Deep in the Living
Chapter 280 - 268: Different Roads to Hell

Chapter 280: Chapter 268: Different Roads to Hell

The mask is removed, Luo Di looks at the corpses filling the room, especially the strange life form from which black blood flows after he had slain it.

The disguise, the effects of the illusion techniques, and their destructiveness are all top-tier. In some ways, they’re even more troublesome than the Cancer Beasts.

It was all thanks to the Tongue Demon’s alarm at the critical moment; otherwise, Luo Di wouldn’t have had time to set a trap inside his body, and he might have truly fallen victim to the ambush.

Looking at the pitch-black venom dripping on the ground, even his spine could sense the threat.

"Is this a test too? Fei Spine?"

Fei Spine, who had been resting here just before, was now nowhere to be seen.

Although the danger has been lifted, Luo Di’s sixth sense tells him something is amiss.

He buttons up his coat and takes the Pig Slaughter Knife in hand.

Gah~ He pushes open the door of the resting room.

The "path" leading to the outside of the recruitment ground seems to have changed, as if it has been stretched, with no end in sight on either side, and towards the direction of the exit there seems to be tinted with candlelight.

This candlelight is strange, pulling at his spine, he walks towards the direction from where the candlelight originates,

And shortly he sees a white candle appear, more like growing out of the ground than placed on it.

With the first white candle, more and more of them start to appear within view.

They fill the current pathway, all around, up and down, left and right.

Luo Di continues deeper, doing his best not to step on any white candles.

When he reaches an area where there is almost no place to set his feet, crowded with white candles... Drip! A drop of wax falls right in front of him.

The sound seems to fall deep within Luo Di’s spine, dyeing his thoughts white!

Hum!

After a brief suspension of consciousness, all the white candles are extinguished, and darkness descends.

Just as Luo Di prepares to activate his garment’s night vision mode, these white candles seem to be lit again by someone.

But this time.

The candlelight is no longer confined to the narrow path, but spreads endlessly on both sides.

The flicker of candlelight for that instant transported him to another area.

He has come to a huge and ancient area,

The white candles continuously igniting in a circle, spreading like ripples, indefinitely expanding outward with no end in sight.

Directly in front, the white candles gradually reveal steps made up of countless skulls.

Right now, a "person" is walking down the skull stairs,

Luo Di hears footsteps,

These footsteps are unlike any he’s heard before,

The soles seem to have a special structure, dense with numerous small constructions that produce an uncomfortable grating sound of particles when stepping on the skulls.

As Luo Di follows the sound and looks,

He sees a "foot" that is stepping down the skulls - covered with scorched-earth scales, and each toenail is etched with ancient runes.

Just by seeing this part of the body,

Hum!

Intense tinnitus echoes in his brain, and with it, an invisible authority sweeps over him.

Luo Di could resist via his pituitary, but would most likely injure it in the process.

And also, he has roughly guessed the situation; the Demon in front of him is probably more powerful than Mr. Hope, making any resistance meaningless.

Complying with this feeling of oppression,

Luo Di decisively retracts his curious gaze that wishes to probe further,

And kneels on one knee.

Due to the abandoning of his probing attempt, the sincere act of kneeling, the oppressive authority that was exerted all dissipates.

The footsteps step off the final skull stair.

Instead of coming in front of Luo Di, it sits on the last step,

The candlelight flickers,

The voice comes as if wrapped in a sharp, evil wind, enveloping his entire body, as if numerous skulls are whispering in Luo Di’s ears, joining the existent voice.

All these skulls belong to the losers slain by this person.

In terms of slaughter,

Luo Di can’t even count as the most basic fraction in front of this person.

"Where does your tongue come from? Why does it carry the scent of Hell, yet not belong here?"

Faced with the question, Luo Di directly draws from his earliest memory and begins to narrate his experience from the first practice simulation, detailing the entire process.

The "tongue" indeed is key.

The reason Luo Di could make contact with the True Hell was also because of the encounter with the Tongue Demon at that time.

The other party is not just listening to the story but also draws out detailed memory from Luo Di’s brain according to the tale.

"Your world system is so fascinating. Humans can change in the face of fear, naturally giving rise to ’Sub Demons,’ demons that do not belong to the True Hell."

You have glimpsed into the scenes of Hell because of the possession and memorized the associated Hell Symbol. It was this chance that enabled you to make contact with us later on and become an Outer Realm Spine.

