Chapter 108: The Breaking of the Demon-Sealing Prison [Please subscribe, please vote]

North Island Prison.

Built atop a mountain at the center of the northern island of Feiyuan Island.

Surrounded on all sides by dense, primeval jungle.

The sole official road leading into North Island Prison was flanked by enormous stone steles, each carved with mysterious runes that emitted an eerie blue glow.

These steles were made from a rare material known as sulfur fluorite, which absorbed sunlight during the day and released it at night.

Sunlight suppresses the demonic aura.

The scent and radiance emitted by sulfur fluorite could also repel monstrous beasts, keeping them far from the official road.

Such a wondrous stone should have been widely promoted, yet because its scent and glow were harmful to humans, its use was forbidden in society.

People regarded the stone as poisonous.

The afternoon sun shone brightly now; the days of continuous gloomy rain had passed.

A newly constructed railway ran from Zhen Nan City to North Island—trains halted at North Island Station.

Vast quantities of ore from across the island were transported to the station, then hauled back to Bailey City for smelting in steel furnaces.

At this moment, dozens of newly developed steam-powered vehicles were ferrying large groups of prisoners deep into North Island.

Steam vehicles had long existed, but at this stage, they were only fit for hauling.

In terms of comfort and speed, they were no better than horse-drawn carriages.

While adequate for short-distance freight transport, steam vehicles held no clear advantage over horse carriages.

The locomotives had been retrofitted to haul several tons at once without issue.

The convoy of steam vehicles snaked down the official road into the depths of North Island, billowing white steam and pungent smoke from their combustion.

North Island Prison had once been under the jurisdiction of the Demon Suppression Division.

But since the discovery of massive iron, copper, and gold deposits on North Island, the first steam railway had been extended deep into the island.

“The so-called ‘Ghost Den’ is the crystallization of human depravity,” Red Courtyard sighed deeply.

The Huajian Sect was a cult, but its heresy lay in ideological deviation, not in opposition to the imperial court, Wang Qin, or the moral order trusted by the masses.

Seeing North Island Prison, Ma Hong finally grasped the true meaning of evil.

How many people had been dumped into that hellhole for profit?

“If not for the Apostle instructing you to investigate North Island, you might have spent only a little effort over the years to infiltrate the prefecture, smooth relations with the Zhen Nan Navy, and discover that to exploit the mines, those people wrested control of North Island Prison—not to recruit mining slaves, but to acquire blood sacrifices,” Chen Tao said with a smile, unaffected in spirit.

“How much funding does the imperial court allocate to the Zhen Nan Navy? A large portion of Feiyuan Chamber of Commerce’s profits flowed into the Navy, and a smaller share to the Yan family, allies of the Crown Prince faction,” Jia Renyi reined in his usual smile.

“The wardens controlling North Island Prison were once elite members of the Demon Suppression Division. After transferring there, they were bribed by the prefecture and Zhen Nan Navy to join the Warden Division. Besides former Demon Suppression officers, the Warden Division consists of soldiers from the Navy who encountered problems and elite prefecture troops stationed here.”

“Soldiers with problems in the Zhen Nan Navy?” Red Courtyard was stunned.

Your duty is to gather information on Feiyuan Island’s powerful families, so you are naturally familiar with the Navy.

“Soldiers tainted by demonic aura?” Ma Hong inquired.

“They are soldiers corrupted by the demonic aura, but not from Navy sea battles. The Navy lacks a land combat unit. Those responsible for shore landings and boarding fights practiced a weak form of martial cultivation by consuming small amounts of monstrous beast blood and flesh, forming a pure martial blood energy, not demonic blood,” Chen Tao explained with a hearty laugh.

“The Navy’s sea battles have been relentless; elite soldiers rarely die. Training recruits takes time, and rapid training yields inadequate warriors. Thus, the military adopted the use of monstrous beast blood, which contains a small amount of energy beneficial to martial cultivation. However, monstrous beasts are mutated wild animals infected with demonic aura, so their blood and flesh are already contaminated,” Jia Renyi added.

“That’s a mistake. If consumed before reaching the pinnacle of Blood Refining, the blood inside the body hasn’t yet formed. Consuming demonic aura at this stage means the blood itself cannot purify or suppress the demonic aura. Overconsumption before purification causes problems,” Chen Tao glanced at the steam vehicles retreating along the sulfur fluorite road.

“Even Ma Hong is only allowed to consume monstrous beast flesh once reaching the Blood Refining stage, and the beasts’ cultivation must exceed his own, otherwise it is forbidden.”

Red Courtyard snapped back to reality and began discussing Wang Qin.

“However, Wang Qin has not abandoned the use of monstrous beast blood and flesh. Through alchemy, the demonic aura is refined and eliminated, extracting the essence of the beast’s blood to create Essence Blood Pills.”

This was the origin of the Essence Blood Pill.

Without Red Courtyard’s introduction, Chen Tao and Jia Renyi might not have known.

