257: jailer

At dawn.

Tap.

Wang Xiao, clad in armor and with an indifferent expression, appeared before the gates of Prison City.

Under the respectful gazes of the gate guards, he walked straight into Prison City.

For others, entering Prison City required inspection and confiscation of items, but the Star Luo Army did not; they could move freely in and out of the city.

After entering Prison City.

Xiao Shi went directly to the prison fortress in the city.

With Wang Xiao's death,

his soul had successfully possessed Wang Xiao's corpse, making it one of his avatars.

Moreover, this avatar was significantly different from Chai Wenshen's previous avatar.

The degree of compatibility between this avatar and Xiao Shi's soul was far greater than that of Chai Wenshen's avatar.

Xiao Shi guessed this might be due to the similar cultivation levels of both parties.

The compatibility in terms of soul also made Xiao Shi's soul exceptionally stable after possession.

Chai Wenshen's avatar needed its soul stabilized every three days.

But for Wang Xiao's avatar, Xiao Shi estimated it could remain stable for more than ten days.

In addition to this,

this avatar was a Martial Soul Realm avatar.

This allowed Xiao Shi to act with this avatar without having to hide his strength.

Most importantly... Wang Xiao himself was a very bloodthirsty person, and his attacks often primarily involved the Evil Blade in his hand.

And Xiao Shi's own bloodlust was no less, if not greater, than Wang Xiao's.

He could also unleash powerful attacks through the Evil Blade.

This way, even if he attacked with an avatar, others wouldn't notice any issues due to differing attack styles.

This was one of the important reasons Xiao Shi chose Wang Xiao as his avatar.

Aside from not having a powerful physical body and being unable to use the three bloodline forms, there were no other significant impacts.

He still possessed formidable combat power.

Furthermore,

Wang Xiao had a cold personality and no friends within the Star Luo Army; he was a lone wolf.

Other members of the Star Luo Army also preferred not to interact with him.

This also meant Xiao Shi didn't need to expend effort maintaining Wang Xiao's original social connections.

Soon,

Xiao Shi arrived at the entrance of the prison fortress.

The guards here were even more stringent than those at the city gate.

As he approached,

a surge of fierce, malevolent aura immediately rushed from the gigantic fortress.

It was so intense that Xiao Shi felt as if invisible, grotesque ghosts had appeared around him, constantly howling in his ears.

Xiao Shi stepped forward expressionlessly.

He handed the token in his hand to the guard watching over the fortress.

He said calmly,

“Star Luo Army’s Wang Xiao, reporting for duty.”

After the guards took the token from Xiao Shi's hand, they carefully inspected and scrutinized it, and only after confirming its authenticity did they nod and allow him to pass.

Xiao Shi walked directly to the fortress gate.

The gate exuded an ancient, weathered appearance, permeated with a sense of time's passage.

It was covered with countless array patterns, each profound, and when combined, they formed a pair of giant pupils that seemed capable of seeing into one's soul, staring directly at Xiao Shi.

Xiao Shi's expression was calm as he met the gaze of the pupils.

After a long while,

the gate slowly creaked open.

An unremarkable old man walked out from inside.

The old man wore a dark black prison uniform, with disheveled white hair and a pair of triangular eyes; at this moment, his eyelids slightly lifted, he glanced at Xiao Shi, and with a forced smile, he spoke,

“Welcome to Prison City.”

After speaking,

he turned and walked inside the gate.

Xiao Shi followed silently behind him.

This massive prison was filled with the aura of death, utterly eerie.

Black was the dominant theme.

Even with sunlight falling from above, it still couldn't dispel the gloom of this place.

Not only that,

a strong stench of blood permeated the surroundings, transforming into a foul odor.

Xiao Shi silently followed behind the old man.

Everything around him did not cause any change in his expression; instead, he carried himself with the composure of someone returning home.

As the old man walked, he also observed Xiao Shi's expression, and noticing the composure on Xiao Shi's face, his eyes narrowed slightly.

“A bit interesting...”

Meanwhile, as the two continued to advance,

Xiao Shi also saw other Prison Guards in this prison.

These Prison Guards were generally not young.

Perhaps due to living in such an eerie place for many years, each of them carried an unshakeable aura of chilling malevolence.

Xiao Shi even saw some people carrying mutilated corpses, with blood constantly dripping from them.

