Although they had vitality, it was extremely dim. The entire plain contained a terrifying array formation that was continuously extracting their life force and cultivation base from them.
"There's another rule in this world, and that is reset."
"Other than those who are granted death by the Pawns, the other prisoners who die here will undergo a reset once a month and revive during the reset. Moreover, a portion of their memories and all recorded items are permanently erased."
"After dying many times, they became walking meat without any memories and vigor. They become the power source for the operation of the county's Taboo magic treasures."
"Do you know, Xu Qing, for a prisoner, the pain comes from having memories, because everything in those memories becomes a contrast to the present, and it's heart-wrenching."
"However, at the same time, memory is also their only private possession left. It's incomparably precious and is everything that supports them after they lose their freedom. Hence, the gradual deprivation of their memories will make them feel even more fear."
"However, if they don't fight for the alchemy pills and don't replenish their spirit energy, they'll die even faster. That's why they don't hesitate to die once in exchange for a chance to not die too many times."
"Drinking poison to quench their thirst must feel very good." Ghost Hand smiled cruelly.
Xu Qing nodded. He had understood the personality of this old Pawn back then during the secret training.
At that moment, his gaze swept over, and he suddenly looked at an area in the crowd that was a little different.
The ground there was red and different from the color of the plains. From the sky, this small area was very conspicuous.
There were more than 40 prisoners sitting cross-legged inside. They were all from the Quasi-Immortal Race.
Xu Qing had seen one of them before.
It was the specimen that Ghost Hand had brought back then when he was explaining the fatal points of the myriad races.
"The three races have an alliance, so there's nothing we can do. These Quasi-Immortal Race members can only be imprisoned for ten years at most before they are sent back." Noticing Xu Qing's gaze, Ghost Hand took another sip of wine and spoke helplessly.
"Although it's very difficult to erase too many memories in such a short period of time, it's still a little useful. However, 300 years ago, in order not to destroy our friendship with the Quasi-Immortal Race, the County Governor ordered that Quasi-Immortal Race criminals' memories shall not be erased."
"Ever since then, the Quasi-Immortal Race criminals here are only treated as short-term spirit stones."
Xu Qing nodded. He thought of the secret mission regarding the Quasi-Immortal Race's immortal puppets that the Palace Master had told him. Hence, he paid more attention.
"Senior Ghost Hand, have you fought against the immortal puppets of the Quasi-Immortal Race?" Xu Qing asked.
"Immortal puppet? I've fought it before but that thing is too strange. Its entire body is covered in anomalous substances and it's extremely difficult to damage. It can also recover on its own." After Ghost Hand finished speaking, he glanced at Xu Qing.
"Are you interested in the immortal puppet?"
Xu Qing nodded.
"Then I suggest you consult the Deputy Governor. He's very knowledgeable. I heard that he once studied the immortal puppets of the Quasi-Immortal Race."
"Let's not talk about this. Let's go. There are more such places ahead."
Ghost Hand walked forward.
Xu Qing followed behind.
The two of them flew across this plain with an astonishing range and saw the sea and the withered jungle.
With the alchemy pills that Ghost Hand occasionally threw down, Xu Qing saw many life-and-death battles erupt like before, as well as places where the array formation absorbed life force.
He also saw some Pawns of Area C on the way. These people were in charge of different areas and greeted Ghost Hand respectfully when they saw him.
Under Ghost Hand's introduction, these Pawns from Area C also swept their gazes at Xu Qing and nodded slightly. However, most of their expressions were cold.
"Later, when you can withstand the rules of this place and patrol alone, they will naturally accept you. The current you… isn't good enough."
"Also, do you know why they are respectful to me? It's not because I'm the prison leader of this world. These guys are all arrogant to the core. There are even people with higher cultivation bases than me."
Ghost Hand took a sip of wine and revealed a hint of smugness. Such an expression was rarely seen on him.
When Xu Qing heard this, a hint of curiosity appeared on his face. He then looked at Ghost Hand.
Ghost Hand laughed and tapped his forehead with his finger.
"My aptitude is average. I've been unable to break through to the Spirit Repository even after being in the Nascent Soul realm for more than 800 years, but I've never used the Emperor Sword in my life!"
"I've nurtured it for 800 years! How powerful do you think it will be once I use it?"
"800 years?" Xu Qing was moved. He knew the might of the Emperor Sword. The longer it was nurtured, the greater its might. There was once a Nascent Soul cultivator who nurtured the sword for 2,000 years and killed Nihility.
However, that was in records and he didn't see it with his own eyes.
Today was the first time he saw someone nurturing the Emperor Sword for nearly a thousand years.
This was too difficult to achieve. After all, cultivators experienced life-and-death battles frequently. At some critical moments, they had no choice but to use the sword.
If they wanted to nurture it for so long, they needed a huge opportunity and luck.
Noticing Xu Qing's expression, the smugness on Ghost Hand's face deepened.
"As a Pawn, my sword is to protect this world."
"I've thought about it. When my lifespan is about to reach the end and I'm no longer a Pawn, I'll go out and find a powerful nonhuman that I don't like, and kill it, eliminating a threat for our human race. This way, I won't have lived in vain and my death will have some value."
When Xu Qing heard this, a look of admiration appeared on his face and he bowed to Ghost hand to show his respect.
Clearly, having this sword strike that had been nurtured for 800 years was something that Ghost Hand was quite satisfied with. Seeing that Xu Qing was so respectful, he laughed and took another large gulp of wine before walking forward happily.
Just like that, several hours passed in the blink of an eye. Under the guidance of Ghost Hand, Xu Qing became increasingly familiar with this prison world. The two of them ended their trip and prepared to return to the Prison Department.
However, at this moment, Ghost Hand suddenly turned his head and looked at the ground below. His expression darkened.
What he was looking at was a withered forest. Among the large number of withered trees, there was a large tree that towered into the sky. Although its trunk was also withered, it was still thick. There was also an aged face on it.
At that moment, the eyes of this face slowly opened, revealing green eyes. It looked at the sky at Xu Qing and Ghost Hand with a hint of fear.
"Greetings, Lord Ghost Hand."
"Didn't I tell you not to leave the place you were at? You actually disobeyed and moved here." In the sky, Ghost Hand's expression was gloomy as he spoke coldly.
After that, he pointed at the tree and introduced it to Xu Qing.
"Remember this guy. It's not an ordinary treant but the only Wood Spirit Race member in the entire Prison Department."
"Although its race is ordinary now, in the past era… they were extraordinary."
Ghost Hand slowly spoke.
Xu Qing stared and sized up the Wood Spirit Race member.
"Before Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether, Ancient Sovereign Spirit Mansion who hailed from the Ancient Spirit Race unified the Wanggu Continent. At that time, the Ancient Spirit Race was a supreme race in the Wanggu Continent and was even known as the Heavenly Fate Race."
"The five-elemental spirits under their commands had their own lineage."
Ghost Hand calmly spoke.
"However, later on, it declined. The Ancient Spirit Race's bloodline was almost extinct and the five spirits lineage under them fell apart. A remnant group of the Wood Spirit Race survived in my Fenghai County. Because they have gentle personalities, they live in peace with others."
"This is a member of this group, but its personality is different from its race. It's very bloodthirsty. 300 years ago, it caused chaos everywhere and was captured by me to be suppressed here."
