This was a prison meticulously crafted by the Water Cloud Nation, designed specifically for highly cultivated Celestial Masters, the confinement chambers resembling water cellars. The murky, purplish-brown stagnant water reached the prisoner’s chest.

At this very moment, Ji Changkong was held captive in this stronghold, reputed to be inescapable even for an Eight Trigram Celestial Master. The murky, purplish-brown water now lapped at his neck. His wrists and ankles were shackled with black iron manacles, his body submerged in the still water, the surrounding liquid suppressing the Yuan Power within him. It was truly like a pool of dead water, utterly silent and without movement.

The reason the Stagnant Water Prison could hold even an Eight Trigram Celestial Master was precisely this water, which made it incredibly difficult for a Celestial Master to activate and control their Yuan Power. With their internal energy suppressed and bound by the heavy black iron restraints, true escape became exceedingly difficult.

Beyond the stagnant water and the black iron manacles, guarding Ji Changkong’s cell were three other Eight Trigram Celestial Masters, accompanied by dozens of experts at the Six Harmonies Heaven and Seven Stars Heaven realms. Should he cause any disturbance, these formidable experts from the Shi Xuan Police Force would immediately enter the Stagnant Water Prison to subdue him instantly!

With his limbs bound, Ji Changkong stood silently in the stagnant water, feeling the suppressive effect the water had on his internal Yuan Power. A cryptic, meaningful smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

This dark, brownish water was nothing more than a slow-acting poison. Its purpose was to paralyze the prisoner's internal Yuan Power and numb their limbs, making it nearly impossible to unleash any strength while immersed.

For an ordinary person, confined in the Stagnant Water Prison under heavy guard, there would indeed be no recourse.

However, Ji Changkong, who had absorbed the memories of Qu Le, the Sect Master of the Myriad Poisons Gate, was not entirely helpless against this slow-acting toxin. While the black iron was incomparably sturdy, the corrosive power of the Primordial Poison was even more terrifying; dissolving the black iron shouldn't pose a significant problem.

In other words, although the Stagnant Water Prison appeared heavily fortified, if he truly wished to break free, it would be remarkably easy.

The three Eight Trigram Celestial Masters and the dozens of Six Harmonies Heaven and Seven Stars Heaven experts outside were the only elements he truly needed to consider seriously.

Ji Changkong felt no hurry, nor any unease. He waited patiently within the prison, anticipating news from the outside world.

Time seemed to crawl within the Stagnant Water Prison. Since his arrival, three full days had passed without a single visitor entering the cell. Though bored, he dared not act prematurely, choosing instead to wait silently, carefully speculating on the situation outside.

On the fourth day, two figures appeared on the raised platform above the Stagnant Water Prison: Wang Pai and Jiu Lingxue.

“Xiao Xue,” Wang Pai said kindly, whispering an instruction, “This brat cannot die yet. You can vent some anger on him, but you must not take his life. After some time, you can do as you please.”

Jiu Lingxue stood on the platform, clad in a flowing white gown, her face as cold as ice. She looked down upon the shackled Ji Changkong, gritting her teeth. “Ji Changkong, you never imagined this day would come, did you?”

He let out a soft, self-mocking chuckle, thinking that he had deliberately brought this upon himself; how could he not know this day might come? He pouted slightly, tilted his head up to look at the aloof Jiu Lingxue, and sneered, “Jiu Lingxue, I hadn’t expected you to have cultivated to the Six Harmonies Heaven realm. However, with your current strength, you are still far from being able to defeat me openly! What? Have you come today intending to avenge your Jiu family while I’m trapped in the Stagnant Water Prison?”

“Xiao Xue, be careful with your movements. As long as you don't kill him, it’s fine!” Wang Pai glanced down at Ji Changkong, a faint smile playing on his lips. He handed Jiu Lingxue a gleaming, sharp white dagger, signaling that she could strike at will.

Jiu Lingxue silently accepted the dagger. With a mere flick of her wrist, it shot toward Ji Changkong like a dazzling streak of white light.

The white light, like a silver shuttle, moved swiftly across Ji Changkong’s body under Jiu Lingxue’s precise control, leaving behind one deep, bone-visible gash after another, painting a horrifying, ghastly tableau upon him.

As the white light weaved and flashed, flesh flew.

Jiu Lingxue’s lips were pale, her beautiful eyes filled with a morbid fervor and satisfaction. Her slender fingers flicked and pulled, channeling Yuan Power to guide the dagger, etching more wounds onto Ji Changkong’s body.

Wang Pai watched the scene below with a faint smile resting on his lips. After a while, the smile faded from Wang Pai’s face, his expression slowly darkening. He called out sharply, “Xue, that’s enough!”

Jiu Lingxue, submerged in the pleasure of revenge, did not seem to notice. Bloody images flashed repeatedly in her mind—the hellish carnage of Yin Mountain, like the deepest nightmare, was suddenly reawakened!

By this time, Ji Changkong was covered in blood. The crimson blood mixed with the dark purple stagnant water, turning it an inky, dark shade. Yet, Ji Changkong remained motionless, his eyes wide open like a dead man’s, uttering not a single sound.

“Enough!” Wang Pai called out again, gently placing a hand on Jiu Lingxue’s shoulder.

