84: Prison World 1

The moment he stepped out of the spatial passage, Xiao Yan felt a sharp pain in his right eye. His azure-silver pupils contracted, and countless fine red threads, like blood vessels, appeared in his vision, covering the crimson land—these were the true energy Context of this world.

"Brother, something's not right here..." Ling Xiao's silver eyes flickered as he vigilantly scanned his surroundings. "The spatial structure has been artificially altered... It's like a..."

"Cage," Xiao Yan finished his sentence, his Mental Energy sweeping across the environment. The double shadows cast by two suns made everything appear unusually eerie, and a suppressive energy permeated the air, making even breathing feel heavy.

In the distance, the half-collapsed black pyramid slightly warped in his vision, as if observed through a heat haze. What was more concerning was the subtle, rhythmic energy fluctuations on the seemingly barren crimson land around the pyramid—precisely the ambush Xiao Yan had seen in his right eye's premonition!

"Is Father really there?" Ling Xiao whispered, his silver hair gently fluttering in the alien world's wind. "I can still feel that Bloodline connection, but..."

Xiao Yan didn't answer immediately. He crouched down, pressing his palm to the ground, and azure flames flowed from his arm into the earth. After traveling dozens of meters underground, the flames suddenly met an obstruction—an invisible energy barrier enveloped the entire pyramid area!

"The entire area is covered by some kind of Formation," Xiao Yan stood up, his gaze sharp. "Ling Xiao, can you pinpoint Father's exact location?"

Ling Xiao closed his eyes to sense, silver light seeping from his body, resonating subtly with the world's energy. A moment later, he pointed towards the pyramid: "He's on the lowest level... but his aura is very faint, like..." He frowned, "...being suppressed by something."

Xiao Yan nodded, taking two black robes from his storage ring. "Let's disguise ourselves first and approach quietly. Since we know there's an ambush, we can't play into the enemy's hands."

The two put on their black robes and moved towards the pyramid, using the terrain for cover. As the distance shortened, Xiao Yan noticed tiny runes beginning to appear on the ground, arranged in complex arrays that extended all the way to the pyramid's base.

"A Devouring Formation..." Xiao Yan recognized the meaning of some of the runes, his heart sinking. "They are extracting power from those inside the tower!"

Ling Xiao's face paled: "Then Uncle Xiao Zhan he..."

"He's still alive," Xiao Yan said firmly. "I can feel it." Although this sensation came more from Bloodline instinct than concrete evidence, he chose to believe it.

When they were still a hundred meters from the pyramid, Xiao Yan suddenly pulled Ling Xiao back, signaling him to hide. The ground ahead subtly bulged, and several creatures clad in black armor with single horns on their heads emerged from underground, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.

"Flame Demon Guards..." Xiao Yan transmitted through Mental Energy. "It seems this prison world is related to Flame Lord."

Ling Xiao carefully observed the guards: "They carry the aura of Flame Lord's Fire, but it's very... turbid, like it's been contaminated."

After a round of patrolling, the guards re-submerged underground. Xiao Yan and Ling Xiao seized the opportunity to quickly advance, finally reaching the pyramid's base. Up close, the structure appeared even more dilapidated than from afar, its surface covered in cracks, but its core remained intact, emitting an unsettling energy fluctuation.

The pyramid's entrance was sealed by a crimson barrier, beside which stood a stone tablet inscribed with ancient characters:

"Prison of the Guilty, Eternal Damnation;

Flame Lord's Wrath, Burning the Divine Soul to Ash."

Xiao Yan attempted to touch the barrier with his azure flames but was repelled by a violent backlash. Ling Xiao stepped forward, his silver eyes fixed on the barrier: "Let me try... Since it was set up by Flame Lord, the Spirit of the Plane might be able to..."

He extended his hands, and silver light, like flowing water, enveloped the crimson barrier. The moment the two energies met, ripples appeared on the barrier's surface, but it did not open. Ling Xiao's forehead beaded with sweat, and he gritted his teeth, increasing his output. Finally, a gap barely large enough for a person to pass through appeared in the center of the barrier!

"Quick! It won't last long!" Ling Xiao whispered.

The two quickly passed through the gap and entered the pyramid's interior. Unexpectedly, the internal space was far vaster than it appeared from the outside, clearly utilizing spatial expansion techniques. Dim corridors extended underground, with small prison cells on either side. Most were empty, but a few contained emaciated prisoners connected by red energy lines, part of the Devouring Formation.

"These are..." Xiao Yan investigated the nearest prisoner, discovering that although the person was weak, their internal energy level was extremely high, at least Saint-Grade!

The prisoner's eyes barely opened, and their cracked lips moved: "Another... another one come to die..."

Xiao Yan fed him a Medicinal Pill: "Who are the people imprisoned here?"

"Experts from... various Planes..." the prisoner said with difficulty. "Captured to... feed that monster..."

Ling Xiao suddenly pointed deeper into the corridor: "Father's aura... it's coming from below!"

Xiao Yan left a few Medicinal Pills for the prisoner and continued deeper with Ling Xiao. The pyramid's internal structure was complex, and with each descending level, the guards became stricter. The two had to stop and hide several times, on a few occasions almost running head-on into patrolling Flame Demon Guards.

Upon reaching the seventh level, the environment distinctly changed. The runes on the walls were denser, and a suffocating sense of oppression permeated the air. The number of cells on this level decreased, but each cell was protected by a complex Seal Formation.

"These prisoners... are stronger," Ling Xiao whispered, a hint of unease flashing in his silver eyes. "I can feel that the weakest among them is stronger than the Grand Elder..."

Xiao Yan's right eye suddenly throbbed with pain, and a premonition flashed—four guards were ambushed around the corner ahead! He pulled Ling Xiao back, signaling him to stop, then took two smoke bombs from his storage ring.

Smoke instantly filled the corridor, and the two took the opportunity to deal with the guards, but the commotion of the battle still attracted more enemies. Urgent footsteps and roars came from a distance.

"We've been discovered!" Ling Xiao said nervously.

Xiao Yan made a decisive decision: "You continue down to find Father, I'll cover our retreat!"

Ling Xiao wanted to object, but seeing Xiao Yan's resolute gaze, he could only nod: "Be careful!" With that, he transformed into a silver light and rushed towards the lower levels.

Xiao Yan turned to face the surging guards, azure-silver flames rising in his palm. Since reshaping his body, he hadn't truly tested the power of Flame Lord's Fire, and now was the time!

"Intruders into the Forbidden Ground, die!" The leading Flame Demon Guard roared, his flaming spear thrusting directly at Xiao Yan's heart.

Xiao Yan neither dodged nor retreated; the azure-silver light in his right eye blazed, and a flame even hotter than azure fire erupted from within his body! The Flame Demon Guard's spear was instantly vaporized upon contact with this flame, and the aftershock sent the guards flying several meters!