Chapter 225 Cultivation in the Iron Prison

Chapter 225 Cultivation in the Iron Prison

Ning Xiaochuan continued, "At that time in the Ling Qi Pavilion, apart from me and Duanmu Jishuang, the Demon Sect Saintess was also present. She can testify for me."

"That’s right! The Saintess’s cultivation is so high that nothing escapes her perception. She must know who the real murderer is. But why didn’t she defend you earlier?" Duanmu Linger asked.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "First, the Demon Sect Saintess and I have no personal ties. Why would she help me?"

"Second, the Demon Sect isn’t monolithic. Its factions are complex, with the Six Great Dao Lords each commanding their own forces, and their leaders are all formidable figures of this era. The Lifeless Dao Leader is a dominant figure among the older generation of the Demon Sect, a full seniority above both the Fox Immortal Dao Leader and your father. He was present in the Ling Qi Pavilion at the time—the most senior and the most powerful. Do you think the Demon Sect Saintess would be foolish enough to openly offend the Lifeless Dao Leader?"

"But she still shouldn’t have stood by and done nothing!"

Ning Xiaochuan said, "If she wants to help us, she must be waiting for something."

"Waiting for what?"

Ning Xiaochuan explained, "For the Dark Heavenly King to arrive at Nine Death Cliff. Only when the Dark Heavenly King comes will she have the power to oppose the Lifeless Dao Leader. Otherwise, even if she steps forward now and accuses Lin Zhirong of being the murderer, the Lifeless Dao Leader’s seniority and strength would allow him to suppress her. Duanmu Linger, you must understand one thing: only when power is balanced do you have the right to negotiate."

Tap, tap.

In the dark and silent Iron Prison, faint footsteps echoed.

The Demon Sect Saintess, her hands clasped behind her back, arrived outside the prison, escorted by two mute jailers.

Clad in a golden mask, she exuded an intimidating aura as she spoke indifferently, "I didn’t expect you to be somewhat clever."

She had heard every word Ning Xiaochuan just said.

Seeing the Demon Sect Saintess arrive, Duanmu Linger’s face lit up with hope. "Does the Saintess truly know who killed Duanmu Jishuang?"

The Demon Sect Saintess remained silent, but her silence was tantamount to confirmation.

"Rest assured, when the time is right, I will step forward to clear your names," the Demon Sect Saintess said, casting a brief glance at Ning Xiaochuan. "But first, you must tell me—who is that little girl’s real parent?"

Duanmu Linger glanced at Ning Xiaochuan before fixing her gaze on the Saintess. "Is that really important?"

"Of course it is," the Saintess replied.

Ning Xiaochuan’s lips moved slightly. "She isn’t human."

Both Duanmu Linger and the Demon Sect Saintess were taken aback.

Ning Xiaochuan had no reservations. "She’s a Mystic Beast. But she poses no danger. I beg the Saintess not to harm her. If possible, please take care of her."

"A Mystic Beast, hmph. I’ll take your word for it—for now." With a flick of her sleeve, the Demon Sect Saintess vanished into the dark corridor.

Clang!

The Iron Prison sealed shut once more, plunging the space back into darkness.

"Is she really a Mystic Beast?" Duanmu Linger still found it hard to believe. In truth, she thought Xiao Ling'er was quite adorable.

"Absolutely."

"Then why did you name her Xiao Ling'er?"

"Here... take this Transcendent Pill. Try to improve your cultivation as much as possible. Only by becoming stronger yourself can you truly ensure your survival. We can't pin all our hopes on the Demon Sect Saintess. If it comes down to it, we can still escape on our own."

Ning Xiaochuan took out a Transcendent Pill, its faint cyan glow illuminating the dark Iron Prison.

Duanmu Linger accepted the pill but pressed again, "Tell me, why did you name her Xiao Ling'er?"

Ignoring her, Ning Xiaochuan swallowed another Transcendent Pill and began his breakthrough to the Third Level of the Transcendent Realm.

He had little faith in the Demon Sect Saintess—after all, they were neither kin nor close allies. She might not help them wholeheartedly. True strength lay in one's own power.

The Transcendent Pill was specially refined for Martial Artists in the Transcendent Realm. As the Pill Qi dissolved into his bloodstream, Ning Xiaochuan's body underwent a dramatic transformation with every passing moment. The Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi within him awakened, surging like a Divine Dragon and a Divine Tiger soaring through his veins.

Duanmu Linger also swallowed the pill and began cultivating.

Twelve days passed without the Iron Prison being opened—no one even brought them food. It was as if the Demon Sect had completely forgotten about them.

By now, Ning Xiaochuan had refined most of his second Transcendent Pill. His skin shimmered with a jade-like luster, as if coated in wax. Strands of radiant light seeped from his blood and bones, converging onto his skin.

Crack!

Like an old monk in deep meditation, Ning Xiaochuan's body erupted with dazzling light as the roars of dragons and tigers echoed within him. A layer of old skin sloughed off, resembling a cicada shedding its shell, a divine tree renewing its bark, or a spirit serpent molting.

