Straight for the Death Prison!

Outside Jingzhou City, fierce winds swept up clouds of dust.

Hua Tiegan had long since been scared out of his wits. Cold sweat soaked his clothes, and he trembled like a guttering candle in the wind. He stared fixedly at Wang Xuan, his eyes filled with utter terror and despair. As he watched Wang Xuan slowly approach step by step, each footfall seemed to land on the tip of his heart.

The Four Wonders of the South's once-great reputation and the pride of a martial hero had already been gnawed away completely by fear.

Completely unaware that he stood at Jingzhou City's gate under the watchful eyes of dozens of Martial Artists, Hua Tiegan had lost all reason to terror. With a thud, he dropped heavily to his knees and repeatedly slammed his forehead against the ground, making the blue bricks ring. He wailed incoherently as he begged, "Mercy, Hero! Mercy! I'll never dare again! I was only misled by someone else's nonsense! With your unparalleled martial arts, Hero, please be merciful and spare this worthless dog's life!"

What humiliation that kneel was. The Four Wonders of the South's heroic name, accumulated over decades, collapsed utterly in the instant Hua Tiegan fell to his knees in such disgrace, not to mention the shameless lies in his plea for mercy.

The crowd immediately erupted. Gasps and whispers blended together as emotions surged.

"My heavens! Is that Hua Tiegan? Hua Tiegan of the Four Wonders of the South? He actually knelt? Two of the Four Wonders are dead and one is badly wounded, yet he actually knelt down and begged for mercy!" A young swordsman stared in horror, clutching his companion's sleeve as his voice trembled.

"Exactly! The Four Wonders of the South have dominated the southern martial world for years. They were so imposing, and Hua Tiegan's short spear techniques were said to be renowned throughout the realm. How could he be so afraid of death today?" A burly, bearded man beside him frowned, his tone full of contempt and disbelief.

"Damn! This is Hua Tiegan from the Four Wonders of the South? The invincible iron spear? He's even the sect master of the Eagle Claw Iron Spear Sect. I wasted days trying to clear a sect like this? What a disgrace!" A young Player carrying a long spear said indignantly to his companion, clearly having already joined the Eagle Claw Iron Spear Sect.

"Isn't that right? I thought the Four Wonders of the South were top-tier righteous bigshots, but this is pathetic. Three against one, and two got killed, one's barely alive, and the last one is kneeling and begging. Still, his acting is definitely better than some professional actors!" Another Player rolled his eyes contemptuously. "What Four Wonders of the South, what Skull-Crushing Hand—they die the moment they touch him!"

Wang Xuan was one of the Players. Even if he struck ruthlessly and possessed formidable strength, he still had to keep training in the Plot World. It was just like chatting with people online anyway. The Plot World gave them five chances, and death was not real death. At worst, he could just restart.

The crowd exchanged looks, each wearing a different expression. Some were shocked that the Four Wonders of the South were so weak, some despised Hua Tiegan's cowardice, and some regretted Lu Tianshu and Liu Chengfeng's deaths. But more than anything, there was open mockery and derision.

No one had expected that Hua Tiegan, one of the dignified Four Wonders of the South, once so glorious in the martial world, would now kneel before everyone, kowtow, and beg for mercy, utterly reduced to a laughable clown.

Wang Xuan looked down at his thoroughly pathetic display, and unconcealed disdain flashed through his eyes.

He understood perfectly. In the original story, after the battle in Snow Valley, Hua Tiegan became a coward terrified of death and even earned the mocking title of Barbecue Master. After fleeing back to Yueyang, he had twisted right and wrong, concealed the truth, slandered Di Yun and Shui Sheng, and claimed all the credit and glory for himself.

But now, everyone present had witnessed and would remember this disgraceful scene of him kneeling and begging. There was no room for redemption. It would surely become a nightmare that haunted him for the rest of his life. His eventual fate would be nothing more than becoming a martial-world scum despised by all, even staining the name of the Four Wonders of the South.

Hua Tiegan remained kneeling on the flagstones, trembling as if seized by a fever. He kowtowed with frantic speed, repeating the same words over and over: "Mercy, Hero."

