Chapter 3315: The Prison
“Brother Ling Tian…” Huan’er’s voice trembled with fury when she sent a Voice Transmission to Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian understood her feelings. After all, he would be furious as well if his mother was treated in such a manner. He solemnly vowed, “Don’t worry, Huan’er. Trust me. I’ll definitely find a way to rescue your parents.”
Huan’er nodded imperceptibly in response to Duan Ling Tian’s words.
Naturally, the old man was unaware of the emotional upheaval in Huan’er’s heart.
The duo continued to follow the old man as they traveled on a long and narrow path. Soon enough, they arrived at a s.p.a.cious area after leaving the path.
“That’s the Purgatory Pavilion!” The old man pointed at the pavilion in front of them.
The pavilion occupied a vast area. A stone with the words ‘Purgatory Pavilion’ engraved on it was even taller than the pavilion itself.
Duan Ling Tian finally saw the first sign of human activities since he entered the Thousand Chains Prison. He saw many people entering and leaving the pavilion. Most of them were carrying people who were covered in blood in and out of the pavilion. Some of the people they carried seemed unharmed physically, but all of them without an exception only stared at the air lifelessly as though they had lost their souls.
“I’m sure you’ve already guessed these people being carried in and out of the pavilion are the prisoners who are brought here to be punished,” the old man said emotionlessly, clearly desensitized, as he led Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er to a short tunnel.
After exiting the tunnel, another vast s.p.a.ce appeared in front of their eyes.
Duan Ling Tian saw a pavilion suspended in the air at the right corner. There was a floating stone platform behind the pavilion where people could be seen sitting cross-legged. A greyish-black energy could be seen lingering on the bodies of these people. It was obvious that the energy was from the law of death.
“This is the Life or Death Pavilion,” the old man promptly said.
Needless to say, even without the old man’s reminder, Duan Ling Tian knew this place was the Life or Death Pavilion and the platform was the Life or Death Platform.
‘Eldest Senior Sister is really capable…’ Before coming to the Thousand Chains Prison, Duan Ling Tian was already convinced of his Eldest Senior Sister’s abilities. However, after coming here, his regard for her grew even higher. Nevertheless, he was not interested in the Life or Death Pavilion at this moment. He looked at the old man who seemed to have slowed down before he said, “Elder Xie, there are things I need to attend to after this… Can I trouble you to lead us to the prison now?”
“Alright.” The old man picked up his pace as soon as he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. If Duan Ling Tian was just an ordinary prodigious disciple, he would not have been so easygoing. However, he was willing to oblige since Duan Ling Tian’s Eldest Senior Sister was the Head Warden and the Pavilion Master of the Life or Death Pavilion in the Thousand Chains Prison. Moreover, among the three Head Wardens, she was very strong despite being the youngest. He mused inwardly, “With Head Warden Xu’s talent and comprehension skills, it’s likely that she’d return to the Heavenly Pool Palace a t.i.tled Celestial Emperor.’
After leaving the Life or Death Pavilion, they entered a seemingly endless tunnel. When they finally exited the tunnel, a gargantuan cube-like metal building with only one entrance appeared before their eyes.
At this moment, an old man and a young man who had just exited the building walked over when they saw the old man. “Elder Xie.”
When the duo arrived, they looked at Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er curiously. “Who are these people?”
Upon hearing these words, the old man tactfully began to make the introductions. “They’re the new wardens of the Thousand Chains Prison… He’s Duan Ling Tian, Lord Xu Lang’s newest prodigious disciples, and she’s Lord Lei Ying’s third disciple, Huan’er.” Then, he said to Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er, “This is Elder w.a.n.g. He’s also an elder in the Thousand Chains Prison. This young man is also a prodigious disciple. He’s Hu Ye, the second disciple of the Cold Gloom Celestial Emperor.”
“Duan Ling Tian?”
Upon hearing Elder Xie’s words, Hu Ye and Elder w.a.n.g were clearly taken aback. After all, they had heard about Duan Ling Tian’s life-or-death battle with Han Yun Jin, one of the top five prodigious disciples in the Heavenly Pool Palace. When they heard about the battle, they thought that Duan Ling Tian had overestimated his strength. Naturally, they did not dare to say this bluntly since Duan Ling Tian’s Eldest Senior Sister was a Head Warden in the Thousand Chains Prison.
