, Daji reached out and placed her hand on the array. She closed her eyes, focusing her Spiritual Qi, and attempting to detect any signs of life within the cell. To her surprise, she felt the faintest flicker of heat, a small spark of life in the darkness. Daji reeled back in shock, her eyes flying open. Could it be possible? Could someone actually still be alive in that hellish place? She reached into her robes and pulled out a glass serpent eye, which she carefully fitted into the empty eye socket in her skull. With a burst of Spiritual Qi, her gloves lit up, and she was able to see through the metallic door using her heat vision. What she saw inside took her breath away. There was a boy inside, touching the walls as he stood still with a mushroom in his hand. He was thin and gaunt, his hair matted and his skin covered in grime, but there was a look of intense concentration on his face, as if he were reading something written on the walls. Daji watched in amazement as the boy raised the mushroom as if he was using it as a torch. She was filled with a mix of emotions. How could someone survive in this place? What was it about this boy that had allowed him to endure where so many others had failed? And what secrets were hidden within these walls, secrets that he was uncovering even now? "Hmm, I wonder if you will be able to survive against the Fire Blood Centipede and become the second individual to survive the deepest part of this hell hole, I wonder if you would rise up like that man who survived before you, what was his name again ? Oh, yeah, Alexander!"

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