The most secure job in Dajin

Chapter 458, The Restriction is Broken

A firebird circled in the center of the nine-story tower, its crimson flames cascading down like a waterfall, illuminating the entire tower as if it were daytime.

Wherever the Southern Ming Fire passed, the ghostly aura dissipated and evaporated like snow meeting boiling water. Even the ghostly fires in the corridors and prison cells emitted mournful cries and quickly went out.

However, the black well located at the center of the tower's base was like an abyss that devoured light. Despite the crimson flames falling and burning, the well's mouth was always surrounded by eerie green ghost fire that never went out or dissipated.

Hua Changxi, transformed into the Vermilion Bird, stared intently at the well opening with piercing eyes—there, a withered figure sat cross-legged above the well, as if it had long since become one with the well.

The man was so thin he was practically skin and bones, his ribs were clearly visible, his spine protruded like a broken blade, his hands rested on his knees, and his ten fingers were withered like eagle claws.

His eyes were closed, his face was sunken, his cheekbones were high, his lips were dark purple, and his skin was ashen. Only the faint breath emanating from the tip of his nose proved that he was still alive.

Even more chillingly, nine blood-red chains extended from his body, piercing through his entire body. Each chain was as thick as a child's arm, its surface covered with densely packed restrictive runes, shimmering with a scarlet light.

These chains were not still, but moved slowly like living snakes—one end of the chain pierced through the nine-story prison tower, while the other end plunged deep into the black well.

"Jingsheng..."

Hua Changxi's pupils dilated in shock. Jing Sheng's face and figure hadn't changed much since the first time she saw him.

Qi and blood are the foundation of the physical body. This person has consumed so much that he is on the verge of exhaustion. As a result, more than ten years have passed, and he has not grown at all. In fact, he is even more withered than he was in memory.

The Vermilion Bird Firebird slowly descended, hovering three zhang (approximately 10 meters) from the well opening. The flames subsided, and the human form reappeared.

Hua Changxi was still engulfed in flames. She did not approach Jing Sheng rashly, but instead observed him intently.

Jing Sheng sat suspended above the Ghost Fire Well, clearly in a posture of 'suppression'.

Is he suppressing the will-o'-the-wisp in the well?

Or is there something even more terrifying inside the well?

"Ok?"

Before Hua Changxi could think it through, a sudden change occurred.

The blood-red chain at the end that led deep into the well of ghost fire suddenly tightened, emitting a piercing pulling and dragging sound.

Deep within the well, something enormous seemed to be exerting force, frantically pulling on the chains, trying to drag Jing Sheng into the well.

Jing Sheng's face contorted instantly in agony, his emaciated body trembling violently. His suspended form began to falter, showing signs of falling, as if he might be dragged into the abyss of churning eerie green flames at any moment.

Just then, with a "whoosh," the nine chains that ran through the nine-story prison tower tightened suddenly.

Next, centered around Jing Sheng, the two forces engaged in a silent but fierce tug-of-war.

One end of the Ghost Fire Well seems to want to devour the creature in the well and drag it into eternal damnation; the other end of the Nine-Story Prison Tower, on the other hand, is desperately maintaining the last line of defense, preventing it from falling.

The crimson chains glowed brightly, as if resisting the pulling force from the well.

As the light intensified, Hua Changxi witnessed a scene she could not bear to look at.

Jing Sheng's already dwindling blood and qi were being drained away at a visible rate. His skin became even more ashen, and his bones emitted faint cracking sounds, as if they were about to completely disintegrate at any moment.

Looking at this scene, Hua Changxi felt a tightness in her chest, and even felt somewhat suffocated.

She couldn't understand why Jing Sheng would put himself in such a dangerous situation.

"Bang, bang, bang~"

Hua Changxi unleashed several pieces of Zhurong Stone, setting up a small Qi and Blood Array around Jing Sheng. A warm, crimson light emanated from it, like the rising of the blood sun, gently enveloping the withered man.

Sure enough, the moment the Zhu Rong Stone was laid down, Jing Sheng's chapped lips twitched slightly, instinctively drawing upon the vital energy within it.

Seeing that he was still conscious, Hua Changxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her gaze grew even heavier.

She looked around—

The eerie green flames flickering at the wellhead outlined the grotesque silhouette of this prison in the boundless darkness.

