C22 Prison

"Stop right there!"

Huang Ba couldn't bear to watch any longer and seized Wang Yi's arm.

Truth be told, he held Wang Yi in contempt. Yet, this was just a secluded spot in True Martial City, with a number of Martial Cultivators trailing behind. If they witnessed what was happening, it could spell the end of his livelihood.

"Brother Huang, why won't you let me finish off this punk?"

Wang Yi, his gaze lethal, glared at Xiao Ling and argued, "I belong to the Wang family. Killing him here wouldn't even cause a ripple."

You might be fine, but I'd be in deep trouble!

Cursing inwardly, Huang Ba kept a pleasant facade and replied, "Calm down, Brother Wang. Once I've delivered this youngster to jail, you can do as you please."

"By then, he'll be like a fish on the cutting board, completely at your mercy!"

Pacified by those words, Wang Yi's scornful eyes swept over Xiao Ling as he sneered, "I won't stoop to a war of words with you. Once you're behind bars, I'll ensure you receive a 'warm welcome'—one that'll make you beg for death."

Xiao Ling remained stoic, silently regarding Wang Yi.

To him, these people were as good as dead.

"Brother Wang, you should head back and tend to your wounds. I'll escort this troublemaker to the slammer," Huang Ba suggested.

Wang Yi nodded, landed a few brutal punches on Xiao Ling, and then strode away.

"This guy..."

Watching Wang Yi's departure, then turning to the silent Xiao Ling, Huang Ba felt a shiver of dread.

Xiao Ling's demeanor had left him profoundly disturbed and anxious.

Shaking off the unease, he dismissed the thoughts from his mind. After all, Xiao Ling's days were numbered.

...

In the prison of True Martial City, the worst of the worst were gathered. Each one a murderer or someone who had crossed paths with the powerful, not to mention thieves and robbers among their ranks.

In short, none of these inmates were to be trifled with.

"Kid, you're on your own now."

Having tossed Xiao Ling into the cell, Huang Ba promptly made his exit.

The cell was spacious, yet gloomy and damp, with rats and insects scurrying in its corners—a truly deplorable setting.

"Look what we have here, a fresh-faced newcomer."

Upon Xiao Ling's arrival in the cell, the other inmates scrutinized him closely. His slender frame and refined features sparked various thoughts among them.

"Pretty boy, what landed you in here?"

A prisoner eyed Xiao Ling's slight build, noting the signs of a recent beating. With a taunt, he asked, "Did some highborn give you that thrashing?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, such a frail frame, and only about fifteen, in the heat of youth. He clearly doesn't grasp that there are some you just don't cross."

"Poor kid. If he's truly crossed a noble, he's as good as dead."

"I recall a youngster who crossed a silkpants disciple and ended up being tortured to death by him."

...

Ignoring the chatter around him, Xiao Ling settled cross-legged on his bunk, formed a seal with his hands, and began to heal his wounds.

Wang Yi's relentless assault had inflicted serious harm.

As a Nine-star martial artist, he knew standing up to a martial master would only end in his loss.

This vendetta was etched in his memory.

"My strength is far too inadequate at the moment."

After some time, a gleam of determination flickered in Xiao Ling's dark eyes as he whispered to himself, "It's time to practice the Eight Gates Escaping Armor."

The Eight Gates Escaping Armor consisted of the Opening, Rest, Life, Pain, Du, Scenic, Shock, and Death Gates.

To master the Eight Gates Escaping Armor, one must first unlock the Opening Gate, marking the true beginning of the body refining journey.

The Opening Gate releases the body's constraints, pushing past limits to enhance physical resilience and overall vitality.

Fully unlocking the Opening Gate requires the aid of Supreme Emperor Sacred Water, though initial steps are less demanding.

With a crackle, Xiao Ling rose, adopting an unusual stance. His body contorted as he began to unlock the Opening Gate of the Eight Gates Escaping Armor.

As Xiao Ling executed his movements deliberately, a sound akin to beans popping in a fryer emanated from beneath his skin. His body was soon drenched in sweat, and he collapsed to the ground, limp as a wrung-out sponge.

The pain was unbearable. Such a method of physical cultivation was excruciating.

It was no surprise that the Eight-sect Escaping Armor was so coveted by formidable warriors. It made sense; with all eight gates open, one's body could ascend to divinity, capable of dominating the Divine Martial Continent.

The allure was irresistible.

Yet, the path to mastering the Eight-sect Escaping Armor was fraught with hardship and agony. It demanded not just an abundance of rare materials but also an unwavering will.

There came a fleeting moment when Xiao Ling considered giving up, overwhelmed by the torment of cultivation. It felt as though each bone was being extracted from his flesh, a level of pain beyond the threshold of the average person.

"If I can't withstand this minor suffering, what right do I have to seek vengeance?"

