Immortality begins with exchanging talent attributes.

Inside the torture chamber, Lu Qingshuang slowly sheathed her sword, her tone as cold as ice.

"The entire county jail is to be sealed off. No one present here tonight is allowed to leave the county jail even a step."

Anyone who dares to spread the name "Wusheng Sect" will be killed.

As the last word fell, all the jailers in the torture chamber instinctively lowered their heads, and no one dared to speak.

Prisoner Liu quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice trembling.

"Rest assured, sir, I will definitely keep their mouths shut."

Lu Qingshuang didn't look at him, but instead looked at the black-clad guard beside her who had almost had his throat pierced.

"Chen Lie, examine the body."

"Yes."

The black-clad guard, clutching his throat wound, looked grim, but still immediately clasped his hands in response.

"Shen Heng, take two men to the death row and search the entire cell again."

"Yes."

Another burly man in black robes turned and left.

Liu Laotou's forehead was covered in sweat, and his heart was pounding.

This matter is now escalating.

It's not a big deal that a wanted criminal from the Black-Clad Guard died in his cell, since he was already seriously injured and on the verge of death.

But members of the Wusheng Sect actually managed to infiltrate the county jail...

Even the magistrate of Qingzhou County could easily be implicated in this matter.

  

Lu Qingshuang turned to look at Liu, the jailer.

"The deceased serious criminals, Han Ya, and Sun Dian, will all be temporarily placed under the supervision of the Black-Clad Guard for investigation."

"Also, summon your county magistrate. Go."

Prisoner Liu nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, I'll go right away."

Lu Qingshuang ignored him and turned to another guard in black robes, saying:

"Return to the Xuanyi Guard headquarters in the prefectural city immediately and report the matter to the commander."

"yes!"

The guard in black immediately walked out.

Then, her gaze swept over the jailers in the torture chamber and finally landed on Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan's heart tightened slightly, and he quickly lowered his head.

As the saying goes, the less you think about something, the more likely it is to happen.

Lu Qingshuang slowly walked up to him.

Zhu Asan, who was standing to the side, suddenly shuddered and quickly lowered his head.

"Your name is Zhou Yan?"

Zhou Yan, enduring the pain, clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"Back to my lord, the villain Zhou Yan."

Lu Qingshuang glanced at his left arm.

The sleeves of the prison uniform were torn, and faint bluish-purple finger marks could be seen inside.

"Not bad."

Zhou Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he whispered:

"This...this person has been severely injured by you, sir, and his strength is reduced to less than one-tenth. I was just lucky."

Lu Qingshuang did not speak immediately.

She looked at Zhou Yan with eyes like sword light, as if she wanted to see right through him.

Zhou Yan lowered his head, trying his best to keep his breathing steady.

After a moment, Lu Qingshuang asked:

Why did you notice Sun Dian?

Zhou Yan had already prepared his words in his mind, and gritted his teeth as he said:

"Your Excellency, when I went to the death row for my shift just now, I happened to see Sun Dian coming out from the depths of the death row."

He said he was going to exchange kerosene. Later, the adults asked those who had been near the death row to step forward, but he remained standing in the crowd.

"I...I'm actually afraid of pain, that's why I dragged others into this mess."

Lu Qingshuang's eyes flickered slightly. She looked at Zhou Yan for a moment, then suddenly said:

"good!"

Zhou Yan lowered his head and remained silent.

He couldn't tell whether the words were a compliment or a mockery.

He could only keep his head down and remain silent.

Lu Qingshuang didn't ask him any further questions, but instead turned and walked back to the head of the table.

Zhou Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Before long, Shen Heng strode back to the torture chamber, his face expressionless.

"Sir, a corpse has been found behind the kerosene room. Its face has been peeled off. It should be that old soldier."

Many of the jailers in the torture chamber trembled with fear upon hearing the reply.

The fat on Liu the jailer's face twitched, and he turned his head slightly to glance at the dead member of the Wusheng Sect.

This person managed to sneak into the prison without a sound, even the deepest death row, and killed someone; he was practically a ghost.

If the Black-Clad Guards hadn't arrived at the last minute, killing them would have been as easy as stepping on a bunch of ants, given their strength.

Lu Qingshuang's face remained cold and expressionless.

"The body is sealed off, and everyone who had contact with Sun Dian will be questioned again tomorrow."

At this point, she looked at Shen Heng.

"These prison guards should be separated and settled, especially those who were on duty the first two days; not a single one should be missed."

"Yes."

Zhou Yan stood in the crowd, glancing at Li Mazi and Xiao Liuzi out of the corner of his eye.

The two men were deathly pale.

Li Mazi kept his head very low, not daring to look at Zhou Yan.

Xiao Liu was trembling all over, his whole body limp as if his bones had been removed.

Zhou Yan looked at them, the cold light in his eyes growing ever stronger.

Today, if I hadn't happened to see "Sun Dian"...

