novelraw Chapter 131 : The Cause of All Fruits, the Crimson Demon of Myriad Tribulations
Chapter 131 : The Cause of All Fruits, the Crimson Demon of Myriad Tribulations
Chapter 131: The Cause of All Fruits, the Crimson Demon of Myriad Tribulations
Old Ba once said that the Black Prison was born from a seed derived from the Dao of a powerful individual’s split-off path.
This led Jiang Yan to always assume that the Black Prison resembled a tree, or was a specially designed underground prison.
It was only upon seeing it that he realized—it was actually a colossal inverted mountain.
Constructed entirely from mysterious black stone, it displayed a triple-helix structure. The top was the widest, and the bottom the narrowest. It was divided into four layers, constantly rotating and shifting positions like a Rubik's Cube.
On the second and third layers, one could vaguely make out scenes of seas of fire and iron mountains.
As for the final layer, it was a pitch-black abyss, rooted in the reflection of Hangzhou, capable of linking to the present world when necessary.
“Gulu!”
The Little Celestial Ghost transmitted a spiritual wave, indicating that the space within the Black Prison was exceedingly bizarre, with constantly shifting coordinates.
Once inside, it would be extremely difficult to break out from within.
However, the Little Celestial Ghost stated that by forcefully memorizing and analyzing the pattern using the Celestial Ghost Treasured Mirror, it could break through the first three layers of the Black Prison.
But the fourth layer was beyond its capabilities.
At this point, it appeared a little disheartened.
It still needed to work harder to help its master avoid more dangers.
“You're already doing great. Besides, I’m here to be the Deputy Warden, not to be imprisoned.”
Jiang Yan smiled, though his heart was filled with relief.
The fact that the Little Celestial Ghost had confidence in escaping the first three layers meant that if it advanced to the Law Seed stage, it might even crack the fourth layer of the Black Prison.
That was a testament to how terrifying its talent was.
In the future, when facing equivalent dangers, it could offer countermeasures.
Still, Jiang Yan had one question: “Do all the Black Prisons grown from the seed look like this?”
Zhao Yinman answered, “Black Prisons are classified by the number of layers. They are born with three layers, each representing a type of punishment. Every added layer expands the size exponentially. A four-layer prison can detain Ancient Talisman-level individuals, five layers can hold Heavenly Officials. The main Black Prison at the national headquarters reportedly has six and a half layers.”
Six and a half layers?
Jiang Yan was puzzled—what was that half layer used for?
Top-tier Saints? Or Lords of the Nation?
As they spoke, the Black Prison sensed movement and slowly approached, its vast aura pressing down upon them.
“Please present your documents!”
The voice didn’t come from a member of the Bureau of Historical Revision—but from the Black Prison itself.
A living prison!
After verifying their identification, the voice of the Black Prison sounded again: “Authority confirmed. Appearance, iris, soul aura recorded. Karmic anchoring complete…”
Unlike the refined and gentle Taisui of the Book Mountain, the Black Prison was more like an emotionless program.
Rigorous and rigid.
But fitting for a prison.
After the authentication, Jiang Yan established a mysterious connection with the Black Prison, granting him preliminary control over its first three layers. If he wasn't far from it, he could summon the Black Prison to suppress enemies.
As for the fourth layer—that was under the Warden's authority.
With a thought, Jiang Yan opened the gate to the first layer.
Upon entering, numerous prison guards were already waiting and greeted him:
“Welcome, Deputy Warden Jiang!”
At the forefront stood a middle-aged man wearing glasses. His clothes were neat, his hair meticulously combed, and he wore white gloves. He stepped forward and said:
“Greetings, Warden Jiang. I am Guan Dao, the Prison Supervisor of the Black Prison. I’m in charge of staffing and arrangements for the first three layers. I report directly to you.”
Jiang Yan shook his hand and said, “Hello, Supervisor Guan. What about the other wardens?”
“The Chief Warden is currently in closed-door cultivation on the fourth layer and is expected to emerge mid-next month. The other deputy wardens are busy with their own tasks or exploring the Diseased Domain.
The Black Prison operates autonomously, so there’s no need to report daily. As Deputy Warden, you only need to check in four times a month.”