His newly formed skin pulsed with densely packed mystical inscriptions. Seven different-colored lights burst forth from his body—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple—shifting in a mesmerizing display.

The strange phenomenon emanating from Ning Xiaochuan startled Duanmu Linger out of her cultivation. She saw an ocean suspended where his heart should be, with seven differently colored Divine Bridges floating above it, their other ends stretching beyond, connecting to the heavens and earth.

"How is Ning Xiaochuan’s Martial Arts Heart Palace so powerful? Just breaking through a realm has produced such a spectacle—inscriptions covering his body, the unison of dragon and tiger roars, rainbow radiance, divine bridges over an ancient sea... This is the kind of physique only a young deity from the Age of Gods could possess!" Duanmu Linger stared at him in astonishment.

Having shed his third layer of Mortal Skin, Ning Xiaochuan had now reached the Third Level of the Transcendent Realm, increasing his combat power by at least threefold.

Retracting his Profound Qi, he exhaled softly and glanced at Duanmu Linger. "You’ve also reached the Third Level of the Transcendent Realm."

She nodded. "I owe it to your Transcendent Pill. Without it, it would have taken me at least two more years to reach this stage."

Though her physique was inferior to Ning Xiaochuan's, Duanmu Linger had only needed one Transcendent Pill to reach the peak of the Third Level.

For Ning Xiaochuan, however, breaking through was far more difficult. Even after consuming two Transcendent Pills, he had barely managed to advance to the Third Level.

Of course, Ning Xiaochuan's combat prowess far surpassed Duanmu Linger's. At his current level, he could easily battle a Martial Artist at the fifth level of the Transcendent Realm and even contend with one at the sixth level. If he were to face Lin Zhirong again now, Ning Xiaochuan was confident he could kill him with his fists. Even if Lin Zhirong wore the Nine Lives Unbreakable Armor, he wouldn't escape death.

Duanmu Linger said, "It's really strange. Although the Demon Sect Iron Prison is cruel, they still deliver meals to prisoners every day. Why hasn't anyone brought us food in over ten days? Have they forgotten about us?"

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "It is indeed strange. Perhaps something major has happened outside, and they simply can't spare the attention for us."

"I can't help but feel like someone is deliberately trying to starve us to death," Duanmu Linger said.

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "You're finally showing a bit of intelligence. However, even if someone wants to starve us, your father would never allow it. Why hasn't he come to see us all this time? Are you... sure you're his biological daughter?"

"Of course I am! But... but... why hasn't he come?" Duanmu Linger bit her lip, lost in thought.

Ning Xiaochuan stood up, dragging the chains with a clattering noise. "Simple. I'll just go out and see for myself."

"You want to escape?"

"If we know someone is trying to kill us in this prison, shouldn't we escape instead of waiting here to die?" Ning Xiaochuan said.

"No one has ever escaped from the Demon Sect Iron Prison. And if we're caught trying, we'll be executed for sure. Maybe... we should wait a little longer?" Duanmu Linger hesitated.

"Then you can stay here and wait for death. I'm leaving." Ning Xiaochuan's hands and feet were shackled, but he gripped the chains and channeled the Dragon-Tiger Profound Qi within him, attempting to forcibly break them.

Ning Xiaochuan's current strength was immense—he could snap even a Mystic Artifact, let alone mere chains.

Clatter!

Yet, the chains on his arms were tougher than any Mystic Artifact. Even with his full strength, he couldn't break them.

"It's useless. These Mystic Iron Chains are forged from extraterrestrial rare metal, specifically designed to restrain martial experts. Even an Earthly Venerable Realm Martial Artist couldn't break them, let alone someone at our level," Duanmu Linger said.

"Is that so?"

Ning Xiaochuan clasped his hands together, and five streaks of blood-red demonic energy flowed from his heart, coalescing into the Demonic Sword.

With a single swing— Snap!

The chains on his arms shattered.

Another slash, and the chains on his legs broke apart.

Ning Xiaochuan flexed his hands and feet, then sheathed the Demonic Sword. He glanced at Duanmu Linger. "Are you coming or not?"

"What kind of weapon was that just now?" Duanmu Linger asked.

"None of your concern—shh! Someone's coming!"

Ning Xiaochuan quickly sat back down, leaning against the iron wall and draping the chains over his arms and legs to feign still being bound.

Tap, tap.

Steady footsteps echoed in the darkness.

Lin Zhirong entered the prison, holding a Mystic Stone Lamp. He stood outside the iron bars, flanked by two mute prison guards.

The lamplight was dim.

Lin Zhirong saw Ning Xiaochuan sitting in the corner, looking utterly wretched, and a sense of smugness rose in his heart. He laughed and said, "Ning Xiaochuan, I’ve already looked into your background. So you’re the renowned Imperial City's Top Genius, the Current Champion of the Emperor's Martial Palace. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

Ning Xiaochuan gave him a cold, piercing glance and said, "It’s not too late for you to know now. If you release me, I might consider sparing your life."

"Hahaha!"

Lin Zhirong burst into laughter, then his eyes turned vicious as he sneered, "You still think you can escape the Demon Sect Iron Prison? Don’t you know that in two days, it’ll be the end for both of you?"