Wang Xuan glanced down at him. The sight was so revolting that he did not even want to look twice, and he headed straight into Jingzhou City.

The onlookers atop the city wall did not dare make a sound now.

Wang Xuan did not take the main road. With a tap of his toes, he combined the Wild Goose Movement Technique with the Water-Skipping Technique. His body shot into the air like an arrow loosed from a bow, as light and graceful as a great bird sweeping through the sky. In an instant, he reached Jingzhou City's rooftops. Under his feet, it was like Walking on Level Ground, while fierce wind whistled past his ears and he moved so fast that only an afterimage remained.

His foremost task now was to find the Prefecture Office.

Jingzhou City was not small. Its streets and alleys crisscrossed, and its houses stood densely packed. An ordinary person would have needed some time to search aimlessly.

But the Prefecture Office had a special status, so there was no need to search carefully. In the distance stood the tallest and most orderly cluster of buildings, with soaring eaves and a solemn bearing, utterly different from the low residential homes and shops around it. It was recognizable at a glance.

Standing high above, Wang Xuan scanned the area twice and quickly found the Prefecture Office. Without hesitation, he moved like a swallow skimming the air, nimbly shifting through several leaps before landing steadily on a rooftop near the Prefecture Office.

He crossed over the government compound straight to the rear courtyard. After passing through several enclosed courtyards, he saw that the flowers and trees within the high walls grew increasingly lush, and an elegant embroidered tower appeared before him.

Wang Xuan lightly tapped the wall with his toes and landed soundlessly in the courtyard like a shadow. The courtyard was quiet. A maid carrying a basin of water hurried past with her head lowered, droplets trembling along the basin's rim.

Wang Xuan flashed behind her and gently rested a hand on her shoulder. The maid shuddered, and the basin lurched, splashing several droplets of water. It nearly slipped from her hands.

"Don't panic," Wang Xuan said in a calm, low voice. "Which room does Miss Ling live in?"

The maid's face instantly turned pale. Clenching her teeth, she tremblingly raised a hand and pointed east. "E-East... the one to the east with the open window..."

Wang Xuan released her. As though pardoned, the maid staggered away, not even caring about the spilled water.

He slowly walked outside that room and looked in. A woman dressed in plain clothes sat by the window, staring down at a pot of white chrysanthemums. Her eyes were red, and tears still clung to her eyelashes. She had clearly been crying not long ago.

Wang Xuan understood at once. This was Ling Shuanghua.

Instead of entering through the front door, Wang Xuan lightly tapped the windowsill with his toes and flipped inside soundlessly. His movements were clean and swift, making no noise at all. He had intended to cut through the mess quickly, reunite Ling Shuanghua with Ding Dian as soon as possible, and obtain the Divine Illumination Scripture. The Royal Clan was close at hand, and he needed to increase his strength quickly.

The room was silent. Ling Shuanghua was lost in thought as she gazed at the chrysanthemums on the sill when she suddenly heard a faint sound behind her. She whirled around and saw an unfamiliar man had broken in. Her face turned white at once, her lips parted slightly, and a cry of alarm rose in her throat, ready to burst out.

"Don't scream." Wang Xuan immediately spoke, his voice low but carrying unquestionable certainty. "I came to help you, to help you see Ding Dian."

Ling Shuanghua's cry caught in her throat. She clenched her sleeve tightly and stared at Wang Xuan with her almond-shaped eyes. Her gaze brimmed with wariness and undisguised disbelief.

"Help me?" After a moment of silence, Ling Shuanghua suddenly sneered. Her tone was full of mockery and resistance. "My father sent you again, didn't he? You want to use helping me as an excuse to trick Brother Ding into talking and learn his secrets? Go back and tell him that even if I die, I will never help you harm Brother Ding in the slightest!"

Wang Xuan frowned slightly. This woman is far too guarded. He quickly understood why. Ling Tuisi must have used such false offers of help to test and scheme against Ding Dian too many times, making her this wary.

"I am not Ling Tuisi's man." Wang Xuan spoke evenly and stated his purpose outright. "All I want is the Divine Illumination Scripture from Ding Dian. If you help me obtain it, I will find a way to reunite the two of you. I will not break my word."