Guan Dao explained further: “Your duties are not extensive—mainly understanding the Black Prison’s penal codes and suppressing troublemakers now and then.”
Jiang Yan nodded. The higher-ups didn’t assign him to the Black Prison to act as a jailer, but to study the penal system in depth—so he wouldn’t stray from the right path in the future.
And also to research the methods and abilities of the dark forces.
The role came with extra pay. As long as he didn’t abuse prisoners or cause major incidents, whether he could extract benefits depended on his own skill.
It was a welfare post, in a sense.
“Are these the prisoners from the Ou Tide Secret Society? Warden Jiang truly is a genius. As the chief talent of Jiangnan, you solved numerous cases upon assuming office. The number of prisoners you brought in one day equals our entire month’s effort. I’m thoroughly impressed.”
Guan Dao looked at the prisoners in the hands of the Silver Bright King, admiration in his expression. He wasn’t flattering—his sincerity made the praise even more impactful.
“Just lucky,” Jiang Yan replied modestly.
“Luck is also part of strength. Without great fortune, one can’t go far.”
Guan Dao shook his head, then waved his hand. The other prison guards surged forward to place different grades of Black Prison shackles on the prisoners.
“Hurry up! Line up!”
“Dragging your feet? Want a beating?”
“A bunch of traitorous scum, stand still!”
“……”
The prison guards were harsh—perhaps rightly so, as criminals didn’t deserve kindness.
What was unexpected, however, was that the prisoners, faced with such fierce attitudes, burst into tears—some even looked… relieved? Enjoying it?
It left the guards baffled!
What the hell had the Ou Tide Secret Society done to these people?
Jiang Yan looked around and observed that the first layer of the Black Prison consisted of multiple prisons forming a Rubik’s Cube-like space, constantly shifting. He asked curiously:
“How will they be processed?”
“These people will first be sent to the Mirror of Sins to assess the magnitude of their guilt. Then they’ll be interrogated. Based on their guilt score, they’ll be placed into different levels of imprisonment.”
Guan Dao clapped his hands. With a series of “ka ka ka” sounds, the surrounding space began to rotate, with numerous individual prison cells shifting positions.
One could see many prisoners confined within, treated like cargo to be browsed at will.
Having committed crimes, they had already been stripped of human rights.
Still, the prison conditions were decent. Each prisoner had their own cell; female prisoners even had private toilets—though no showers.
One could only wonder… if that was Guan Dao’s doing.
Jiang Yan also spotted many familiar faces—like the Frog Monk and the Onmyoji from Divine Sakura Bio, and even…
Kurokawa Seki.
At this moment, she was dressed in a white prison uniform. Her black hair draped down her waist, but the once-proud and triumphant look on her delicate face had long disappeared—only blank indifference remained.
Those beautiful black eyes had also lost their shine. She knelt by the corner of her bed, seemingly lost in thought.
As if sensing a gaze upon her, she looked up. Through the narrow slit of the prison door, she saw a familiar figure, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
Jiang Yan!
He was now wearing a Martial Scholar’s Robe, looking both handsome and imposing. And the one they used to call the cold-faced judge, Guan Dao, was respectfully following by his side, explaining something.
From his demeanor, it didn’t look like a tour.
It looked more like…
A subordinate reporting to a superior.
“Warden Jiang, the first layer is a Rubik’s Cube space, imprisoning transcendents below the Law Seed stage who haven’t committed major crimes. Their sentences are all under ten years. Every three days, they experience nightmare invasions.
During the day, they must earn points by crafting components for various transcendent tools and undergo legal education. Once a month, they can even participate in a group entertainment event to help them reform. Those who perform well may receive sentence reductions—but only with a deputy warden’s signature.”
At that moment, the supposedly soundproof prison cell echoed with Guan Dao’s voice, and Kurokawa Seki revealed an expression of disbelief.
Impossible!?
Guan Dao was a Law Seed stage powerhouse, and even he was merely a prison supervisor.
What right did Jiang Yan have to be a warden!?
Even if it was just a deputy position, it should require at least peak Law Seed stage, or even pseudo-Ancient Talisman level!
