To go to the third floor, one, naturally, had to go through the second floor. Hence, Duan Ling Tian once again passed by the cells where Huan’er’s parents were held. Du Xuan, Huan’er’s mother, was still unconscious. The injuries on her body were different from last time, making it clear that she had suffered another round of torture. Upon seeing this, his eyes glinted coldly and his expression turned grim.
While Duan Ling Tian was passing by the cell where Huan’er’s father, Lian Qiu, was held, he sent a Voice Transmission to Lian Qiu. “Senior.”
Qian Lu was currently resting with his eyes closed. When he received Duan Ling Tian’s Voice Transmission, his eyebrows moved imperceptibly. Although he had heard people arriving earlier, he did not know it was Duan Ling Tian since the restriction from the Formation prevented him from sensing people’s auras. Since Duan Ling Tian was here, he assumed his daughter was here as well. However, when he opened his eyes, he discovered his daughter was absent.
Before Lian Qiu could ask about Huan’er’s whereabouts, Duan Ling Tian’s voice rang in his mind. “I plan to save you and Senior Du Xuan today.”
Lian Qiu fell into a daze when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. When he regained his senses, he hurriedly replied through Voice Transmission, “Don’t do anything stupid. If something happens to you, who’s going to look after Huan’er?”
Although Qian Liu had only seen his daughter once, he could clearly see his daughter’s reliance and affection for the young man in front of him. With his experience, how could he not see that his daughter was completely in love with the young man? It was the kind of love that one would not regret even if one died.
“Senior, I’m confident.” Duan Ling Tian only said these words when Lian Qiu tried to dissuade him. Following that, he said solemnly, “I’ll teach you the way to break the Formation in Senior Du Xuan and your cells. Although it’s the same Formation, breaking it from the outside and the inside are completely different matters. With your strength, it won’t be difficult for you to break the inside of the Formation, but it’ll be difficult for you to break it from the outside. Therefore, I’ll break the outside of the formation when the time is right.”
Following that, Duan Ling Tian taught Lian Qiu the technique to break the Formation, which the World Cleansing Divine Water taught him, before Lian Qiu could even reply. After that, he explained his plan in detail that included freeing the six titled Celestial Emperors on the third floor and how there would be someone helping them after they escaped from the Heavenly Pool Palace.
Lian Qiu did not expect the man whom his daughter loved had made such arrangements; he even planned to exploit the six titled Celestial Emperors imprisoned on the third floor.
“I understand.” Lian Qiu’s eyes shone brightly after he listened to the entirety of Duan Ling Tian’s plan. He, naturally, hoped he could leave this place as well. However, since his face was lowered, even if someone were close to him, they would not have been able to see the changes in his expression.
At this moment, Duan Ling Tian and Elder Xie finally climbed the stairs to the third floor.
On the third floor, one could not absorb the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy nor could one comprehend profundities from a law near the cells where the six titled Celestial Emperors were held. One could only do so near the stairs.
“Duan Ling Tian, if you’re in a hurry to cultivate, you can start now. In the meantime, I’ll have a look to make sure there’s nothing abnormal with Formation here…” Elder Xie said at this moment.
The most important task for those guarding the third floor was to check there was nothing wrong with the Formation. If they found any abnormalities with the Formation, they would have to report them immediately to the Heavenly Pool Palace. At that time, a Formation master would be sent here to repair the Formation.
“It’s fine. I’m not in a hurry,” Duan Ling Tian shook his head and said, “I should come with you to learn how to check the Formation…”
Duan Ling Tian, naturally, had no wish of cultivating near the stairs. What he had to do now was talk to the six titled Celestial Emperors through Voice Transmission and teach them how to break the Formation that would allow them to escape.
“Alright.” Elder Xie did not doubt Duan Ling Tian’s words. As he led Duan Ling Tian away, he taught Duan Ling Tian how to check for abnormalities in the Formation.
Duan Ling Tian replied perfunctorily to Elder Xie while he surreptitiously sized up the three individuals in the cells. These three people were among the four he had seen previously. Previously, he had seen a muscular man, an old man, an old woman, and a young man. However, the young man was nowhere to be seen at this moment.
Duan Ling Tian decided to send a Voice Transmission to the old woman first. “Senior, I have a way to free you. However, I’ll need the cooperation from the other five seniors…”
The old woman who was sitting with her eyes closed opened her eyes immediately. Her eyes, voice, and words were dripping with contempt as she said, “Just you alone?”
“Senior, why don’t you hear me out?” Duan Ling Tian asked before he explained the method to break the Formation that had been taught to him by the World Cleansing Divine Water earlier.
