Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 858 Advancement of the Suppression Order (Part 2)

"Om~"

The heavy iron gate slid open slowly under Lao Xiao's operation, emitting a deep, ancient bell-like sound.

A chilling aura, several times colder than the outside air, mixed with disinfectant, stale dust, and some indescribable coldness, suddenly surged out, instantly enveloping Xiao Ran, who was standing at the door. Even the white breath he exhaled seemed to freeze instantly.

Old Xiao pressed a cold switch on the wall next to him.

"Click, click, click——"

Amidst the dense sounds of machinery, the industrial-grade cold lights lined up on the top of the warehouse suddenly lit up, layer by layer, patch by patch, from near to far!
The blinding white light instantly dispelled the shadows in the porch and completely illuminated the space inside.

The underground warehouse was much deeper and larger than he had imagined.

Cold white light poured down from the high dome, illuminating the area below as bright as day, yet it also exuded an inhuman coldness.

Looking around, the entire warehouse was planned like a giant maze of tombs.

Neatly arranged, densely packed, stretching as far as the eye can see, are thousands of body bags on display!

These dark green, thick, standard military body bags, like a sleeping army formation, densely covered the entire ground space.

A dense aura of death surged forth, forming an extremely unique corpse demon.

"these are……"

Xiao Ran walked to the nearest corpse in front of the door, opened the body bag, and found a man's body lying quietly inside. However, the body had been pierced through the chest, and the arms and shoulders were missing parts.

Old Xiao stood sideways at the doorway and said calmly, "The border is not safe. There will always be casualties. The company, the military, and too many bodies could not be moved here in time. Those who were able to be moved here are considered lucky. The country hopes to give them a dignified funeral."

After Old Owl finished speaking, he looked up at the deepest room and said, "There are three big problems inside. Be careful."

After saying that, he took a step back and then closed the door.

"Om..."

As the door clicked shut, it was completely locked. Old Xiao opened a small hole in the door and said, "I'll be waiting for you outside, no matter how long it takes. But if anything changes, I'll have to nominate you as a martyr."

Xiao Ran was not surprised by Lao Xiao's caution.

Although these corpses are not professionals, they are all beginners, at least at the D-level. Given the extent of their damage, the runes within them have already mutated, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

In such cases, even if the body is hastily cremated, it is difficult to guarantee that no accidents will occur.

These corpses are not something that ordinary beginners can dispose of at will, and there is no good solution for the time being but to keep them here temporarily.

No wonder Yang Jun reported himself as a mortician.

Xiao Ran stood up, took out a table from her spatial storage, and placed all the tools she needed aside.

He then patted the gourd of ghost soldiers at his waist, releasing Six Eyes and Three Grains to assist him.

He then took out the [Decapitation Sword], activated it, and scanned the surroundings before thrusting the Decapitation Sword toward the northwest, setting up a curse to absorb the evil energy in the area.

Finally, he took out the [Suppressing Calamity Token], activated it, and hung it on his waist.

This series of movements was fluid and skillful, which reassured the old owl who was watching from outside through the observation hole.

After all, the victims here include not only martyrs and heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country, but also their former comrades and brothers.

They had also approached corpse stitchers, but most of them would just glance at them and turn away, clearly not daring to take the risk.

Soon, the first body was placed on the table.

"Sorry, but it won't hurt."

Xiao Ran looked at the corpse in front of her, whispered something to it, then picked up her needle and thread and quickly got into the zone.

He enveloped the corpse with his spiritual power, like the most precise scanning instrument, imprinting every scratch and every misalignment of the bones into his mind.

The silver needles on her fingertips moved so fast that only a blur remained.

The needle tip pierces and exits at an angle that is completely beyond common sense, and the landing point of each needle is extremely precise, landing on the most minute fascial nodes.

Black threads spun rapidly, like a mysterious art, pulling the skin and flesh at the edge of the wound closer and closing it in an extremely smooth and natural way.