Under that torture needle, he would have no chance of survival.

Li Mazi and Xiao Liuzi were just two rascals, and he had never taken them seriously.

But sometimes, it's not that if you harm others, they won't harm you.

Except for myself.

Zhou Yan slowly withdrew his gaze, but a thought kept churning in his mind.

……

That night, no one in the county jail closed their eyes.

The magistrate of Qingzhou County even came to the prison in person.

He was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a blue official robe, with fair skin and a short beard, who looked quite like a scholar.

At this moment, however, the usually aloof county magistrate was pale and covered in sweat, whether from lack of sleep or from hearing of the Wusheng Sect's presence.

Many servants from both the front and back yards were also summoned temporarily.

The jailers in the torture chamber were not released until it was fully light.

But no one is allowed to leave the city.

They must be available at any time until the next round of questioning by the Black-Clad Guards.

Zhou Yan dragged his aching left arm as he followed Zhu Asan out of the prison.

Morning mist shrouded Qingzhou City.

There weren't many pedestrians on the street yet.

Zhu Asan looked at Zhou Yan's arm with a face full of worry.

"Ayan, should we go to the clinic?"

Zhou Yan shook his head.

"No need, it's just a superficial wound."

Zhu Asan lowered his voice and said with lingering fear.

"You're really lucky to be alive."

Zhou Yan gave a wry smile.

"Third brother, we're lucky, otherwise I would have died long ago."

Zhu Asan quickly spat twice.

"Don't talk nonsense. Don't wander around these next few days. It's too chaotic lately, all sorts of monsters and demons have come out, who knows what will happen next."

Zhou Yan nodded.

"I know."

When the two parted ways at the alley entrance, Zhu Asan invited Zhou Yan to his house, but he refused.

After all, such a big thing had happened, and everyone was exhausted, so Zhu Asan didn't insist any further.

I just told him that if he felt really unwell, he must go to the clinic.

Zhou Yan agreed, and as he watched Zhu Asan's figure disappear into the alley, a wave of emotion washed over him.

In this world, the only person who would truly speak up for him in times of danger is Zhu Asan.

Back home, Zhou Yan closed the courtyard gate tightly.

He first filled a basin with clean water, washed his face, and then took off his coat to check the injury on his left arm.

Five bluish-purple finger marks were deeply imprinted on his forearm.

Zhou Yan gently moved his wrist, and the pain made him gasp.

"Just a casual grab almost crippled me."

This world is too dangerous. We must become stronger, otherwise we may not be so lucky next time.

Thinking of this, he raised his hand, and the panel appeared.

[Talent Attribute: Iron Skin and Bones (Green)]

[Alternative entry: Ever-Changing Aura (Green) - Currently not fused. Fusing is required; fusion will take one hour.]

[Aura of Ever-Changing Nature (Green): Your aura flows like water, concealing your true abilities and fame. You are now a qualified master strategist.]

Age: 16

Lifespan: 8 years and 2 months

[Martial Skill: Body Tempering Technique (Perfected)]

Looking at the newly appeared [Ever-Changing Aura] on the panel, Zhou Yan took a deep breath.

A green entry.

Although it cost me three years of my life, it was worth it.

However, why did this fusion only take one hour?

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Yan guessed that it might be because his physical condition had improved.

I remember how sickly I looked when I first fused with "Copper Skin and Iron Bones"...

Zhou Yan shook his head and said in a low voice:

"Integration".

[The aura is constantly shifting and merging...]

[Estimated fusion time: one hour.]

A very subtle coolness slowly spread from between my eyebrows.

Unlike when fusing [Copper Skin and Iron Bones], where muscles, bones, skin, and flesh all change.

This time it felt lighter.

It felt like a cold, thin needle was running down from his brow to the soles of his feet.

Zhou Yan vaguely felt that his breathing seemed to have become lighter.

However, it's not obvious yet. To truly use this term, we'll probably have to wait for a complete integration.

The high pressure of the night had drained his energy, and fatigue and drowsiness came one wave after another.

As Zhou Yan lay on the bed, it seemed that he had just closed his eyes when a scene appeared in his mind.

The flickering firelight in the brazier illuminated the surrounding instruments of torture, making them appear as menacing, monstrous beasts.

Li Mazi knelt on the ground, pointed at him, and said, "It's Zhou Yan."

It is Zhou Yan.

In that instant, two silver needles suddenly appeared and stabbed towards his face.

Zhou Yan suddenly stood up, opened his bloodshot eyes, and gasped for breath.

The room was dark and silent, with only his heavy breathing, like that of a stranded shark.

He doesn't want to die.

I really don't want to die!

But it wasn't until last night that he realized that sometimes, just because you don't want to die doesn't mean you won't die.

Others might kill you.

Zhou Yan closed his eyes again, the thoughts churning in his mind finally settling down.

Then let's eliminate any future troubles!

……