After hearing this, Ling Shuanghua's gaze became even colder, with the disappointment and disgust in her eyes completely undisguised.

"So it's this again..."

She gently shook her head, exhaustion and determination filling her voice. She pulled a silver hairpin from her hair and pressed it against her throat without hesitation. "Leave! If you force me again, I'll die right here. If I die, my father won't get what he wants, and you won't get the Divine Illumination Scripture either. Everyone loses."

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Wang Xuan knew forcing her further would only backfire. He could only set the matter aside for the moment and consider what to do next.

Ling Shuanghua looked gentle on the outside but was strong within. Her temperament was truly fierce.

As he pondered how to dismantle her defenses and persuade her to cooperate, his ears suddenly caught an unusual disturbance. A great number of hurried, dense footsteps approached from afar, racing toward the rear courtyard.

Wang Xuan's internal energy had reached the Post-Heaven Eighth Layer and was exceptionally deep. Not even the slightest movement could escape his perception. He understood instantly. Though he had acted discreetly after entering the city and heading directly to the Prefecture Office, he had ultimately failed to evade the spies Ling Tuisi had stationed everywhere. Though Ling Tuisi was currently outside the city overseeing the battle, his trusted aides, stewards, personal guards, and even the soldiers defending the city could gather at any moment.

A flash of insight crossed Wang Xuan's mind as he quickly recalled a crucial detail. Ling Tuisi had imprisoned Ding Dian in the Death Prison, and to prevent him from dying before he could be forced to confess, he had made Ling Shuanghua place chrysanthemums by her window and play the flute every day to comfort Ding Dian.

That meant the Death Prison and her chambers could not be far apart. They might even both lie deep within the government compound. Wang Xuan listened closely, and the direction of the footsteps became clearer and clearer. They were heading straight west.

"West!" Wang Xuan reached his conclusion at once. The Death Prison had to be on the western side of the Prefecture Office.

He lowered his eyes and looked at Ling Shuanghua, who still held the hairpin to her neck. Helplessness flashed through his gaze.

Take her with him?

Clearly not.

In her current state, once a fight began, she would only become a complete burden and make it impossible for him to focus.

But if he did not save her and someone else seized control of her, would he not be handing over the Side Quest?

Leave her here?

That would not work either. Whether Ling Tuisi or a Player faction captured her, the Side Quest would be ruined, and the Divine Illumination Scripture would be completely out of reach.

In that split second, Wang Xuan had already made his final decision.

Continuing to waste words on Ling Shuanghua would only delay him.

The Water-Skipping Technique suddenly activated beneath his feet. His body became a wisp of smoke as he flashed behind her like a ghost, his fingertips accurately striking the Dazhui Acupoint at the back of her neck.

Ling Shuanghua only felt numbness spread through her neck. Her vision instantly went black, and she collapsed limply, completely unconscious.

Wang Xuan caught her falling body with quick hands and carefully removed the silver hairpin from her neck to prevent accidental injury.

His shoulder sank as he hoisted Ling Shuanghua up. He nimbly flipped out through the window and leaped onto the roof with a stretch of his body.

He swept his gaze around and spotted an abandoned little courtyard not far away. Its gate had long since half-collapsed, and wild grass grew thickly within. It was the perfect hiding place. He gently laid Ling Shuanghua in the corner of the only relatively clean wooden bed inside.

When he returned to the Prefecture Office rooftop, chaos had already broken out below.

A group of government soldiers wearing Uniforms and carrying sabers and spears rushed west in panic, surrounding a black-robed Daoist.

The Daoist wore a dark robe, his temples bulging high and his eyes as gloomy as ink. A longsword hung at his waist, and his bearing was imposing. One look showed he was no ordinary man.

Wang Xuan hesitated no longer. He leaped from the roof like an eagle swooping down on prey and landed steadily in the path this group had to take.

"Who goes there!"

Daoist Xiao, who led the group, shouted sharply. With a violent flick of his wrist, his longsword left its sheath, its tip pointing directly at Wang Xuan's throat with a piercing whistle. The soldiers behind him also raised their weapons and surrounded Wang Xuan.