Although this was not the professional corpse Xiao Ran was looking for, Xiao Ran still focused intently on stitching it up, without the slightest carelessness.

In less than ten minutes, the body in front of her had been restored. Xiao Ran took out cosmetics that she hadn't used in a long time and used them to repair the body's face. The restored body had a rosy complexion and a peaceful expression.

Xiao Ran didn't look up, but calmly said, "Next."

Soon, the second body was carried to Xiao Ran by Liu Mu and San Li. The stitching was still silent, and apart from the faint sound of stitching, no other sound could be heard in the entire warehouse.

Old Xiao stood quietly outside the door the whole time, watching, his stiff face gradually softening.

One body after another was stitched back together. For the parts that were definitely intact, Xiao Ran considered it carefully and chose to use traditional dough to shape and repair them.

Xiao Ran had many corpses in his hands, enough to repair the damage to these remains even if they were dismantled and used as parts. However, regardless of the origin of these corpses, taking parts from other people to repair the remains of these heroes was a desecration of them.

Although it's dough, Xiao Ran will wrap it with a layer of joss paper and skillfully repair the damaged parts using the craftsmanship of a paper craftsman.

Then, another layer of joss paper was pasted on the outside, and the outline of the body was sculpted. Whether it was the face or the limbs, the missing parts of each body were completed in Xiao Ran's hands.

Gradually, Xiao Ran seemed to forget about time, and the body in her hands was stitched up faster and faster, like an assembly line.

It's unclear how much time passed, but after Xiao Ran finished repairing the body in front of her, she waited silently for a moment before frowning and looking at Liu Mu and San Li.

Liu Mu spread his hands, indicating to Xiao Ran to see for herself.

Xiao Ran looked up and realized that she had finished sewing up all the bodies that could be sewn up.

Only the three bodies that were sealed away at the back remain.

Xiao Ran looked up and saw that after the other remains were repaired, the corpse aura that had filled the warehouse had subsided. In addition, the [Decapitation Sword] was continuously absorbing the corpse aura, and the environment in the warehouse had become much clearer to the naked eye.

But that's precisely why it makes it so clear how intense the malevolent energy emanating from behind the innermost door is.

It's like a blob of ink falling into a clear pool, continuously releasing pollutants.

"Crack!"

At this moment, the door behind them opened a small hole, and Old Owl said to Xiao Ran through the hole, "It's very late, take a rest, have a meal, and continue tomorrow."

Old Xiao's tone was no longer as cold and aloof as before.

Xiao Ran shook her head and refused, saying, "Let's go for it in one go."

"It's been twelve hours already, and those three big guys behind us are a real problem." Old Owl wanted to persuade him again.

But Xiao Ran interrupted, saying, "Old Xiao."

"Ok?"

Xiao Ran turned around and glanced at Lao Xiao, then smiled and said, "Don't be so enthusiastic, I still prefer your cold and aloof side."

Old Xiao paused for a moment, then curled his lip and shut the small hole.

Xiao Ran had Liu Mu and San Li carry it onto the table, then strode over to the small door.

A chain as thick as a thumb hung on the gate, rusted and corroded beyond recognition. Xiao Ran pulled hard and broke the chain.

Open the door.

"call!!"

Despite being a closed space, a chilling wind suddenly blew out from inside.

The wind was very viscous; when it blew on my skin, it felt like my skin was covered with a sticky, oily layer.

The [Suppressing Calamity Token - Transporter] at Xiao Ran's waist clanged, and then a huge ghost general's silhouette appeared behind him, completely blocking the yin wind in front of him.

Xiao Ran looked closely and saw that the room in front of her was about 20 square meters.

The room was empty except for three strangely shaped, pitch-black metal coffins standing in place.

The three coffins were embedded in the cold concrete floor, their surfaces covered with intricate and unfamiliar dark red runes.

These talismans were not written with cinnabar, but rather resembled congealed, dried blood.

On top of each coffin stood a stone sculpture of Baxia, pressing down on the coffin.

