Following behind the lady, Luo Di could taste the rich scent of wax oil emanating from her. It's likely that her entire body is composed of this substance, which is why she appears so youthful.
At the end of the passage, the walls here flow with scorching wax oil like a waterfall.
"Follow me."
The lady raised her hand, and Luo Di quickly took hold of it.
This touch indeed didn't feel like human skin, but rather like pressing on some soft waxy surface, warmer than normal human body temperature, around 70°C.
Passing through this searing liquid wax wall,
An open underground hall appeared before his eyes.
[Heavenly Circular, Earthly Square]
A square hall, with a circular skylight at the top to attract moonlight and absorb sinister energy.
Below the skylight,
The center of the hall.
Four pillars wrapped with dragon reliefs, suspending a coffin of unknown black material in mid-air by iron chains.
Luo Di gazed fixedly, "This is..."
The lady's voice faintly seeped through the red cloth on her face, "When the day comes for your whole body to undergo corpse transformation, you can lie in this coffin for the final transformation. At that point, your properties as a living being will be completely stripped away, turning you entirely into an undead existence."
"Will the pituitary change too?"
"It will be affected, and your subsequent mature plants will also have related attributes, but fear types will not change.
The introduction of [Undead] will grant you a more robust physique, unique absorbing traits, and the ability to soar through the sky once your plants mature."
"With so many added characteristics, there must be weaknesses as well, right?"
"You are quite smart, come over quickly, let me see what is special about your body."
Under the lady's guidance, Luo Di was led into the depths of the Corpse Refining Hall, continuing to pass through walls flowing with wax oil, traversing a corridor coated in red paint.
A distinctive red door stood at the end.
Red candles, red curtains, red bed sheets,
Redwood, red bricks, red rouge,
Upon entering the room, the lady immediately lit a candle emitting a special fragrance, inviting Luo Di to sit at the lone square table.
She personally poured two cups of tea, though a thick layer of oil floated on the surface, resembling some aged corpse oil.
"Lady, this is... I just came to repair my arm."
Beneath the red pouch, the lady seemed to hide a hint of a smile, "Don't worry, I won't disclose your true identity for now. After all, I am me, that old thing can't meddle here."
Since she had spoken to this extent, Luo Di no longer bothered to disguise himself.
Besides, he confirmed that his left arm was still effective, his tongue could still lubricate, ready to teleport away at any time.
"How did the lady notice? I have successfully concealed all the way, even Mr. Jiang, ranked fourth, didn't find out."
"Your disguise is indeed impressive, but you let it slip. It seems this disguise comes from someone else's [makeup technique] rather than your own."
"Is it because I licked that maid's fingers last night?"
"That's a reason that slightly aroused my suspicion... All these maids are crafted by me, their wax-covered bodies can transmit any external sensation directly to me.
The sensation from licking can't be done by a newly sprouting monster. Unless you were very skilled at this while alive, and the monster's nature relates to the tongue.
Or perhaps you intentionally licked, wanting me to notice you?"
Luo Di could feel that beneath the red cloth, there seemed to be a pair of special eyes scrutinizing him, this gaze could make Luo Di's entire body ooze oil or coagulate the surrounding wax oil.
Luo Di simply smiled slightly, "Are there any other reasons?"
"Naturally there are, zombies are extremely yin creatures, even that old undead will feel discomfort towards extreme yang things.
My Corpse Refining Shop is extremely hot, candles burning everywhere. Your physical body has undergone corpse transformation, naturally feeling discomfort.
Yet you not only didn't react but fully adapted when holding hands.
You know ordinary little zombies, or creatures like you undergoing transformation, would tremble all over or withdraw their hand if they touched my body.
You, however, held on tightly, seemingly seriously feeling. Is my skin that comfortable? You seem to like this temperature very much? Is your real body very hot? May I have a look?"
"Indeed, the sinister atmosphere of Jiang Mansion never quite suits me. Arriving here, the rising temperature gives me a strange sense of comfort, even a feeling of coming home.
After all, in Hell, there's one related to candles."
"Hell? Who are you?"
Luo Di simply removed the human skin, revealing his Hell Shell.
The lady initially thought Luo Di was some monster skilled in disguise, now it turns out he isn't even a monster but a human.
"Human, Connector! This body of yours isn't human, so hot, so warm!"
Though the lady detests humans, she is extremely fascinated by this heat, unconsciously reaching out to touch Luo Di's hand.
Hell's scorching heat quickly transmitted over,
Drip drip drip~
The wax oil dissolved, almost revealing the sinister skeleton hidden beneath the painted flesh.
"No, it's too hot! So hot that it makes me anxious... You, you're human, what's your purpose? How can you use such a precise disguise to come to the Jiang Mansion?