The Tongue Demon you encountered also possesses extremely high potential... interesting.

Do you know,

Your own tongue is very special and has already developed an ability relation with your spine?"

Luo Di nodded, "Yes, my tongue has always been able to give warnings and help me break through extremely dangerous illusion realms. Even if it can’t break through, it can still provide me with important hints."

"Then do you know which type of True Hell your tongue is related to?"

"I don’t understand all the factions of True Hell very well, but based on the enemies faced in the assessment, my case should be closest to the last kind that can cast illusions, confuse thoughts, and has the beak of a crow and the legs of a spider."

"Evil Play, have you heard of it?"

"Yes, I heard Mr. Hook mention it once in the Punishment Room."

"The Punishment Room ability on you is indeed directly related to him. He’s considered a rather neutral and likable person among the order. He doesn’t belong to the Great Monastery’s management, no wonder he was willing to infuse their Hell Item into you, a Spine.

That being said,

The fact that you passed such an assessment means you are different from the ordinary soldiers.

I am willing to make an exception for you and change the recruitment rules, offering you two Hell paths to choose from, both of which can bring you closer to the Gate of Demon Ascension.

One is fast and aligns with the Spines’ core values, and it will maximize the strengthening of your spine.

The other one is lengthy and slow, requiring you to deviate from the Spines and embark on a path unrelated to war, to pursue a unique path no one has walked before—a path that only you can take.

If I don’t tell you the details, based on your intuition, how would you choose?"

"I am indeed eager to become stronger because I want to go to a very dangerous place as soon as possible. But... I’m also very interested in the second path."

"A competitive and strong-willed spirit is innate to Spines, and that’s good.

The two paths I just mentioned, the first is to join my elite army and engage in relentless battles on the most perilous battlefields.

Live on war, sleep on war, survive on war.

You will soon glimpse the outlines of the ’Gate’.

The second path.

I shall grant you the identity of a Black Spine Envoy and leave Chaos Nest City with your mature body to meet Hook in the order’s territory, bringing along my personal letter.

He will naturally understand its purpose and point out the next path to you.

Starting from the order is more effective than starting from our side.

This is a path that no one has ever taken, and it will be extremely difficult to reach the Gate of Demon Ascension. You might waste a lot of time on this path and end up with nothing.

But if you can truly follow this path to the end, you will surpass what you would have achieved on the first path, and the ’Gate’ you touch will be unique.

The reason I appeared here to talk to you is precisely to inform you of this... There is no need for any mental pressure. If you love war and are eager and greedy, then choose the first path."

"...I choose the second path."

Clap clap clap~ A strange round of applause came, as if every clap corresponded to the collision of countless tiny skulls.

"Your envoy identity has been granted. Soon, the Recruitment Spine will lead you to dye your spinal column and make preparations before departure.

Black represents the envoy, who does not participate in war but at the same time is acknowledged and protected by us."

"Alright."

Although Luo Di was eager to enhance his abilities quickly to reach the level necessary to go to the Corner, he would naturally seize the rare opportunity that had appeared before him.

The depths of the Corner are filled with the unknown,

Only sufficient strength can guarantee initiative, as reckless exploration would only lead to a dead end.

Just when Luo Di thought this conversation was about to end, the candlelight flickered.

The mysterious being that was originally sitting on the stairs had suddenly appeared behind him, a special touch fell on Luo Di’s shoulder,

It was fingers,

Yet it felt like dense grains,

As if countless skulls had landed on his body, as if mountains of corpses were pressing on his soul.

It seemed that with just a little effort, the other party could completely crush Luo Di’s perfectly matured body.

"Since your world can give birth to interesting souls like you, there must be other interesting beings, right? You should be the first Angel Envoy to have connected from there to True Hell.

The price for granting you the status of an envoy without obligating you to serve is quite high.

Would you be willing to help me with something?"

"What is it?"

"When you sever the Consciousness Projection and return to the original world, help me scout for talent similar to you who excel in slaughter and struggle, and pass this symbol on to them.

In doing so, the soldier position that you vacated will also be filled.

Moreover, if possible, bring that Tongue Demon over..."

As the voice faded, the candlelight went out.

Luo Di suddenly opened his eyes,

He was standing in the corridors of the recruitment ground, where there were no white candles.

But his right hand was emitting rolling smoke, and he clenched a parchment with vitality in his hand, marked with a special Hell Symbol, more intense than the one in Luo Di’s mind.