"This method is quite good." Liu Mu examined it carefully. "This must be the work of a feng shui master, using himself to suppress himself."

This method originates from a myth. Baxia was burdened with a heavy load, so Yu the Great made a stele to commemorate his achievements in controlling the floods and placed it on Baxia's body.

Therefore, it is common to see Baxia carrying a stone tablet on its back.

Right now, on the body of Baxia on the coffin, there is also a stone tablet, on which the life and achievements of each person are written in detail.

He used his own achievements to suppress his physical body.

Xiao Ran's gaze quickly swept over the contents of the three stone tablets, and her expression immediately changed.

Sun Zu'an: Birth and death: July 1, 1991 – October 27, 204X (This is a fictional story, not set in the present day)
Unit designation: Seventh Company

Military rank: Major (posthumously awarded the rank of Colonel)

Title: "Dragon's Spine"

Occupation: C-rank, Weapon Master
A brief summary of his life and achievements:
Defending the northern frontier: Guarding the Changbai Mountains and Heilongjiang River region year-round, holding key strategic points, like a pillar stabilizing the sea, blocking the infiltration of supernatural forces from abroad 93 times.

In [Month, Year], Kirigakure Senran, the leader of the Nine Chrysanthemums lineage in Japan, led thirteen elite members of the [Oboroya Clan], carrying cursed artifacts, to steal from the dragon vein of Mount Tai.

Comrade Sun Zu'an, leading a lone force deep behind enemy lines, ambushed and killed a powerful enemy in the "Hanyuanjian" of the Taishan Maze City, killing Wuyin Qianlan in Hanyuan and wiping out all members of the [Longye Clan].

In the same year, foreign experts forcibly seized national treasures. Comrade Sun Zuan crossed three provinces overnight to pursue the enemy, encountered ambushes by experts from multiple countries, fought for several months and was seriously injured, but managed to retrieve the national treasures. However, he was seriously injured and his vital energy was depleted, and he fought until he was exhausted.

Their achievements are illustrious, their heroic spirits will never die, and may they forever protect our land!

The other two also made significant contributions. The coffin on the far left contains one of the supervisors who was recently assassinated and killed. These three are currently among the top professionals in the country. After their deaths, it is extremely difficult to stitch their bodies back together, and the runes on their bodies could go out of control at any time. The only way to preserve them properly is to place them here.

"Let's start with the one on the far left."

After careful consideration, Xiao Ran decided that the supervisor on the left had been transferred here the shortest time and would be the easiest to suture.

Therefore, it is most convenient to proceed from left to right.

At Xiao Ran's signal, Liu Mu and San Li silently began to act.

Six eyes extended their jet-black, well-defined hands and placed them on the cold metal rim of the coffin. Sanli leaned forward, his six arms encircling the bottom of the coffin.

"Creak! Buzz..."

A teeth-grinding scraping sound accompanied the subtle crackling of metal peeling off from cement.

The coffin seemed to be fused with the entire base, and it was only when the powerful forces of the Six Eyes and Three Centimeters were unleashed that it was slowly shaken.

Cement fragments fell in a flurry, and the coffin was slowly lifted out of the stone trough that imprisoned it.

At this moment, the [Suppressing Calamity Token - Transporter] on Xiao Ran's waist trembled more intensely, the surface of the token shimmered with a ghostly light, and the outline of the Yin General behind him instantly became more solid. An invisible pressure spread out, actively suppressing the evil energy surging out of the coffin for Xiao Ran.

He could sense that as the coffin loosened, a powerful and restless energy that had been sealed and suppressed inside began to surge uneasily, just like a startled beast.

After much effort, the heavy coffin was finally completely removed from its base and laid flat on the cold cement floor.

On the black metal surface, the blood runes appeared even more sinister under the blinding white light of the dome, as if dark red light flowed beneath them.

Liu Mu and San Li stood on either side, looking at Xiao Ran, awaiting the next command. Xiao Ran took a deep breath, the cold air mixed with the heavy smell of corpses rushing into her lungs.