Is it a new technology from the Human Exploration Bureau? Are you trying to probe the state of the old undead and then conquer the Jiang Mansion to take over this key dungeon entrance?"
"Madam, don't be anxious!"
Luo Di proactively grabbed the madam's retreating arm, continuing to convey heat, causing her entire body to begin melting like wax, effectively curbing her suspicious and doubtful emotions.
"I come from Vortex Town, you should have heard of it, right?"
Luo Di swiftly extended his palm, displaying the vortex-shaped palm lines.
"Vortex Town... What is your true intention?"
"I don't represent any organization, nor do I represent humanity. This disguise is purely out of personal curiosity and a private matter."
"What is it?"
Luo Di grabbed his cervical vertebra, pulling out the pitch-black spine from his back.
Before he could explain, the madam's half-exposed bony waxy hand touched it, "Soul fracture, and for a long time... But this thing is not human, is it a creature from Hell?"
"Madam truly understands! She is a special demon from Hell, born as a weapon. My visit to the Jiang Mansion is to seek a method of repair."
"Not a zombie, not even a monster, not even human... The soul structure is quite different, and moreover, it's a significant soul deficit that has persisted for a long time.
Repairing such a soul is extremely troublesome."
Luo Di's eyes brightened, quickly asking, "Does that mean there's a chance?"
"As long as the individual consciousness remains, the Jiang Family's Corpse Refining Technique can repair it, but the cost is enormous, requiring half of the Jiang Mansion's resources.
Even if you personally can bear it, Mr. Jiang would never allow it.
The movements of corpse refining happening here, Mr. Jiang knows everything perfectly well."
"I'll try to think of a way."
"There's no way, even if I wanted to help you, I wouldn't mobilize so many resources. Besides, the success rate of repair is low, there's no point.
This thing is indeed good, but not worth such a high price, if it's broken, just get a replacement."
"Thank you, madam, I'll consider it."
"Now that you've gotten your answer, are you leaving?"
Luo Di's tone was unexpectedly firm, "No, I want to stay for a while longer. If Mr. Jiang agrees, then it can be repaired, right?"
"You're not listening at all. Yes, if that old undead agrees to your absurd request, then we can start helping you repair.
But you need to know, the Jiang Mansion's resources are mainly for sustaining him, so you might as well dream on."
Luo Di's eyes suddenly changed, switching to a different topic: "Then why did madam specifically bring me here? Is there anything I can help with?"
"Since you only came to seek soul repair and bear no hostility against the Jiang Mansion, indeed, you can help me with something.
Of course, in return, I will continue to help conceal your identity."
"What favor?"
"Recently, the stewards sent out from the Jiang Mansion have been disappearing one after another. That old undead's physical condition cannot leave the Jiang Mansion, while Uncle Neck, though capable, needs to stay within the mansion to manage the affairs.
The Jiang Mansion is in need of people, but most newcomers are treated as private possessions by the old undead and are not seriously trained.
Although there is a large number of zombies, they are not suited for major tasks.
Since you managed to infiltrate the Jiang Mansion and you come from that emerging Vortex Town, I hope you can help investigate the disappearance of the external stewards."
"Doesn't madam suspect Vortex Town?"
"The former steward Uncle Zhou once visited your place, and the information he brought back basically confirmed the neutral nature of Vortex Town.
Besides, you have already gathered so many top-tier monsters there, if you wanted to destroy the Jiang Mansion, there would be no need to resort to such despicable means."
"Even if I want to help madam investigate, my current identity confines me to the Jiang Mansion, doesn't it?"
"I will explain your heat-resistant constitution to Uncle Neck, allowing you to stay here as an apprentice. On regular days, you can exit the Jiang Mansion through secret tunnels, disguised as a steward to investigate outside."
Luo Di thought for a moment, and nodded in agreement.
"Don't be hasty in agreeing, you're merely mature for the task. Those stewards who disappeared were all of your rank.
I need to test your capabilities, otherwise, there's no point in sending you to investigate, it would only end in a dead end."
"How does madam wish to test?"
"You can attack anytime but must be discreet."
Snap!
An arm suddenly choked the madam's throat, pinning her entirely to the ground, the tongue entwined, instantly dominating.
The pitch-black eyes stared at her fiercely, seemingly ready to eliminate.
This sudden assault caused the red cloth to slip, revealing a meticulously carved face, but the wax on her face was melting, with moisture-red lips showing a smile.
"Your name... is Luo Di, right? Uncle Zhou mentioned you, that old man's judgment was indeed off, his evaluation was too low.
Your flesh and body must not be seen by the old undead, or he may spare no expense to occupy you."
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