In the dungeon of Spirit City.
The dungeon held degenerates, enemies of Spirit Hall, and a few Soul Beasts kept in reserve.
Wails rose and fell throughout the dungeon. The air was thick with a jumble of foul odors—rotting stench, urine, blood, and every other kind of stink.
Yu Xiaogang's heart raced at the sound of those wails, and the smells made his stomach churn.
But his mouth was gagged, so he couldn't speak—or throw up.
"Are you going to talk or not?" With a sharp crack, a whip lashed across Yu Xiaogang's body.
"Ugh!" Yu Xiaogang groaned, his body jolting as a bloody welt appeared on his clothes.
"Not talking, huh?"
The jailer wielding the whip lashed him again and again. Before long, Yu Xiaogang was covered in blood.
An ordinary person might have been beaten to death by such a whipping.
Though Yu Xiaogang was a Soul Grandmaster, even he couldn't withstand this kind of torment.
"All right, don't actually kill him. The people upstairs still have questions for him!" another jailer said.
He stepped forward and removed the gag from Yu Xiaogang's mouth. "Let him scream. That makes the beating more satisfying."
Seeing the two jailers' twisted expressions, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly spoke up.
"Let me go! I... I'm a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"If you... treat me like this, aren't you afraid the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will go to war with Spirit Hall?"
Yu Xiaogang's voice came in short, hurried bursts.
He didn't dare claim he was a disciple of Spirit Hall again, since the people who had captured him were from Spirit Hall too.
So he could only fall back on his family background, hoping they'd think twice and go easier on him.
"Hmph, ignore him. The people upstairs already told us he's a castoff from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. We don't need to be afraid. Keep questioning him."
Another whip cracked across Yu Xiaogang's body, lashing his skin open.
"Ah!" Yu Xiaogang screamed, gasping for breath.
At the sound of Yu Xiaogang's scream, the jailer holding the whip wore a twisted, satisfied smile.
The pain was so intense that Yu Xiaogang no longer cared about saving face. He hurriedly said, "I'm different!"
"My father is the sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Even if I left the sect, his blood still runs through my veins!"
"My father is also an honorary elder of Spirit Hall. You can't treat me like this, or my father will never let you get away with it!"
All Yu Xiaogang could do was pray that they'd fear his father enough to release him.
But the jailers didn't care. An honorary elder might be important, but could he possibly outrank His Holiness the Pope?
"You've got a lot to say. Still not talking? Keep beating him until he does!"
A few more lashes fell, and the cell rang with screams like a slaughtered pig.
"Stop beating me! What do you want to know? Just ask!"
"If you don't ask, how am I supposed to know what to say?" Yu Xiaogang's voice had grown hoarse from screaming.
His clothes had long since been torn to shreds, streaked with bloody welts.
If he didn't give in soon, he felt he might die here.
Even if Spirit Hall wanted the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's secrets, he could reveal a few. After all, his family had wronged him first.
But the two jailers had started beating him the moment they dragged him in. They hadn't even asked him a question. How could he answer?
"Didn't we ask him?" The two jailers looked at each other. "I think we forgot!"
Hearing them, Yu Xiaogang was so angry he almost spat blood.
Damn Spirit Hall! I, Yu Xiaogang, will never reconcile with you. I swear I'll avenge this, or I'm no man!
Only then did one of the jailers ask, "What were you thinking, spreading the Evil God's faith?"
"What Evil God's faith?" Yu Xiaogang froze. When had he ever spread the Evil God's faith?
"The Rakshasa Meditation Method. It points to an Evil God and has led countless Soul Masters on the continent down the path of depravity."
Soul Masters with steadfast wills might not be swayed by the method.
But many Soul Masters had weak wills and no hope of advancing further. And some had Martial Souls that already leaned toward darkness and evil.
Naturally, they became degenerates and started using any means necessary to grow stronger.
Fortunately, the Rakshasa Meditation Method was only a Soul Power cultivation method. It couldn't be used to master any terrifying skills.
"You still dare to claim this isn't the Evil God's faith?" The jailer asked the question he'd been told to ask.
The Rakshasa Meditation Method? That was in Spirit Hall's library. I only borrowed it and brought it to light! Yu Xiaogang thought.
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, wanting to reveal the truth. But the Martial Soul Theory masterpiece was what had made his name.
If he told the truth, he'd lose his title as a master of Martial Soul Theory.
"Still not talking? So you really are the Evil God's lackey!"
The jailer was getting impatient, and the cell once again rang with screams like a slaughtered pig.
Yu Xiaogang couldn't hold out any longer. He hurriedly said, "I'll talk, I'll talk! I didn't know it was the Evil God's faith."
"I found the Rakshasa Meditation Method in the library in Spirit City."
The two jailers clearly didn't believe him. Spirit Hall guarded the Soul Beast Forest and spread the light of the angels. How could it have an Evil God's meditation method?
"Still lying? You even dare to pin the blame on Spirit Hall? Let's keep beating him!"
Yu Xiaogang had screamed until he had no strength left. Before long, he passed out.
"He's already out? And he's a Soul Grandmaster?" The two jailers were speechless. They hadn't had their fill yet.
"All right, I'll report this to the warden. You dump him in Scar Brother's cell and see if he'll behave then," one jailer said.
"Scar Brother?" The other jailer's eyes lit up.
"Good idea. The kid's a bit ugly, but his skin's smooth and soft. Scar Brother should like him."
"Heh, send him to Scar Brother's cell, and that little daisy will blossom into a sunflower!" The two jailers laughed darkly.
Outside Spirit City, Ling Feng and Bibi Dong set out on a journey to gain experience.
They took the long way around instead of heading to the nearby Star Dou Great Forest, making for the Sunset Forest instead.
Now that Ling Feng had a Storage Soul Tool, he wanted to gather the Immortal Herbs and spirit medicines before anything unexpected happened.
Bibi Dong, meanwhile, wanted to spend a few more days with Ling Feng, so she agreed with his suggestion.
Besides, the Sunset Forest was thousands of miles away. They would surely have to stay at inns along the way, and at night she could be with Ling Feng.
Bibi Dong gazed at Ling Feng, unable to look away. She wanted to talk to him.
"Ling Feng, your Martial Soul is a Demon Spider too. I think this map will be very useful to you!"
On the way, Bibi Dong tossed him a map.
Ling Feng looked at it and saw that it showed the locations of Soul Beasts whose Soul Rings were suitable for the Death Demon Spider and the Soul-Eater Demon Spider.
Qian Xunji really went all out. He even helped Bibi Dong get this far. But now I'm the one who benefits!
The Soul Beast Soul Rings suitable for Bibi Dong would naturally suit him too, saving him the time it would take to search for them.
"Thank you, Bibi Dong," Ling Feng said sincerely.
[The next chapter will be updated during the day.]