Chapter 492 - 250: Heaven-Caging Pillar Suppresses the Golden Core (2)

Lao Xiuyuan saw the acquaintance between Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng, sparing him the trouble of introduction.

He didn’t explain why he brought Wei Miaomeng here; he simply led Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng into the Criminal Investigation Department hall and explained to them, "Most of the disciples in the Criminal Investigation Department are out there on missions now; it’s rare to see them gathered together."

As he spoke, Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng were led to the left side of the hall by Lao Xiuyuan.

A winding stone staircase could be seen extending downward, its end unknown beneath the earth.

"Come, let me introduce you to someone." After Lao Xiuyuan’s voice fell, Liou Yuan saw him step towards the stone stairs, his figure immediately swallowed by the darkness of the stairway below.

Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng exchanged glances and followed him.

During the journey, Liou Yuan didn’t forget to use voice transmission to ask Wei Miaomeng, "Miaomeng, why are you following Brother Xiuyuan to the Criminal Investigation Department?"

"I don’t know, just received the sect’s order as soon as I exited seclusion, and Brother Xiuyuan brought me here." Wei Miaomeng seemed unsure about the higher-ups’ intentions.

But Wei Miaomeng dared not defy the order from above.

Yet, Lao Xiuyuan had no intention to explain, leaving Wei Miaomeng completely in the dark.

Nonetheless, this did not dampen Wei Miaomeng’s high spirits after her recent breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

"Thanks to Brother Liou Yuan’s ’Yin Yang Crossing Skill’, I was able to break through to Foundation Establishment effortlessly."

"I don’t know why, but practicing the Yin Yang Crossing Skill felt so smooth, and I passed the Opening Mansion and Sinking Star trials with ease, without much hardship."

"That’s because Senior Sister Miaomeng has exceptional talent; it has nothing to do with the Cultivation Technique." Liou Yuan smiled subtly.

It’s merely a low-tier Cultivation Technique; what’s so mysterious about it?

The two were conversing when Lao Xiuyuan already led them ten miles deep into the earth below via the stone stairs.

A damp, putrid atmosphere mixed with the scent of iron assaulted their senses. When the last step triggered the sound of a mechanical click, a massive bronze prison door covered in spikes emerged before them.

At this moment, Lao Xiuyuan stopped, took off his steward badge from his waist, and said to Liou Yuan, "Brother Liou Yuan, this prison door requires either a token from an elder of the Disciplinary Hall or the simultaneous presence of two stewards’ tokens to open."

"Alright." Liou Yuan immediately understood Lao Xiuyuan’s intention, unfastened his steward token from his waist, and approached the bronze prison door together with Lao Xiuyuan, holding their tokens.

As soon as he took out the token, Liou Yuan sensed a subtle ripple emanating from the token in his hand.

Rumble! The massive bronze prison door slowly parted to the sides.

The three stepped through the prison door.

Inside, seven pitch-black iron pillars arranged in the pattern of the Big Dipper stood, entwined by writhing chains, their ends linked to rusty shackles.

Each iron pillar bore the figure of a ragged cultivator bound beneath it.

Liou Yuan’s Evil Eyes swept over these cultivators; he noticed nearly all those suppressed under the stone pillars were at least mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

There were three at Peak Foundation Establishment.

Their hands and feet were not only restrained by chains linked to the iron pillars, but even their bodies were pierced by chains, which were writhing with a viscous black liquid.

"These people were captured by the Criminal Investigation Department; they are dangerous criminals."

"My goodness, even though they’re imprisoned, every one of them still exudes such fierce aura; each could wreak havoc on their own outside."

Liou Yuan examined the figures under the seven iron pillars, silently astounded.

At the same time, as soon as Liou Yuan, Wei Miaomeng, and Lao Xiuyuan appeared in the underground dungeon, the criminals suppressed under the seven stone pillars raised their heads under their disheveled hair, staring coldly at the trio.

"Avoid eye contact with these guys; some specialize in Divine Sense—be wary of their tricks."

It’s evident Lao Xiuyuan wasn’t coming here for the first time; he didn’t even glance at the criminals, quietly warning the pair as he continued leading Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng through the iron pillars.

Liou Yuan had suffered losses due to Divine Sense before; he wouldn’t repeat the same mistake. He quickly averted his gaze and followed Lao Xiuyuan, still pondering why Lao Xiuyuan suddenly brought him and Wei Miaomeng to this dungeon.

"Never mind me, I’m part of the Criminal Investigation Department; but for Wei Miaomeng, an outsider, isn’t entering the department’s prison somewhat inappropriate?"

Liou Yuan secretly pondered.

The trio had already passed through the seven iron pillars.

Reaching the depths of the dungeon.

In the center stood a golden pillar towering over a hundred feet high, radiating a brilliant glow in the darkness.

It formed a stark contrast with the seven iron pillars outside.

Liou Yuan’s eyes immediately fixed on the top of the golden pillar.

A pair of arm-thick Artifact Spirit rings penetrated a person’s shoulder blades, suspending them a hundred feet above the ground.

To be imprisoned alone by the sect and suppressed by this golden pillar indicates this person’s ferocity far surpasses the cultivators outside in ways unknown.

This notorious criminal was covered in horrifying scars.

His originally dark robe was in tatters, revealing skin in a bizarre greenish-grey hue, marred by teeth marks as if chewed by beasts, alongside old whip marks, oozing black poisonous blood that dripped down his feet, pooling into a small blood puddle beneath the golden pillar.

He was filthy and unkempt, his hair like messy grass covering half his face, but his exposed right eye was bloodshot, with dark purple veins extending in the whites, emitting a fierce, savage light.