Chapter Five: Who Dares to Strike (Part One)

Starting from the second half of the year, banditry proliferated in various regions, with captures proving insufficient. In light of the increasingly troubling situation, the court issued stern orders to all areas: capture bandits and execute them on the spot! Under this unprecedented firmness, numerous bandits were apprehended almost daily across the regions. Initially, a few were caught, then it escalated to a dozen or twenty, and within a few days, the numbers began to rise to forty or fifty.

It was unclear when, but Yang Chen's attire had already changed into that of an executioner at the execution ground. A soldier, whose face was indistinguishable, presented a blood-red ghost-headed knife to Yang Chen with both hands. Yang Chen reached out to take it, instinctively raising the blade upright, his fingers tracing along the edge. Before beheading, one must at least check if the knife is sharp enough.

On this day, Yang Chen, having completed the execution at the execution ground, was walking home when he saw the sky filled with red clouds. It was quite strange today; it was only just past noon, yet the evening glow had already appeared, and it covered the entire sky, its color resembling that of blood.

On that day, there were actually forty-five bandits to be beheaded. After Yang Chen finished off the last one, his body was already filled with power. After carefully sensing the changes in his body, Yang Chen still slightly shook his head. The essence of mortal life, no matter how much it is absorbed, seems to have little use, unless one kills in the tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands, perhaps then there would be a noticeable effect

As long as they are death row inmates, I dare to execute them, and I can execute them!" Yang Chen replied proudly and without hesitation

"There are reasons for grievances, and debts have their owners. I have no grievances with you in the past, nor any enmity recently. I am merely fulfilling my duties and acting on orders, and I apologize for any offense caused!" Before each execution, Yang Chen would utter these words. The message was clear and straightforward, ensuring that the consequences would not fall upon him. After just a few days, Yang Chen had already become remarkably familiar with this statement.

"Yes, sir!" Yang Chen replied without a second thought and strode along a path that had suddenly appeared before him. Before long, he came upon a place of execution surrounded by a large crowd.

In the county town, apart from the old executioner who is ill, there is currently only Yang Chen as the executioner. Every day, Yang Chen is responsible for beheading dozens of individuals. At first, people were interested in going to the execution ground to witness the punishment, but as time went on, no one had the leisure to do so anymore

Follow me! The master of the voice did not appear at all, but a commanding voice came through: "To the execution ground, behead the criminal!" The voice was filled with the imposing aura of a superior, leaving no room for refusal.

Upon witnessing this scene, Yang Chen finally revealed a smile on his face. After waiting for such a long time, this day was what he had been hoping for. The sky was filled with a crimson light, which Yang Chen only understood during his ascension to the celestial realm in his previous life; this day corresponded to a great upheaval in the heavenly court

Yang Chen turned his head and discovered a portly man with a round face and big ears, dressed in luxurious silk and satin. One hand was gently adjusting his belt, while the other hand silently reached towards Yang Chen's side. The chubby hand opened, revealing a gold ingot weighing at least ten taels in the palm.

Returning to his small courtyard, Yang Chen unearthed a colorful stone from beneath the grinding stone. Even if someone were to see it, they would certainly not recognize what it was. Only Yang Chen knew that this colorful stone was originally used by the immortal sects of later generations to test the acquired spiritual roots of their disciples. The innate spiritual roots are predetermined; the only thing that can change is the acquired spiritual roots.

"As long as they are death row inmates, do you dare to execute them? Can you execute them all?" The voice posed another question.

Placing both hands on it, the colorful stone showed almost no change, and compared to the *illustration* in the book, upon closer inspection, there was a faint red glow that was nearly imperceptible. This also indicated that the innate spiritual root had indeed undergone a slight and extremely subtle change. After all, to expect a significant alteration in the spiritual root from the mere act of killing one person is rather childish. However, it at least proves that this technique is indeed effective. After all, to expect a significant alteration in the spiritual root from the mere act of killing one person is rather childish. However, it at least proves that this technique is indeed effective

After dinner, Yang Chen quickly fell into a deep sleep. Strangely enough, regardless of what they were doing, everyone that night went to bed early. Even if they were in different places, not lying on their own beds, a sudden wave of drowsiness would wash over them, prompting them to find any available spot, and they all slipped into dreams.

"Yang Chen, are you the executioner?" In the midst of his dreams, Yang Chen suddenly heard a sharp shout.

With a crisp sound, Yang Chen swung his blade and severed a head, blood gushing forth from the neck cavity of the decapitated body. Yet, not a single drop stained Yang Chen. This was the result of his meticulous training; having beheaded hundreds, he had mastered the technique of avoiding any blood splatter after a decapitation.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yang Chen approached the second prisoner like a skilled worker on an assembly line, beheading him, inhaling, channeling his energy, and then moving on to the third, the fourth... and so on.

"Indeed, my lord!" Upon hearing this question, Yang Chen quickly scrambled up from the bed and hurriedly responded to the void. At that moment, Yang Chen realized that he was no longer in his original room

Walking down the street, the residents of the city dared not even glance at Yang Chen, fearing to avoid him at all costs. Whenever Yang Chen appeared, it was almost as if the streets were deserted. This indeed saved Yang Chen a lot of trouble, as at least no one dared to come and provoke him. Even if they looked down on Yang Chen, they did not dare to utter a single inappropriate word to his face.

However, Yang Chen believed it was of no use, but from the perspective of others, it was entirely a different matter. Perhaps due to the nature of that technique, every time after killing, Yang Chen would be enveloped in a thick aura of blood, which lingered for a long time. He appeared as if he had crawled out from a sea of blood, exuding a fierce aura. It was needless to say that ordinary people, even the soldiers around the execution ground, would instinctively turn their heads away upon seeing Yang Chen, avoiding his gaze.

With a hiss, Yang Chen took a long breath, as if the vital essence contained within the corpse was drawn into his body with this prolonged inhalation. The technique, which had already been practiced over a hundred times, immediately began to circulate again, swiftly transporting this essence throughout his limbs and bones, nourishing Yang Chen's body and transforming his spiritual roots

With Yang Chen's experience of thousands of years of cultivation, he has not discovered any harm to the body during the circulation of the cultivation method, nor has he identified any hidden dangers. In other words, this cultivation method, for the time being, truly poses no issues. The most remarkable aspect is that this method neither increases spiritual power nor refines the primordial spirit; even if practiced, one remains an ordinary person, thus avoiding the taboos of the Celestial Court. When entering the Immortal Slaying Platform, there are still ample opportunities.

"Excuse me, may I have a word?" Just as I tested the sharpness of the blade, my belt was gently tugged, accompanied by a voice that was quite ingratiating.

Morning rest, noon execution, afternoon practice of boxing, after a month of such a regular routine, Yang Chen had indeed absorbed a considerable amount of the life essence of the death row inmates. Although he did not achieve his ultimate goal, the benefits he gained in terms of physical vitality alone had already elevated his boxing skills to a higher level

While people are still discussing the brilliance of the new executioner's killings, Yang Chen is sensing the flow of heat within his body. The technique of the old demon Yi is indeed correct; at least it has not gone wrong so far, but the effectiveness remains to be seen