181: Chapter 181 Message, Hope

Demon Suppression Division, Celestial Prison.

The sky was gradually darkening.

"My Lord, please enter."

Amidst the respectful words of the Jailer watching the entrance, a youth in dark robes slowly stepped through the prison gate.

After parting ways with Lin Wan, Chen Ran returned to the Celestial Prison.

Since his promotion to Sixth-Rank Prison Supervisor, his status had long since undergone a tremendous change.

As an officer in the entire Celestial Prison, he was second only to the Warden in rank.

He no longer needed special inspections when entering or leaving the Celestial Prison on a daily basis.

Moreover, he could travel almost unimpeded throughout the first four levels of the Celestial Prison.

The Jailers along the way all bowed in salute upon seeing him, their expressions filled with awe.

"I've heard that once one reaches the rank of Sixth-Rank Prison Supervisor, they can inspect the fifth level of the Celestial Prison. I wonder what kind of prisoners are locked up there..." Chen Ran whispered in his heart.

He held extremely high expectations for this mysterious fifth level.

Although he had not yet found a suitable reason to enter the fifth level of the Celestial Prison since his promotion a few days ago.

However, even the fourth level could have a hidden prisoner like Shen Jixuan.

Judging by the fact that the minimum standard for incarceration on the fourth level of the Celestial Prison was the Aperture Condensation Realm.

The fifth level likely held prisoners who were at least in the Return to Truth Realm.

Perhaps there were also some terrifying existences that were not recorded in the register.

At the thought of this, Chen Ran also began to think about the hidden prisoner on the fourth level.

Over the past few days, although he went to the cell every day to deliver food to Shen Jixuan and exchanged a few words from time to time.

The rate of increase in participation was still much slower.

Chen Ran guessed that it was because Shen Jixuan's Realm was too high.

After all, he was a genuine Innate Realm expert.

Even though he had been locked in the prison for a long time and his Realm had fallen to the Return to Truth Realm, a dying camel is still larger than a horse.

The difficulty of extracting all the rewards from him was still extremely high.

After all, even the imperial court had not yet decided how to deal with him, so they could only keep him sealed in the prison.

"At the current rate, it will probably take some time to extract the rewards."

"Forget it, no rush. If it really doesn't work out, it would be safer to wait until I break through to the Innate Realm before making a move."

Chen Ran was still somewhat wary of Shen Jixuan, this Cultivator who possessed an ancient Cultivation Technique.

Who knew how many variations there were in the techniques of one who specialized in the Divine Soul.

He might still be hiding some trump cards.

Click.

The cellar door of the Celestial Prison slowly opened to both sides.

Inside, gusts of cold wind blew, roaring outward like wails.

"I hope the ancient Cultivation Technique is not quite the same as ordinary martial arts..."

Chen Ran stepped into the dark tunnel, his figure gradually disappearing from sight.

...

Demon Suppression Division, Celestial Prison, duty room.

As soon as Chen Ran walked in, he met Warden Wen Ruoxu.

It had been a long time, and he didn't know where this guy had gone to make a fortune.

Chen Ran swept his gaze over and keenly noticed that the aura on Warden Wen Ruoxu was becoming increasingly steady and heavy.

Although that roguish temperament was still there, his aura had risen steadily by a lot.

With Chen Ran's current discernment, he could already see that the other party's Bottleneck had loosened.

It was estimated that he was only one step away from breaking through to the Third Grade Return to Truth Realm.

"To be able to reach the Return to Truth Realm before the age of thirty..."

Although Chen Ran did not know Warden Wen Ruoxu's exact age, he guessed it was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

I'm afraid no one would have thought that Warden Wen Ruoxu, this playboy who only knew how to indulge in pleasure in the eyes of others, was likely the one with the highest Realm among the younger generation of the Four Great Families.

Warden Wen Ruoxu seemed to be in a good mood, shaking his iconic jade-boned folding fan in his hand with a smile on his lips.

"Brother Chen, it's been a few days. Your official authority is getting heavier and heavier."

Warden Wen Ruoxu leaned in and greeted him familiarly.

