Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 4032: Heading To The Prison

High Elder Palm Saber said nothing and merely remembered the faces of those that seemed to be acting a bit strange.

The nervous individuals themselves had no idea they were being intentionally observed. Still, Zhenyu’s sudden appearance had placed everyone on edge, and anyone carrying secrets had even more reason to worry. None dared to leave while the Wild Peak elders stood nearby.

Meanwhile, Zhenyu and Daoist Bone Ruler continued deeper into the Law Division. They passed through several administrative sections before reaching a heavily fortified compound surrounded by high stone walls.

Arrays covered nearly every surface, and guards stood at carefully positioned intervals. The moment Daoist Bone Ruler approached, the guards immediately bowed and opened the way.

"Division Head!"

Daoist Bone Ruler gave a small nod. "Open the inner prison."

The guards briefly glanced toward Zhenyu, though none questioned the order. With the Head of the Law Division personally leading him, Lin Mu encountered no obstacles. Several gates opened one after another.

Some required jade tokens while others required Daoist Bone Ruler to personally send his Immortal Qi into the control formations. The deeper they traveled, the stronger the arrays became and eventually, the architecture changed as well.

The ordinary prison cells disappeared and were replaced by isolated chambers separated by thick stone corridors. Each section had its own independent formations, allowing the Law Division to contain prisoners according to their cultivation methods and abilities.

"This section is reserved for elders and other high cultivation prisoners," Daoist Bone Ruler explained and Zhenyu hummed.

He could already sense something unusual ahead. The moment they crossed through another formation barrier, Lin Mu felt it properly. His vitality reacted first.

It was subtle, especially considering the strength of his Burdenless Dominator Physique as well as his cultivation itself, but there was no mistaking the sensation. An invisible force was attempting to weigh upon his flesh and suppress the natural circulation of vitality within his body.

Lin Mu immediately examined the formations. Several unusual runes had been integrated into the walls and floor. They carried an energy that felt distinctly unpleasant.

"Curse Arrays," Zhenyu uttered and Daoist Bone Ruler’s shoulders stiffened.

Zhenyu looked around with apparent interest. "Using Curse Arrays to suppress a body cultivator’s vitality. Quite an interesting addition you’ve made in the time I’ve been gone."

Daoist Bone Ruler felt a chill.

"It was made far before my time, Senior," he quickly replied.

The answer came so quickly that Lin Mu nearly laughed. Daoist Bone Ruler had immediately thrown his predecessors under the carriage. He didn’t even attempt to justify the formations as necessary security measures.

After everything that had happened today, the Law Division Head had evidently learned that explaining the necessity of things to Zhenyu Mengli could easily invite another demonstration.

Zhenyu merely hummed. "Is that so?"

"Indeed, Senior." Daoist Bone Ruler insisted and they continued onward.

Lin Mu’s attention moved toward the cells. There were several prisoners here and every single one was a body cultivator.

Some sat silently in meditation while others rested against the walls. A few turned toward Zhenyu and Daoist Bone Ruler when they passed. Despite the suppressive Curse Arrays, Lin Mu could tell these people were powerful.

Several had bodies that looked almost carved from stone.

One enormous man had arms thicker than an ordinary person’s torso. Another cultivator looked relatively thin, though Lin Mu could sense astonishing density hidden beneath his flesh.

These weren’t ordinary criminals either. Anyone weak enough to be restrained through conventional formations wouldn’t need to be imprisoned here. A few prisoners recognized Daoist Bone Ruler and immediately lowered their gazes.

A few others though appeared entirely unconcerned.

Lin Mu ignored them as they weren’t members of the Wild Peak, and he had no reason to interfere with their punishments. His objective was farther ahead. They eventually reached a separate corridor where the suppressive effect became considerably stronger.

Daoist Bone Ruler stopped before the final cell. "High Elder Shatter Peak is here."

Lin Mu looked through the formation barrier and then his eyebrows rose. High Elder Shatter Peak didn’t look like someone suffering through imprisonment.

He was exercising.

The massive man was upside down with his entire body balanced upon the pinky finger of one hand. His legs were perfectly straight above him while his other arm rested against his back.

He slowly lowered himself and his head stopped barely an inch from the floor. Then he pushed upward and all of that weight rested upon a single pinky finger. He repeated the movement without stopping.

Daoist Bone Ruler showed no reaction as he had evidently seen this before. Besides, this was a Wild Peak cultivator. Finding one exercising inside a prison specifically designed to suppress body cultivators was probably the least surprising thing imaginable.

High Elder Shatter Peak noticed them and his eyes shifted toward the entrance while his body remained perfectly balanced upside down.

"Oh?" He performed another push-up. "Daoist Bone Ruler himself graces me with his presence?"

His gaze moved toward Zhenyu and High Elder Shatter Peak examined him carefully.

"And who did you bring with you?" He lowered himself again. "I’ve never seen this elder before." He rose upon his pinky. "Is he some reclusive elder from the Sect’s Main Hall who’s come to judge me?"

Daoist Bone Ruler’s expression tightened slightly. High Elder Shatter Peak’s tone carried the same defiance he had maintained since being imprisoned. Usually, Daoist Bone Ruler could simply ignore it.

But today was different as he had no idea how Zhenyu would react. Fortunately, Zhenyu chuckled. His eyes remained upon Shatter Peak as Lin Mu examined what the High Elder was actually doing.

At first, it looked like simple physical training. Then Lin Mu noticed the flow of Immortal Essence.

The Curse Arrays suppressed Shatter Peak’s vitality and forced his body into a weakened state. Instead of resisting that suppression constantly, the High Elder was deliberately using it.

His Immortal Essence circulated through compressed pathways while his physical exercises forced his body to work under the additional burden.

Lin Mu understood almost immediately.

"Taking advantage of the Curse Array suppressing your vitality to train your body while further compressing your Immortal Essence," Zhenyu said.

High Elder Shatter Peak stopped and for the first time since their arrival, his expression changed.

Zhenyu smiled. "Good work, Junior."