He said in a deep voice, "Open the coffin."

With a quick glance, Liu Mu located the precise tenon position reserved at the front of the coffin lid and twisted it forcefully.

With a dull "click" of a mechanism operating, the complex internal locks unlocked.

"boom……"

A terrifying chill, more concentrated, colder, and filled with madness and resentment than all the death energy in the warehouse outside combined, surged out from the crack in the open coffin lid like a tangible black wave!

This aura carried an extreme sense of curse, as if it could freeze the soul.

Standing outside the door, even through the thick alloy door panel and observation hole, Old Xiao's expression instantly became extremely solemn. His back involuntarily tensed up, and he subconsciously pressed his hand against the specially made military dagger at his waist.

In the thick, black fog, Sanli did not hesitate for a moment. His two calloused, stitched hands steadily inserted into the gap in the coffin lid and pulled it down forcefully.

"Heh...creak..."

Amidst the grating sound of metal scraping, the heavy, specially made alloy coffin lid was slowly but steadily pushed back inch by inch.

More black energy, as if finding an outlet, poured out wildly, almost swallowing the coffin and the three centimeters that had been opened.

It's fortunate that Sanli was a corpse; otherwise, if it were a living person, even a professional, being sprayed with that corpse aura would probably be quite a shock.

Xiao Ran's gaze pierced through the surging black mist, as if it were tangible, and locked firmly onto the inside of the coffin.

Inside the coffin lay a man dressed in tattered gray combat gear.

His face was shrouded in black mist, making it difficult to see the condition of his skin, but his body had an extremely unnatural grayish appearance, as if covered with a layer of stone powder.

Even more chillingly, through the gaps in the tattered clothing, one could vaguely see extremely complex, yet violently unstable, black runes on its torso and limbs.

Clearly, the runes within his body had begun to go completely berserk.

Fortunately, Xiao Ran is surprisingly adept at handling such situations.

"I'm sorry."

After Xiao Ran finished speaking, the Yin God Dharma Image behind her opened its large hand and slapped the man's chest heavily.

"what!"

Inside the coffin, the man's eyes suddenly widened, his pupils turning into two bottomless pools of ink, even the whites of his eyes were covered with spiderweb-like black veins.

His mouth was torn open at an astonishing angle, reaching all the way to his ear, revealing gleaming white teeth and a thick, tar-like black liquid writhing wildly deep inside his mouth!
The scream wasn't from air vibrations; it was more like a terrifying shriek of pure negative energy.

But this impact did not harm Xiao Ran at all.

The hand of the Yin God's Dharma Image behind him gently landed on his chest.

The seemingly effortless strike produced a deep, muffled thud the moment it landed, like a sledgehammer striking a drum or a mountain pressing down!

The entire metal coffin embedded in the ground sank heavily downwards! A blinding dark light exploded from the point where the Dharma Image's palm touched the corpse, forcibly suppressing the bulging, raging curse runes!
However, the power of the corpse transformation was incredibly ferocious! Those pitch-black eyes seemed to pierce through the phantom of the Yin God, fixing themselves firmly on Xiao Ran! From the depths of her torn throat, the shrill screams of "Ahhh—" continued unabated, forming a visible, twisting wave that carried an overwhelming stench of corpses and cursed power, rushing towards Xiao Ran like a shockwave!

Seeing this, Xiao Ran waved his hand, and a sword shadow appeared in the void. The curse spell that he had set up in advance was activated by Xiao Ran.

These sword shadows circled around Xiao Ran before swiftly piercing into the space surrounding the body, as if forcibly fixing him in place, rendering him unable to move.

Xiao Ran didn't dare to be careless. After all, the corpses in front of him were different from the bodies of Sakurai and the others. After Sakurai and the others were killed by Xiao Ran, they were immediately put into the Yin Soldier Gourd.

The Yin Soldier Gourd continuously absorbs the corpse energy of these bodies, so it is not afraid that the corpses will change.