“Alchemy isn’t about seizing the essence of heaven and earth. Pills at the Divine Refining level and above require specially trained alchemists. But crafting lower-level pills demands top-tier alchemists.”

“Let’s begin, Old Jia. We’ll rescue them, arrange for their escape, and release the prisoners of North Island Prison under your and Old Chen’s watch.”

Red Courtyard took command.

Chen Tao and Jia Renyi had no objections.

As a discarded disciple of the Huajian Sect, Red Courtyard’s methods were extremely cunning; any one of them might struggle against Ma Hong.

“The boat isn’t ready yet. We’ll return to Xiaoyuan, change our names, and live out our days in obscurity,” Ma Hong smiled broadly.

“Tonight will be earth-shattering,” Chen Tao chuckled bitterly.

Red Courtyard’s lips curled into a smirk: “If your Warden discovers the true state of North Island Prison, do you think anyone on Feiyuan Island will sleep peacefully?”

“Based on what you know about Baiwai Feihong’s dealings, I’ll annihilate North Island Prison, utterly destroying that den of sin,” Chen Tao declared, then leapt into the air like a small roc, soaring toward the convoy.

“Your Warden has caused some bloodshed, but hasn’t yet threatened Feiyuan Island’s interests. The recent disputes have been mere squabbles over face. North Island Prison involves profit struggles—after all, it once belonged to the Demon Suppression Division, and the so-called Warden Division are their traitors,” Jia Renyi hurried toward Chen Tao, leaving no time to chat with Red Courtyard.

“The Warden always directs suspicion toward your Daylight Divine Sect.”

Ma Hong spoke casually but harbored little doubt.

The fact that Baiwai Feihong had not continued hunting them likely meant they wanted the eight of them to stir up the situation and expose Feiyuan Island’s secrets.

Only then could Ma Hong deal with them one by one.

To restore the Demon Suppression Division’s renown and privileges, he needed to shatter Feiyuan Island’s heavens without assistance.

Gunshots rang out, screams followed.

But the resistance was brief.

Though only a handful of Bone Refining cultivators guarded the prisoners, they stood no chance against a peak Nascent Soul cultivator.

“Finally found a shred of confidence belonging to your low-tier Nascent Soul,” Chen Tao sighed, wiping his hands with a handkerchief.

There was no need to spill blood when dealing with those escorting the prisoners.

Yet shedding some blood was gratifying.

“That Warden? You can’t compare. Even Wang Qin ranked low on the Hidden Dragon List,” Red Courtyard comforted.

“Facing Baiwai Feihong, that monster, you’re powerless. According to the priest’s assessment of the Azure-Robed Apostle, even I can’t match the top Warden Generals. Against the Central Daoists, we stand no chance. Yet the Flesh God remains at Xiaohai, protected by the Daylight Divine Talisman,” Jia Renyi said as he opened a carriage door to release the prisoners.

“Husband,” a haggard woman flung herself at Jia Renyi.

“Business to attend to. You’ll escort them away,” he said.

A small family and the inn’s staff gathered around Ma Hong.

“Husband, you all...” someone began.

“They should disembark,” Ma Hong said.

One carriage was packed.

Once their family was settled, the subordinates and their families were placed in other carriages.

Chen Tao soon found the rice shop’s people to give instructions.

“About seven-eighths remain. What’s the plan for them?” Ma Hong asked.

Those prisoners had been delivered on behalf of Jia Renyi and Chen Tao’s families.

“We?” Jia Renyi laughed.

“You’re in charge of us,” he said.

He directed his men to drive the steam vehicles off the official road, following a path left by pioneers toward the coast.

“Eight low-level scum, thanks for the rescue. You’ll definitely spill the beans,” one prisoner, shackled and bound, raised a light hand in thanks.

His aura was strong, clearly drugged to suppress combat ability.

“You’re not even wanted by the Demon Suppression Division. Even if they find out, so what?” Chen Tao laughed heartily.

The man shivered.

“Worry not, you’ll be killed,” he said.

“There are no guns, no weapons, no steam vehicles outside. Where they want to go, that’s none of your concern.”

Red Courtyard’s eyes gleamed as he surveyed the two hundred or so prisoners.

Many were familiar faces, old customers of Ma Hong.

“Madam Wang from the Yi Sect?” one prisoner said.

“Indeed, the madam from Yi Sect,” another confirmed.

Red Courtyard showed no reaction.

Recognition was good.

People were in Yi Sect, but anyone daring to use such methods to send a message to Feiyuan Island’s powers knew Red Courtyard’s peak Nascent Soul remained here.

Anyone bold enough to threaten Yi Sect would face its vengeance.

Feiyuan Island was both small and vast.

Few would manage to infiltrate back into the eight small cities.

But once the news spread, they would remember the Daylight Divine Sect destroyed North Island Prison.

The two departed silently.

The closer they approached North Island Prison, the more palpable its horror.

The entire prison was shrouded in demonic aura.

