After staying in this place for almost a month, Li Changseng's eyes had adapted well enough to the lack of light, so he didn't have any difficulties navigating through these narrow corridors, which pretty much resembled a network of ant nests.
After an unknown amount of time passed as he explored the layout of the dungeon, his steps finally stopped at one of the cells.
A wooden sign with the prisoner's information written on it was placed beside its entrance.
Although the wooden sign had been badly damaged due to the passage of time, Li Changseng could still get some clue about the identity of the prisoner detained in this cell.
"Mo Tiesha, Great Desolate Kingdom. Launched a rebellion in Xuanji 236 and was suppressed by the current saints."
Xuanji was the era when his grandfather, Li Xuanzhu, reigned, approximately 500 years ago.
Seeing this name, Li Changseng suddenly recalled some passages from the Great Desolate Kingdom's history annals.
Around 300 years ago, a great general from the Great Desolate Kingdom with cultivation at the peak of Origin Returning realm staged a rebellion and almost succeeded in overthrowing the reigning dynasty.
If it weren't for the saint who had forcefully ended his seclusion to suppress the rebellion, the Great Desolate Kingdom's name would have existed only as history today.
Although his cultivation level was weaker than that of the saint, Mo Tiesha, relying on his self-created supreme exercise and secret technique, managed to hold his ground against his opponent, even inflicting some grave injuries on him before he was defeated.
In the aftermath of the battle, Mo Tiesha was sent into the deepest level of Eternal Dungeon, and his family was exterminated while the saint was forced to recuperate due to a bitter fight.
This was a testament to the rebellious general's mighty prowess.
"It's rumored that to prepare for the rebellion, Mo Tiesha had amassed a huge amount of money and resources that could rival the kingdom's treasury, and only he knew where he hid those treasures."
"Unfortunately, until now, he had never opened his mouth and confessed the location of the hidden treasure. Many people had tried their luck to hunt Mo Tiesha's treasure, but to no avail. It's a pity that such an enormous amount of wealth and peerless cultivation techniques will be buried with him when he dies."
Li Changseng shook his head and lamented in his heart.
Just as he was about to move on, he suddenly turned around and exclaimed, "Wait! Isn't he the perfect person to be my first target? According to my calculation, his lifespan should've been at its limit, and he didn't have any other reliance on the outside world after his family was destroyed, so it will be easier to make him my subordinate! Furthermore, I can fork out the supreme exercise from him at the cost of a little bit of lifespan! Perfect!"
Without wasting any second longer, Li Changseng entered the cell with great strides but still kept his vigilance on the surroundings.
After all, the man he was about to meet was someone with a cultivation level far above his and might have some hidden means that could threaten his life.
As soon as he stepped inside the cell, he was greeted with the sight of an emaciated old man so thin that he looked like a mummy laying on the ground unmoving, but Li Changseng could sense that the old man still had some breath on him.
He instantly figured out the identity of the old man.
He was none other than Mo Tiesha, the tyrannical general who once wreaked havoc in the Great Desolate Kingdom, and yet, here he was looking so frail and pathetic.
He didn't look any different than the old beggars on the street. Even someone as powerful as him—a living legend—couldn't stand the flow of time.
He immediately checked out the man's lifespan, and just as he predicted before, the man didn't have much time left, only a week before he returned to the mother earth's embrace.
Li Changseng made up his mind, moving closer toward the old man and calling him out with a solemn tone.
"Mo Tiesha! I know you can hear me. Wake up now, and I'll give you an opportunity!"
The figure laying on the ground didn't even budge, as if it were just a lifeless corpse.
Li Changseng didn't give up, but instead of shouting his name again, he raised one of his feet and kicked the man's body.
Despite using all of his strength, Li Changseng couldn't move the body even a millimeter, and his foot felt a little painful, as if kicking an iron plate.
He couldn't help but look at the old man with a renewed appreciation and become more determined to obtain his secret techniques.