After a brief silence, Hu Ye smiled faintly and said, “Duan Ling Tian, your life-or-death battle with Han Yun Jin should be due soon, right? It’s too bad that I’m on duty and would have to miss such an exciting battle.” A hint of contempt could be seen in his eyes when he looked at Duan Ling Tian. He continued to say, seemingly concerned, “Heed my advice. It’s best if you forfeit your battle with Han Yun Jin. No one will think any less of you since you’re still young…”
Upon hearing Hu Ye’s words, Duan Ling Tian was dumbfounded. When he recovered, he could not help but chuckle.
Hu Ye frowned; he did not understand Duan Ling Tian’s reaction.
At this moment, Elder Xie, who was standing next to Duan Ling Tian, spoke up. “Hu Ye, you must be unaware that Duan Ling Tian and Han Yun Jin’s battle took place early this afternoon.”
“What?!” Hu Ye’s eyes widened upon hearing Elder Xie’s words. “You… The battle took place earlier? Did… Did the Verdant Prairie Celestial Emperor intervene on your behalf?”
In Hu Ye’s opinion, Duan Ling Tian’s teacher, Xu Lang, must have intervened and prevented Han Yun Jin from killing Duan Ling Tian. Otherwise, he did not think it was possible for Duan Ling Tian to survive a life-or-death battle with Han Yun Jin.
Elder Xie shook his head and said, “Han Yun Jin is dead. In fact, when Duan Ling Tian was about to kill Han Yun Jin, the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor showed up with the intention to intervene. However, the Verdant Prairie Celestial Emperor and the Merciless Celestial Emperor brought our Palace Master to the arena at the critical moment. For this reason, the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor failed to save Han Yun Jin. News of the battle had already spread; I’m sure you’ll hear more about it once you leave the Thousand Chains Prison.”
Hu Ye and Elder w.a.n.g were dumbfounded. It took them a long time to regain their senses.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian gently urged Elder Xie. “Elder Xie, shall we?”
“Alright.” Elder Xie no longer wasted time and led Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er to the entrance of the metal building before showing the token he obtained from the Internal Affairs Pavilion to the prison guards.
As soon as they stepped into the prison, the miserable cries of men, women, and beasts rang in Duan Ling Tian’s ears.
Elder Xie said, “I’m sure you’ve guessed these are the cries of the prisoners. However, they’re mostly prisoners with low cultivation bases. Those with high cultivation bases naturally wouldn’t make such a huge ruckus.”
When they arrived before a stairway that led up and down, Duan Ling Tian discovered the cries were coming from the bottom of the stairs. On the contrary, no sounds could be heard at the top of the stairs.
“When you’re on duty, it’s not necessary for you to patrol the prison underground. However, you can go and have a look if you want. However, when there are wardens around, these prisoners usually don’t dare to cause such a huge commotion since wardens can kill them for the disturbance. They only dare to make so much noise when there are no wardens around,” the old man said, clearly disdainful of the prisoners underground.
Following that, Elder Xie continued to explain, “There are three floors aboveground… These are the important areas. A warden will have to patrol a floor when they’re on duty. They will patrol each floor for four months before switching to another floor. We’re now heading to the first floor where Heavenly Pool Palace disciples and elders are imprisoned.”
Duan Ling Tian had to tamp down his urge to bring Huan’er to the higher floor to look for her parents in order to prevent rousing the old man’s suspicion. In the end, he only asked, “Elder Xie, what kind of crimes did they commit to be imprisoned here?”
“The elders and disciples here had behaved unethically by murdering others, harming others, abusing their powers, accepting bribes…”
Duan Ling Tian also learned that the Heavenly Pool Palace disciples and elders’ time in the prison was proportional to their crimes.
“The second floor is used to imprison outsiders below the stage of a t.i.tled Celestial Emperors. The proud prodigy from the Heavenly Sword Mountain and his wife are imprisoned here,” the old man said as he led the duo to the second floor of the prison.