Douluo Continent: Building a Divine Kingdom Starting from the Spirit Hall

"Those who possess such methods are all evil spirit masters!"

The woman in the shadows hesitated for a moment before reminding them that while the Zhu family could find those kinds of Soul Masters, they were mostly evil Soul Masters, and cooperating with such beings would be troublesome.

"Clean things up afterwards."

Zhu Qingxia casually remarked that she didn't care about these troubles because they were capable of handling them.

The woman in the shadows remained silent and quietly left to deal with the matter. All of this was witnessed by Tian Hao, who was in his primordial spirit state.

"Yang Erlang has been arrested?"

Tian Hao was taken aback. He knew that Yang Erlang had been conscripted not long after Huo Yuhao was born. At the time, he didn't pay much attention to it, since the little tricks he gave Yang Erlang were enough to help him survive on the battlefield.

Who would have thought he would be secretly arrested, and who knows what kind of state he has been in over the past ten years.

Thinking of this, Tian Hao's primordial spirit followed the woman who had been hiding in the shadows and left the Duke's mansion. Not long after, they arrived at the residence of the Youming Zhu family and stayed there for a day. On the second night, he took a demonic soul master he had found and went to the death row in the capital.

Death row is not a place that ordinary people can enter, but Zhu Qingxia is a royal princess and the wife of the White Tiger Duke. Naturally, the people she sent were qualified to enter, not to mention that the mysterious prisoner she brought with her was the one she was dealing with.

……

In the death row of the capital city of Xingluo, a tall, thin jailer limped along carrying a food bucket and using a spoon to pour the rice porridge inside into small bowls placed outside each cell.

The small bowl was only the size of a fist, not even enough for a child, let alone a prisoner.

However, this is, after all, the death row of the imperial capital, where the most vicious people or those who have committed serious crimes are imprisoned. As long as they are kept alive, how could they be allowed to eat well?

"Hey cripple, is that kid still angry today?"

An elderly man with disheveled hair picked up a small bowl and drank some thin porridge while casually asking a question.

Upon hearing this, all the prisoners in the surrounding cells perked up their ears.

The Empire's death row is no place of peace. It is said to be over ten thousand years old since its construction, but no one has ever survived more than a year.

Some were awaiting execution, while others knew something and needed to be pried open with certain methods. All sorts of unimaginable torture instruments were used.

Moreover, the death row is equipped with healing-type Soul Masters at the Soul Saint level, making it difficult to die even if one wanted to. With such repeated torture, even an iron man could not withstand it.

However, ten years ago, a freak came to the death row and actually survived for ten years, even withstanding the methods of a spirit-type soul master.

This became a form of entertainment for them, as they all bet on how long that freak could hold on.

Unfortunately, despite all the gambling, people were sent away one after another, but that freak was still alive and his mouth couldn't be pried open. Neither torture nor drugs could work.

"It's still breathing."

The lame jailer smiled, but what no one noticed was a hint of anxiety deep in his eyes.

Second brother, you must hold on!

Not long after, two figures shrouded in black robes arrived at the death row. Led by the jailer, who bowed and scraped, they passed through numerous traps and passages, finally reaching the bottom of the death row.

"Xiao Zhao, are you ready?"

Upon reaching the bottom floor, the old man asked the lame jailer a question.

Today, a distinguished guest is coming to interrogate that oddball. We must be prepared. After receiving the notification at noon, he instructed us to clean that oddball thoroughly so as not to offend the distinguished guest's eyes.

"My lord, everything is ready, but he has too many wounds, and I was worried about something going wrong, so I only did a simple cleaning."

The lame jailer replied respectfully.

"You have such a fierce warrior in a place like this?"

The woman from the underworld, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. Her eyes, hidden under her wide hood, sized up the lame jailer and she could tell that he was a seasoned and ruthless general, whose iron-blooded killing intent was impossible to conceal.

“It’s impossible for our place to cultivate a talent like Xiao Liu. He was a White Tiger Guard and a Soul Master. He was almost a Soul King, but unfortunately, he lost a leg in the war with the Sun Moon Empire a year ago.”

This kid is stubborn; he didn't want to freeload at the Duke's mansion, so he came to the capital to find a job. I recruited him, and in just one year, he's helped us resolve many hidden problems.”

The jailer's expression betrayed his undisguised smugness; he was clearly very satisfied with recruiting such a talented individual.

Although Xiao Zhao lost a leg and his strength was diminished, he was still a White Tiger Guard carefully trained by the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and had been on the battlefield. His insight and awareness were unmatched by ordinary people, which greatly benefited their death row system.

"White Tiger Guards!"

The Netherworld woman shrouded in black robes changed her expression slightly. Although they had disguised themselves when they sent him here, and even disfigured Yang Erlang, he remained stubborn and hadn't said a word until now, but he was still a potential threat.

The lady had considered imprisoning Yang Erlang in the Zhu family for interrogation, but since her family had many marriage alliances with the Duke's mansion and there were many people close to the Duke's mansion, it was inevitable that secrets would be leaked. That's why she used the princess's status to transfer him to the death row.

Now, a prison guard who was formerly a member of the White Tiger Guard has appeared in the death row, which makes her think a lot.

Could it be that His Excellency the Duke has not given up investigating the disappearance of Yang Erlang back then, and has found some clues that led him to this death row in the capital?

In a flash, the ghostly woman harbored murderous intent.

Whether it is or not, we'll deal with it later and extract its soul to examine its memories.

Without saying much, he looked at the tightly closed iron door of the interrogation room.

The lame jailer understood, took out a key, and opened the heavy iron door. A strong smell of blood wafted out, clearly indicating that the place inside was not a peaceful place.

"Sir, please!"

