"Release us!"

"Let us go!"

Clang! Li Kun and Xia Ping rattled the chains of their shackles against the bars and howled in protest. During the last few days, they had grown increasingly restless but could only vent their frustration in such a crude manner.

Several days passed while Mu Chen and his friends were in confinement. During these days, the jailor had only visited them a few times to provide them meals and water.

Li Kun and Xia Ping had been making noise for over an hour. Their throats had turned hoarse from all the shouting, but they persisted.

It was at this time that the jailor appeared in front of their cell. "Stop yelling! No one will hear your cries here." He mocked as he stood across the bars.

"You!" Li Kun grasped at the jailor's figure, trying to grab him, but the man retreated a few steps. Li Kun wasn't even able to touch him. "Damn bastard! How dare you trap us here? I won't let you go!" Li Kun roared. His face was dark and a bit gloomy. These few days they were provided with meals but weren't allowed the luxury of bathing. The interior of the cell was dirty, while the air was hot due to poor ventilation. Grime had accumulated on his clothes and face. Even his hair which was usually spiky had become flat.

Next to him, Xia Ping's appearance wasn't any better. His usually bright face had turned dull and crestfallen. "Ah! Brother Li, how come you missed again?" Xia Ping said feeling dejected.

"You guys still have a lot of nerve, eh?" The jailor sneered. "How about I cut off your meals?"

"You've already imprisoned us for days. And now you even dare to starve us?" Li Kun was furious and made a few futile attempts to grab the jailor across the bars. "Don't let me get a hold on you or I will make you suffer."

"Don't worry, you will never get that opportunity." The jailor mocked.

"Isn't it about time you state your purpose?" Mu Chen, who had been sitting silent, stood up. He wasn't in his best appearance either, but his eyes were still sharp as ever. "Tell us, what do you want?"

"Purpose?" The jailor raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"Is it very fun to pretend?" Mu Chen sneered. "Or do you take us as fools?"

"Oh?" The jailor looked a bit surprised and gave Mu Chen a deep look. "How did you figure it out?"

"You arrest us under false charges and throw us into some prison that's not even in use. So many days have passed yet we haven't been called for a hearing." Mu Chen scoffed. "Anyone with a brain can tell there is a ghost."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

The jailor hadn't spoken, the sound of someone clapping attracted everyone's attention.

A tall and thin man in white robes walked over. He wore a silver mask.

Seeing the man approach, the jailor lowered his gaze and withdrew a few steps back, and greeted him. "Sir is here!"

The man in the silver mask nodded at the jailor and turned his head towards Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping.

"I like dealing with smart people." The man gave each of them a look. Then he looked again at Mu Chen. "You must be their leader."

"I am not their leader, we are friends." Mu Chen looked straight at the masked man, trying to see if he could find anything unique about this person. But aside from his white hair, there was nothing worth mentioning.

"Friends? Well, it doesn't matter." The masked man waved his hand. "That's not what I came here for."

"Who are you? What do you want?" Mu Chen asked.

"Who am I or what I want―that's not important." The masked man shook his head and looked straight at Mu Chen. "What's important is, what you guys want..."

"Your meaning?" Mu Chen asked.

"Do you guys wish to regain your freedom?" The masked man asked. "Or do you wish to spend the rest of your life inside this prison?"

Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping became tense and they glared at the masked man.

Seeing Mu Chen and his friends remain silent, the jailor couldn't hold back and shouted. "Hey, Sir asked you a question. Did you guys become mute?"

Mu Chen and others ignored the jailor and continued to look at the masked man. In their opinion, a question like that didn't even need to be answered.

"On one hand is a life full of endless pursuits and dreams." The masked man didn't take their silence to heart. "On the other hand, it's a life of solitude and darkness. Who knows, maybe you won't even get to see the sun for the rest of your lives…"

"How can you let us go?" Li Kun asked, "Do you want money? We can―"

"Do I look like someone who lacks money?" the masked said in disdain.

Mu Chen and Li Kun exchanged glances, confirming their doubts and their hearts became heavy. Things were indeed not simple as some ransom.

"If not money, what do you want from us?" Mu Chen asked with a heavy voice.

"I see you guys are talented. To have been selected to come here, you must be rather good among your peers…"

"Come to the point," Mu Chen asked, impatient.

"Bold!" The jailor shouted, pointing at Mu Chen. "How dare you talk to Sir like that?"

The masked man waved his hand, shutting up the jailor. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Mu Chen. "You see, I'm recently short of manpower." Although Mu Chen interrupting his little speech made him a bit unhappy, he was patient. "I want you guys to complete a small task for me."

"A task?" Mu Chen and Li Kun's eyebrows jumped. "What kind of task?" They didn't believe that this guy lacked manpower. So this task must have some special requirements.

"Don't be nervous." The masked man said, "It's something within your capability."

"So what if it's within our capability?" Li Kun sneered. "Just because you say so, we have to do whatever you ask?"

