Chapter 497: Chapter 329 Scouting and Bloodline

Six months later,

in the Cultivation Room, Zhao Sheng slowly opened his eyes. The surrounding Karmic Fire was withdrawn, transforming into a Red Lotus and falling into his brow.

He removed his Identity Token, and the Spirit Gathering Array immediately ceased operation. The Spiritual Energy around him dispersed slowly, but the dense Yin Sha energy in the air churned incessantly, almost congealing into substance.

The Divine Prison had been established for an unknown number of years, and countless humans, demons, and ghosts had perished within. The chilling Yin Sha energy that had accumulated over the long term was beyond the imagination of the outside world.

“No wonder most of the Prison Guards fall into depravity and meet with bad ends. Soaking in such dense Yin Sha energy day and night, constantly subjected to the invasion that devours the spirit–it would be strange indeed if they could progress to Foundation Establishment!”

Zhao Sheng had been puzzled before, as to why so many Prison Guards in the Divine Prison, like himself, cultivated the ‘Red Lotus Karma Fire Scripture’?

Now it seemed that while the Divine Prison might be a deadly place for others, for them, it was a rare Blessed Land for cultivation.

Upon leaving the Cultivation Room, he immediately saw Qi Peng, his face brimming with joy.

“Little brother, hurry up and collect your salary. Big brother will take you out to get some fresh air right away.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng realized that it was time for the Prison Guards’ annual leave from the prison.

“Wait for me, Mr. Qi. I’ll be back in no time.”

…

Chu State City is the provincial capital of Diancang Province, with as many as eighty-eight workshops within its main city. It’s home to over three million residents and surrounded by four satellite towns.

Miao City, one of these four satellite towns, is just thirty miles from the main city, with both cities in view of each other.

Passing through numerous checkpoints, Qi Peng and Zhao Sheng finally returned from underground to the surface.

Looking up at the dazzling twin suns, Qi Peng couldn’t help but cheer and jump for joy. Then, in a great hurry, he dragged Zhao Sheng out of the Prison God Temple.

In just a moment’s time, a Rune Flying Car zipped out of Miao City, speeding toward Chu State City with lightning speed.

Thirty miles went by in an instant,

as the Rune Flying Car flew directly over the people’s heads, crossing the city gates, which were thirty yards wide, and rapidly flew into Chu State City.

After entering the city, the Flying Car swept through half a workshop district and, in the blink of an eye, landed in a station square on the outskirts.

Qi Peng had just jumped down from the Flying Car and couldn’t wait to run off, leaving behind only these words: “Have fun by yourself, little brother! I’m feeling a bit arty today, off to the brothels to enjoy some music. We’ll meet back here in three days.”

Watching as Qi Peng flew far away with Sword Control, Zhao Sheng withdrew his gaze and stepped out of the station.

On the street, the crowd bustled, the traffic was bustling, the scene was immensely lively. The streets were wide and straight, lined with towering buildings on both sides, ground floor shops were everywhere, and various signboards and flags fluttered in the wind.

Zhao Sheng walked aimlessly on the street, casually glancing at the shops and the pedestrians around him.

Although it seemed aimless, the hand hanging from his robe occasionally dropped a Blood Pearl, which vanished instantly upon hitting the ground.

He strolled from one street to another, from one workshop to the next, his pace neither too fast nor too slow, yet without careful attention, one could lose track of him.

In less than a day, the footprints of Zhao Sheng had touched all eighty-eight workshops in Chu State City, leaving countless imprints everywhere throughout the city.

Hat Brim Workshop, Catching Cicadas Lane.

Zhao Sheng made his appearance in a workshop district within an impoverished and rundown alley, where dilapidated old yards stood on either side, the ground uneven and muddy, and several bare-bottomed babies were laying on the ground, teasing ants in play.

A faint blood light spread from the palm of his hand in all directions, disappearing into the air almost instantly.

Sensing the increasingly agitated movements within his bloodline, Zhao Sheng’s face lit up with joy, murmuring, “It seems this is the place.”

He walked deeper into the alley, following the bloodline sensing in the air, turned several corners, and stopped in front of a large, disorderly courtyard.

At the entrance, a row of old men sat squatting, basking in the Sun.

Seeing a person of apparent nobility approaching, one of the emaciated old men looked up, and with a cringing tone, asked, “My lord… What brings you to a place like ours?”

“Ah, I’m looking for someone. Is there a family by the name of Zhao living here?” Zhao Sheng asked casually, his gaze sweeping over the crowd to rest on a small old man with a dark face and a gap-toothed smile.

“There’s no one surnamed Zhao here. The whole courtyard is surnamed Wu, all servants of Mr. Wu,” the old man replied with a blank expression.

“Oh, it seems I’ve come to the wrong place,” Zhao Sheng said with a look of ‘sudden realization’ and then turned to leave.

A moment later, his figure reappeared before them, but no one noticed.

Concealed, Zhao Sheng walked into the courtyard, idly wandering around, and finally, in two decrepit wing rooms at the far end of the yard, he found his target.

He hadn’t expected to find a family with the Zhao bloodline in Chu State City, among the more than three million inhabitants.

In the wing room, a hunched old woman with white hair struggled to wash two patched pieces of clothing.

Next to her, a bamboo basket hung, gently rocking. Inside, a naked baby lay sprawled out, sound asleep.

Zhao Sheng watched silently; at that moment, the gap-toothed small old man wandered in from outside the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back.

This man walked up to the wing room, pushed open the door, and began to rummage through the house.

“What are you looking for, old man?” the white-haired old woman called out upon seeing this.

“I’m looking for our ancestors. Wife, where did you hide the ancestral tablet?” Wu Sanliu moved aside the bedding and fumbled around on the floor.

Ever since he saw the noble leave, Wu Sanliu felt uneasy.