Chapter 3313: Life or Death Platform
“Senior, do you know me?” Duan Ling Tian asked the two old men who were clearly shocked.
“Everyone in the Heavenly Pool Palace should’ve heard of you by now,” the old man, who was unfriendly in the beginning, said with a smile, “Since you’re Head Warden Xu’s Little Junior Brother, the Thousand Chains Prison can be considered your second home in the Heavenly Pool Palace.”
“The Thousand Chains Prison can be considered my second home?” Duan Ling Tian was slightly taken aback when he heard these words. When he regained his senses, he smiled wryly. If he were back on earth and someone had said a prison was his second home, he would have slapped that person.
The old man laughed before he said, “Duan Ling Tian, let me show you around. This must be your first time in the Thousand Chains Prison. After I show you around, I’ll bring you to the Internal Affairs Pavilion to register your warden token. When there’s a vacancy, you’ll be informed of it. However, since your Head Warden Xu’s Little Junior Brother, you can visit the Thousand Chains Prison whenever you like even if you’re not on duty.”
Duan Ling Tian was slightly surprised upon hearing the old man’s words. He did not expect his Eldest Senior Sister’s position and reputation would grant him such a privilege. After a beat, he replied with a smile, “Thank you, elder.”
The old man seemed pleased with how polite Duan Ling Tian was. This prodigious disciple with a bright future did not look down on him because he was just a mere elder guarding the Thousand Chains Prison. After all, the elder was just an ordinary member of the Heavenly Pool Palace. He was not even as strong as Han Yun Jin whom Duan Ling Tian killed. Therefore, he knew Duan Ling Tian was much stronger than him. Nevertheless, Duan Ling Tian did not put on air but treated him politely instead. How could he not be pleased?
“Let’s go.” The old man gestured to Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er before leading them into the Thousand Chains Prison.
The Thousand Chains Prison was dark and had many mountains. The entire place seemed to be cast in a faint red light. Metal pillars could be seen at the sides of the mountains to support the building structures.
After walking along a wide path, the old man led Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er to a s.p.a.cious square. At the end of the square was another pathway. Apart from this pathway, there were no other paths.
At this moment, the old man said with a faint smile, “Duan Ling Tian, this is the Thousand Chains Prison’s Deadly Square.”
“The Deadly Square?” Duan Ling Tian was curious. Based on the name of the square, it seemed like a dangerous place.
The old man said, “I bet you’re wondering about the name of the square, right?”
“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian nodded.
“It’s called the Deadly Square because it has a Killing Formation that’s capable of seriously injuring t.i.tled Celestial Emperors. Ordinary Celestial Emperors have no chance of surviving the Killing Formation, let alone those who’re below the stage of a Celestial Emperor. That’s why it’s called the Deadly Square,” the elder explained.
‘It can seriously injure t.i.tled Celestial Emperors and those who are below the stage of a Celestial Emperor will definitely die?’ Duan Ling Tian inhaled sharply upon hearing the old man’s words. He was instantly wary of his surroundings.
Upon seeing Duan Ling Tian’s reaction, the old man chuckled and said, “Don’t worry. You won’t trigger the Killing Formation in the Deadly Square. Only prisoners who attempt to escape will trigger the Killing Formation. Even if we’re in the square when it’s triggered, we won’t be harmed.”
Duan Ling Tian inwardly sighed in relief upon hearing these words. Based on the old man’s words, he guessed the Killing Formation must contain the blood or soul auras of the prisoners in the Thousand Chains Prison for it to specifically target prisoners who tried to escape.
After leaving the Deadly Square, they traveled on a long pathway before arriving before a medium-sized pavilion. A plaque with the words ‘Internal Affairs Pavilion’ hung at the entrance of the pavilion.
“I’ll bring you in to register…” the old man said as he led Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er into the pavilion.