"Bastards! Mind your mouth!" The jailor shouted. "If you keep disrespecting Sir like that, I won't let you off!"

"Someone who is even afraid to show his face..." Mu Chen mocked, "Do we need to treat such a person with respect?"

The jailor was angry and moved forward. "Sir, please allow me to teach these guys a lesson."

"Hmph! If you have the guts, release us! We will see who teaches who a lesson." Li Kun snorted, looking at the jailor in provocation.

"Come on if you dare! I will feed you to my beasts!" Xia Ping egged on.

The jailor was furious and about to make a move.

"Enough!" The masked man growled and his aura surged. Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping felt that their bodies were covered in invisible pressure, making it difficult for them to breathe. Under the masked man's suppression, Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping gasped for breath and their faces turned pale. Dividing Earth Realm?

Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping were startled and exchanged looks with each other. The masked man was an expert who was several realms above them. Even if Li Kun and Xia Ping combined their strength, they couldn't beat an expert in this realm. Such an expert was already qualified to be an Elder in their city. If he was at the peak of Dividing Earth Realm, he could establish his own sect. But such an expert was just a butler of a noble?

"You guys are so bold because you think I don't dare to torture or kill you." the masked man said.

"Do...you?" Li Kun gasped. Even though he was under tremendous pressure, Li Kun wasn't fazed and the mocking tone in his voice was evident.

"I know you guys must have treasures received from your sects and families. But I am sorry to say, you are too confident in those gimmicks." The masked man sneered at them, his tone full of irony. But he withdrew his aura letting the three of them relax. "At most, it makes killing you guys just a bit troublesome. Your cultivation base is already sealed, so I can just starve you guys to death and your elders back home won't even know how you died."

Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping were shocked on hearing the masked man's words. They hadn't thought of this.

Indeed, as the heirs of their respective sects, Li Kun and Xia Ping had several restrictions placed on them. Once they died, the elders would be alerted of the conditions surrounding their death allowing them to track the murderer. But the masked man's words had made it obvious this method had a loophole. Realizing this, Mu Chen, Li Kun, and Xia Ping's faces turned pale.

"I know you guys are a bit unwilling because I had you locked up." The masked man sighed. "Believe me, if possible, I don't want to resort to such tactics either. But time is of essence, I don't have much choice." The masked man spread his palms showing his helplessness. "Of course, you can choose to refuse. But if you refuse, there is only one end." His voice was calm and there were no fluctuations in tone, yet the threat in those words was more real than the oppressive aura they had felt before.

"So you see, your only choice is to accept my condition." The masked man looked at them. "Of course, I won't have you work for nothing. As long as you complete the task I've arranged for you, I will reward you generously. Whether it's precious pills or cultivation techniques, I can give it to you." The masked man paused, then said, "I will give you some time to think. When I come back, I want to hear your decision...choose wisely." With those words, the masked man turned around and left.

The jailor glared at them for a while, then hurried behind the masked man, leaving the three of them in the cellar.

"Brother Chen, what now?" Li Kun whispered.

"T-that man," Xia Ping stuttered, "h-he is too strong."

After knowing the cultivation level of their opponent, Li Kun, and Xia Ping had lost all hope.

"The situation is indeed more difficult than I imagined." Mu Chen's face was solemn. In front of strong strength, whatever tricks they could pull off had limited effect.

"Let's escape now," Li Kun said.

Mu Chen shook his head. "We already lost the best chance to escape. We can't be sure if that man has gone away or is keeping watch." Mu Chen pricked up his ears, trying to see if he could eavesdrop once more. But the jailor had shut the door this time, making his attempt fruitless.

"How about...we agree on the surface, then take a chance to escape?" Xia Ping suggested.

"You think it would be that simple?" Mu Chen sighed. "It's my fault. We should've escaped earlier." He regretted his decision. He wanted to find the true purpose of the enemy, and perhaps even identify the mastermind. But he misplaced the situation―they were not in Falling Stones City. Now, they still had no idea about the identity of the mastermind and the chances of escape had instead dwindled.

"Brother Chen, is there no other choice other than to agree to their terms?" Li Kun was unwilling.

"Let me think." Mu Chen frowned and fell into contemplation. His original plan was quite simple. After they found out the true purpose of the enemy, he would destroy the shackles on them by using his sword intent. The three of them could then take out the jailor and his accomplice by surprise, grab their stuff, and take refuge inside the Su Family. But the appearance of a Dividing realm powerhouse threw a wrench into his plan. Was there really no way out?

Mu Chen began to walk to and fro in the cell. The chains on his hands rattled as he moved.

"Hmph! That old man. Bullying us because he is so strong." Xia Ping shook his fist. "If not for his cultivation, anyone can pummel him to the ground…"

"Then wouldn't we be the same as him?" Li Kun chuckled with a sour mood.

Mu Chen, who was walking, stopped. His eyes fell on the chains and he was inspired. "Li Kun, how good are your formation skills?"