Chapter 3314 - A Pitiful Woman

Chapter 3314: A Pitiful Woman

This was not the first Duan Ling Tian had heard of the Life or Death Platform. He knew before he came here that the platform was highly conducive to comprehending the law of death. After listening to the old man speak about the Life or Death Platform again, he was eager to explore the platform.

"None of the prodigious disciples who signed up to be wardens in the Thousand Chains Prison were here for the Celestial Crystals. All of them were here to comprehend the law of death on the Life or Death Platform," the old man said, "Each warden is only given a year to comprehend the law of death on the Life or Death Platform, similar to the time they're on duty. If they want to comprehend the law of death again on the platform, they'll have to sign up for another year of service in the Thousand Chains Prison. There are some prodigious disciples who work continuously for a few years before comprehending the law of death all at once on the platform."

After saying that, the elder looked at Duan Ling Tian and Huan'er before he added, "However, an exception will be made for both of you. You're free to go to the Life or Death Platform whenever you want and to stay for as long as you need since you're Head Warden Xu's junior."

A hint of envy could be seen in the old man's voice when he spoke. If he wanted to comprehend the law of death on the Life or Death Platform, he would have to contribute accordingly before being allowed to do so.

"Since Head Warden Xu is also the Pavilion Master of the Life or Death Pavilion, she has ordered her subordinates in the pavilion to allow her juniors to have free access to the platform. Naturally, this means only Xu Lang's prodigious disciples have such privilege in the Heavenly Pool Palace," the old man explained.

'Not only is Eldest Senior Sister the Head Warden of the Thousand Chains Prison, but she's also the Pavilion Master of the Life or Death Pavilion?' Upon hearing these words, Duan Ling Tian felt there were still many things he did not know about his Eldest Senior Sister. It seemed like what he had learned so far was just the tip of the iceberg.

As Duan Ling Tian continued following the old man, he asked curiously, "How many Head Wardens are there in the Thousand Chains Prison?"

"There are three Head Wardens in the Thousand Chains Prison. They're in charge of the Internal Affairs Pavilion, the Life or Death Pavilion, and the Purgatory Pavilion respectively," the old man replied.

"The Purgatory Pavilion?" Duan Ling Tian's interest was piqued. He had learned that the Internal Affairs Pavilion managed the Thousand Chains Prison, and the Life or Death Pavilion was where prisoners were executed, and it was also where the Life or Death Platform where one could comprehend the law of death was located. He had yet to hear about the Purgatory Pavilion.

"The Purgatory Pavilion is also known as the Punishment Pavilion. Apart from those on death row, it deals with the punishment of the other prisoners. As you already know, those on death row are sent to the Life or Death Pavilion," the old man replied. After a brief pause, he looked at Duan Ling Tian and solemnly said, "The Pavilion Master of the Internal Affairs Pavilion has a rather good relationship with Head Warden Xu. However, the Pavilion Master of the Purgatory Pavilion and Head Warden Xu are bad terms. If it's possible, try to avoid the Pavilion Master of the Purgatory Pavilion. He's certain to give you a hard time. After all, Head Warden Xu isn't around now. If she were around, he wouldn't act so recklessly."

Duan Ling Tian cocked an eyebrow and asked, "How strong is he?"

"His strength is almost comparable to a titled Celestial Emperor," the old man replied.

"Almost comparable to a titled Celestial Emperor?" Duan Ling Tian was stunned. When he regained his senses, he asked, "Elder, do you know the strength of my Eldest Senior Sister?"

"It seems like her strength is comparable to a titled Celestial Emperor as well…"

Upon hearing the reply, Duan Ling Tian realized the people of the Thousand Chains Prison seemed to be unaware of his Eldest Senior Sister's true strength. He did not find it surprising. After all, as her juniors, it was natural that they understood their Eldest Senior Sister's strength more than outsiders.

After a while, Duan Ling Tian asked as his eyes glinted coldly, "Elder Xie, if the Pavilion Master of the Purgatory Pavilion Master comes looking for trouble, will there be a problem if I retaliate?"

The old man, Elder Xie, was taken aback by Duan Ling Tian's question. "D-Duan Ling Tian… His strength is comparable to a titled Celestial Emperor, a-are you confident you're able to stand against someone like that? In the Heavenly Pool Palace, there isn't anyone below the stage of a titled Celestial Emperor who's capable of defeating him. At most, the fight would end in a draw."

Duan Ling Tian replied with a faint smile on his face, "I'm just asking. There's no other meaning to the question"

"You can naturally retaliate if he attacks you, but he'll definitely accuse you of disrespecting your superior. He won't be able to kill you, but he can bring you to the Purgatory Pavilion to punish you," the old man said as he shook his head.

