The Gentleman at the End
Chapter 372 - Chapter 372 Chapter 371 Skin Limbo

Chapter 372: Chapter 371 Skin Limbo Chapter 372: Chapter 371 Skin Limbo Yi Chen had glimpsed the general appearance and basic situation of the “Mysterious Skin Factory” through the ancient texts in the “Skin Sack Bible” long ago, learning that the skins conveyed to the organization from the factory were merely a lower-quality batch produced on the assembly line.

The real quality goods were kept within the factory,

These so-called original skins, by no means compared to the yellow skin that was bound to Yi Chen.

The ones currently used to assess and transported into Yi Chen’s body were undoubtedly destined only to be devoured.

Wrinkled Skin Spacy, located on the observation platform, also noticed the changes in Yi Chen’s body,

“Has he learned the ‘Skin Sack Bible’ to this extent in just one month? Moreover, his whole body is coordinating to absorb the external original skins, its nature has already changed, it is no longer about bearing the burden of the skin but a unilateral absorption.

However, the other few also have their methods.

I estimate there will be five people in a ‘perfect control’ state, none of whom will be eliminated in the end.

The quality of this year’s candidates is exceptionally high indeed! In the session I participated in, only Claude and I persisted until the end in the ‘Skin Volume’ test.”

Time gradually passed,

Five minutes later, a candidate recommended by the Magician Association burst a vast amount of skin liquid from his spine and, unable to sustain it, dropped out of the ‘Skin Volume’ assessment.

Soon after, others followed suit, leaving only five people on the field, precisely the ones Wrinkled Skin Spacy had predicted.

Cesimani’s Mandy, a candidate provided by a research institute–Alex, from the tailor association–Jessica, the Insomniac Galon, and Yi Chen.

These five continuously accepted the original skins without much change in expression, seemingly able to maintain it for a long time, with an almost endless limit to endure ‘Skin Volume,’ capable of internal control and digestion.

But in the eyes of the First Gentleman, these five had clear differences; each had their unique way of carrying and controlling the original skin.

Another ten minutes passed.

Clang, clang–the First Gentleman retracted all the chains inserted in everyone’s spine, concluding the first round of assessment.

A dry, aged voice spilled from the First Gentleman’s damaged throat: “Very well, five people achieved full scores in the ‘Skin Volume’ assessment. I’m very much looking forward to your forthcoming performance.

Just as said before the promotion, the First Gentleman selected this time must surpass me in all respects.

Therefore,

those candidates who could not achieve full scores in the simplest ‘Skin Volume’ assessment, you may now step back to the observation platform and join the upcoming promotion assessment as audience members.”

The first round eliminated four people,

Their abilities might not necessarily be weak; perhaps they were just exposed to original skin for the first time and penetrated through the spine, somewhat uncomfortable.

However, the four who stepped back did not show much reluctance, their expressions revealing more a sense of relief.

They had become candidates not entirely voluntarily, driven more by pressure from various aspects and the demeanor expected of a gentleman.

Now,

with stronger and more suitable talents to become the First Gentleman standing before them, pushing them aside, all the pressures ceased to exist, and they even felt as though they were breaking free from chains, regaining freedom.

…

As the chains were withdrawn, Yi Chen still hadn’t opened his eyes,

He was in a strange state, not even aware that four had been eliminated.

He remained immersed in absorbing the original skin, using the methods learned from the “Skin Sack Bible” to ‘purify’ these inferior, subpar original skins within his body,

sieving out the impurities, breaking these original skins down into the most primitive ‘lines’.

Of course, it was merely purification and disassembly.

To obtain medium or high-quality skins, the current Yi Chen was absolutely incapable. [Skin Making] involves ancient techniques such as restructuring and stitching of lines, even essential to the survival of the entire factory.

When he finally reopened his eyes,

everyone except the Insomniac Galon was watching him, evidently having waited for quite some time.

The First Gentleman Claude’s voice also came from above: “Now that William is ready, let us move to the next stage of the Skin Promotion.