When these Prison Guards saw Xiao Shi, their gazes held a hint of amusement.

“Another newcomer.”

“Looking at this newcomer’s expression, he doesn't seem uncomfortable?”

These Prison Guards were somewhat surprised and curious.

When they first arrived at the prison, they were extremely uncomfortable with the atmosphere and environment here.

However, this new young man showed no signs of discomfort.

They knew.

Only those who were inherently very bloodthirsty would display such an attitude.

Xiao Shi paid no attention to the gazes of the surrounding Prison Guards.

But he noticed that all these Prison Guards possessed powerful cultivation.

Every one of them was in the Martial Soul Realm.

This was also one of the criteria for becoming a Prison Guard.

One must reach the Martial Soul Realm to serve as a Prison Guard.

Those in the Blood Martial Realm were not qualified to be Prison Guards.

Soon,

Xiao Shi, led by the old man, arrived in a large hall within the prison.

Inside the hall were sixty-six massive pillars.

While supporting the structure, these pillars were all entwined with black snakes.

Their vertical pupils stared at Xiao Shi.

Emitting a chilling aura, the surrounding candlelight was dim, making it impossible to see far, only vaguely discerning a large figure seated in the center of the hall.

“Warden Xu, this is the newly arrived Prison Guard, Wang Xiao.”

The old man respectfully said to the large figure in front.

“Hmm...”

The large figure in the darkness nodded slightly.

“You are Wang Xiao?”

Xiao Shi could clearly feel a pair of eyes in the darkness staring at him.

These eyes seemed capable of seeing through his body.

And directly into his soul.

This made him instantly realize.

The Warden before him was indeed a Martial Demon Realm Expert.

However, from his aura and other aspects,

this Warden was clearly far inferior to the Thousand Weapon Mountain Ancestor.

“Yes.”

Xiao Shi responded calmly.

“Not bad, just as the rumors say.”

“However, the Lord sent you here to learn to control your bloodlust.”

“If you cannot control your bloodlust, then you will be at risk of falling into the Demonic Path.”

“No matter how good your aptitude or talent, once you fall into the Demonic Path, you will immediately change from a Prison Guard to a prisoner.”

Warden Xu in the darkness warned.

Xiao Shi just nodded, remaining silent and aloof.

Warden Xu continued,

“According to the rules, every newly arrived Prison Guard can freely choose their assignment location.”

“This prison of ours is divided into four floors in total.”

“Each floor holds four different types of prisoners.”

“For example, the floor I oversee imprisons spiritual entities and Outliers.”

“You can freely choose a floor to be assigned to.”

Xiao Shi thought for a moment and said,

“I choose the floor that holds members of the Demonic Path forces.”

Before coming here,

he had already found out.

Xiang Zizhen was on the floor where the Demonic Path forces were held.

“The floor that holds Demonic Path forces is overseen by Warden Chu; from now on, you will report to Warden Chu.”

Warden Xu waved his hand.

The old man in front of Xiao Shi then began to lead Xiao Shi to the floor housing the Demonic Path forces.

They were currently on the second floor of the prison.

The floor holding members of the Demonic Path forces was on the third floor.

Following the stairs upwards, upon reaching the third floor,

the old man first took Xiao Shi for the handover.

Unfortunately... Xiao Shi did not see Xiang Zizhen.

Xiang Zizhen, as the Warden of the third floor, currently had other important matters.

However, Xiang Zizhen had already pre-assigned the cells to these new Prison Guards.

Immediately, the old man was responsible for taking Xiao Shi there.

Each floor of this prison was circular, like a long corridor.

On one side was a bottomless, pitch-black abyss, and on the other were cells built into the walls.

Each cell was a huge area.

At the same time, within each area, there were numerous cages.

However, from outside the cells, one could not see what was inside, nor were there any sounds, making the entire prison eerily silent.

“This is the cell you will be responsible for managing from now on.”

The old man led Xiao Shi to one of the cells.

“I believe you know the rules...”

“I won’t say more.”

“Good luck.”

After the old man finished speaking,

he didn't linger and left directly.

Xiao Shi looked at the cell in front of him.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

He reached out and pressed the cell door.

Buzz!

The cell door immediately opened.

As he stepped into the cell, his vision blurred, as if he had entered another space, appearing in a spacious open area.

Ten massive cages surrounded him.

