The gates of the Heavenly Dungeon swung open.
Skyward Legionnaires, torches held high, surged in and instantly packed the corridor.
Across the corridor, General Curtain sprang to his feet and shouted, "What are you doing?"
No one answered him.
With a clatter, the cell door opened. The jailer with the key stepped aside, and Nathan Young strode into the cell.
Marshal Silver, who had been sitting cross-legged, slowly raised his head. His face was smeared with blood that had turned pitch-black, his complexion deathly pale, and his eyes utterly devoid of spirit.
He simply gazed quietly at Nathan Young, saying nothing at all—just watching in silence.
Nathan Young looked at Marshal Silver, then turned his face slightly and said in a low voice, "Remove the pipa-bone shackles."
"Yes, sir!"
Several Skyward Legionnaires quickly approached Marshal Silver and forcibly removed the pipa-bone shackles.
Blood splattered, a wave of agony surged through him. Marshal Silver gripped his blood-stained prison robe tightly, his eyes squeezed shut, and beads of sweat rolled down his deathly pale forehead.
Nathan Young stepped forward, crouched down, and took a small box from his belt, offering it to Marshal Silver. In a low voice, he said, "This is a golden elixir granted by His Majesty, to help you restore your power."
Marshal Silver slowly opened his eyes, gazing at Nathan Young with a silent, expressionless stare.
"His Majesty has decreed your release and intends to appoint you Grand Marshal, sending you to the Netherworld to hunt down the demon monkey. Now, I must take you to meet him." Nathan Young paused, then added quietly, "The reason you're being called up now is because my father refuses to go to the Netherworld to pursue the demon monkey. You understand what that means, don't you?"
With that, Nathan Young pressed the box into Marshal Silver's hand, rose to his feet, and flicked his hand: "Take him away!"
Several Skyward Legionnaires immediately hoisted Marshal Silver up, bent low, and carried him through the cell door toward the outside.
Across the corridor, General Curtain stared wide-eyed, utterly bewildered.
......
In Tusita Palace, the Heavenly Dao Stone trembled and cracked, scattering stone dust like rain.
Lord Lao lifted his head slightly and watched in silence.