The registration process simply involved Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er showing their warden tokens to an elder in the Internal Affairs Pavilion. Following that, the elder recorded their names and exchanged Soul Pearls with them, which would allow the elder to contact them where there were vacancies. If they were unable to report for duty, the elder would then summon the next person on the list. To be placed on the list again, they would have to speak to the elder again.
The elder in the Internal Affairs Pavilion was rather friendly. He said, “Duan Ling Tian, since you’re Head Warden Xu’s Little Junior Brother and a warden of the Thousand Chains Prison, you can come here even if you’re not on duty. You can go to the Life or Death Platform to comprehend the law of death if you so wish. However, the area where the prisoners is kept is strictly off-limits when you’re not on duty. Only the head warden has the authority to enter the prison.”
Duan Ling Tian nodded.
The elder continued to say, “However, since you’re a newcomer, you’re allowed to familiarize yourself with the prison once. Normally, you’d have to make an appointment beforehand to visit and familiarize yourself with the prison. Since you’re Head Warden Xu’s Little Junior Brother, I’ll make an exception…”
Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s eyes lit up instantly upon hearing these words. “Thank you, elder.”
At this moment, the elder of the Internal Affairs Pavilion looked at the elder who led the duo here and said, “Show them around the prison and explain the situation inside to them…” After he finished speaking, he tossed a token to the old man.
After the old man caught the token, he motioned Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er to follow him.
Duan Ling Tian’s eyes lingered briefly on the black token that the elder received. The token carried a cold and oppressive aura. He was certain that the token contained many kinds of Formations.
When the old man saw Duan Ling Tian looking at the token, he explained, “This is the entrance token to the prison that is issued by the Internal Affairs Pavilion. This token contains our soul auras from our Soul Pearls so we can freely enter the prison. Those without this token wouldn’t be able to enter the prison.”
With everything he had learned so far, it was clear to him that the Thousand Chains Prison was tightly guarded.
As though the elder could read Duan Ling Tian’s mind, he explained, “In the past, the Thousand Chains Prison didn’t have so many rules and restrictions in place. However, after a prisoner, a t.i.tled Celestial Emperor, escaped and slaughtered many Heavenly Pool Palace disciples in the past, the palace began to put strict restrictions on the prison and limit those who have access to the prison.”
“What are the duties of the warden of the Thousand Chains Prison?” Duan Ling Tian asked.
“Wardens are to supervise and keep a close eye on the prisoners. It’s imperative that a warden reports any abnormalities in a prisoner to the Internal Affairs Pavilion immediately,” the elder replied.
“I see. How many wardens are on duty?” Duan Ling Tian continued to ask.
“There’ll be six wardens on duty, and they’ll be divided into groups of two. Each of the time will be in charge of guarding and patrolling a section of the prison. The prisoners are separated and placed in different sections according to their ident.i.ties. There’s the area for t.i.tled Celestial Emperors, the area for those who were below the stage of a t.i.tled Celestial Emperors, and the area for disciples and elders of the Heavenly Pool Palace who have committed crimes. Wardens will be on duty for a year after being summoned and will patrol a section for four months before switching to another section,” the elder explained.
After a beat, the elder continued to say, “Since only prodigious disciples are allowed to become a warden, the Thousand Chains Prison is rather short-handed. Therefore, elders in the prison will act as wardens as well. For example, out of the six wardens on duty this year, only three are prodigious disciples. The other three are elders of the Thousand Chains Prison. Both of you will have to wait for 11 months before you’ll be summoned to report for duty since we’ve just changed the wardens. In any case, there’s no need to worry. You’ll definitely get your chance. After all, not many prodigious disciples are willing to come here even if the reward is lucrative. Those who volunteer are mostly here for the Life or Death Platform. As mentioned earlier by the elder in the Internal Affairs Pavilion, you’re free to come to the Life or Death Platform whenever you want. It’s an extremely good place to comprehend the law of death since the Thousand Chains Prison contains the death auras of countless prisoners who were sentenced to death on the Life or Death Platform.”