56: Zhang Hanbingyu visits Chen Jianshen

In the early morning, the rising sun dyed the bluestone steps in front of the Deacon Hall amber, and the copper bells on the eaves chimed softly in the Qingfeng.

Chen Yinlin adjusted his black cloud-patterned wide sleeves, his gaze sweeping over Chen Jiancang's gradually receding thin figure.

After a slight pause for thought, he opened his mouth and asked, "What are your thoughts on this matter?"

"Bang!" Chen Youlin's calloused palm slammed heavily on the black jade desk, causing ripples in the evening primrose tea in the cup.

This red-bearded elder, who had overseen thePrison for thirty years, spoke like a great bell: "The Law Enforcement Hall's iron rules are like mountains! If we make an exception for kin today, tomorrow Chen Family Disciples will follow suit.

How then can our Law Enforcement Hall ensure strict enforcement of the law?"

The veins on his forehead throbbed, as if an enraged green dragon was coiled there.

Chen Yousuo, who had remained silent, suddenly let out a light chuckle, his slender fingers unconsciously rubbing the green jade folding fan artifact at his waist.

"Brother Youlin is absolutely right. The younger generation of the Chen Family is undisciplined.

It hasn't been even a month since Chen Jianguan's case of secretly opening the Chen Family treasury and misappropriating public property came to light, and now Chen Jianshen, a Disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, has actually used his Law Enforcement Hall status to bully fellow clan members.

These consecutive acts of defying the law are by no means accidental."

"When Old Ancestor Qingyuan established the 'Three Halls and Five Precepts' in the past, he already gave clear instructions: 'Those who enforce the law but break it shall have their punishment increased by three degrees; repeated offenders who do not repent shall be executed by the entire clan.'"

Chen Yinlin lowered his eyes, gazing at the spiritual tea leaves floating in the tea, dappled light and shadow shifting across his sharply defined face.

After a long while, he lightly tapped the "Qingya Geomantic Map" on the desk with a bent finger.

The sheepskin scroll unrolled three inches in response: "Then let's proceed according to the law.

Now for the main matter—within the past seven days, remnants of blood evil arrays have appeared consecutively on the northern slope of Qingya, and yesterday, traces of magic cultivators were found in the Lingtao Mountain Market.

Everyone, we cannot afford to ignore this situation..."

Chen Jiancang didn't know what had happened inside the Law Enforcement Hall, nor did he know how to explain the result to Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather.

Chen Jiancang controlled his spiritual sword and flew towards Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather's house with a heavy heart.

Along the way, he kept pondering how he should talk to Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather about this matter.

By the time the green sword energy sliced through the clouds, Chen Jiancang's knuckles were already white from clenching.

The lingering sound of the Law Enforcement Hall's bronze door closing still echoed in his ears.

He lowered his eyes, looking at the densely packed Chen Family residences below, hesitating and finding it difficult to proceed.

"Alas."

By the time he arrived at Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather's residence on his sword, his sleeves were already soaked with frost.

There were three zhang of bluestone steps in front of the carved wooden door.

He stepped on and crushed seven fallen leaves before knocking the copper ring.

The moment the door pivot sounded, Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather's cloudy pupils suddenly came into view.

His wrinkled face was filled with expectations on the verge of overflowing, which instead caused a lump like black ice to stick in Chen Jiancang's throat.

"Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather, I'm here."

"Chen Jiancang, is the matter settled?" Chen Yinzhang asked eagerly.

"Alas!" Chen Jiancang sighed and described the situation he encountered in the Law Enforcement Hall one by one in detail.

Tea smoke curled above the sandalwood desk.

Chen Yinzhang lowered his head, staring blankly at the spiritual tea leaves floating in the cup, lost in thought.

"The Law Enforcement Hall's laws are strict.

Why didn't Chen Jianshen know that day? He actually dared to challenge the law himself!"

"It's all my fault for not having properly guided him in the past."

The old man's withered hand resting on the armrest suddenly curled up, filled with deep regret.

Seeing this, Chen Jiancang didn't know how to comfort him.

He suddenly raised his wrist and took out a green jade box from the storage bag in his sleeve.

"Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather, here are 50 Qi Gathering Pills that I refined.

I thought since Cousin Chen Jianshen cannot come out of the Ice Hell, these spiritual pills might be of some help to him."

As Jiancang spoke, he opened the green jade box.

Fifty Qi Gathering Pills shimmered with moonlight, their pill patterns flowing.

Every single one was of superior quality.

Chen Yinzhang looked at the Qi Gathering Pills in the box, which emitted a soft halo, and his eyes instantly became misty.