Without a word, Wang Xuan's gaze turned cold as he attacked directly. The Wild Goose Movement Technique operated at full force beneath his feet. He shot forward like an arrow, moving so fast that only a faint afterimage remained where he had stood, and charged straight at Daoist Xiao.

Daoist Xiao's face changed drastically. He had not seen how Wang Xuan moved at all, only felt a freezing, vicious wind rush toward his face as mortal danger engulfed him. Instinctively, he thrust his sword forward. The blade whistled as it shot for Wang Xuan's throat, trying to force him back.

Yet Wang Xuan neither dodged nor evaded. His right hand flashed like lightning, reaching directly toward the razor-sharp sword edge!

"Courting death!" Daoist Xiao sneered inwardly, his eyes full of contempt. His sword technique specialized in breaking external martial arts. No matter how tough this man's body was, his palm would be pierced through and blood would splash everywhere.

Clang—!

The sharp sword tip struck Wang Xuan's palm hard. Instead of the expected spray of flesh and blood, a crisp, grating ring of metal against metal sounded. The tip had been forcibly stopped outside his palm and could not advance even an inch!

Daoist Xiao's pupils shrank violently, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets. The contempt on his face was instantly replaced by utter shock as he involuntarily gasped, "H-How is that possible?!"

Before he could react, Wang Xuan clenched his five fingers around the sword blade embedded in his palm. With a slight exertion of his arm, a harsh crack rang out.

Crack!

The finely forged steel sword, sharp enough to cut a hair, was snapped into two pieces by his bare hands. Cold light gleamed from the broken edge.

Daoist Xiao remained frozen in place, unable to recover from the shocking turn of events, when Wang Xuan's left hand shot out like an iron claw and pressed firmly upon his crown.

Great Monument-Breaking Hand, strength enough to move mountains, Indestructible!

Splat—!

With a dull, thunderous impact, Daoist Xiao's head was forcibly driven into his chest. Blood and shattered bone sprayed outward in a horrifying display. His headless body swayed, then toppled stiffly to the ground, completely lifeless.

The scene instantly fell into deathly silence.

The government soldiers behind him were all dumbfounded. Their sabers and spears clattered to the ground, yet they did not even notice.

Daoist Xiao—the powerful Daoist master no one in the Prefecture Office dared provoke—was dead just like that? In a single move, even his head was gone?

The silence lasted a moment before someone finally broke down and screamed hoarsely, "S-Skull-Crushing Hand! He's Wang Xuan, the Skull-Crushing Hand! Run!"

"Run!"

That scream ignited the whole scene. Dozens of government soldiers immediately dissolved into chaos. Weapons littered the ground as everyone fled in panic, crying for their fathers and mothers as they sprinted back, wishing their parents had given them two more legs.

Wang Xuan did not pursue them. He merely looked toward the west. There stood a sinister stone building with only a heavy iron door tightly shut. Although guards stood outside it, they had already been scared out of their wits, their legs so weak they could not move. That was the Death Prison.

Just as he was about to move, a figure pushed through the crowd from behind. It was a middle-aged man in a silk robe with a goatee. His face was pale, but he forced himself to remain calm as he cupped his hands. "H-Hero Wang! I am Steward Gao of the Ling Residence. My master bears no grudge against you. Why must you..."

"Move." Wang Xuan cut him off coldly.

Cold sweat poured down Steward Gao's face. Remembering Ling Tuisi's ruthless methods, he could only grit his teeth and scream at the fleeing soldiers nearby, "Attack! Stop him! Whoever retreats will be punished by family law! You all know the master's methods!"

Several soldiers had no choice but to stop. They turned back, charged forward, and swung their sabers despite themselves. Irritation stirred in Wang Xuan's heart as he met them head-on, his Great Monument-Breaking Hand striking left and right.

Smack! Splat! Crack! Several crisp sounds rang out. The charging soldiers either had their heads shattered or their chests crushed. They fell all over the ground, not one surviving. The remaining soldiers completely broke down. Who cared about rewards or punishment now? With one cry, they scattered like frightened birds and beasts.

Steward Gao stood stiffly in place, feeling as though all the blood in his body had frozen. His face was ashen, and he could not even move his feet.

