Chapter 404: Chapter 400: Bird Divine Doctor
This time, Tu Xiao’an’s trip to the Demon Management Bureau was much more high-profile. He was escorted by a group of human experts who all looked to him for leadership.
He remembered his first visit to the Demon Management Bureau. Back then, he had been bound in Demon locking Shackles, a black cloth thrown over his head, and hauled inside as a prisoner.
But now, he was Du Tianyi, the leader of Team One at the Demon Management Bureau. His status went without saying.
The Transformation Technique was simple enough—he just had to buy a potion from the shop to change his appearance. Normally, for experts, a simple change of face was useless.
Aura determined one’s identity.
But since Tu Xiao’an possessed Du Tianyi’s Golden Element Ability, it was like having an ID card. He wasn’t afraid of arousing any suspicion.
Arriving at the Demon Management Bureau again, Tu Xiao’an discovered that each group leader worked in a different place, each with their own building. The leader of Team One was in Building One, the leader of Team Two in Building Two.
The first time, he had been taken to Building Two.
But now, he was headed for Building One. As he went up the stairs, Tu Xiao’an arrived in the main office hall, and just like before, the thick smell of a zoo washed over him.
Many criminal Awakened Creatures were being interrogated by special police officers one by one, awaiting their sentences.
Their crimes were so bizarre they would leave anyone dumbfounded.
Tu Xiao’an gave them a quick glance. None of these criminal creatures were impressive enough to warrant his attention.
The reason Tu Xiao’an wanted to get that Blackbird from before was because it was no ordinary foe. It possessed a Curse Ability, and he wondered if it could be considered a Dark Elemental Power.
If it was a Dark Elemental Power, then it was far too terrifying.
Moreover, for a mere Rank Two Creature to make his Insight fail was no simple matter.
Generally speaking, he could even use Insight to get data on a Rank Three Creature like Du Tianyi, but not on the Blackbird. This proved its origins were anything but ordinary.
Of course, Tu Xiao’an’s strength had also grown considerably since his first visit to the Demon Management Bureau.
"Group Leader, will you head back to the office to rest first, or go report to the Director?" Gao Feng asked from the side.
The day’s events were too major not to be reported up the chain of command.
Tu Xiao’an shook his head. "I need to make a trip to the Demon Prison first."
He knew that after so many days, there was a high probability that the Blackbird had been locked up in the Demon Prison.
Given the Blackbird’s temperament, it would never submit to humans.
’I have to be quick. This disguise won’t last long. The Demon Management Bureau could discover that Du Tianyi’s Life Lamp has gone out at any moment.’
"Group Leader, do you want me to go with you?"
"No need. Go and attend to your own business."
With that, Tu Xiao’an left alone. In his identity as Du Tianyi, he could do as he pleased within the Demon Management Bureau. No one dared to question him.
Using the memories he had digested from Du Tianyi, Tu Xiao’an navigated the winding corridors and arrived at a massive underground prison, a strange sense of excitement welling up within him.
It was filled with imprisoned criminal Awakened Creatures, including many with noble bloodlines. The place was a true den of crouching tigers and hidden dragons.
If all the criminal creatures inside were released, the entirety of Wencheng would be finished. It would become a living Hell, a scene of utter devastation.
Smart Awakened Creatures didn’t kill openly. The stronger they were, the more they knew to lay low. Only the arrogant fools who, after awakening, had no idea of the world’s immensity would go on idiotic killing sprees, thinking themselves invincible.
They thought that just because they’d become a spirit or a Demon, they could rebel and cause chaos.
Take the Bull Demon King, for example. Despite being a Rank Three Demon Spirit, he obediently played the part of a real estate developer. Even when he killed, he did so in secret, without anyone knowing.
And even if he were discovered, he still had his connection to the Demon Management Bureau through Du Tianyi.
It had to be said, that Colorful Bull was quite clever.
The ones locked up in this prison were all idiots. They had gained sentience for nothing.
Tu Xiao’an walked up to a large iron gate, flanked by a prison guard on each side. Seeing him, they immediately saluted and said, "Group Leader Du."
"Open the gate. I’m going in."
"Yes, sir."
The guards didn’t question him in the slightest and opened the large iron gate directly.
Putting on a haughty act, Tu Xiao’an swaggered inside. The interior was dim, a place that clearly never saw the light of day. The air was murky and filled with a foul stench.
The conditions were truly awful.
Then again, it was to be expected. This was a prison for holding Awakened Creatures, not a place that would provide them with a luxurious environment. This wasn’t a zoo; there were no tourists to impress.
As Tu Xiao’an arrived, the roars of various terrifying creatures echoed from within, even more frightening than the shrieks of a Fierce Ghost. The sounds rose and fell in waves.
The sounds alone were utterly horrifying, but Tu Xiao’an wore an excited smile. He found it all quite interesting.
The corridor was lined with cells on both sides, all of them forged by Spirit Monsters and seemingly indestructible. The corridor stretched on and on, feeling as if it had no end.
Tu Xiao’an was secretly astonished. ’Just how many Awakened Creatures are imprisoned here?’
For now, all he saw were Rank One Awakened Creatures of every variety. In one cell, he even saw a fish, hopping up and down.
That’s right, a fish. It was the size of a baby, and it was alive without any water. When it opened its mouth, it revealed a row of sharp, pale-white fangs.