The jailer eagerly led the way, and the ghostly woman and the evil spirit master, who was also dressed in black robes, went inside.

Where are his hands and feet?

Entering the interrogation room, the evil spirit master, dressed in black robes, frowned upon seeing the figure lying on the black and red wooden bed.

Only the head and torso remained of the figure; the arms and legs were gone.

This person is involved in one of his own experiments, and it would be best if he/she were physically able.

"My lord, you may not know this, but no one in our death row has ever lasted a year. He has endured it for ten years. After repeated torture, his limbs are already useless. Even a healing-type soul master would find it difficult to save him and would have to amputate them to save his life."

The jailer replied respectfully, inwardly admiring this oddball.

He had worked in this death row for over forty years, and this was the first time he had ever seen someone with such a strong will, breaking the record of the death row in the capital city that had been established for over ten thousand years.

"Fine!"

Although somewhat annoyed, the evil spirit master had no choice but to accept it.

After all, such an excellent martial soul is hard to find, so let's just make do with it!

"That's pretty bad!"

Looking at the disabled but determined Yang Erlang in his primordial spirit state, Tian Hao couldn't help but sigh. He never expected things to turn out so ridiculously, and he never expected that this guy would actually fall in love with Huo Yun'er.

If I hadn't left instructions deep within its consciousness, something might have happened.

However, being captured and imprisoned in this capital city's death row is the greatest disaster. His consciousness has collapsed, and he is only sustained by the instructions he left behind.

This collapse at the level of consciousness is irreversible. Reversing time is indeed one method, but unfortunately it's too late. At least five years would need to be reversed to trace back to the state before the collapse.

This time span is too long; he can't do it now with just his primordial spirit.

It's important to understand that reversing time is no ordinary feat. The longer the reversal lasts, the greater the consumption becomes, and it increases exponentially.

"This identity seems to have some potential."

Tian Hao suddenly had an idea. He needed an identity that could be investigated and verified to cause trouble in order to deal with Tang Shenwang's future investigations. It would be best if it had some connection with Huo Yuhao. This identity's persona was quite good, and he could make use of it.

However, before that, we need to rescue them using reasonable methods.

Thinking of this, Tian Hao looked at the lame jailer, who did indeed have some connection with Yang Erlang.

"You stay outside and keep watch. No one is allowed to come in. Just let him stay and help out."

After scrutinizing Yang Erlang, the ghostly woman suddenly spoke, signaling the jailer to leave and telling the lame jailer to stay.

"Xiao Zhao, serve these two gentlemen well."

Without giving it much thought, the jailer gave an order to the lame guard, turned and left the interrogation room, closing the heavy iron door behind him and standing guard outside.

Although the lame jailer's expression remained unchanged, he had a vague feeling that he might have been exposed, and he couldn't help but feel despair.

Are Erlang and I going to die here today?

The evil spirit master was naturally unaware of these things. After the iron door of the interrogation room was closed, he took off his wide black robe, revealing the face inside, which was that of an old man with gray hair.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

Without delay, the gray-haired old man's martial spirit possessed him, and his body underwent a tremendous change. Four green spider legs extended from his back, and his legs also transformed into thick spider legs. The same was true for his hands, but the spider legs that evolved from his arms were even thicker and sharper.

At the same time, seven soul rings—one white, one yellow, two purple, and three black—slowly rotated beneath his feet, proving his Soul Saint cultivation level.

"Sixth Soul Skill - Soul-Devouring Thorn!"

The sixth spirit ring flashed with black light, and the gray-haired old man with the martial spirit attached swung his spider legs and pierced the prisoner's forehead on the bed board, piercing straight in.

Strangely, no blood flowed, and the piercing point shimmered with light, clearly indicating that it had not pierced the brain but rather the mind.

This move is a special spirit-type soul skill with extremely strong devouring ability, targeting both the soul and the martial spirit.

"The Soul-Eating Spider, it brings back fond memories."

Looking at the gray-haired old man's martial spirit, Tian Hao couldn't help but think of his own little teacher.

Although the opponent's martial soul was not the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, it was the most basic Soul Devouring Demon Spider, and he was also a fallen soul master.

Well, according to the terminology of this era, they should be called evil spirit masters.

After a moment of reflection, Tian Hao's primordial spirit entered Yang Erlang's spiritual sea, taking control of the body. He then guided Yang Erlang's spiritual power to erupt into a spiritual domain, enveloping the gray-haired old man and the Netherworld woman, suppressing their thoughts and consciousness.

"Let's do it!"

After suppressing the two people's thoughts and consciousness with his mental domain, Tian Hao roared.

The lame jailer, who was already on guard and ready to launch a sudden attack, was slightly taken aback. He then decisively manifested his martial spirit spear and swiftly thrust it through the heads of the Netherworld Woman and the gray-haired old man, killing them instantly and giving them no chance to react.

"Erlang, how are you!"

After confirming that the two men had indeed been killed, the lame jailer hurried forward and asked questions urgently.

He had actually wanted to contact and communicate with Erlang for a long time, but Erlang had always been silent and didn't say a word, even when he revealed his identity, Erlang didn't react.

He thought Erlang had gone mad, but now it seems that Erlang was waiting for an opportunity, enduring until now before making his move, or rather, he had no choice but to make his move.

"I'm fine. Thank you for your hard work this year, Chrysanthemum Bro!"

Tian Hao replied.

This lame jailer was named Zhao Ju. He was a close friend of Yang Erlang's elder brother and had even received instruction in marksmanship from Yang Erlang's father. Yang Dalang had also saved Zhao Ju's life on the battlefield.

At the same time, Zhao Ju herself is very loyal, which is probably the main reason why the other party would investigate and infiltrate the capital's death row.