My Cell Prison-Chapter 1248 - 1247 Locksmith

When he stepped out of the Earth Evil Palace,

Sir Yan could no longer contain himself.

During the past hour of waiting, a continuous commotion from the Inner Palace clearly indicated that a major battle was taking place.

Yet Han Dong’s explanation was "Corpse Change"... Despite possessing the Death Jade given by the Tomb Lord, such a far-fetched explanation was difficult to accept.

"Mr. Han, what exactly happened in the Inner Palace just now?"

"Haven’t I already told you? Academician Du underwent a Corpse Change, and considering the safety issues, I dealt with him directly."

"He was already a zombie, so how can there be a talk of Corpse Change?"

"It’s something like this..."

Han Dong did understand Sir Yan’s concerns and, since he had acquired the inheritance artifact, he patiently explained Academician Du’s Resurrection plan using the "last breath" to Sir Yan.

Upon hearing this, Yan Bowen gasped and muttered,

"So, according to what you say, it really qualifies as a ’Corpse Change’!

The imperial physicians had long examined Du Zhijing and declared him dead... It’s unexpected that he had such a trick up his sleeve, no wonder even some ordinary bookstores have copies of the [Floating Corpse Internal Classic]."

However, what concerned Yan Bowen more was,

Academician Du had laid out such a century-long plan, but ultimately fell at the hands of Han Dong... What was most astonishing was, upon examining Han Dong’s body up and down, aside from a reduction in the total Corpse Energy, there were no injuries at all.

For a moment, he seemed to have guessed some of Han Dong’s ’distinctiveness’ and why the Tomb Lord would give him the "Death Jade."

...

While Han Dong was carrying out his plan, heading to the next destination - [Locksmith Area].

Imperial Palace, at the northernmost end.

There was a massive structure built along the City Wall, similar to a gigantic steam locomotive.

Hanging above the central doorway was a colossal plaque with just one word - [Military]

This was the Central Military Department, responsible for the security of the outer walls of the Imperial Palace. Personnel who had the authorization to conduct matters here were all Black Zombies who met the standards of combat ability and Body adaptability.

The current Minister of War had a style completely different from Wang Shiheng.

He was someone who greatly embraced new things, had a keen interest in Mechanical Technology, and requested the Ministry of Works to conduct general modifications on himself.

As a result, there was a very close collaboration between the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Works.

The Ministry of War, through extremely strict screening methods, selected military officials suitable for Machinery Entity modification to provide to the Ministry of Works for related experimental transformations. Even if the military officials died during the experiment, the Ministry of War would not hold any responsibility.

In return, the Ministry of Works would also provide some technicians to serve the Ministry of War.

[Martial Arts Arena], now also jointly managed by both departments.

While training soldiers, they would also use the latest firearms in the Martial Arts Arena or allow Machinery Entities to fight life-and-death battles against normal zombies, or directly bombard zombies with firearms to find directions for modification and enhancement.

Currently.

[Central Military Department - Divine Soldier Furnace]

A special area constructed by a hundred craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, also serving as the ’meeting room’ for the Minister of War.

A zombie naturally over three meters tall, radiating intense heat, sat on an iron chair tailor-made for him.

On the chair’s backrest rested a Powered Weapon - Heavy Hammer and Saw Blade, personally designed by the Minister of Works, made with materials obtained from the deep parts of the Demon Region, with tremendous lethality.

Streams of molten iron flowed around both sides of the chair, making the iron seat reach temperatures of over a thousand degrees Celsius.

The most extravagant feature was this person’s [Body].

With absolutely formidable strength, achievements, and vigor, he had seized the position of the Minister of War, personally praised by the Tomb Lord, and was known as the ’Lava Giant Beast.’

His entire body (including the jawline of his face) was embedded with black iron containing core craftsmanship (implant technology).

Furthermore, numerous conduits ran across the surface of this black iron, flowing with a high-temperature substance similar to molten iron, carrying out an efficient external circulation.

