Perfect World

Chapter 727: Chapter 727: Prisoner at the Foot of the Steps
 

“Are the hearts of the human race made of flesh? What about the hearts of your Celestial Clan?” Shi Hao asked loudly.

There was a surge of stifled blood within him that he could not let go. He had escorted Yun Xi for hundreds of thousands of miles, fighting battles along the way, nearly dying on the journey, only to be treated like this by the Celestial Clan.

He himself could never do such a thing. If someone showed him kindness, he would repay them with all he could, yet now they had captured him, slandered him, and coveted his precious symbols.

You Yu, with a head of purple hair shining and lush, eyes clear, with characters faintly visible within his body, possessed a transcendent and sacred aura. Now he spoke indifferently, “The hearts of people are treacherous, which is the best description for your human race. Since you are acquainted with Yun Xi, why do you refuse to reveal your true self? The ulterior motives you harbor are clear as day to you.”

“Ridiculous, shameful, with only a few of us here, why would you need a fig leaf at all? Just tear it off. If you have no shame, just admit it, why bother saying all this?!” Shi Hao retorted.

Several Celestial Gods stood with cold expressions, towering like massive hills, their presence suffocating, shrouded in mist, their gazes icy.

“Take him down for interrogation, it will become clear upon questioning,” said the Celestial God Qi Tuo, indifferent.

“What a pale excuse and justification, you have nothing more to say, have you?” Shi Hao calmed down; he had no further desire to speak.

“Ancestor, please retract your order,” pleaded Yun Xi.

Whether in the Lower Realm or the higher realms, Shi Hao had once saved her life. Now it was time for her to stand up; she didn’t want to see him come to harm.

“Yun Xi, do you think he saved you, but in fact he has big designs against our Celestial Clan. You must not be impulsive,” said Qi Tuo with a solemn expression, his words earnest and heartfelt.

“But…” Yun Xi started to speak, only to be stopped by a Celestial God.

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“Go,” said an elder Celestial God, waving his sleeve, a gust of wind arising, blowing Yun Xi and You Yu into the distance, their clothes fluttering as if they were gliding on waves.

“You Yu, accompany Yun Xi for a walk. It’s best to enter seclusion. This kind of disaster can be handled by specialized people; the two of you don’t need to worry or pay attention,” said another Celestial God.

At the edge of the sky, just as Yun Xi opened her mouth to turn back, You Yu pulled her, saying, “Let’s go. Don’t let yourself be troubled over such a person, nor do you need to say more. Our clan will have justice.”

Meanwhile, an elderly man arrived, commanding a Bone Boat enveloped in glowing symbols, covering the two figures as he led them to the place of seclusion.

“My young friend, is there anything else you’d like to say?” asked a Celestial God.

Shi Hao remained silent; he had nothing to say and did not even want to look at them.

“My friend, not everything in this world is absolute. Our Celestial Clan does not wish to be excessively harsh. If you cooperate, we will eventually let you leave the city,” said Qi Tuo.

Shi Hao looked into the distance, paying no attention.

An elder Celestial God waved his hand, and they, carrying Shi Hao, took off into the sky, before arriving at an ancient temple heavily guarded, inaccessible by outsiders.

“You are still young, why make life difficult for yourself? To provide hope for others, and for yourself, to leave a way out—this is the most correct choice,” said a high-level figure of the Celestials Clan, sitting on a cushion.

“Is it the precious symbols you want?” Shi Hao scoffed, “What use is there in all this talk? In the end, it all comes back to that.”

Qi Tuo and the others maintained calm and natural expressions, showing no embarrassment or awkwardness, and looked at him with a composed smile.

“My friend, you are a wise person. With your potential, given enough time, you will inevitably rise in the higher realms. Why make it difficult for yourself?” someone sighed.

“It sounds nice, but you just want to rob me of my precious symbols. Just get on with it,” said Shi Hao.

One person frowned; they had already learned through the clan’s bone mirror that Shi Hao had inscribed a prohibition in his Primordial Spirit. If they forcibly opened his sea of consciousness, he would certainly self-destruct.

Had it not been for this, they would have acted long ago – why wait until now?

“Take him down!” commanded Qi Tuo with a wave of his hand, his face becoming stern as he ordered Shi Hao to be taken away.

The hall fell silent. They must quickly unlock Shi Hao’s Primordial Spirit and obtain everything, for the night is long and dreams are many, especially with many schools arriving from the outside.

“There are several ways to obtain his Primordial Soul Imprint, but we need time to prepare,” someone said.

“The most reliable method is to awaken the ancestor. With his powerful Divine Sense and his omnipotent ‘Six Heavens’ level Divine Skills, it’s not a problem at all,” said someone else.

They knew that Shi Hao must have employed techniques like Thunder Emperor Technique and Kun Peng’s technique, fortified within his sea of consciousness—precisely these supreme prohibited secret techniques made them hesitant to dissolve them rashly.

This youth was very unyielding; if he self-destructed on the spot, then everything would be over.

“Construct a divine soul Array; combined with some of our clan’s treasures, we can easily unlock it without damaging the Primordial Soul Imprint,” another person suggested.

This Array was too cruel; once a person was sent inside, they would be essentially destroyed, leaving behind only the useful Divine Sense imprints while the body and everything else would be obliterated.

“Indeed, let’s use the remnants of the Six Dao Reincarnations natural laws controlled by our clan in coordination, making his divine soul ‘reincarnate’ within the Array,” sneered someone else, more direct.

“Agreed!” nodded everyone.

