Mia’s enthusiasm immediately dimmed, and her shoulders slumped in disappointment. After a moment, she turned to Jared, her expression more earnest. “Could you lend me some purple spirit coins?” she asked hesitantly. “I want to visit my brother… maybe slip some money to the guards so they’ll treat him better.”
“How much are you thinking?” Jared asked.
Mia hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before finally saying, “Five… Five purple spirit coins should be enough.”
“I’ll give you ten.” Without waiting for her response, he handed ten purple spirit coins her way.
Mia’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Thank you, Jared!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with gratitude. With renewed energy, she led Jared toward the prison.
“The Beast City prison was located in the southwest corner of the city, far from any bustling streets or inhabited areas. Since flying was prohibited within the city, they had no choice but to traverse the distance on foot. After walking for over an hour, they finally arrived at their destination.
Jared surveyed the area, noting the eerie isolation of the prison. There were no buildings nearby, just an expanse of barren land. The prison itself was shrouded in an unnatural white mist, obscuring its structure and making it impossible to see what lay inside.”
She seemed well-acquainted with the surroundings. Leading Jared through the dense mist, they eventually reached the prison’s entrance.
“Halt!”
A powerful voice cut through the thick mist as a figure emerged. The man was clad in gleaming silver armor, standing an imposing eight feet tall. His broad shoulders and muscular build gave him the appearance of an unyielding fortress. He was holding a long sword. The guard’s face was rugged, and his presence alone exuded authority, but it was the faint aura surrounding him that caught Jared’s attention-it was unmistakably the mark of an Ultimate Realm cultivator.
Jared hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on the towering figure. Are all the prison guards here at the Ultimate Realm? Isn’t this level of security a bit excessive?
“Captain Ricky, it’s me!” Mia called out.
The guard’s piercing gaze flicked down to Mia, a smirk curling at the corner of his lips, “Ah, it’s you. Back again to visit your brother?”
“Yes,” Mia replied quickly, her hands fumbling as she pulled out ten purple spirit coins. She placed them into Ricky Gonzales’ palm.
Ricky glanced at the coins, his expression unreadable for a moment before, to Mia’s surprise, he casually returned the entire amount.
Mia’s heart skipped a beat, and she stammered, “Captain Ricky, I… I only have this much. Please, could you show some leniency?”
At her words, Ricky’s face darkened in an instant, his gaze turning icy. “Security’s been tighter than ever,” he growled. “If you can’t even come up with enough, then don’t waste your time!”
Without another word, Ricky turned on his heel, preparing to leave.
“Captain Ricky, please! I have five more here. I really don’t have any more than this!” Mia quickly pulled out the last five purple spirit coins she had left.
Ricky eyed the coins for a moment, his gaze calculating. After a brief pause, he pocketed the coins and gave a curt nod. “Fine. Come with me.”
He motioned for Jared and Mia to follow as he led them through the dark, winding corridors of the prison. Finally, they entered the prison’s inner courtyard. Jared’s eyes immediately locked onto a massive ancient tree standing tall in the middle of the yard. Its gnarled branches reached high into the air, and an unusual pulse of energy seemed to emanate from it, making the air feel charged.
Unable to probe with his spiritual sense, Jared studied the tree carefully with his naked eye. The sheer magnitude of its presence suggested it had been standing for thousands of years, possibly tens of thousands.
“You know the place. Go there yourself,” Ricky said, his voice stern. “You’re aware of the rules, aren’t you?”
Mia gave a quick nod, her voice resolute. “Understood, Captain Ricky. Don’t worry. I’ll be out in thirty minutes, and I promise I won’t wander or pry.”
“Good,” Ricky affirmed with a curt nod, before turning and leaving.
Mia motioned for Jared to follow as she led him through a narrow entrance.
They descended into a dimly lit corridor, the air thick with moisture. The walls were covered in a dense network of twisted tree roots that seemed to pulse with an eerie life of their own. Jared couldn’t help but feel a growing curiosity.
Why is the prison constructed around this ancient tree, encasing it in the middle?
After walking for what felt like an eternity, they finally came upon a row of prison cells. Each cell was reinforced with intricate arcane arrays, clearly designed to prevent any escape.
In front of one of the cells, Mia stopped and called out softly, “Ezio…”
At the sound of his name, the man’s composure shattered. He quickly pushed aside the long strands of hair that had fallen across his face, and in an instant, tears welled up in his eyes.
“Mia, you’re finally here!” Ezio’s voice cracked with desperation. “Are you here to take me out? Please, let me out. I can’t take it anymore. If I stay any longer, I feel like I’ll die!”
Mia’s brother, Ezio Sykes, was a pitiful sight. His body was gaunt, barely holding itself together, and his complexion was a sickly yellow. His spirit appeared utterly broken, and it seemed as though every last ounce of his spiritual energy had been drained from him.