Minister of War - Shentu Yang

The strongest successor of Wang Shiheng to ascend to the Upper Rank in the Ministry of War.

Currently.

The relevant information had been reported completely, and Shentu Yang wore an extremely cautious expression.

"The evidence you provided basically holds true, and if related conjectures are also entirely valid, this person is indeed a huge threat to our country and must be eliminated as soon as possible.

As for Wang Shiheng’s matter, I have never taken it to heart.

What does it matter if the old man’s legs recover? With his current state, he poses no threat to my status... Just let him live out his years peacefully below, and he can help me kill some troublesome beasts.

Just keep a close eye on this person you mentioned... seize any opportunity to execute him directly."

[Chain Area]

Refers to the common area designated by the ’chains’ of Corpse Country and surrounding Floating Islands, located directly below the barracks, about five thousand meters underground.

All those labeled as ’Locksmiths’ are forced to spend the rest of their lives in the chain area.

Recently, due to a sharp decrease in the number of locksmiths, Corpse Country has been cultivating ’Corpse Demons’ in the Floating Island area to fill the vacancy of locksmiths by controlling these giant-bodied Corpse Demons using Talisman Paper.

(After killing stronger monsters, their corpses are buried in the hillside grave of the Floating Island, where they undergo Corpse Change by absorbing a large amount of Corpse Energy)

It was much easier to go to the Chain Area than to the Earth Evil Palace.

Han Dong didn’t even need to show the Death Jade, simply because of the relationships he had built in the barracks and the special identity of Sir Yan, he received a pass.

He boarded a vertically-oriented steam train named [Ground Dragon].

The Ground Dragon could accommodate more than five hundred people at a time and was also equipped with special carriages for controlling and transporting Corpse Demons.

Han Dong and Sir Yan were special guests and sat in the lead carriage, completely separated from the locksmiths behind them.

On the way, he didn’t ask much, preferring to witness the situation in the Chain Area himself in a few minutes rather than having Sir Yan describe it verbally.

"The inherent rules of the world exist to prevent the Tomb Lord from stripping the world, thus forming the chains... If I guess correctly, the Tomb Lord wants to cut off or weaken the chains, and he can only use a relatively cruel method."

The train arrived at the station.

Han Dong was shocked by the scene as soon as he alighted.

Even Sir Yan, who had been here once before, showed an uncomfortable expression beneath his mask.

The scene before him was like Hell itself, which was the reason Sir Yan seldom came to the Chain Area.

The chains from Corpse Country and the Floating Islands all converged here.

Through a massive cross formed by the world’s rules, penetrating the end of the chains, it was firmly fixed here, restricting the promotion process of Corpse Country.

The duty of the locksmiths was only one—"Pull out the cross."

Their bare chests were fitted with bridles, the other ends of which were tied to the surface of the cross... requiring them to pull the cross outward day after day, like boatmen.

However,

This was not the most terrifying part; the physical exhaustion was nothing to them.

The worst was the ’rule erosion.’

Every locksmith working here, including the Corpse Demons sent later to pull alongside, suffered from a ’chain disease.’

Chains penetrated their bodies, more or fewer chains, with some dragging on the ground like exposed organs... The number and size of these chains were directly proportional to their working time.

The chains growing on their bodies brought an extreme anguish at the soul’s plane.

Like living worms crawling inside bones,

Or like suffering endless burning by fierce fire,

Or like the severe pain of being skinned layer by layer,

And so forth...

Even cutting off the parts where the chains had grown could not stop such agony.

"Individuals who come into contact with the chains are considered [Betrayers] who defy the world.

They will receive punishment from the rules... although, while punishing the individuals, the world rules also consume an extremely small amount of ruling force.

The so-called ’pulling out the cross’ is merely a figure of speech.

In reality, it’s by ’piling up numbers’ and consuming the rules through the dead.

How pitiable."