More terrifying was the heavy malevolent energy.

Vital energy entwined with vengeful souls, transforming into vengeful ghosts that clung to the prison.

“These souls have accumulated for years, yet no terrifying ghost king has emerged. That’s odd,” Red Courtyard warned.

“Above North Island Prison are a few suppressed demons. They are feeble, and even the wardens who built the prison struggled to slay them, so they confined us within the Demon Suppression Prison,” Chen Tao explained.

“No wonder the lingering presence is vengeful souls, not true ghosts. The souls of the dead are absorbed by the Demon Suppression Prison, becoming food for the demons,” Red Courtyard was shocked.

“It’s not just souls, but corpses, even living people,” Chen Tao said gravely.

“Is it right to release them?” Red Courtyard softened.

To humanity, demons were a minor enemy of their race.

“That’s a small gift to the Warden. Nothing more fitting,” Chen Tao said, squinting with eyes like slits, piercing the demonic dusk, locking every Warden’s figure in sight.

“Meaningless.

The Warden Division’s chief has even stepped into Nascent Soul. True, your martial foundation is solid, but your cultivation method condenses malevolent energy into a blade—a blade of martial will. That blade is meaningless.”

Chen Tao commented.

“A soul-piercing killing blade,” Red Courtyard’s enthusiasm waned further.

“I’ll leave it to you. The Warden Division deals with our people—try to wound but not kill.”

They were here not just to kill, but to free prisoners and unleash demons.

“Their firepower is weak and poses little difficulty. Forget it, try to pick off some humanoid demon soldiers for the kill,” Chen Tao said gloomily.

“Who dares spy on North Island Prison?” a voice like a ghost crawling from hell pierced the air, malevolent energy soaring.

Vengeful souls scattered in terror, but the demonic aura thickened.

Before anyone could act, a blade began to form, aiming to sever the soul.

“Such meager power,” Ma Hong laughed warmly.

The repressed anger within him burst forth.

“Phantom Demon Minor Technique!”

A fragrance of blossoms filled the air, enveloping North Island Prison.

“Huh?” Chen Tao was slightly surprised.

At this moment, Ma Hong transformed into a celestial figure descending gently upon the prison.

The domain of Phantom Demon Minor Technique covered the area.

“Phantom Demon Minor Technique? That’s Red Courtyard of the Huajian Sect!!!”

The Warden Division chief roared, “The Daylight Divine Sect dares oppose the Zhen Nan Navy?”

“What’s the Zhen Nan Navy? How dare they oppose the Daylight Divine Sect?” Red Courtyard laughed heartily.

The foul, stifling North Island Prison was now shrouded in illusion, trapped in Red Courtyard’s Phantom Demon Minor Technique, transformed into a celestial realm.

“Soul-piercing killing blade, Phantom Demon Minor Technique will shatter you!”

One stroke severed the divine.

As if shattering the illusion, a white crack appeared.

A white shadow tried to escape through the fissure.

“Heavenly Demon Phantom Step!”

Red Courtyard’s form flickered; afterimages blocked the Warden Division chief’s path.

“Die!!”

The chief was an old man clad in a white octopus-patterned robe, wielding a dark red blade.

“Heavenly Demon Seal!”

He formed a seal with his palm, striking out and blasting Red Courtyard away.

“That level? Wearing the Warden’s robe and wielding the Demon Suppression Blade?”

The chief was slammed into a prison building, spitting blood.

Weak!

“Retreating into Nascent Soul, weaker than some low-level Divine Refining Wardens—a waste,” Ma Hong’s face iced over as he swept his sleeve.

A terrifying chill froze the man solid.

In front of Chen Tao, a demon god statue rose slowly.

“Daylight Divine Roar!”

A roar unleashed a terrifying tangible sound wave.

Forty percent of the Warden Division resisted but coughed blood, gravely injured.

Half-demon prison soldiers exploded into blood mist.

The sound wave blasted the prison building off its foundation.

No heavy prisoner escaped injury.

Though shielded from the sound wave by the building, their wounds were fatal.

“Heavenly Demon Seal!!”

Ma Hong struck fiercely from above; the seal smashed through the floor, digging deep beneath the Demon Suppression Prison.

Boom—

The steel-forged Demon Suppression Prison bore the imprint of a giant palm and cracked.

Its surface array of Demon Suppression talismans was shattered.

“Did you scan North Island Prison with your divine sense? Is the relic we seek here?”

“Time’s tight. Let’s retreat.”

Chen Tao smiled faintly and used Daylight Escape Technique to bolt away.

Ma Hong lingered momentarily.

The surviving Wardens struggled to stand.

They gazed at the giant palm imprint and the abyssal hole in the prison’s center, their hearts shattered.

“It’s over—the Demon Suppression Prison is broken!”

The blood sacrifices to demons had allowed the prison’s demons to emanate an aura that scared away distant monstrous beasts.

But the crack released demonic energy like a white beam, bursting through the prison, piercing the heavens.