Chapter 437: 435

With just a few terse exchanges, Yi Chen was able to discern an almost obsessive pursuit of Death in this First Dead Man, or rather, his reason for not having left this place was precisely because it provided the optimal environment for exploration.

No wonder he had overheard such conversations in the elevator shaft.

It appeared that the First Dead Man did not exert much control over the Knight Order, the Original Tomb, or even the entire realm of the dead, instead allowing the dead community to self-manage.

“Senior, you…”

Yi Chen originally wanted to seize this opportunity to ask some deeper questions about the Death Plague, Death itself, and the First Dead Man, but suddenly he was enveloped by a swirl of black mist, with whispering sounds echoing around his ears.

“Alright, our conversation ends here. I will continue my exploration of Death, so cease your pointless inquiries. Come see me again once you have fulfilled the agreement of the contract.”

Enveloped in the black fog, Yi Chen found himself swiftly transported from the crypts and mausoleums to the very top of the ramp path.

The elevator doors also opened in sync,

and ‘Vivi,’ whose black hair completely covered her front, was standing at the entrance. She grabbed Yi Chen by the throat, pulled him out from the midst of the black fog, and threw him heavily to the ground, the sound of his spine breaking audible.

This was no big deal for Yi Chen, who was wearing Dead Man Makeup, and he even felt a bit of a thrill. He then twisted his broken-spined body and replied with a “Thank you.”

His words caused Vivi to pause momentarily, and tilting her head covered by black hair, she gazed at the young man lying on the ground. She also noticed the black fog that had enveloped the young man was forming a skull amulet on his chest.

An icy voice came from beneath Vivi’s black hair again, “It seems the First Dead Man thinks highly of you, granting you the status of a ‘High-Level Ordinary’ after just one meeting. Looks like we’re going to be colleagues in the future.”

“High-Level Ordinary?”

Only then did Yi Chen react, looking down at the skull amulet on his chest, from which black mist was continuously puffing out from the eye sockets and mouth.

“By the way, what can I do with this status?”

“Go ask Bernard; I don’t have time to answer you.”

The elevator reached the fourth floor of the Original Tomb, which was also the highest residential area for the dead. Only the Death Plague Knights, outstanding Apprentice Knights, or High-Level Ordinaries were qualified to live here.

However,

when Yi Chen stepped out of the elevator, he did not see any buildings, only a neatly arranged group of tombstones.

Each tombstone was set far apart from the others, and they were made from different materials, with some even crafted from Gold of the Old World.

The surnames of the deceased were inscribed on the tombstones, apparently representing the corresponding residences.

As Yi Chen stood at the entrance of the elevator looking around the area of the dead, a wolf came running towards him from a distance. Understanding intuitively, he jumped with one stride onto the wolf’s back.

Guided by the wolf, he quickly arrived in front of a tombstone with fur growing on it and a wolf’s head carved at the top. The inscribed name was precisely [Bernard].

The wolf extended its paw and gently touched the surface of the tombstone, opening a stairway leading downward.

Indeed,

the living quarters of the dead were constructed underground, to be as close as possible to the bottom layer, so as to absorb as much of the ancient Death Plague radiating from the First Dead Man as they could.

Thirteen was sitting on a stone chair in the living room, and as she saw her teacher approaching, the candle flame on her head quickly doubled in size, indicating her excitement despite the lack of facial expression.

Bernard, with his wolf helmet removed, walked out from the adjacent room, and beneath the mask was a resolute and handsome human face,

but with a scar crossing his right brow, bridge of the nose, and cheek, revealing chilling white bone, a sight most frightening.Bernard also noticed the pendant on Yi Chen’s chest right away, “Hmm? High-Level Death Citizen… Is the boss planning to let you participate in the Knight assessment?”

“No, because I have other matters in the Old World and can’t stay long in the Original Tomb, naturally, I won’t consider the Knight Order’s issue.”

“What?! You won’t stay long, yet the boss still grants you the status of a High-Level Death Citizen… It must be related to that strange Death on your body.

Are you really not planning to stay? With your strength, you could easily pass the Knight assessment and once you complete the path, you could become an official Knight and enjoy the highest treatment in the Original Tomb.”

“I still have a contract matter I must handle, so I can’t stay long, I am truly sorry.”

Bernard sighed, “Well, since the boss hasn’t kept you here, there’s no point in what I say… When are you leaving?”

Yi Chen then pulled off the “Dead Spine Lake,” which he pretended was his tail, and held it in his hand, “I want to buy a ‘Dead Person Wedge Stone’ and find a smith from the Original Tomb to refashion and upgrade this spine.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Bernard’s expression immediately turned serious, and his eyes even bulged with a sinister red, “Where did you learn about the ‘Dead Person Wedge Stone’?”

“Duke.”

“I see, it seems the Duke only told you about this thing and didn’t explain its origins to you in detail.

This is a treasure even our Knight Order members cherish greatly, and even in the Original Tomb, it’s priceless, impossible to purchase, considering I don’t even have one in my hands.”

“Then how can I obtain it?”

“It can drop with a chance when killing something from the ‘Abyss Death Image.’

However, this is not something you can come into contact with. Even our Knight Order needs to team up to subdue it, after all, that’s a dangerous Death creature born in the gap of Death while the boss was exploring the path of Death.”

Yi Chen’s eyes widened at hearing this, and he quickly asked,

“Are you planning a subjugation mission soon? Could I join you? During the subjugation, you don’t need to worry about me at all, even if I die, it has nothing to do with you.

If I don’t contribute during the subjugation, you don’t need to give me any spoils of war.”

Actually, after learning that Yi Chen was unwilling to stay in the Original Tomb, Bernard lost a lot of interest and naturally did not want to accept such a proposal.

However, this youngster had left a good impression on him throughout their journey, and since the First Dead Man had directly given him the status of a High-Level Death Citizen, he has maintained contact with the Original Tomb despite not joining the Knight Order. It was somewhat difficult to refuse.

“It’s quite troublesome~ How about this, if you can bring Vivian along with us, I’ll apply to subdue the ‘Death Image.’

“Vivian… What’s your relationship with her?”

“Once a teammate, but sadly we parted ways due to some events.”

When Bernard spoke of this, his gaze couldn’t help drifting towards the Tombstone Giant Sword leaning in the corner.

“If I can persuade Lady Vivian, you’ll bring me along to subdue the Death Image, right? Okay… give me some time, Thirteen, let’s go!”

“Yes, teacher.”

Bernard did not say much more, letting Yi Chen leave. In his view, this request was unattainable, considering he himself had tried for many years yet the estrangement remained.

Thirteen asked with some concern, “Teacher, shall we go to look for that lady responsible for the elevators now? She looks so fearsome and it’s impossible to have a proper conversation.”

“No, first I will use the identity given by the First Dead Man to find a residence. I will temporarily cut contact with Bernard and investigate this Lady Vivian from all aspects. Then, I will find an excellent opportunity to have a one-on-one talk.”

Yi Chen chose to ride the Ordinary elevator to the Death Citizen residential area (Ordinary) located on the second layer of the Original Tomb. Using his pendant identity and paying with Ancient Coins, he checked into an underground hotel named “Black Funeral House” to carry out his personal plan.