Elder Tang carried the gravely injured Evan Song through several short teleports, arriving before a massive bronze gate. To the right of the gate stood a three-zhang-tall stone stele, spattered with blood, upon which two chilling, icy characters radiated murderous energy—Demon Prison!
"Greetings, Elder Tang!"
The Demon Prison wardens bowed respectfully.
"Open the gate," Elder Tang said coolly.
"Yes, sir!"
The eight Demon Prison wardens each produced a jade token and placed it into one of the eight recesses on the bronze gate. With a thunderous boom, the gate swung open, and a wave of icy, sinister air rushed out.
Elder Tang seemed completely unfazed, carrying Evan Song as he strode inside.
As for his situation, Evan Song didn't seem worried at all; instead, he looked around the Demon Prison with genuine curiosity.
The space beyond the bronze gate was not large. At its center sat a gigantic black well.
After stripping Evan Song of his Storage Ring, Ink-Black Sword, and all other artifacts, Elder Tang directly tossed him into the black well.
The black well was bottomless and exerted a powerful suction. As soon as Evan Song fell in, he was dragged helplessly downward. Faintly, Elder Tang's voice echoed from outside the well: "Kid, the Demon Prison has nine tiers. If you don't want to die too quickly, you'd better stick to the first tier!"
He had no idea how long he was falling, but at last the immense suction vanished.
Bang!
Evan Song's body slammed heavily onto a patch of black soil.
"Ugh!"
Already badly wounded, he couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of blood. He wiped it away without concern and grinned, "Main body, I've suffered enough for your plan. You'd better compensate me properly later!"
That's right—the one intercepted and thrown into the Demon Prison was not Ian Song himself, but his Martial-Soul avatar, Evan Song.
The next moment, Evan Song slowly stood up, healing his internal injuries as he surveyed his surroundings.
According to Elder Tang, he was now in the first tier of the Demon Prison. The entire sky was gray, and the world below was bleak and desolate. Most notably, there wasn't a trace of spiritual qi—just as expected, this was a true deadland.
"Heh heh, how many years has it been since I've tasted fresh meat? Today I can finally feast again!"
With a strange laugh, Old Freak Zhou—a filthy old man in ragged clothes, with wild hair and a face dirtier than a beggar's—slowly walked toward Evan Song.
"Old Freak Zhou, you can't hog this prey all to yourself!"
Another voice rang out—a woman's, sharp and grating. From another direction came a middle-aged woman with matted hair, a sallow face, and barely enough filthy clothes to cover herself.
Heh heh, so it's the Black Widow!
Old Freak Zhou's expression shifted slightly, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes as he let out another strange laugh.
Black Widow giggled, showing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Heh heh, this little brother's skin is so tender—eating him right away would be such a waste. Old Freak Zhou, how about we make a deal? Let me play with him for a month first."
"You're not trying to hog him for yourself, are you?" Old Freak Zhou said darkly.
Black Widow shot Old Freak Zhou a look. "I've been lonely for years—missing out on such a handsome little brother would be a shame. Don't worry, once I'm done, you'll get your share. I wouldn't fall out with you over this, right?"
"You're lonely? I can help you!" Old Freak Zhou licked his lips. "As for this kid, let's just split him fifty-fifty."
"Hmph, your idea of fun makes me sick!" Black Widow curled her lip. "Fine, after a month, I'll give you an extra hand."
"What?"
Old Freak Zhou hesitated. They'd been locked in the Demon Prison for years now; with no spiritual qi, their cultivation hadn't just stagnated—it had regressed. Both he and Black Widow had once been late Soul-Split experts, but after so many years, their cultivation had dropped to mid Soul-Split. If not for eating the flesh and blood of other prisoners, they'd have fallen even lower.
A cultivator's body is tempered and nourished by true essence, so both their flesh and blood are rich with spiritual qi. Since there's no qi in the Demon Prison, they have to eat people to replenish it.
"What, you think I'll cheat you?"
Black Widow continued, "You and I have the highest cultivation in this area. If we fight, others will benefit. So don't worry—I'm not about to fall out with you over one person."
Old Freak Zhou thought for a while, then finally decided, "Fine, I'll trust you this once! But a month is too long—three days at most, or you'll suck this kid dry!"
Black Widow's eyes lit up. "Three days isn't enough. Since you're being reasonable, let's make it twenty days!"
No way—five days, tops!
Half a month, then!
Six days!
Come on, Old Freak Zhou, be flexible—let's make it twelve days!
Ten days, tops. That's my final offer!
Fine, ten days it is. Come find me after." Black Widow giggled, then beckoned to Evan Song. "Come with me, little brother!"
Evan Song nodded and walked toward Black Widow.
As he drew near, Black Widow suddenly grabbed his arm, her face full of intoxicated delight. "Such a fresh and delicious aura—honestly, thinking about eating you in ten days almost makes me reluctant!"
The moment she grabbed his arm, Evan Song stiffened. He caught a whiff of her stench, and her forced sweet but grating voice made his skin crawl.
But in order to figure out the Demon Prison's situation, he forced himself to endure.
Led by Black Widow, he arrived at a crude mud-brick hut.
Inside, Evan Song glanced around and saw the place was filthy. In one corner lay a pile of bones and a few skulls.
Come here, little brother—let me undress you!" Black Widow purred.
Black Widow gazed greedily at Evan Song and reached out to undress him.
Get away from me!
Evan Song shoved the stinking woman away and darted outside—the stench inside was unbearable.
Kid, what's that supposed to mean? Are you trying to get yourself killed?
Black Widow stepped out, glaring viciously at Evan Song. Her voice was cold and threatening.
Evan Song backed away and said, "Stay away from me—you're too smelly! I can't stand it!"
Black Widow's eyes flashed with killing intent. She glared at Evan Song. "Kid, you clearly don't know what kind of place this is. If you know what's good for you, do as I say and maybe you'll live a little longer. Otherwise, I'll kill you right now!"