87: Tang Heng appears again, about to escape from Ether Coral Castle.

Before he knew it, a year had passed.

This was Yao Yian's first year since his Transmigration to this otherworldly realm.

Today, his cultivation had finally reached the Peak of the Nascent Light Realm Ninth Layer!

After lying low for these two months, not only had his cultivation made a qualitative leap, but he had also managed to piece together eight Cultivation Techniques.

Three Spells, two Movement Techniques, and three Mind-Cultivation Techniques.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Yao Yian sat quietly on the ground, consolidating the cultivation he had just broken through today.

Suddenly, a figure walked in.

At the same time, within Yao Yian's mind, the control brand immediately exerted its influence over him.

After more than a month, he saw Tang Heng once again.

Tang Heng was now wearing clean, neat clothes, his face was ruddy, and his overall state was simply excellent.

It was obvious at a glance that he was doing very well in the Hundred Treasures Hall.

But that made sense; this fellow was very pragmatic in his actions.

However, the moment he saw Tang Heng, Yao Yian truly felt an impulse to expose his cultivation right then and there, rush forward, and strangle this wretched man to death.

But a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years.

Yao Yian, endure a little longer!

Tang Heng glanced at Yao Yian, and Yao Yian immediately felt the controlling force within his soul.

He did not resist, following the controlling force out of the Immortal Cave to a deserted corner.

Tang Heng didn't waste words; he quickly fished a small silver key out of his pocket.

It seemed to be the key to the collars around their necks; it was unknown where he had managed to get it.

Just as Yao Yian was curious, another command came through the control.

"Swallow it."

Fine! Yao Yian added another heavy mark to the debt Tang Heng owed him.

This was another way he was being victimized.

What could Yao Yian do? He could only helplessly swallow the key into his stomach.

Fortunately, he had his cultivation, allowing him to protect the key within his stomach by controlling it.

Tang Heng was actually thinking along the same lines, but he was thinking further ahead.

If this thing was discovered and someone had to be subjected to severe torture, it would be Yao Yian.

With this key, both of them could unlock their collars at any time and exert their full cultivation.

That was acceptable.

Tang Heng finished this task and was about to leave.

But suddenly, a sharp shout rang out.

It gave Tang Heng a start.

"You death-seeking bastard! How dare you touch my brother!"

"You're really not afraid of death. I'll crush you as ruthlessly as I would a Gu insect!"

Three Execution Squad Cultivators approached aggressively, holding sharp knives and wearing fierce expressions.

Tang Heng's heart sank; he had never expected to run into such a situation.

Facing this, he felt it was extremely troublesome for a moment.

If he were taken away for interrogation by the Execution Squad, his plans from the past month would likely all go to waste.

Just as the situation was about to explode, two of the Execution Squad Cultivators recognized Tang Heng.

"Boss, wait!"

"He seems to be Fellow Daoist Tang Heng, the confidant of Steward Kong from the Hundred Treasures Hall!"

"Yes, recently Fellow Daoist Tang and Steward Kong have been the favorites of the Hundred Treasures Hall Master."

"And the Hundred Treasures Hall Master is one of the Fortress Master's people."

The leader snorted coldly, "Who cares who he is? He dared to bully my brother! Seize him first; if he resists, kill him on the spot!"

Then, Xu Yimo ordered the two Cultivators beside him:

"What are you still standing there for? Grab him and take him back."

"Wait, Boss, could there be some misunderstanding here?"

This Execution Squad Cultivator also knew the complexity of the matter and continued to try and persuade him.

Meanwhile, Tang Heng's mind raced, and he instantly thought of a way to break the deadlock.

So he immediately spoke up.

"Wait, Fellow Daoist, you say he is your brother?"

"Exactly!"

"If he's your brother and I'm his brother, then doesn't that make us all brothers?"

"If you don't believe me, ask him yourself. Let him say so himself."

"Are you taking advantage of the fact that a mute can't speak?"

"Do you have no morals? Do you even know how to be a person?"

"A mute?"

"Hmph, my brother is a mute! You don't even know that, yet you dare to say you're my brother's brother."

"Seeing people like you makes me sick."

Hearing this, Tang Heng's mind whirled again, unable to understand the other's logic.

Did he mean the two of them had become brothers without any effective communication?

This was a bit of a brain-burner.

"My brother simply can't speak and has a bit of a dull personality, so why should you bully him?"

"Brother, don't worry. Tell me—just give me a shake of your head, and I'll take him in for interrogation immediately!"

Tang Heng's eyelid twitched. Could it be... could he have mistaken this Puppet, which only had instinctive reactions and very little intelligence, for a normal Human Race?

Sending out a command, Yao Yian immediately cooperated by nodding his head.

"Fellow Daoist, he nodded. I truly am his brother as well!"

Seeing this, Xu Yimo's angry expression finally softened slightly.

"Oh my, brother, brother, my apologies, my apologies."

"Come, come, come, my two brothers, let's head to the Warm Fragrance Hall tonight."

"As for tomorrow's mission, I'll just send someone to tell Chief Steward Cui."

Yao Yian wanted to refuse, but Tang Heng seemed quite interested in this, so he could only go along to 'criticize' the place.

"You two, go and tell Chief Steward Cui at Corpse Dismemberment Cave No. 7 for me. Give my mute brother a day off."

"Yes, Boss."

After the two Execution Squad Cultivators walked away, the three of them set off toward the Warm Fragrance Hall.

Walking through the streets of the Coral Fortress, they took in the marketplace atmosphere.

Xu Yimo exercised his chatterbox ability as usual, talking incessantly along the way, his words firing off like a machine gun without repetition.