His attitude did not change at all because Chen Ran's status had become higher.

Perhaps for these scions of families with deep foundations, a Sixth-Rank Prison Supervisor was nothing at all.

Chen Ran glanced at him, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Prison Supervisor Wen, aren't you going to salute when you see this official?"

"Do you believe that this official will charge you with the crime of disrespect and punish you by making you clean the latrines?"

Warden Wen Ruoxu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, cupping his hands in a pretentious manner.

"This subordinate knows his mistake, this subordinate knows his mistake."

"Lord Chen, you are a magnanimous person, please spare this subordinate this time."

He closed his folding fan, lowered his voice, and said with a wink:

"But seriously, Brother Chen, your speed of promotion is just too fast."

"I've decided that I'll have to find those old guys in my family to discuss this later."

"The dignified Wen Family of the Four Great Families cannot be outdone by the 'Imperial Son-in-law' of the Lin Family, right?"

"At the very least, they have to get me an official position on par with yours."

Chen Ran couldn't be bothered to pay attention to his teasing and walked to the table to sit down.

"How is the interrogation going?"

Mentioning business, Warden Wen Ruoxu put away his playful smile and shook his head.

"Looking at the situation, it's not very good."

"That Shi Taichu is very stubborn. The people from the Six Doors took turns, used every torture instrument, yet they still couldn't pry any useful clues out of his mouth."

Chen Ran said casually: "Perhaps there was no mastermind to begin with; he just acted on his own after falling into demonic obsession."

Warden Wen Ruoxu closed his folding fan and tapped his palm.

"Maybe, but the higher-ups are already impatient."

"The entire Wu Family was wiped out, which had a terrible impact. All those great families in the capital are watching."

"The Six Doors have decided to hold a public trial in a few days. If there are no accidents, they will probably execute Shi Taichu directly."

"To serve as a warning to others."

Chen Ran nodded understandingly.

This was consistent with the imperial court's usual style.

Since nothing could be asked, they would quickly kill him to appease public anger.

The two chatted for a few more sentences, then Chen Ran turned and left.

...

When everything was over, night fell.

Deep in the Celestial Prison, Jia Ward cell.

Chen Ran was alone, carrying a dim oil lamp, and came to the front of Shi Taichu's cell.

Inside the cell, Shi Taichu was still locked to the wall by thick iron chains.

He hung his head, his breath weak.

"In a few days, you will be put on trial."

Chen Ran's voice rang out in the empty cell.

Shi Taichu's body paused slightly.

He slowly raised his head, and in those dead eyes, there was finally a trace of fluctuation.

"Do you regret it?" Chen Ran looked at him and asked casually.

Shi Taichu pulled at his cracked lips.

"Regret?"

"The only thing I, Shi Taichu, regret in this life is that I couldn't personally slaughter that animal, the second son of the Wu Family."

His voice was hoarse and sharp, filled with a sorrow and indignation that could not be washed away even by draining all the water from the five lakes and four seas.

"I hate it!"

"I hate myself for being blind and working for my enemy for so many years!"

"I hate myself for not seeing their true colors sooner!"

Shi Taichu struggled violently, the iron chains rattling.

Chen Ran watched him vent quietly.

Until Shi Taichu calmed down again, leaving only heavy panting.

Chen Ran then slowly spoke.

"The entire Wu Family was wiped out, but only the second son of the Wu Family escaped."

"Do you think he will miss the opportunity to see your head roll?"

Shi Taichu raised his head sharply, staring fixedly at Chen Ran.

Chen Ran did not say anything more; some things didn't need too much reminding, the other party would understand.

He turned around, carrying the oil lamp, and walked out of the cell without looking back.

"That day, the second son of the Wu Family should also come."

A light sentence floated into Shi Taichu's ears along with the cold draft.

The cell fell into dead silence again.

Shi Taichu was stunned in place.

In his eyes, which had been dead gray, a terrifying brilliance suddenly erupted.

He looked thoughtfully in the direction where Chen Ran had disappeared.

His cracked lips trembled slightly.

"He will come..."

"He will come..."

A terrifying Evil Qi was brewing frantically within his body.