He stretched out a trembling hand, wanting to touch those precious pills, but stopped in mid-air, his voice choked as he said, "Chen Jiancang, it was difficult for you to go to such trouble.

This... this...."

In the Market, the price of one Qi Gathering Pill is 3 spiritual stones, while the Qi Gathering Pills refined by Chen Jiancang are all of superior quality, selling for 4 spiritual stones, and buyers flock to them.

50 Qi Gathering Pills are worth 200 spiritual stones, which is equivalent to the income Chen Yinzhang's Family earns from working hard in the fields for a year.

And for Chen Jiancang to take out so many pills without hesitation deeply moved Chen Yinzhang.

Before Chen Jianshen was taken away by the Law Enforcement Hall, Chen Yinzhang also held some resentment towards Chen Jiancang in his heart, thinking that if it weren't for him, Chen Jianshen wouldn't have suffered this calamity.

However, at this moment, all the resentment vanished like smoke.

Chen Jiancang gently held Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather's hand and steadily placed the green jade box into his palm, his tone firm and sincere: "Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather, please don't say that.

Chen Jianshen is my cousin, and you have always helped me a lot.

When I bought the Spirit Field, it was due to my insufficient consideration.

I originally planned to compensate you for the losses at that time, but I didn't expect things to develop to this point."

"I just thought.

Even if Chen Jianshen cannot be rescued from the Ice Hell, these Qi Gathering Pills can help him resist the cold in prison and continue cultivating.

It can also be considered my way of making up for my mistake."

"Tomorrow, let's take these Qi Gathering Pills and go visit Chen Jianshen in the Ice Hell," Chen Jiancang continued, his eyes filled with determination and hope.

"I want to talk to him face-to-face and ease the tension between us."

After listening, Chen Yinzhang slowly nodded, the light of hope rekindling in his eyes: "Good, good.

Jiancang, I am very comforted that you can think this way.

If Chen Jianshen can also understand your painstaking efforts, he will definitely figure things out."

At this time, the sky was completely bright, and the scorching sun climbed high.

Chen Jiancang and Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather set off on their swords, flying towards the direction of the Ice Hell on the Thousand Bamboo Peak Spiritual Vein.

The biting cold wind howled past, sweeping up the scattered dead leaves on the ground.

Upon reaching the mountain peak, looking into the distance, the massive profound iron gate of the Ice Hell appeared particularly imposing in the morning light.

As they approached, the heavy profound iron gate stood there motionless, and cold air rushed towards them.

Chen Jiancang stepped forward to state their purpose.

After the Law Enforcement Hall prison guards verified their identities, the heavy iron gate slowly opened.

As the massive profound iron gate opened with a grating metallic sound, cold air mixed with ice crystals rushed towards them like a white python.

Chen Jiancang subconsciously formed a hand seal to raise his protective spiritual light, but saw Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather walk directly into the cold mist, his aged back casting a long afterimage under the reflection of the deep blue ice walls.

Stepping into the prison, what met their eyes was dim light and bone-chilling cold.

Behind the profound ice-formed bars on both sides of the prison corridor, dozens of inmates were curled up into ice sculpture-like silhouettes.

It wasn't until they turned the seventh corridor that they found that hunched figure among the ice shards in the corner—Chen Jianshen's hair was covered in frost, purplish-blue frostbite marks showed beneath his torn prison uniform, and he was using trembling fingers to sketch an incomplete Gathering Spirit Array on the ice surface.

Chen Jianshen was curled up in the corner, looking extremely haggard.

When his gaze fell upon Chen Jiancang and Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes first, then he lowered his head.

"Shen'er!" Chen Yinzhang stumbled and knelt before the bars, the green jade box in his arms hitting the ice surface with a clear sound.

This sound startled Chen Jianshen, causing him to suddenly look up.

As his chapped lips moved, the white mist he exhaled was mixed with traces of blood.

Chen Jiancang gazed at the unhealed spiritual sealing lock on his cousin's left wrist, his throat tightening.

He put his fingers together and wiped them across the box lid.

Fifty Qi Gathering Pills, shimmering with moonlight, floated in the air, weaving a warm light net in the gloomy and cold prison cell.

"Cousin Chen Jianshen, this pill is a Qi Gathering Pill that I refined," he lightly pushed with his fingertip, and the pills entered the prison cell like fireflies, "When you finish your sentence..."

Chen Jianshen raised his head, looked at the pills in Chen Jiancang's hand, then looked at Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather's face full of concern.

His Adam's apple bobbed, but he was speechless for a moment.

After all, he was still young and inexperienced with hardship.

Having endured such imprisonment and discipline, he could no longer hold back the tears that burst from his eyes.