‘Skin Sensitivity,’ this is an assessment that has never been part of past skin promotions, and I custom-designed it based on personal experience.

Next, I will completely strip your perception and cast it inside my body.”

“You will fall into a completely unknown area, stripped of perception, and the only thing you can rely on is the homologous induction of skin.”

“If you can find the correct direction and climb out within half an hour, you will advance to the next round.”

“Also, please cooperate with me in the stripping of perception and do not resist…”

Again, five iron chains shot out from the First Gentleman’s abdomen, only this time the ends of the chains were spike-shaped and pierced directly into the backs of everyone’s heads.

As a special kind of leather grew on the chains, enveloping everyone’s brains, everyone complied with the First Gentleman’s method, voluntarily severing their own five senses.

After ensuring that the senses of all five candidates were completely enclosed,

the chains pulled them into the desiccated belly of the giant… The moment they fell into the First Gentleman’s abdomen, the auras of the five people disappeared without a trace, as if they had traveled to an unknown area.

Where did they go?

Only a few people on the observation platform could provide an answer,

Wrinkled Skin Spacy slightly frowned and murmured in a low voice, “Claude actually came up with this method to select the next generation? Sealing perception and casting into ‘Skin Limbo’… This is quite dangerous; once lost, one will be devoured by the skin.”

[Camera Switch – Yi Chen]

As the First Gentleman released the skin covering, Yi Chen’s senses weren’t completely sealed, as every muscle throughout his body contained brain tissue.

The so-called sensory deprivation was merely Yi Chen’s wishful thinking,

The skin wrapping the insane brain primarily served a supervisory role; if Yi Chen activated his sensory abilities during the assessment period, he would be treated as having failed the promotion.

With the iron chains pulling, he entered the abdominal cavity of the First Gentleman.

Hum!

Seeing nothing, hearing nothing, nor feeling through touch, it was impossible to determine his location.

Yi Chen slowly focused on the homologous induction of the skin, feeling the presence of other skins nearby and gradually constructing an area in his mind along with his own state.

“Some kind of skin abyss, the surrounding skin all flowing upwards… No! It’s me who is falling.”

Yi Chen quickly shot out iron chains from his palms, attempting to hook the surrounding skin walls.

However,

Due to the Painful Iron Chain’s inherent attribute of pain, as they approached the skin walls, the corresponding skin instantly liquefied, making it impossible to hook.

Eventually, using the original skin lines obtained from the previous assessment, he was finally able to firmly hook the wall, stopping the act of falling.

Due to the reaction time and the failure to hook with the chains, Yi Chen had fallen a great distance, and as he pressed his palm to the skin wall, a ripple of induction spread out.

A minute passed with no feedback at all, making it impossible to find the exit.

“Should I climb up? I have fallen a long distance due to a mistake; can I really climb out within half an hour? Is there really an exit at the top?

Instead of aimlessly climbing upward, it would be better to calm down and think about what this place is? Why would the interior of the First Gentleman encompass such a special space.

If I could find the answer, perhaps I would be able to leave here quickly.”

Yi Chen tied a skin line to his head, letting himself dangle from the edge of the skin wall, and even sat cross-legged in midair, thinking during the limited-time promotion competition.

Unlike Yi Chen,

The remaining four candidates, being older than Yi Chen and having more experience and time running on skin,

The Insomniac Galon, upon hearing that the senses needed to be sealed, fell asleep on the spot, and the moment he dropped into the First Gentleman’s body, he woke in a special dream, extending his hand to grasp the edge of the Abyss.

Mere seconds later, he climbed out from the interior of the First Gentleman, astonishing the audience,

The second to climb out was Jessica from the Tailor Association, taking 2’31

The third was the death row inmate, Alex, taking 5’13

The fourth, was Mandy, who took a full twenty minutes before she climbed out, gasping for breath.

As the half-hour limit approached, there was still no sign of Yi Chen climbing out,

Principal Daislin, who had maintained a dignified sitting posture throughout, began to frequently change the position of her crossed legs, with quite a bit of sweat even seeping out between the layers of her thighs…