However, the curse runes within these three corpses have now gone berserk, and they can only be forcibly suppressed.

Xiao Ran spread his fingers, and the [Seam of Fate] sprang out, forcibly piercing through the restless runes and pulling them back into his body.

Xiao Ran's mental power was like the most precise surgical scanner, instantly covering the violently struggling body inside the coffin.

There were a total of seven wounds, six of which were located on the limbs and torso, clearly knife marks and penetrating wounds left during a fierce fight.

The fatal wound was a gruesome, penetrating stab wound right in the center of his chest!

The edges of the wound were extremely smooth and precise, almost coldly so, as if the entire chest cavity had been instantly pierced by the coldest carving knife.

With a flick of his fingertips, the "stitch of fate," shimmering with an obscure, eerie light, emerged once more. This time, the thread pierced precisely and gently into the wound on his chest.

The rest was simple; thanks to the special effect of the Fate Stitching, the wound was completely stitched up in just a few seconds.

As the wound was completely stitched up, the supervisor's previously agitated state gradually subsided.

Xiao Ran gave Liu Mu a wink, and Liu Mu immediately carried the body out of the coffin and placed it outside.

Next, Xiao Ran continued to prepare to sew up the other two corpses.

Old Owl, who was hiding behind the door, finally breathed a sigh of relief after seeing this scene.

The look in his eyes when he looked at Xiao Ran had turned into one of awe.

Over the years, the company has tried other methods, but without exception, they all failed, and on one occasion, they almost caused a riot among all the remains inside.

There was nothing that could be done about it; after all, their goal was to protect these remains, not to destroy them.

Old Xiao checked the time and then took out his walkie-talkie.

"I am Old Owl. Tell the kitchen to prepare a meal." After saying that, Old Owl remembered something and instructed, "Make it lavish."

Time passed by minute by minute.

The process of stitching up the second body was not complicated. The most difficult one was the third body. This hero's physical damage was too great, and he was very strong. If he had not died unexpectedly, this hero would likely have advanced to B-level and become the strongest master in China.

This made Xiao Ran feel regretful, but it also gave her a new understanding of the country's strength.

Having a C-level professional expert in charge so early on shows that sometimes the country is simply unwilling to intervene.

After all, the military is full of experts and geniuses.

Fortunately, no matter how strong it was, it was still a lifeless body, and within Xiao Ran's area of ​​expertise, it couldn't cause any trouble.

Around 3 a.m., Xiao Ran finally finished the suturing and repair work, and immediately felt a strong sense of fatigue.

"call!"

Xiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief, as the notification sounds of the [Suppressing Calamity Order] continued to be transmitted to her.

"Ding, you have stitched up Sun Zuan's corpse. Your rating is SS. You have gained 80000 energy points."

"Ding, you have stitched up Li Na's corpse. Your rating is SS-level. You have gained 80000 energy points."

"Ding, the Zhuo Jun corpse you stitched up is rated SS level, and you have gained 80000 energy points."

"Ding, the Cai Meng corpse you stitched up has been rated A, and you have gained 4000 energy points."

"Ding, you've stitched it up..."

Because Xiao Ran was too focused before, she hadn't heard these prompts, but now they all came flooding back to her.

The cold notification tone sounded like heavenly music to Xiao Ran at that moment!

That enormous number, a full 370,000 energy points—far exceeding the required 300,000.

It was like molten lava being poured into his cold body, instantly dispelling all his fatigue!

"Ding! The Suppressing Calamity Token has met the advancement requirements. Advance now?"

What surprised Xiao Ran even more was that she was able to advance without any mission this time when she was granted the Zhen'e Order.

Upon closer inspection, Xiao Ran realized that the task had already appeared long ago.

[Advancement Quest: Gain the approval of one hundred stitched-up corpses.]

Xiao Ran has stitched up far more than a hundred bodies here; this task was completed long ago without anyone noticing.

Looking at the prompt in front of me.

Xiao Ran's eyes lit up, and she decisively said, "Advance!"

(End of this chapter)