Although the old woman was not a Formation master, as a titled Celestial Emperor, it was only natural that her knowledge about Formation was more than ordinary people. After listening to Duan Ling Tian’s words, she discovered that his plan was rather feasible. Following that, she asked curiously, “Why do you want to free us?”
The old woman naturally knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in the world. She would not believe it even if Duan Ling Tian said he had no motive for freeing them.
Duan Ling Tian did not beat around the bush and replied honestly, “Senior, there’s naturally a reason I’m helping all of you. However, it won’t affect you and the others. I want to save two people from the second floor, but it’s impossible if I rely on my strength alone. Therefore, I can only ask for senior’s help. I wish all of you will be able to stall the titled Celestial Emperors in the Heavenly Pool Palace. Otherwise, even if I manage to free those two people, I won’t be able to escape the Heavenly Pool Palace’s pursuit.”
“We only have six people on our side while the Heavenly Pool Palace has nine titled Celestial Emperors on their side. Moreover, a few of them are stronger than us… If nine of them act together, six of us are simply no match for them. Just You Feng Yu alone can suppress two to three of us…” the old woman said after listening to Duan Ling Tian’s words. A hint of fear flashed in her eyes when she mentioned You Feng Yu, the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace.
Duan Ling Tian said reassuringly, “Don’t worry. I’ve arranged for someone to keep him occupied.”
“Hmm?” The old lady was surprised when she heard Duan Ling Tian had found someone to deal with You Feng Yu. She asked curiously, “Whom did you find to deal with him. You should know that ordinary titled Celestial Emperors aren’t a match for him at all…”
“Senior, you might not have heard of him since he’s from the Solitary Destructive Heaven. To be precise, he’s from the Heavenly Palace in the Solitary Destructive Heaven…” Duan Ling Tian replied.
“The Heavenly Palace in the Solitary Destructive Heaven?” The old lady was briefly taken aback by Duan Ling Tian’s words. When she recovered her senses, she chuckled before she said, “What a coincidence! I’m also from the Solitary Destructive Heaven. When I came to the Boundless Heaven, I killed some people from the Heavenly Pool Palace. That’s why I’m imprisoned here. Unless they’ve just joined recently, I know all of the titled Celestial Emperors in the Solitary Destructive Heaven’s Heavenly Emperor Palace. Whom did you find to help you?”
“The Jade Bow Celestial Emperor, Meng Chuan,” Duan Ling Tian replied.
“Meng Chuan?” The old woman’s eyes widened imperceptibly upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s reply. “Kid, you’re not lying to me, right? You really managed to get Meng Chuan to help you?”
“Senior, why would I lie to you?” Duan Ling Tian smiled wryly. “There’s no reason for me to lie to you, and I’m not so bored to create such elaborate lies…”
“If Meng Chuan is helping you, your plan might work. Even if Meng Chuan is weaker than You Feng You, You Feng Yu won’t dare to kill Meng Chuan. Meng Chuan’s brother is Meng Luo, the Heavenly Sage Celestial Emperor, and he’s not a simple character. If You Feng Yu dares to harm Meng Chuan, Meng Luo will definitely turn the Heavenly Pool Palace upside-down. Although You Feng Yu is quite strong, he’s nothing compared to Meng Luo. Although You Feng Yu has the support of the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven, Meng Luo has the support of the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven. It’s no secret that the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven is stronger than the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven. After all, there are rumors that the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven has already attained godhood.” The old woman grew more and more enthusiastic as she spoke.
Duan Ling Tian was taken aback. “Senior, you’re saying Feng Qing Yang, the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven, has attained godhood?”
“That’s right,” the old woman said, “It’s said that after he returned from the Asura Hell, he easily killed Chen Qiu Bo who had recently become a Heavenly Emperor. Although there’s no confirmation that he has attained godhood, I think it’s not impossible since he killed Chen Qiu Bo so easily…”
“Senior, since you’re aware of this matter, it seems like you’ve not been imprisoned here for long…” Duan Ling Tian did not expect the old woman would be privy to matters that happened about 100 or 200 years ago.
“In any case, kid, even if you found someone to deal with You Feng Yu, the remaining eight titled Celestial Emperors aren’t easy to deal with as well…”
“Senior, don’t worry,” Duan Ling Tian said confidently, “Before I entered the Thousand Chains Prison, I’d already made other arrangements. At this moment, the Verdant Prairie Celestial Emperor and the Howling Heaven Celestial Emperor should’ve already left the Heavenly Pool Palace…” Then, he added, “Senior, can you speak to the others? If it’s possible, we should act in five days and break free from this place…”