This action seemed to produce a desired result. The old man's eyelids made a small twitch, so quick that Li Changseng almost missed it.
"Boy, what do you want?"
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice spoke inside Li Changseng's head. The voice was terrifyingly cold, and the suffocating killing intent behind it couldn't be concealed.
Thought Transmission. This was the ability to transmit your thoughts via spiritual sense directly into other people's consciousness.
You needed to be at least in the Purple Palace realm to utilize this technique, and you could only use it when you were still conscious.
This means that despite being at the end of his life, Mo Tiesha was still able to collect his thoughts and have a clear mind.
Despite feeling the heavy pressure from Mo Tiesha's coercion, Li Changseng didn't show any fear; instead, a sly smile rose on his lips.
"Old devil, you only have a week left in this world. Are you willing to die just like that? Aren't you unreconciled? Don't you want to live longer?"
Li Changseng's voice was filled with irresistible temptation, akin to an oasis for a traveler who lost their way in the endless desert. He didn't believe that Mo Tiensha wouldn't bite his bait.
He didn't wait for too long before another thought transmission resounded in his mind.
"What do you mean?"
Li Changseng could perceive that the hostility in the voice had lessened a bit, and he could hear a hint of curiosity in the man's words. Thus, he replied, "I can increase your lifespan. Do you want it?"
Li Changseng's offer was met with a burst of laughter from Mo Tiesha.
"You snotty brat! Do you want to deceive me? Even gods can't save me! What can a first level body refining cultivator like you can do?! If not for the fact I can't move my limbs, I've already torn you to pieces with my hands! Boy count yourself lucky and quickly scram out of here!"
Li Changseng wasn't offended by Mo Tiesha's reaction; instead, he was rather pleased by his arrogant attitude.
The more he acted high and mighty now, the more embarrassed he would be when Li Changseng gave him a slap on the face later.
It was more beneficial to let him brag for now and shatter his pride later, so it would become easier to subdue this devil.
Still wearing a smile on his face, Li Changseng replied, "Well, you might not believe me. So, I'll give you a taste of my ability."
Li Changseng chanted the mantra from the Life Scripture to bestow Mo Tiesha with one-day worth of lifespan.
He could feel a sensation of something being extracted from his body as the mysterious words flowed out of his mouth, but it was so faint that he barely noticed it.
Soon after, a ray of light flew out of Li Changseng's body toward Mo Tiesha, shining on him from above like the light from heaven.
In the next second, Mo Tiesha could feel his body begin to revitalize, and strength started to surge inside his body.
Although he had only recovered a little bit, it was still possible for him to move his body.
Suddenly, his figure flickered, and in a blink of an eye, he had already stood only one meter in front of Li Changseng, staring at him with an incredulous look.
"You… what kind of sorcery is this?"
"I've already told you that I can extend your life, but alas, you don't seem to believe me."
Watching Mo Tiesha suddenly appear right before him, Li Changseng didn't seem surprised at all, and his expression was still as nonchalant as ever.
Seeing the lack of fear in his eyes, Mo Tiesha couldn't help but doubt himself.
This boy was definitely just a worm, his cultivation was not worth mentioning. He might have a miraculous ability that even he had never heard of before, but that was it.
Even if he had a hidden trump card, the difference between their strengths was a world apart, and no matter what trick the boy had, he would be able to handle it with a single flick of his fingers.
After pondering a bit, he thought that he was overthinking it too much and stopped worrying about the boy in front of him.
Mo Tiesha suddenly burst out laughing. "Hahaha! I thought I would die in this shitty place, but heaven seems to still have mercy on me! I didn't expect, I didn't expect that today, I actually met such a strange kid."
In the next second, his expression turned sinister, his eyes burning with greed as he stared at Li Changseng like the eyes of a predator looking at its prey.
"Hehe, brat. Since you could give me your life, then give all of your life to me!"