The memory of the Holy Martial Institute's destruction fueled him with rage. Bloodshot eyes glaring, Xiao Ling rose to his feet and resumed his training with the Eight Gates Escaping Armor.

The forces responsible for the institute's downfall were formidable, boasting Martial Emperors and even Martial Ancestor-level warriors.

Those haunting images lingered in his mind.

Jiang Ya had faced certain doom to save him. Yun Xi had sacrificed her chance to escape, ensuring he made it into the teleportation array.

It was all his fault.

With a series of guttural screams, Xiao Ling braced his gaunt frame against the onslaught of pain.

He maintained his stance until he surpassed his breaking point, then paused only to catch his breath.

Rejuvenated, he dove back into the grueling practice of the Eight Gates Escaping Armor.

He fell repeatedly, only to rise each time, his roars more beast than man as he weathered the excruciating pain, drawing the curious gaze of the other prisoners.

"Has that kid lost his mind? What on earth is he doing?" a prisoner murmured, unable to contain his bewilderment.

Xiao Ling's anguished howls eclipsed any torture within the prison walls, a sound they had never encountered before.

"Judging by his odd stance, he must be practicing some Martial Skill..."

"Pfft, that's a Martial Skill? You must be blind."

"Looking for a beating, huh? Wait until mealtime, you'll get what's coming to you!"

"Heh, as if I'm scared of you. We'll see who's looking good then!"

...

Xiao Ling ignored the jeers and focused on his cultivation of the Eight Gates Escaping Armor.

Suddenly, he felt an unusual warmth coursing through his limbs and bones, illuminating his eyes with realization: this warmth was the essence of pure strength!

A smile spread across his face; this was an auspicious beginning!

From then on, Xiao Ling was consumed by his training, neglecting both sleep and food as he worked on the Eight-sect Escaping Armor.

Time passed, and at last, the cell door swung open.

"Hey, time for chow!"

The guard, looking at Xiao Ling with sympathy, said, "Fill up, you'll need your strength for what's ahead!"

The guard knew Xiao Ling had crossed a member of the Wang family, and for such a young man, there was only one fate: death.

At these words, a spark of determination flickered in Xiao Ling's eyes. He rose slowly and followed the guard.

Soon, Xiao Ling found himself in a vast dining hall, laden with an array of tempting foods and beverages.

Click!

The guard left Xiao Ling there, locking the door behind him.

"We meet again."

Shadows loomed above the dining hall, among them was Wang Yi.

The sight of Wang Yi ignited a red gleam in Xiao Ling's eyes – he was a man marked for death.

"Your gaze is just terrifying," Wang Yi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm despite the chill in his heart. "What can a caged tiger like you possibly do to me?"

Chained from head to toe, Xiao Ling was rendered incapable of any attack, leaving Wang Yi unthreatened.

Wang Yi grew uneasy under Xiao Ling's silent, piercing stare and blurted out, "Kid, I've shown you enough respect by giving you a decent last meal!"

He gestured toward the lavish spread of food on the table and said, "I bet you've never feasted on such an array of exotic delicacies in your life. Well, today, you're going to have your fill."

"But," Wang Yi continued, his smile twisting into something more malevolent, "I won't let you enjoy this final meal without a catch, because I have another gift for you..."

He turned to Huang Ba at his side and grinned, "Brother Huang, bring them in."

At his command, Huang Ba nodded and gestured with a swift wave of his hand.

Bang!

The doors of the restaurant burst open, and a throng of menacing men with vicious scars crisscrossing their bodies stormed in. Emblazoned with the character for 'prisoner' on their garments, their identities as inmates were unmistakable.

"Well, aren't you a pretty one," remarked a scar-faced man, eyeing Xiao Ling with a glint of depravity in his gaze. "I wonder if your delicate frame can handle all of us?"

His laughter boomed, setting off a chorus of cruel mirth among the prisoners, all of whom leered at Xiao Ling with predatory anticipation.

In the confines of a cell, women were a rarity, but a handsome youth like Xiao Ling could ignite the deepest cravings of these deprived men.

"Gentlemen, please extend the warmest of welcomes to my esteemed guest!" Wang Yi spread his arms wide, his laughter echoing through the room. "Make me happy, and I might just consider shortening your sentences or even granting your freedom."

"But remember one thing—I want this boy to beg for death but be denied the mercy of it!"

Wang Yi's loathing for Xiao Ling was absolute.

The humiliation he suffered at Xiao Ling's hands in the streets, under the watchful eyes of the public, had spread like wildfire through True Martial City.

Even worse, the tale had reached his father, earning Wang Yi a severe reprimand.

"Don't worry, Young Master Wang," the prisoners assured him, their eyes gleaming with malice. "Our methods will surely meet your expectations."

For them, the task Wang Yi had set was laughably easy. Xiao Ling's slight build stood no chance against their brutal form of entertainment.