C17 Third Supervision Point

Even with his back to Kong Qing, it felt as though they could sense each other's thoughts.

Upon hearing Kong Qing's response, Jiang Wen paused, then chuckled. "There are three days left until the next Supervisory General Assembly. Take that time to think it over. After all..."

"After all, we only have one life..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Wen walked away with confident strides.

Once Jiang Wen had departed, Guang Tao rose to his feet, clapped Jiang Wen on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "If you're still set on your decision in three days, we'll meet you here at dawn!"

Kong Qing returned the smile, and Guang Tao left, following the path Jiang Wen had taken.

Kong Qing waited until Guang Tao's footsteps had faded completely before he made his way to his cave.

A night of cultivation had honed Kong Qing's mastery of Origin Energy even further.

Time flew, and before he knew it, two days had passed. After collecting his buns, Kong Qing was ready to head back to his cave for more cultivation, with the meeting with Jiang Wen and the others set for the following morning.

He had barely settled in the cave to begin his energy circulation when an immense force shattered the stone at the entrance.

Crash!

Kong Qing instinctively stood up, his gaze fixed warily on the cave entrance.

As the dust settled, a familiar figure stepped inside.

"Three... Three Supervisors..." Kong Qing's complexion drained of color as he struggled to speak.

"So, you were hiding here," the Three Supervisors remarked, a slight frown creasing their brow.

Accustomed to the Third Supervisor's demeanor, Kong Qing couldn't help but ask, "Has the Third Supervisor come to kill me?"

The Third Supervisor casually took a seat on a rock before replying, "If I had wanted to kill you, would you still be standing here talking to me?"

Kong Qing managed a wry smile. Considering the Third Supervisor's power, his own skills were likely insignificant. "Then, Supervisor, why are you here...?"

"This is my domain, can't I visit?" the Third Supervisor retorted.

"Of course, of course, the Supervisor is welcome anytime," Kong Qing hurriedly replied, mustering a smile.

The Third Supervisor didn't dwell on the subject with Kong Qing but instead inquired, "What realm have you reached now?"

Kong Qing was taken aback, yet he managed to keep his composure. The Third Supervisor had long been aware that he had been cultivating Origin Energy.

After a brief pause, Kong Qing responded, “I believe I’m at the second stage of the Inner Sanctum.”

The Third Supervisor nodded, then gestured to the mark on his own face and asked, “Do you know why I have this mark on my face?”

Kong Qing pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

With an easy smile, the Third Supervisor revealed, “Because I, too, was once a slave.”

“A slave, Supervisor?” Kong Qing was astounded. Could it be possible for a slave to rise to the rank of a supervisor?

The Third Supervisor confirmed with a nod, “I hail from the domain. When I was first sent to the labor prison in the Ancient Quarters by the domain, I was very young, roughly your age now. I had only just begun to cultivate Origin Energy when I was dispatched to quell the native inhabitants of the Ancient Quarters.”

“I had a soft heart and couldn’t bring myself to harm the civilians. Instead, I secretly provided them with better food, evading the watchful eyes of dozens of supervisors for five years. Eventually, the chief supervisor discovered my actions.”

“The chief supervisor was furious. To assert his authority, he summoned all the slaves in the mining area, including several supervisors like myself. I can still vividly recall the chief supervisor’s chilling visage.”

“Tell me! Who has been giving you this food?”

I was acutely aware of the chief supervisor’s brutality. Just when I thought none of the slaves would betray me, he tempted them with an abundance of exquisite food.

“Whoever identifies the supervisor responsible will not only receive this food but will also be freed from the Ancient Quarters, no longer subjected to enslavement!”

I was overwhelmed with fear, knowing that the chief supervisor’s offer was a mere ploy, yet they couldn’t withstand the allure.

Despite understanding that the chief supervisor’s promises were not to be trusted, they still opted to take their chances.

Just when I believed I might avoid disaster, one slave stepped forward...

Then, one by one, more slaves followed suit. To my dismay, every single one of them was someone I had helped.

In that moment, I felt utterly defeated.

Subsequently, the chief supervisor executed all the slaves who had come forward, and it was then that I received this brand.

Over the next three years, in a desperate bid to curry favor with the supervisors, I threw myself into my tasks, casting aside my pride. Eventually, my efforts paid off, and I was promoted to be the deputy of the mine's supervisor. Leveraging my cultivation, I ultimately took his life.

