The Phoenix Heaven Church is the strongest sect on the Southsky Continent, and is said to have as many as a hundred Immortals. Even if the Prime One Church, Fire God Church, and Witch God Church joined forces, they would still fall far short of matching the Phoenix Heaven Church.
As the four explained their story, Ian Song finally understood why they had been imprisoned.
All four of them were Inner Sect disciples of the Phoenix Heaven Church, each having reached the peak of late Soul-Split stage—just one step away from Fusion—but none had found the chance to break through, so they traveled together in search of an opportunity.
Over five hundred years ago, they arrived in Tang Dynasty territory and happened upon the estate of a Tribulation-stage expert. The estate was filled with deadly mechanisms and restrictions, and fewer than ten cultivators managed to enter—these four Phoenix Heaven Church disciples, three rogue cultivators, and three members of the Prime One Church.
At first, they had no intention of revealing their Phoenix Heaven Church identities. But when fighting broke out over the Tribulation expert’s techniques and treasures, the Prime One Church members tried to kill them.
Unable to win, they were forced to reveal who they were.
Inner Sect disciples of the Phoenix Heaven Church keep their soul-tablets in the Church. If any of them die, Church experts will investigate, so the Prime One Church didn’t dare kill the four.
But having already made enemies of them, and fearing they would return to the Phoenix Heaven Church and bring experts to take revenge, the Prime One Church threw them into the Demon Prison—instead of killing them or letting them go.
At first, the four tried to escape the Demon Prison, but after a while, they realized there was no way out and gave up, hoping their elders would notice their disappearance and come searching for them—since all four had Fusion-stage masters in the Phoenix Heaven Church.
Unfortunately, after more than five hundred years, no elders ever came to rescue them, and they fell into despair.
"If the Phoenix Heaven Church found out you were imprisoned, what would happen?" Ian Song asked the four.
"They would probably force the Prime One Church to hand over the people who locked us up!" one of them replied.
"Is there any chance they’d wipe out the Prime One Church?" Ian asked hopefully.
"No way."
The four shook their heads, and one explained, "Since the Prime One Church didn’t actually kill us, at most they’d be forced to hand over the ones responsible for locking us up. Even if we had been killed, the Phoenix Heaven Church wouldn’t destroy an entire great church just for a few Inner Sect disciples. After all, the Prime One Church has Immortals in residence, and if an Immortal escapes, it’s almost impossible to catch them. If they got away, their revenge would be a huge headache for the Phoenix Heaven Church!"
After hearing their explanation, Ian couldn’t help but sigh in disappointment—so much for his hope of using the Phoenix Heaven Church to wipe out the Prime One Church.
"By the way, what are your names?"
"Chad Zhao, at your service."
"Logan Wang, at your service."
"Terry Zhang, at your service."
"Aunt Ma, at your service."
Ian nodded. "Do you know anything about the Second Tier of the Demon Prison?"
All four looked embarrassed. "Master, we went into long-term hibernation not long after being locked up in the Demon Prison, so we don’t know anything about the Second Tier’s situation."
Half an hour later, Ian led eighty-five late Soul-Split cultivators to the passage leading to the Second Tier of the Demon Prison.
This passage is one-way: you can go in, but not come out. In other words, once you enter the Second Tier, there’s no going back.
"Master, do we really have to go to the Second Tier? Maybe we should reconsider," Old Freak Zhou advised nervously.
Ian’s gaze turned cold as he stared at him. "If you don’t want to go in, that’s fine—but then there’s no reason for you to keep existing in this world!"
"Thud!"
Old Freak Zhou dropped to his knees, begging, "Master, spare me! I’ll never dare defy your orders again!"
"Get up. You go first!" Ian pointed at the dark passage.
"Yes, sir!"
Not wanting to die, Old Freak Zhou scrambled to his feet and rushed into the passage. Ian led the group in right behind him.
There was no danger in the passage itself—just a natural suction force pulling everyone forward.
As they moved forward, the suction grew stronger and stronger, until finally everyone was helplessly dragged ahead at high speed. After about fifteen minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.
Then, a huge force suddenly appeared and flung everyone out of the passage.
"Ha! So many blood meals at once—Heaven must really favor me today!"
Just as everyone was thrown out of the passage, a wild, mocking laugh echoed, sharp and grating.
Next, three figures shot into the air, and with a flurry of palm strikes, more than ten cultivators were knocked down.
"Protect the master!"
Black Widow screamed in terror and rushed to Ian’s side. The other cultivators also gathered around Ian as fast as they could, but even so, another five people were knocked down.