These methods all required time to prepare, as these extremely cruel, or more accurately, torturous methods, necessitated the combination of various treasures and Arrays.

“First, let’s interrogate some people; what if he confesses?” suggested someone.

The other Celestial Gods agreed, and then silence returned to the place.

Beneath the Sacred Hall lies an Underground Black Prison, incarcerating only those of the Celestials Clan guilty of the most heinous crimes. Each prisoner possesses a notorious background, originating from their own or other races.

Even the least of them is of True God Realm; those of lesser status don’t qualify for incarceration here.

Today, a young captive is brought in, garnering the attention of many fearsome beings. Their expressions reveal surprise—a mere youth, also eligible to be detained here?

“Young man, consider your position well. Better to speak up early, or there’s no pleasant end in store for you,” says an elder in charge of his escort with an eerily cold voice.

Shi Hao ignores him, unwilling to say anything.

“Stubbornness will lead to harsher treatment. Do you see that cage?” The elder points with his hand towards a pitch-black ancient cave, sealed with iron bars and enshrouded by mysterious chains of order, emitting a chilling aura.

“Imprisoned here is a potential Celestial God, only a step away from that realm, trapped for tens of thousands of years. He fancies men, and should you prove uncooperative, I won’t mind throwing you in with him,” the elder states.

“Get lost!” Shi Hao can’t help but curse.

“Are you challenging my authority?” The Prison Head, himself of True God Realm, glowers at Shi Hao with a hardened and chilly demeanor.

“Heh heh… Fresh flesh has been delivered?” A grand voice emanates from within the Black Prison, as a vague, tall, and intimidating shadow appears at the cave entrance.

Clearly, this is a devil king, an ancient and exceptionally cruel being with a predilection for men.

“Brat, you’re asking for it!” The Prison Head gazes at Shi Hao coldly, displaying a mouthful of pearly white teeth, then grabs him by the collar and marches him toward the Black Prison.

“Such tender skin and flesh, to my liking. But Prison Head, you’re quite discerning too, not so old yourself. Come in together, and I shall teach you the supreme technique,” bellows a resounding laugh from the ancient cave.

“Go ahead, learn the supreme technique from that devil king,” Shi Hao retorts with a sneer.

“Foolish boy, you’re courting misery,” the Prison Head sneers back, menacingly staring Shi Hao down as they approach the ancient cave and pretends to throw him inside.

Shi Hao is unafraid, his eyes ice-cold. “Intending to dishonor me? Death is nothing to fear, and should your Celestials know, you’ll wish death was an option.”

The Prison Head grimaces ferociously, tempted to cast him in, but recalling the high command of his race, he dares not act rashly.

“Little bastard, you’ll regret this!” the Prison Head growls coldly.

Shi Hao remains indifferent, utterly dismissive.

“Prison Head, hurry up and throw him in!” urges the being within the ancient cave.

With a disdainful snort, the Prison Head continues walking with Shi Hao in tow.

“Roar…” Terrifying roars erupt from the ancient cave. As it resounds, nearby cells echo with the howls of fearsome prisoners.

Even Celestial Gods were among them!

Surprised, Shi Hao realizes the true horror of this place—Celestials detained as well. He glances in that direction, then speaks out loudly with Divine Sense.

“Fellows, surely you’re curious why I’ve been brought down here. It’s because I acquired The Immortal Code of the Thunder Emperor. The shameless Celestials Clan seeks to coerce me into surrendering it…”

Using Divine Sense allows Shi Hao to communicate far faster than speaking, conveying the message in an instant, telling the numerous prisoners that if they can rebel and break free, he’s willing to share with them the ultimate precious symbol.

“Roar!”

The Underground Black Prison trembles, as if ready to collapse, filled with terrifying energies.

Shi Hao’s arrival incites a riot, turning the Prison Head’s face pale with both fear and rage. Yet his only consolation is the prison’s enduring invincibility—no one can break out.

“Boy, you’re looking for trouble?” The Prison Head drags him into a stone chamber and flings him against the wall with a thud.

Shi Hao doesn’t wish to converse further, but his demeanor infuriates the Prison Head to his limit—a youth daring to be so disdainful.

Hiss!

He whips out a sharp Iron Sword and thrusts it straight towards Shi Hao’s chest. With a “pfft,” blood spurts, the blade piercing through.

“You think I dare not deal with you? Subtle forms of torture are permitted here, as long as they’re not excessive. Disobeying me when you’re under my control? I advise you to confess everything, or you’ll regret ever having been born,” the Prison Head sneers with a malevolent grin.

A chilly wind whistles through, filling the chamber with the stench of blood.

At City of the Heavens, a distinguished guest arrives to the sound of drums and music, with several Celestial Gods extending a grand reception in person.

Leading the guests is a middle-aged man, handsome as a jade statue, yet with eyes that betray agelessness and depth. He carries himself with a proud posture and a majestic figure, swirling in chaotic mist and accompanied by a five-colored glow.

This person, sacred and imposing, stood plainly before them, yet seemed to transcend this world—out of place among mortals. Without exerting Divine Power, his sheer presence seemed to diminish the Celestial Gods in stature.

The Celestial Gods graciously greet him with the etiquette befitting younger generations.

“We pay respect to the Peacock Divine Lord,” says Qi Tuo, the Celestial God, somewhat constrained.

If Shi Hao were here, he’d recognize an acquaintance standing next to the Peacock Divine Lord. At this moment, a pair of roguish eyes were surveying the surroundings. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)