Though she had entered the Black Prison, she’d been keeping track of time. It had been less than two months—what on earth had happened outside?
Could it be that the Black Prison had evolved, altering the flow of time?
In truth, Kurokawa Seki’s feelings toward Jiang Yan were exceedingly complex. If not for him, she wouldn’t have ended up in this state.
Though the root cause was her father using her as bait, and that idiot Kurokawa Ryuuji.
Still, she harbored a measure of resentment in her heart. After all—
The first person to strike her was Jiang Yan.
During this time, she often dreamed of making him her pet, trampling him underfoot at every moment.
Once she tired of him, she’d beat him up and toss him aside, just to watch him pathetically beg her for mercy.
But at the crucial moment in each dream, she would awaken—surrounded by the cold walls of her prison.
Her father had fled into the Diseased Domain—life or death unknown. The Kurokawa Family was on the verge of destruction. She herself had become a prisoner.
In contrast, he had become a man she could only look up to.
At this moment, the uncertainty of the future, the vast fall in status… cast a heavy shadow over her heart.
Wait!
If he had become a warden, then perhaps he could reduce her sentence.
As long as she could leave this wretched place, she was willing to bow her head to him—even...
Become his pet.
If she could gain his protection, maybe she could survive.
At least, among all men, this one was somewhat pleasing to the eye. And his abilities were outstanding.
But the moment she imagined kneeling at his feet, becoming his mat, enduring his whip, Kurokawa Seki trembled all over.
She was afraid…
Not afraid of that future itself—
But afraid that merely thinking about such a scenario made her subconsciously press her legs together, the air thickening with humidity, and her eyes mist over.
“Kurokawa Seki, you’re only enduring this for now. Everything is for the sake of continuing the Kurokawa bloodline—for finding Father, and asking why he looked down on you…”
Kurokawa Seki continuously consoled herself.
When she saw Jiang Yan’s gaze sweeping toward her, she forced a twisted and fawning smile, unsure where to place her hands. Her pale toes curled tightly, revealing her fluster.
Like a proud little dog in a pet shop, desperate to attract a buyer's attention—but too proud to act freely.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Yan’s gaze passed over her without even a pause, shifting straight to another direction.
In that instant, Kurokawa Seki’s conflicted expression froze completely.
Guan Dao noticed this and his eyes flickered slightly.
Ka ka ka!
The cube rotated, shifting the prison that held the Kurokawa Family back into the depths.
Inside the cell, Kurokawa Seki, staring at the darkening prison around her, realized with certainty—
Jiang Yan had seen her!
But in his eyes, she was no different than the other prisoners—unworthy even of a moment’s pause.
In that instant, Kurokawa Seki’s heart was engulfed by an indescribable sense of humiliation.
Why!?
He was the one who ruined her—yet even after she’d cast aside her pride, he wouldn’t spare her a glance.
She could accept being hated by Jiang Yan, being humiliated.
But not being ignored like a roadside weed.
The crushing sense of loss dragged her into a bottomless abyss—a complete despair.
In that moment, she craved power. She wanted to live. She wanted to find her father and ask why he treated her like a pawn.
And...
She wanted to find Jiang Yan—and see the shock in his eyes!
A swirl of emotions surged within her—but in the face of reality, it all felt laughable.
Right now, she was just a pitiful prisoner.
“What a delicious blend of resentment and unwillingness.”
A mysterious voice echoed in her heart, startling Kurokawa Seki. She cried out in alarm:
“Who are you!?”
How could there be someone else in this prison?
In the next instant, the world before Kurokawa Seki’s eyes transformed. A colossal black-and-red embryo slowly floated above the chaos, from which flowed a long river of tribulation energy, vanishing into the void, linking billions of worlds.
It was both the beginning and the end of immeasurable calamities—an ultimate catastrophe beyond time.
It had bestowed endless disasters upon the heavens.
That mysterious voice sounded again, chuckling softly:
“My original name was buried by time long ago. Over the years, I’ve had many names—False Sovereign, Dream Illusion Mirage, Lord of the Delusional Domain, Evil of the Highest Truth, Source of Grief, the Cause of All Fruits. And now, only one name remains…”
“The Chronicle of Myriad Tribulations—Crimson Demon!”