It postured aggressively toward the passing Tu Xiao’an, its vicious nature on full display.
Tu Xiao’an frowned. He realized this matter wasn’t as simple as he had imagined.
First, he couldn’t be one hundred percent sure the Blackbird was even imprisoned in a cell here. Second, even if it was, he didn’t know which cell it was in.
This Demon Prison was far larger than he had imagined. It looked like there were at least several hundred cells, each with a number: 001, 002, 003.
’Damn it. I should have had Gao Feng look up the records first.’
Now, Tu Xiao’an could only search cell by cell. The creatures locked up inside made him feel like he was back in a zoo.
One glance per cell, Tu Xiao’an continued deeper into the prison. After passing cell number 100, he found that this section housed Rank Two Awakened Spirit Monsters.
What he heard now were no longer roars, but furious curses.
Rank Two Creatures could speak human words, and Du Tianyi’s face was clearly not welcome here. Many Spirit Monsters broke into a torrent of curses the moment they saw him.
Tu Xiao’an gave a bitter smile. ’Great. I’m taking the blame for Du Tianyi and getting cursed for nothing.’
Furthermore, Tu Xiao’an was surprised to find that the Rank Two Spirit Monsters received much better treatment. Their cells were considerably larger, the environment was better, and there were even some decorations.
For instance, he saw another fish monster, but this one’s cell had a small pool where it was happily blowing bubbles.
The moment this fish monster saw Tu Xiao’an, it leaped ferociously from its small pool and slammed headfirst into the iron gate forged by Spirit Monsters.
BOOM...
"Du! This Lord Fish will eat you! Let me out and fight me one-on-one if you have the guts!"
"Ding... Mutant Leopard Fish Monster, Level 21, High Rank Creature."
Data on the strange fish appeared in Tu Xiao’an’s mind. The fish wasn’t very large, but its body was covered in tiny spots and distinct dark bands. It was hard to believe this was a Rank Two Spirit Monster.
It must have been a tyrant of the deep seas.
’I wonder how it was caught and thrown into this Demon Prison. What terrible luck.’
But one thing was clear: this Mutant Leopard Fish Monster had likely been defeated at Du Tianyi’s hands. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so murderous.
"You’ve got the wrong person," Tu Xiao’an said with a smile, standing before the bars.
The Mutant Leopard Fish Monster shrieked, "Even if you were turned to ash, this Lord Fish would never forget your bastard face!"
’Du Tianyi really did turn to ash. No, he didn’t even get the chance to turn to ash.’
After being subject to my Devouring, he was instantly converted into Evolutionary Energy.
"Just stay put. You’ve got it much better than your brother back there."
The other big fish was just flopping around on the ground, without a single drop of water.
Leaving that comment behind, Tu Xiao’an continued onward, having no intention of getting entangled with this fish monster.
The Mutant Leopard Fish Monster was baffled. ’Who’s this "brother back there" he’s talking about???’
Searching cell by cell, Tu Xiao’an felt like he was looking for a needle in a haystack. Who the hell knew the Demon Management Bureau’s prison held so many Awakened Creatures?
He didn’t have much time. Du Tianyi’s Life Lamp being extinguished could be discovered at any moment.
BANG... BANG... BANG...!
Suddenly, Tu Xiao’an heard a loud commotion coming from a cell up ahead and went to check it out.
Once he got there, he saw a large tree inside cell #166. Perched on the tree was a large Blackbird, as black as ink. Tu Xiao’an’s spirits immediately lifted.
’Found it.’
But the large Blackbird’s actions left Tu Xiao’an completely baffled.
It was relentlessly pecking the large tree with its sharp beak. It had already pecked out a large pit in the trunk, revealing the pale, fish-belly-white wood beneath.
Amazingly, the tree spoke. "Uncle Hei, I’m begging you, stop pecking me! I feel like you’ve hollowed out my body!"
"Please, call me the Bird Divine Doctor. You have a pest inside you, and I’m going to get it out for you to restore your health," the large Blackbird said, pecking as it spoke. Its sharp beak was incredibly keen, having already bored a hole more than a meter deep into the great tree.
Someone in the know might think it was helping the tree by removing a pest. Someone who didn’t would think it was trying to build a nest. A pile of wood chips was already accumulating on the floor.
The great tree was filled with despair. "Honestly, at this point, I don’t even care if I have a pest inside me or not! I feel like you’re going to peck me to death!"
’Damn it all, it’s about to peck out my heartwood!’
"Unacceptable! When the Bird Divine Doctor takes action, the pest inside you must be completely removed!"
The Blackbird was pecking the tree at a rate of thirty times per second—a shocking speed, more than double that of a bullet.
"PAIN, PAIN, PAIN... IT’S KILLING ME!" the great tree shrieked madly.
"Hee hee, this is called bone-scraping therapy. It will solve all your pest problems at once!"
The great tree roared, "I DON’T HAVE ANY DAMN BUGS!"
"Yes, you do."
"The hell I do!"
The great tree’s roots acted like feet, and it scrambled frantically around the cell, trying to escape. But no matter where it ran, it was still trapped inside.
The Blackbird on its trunk was like a nail hammered into its body, pecking with all its might, pecking as if its life depended on it. It looked as though it wouldn’t stop until it had pecked the entire tree into nothingness.