Those imprisoned within the cages were all members of the Demonic Path forces.

Their expressions varied, and their gazes were all fixed on Xiao Shi, filled with ferocity, bloodlust, and intense hatred.

“New guy?”

One young man, biting on a bamboo stick, with his hands clasped behind his head, legs crossed, and an X-shaped scar on his nose bridge, asked nonchalantly.

It was as if the newcomer was the prisoner, and he was the Prison Guard.

The others also scoffed.

Xiao Shi walked directly to the young man's cage and stared at him.

“You're not afraid of me?”

The young man squinted at him.

He said in a lazy tone,

“Afraid? I’m terrified.”

The others burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Xiao Shi also smiled.

He reached out and pressed the other's cage.

Directly opening the cage door.

This action immediately made the young man inside freeze.

The others also showed surprised expressions.

“What do you mean?”

The young man sat up.

“Nothing, I just think you’re very brave, brave enough for me to let you out.”

Xiao Shi smiled and said.

The young man's eyes narrowed slightly.

This action of his was quite different from the Prison Guards they had encountered before.

“If you're trying to curry favor with me this way... then you're thinking too simply of me.”

The young man sneered, yet still walked out of the cage.

As soon as he stepped out of the cage,

his body emitted a series of cracking sounds as his bones moved.

“Comfortable!”

He let out a long breath.

When they were in the cages, both their bodies and souls suffered immense suppression, which was very uncomfortable.

In the past, they would try to find ways to have the Prison Guards let them out periodically for a breath of fresh air.

But now, this Prison Guard let him out so easily... this was something he hadn't expected.

He was a bit unclear about the other party's intentions.

In fact, there was a very subtle relationship between these prisoners and Prison Guards.

For many in the Star Luo Army,

the reason they wanted to become Prison Guards was because Prison Guards had generous perks.

And these perks came from the prisoners here!

Many prisoners possessed important secrets and valuable intelligence information.

Including some rare and precious cultivation techniques, treasures, and so on.

Especially these members of the Demonic Path forces.

The intelligence information they possessed was even harder for members of the Orthodox Faction to uncover.

Many in the Star Luo Army, after becoming Prison Guards, would extract secrets and intelligence from these prisoners, thereby improving their strength faster than others.

Some high-ranking experts in the Star Luo Army today rose to prominence by uncovering powerful inheritances through intelligence extraction from these prisoners.

Therefore, for most of the Star Luo Army, the position of Prison Guard was highly coveted.

It was a lucrative position!

In this prison,

many Prison Guards would typically use various methods, either coercion and inducement, or threats and beatings, or a combination of both.

They would use various means to extract value from these prisoners.

Of course, these prisoners also knew the Prison Guards' needs and objectives.

Usually, they would not easily reveal the intelligence information they knew.

At most, they would occasionally disclose some secondary information.

The most crucial intelligence information was held tightly in their hands.

They clearly understood.

Once the most important intelligence information was revealed,

they would lose their value.

Only by keeping these Prison Guards on a string was the most advantageous situation for them.

Now, Xiao Shi's actions,

made this young prisoner feel that the other party was showing him goodwill.

Such a Prison Guard, who sought information through kindness, was undoubtedly what all prisoners most wished to see.

The other prisoners also had bright eyes.

They felt that their luck was good this time.

A benevolent Prison Guard had arrived.

Their days ahead would surely be much better.

“Since you dislike staying in the cage so much, I’ll give you a chance.”

“As long as you can last five breaths against me...”

“Then from now on, you won't have to stay in the cage anymore.”

Xiao Shi said with a smile.

The young man raised an eyebrow.

Although he realized the Prison Guard in front of him was a benevolent person, he hadn't expected him to be so benevolent!

Both of them were Martial Soul Realm cultivators in the Soul Awakening Stage.

To last five breaths against the other party.

It couldn't be simpler.

This was completely a handout of benefits.

Upon hearing this, the prisoners in the other cages also began to breathe rapidly, their eyes filled with envy and longing.

Xiao Shi glanced at these prisoners.

He said kindly,

“Don’t worry, it’s the same for all of you.”

Upon hearing this, these prisoners were immediately invigorated.

“Is that true!?”

The young man was now a bit worried that the other party was playing a trick on them.

After all, such a benefit... would surely be unprecedented in this entire prison.