Ever since Chu Feng landed, he had only briefly glanced at the environment of this fiery prison before his gaze was drawn to the mountain rock.
At this moment, he had been staring at the fiery red stone for quite some time.
*Clank, clank, clank—*
Suddenly, the sound of rattling chains came from behind him. An elderly man approached, step by step.
This old man was short and emaciated, his frame skeletal and frail, as if he were on the brink of death.
The chains binding him were thicker than his arms, piercing through his flesh. They were etched with runes that pulsed with red light. Each flash twisted his face in agony.
Those chains were linked to the grand array deep within the fiery prison. When the light flickered, it brought pain to the prisoners.
The screams of the other inmates all stemmed from the light reflected by those chains.
But this old man seemed accustomed to the constant torment.
Yet, judging by his faint breath and weakened body, it was clear the suffering went far beyond the physical.
“So, a brat from the Chu Heavenly Clan. It’s been a long time since I last saw a token of the Chu Heavenly Clan. What did you do to end up locked in here?” The old man seemed brimming with curiosity about Chu Feng.
Chu Feng gave him a faint smile but didn’t reply, turning his gaze back to the mountain rock.
“It seems you’re quite interested in that spot. Actually, there’s a story behind it,” the old man said.
Chu Feng had initially intended to ignore him, sensing the old man was a seasoned schemer—someone he didn’t want to engage with too much.
But now, the old man’s words piqued his interest. He asked, “Senior, what story?”
“Are you familiar with the matter of the Realm Spirit Immortal King atop Ice Summit Peak?” the old man inquired.
“I know a bit,” Chu Feng nodded.
“Good, then.”
“The Tantai Heavenly Clan has always wanted to break the array on Ice Summit Peak, so they’ve been searching for powerful realm spiritists to assist them.”
“About thirty years ago, the Tantai Heavenly Clan brought in a realm spiritist.”
“No one knew where this spiritist came from—rumor has it he wasn’t from our starfield. No one knew his name either. He didn’t wear a spiritist robe, but in truth… he was a Saint Cloak Realm Spiritist.”
“He was a rare type—masterful in realm spirit techniques but with no interest in martial cultivation. So, while his spirit techniques reached Saint Cloak level, his cultivation… was just a mere True Immortal.”
“When he arrived at Ice Summit Peak, he studied it for a full decade and finally devised a method to break the array.”
“But then, he offended one of the Tantai Heavenly Clan’s supreme elders and was framed shortly after.”
“After being framed, he was locked up here. The Tantai Heavenly Clan only meant to intimidate him—after all, he was valuable to them.”
“But even they didn’t expect that he was already terminally ill and wouldn’t last long. He had planned to share the array-breaking method with them, but after being framed, he grew disillusioned and left it here in the fiery prison instead.”
“They say it’s carved right over there,” the old man said, pointing to the spot Chu Feng had been staring at.
“A method to break the array?” Chu Feng narrowed his eyes.
To an ordinary person, nothing was visible there. But under Chu Feng’s Heavenly Eyes, everything was laid bare.
Indeed, an array-breaking method was etched there, dating back about twenty years.
Chu Feng could see it all, so he believed the old man wasn’t lying.
He’d been staring earlier because he was astonished to find such a detailed array-breaking method here.
*Clank, clank, clank—*
At that moment, the sound of chains echoed again.
A dozen or so people approached Chu Feng.
They were all from the Tantai Heavenly Clan, advancing with ill intent, holding chains—the same kind used to bind the prisoners here.
Several of them were also dragging a box together, sealed with a barrier. No one knew what was inside.
“Trouble—they’re here for you,” the old man tensed upon seeing them.
“Little brother, they’re after you.”
“People brought here aren’t kept forever, but while they’re here, they must endure the pain of chains piercing their bones. Those chains link to the soul—the suffering’s no small thing.”
“So, little brother, don’t defy them. Speak nicely, maybe offer some benefits. Otherwise… they can decide how much pain you’ll feel,” the old man warned Chu Feng via secret transmission.
“Who are you? What are you doing here?” the Tantai clansmen snapped, glaring at the old man with displeasure.
With so many prisoners, they clearly didn’t recognize him.
“Sirs, I’m just teaching this newcomer the rules,” the old man said ingratiatingly.
“Do we need you to teach the rules? Get lost!” one of the clansmen barked. The old man trembled, apologizing as he turned to leave.
But then, the Tantai clansmen opened the box they’d brought. A chain emerged from within.
This chain was different from the one on the old man.
His bore runes, but they were sparse.
This new chain, however, was densely packed with runes.
The old man, who’d already walked away, turned pale upon seeing it and rushed back, “Sirs, isn’t this chain a bit too harsh? He’s so young.”
“Mind your own business and scram!” A Tantai clansman waved his hand, sending the old man crashing into the rock wall.
Though elderly, his cultivation was low—only Heavenly Immortal Realm. Struck by a Martial Immortal Realm clansman, he collapsed, half-dead.
“Why treat me so unfairly?” Chu Feng asked.
“Don’t you know who you’ve offended?” the Tantai clansman replied.
“Tantai Changfei, right?” Chu Feng guessed.
“You know it well enough. I’ll be straight—since you’ve entered here today, don’t expect to leave alive,” the clansman said.
“I only contradicted him once, and he wants my life?”
“Your Tantai Heavenly Clan is too tyrannical. Everyone can see what you’re doing today. When word spreads, aren’t you afraid my Chu Heavenly Clan will come for you?” Chu Feng said.
Indeed, the Tantai clansmen’s arrival had drawn attention in the fiery prison.
Though no one approached, countless eyes watched from the shadows.
Some pitied Chu Feng, but most treated it like a spectacle.
“Hahaha…”
Knowing no one would help, the Tantai clansman laughed mockingly.
Then his gaze turned ice-cold.
“With Lord Tantai Changfei backing us, why would we fear your puny Chu Heavenly Clan? Enough talk—next year, today will be your death anniversary.”
With that, they charged at Chu Feng.
Chu Feng’s brows furrowed, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
These men were mere early-stage Martial Immortals—no match for him. He wouldn’t go down without a fight.
*Rumble, rumble—*
But then, a thunderous roar echoed from the top of the fiery prison. It opened.
A figure plummeted through the gap, landing squarely between Chu Feng and the Tantai clansmen.
“Who’s that?”
When they saw the figure, not just the Tantai clansmen and onlookers but even Chu Feng’s expression shifted.
It was a bloodied figure, covered in whip marks—clearly lashed into this state.
His aura was weak, the punishment severe.
And nearly everyone present recognized him.
He was the overseer of Ice Summit Peak, the most feared man in this fiery prison… Tantai Changfei.