"After that moment, I truly assumed the role of supervisor, and my hatred for the slaves began to quietly explode."

The third supervisor finished speaking with a sigh of relief, finally unburdening himself of a secret he had carried for many years.

Kong Qing slowly lifted his head, "And in doing so, you've destroyed yourself!"

"Yes," the third supervisor acknowledged, nodding in agreement with Kong Qing's perspective. "I confess that my actions are driven by hatred for them, to the point where I've lost my original humanity."

Kong Qing raised an eyebrow and spoke softly, "So because they betrayed your kindness, you subject more innocent people to your wrath?"

"When a person has truly faced despair, they choose to overcome it," the third supervisor responded gravely.

Kong Qing, observing the drastic change in the third supervisor's demeanor, was at a loss for words and could only watch him in silence.

After a lengthy pause, the third supervisor smiled and said, "You're the first person to have such an open conversation with me in years."

After a moment's thought, without waiting for Kong Qing to respond, the third supervisor continued, "By the way, have you ever thought about escaping the Ancient Quarters?"

Buzz!

A ringing filled Kong Qing's ears, and as the temporary deafness subsided, he managed to conceal his excitement, replying with a steady voice, "I have!"

"And then?" The third supervisor, noticing the fleeting panic in Kong Qing's eyes, asked with a light smile.

Kong Qing's gaze darted about, and he quickly shook his head, forcing a bitter smile, "It's impossible to escape."

Seeing Kong Qing's expression, the third supervisor burst into laughter and turned to head toward the cave entrance.

"Just remember, don't use your origin power in front of other warriors, or not even the gods could save you."

The third supervisor said this as he made his way to the entrance. Watching his retreating figure, Kong Qing had an epiphany, "It was my use of origin power that tipped off the third supervisor to my cultivation."

"Wait, there's one more thing," the third supervisor suddenly looked back, prompting Kong Qing to lift his head quickly.

"Without crossing the Nine Steps, you're not truly a warrior. You still have a long road ahead of you."

The Third Supervisor vanished at the mouth of the cave as soon as he finished speaking, leaving Kong Qing to pace uncertainly within its confines.

"What kind of person is the Third Supervisor, really? Why would he share all that with me? It's got to be about more than just my cultivation of origin power," Kong Qing mused, his mind in turmoil.

"Why would he inquire if I've thought about escaping?" Kong Qing pondered, the Third Supervisor's enigmatic smile lingering in his memory.

Despite Kong Qing's best efforts to decipher the Third Supervisor's intentions, they remained inscrutable.

With just over two hours left until his rendezvous with Jiang Wen and the others, Kong Qing faced his only chance. His fate—life or death—hinged on this moment.

Kong Qing clung to this faint hope like a dream, weary of the endless enslavement he had endured for three years. He had safeguarded his dignity, though it felt as malleable as mud, and he had survived through sheer resilience.

Two and a half hours later, Kong Qing removed another Origin Stone Essence from the wall and expertly channeled the Origin Energy within his heart.

As he felt the immense Origin Energy emanating from the Origin Stone Essence in his grasp, Kong Qing's grip tightened. The Origin Energy within him swiftly enveloped the stone.

"Only by advancing to the Human Origin Stage can one materialize Origin Energy," Kong Qing realized, recalling the technique the Chief Eunuch had demonstrated. It was as if a deity was bestowing energy upon mortals, the vibrant energy exceptionally brilliant, with swathes of Origin Light blanketing the entire twenty-sixth sector.

That image was etched deep in his memory.

"Maybe one day, I'll reach that level," he thought hopefully.

"Perhaps it's only at that level that I'll find the way back home."

At that thought, Kong Qing's spirit faltered, and the Origin Energy in his hand instinctively receded.

With a resigned smile, Kong Qing acknowledged the long journey home that lay ahead, so distant it seemed without end.

Yet, his eyes suddenly sharpened, filled anew with hope, as the Origin Energy in his hand began to coalesce once more.

In what seemed like a mere moment, the two and a half hours had passed. Apart from absorbing an Origin Stone Essence, Kong Qing had devoted his time to mastering his control over Origin Energy.

The indentations on the cave wall bore witness to Kong Qing's overnight training. Contemplating his imminent departure from this cave and the Ancient Quarters forever, Kong Qing tucked an Origin Stone Essence into his clothing, pushed the heavy stone door aside, and made his way toward the meeting place with deliberate steps.