"Fellow Daoist Tang Heng, I'm truly sorry. My brother here is just too pitiful..."

"My name is Xu Yimo, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Jiangye Sect. Since I was young..."

"So it's Fellow Daoist Xu. I've heard much about you."

"Fellow Daoist Tang Heng, you are my brother's brother, so you're my brother too. As soon as I saw you..."

"Wait a moment, this trip is on me. Later, you can pick any female Cultivator you want—big, small, old, or young, whatever you like. I've studied this quite a bit..."

"Brother, what type do you like?"

"Big or small? Old or young?"

Xu Yimo said enthusiastically, "Let me tell you, I like the ones who can help me cool off because..."

"Age isn't an issue, as long as they can relieve the heat."

...He only stopped talking once they arrived at the Warm Fragrance Hall.

It was obvious at a glance that Xu Yimo was a regular here. Seeing his arrival, a female Cultivator in charge of management quickly walked over.

"Oh, it's Fellow Daoist Xu from the Execution Squad. Please follow me. Are you still looking for Fellow Daoist Niu Dazhuang?"

Xu Yimo flashed a man's smile and nodded.

"Do these two also like the same type as Fellow Daoist Niu Dazhuang?"

The female Cultivator's expression turned strange, feeling that this might be difficult because that specific type was indeed too rare.

"No, no, no, no, not me."

Tang Heng quickly waved his hand and said, "Just find Fellow Daoist Xing Luoyu from Fragrance Pavilion No. 6 for me."

"What about you, brother?"

Xu Yimo looked at Yao Yian.

At this moment, Yao Yian's heart was incredibly excited. This time, Tang Heng shouldn't be able to stop him from 'criticizing' the evils of this other world!

"Brother, do you need me to pick one for you?"

Yao Yian wanted to nod frantically, but he couldn't; he had to obey Tang Heng's control.

But just then, Tang Heng stepped forward and leaned in to whisper a few words into Xu Yimo's ear.

Immediately, Xu Yimo's gaze went from confusion to surprise, and finally to pity.

"Brother! My brother!"

"How could you have such a hidden ailment!"

"Don't worry, once I've made a great contribution in the future, I'll definitely go to the Hundred Treasures Hall to seek a divine recipe and Spirit Medicine to cure your hidden ailment!"

"Then just find any female Cultivator to massage my brother's shoulders."

On the surface, Yao Yian remained unchanged, but inside he was trembling with rage. Needless to say, he added another heavy mark to Tang Heng's debt.

I'll strangle him sooner or later!

Soon, three female Cultivators walked over.

Xu Yimo and Tang Heng each took a female Cultivator and hurriedly ducked into their rooms.

Yao Yian caught a glimpse of the female Cultivator Xu Yimo was leading out of the corner of his eye and was instantly shocked, wondering how Bogang had been let out.

The door closed. The female Cultivator left for Yao Yian was about eighteen or nineteen years old.

Her face was round and cute, and she wore a water-blue dress. She looked dainty and exquisite, and a faint fragrance could be smelled on her.

"Fellow Daoist, this way."

The managing female Cultivator sent the two of them into the stall with a giggle.

"Sigh, he has a handsome face, but what a pity he's a useless man."

Inside the room, Mu Xuewei began to massage Yao Yian's back with a bit of fear.

Strangely, until the service was finished and she left, the other party made no moves... A moment later, Tang Heng and Xu Yimo both emerged looking refreshed.

The three of them found a private room to continue their chat.

They called it chatting, but in reality, Tang Heng was spending the entire time extracting information that Xu Yimo knew.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I heard you only entered the Coral Fortress this month. How did you become an Execution Squad Cultivator?"

"I have to thank my brother for that. That day, I saw my brother being cornered in his Immortal Cave by a few thugs."

"I couldn't stand it, so I gave those thugs a good beating."

"Later, Fellow Daoist Ba Xuan from the Execution Squad thought I was a righteous man and spoke up for me everywhere. Not only did I only receive a small punishment, but I also luckily joined the Execution Squad."

"Look, this eye of mine was lost back then."

Xu Yimo pointed to the eye patch on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, you were just captured from outside. You should also know the recent situation of the entire Epoch Battlefield."

Xu Yimo nodded; he naturally knew this. With the emergence of several places and one person's killing spree, a small half of the Epoch Battlefield had fallen into chaos.

Various large and small forces were expanding frantically, with constant fighting.

The Jiangye Sect he belonged to was a vassal force of a giant Sect in the Epoch Battlefield, and also a cannon fodder force.

And it was precisely because of the mutual attacks outside that he was captured by the opposing force and sold into this Aether Coral Fortress.

"Fellow Daoist Tang, what about you? What's your situation?"

"Me..."

"I was originally doing tasks in the Corpse Dismemberment Cave as well."

"By a stroke of luck, I gained the appreciation of a Hundred Treasures Hall Steward and was requested to go to the Hundred Treasures Hall."

"In the Hundred Treasures Hall, I'm responsible for helping Steward Kong of the Hundred Treasures Hall No. 3 supervise matters related to corpse refining."

"I see. Fellow Daoist Tang is indeed a man of talent. I'm impressed."

"Not at all, not at all. I'm not as carefree as Fellow Daoist Xu."

"Speaking of the Execution Squad, I'm actually a bit curious. I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Xu to explain in detail."

"Easy, easy. We're all brothers here. I, Xu Yimo, will certainly tell you everything I know without holding back!"

After a long chat, Tang Heng had gained significantly by the time they parted.

Watching Xu Yimo's departing figure, Tang Heng's eyes flickered.

"Great. With this information, my certainty of leaving this place has increased by another twenty percent!"

"Soon. At most... another month!"