Tang San looked behind the unconscious Tuo Jia, where a crimson moon hung in the sky. However, because the red moonlight overlapped with the torch flames, it was nearly invisible to the naked eye.
To be fair, it wasn't entirely Tuo Jia's fault for being so terrified. Tang San hadn't just relied on verbal intimidation—he had also activated his Rakshasa Domain, amplifying his target's inner fears and magnifying all their negative emotions. This was why Tang San had managed to extract information so effortlessly.
"Third Young Master, weren't we supposed to leave?" Tailong followed Tang San but soon realized that they were actually going deeper into the prison instead!
Tang San patted Tailong's shoulder and said, "Since we're here, might as well take a look around. This is the largest prison on the continent—who knows when we'll get another chance?"
Tailong nodded and picked up a torch to lead the way.
Of course, Tang San wasn't being entirely truthful. He wasn't just wandering aimlessly—he was gathering the power of death.
When he had used his Rakshasa Domain to intimidate Tuo Jia earlier, he noticed that his Ghost Ring had absorbed traces of death energy within the dungeon. Upon further inspection, he realized that the entire prison was saturated with various negative energies.
This made sense, given that it was a prison. Countless Soul Masters had likely died here, their lingering resentment refusing to dissipate. Moreover, the Spirit Hall had existed for countless millennia—who knew how many lives had been lost within its walls?
Silently, Tang San activated his Rakshasa Domain. Wisps of transparent remnant souls, some faint as fireflies and others far more potent, were drawn into the Ghost Ring within his Domain.
Tang San surmised that the strength of these souls depended on how long ago they had died and the power of their Martial Souls in life. Additionally, if he had personally killed them, the conversion rate would be much higher.
For example, when he had hunted for his third Soul Ring, he had slain a five-thousand-year Spirit Beast. Not only had he absorbed its Soul Ring, but he had also boosted its level by two thousand years.
He had squeezed every last drop of value from it.
"Greetings, Elder!" The guards naturally didn't dare stop him upon seeing the Pope Token hanging from his waist.
Tang San raised a hand in a gesture reminiscent of an inspecting official and nodded. "Mm, just focus on your duties. Don't mind me—I'm just looking around."
"Yes, Elder."
After half a day, Tang San had explored every corner of the prison, except for the deepest level, which required the Pope's personal authorization. Everywhere else, he had thoroughly scavenged.
He had absorbed all the lingering souls of the deceased Soul Masters and the resentment they had left behind.
Turning back to glance at the prison, Tang San knew he needed to return and refine the energy he had gathered. After all, his Ghost Ring had absorbed quite a substantial amount this time.
"This is a great place. I'll have to find a way into the deepest level. The Soul Masters imprisoned there must be incredibly powerful. If I can absorb their remnant souls and resentment, I might be able to make another significant leap forward."
At the same time, within the sacred grounds of the Sacred Dragon Sect...
In the grand hall, a middle-aged man listened to his subordinate's report before suddenly crushing the armrest of his chair with a thunderous crack.
Tuo Ba Xi, the Sect Leader of the Sacred Dragon Sect, glared furiously and demanded in a low voice, "What did you say?! The Spirit Bone Display Box was stolen?!"
"Y-yes… It happened over half a month ago."
"Where is Tuo Jia?"
"He was taken away by the Spirit Hall's enforcement team, accused of falsely accusing an elder and imprisoned in the Spirit Prison."
After his subordinate's explanation, Tuo Ba Xi immediately understood the situation. They had brought back many Soul Guidance Device fragments and incomplete manuals from that ancient ruins. At the time, they hadn't paid much attention to the Spirit Bone Display Box, merely thinking the Soul Guidance Device might still be useful, so they entrusted it to his son Tuo Jia for safekeeping.
Who could have expected that just days ago, the Sacred Dragon Sect deciphered the ancient script and discovered the box's significance? Previously, losing a Soul Guidance Device wouldn't have mattered, but who knew this box would suddenly become so precious? Fearing exposure, Tuo Jia had taken desperate measures, luring Tang San out in an attempt to retrieve it and redeem himself.
Now when they needed to find him, Tuo Jia had disappeared. Upon inquiry, they learned not only had he been imprisoned, but the Spirit Bone Display Box had also been stolen.
And of all people, it was Tang San who took it—and he possessed a Pope Token!
Tuo Ba Xi's rage burned fiercely, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "Such an important matter as the Spirit Bone Display Box being stolen, and they dared to hide it? Utterly incompetent!"
A Sacred Dragon Sect elder nearby whispered, "Sect Leader, the Spirit Bone Display Box is now with Tang San. He might not know its true purpose. Should we send someone to retrieve it?"
"Foolish!" Tuo Ba Xi snorted coldly. "If we'd acted immediately, Tang San might not have realized its value. But didn't you hear? At the Soul Duel Arena, Tang San deliberately flaunted the Spirit Bone Display Box to provoke us and took Tuo Jia away for questioning. This means he already understands its importance."
"In Spirit Hall City, I wouldn't fear the Clear Sky Sect. But Tang San holds a Pope Token. Robbing a Pope Token bearer in Spirit Hall City would be no different from slapping the Pope across the face!"
"Offending the Pope would mean our Sacred Dragon Sect's immediate destruction!"
Even Tuo Ba Xi, a Titled Douluo, shuddered at the mention of Pope Qian Xun Ji—his fear was genuine.
"But Sect Leader need not worry," another elder said. "The Young Sect Leader will surely keep his mouth shut. Tang San couldn't possibly learn the ruins' location."
Tuo Ba Xi laughed coldly at his elders' words. "Hmph, he'd better keep that secret. Otherwise, even if he's my son, I'll kill him myself. Still, we must prepare for the worst. If the Clear Sky Sect has a Martial Soul expert capable of reading minds, they'll learn the location eventually."
"Regardless, have people closely monitor Tang San's every move. If any Clear Sky Sect experts enter Clear Sky City or if Tang San leaves Spirit Hall City, notify me immediately. Also, send someone to probe the Clear Sky Sect's stance."
At Tuo Ba Xi's orders, the Sacred Dragon Sect's core disciples, protectors, and elders all mobilized. They understood this matter's significance. If successful, they might even surpass the Upper Three Sects and potentially overtake Spirit Hall itself.
Regret filled Tuo Ba Xi's heart. "If not for that place's Soul Power level restrictions, I should never have let that fool Tuo Jia know about this."
Truly, nothing is more dangerous than a rich second-generation heir with ambition.
As for the Sacred Dragon Sect's reaction, even if Tang San didn't know it, he could more or less guess some of it. But now he wasn't in a hurry, because the initiative was in his hands, and so were the items.
In his cultivation room at Spirit Academy, with the appearance of the Ghost Ring, the souls absorbed by it in the prison began to be refined.
This time, the Ghost Ring had eaten its fill, and even digestion and evolution would take time.
A white Soul Ring appeared before Tang San. The Ghost Ring acted like a turbine, driving Soul Power as the absorbed souls circulated in layers. With the rotation of the Ghost Ring, the Soul Power within Tang San's body also ebbed and flowed.