Duan Ling Tian's eyes narrowed imperceptibly as he asked, "What if he's not a match for me?"

The old man replied, "That… Well, if he's no match for you, he won't dare to provoke you in the first place. However, if he does, if you retaliate, the Heavenly Pool Palace will let the matter slide as long as you don't kill him."

"I see." Duan Ling Tian nodded before he added, "Elder Xie, you can lead us to the prison now."

In Duan Ling Tian's opinion, the prison was more important than the Pavilion Master of the Purgatory Pavilion Master and the Life or Death Platform. After all, the only reason he and Huan'er joined the Heavenly Pool Palace was to rescue her parents. How could visiting the prison not be important when they had all but confirmed Huan'er's father was imprisoned in the Thousand Chains Prison? Although they had yet to confirm Huan'er's mother's whereabouts, it was likely that she was also imprisoned in the Thousand Chains Prison.

Although Huan'er possessed her mother's Soul Pearl, her mother did not possess her Soul Pearl. Therefore, even if they could communicate through Soul Pearls, it was impossible for Huan'er to contact her mother. She had obtained her mother's Soul Pearl from the Clan Leader of the Zhang clan in the Phantom Fox Clan when they returned to the Overarching Spirit Heaven with the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect's Zhuge siblings.

Duan Ling Tian asked curiously, "Elder Xie… Can we communicate using Soul Pearls in the Thousand Chains Prison?"

The old man shook his head. "No. There's a Formation that restricts the use of Soul Pearls in the Thousand Chains Prison… Naturally, this is to prevent prisoners from colluding with outsiders to escape."

After listening to the old man's words, Duan Ling Tian sent a Voice Transmission to Huan'er. "If your mother is here, this is probably the reason why you've not received any replies from your mother despite sending so many messages through the Soul Pearl."

Following that, Duan Ling Tian looked at the old man and asked, "Elder Xie, one of my senior brothers told me that someone from the Solitary Destructive Heaven's Heavenly Sword Mountain is imprisoned in our Heavenly Pool Palace's Thousand Chains Prison for breaking a marriage alliance. Is it true?"

"You mean the proud prodigy from the Heavenly Sword Mountain? He's rather pitiful," the old man shook his head and said with a sigh, "By right, it's a blessing that he's able to marry a female prodigy from our Heavenly Pool Palace… However, he broke the marriage alliance because of another woman. How could the Palace Master not be furious? Fortunately, the Heavenly Sword Mountain did not hesitate to hand him over to our Heavenly Pool Palace. Before our Palace Master even went to the Heavenly Sword Mountain to demand an explanation, they took the initiative to send the prodigy to our Heavenly Pool Palace."

"Is he still imprisoned here?" Duan Ling Tian asked.

"Yes." The old man nodded. "If you're curious about him, I can bring you to meet him. He's truly worthy of being called the proud prodigy of the Heavenly Sword Mountain. Even after being imprisoned here, he's fully focused on his cultivation. Currently, his strength is comparable to a titled Celestial Emperor. When the Pavilion Master of the Purgatory Pavilion challenged him to a duel recently, their duel ended in a draw."

Upon hearing these words, Duan Ling Tian and Huan'er's eyes lit up immediately.

"Alright. I'm curious about the person who refused the marriage to the Palace Master's daughter…" Duan Ling Tian said.

On the other hand, Huan'er was overwhelmed by her emotions when she thought that she would finally be able to meet her father.

Duan Ling Tian continued to ask, "Elder Xie, do you know the woman who caused the proud prodigy of the Heavenly Sword Mountain to reject the Palace Master's daughter?"

"I do. That woman is imprisoned here as well," the old man nodded as he said, "She's not human but a Celestial Beast… To be precise, she's a Phantom Fox. The Palace Master had ordered for them to be jailed next to each other. They can only see each other but are unable to be together. Every once in a while, the woman would be tortured as well as a form of punishment for the proud prodigy. The woman is mostly unconscious. Whenever she regains consciousness, she'd be torture again." The old man paused briefly before he continued to say with a sigh, "In fact, she's rather pitiful. She didn't commit any crime but was tortured only because she fell in love with the wrong man."

Duan Ling Tian's expression changed slightly upon hearing the old man's words.

On the other hand, Huan'er trembled as tears welled up in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the old man was startled by the duo's reactions, but he did not seem suspicious. He looked at Huan'er and said with a smile, "Miss Huan'er is really kind to sympathize with that pitiful woman…"