The cells were like a honeycomb, with cold black stones and hanging chains. A thick, eerie, and murderous aura permeated the air. From the entrance to the bottom of the cell tower, the cells progressed layer by layer, as if the deeper one went, the closer one got to hell itself.

And the source of all this is this very well in front of us—the well of ghost fire.

Hua Changxi transformed into the Vermilion Bird Firebird once more, circling inside the prison tower. At the same time, she released her divine sense, quickly scanning each floor of the tower.

The royal family occupied the Ghost Fire Well, so they must have left some traces.

And then there was the vanished Vermilion Bird Army.

The names on the Vermilion Bird Army's register hadn't completely faded, indicating they were still alive. Unfortunately, she found no trace of the Vermilion Bird Army in the prison tower, nor any trace left by the royal family.

Where did they go?

Having gained nothing, Hua Changxi stood before the Ghost Fire Well once again.

The tug-of-war competition was over, but Jing Sheng remained seated motionless on the wellhead.

Hua Changxi pondered for a moment, then stepped towards the Ghost Fire Well, wanting to see what was inside.

"Sister~"

As Hua Changxi approached the well, a weak, hoarse voice rang in her ears.

"Ok?"

The sudden sound startled Hua Changxi. She looked around abruptly, and finally her gaze fell on Jing Sheng.

"Jing Sheng, was that you calling me?"

"Hmm." Jing Sheng's reply was weak and feeble, as if he had used up all his strength.

Hua Changxi wanted to ask about the Ghost Fire Well, but seeing how weak Jing Sheng was, she didn't speak: "Jing Sheng, is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Ghost Fire Token"

"The royal family broke the seal on the Ghost Fire Well, connecting it to the Nine Netherworlds."

"Once the Ghost Fire Token falls into the hands of the Ghost Clan, they will be able to use the Ghost Fire Well to travel between the human world and the mortal realm."

After Jing Sheng finished speaking these words in fits and starts, he fell silent.

Hua Changxi was getting a little frantic.

Will-o'-the-wisp Token.

Is it a token of the Lord of the Will-o'-the-Wisp Well?

Furthermore, the restrictions on the Ghost Fire Well were broken, allowing it to connect to the Nine Netherworlds.

Is the Ghost Fire Well actually connected to the Nine Netherworlds?

Hua Changxi had too many doubts in her heart, but she couldn't find anyone to ask, so she could only turn her attention to the Ghost Fire Well.

Jing Sheng's words made her understand some things.

For example, why were the blood-red chains on Jing Sheng's body being pulled and dragged? It must be because the demons were fighting over the Ghost Fire Token.

So, the Will-o'-the-Wisp Token is in the well?

The green will-o'-the-wisps in the Will-o'-the-Wisps Well are enough to send chills down your spine.

Hua Changxi remained silent for a long time, then waved out several pieces of Zhurong Stone and arranged them around the well. He then transformed into a Vermilion Bird Firebird once more and, like a shooting star burning the sky, leaped into the Ghost Fire Well.

The well is deep and dark, its bottom unseen.

Ghostly energy surged forth, and will-o'-the-wisps raged.

The world suddenly darkened, leaving only boundless eerie greenery and thick, ink-like ghostly energy all around.

Even bathed in the flames of Nanming, Hua Changxi felt her breath catch in her throat, each flap of her wings tearing through a thick, viscous darkness. Though her crimson flames could repel the ghostly fire that approached, they could not purify the entire abyss—the ghostly fire receded like a tide, only to surge back again, endlessly.

She could only fly downwards clinging tightly to the nine blood-red chains extending from Jing Sheng's body.

Runes flowed across the surface of the chains, their crimson color like pulsating blood. Each segment emanated an ancient and violent restrictive power, relentlessly suppressing the erosion of the ghostly energy and flames within the well.

After falling for an unknown amount of time, finally, a faint red light appeared below.

Hua Changxi accelerated her descent, and only when she got closer could she see clearly that it was a huge and ancient magic array, engraved on the rock at the bottom of the well, and its overall shape was that of a vermilion bird with outstretched wings.

The array patterns were cast from a mixture of red gold and black iron, and they still shone brightly after the passage of time. However, at this moment, a conspicuous and deep crack appeared in the center of the array.

The ghostly energy and ghostly fire that constantly gush out from the well are emanating from the crack.

Even more chilling was the sight of Jing Sheng's nine bloodline chains emerging from the crack and stretching into the boundless darkness. (End of Chapter)