Chapter 61: Entry Upgrade! Combat Physique

The next day.

As usual, Ye Liuyun reported for duty at the Brocade Guard post. After reviewing some case files for a while, he headed to the Imperial Prison.

Xiao Yongning, the supervisor of the Imperial Prison, beamed with joy the moment he saw Ye Liuyun approaching and hurried over to greet him.

"It has been quite a few days since Centurion Ye last visited. I have missed you dearly!"

"You've come just at the right time, Centurion Ye. We just received a new prisoner today, and I hear he practices some kind of external martial art, making his skin exceptionally tough. Watching him undergo execution will surely be to your satisfaction."

"... "

Why does he make it sound like I take pleasure in watching people being executed?

However, Ye Liuyun was indeed intrigued by the thick-skinned prisoner Xiao Yongning had mentioned.

"Let's go take a look, then."

"I shall lead the way for Centurion Ye right now."

Hearing this, the smile on Xiao Yongning's face broadened even further.

Although he found Ye Liuyun's tastes rather peculiar, it didn't matter. Since the man enjoyed it, catering to his preferences was always the right thing to do.

Soon.

Following Xiao Yongning, Ye Liuyun saw a bald, bulky man tied to a wooden frame. His entire body was packed with muscles—weighing easily two or three hundred catties—and his fierce appearance alone gave off a menacing vibe.

"If you've got the guts, bring out every single instrument of torture you have and throw them at your grandpa here! Let's see if I even bat an eye."

Even while bound, his arrogance remained fierce. He must have been brought in only recently.

As he spoke, the executioner from the Brocade Guard already brought a whip down across his back.

The whips used in the Imperial Prison were always soaked in brine before an execution; those with frail constitutions wouldn't even survive a few lashes.

Yet when it struck this man, it merely left a red welt without breaking his skin.

Truly thick-skinned.

Ye Liuyun nodded slightly upon seeing this, then observed him more closely.

"Target: Niu Heng.

Cultivation: First-rate martial artist.

Talent Affix: Thick-Skinned (Blue), Bloodthirsty (Blue)."

"Bloodthirsty (Blue): Naturally murderous, fond of the smell of blood."

His own purple-quality Steel-Like Bones affix was just a fraction of experience away from evolving into a golden-quality affix.

If he fused it with this blue-quality Thick-Skinned affix, it would likely evolve immediately.

There is no better timing than perfect timing.

Noticing the deep amusement in Ye Liuyun's eyes, Xiao Yongning signaled the executioner with a look, instructing him to lay it on harder.

Then, he chuckled and spoke to Ye Liuyun.

"Centurion Ye, this fellow's name is Niu Heng. He was originally a disciple of the Vajra Sect, but later betrayed the sect and committed numerous murders in a small town before being captured and brought here."

One could tell from his Bloodthirsty talent affix alone.

Niu Heng must have killed quite a few people before he was dragged into the Imperial Prison.

Ye Liuyun nodded in understanding.

He cared little for Niu Heng's past experiences; his sole interest lay in Niu Heng's talent affixes.

Seeing that Ye Liuyun had no desire to speak and was wholly absorbed in watching the execution, Xiao Yongning sensibly quieted down and refrained from disturbing him further.

...

Niu Heng's voice started out extremely defiant.

He kept shouting curses, asking if the executioner hadn't eaten or if this was all the strength they had.

But after half an hour, those shouting and roaring began to diminish gradually.

It wasn't as if there was only one executioner in the Imperial Prison; they could easily switch out when tired.

Yet even with his Thick-Skinned talent, it was impossible for Niu Heng's defense to hold out forever.

At first, the whip strikes left only red welts, but as time dragged on, those welts began to split into bloody gashes.

Fine beads of sweat broke out all over the screaming Niu Heng's forehead.

"Don't... don't hit me anymore!"

"Stop hitting me!"

"I'll confess to everything!"

They say that once you enter the Imperial Prison, even if you are made of steel and iron, they will beat your bones until they fracture and grind them into dust.

Neither Xiao Yongning nor the executioners present showed the slightest bit of emotion at this.

Having spent so much time in the Imperial Prison, what kind of prisoners hadn't they seen? Some were even more arrogant than Niu Heng upon arrival, but what was the outcome? Weren't they still tortured into wishing they were dead?

"Confess my foot! Who even interrogated you?"

The Imperial Prison was not a magistrate's court; whether you admitted to your crimes and whether you were beaten were two completely different matters.

Brocade Guard executioners were swapped out batch after batch, and Niu Heng's cries grew fainter and fainter until they became completely unintelligible.

Normally, a prisoner like Niu Heng wouldn't be beaten to death on the very first day.

However, because Ye Liuyun had come, Xiao Yongning had given special instructions: run through the entire execution procedure repeatedly, starting over as soon as one cycle ended. In short, beat him to death, as long as Centurion Ye was entertained and satisfied.

He certainly had remarkable stamina.

It took nearly two hours of relentless beating before he finally breathed his last.

The executioners' arms were sore from the effort.

Watching the talent affix drift away from Niu Heng's corpse, Ye Liuyun smiled with satisfaction.

This sight only convinced Xiao Yongning further that Ye Liuyun definitely had some rather unique preferences.

"Centurion Ye, there are several other prisoners here. Would milord care to enjoy the spectacle a bit longer?"

"No need!"

Having collected the Thick-Skinned talent affix, Ye Liuyun gave a casual wave of his hand in response to Xiao Yongning's offer.

"Another time. It's getting late. The next time I come, be sure to let me know whenever your Imperial Prison takes in any prisoners with special abilities."

"Understood. Rest assured, Centurion Ye."

Xiao Yongning was not a fool; doing a favor like this required zero effort on his part.

Securing the friendship of a centurion through such a trivial matter was an absolute bargain with no risk of loss.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Ye Liuyun left the Imperial Prison. Waving his hand to signal Xiao Yongning not to escort him any further, he finally brought up his personal status interface in his mind.

"Talent Affix System!

Host: Ye Liuyun!

Realm: Innate Mid-Stage!

Martial Arts: Wind-Slaying Saber Technique, Azure Sun Vigor, Pine Wood Saber Technique, Shattered Jade Hand, Blazing Sun Saber Technique, Phantom Ninefold Body, Overlord Saber.

Talent Affixes: Child of Destiny (Gold), Combat Physique (Gold), Man and Saber as One (Purple), Extraordinary Comprehension (Purple), Swordsmanship Talent (Cyan), Extreme Yang Physique (Purple), Scent-Tracking (Blue), Stepping on Snow Without Leaving a Trace (Purple)."

"Combat Physique (Gold): Grows stronger with every battle, capable of rapid learning and growth during combat, possessing exceptionally high talent in martial arts and forms."

The second golden-quality talent affix had appeared.

Moreover, it was a cultivation-type talent affix.

Unlike the effects of Child of Destiny, Combat Physique could accelerate one's growth directly through combat.

Most crucially of all...

"This feeling... I'm about to break through!"

The moment he fused with Combat Physique, his previously dormant internal energy suddenly surged and grew restless.

It was the unmistakable sensation of an impending breakthrough.

Golden affixes were truly extraordinary. Suppressing his surging internal energy with some effort, Ye Liuyun found he had nothing pressing to do for the afternoon and headed straight back to his manor.