Wang Xuan glanced at him without another word and walked straight toward the heavy iron door. The guards at the entrance had already fled in all directions, leaving only an empty sentry post.

Wang Xuan gathered his deep internal energy and struck the lock with one palm. A thunderous boom sounded as the lock and bolt, forged from fine iron, instantly warped and flew apart. The heavy iron door creaked open.

Beyond it lay a winding stone staircase descending into darkness and dampness. The air was thick with mold and the pungent stench of blood.

Wang Xuan stepped inside. Cells lined the Death Prison, most of them empty.

He walked all the way to the deepest part before finally seeing one prisoner inside.

The man was shackled to the stone wall by chains as thick as bowls, which pierced through his shoulder blades. His hair and beard were tangled like a bird's nest, his clothes were tattered, and layers of old and new scabs covered his body in a shocking sight. Yet he sat motionless, his back straight, his eyes fixed on the palm-sized ventilation opening high above.

The sound of footsteps alerted him. The man slowly turned his head. He was around forty, and though his face was pale and haggard, his eyes shone with startling brightness, as if two undying flames burned deep within them.

"Did Ling Tuisi send another new man?" he asked, his voice hoarse but steady. "Still for the Secret of the Linked Cities? Save your effort."

Wang Xuan stopped before the cell door, his gaze passing over the thick chains and lock. "I am not Ling Tuisi's man. I took Ling Shuanghua away. She is safe now."

Ding Dian's expression changed sharply. Longing and wariness intertwined in his eyes. He murmured the name "Shuanghua" before sneering. "Another one of Ling Tuisi's tricks? Using her to deceive me?"

"I am not deceiving you." Wang Xuan spoke calmly and stated his goal. "I want the Divine Illumination Scripture. Once I have the technique, I will let you both leave. You should know that as long as the Secret of the Linked Cities remains in your mind, neither you nor Ling Shuanghua will have peace."

Ding Dian stared at him intently, trying to discern truth from falsehood. Wang Xuan said no more. He gripped the cell lock and exerted a little force. With a creak, the fine iron lock was twisted into a knot by his bare hand and dropped heavily to the ground.

Ding Dian's pupils abruptly constricted, his eyes filled with shock. He had never expected the person before him to possess such terrifying strength.

Wang Xuan stepped into the cell, his eyes falling on the chains binding Ding Dian's hands and feet. The chains were as thick as fingers, with locks through his shoulder blades. Di Yun had not yet been imprisoned, and the Divine Illumination Scripture had never been fully mastered, so Ding Dian could not use his internal energy to break free.

Wang Xuan did not waste words. He gripped the chains with both hands and circulated his internal energy.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Several crisp snaps sounded as the chains broke apart. Even the locks through Ding Dian's shoulder blades were torn off along with them.

Ding Dian slowly flexed his stiff wrists and looked at Wang Xuan, his gaze complicated and grave. "Your martial arts are extremely high. No one under Ling Tuisi can oppose you. But why are you helping me? Is it truly only for the Divine Illumination Scripture?"

"Yes." Wang Xuan spoke frankly. "I rescue you and reunite you with the woman you love; you give me the Divine Illumination Scripture. A fair exchange. Let me also remind you that martial experts from throughout the world have gathered in Jingzhou. Everyone is watching the treasure of the Secret of the Linked Cities and the Divine Illumination Scripture in your hands. As long as those two things remain with you, you will never have peace."

Ding Dian took a deep breath, the wounds near his collarbones faintly aching as they were tugged.

Supporting himself against the wall, he slowly stood. Though covered in injuries and long bound in chains, his back remained straight.

He had no other choice. Trapped for years, if he wanted to see the woman he loved and escape his plight, he had no choice but to take this gamble.

"Fine. I'll trust you once." Ding Dian's voice was hoarse, and his eyes held struggle and the resolve of a desperate gamble. "But if you deceive me, I won't let you go even if it costs me my life."

Wang Xuan's gaze remained calm as he warned plainly, "If you hold something back and refuse to give me the Divine Illumination Scripture, then seeing Ling Shuanghua will do you no good."

The two met each other's eyes, both filled with resolve. Wang Xuan turned and led the way, while Ding Dian followed close behind as they quickly left the Death Prison.