Jiu Lingxue abruptly stopped. The spinning white light slowly ascended, condensing back into the dagger, which fell back into Wang Pai’s hand. He glanced at Ji Changkong, who was baring his teeth yet still smiling faintly, and Wang Pai couldn't help but frown slightly. This boy’s willpower is truly resolute; he can remain silent under such agony. He is indeed a ruthless character. It's fortunate you are about to die, or you would truly become a major threat.

Jiu Lingxue stared blankly at Ji Changkong, her eyes icy. A penetrating chill seemed to emanate from her, like two wisps of ice breath, striking directly at him.

After a long moment, Jiu Lingxue suddenly took a deep breath. The hatred in her eyes intensified unabated, and she nodded slowly, “Ji Changkong, I will kill you myself! I will not let you die so easily!”

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, revealing a strange, unsettling smile. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Let’s go, Xiao Xue. Before long, your wish will be granted,” Wang Pai patted Jiu Lingxue’s shoulder comfortingly, then cast a deep look at Ji Changkong before leaving with her.

Once Wang Pai and Jiu Lingxue were gone, the weakness in Ji Changkong’s eyes instantly flared brightly, and the paleness in his cheeks rapidly returned to a healthy flush.

The blood that had flowed from him, previously mingled with the stagnant water, now miraculously separated from it. Fine, thread-like filaments of blood slowly retreated through the wounds on his body, carrying small amounts of the surrounding water back inside him.

“Come out and lend a hand,” Ji Changkong’s spirit essence called out to the small being within the Tian Yuan Pearl.

“I know, what a bother. Having to resort to me for such a trivial matter,” the Primordial Poison grumbled reluctantly, before emerging from the Tian Yuan Pearl. It employed some unknown method, instantly neutralizing all the lingering chronic toxins contained within the water that had infiltrated Ji Changkong’s body, rendering the poison inert.

Simultaneously, even the black iron manacles restraining Ji Changkong’s limbs softened considerably after the Primordial Poison passed over them. The material, which should have been hard as iron, underwent an inexplicable change beyond ordinary comprehension.

Tianshui City, deep within the Imperial Palace.

“Any news?” Huangfu Yue, dressed in plain attire, sat cross-legged on a prayer cushion, looking at an old eunuch standing respectfully beside her.

“All the experts from the Chen family have left Tianshui City. There has been no movement from the Duan family. Gaoyang City is essentially Duan family territory, and even we cannot act against them without a suitable pretext. However, I have received word that the Duan family youths, Duan Lingyue and Duan Haoshan, should have entered Tianshui City. I am currently dispatching people to search for them; news should arrive soon,” the eunuch reported obsequiously, his voice high-pitched.

Huangfu Yue frowned slightly and spoke softly, “Both the Chen and Duan families are major threats to the nation. The fact that they secretly relayed information to the other side when we made it clear we intended to deal with Xuangu Valley proves that their loyalty is already compromised. We must use this opportunity to eradicate both families completely. But we don't need to rush the Chen and Duan families yet. Once Gu Bang is dead, we can manipulate them however we wish!”

After a pause, Huangfu Yue asked, “Has the message reached Tianshan?”

The eunuch nodded, “Given the timing, the message should have just arrived.”

“As soon as Gu Ya makes a move, our Huangfu Yue will never have to defer to anyone again,” Huangfu Yue smiled, looking utterly confident. “Rest assured, Gu Ya will come. I have studied his temperament for over a decade; I know… he absolutely will come!”

Tianshan.

Liu Qing, his face grim, ventured alone into the cold depths of the icy mountain. He stopped before an immense, solid block of ice, silently gazing at the ancient elder sealed within the frozen mass.

Gu Ya sat motionlessly within the massive ice, appearing like a stone statue unchanged for ten thousand years—cold, devoid of life.

Yet, after Liu Qing stood there for half a day, the eyebrow of the elder within the ice subtly twitched. In the next instant, as if crossing a spatial barrier, the elder who had been inside the ice miraculously appeared outside it, without the ice showing a single crack.

“What is it?” the elder asked flatly after sweeping his gaze over Liu Qing.

“Ji Changkong has been imprisoned in Tianshui City, and the Huangfu family intends to execute him,” Liu Qing replied respectfully, his head bowed.

The elder’s brow knitted slightly. Scenes flowed magically within the pupils of his eyes—Huangfu Yue, Wang Pai, Ji Changkong in his cage, and the dozens of hidden experts lurking around the prison, all manifested sequentially in his sight.

Though physically in Tianshan, his eyes seemed to pierce through spatial barriers, capable of observing every blade of grass and tree in Tianshui City, a thousand li away!

“I will make a trip to Tianshui City. You all look after the mountain gate,” the elder commanded calmly.

“Sect Master!” Liu Qing exclaimed in sudden alarm, looking up sharply. “Since the Huangfu family has made their move, they must be certain of something. They captured Changkong precisely to force you to Tianshui City. In the past, the Sect Master could come and go freely, but after your battle with Youlan…”

“It matters not,” the elder waved his hand, gazing into the distance. “It is time I saw my grandson-in-law. I have been waiting for a suitable opportunity, but since Huangfu Tong has created a situation where I must go, how can I refuse her the courtesy?”

With that, without waiting for Liu Qing to say more, Gu Bang waved his hand. The radiance of the sun, moon, and stars manifested simultaneously, and his figure blurred, vanishing into thin air.