Chapter 652: Targeted by Prisoners

“Sir,” a Prison Guard stepped forward and quickly answered, “this bell rings once every three months. It signals the start of the prisoners’ activity period, but after one day, they have to return to their cells. You could call it a perk the Supervision Mansion provides to stop them from constantly causing a racket inside.”

Qin Ya nodded slightly. ‘I didn’t expect the Supervision Mansion to have a humane side.’

He then shot an indifferent glance at Lady Hua San, which sent her stumbling back more than ten steps. She shivered, and with a THUD, she scrambled to her knees on the ground.

“Please, sir, forgive me for my disrespect.”

In this prison, strength was the only language that mattered among inmates. Qin Ya’s power was clearly on a much higher level than hers, so no matter how unwilling she was, her only choice was to submit.

“Watch yourself from now on.”

Qin Ya stated indifferently, then turned and left. He didn’t return to his cell, instead making his way to the Central Plaza where the prisoners gathered for their activities.

Here, prisoners from the four major prisons—Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding—had gathered.

He also spotted many individuals with formidable Cultivation. Every one of them was powerful enough to rank in the top three hundred of the Celestial List. Even the Prison Guards dared not casually curse or beat them. After all, these men were mostly desperate outlaws; if a guard pushed one too far and got himself killed in a fit of rage, it would be too late for regrets.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…

At that moment, the sounds of a fight erupted from a massive fighting ring in the plaza.

Two burly men were trading blows, fists and feet flying. A terrifying Qi Force erupted from their bodies, sending waves of energy blasting in all directions.

The Cultivation of these two was nothing to scoff at; both were in the Half-Venerable Realm. Their command of Divine Light was exceptionally skilled. In the outside world, they would each be considered a powerhouse in their own right.

But here, all they could do was vent the frustrations of their imprisonment in the ring.

“Haha, it’s been a long time since I’ve had such a satisfying fight!”

A burly, stubbled man laughed heartily, his True Essence surging and Divine Light flowing. Gales of wind coiled around his fingers as he suddenly threw a punch, blasting his opponent off the ring. He then scanned the crowd. “Who else wants a piece of me?!”

The crowd exchanged glances, but for a moment, no one dared to step up.

“Tsk, tsk. That guy’s a vicious thug from C Prison. Rumor has it he’s been locked up for a whole century. Before he was thrown in here, he was an expert on the Celestial List.”

“That Hukuang fellow’s comprehension of the Mysteries of Wind has reached a new level. Even though it’s still at the stage of Divine Light, he’s far beyond any ordinary Half-Venerable.”

“I’m afraid there are only a few people here who could match him.”

Qin Ya sat in a remote corner below the ring, watching with a distinct lack of interest. ‘A Half-Venerable like Hukuang is no match for me.’

Suddenly, his mind stirred, and his brow furrowed slightly.

‘Someone… is watching me.’

Qin Ya unleashed his Divine Thought and swiftly located the source of the gaze.

He turned and looked. In the southeast direction of the plaza, over a hundred and twenty zhang away, an old man was staring at him, his gaze filled with a gloomy malice.

Their gazes clashed, seeming to strike sparks in the air between them.

‘Who is this person? He seems hostile toward me, but who is he?’ Qin Ya couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt. He wracked his brain but came up with no memory of this man.

He then shook his head and smiled faintly.

‘No matter who it is, or what their intentions are, I’ll take them all on.’

Not far away, a slight smile touched Zhang Wu’s lips as he watched Qin Ya. ‘So that’s Qin Ya,’ he thought. ‘With a Cultivation like that, I wonder why the Celestial Marquis is paying him so much attention.’

Still, the Celestial Marquis had given the order, and he dared not be careless.

He activated his Divine Thought, sending a telepathic message to Hukuang on the ring: “Hukuang, I’ve located Qin Ya. Kill him, and your son will be allowed to join the Celestial Marquis Mansion.”

Upon hearing this, a flicker of joy crossed Hukuang’s face. He followed Zhang Wu’s direction to look at Qin Ya, and a savage smile spread across his lips. He boomed, “Hey, little brother over there! Your Cultivation looks pretty good. Why don’t you come up and have a round with me?”

The crowd followed Hukuang’s gaze and was stunned.

‘Little brother? Is he talking about that kid whose Cultivation is only at the King Realm?’

Everyone shook their heads, finding it impossible. Why would an expert like Hukuang choose someone in the King Realm as a challenger? They scanned the area around Qin Ya, but aside from him, there were only a few decrepit old men, none of whom could be called a “little brother.” It was clear that the person Hukuang meant was, in fact, Qin Ya.

“Stop looking around! I mean you, Qin Ya!” Hukuang boomed.

‘Hm? How does he know my name?’

Qin Ya’s eyes narrowed, a hint of chilling intent glinting within them.

‘I’m in Jia Prison and Hukuang is in C Prison, yet he knows my name and is challenging me directly. There must be something more to this.’

The air fell deathly silent. The very instant Hukuang finished speaking, a number of other prisoners turned to look at Qin Ya, their gazes laced with faint killing intent.

Many of the other inmates were completely bewildered.

“What’s going on? Why are so many people showing killing intent toward that kid?”

“Heh, looks like we’re in for a good show.”

“These people… they all seem to be from C Prison.”

Hukuang realized his slip of the tongue, but he just laughed it off. “I hear you’re quite famous on the outside these days. Are you telling me you don’t dare accept my challenge?”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?”

Qin Ya gave a faint smile. His figure flickered, and in the blink of an eye—SWISH—he appeared on the fighting ring.

“Such incredible speed!”

“This kid… there’s more to him than meets the eye.”

Once on the ring, Qin Ya looked at Hukuang and said coolly, “Tell me who put you up to this. If you do, I might just go a little easier on you.”

Hukuang cracked his knuckles. “Heh heh,” he chuckled. “Qin Ya, I don’t mind telling you. You see, right now, you’re a hot commodity to us in C Prison. Whoever kills you will receive immense benefits if they get out. And even if they don’t, their families on the outside will be blessed with great fortune.”

“Oh? Sounds like I’ve become everyone’s target.”

“Enough talk. Let’s do this.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Hukuang moved, rushing at Qin Ya like a gale of wind. He clenched his fist and punched. Instantly, a vortex formed in the air, unleashing a terrifying gale that howled as it blasted toward Qin Ya!

“Break!”

Qin Ya let out a low shout, clenched his fist, and unleashed a punch of his own.

As his fist flew, a terrifying, tide-like wave of air surged forward! With a deafening BOOM, the gale was smashed to pieces, but the force of the punch continued unabated, hurtling toward Hukuang.

“Not good!”

Hukuang’s pupils shrank, a look of absolute horror on his face.

Divine Light instantly flared around his body, forming several successive barriers to block the force of the punch.

But in the next instant, a shadow shot forward.

Hukuang felt a terrifying power explode against him. It felt as if his entire body was being crushed by a mountain, and he was sent flying uncontrollably.