Chapter 1220: The Strongest Team

Pingsheng Divine Prison, located within the Lawless Zone between the Aurora Heaven and the Lingguang Heaven, appears externally as a colossal spider statue.

The interior of the statue serves as the prison, while its exterior is adorned with numerous grand halls. From a distance, these halls have a peculiar, nail-like shape, also imbued with sealing capabilities. The statue itself is entirely black and as vast as a star. It is concealed within a stellar vortex formed by nihility dust, constantly absorbing free source energy from the Lawless Zone through its eight densely furred legs.

This divine prison has existed for several millennia. It was originally constructed through the combined efforts of seventeen cosmic imperial families from the Lingguang Heaven. Consequently, this divine prison is essentially a private penitentiary for these seventeen cosmic clans. The deities imprisoned within were mostly gathered here through various means, either by plunder or purchase. Many of them were originally held in the Aurora Heaven but were then acquired by these Lingguang families through ingenious means, treated as mere commodities.

The reason it was initially built in the Lawless Zone is due to the unique nature of this prison: the imprisoned deities need to maintain a certain level of activity and cannot fall into a deep slumber. Therefore, it could not be built within a Heaven realm permeated with immortal spiritual energy, as that would induce a profound slumber in the deities. The official reason given for this arrangement was to study the immortality of deities. This was reported to the Lingguang Heaven and also recorded and registered within the Jiuan Heaven, thus subjecting it to the jurisdiction of both Heaven realms.

Only under these conditions was its construction permitted. Furthermore, precisely because it was under the joint jurisdiction of both Heaven realms and due to the specialized research conducted there, this location fell outside the purview of the Resource Allocation Department. For years, no resource emissary had received a task to gather resources from this area. Over time, the place became relatively peaceful. As for the prison guards, apart from two wardens, the rest were cultivators from the seventeen families, numbering in the thousands.

At this moment, within the highest central hall atop the colossal spider statue, melodic music resonated. Enslaved alien races were performing songs and dances, while divine slaves, with traces of godly blood flowing within them, played ancient instruments. Servants in chains delivered cups of exquisite wine infused with source energy. Surrounding them were dozens of cultivators, all powerful alien beings, except for the two human figures seated in the center. Each one watched with appreciation, indulging in the pleasure.

As for the two human figures, one was an elder, the other middle-aged. The former hailed from the Lingguang Heaven, and the latter from the Jiuan Heaven. These two were the wardens of this divine prison.

"Day after day, year after year, esteemed colleague," the elder said with a smile, raising his cup, "we have enjoyed our time here rather pleasantly."

The middle-aged warden chuckled, raising his own cup in return. "With inexhaustible source energy, the service of enslaved races, and far removed from war, it is like a paradise."

"Haha, finding peace in a corner of the world is also a way of life," the elder agreed.

They had been on duty here for three hundred years, and while enjoying peace, they had also gained significantly, with their cultivation reaching the mid-stage Quasi-Immortal realm, not far from the late-stage.

"However, all good things must end," the elder continued. "In another sixty years, our terms will conclude. By then, we will likely have different paths ahead, and it's uncertain how long it will be until we meet again."

"Let's not dwell on the future; let's simply enjoy the present," the middle-aged warden replied.

They both laughed heartily, raising their cups to each other again. The surrounding alien guards also smiled broadly, offering flattery and raising their own wine cups.

Just as everyone was about to drink, a sudden gust of wind swept into the hall from outside, bringing a few wisps of coolness to the lively atmosphere. Within the cool breeze, an ethereal alien cultivator materialized, forming into a graceful female figure in mid-air. She bowed respectfully and spoke rapidly.

"Sirs, nearly a hundred human presences have been detected outside the divine prison, approaching our location. The outer guards have already issued verbal warnings and activated the defenses. But..."

As the female cultivator spoke, a sudden roar erupted from outside—a world-shattering sound that instantly exploded. The defenses had been breached! The next instant, the aura from outside permeated the area. Inside the hall, the cultivators' expressions shifted. The two human Quasi-Immortals frowned, their bodies blurring.

In a flash, they appeared outside the hall. The moment they looked up, recognizing the attire of the newcomers, their expressions simultaneously darkened. Following their gaze, numerous long rainbows, like meteors, carried remarkable auras, stirring colossal waves as they descended upon the divine prison. They swept through everything in their path, shattering barriers.

In the blink of an eye, seven or eight figures, with overwhelming force, crashed onto the statue's ground directly in front of the two wardens. The statue trembled. A storm erupted from the ground, sweeping violently outwards with a thunderous roar. As the fierce winds raged, more meteors descended, and the ground continued to quake.

The surrounding alien cultivators braced themselves as if facing a formidable enemy. Indeed, the newcomers were astonishing, both in number and cultivation level. What made them even more solemn was that these descending human cultivators, after rising, each wore an air of nonchalant arrogance. One of them, exuding an aura of malevolence, was particularly terrifying. They then dispersed independently. However, upon closer inspection, it would be noticed that these arrogant individuals were arrayed as if waiting in formation. The one cloaked in malevolence did the same.

Immediately after, more meteors whistled down, also forming ranks. Until nearly all the meteors had descended, the final one in the sky shone with dazzling light, carrying an aura comparable to a Lower Immortal, and suddenly appeared.

The moment it approached, all the alien cultivators were appalled, and even the two wardens' expressions changed instantly and dramatically, as never before. Their bodies involuntarily recoiled under the overwhelming aura, their hearts filled with dread.

"A Lower Immortal?"

"It doesn't seem like it... but this aura..."

As the two gasped, the terrifying meteor had already landed, crashing onto the ground. It transformed into a young man. Dressed in black, with long black hair, his aura was immense, shaking their very souls. The entire prison trembled violently.

While the guards and the two wardens were still in shock, the malevolent cultivator who had arrived first among the group stepped forward slowly. He eyed the other cultivators askance and spoke in a hoarse voice, "I am Xielingzi. My lord received a secret message stating that a deity here intends to escape, hence our arrival to suppress them."

Upon hearing this, the guards' expressions turned grim. As for the two wardens, they glanced warily at the black-clad young man who had arrived last, surrounded by the arrogant cultivators, and hesitated internally.

One of them spoke in a low voice, "Esteemed Resource Emissaries, this place is under the jurisdiction of Jiuan Heaven and Lingguang Heaven, and there is no rebellion here."

As he spoke, Zhou Zhengli, standing beside Xu Qing in the crowd, offered a gentle smile. "Are you the warden, Sir? Don't be alarmed. We are simply conducting an inspection. If there truly is no rebellion, we will depart."

Upon hearing this, the two wardens were about to express their anger, but their gaze fell upon Xu Qing, and they couldn't help but hesitate. At the same time, Xinghuanzi, from within the crowd, erupted with fierce killing intent and stepped forward. His cold voice echoed in all directions.

"We are merely performing our duties; there's no need for further talk. Everyone, follow me inside for a thorough inspection!"

As he spoke, he ignored the guards and headed straight for the interior of the statue. Dozens of cultivators followed him immediately, swiftly moving after Xinghuanzi, once Xu Qing nodded.

The prison guards here dispersed their auras, and the two wardens gritted their teeth, about to intervene. Just then, Zhou Zhengli lightly coughed. The next moment, according to their pre-arranged plan, each person either released a special fluctuation, presented a valuable token, or spoke aloud:

"Our master, Lan Xiao, is a Lower Immortal!"

"My master is the head of the Resource Allocation Department, known to some as the 'Poison Venerable!'"

"My bloodline originates from the Saint of Talismans, the Elder!"

"I have an agreement with the Chen family to be their 'outer-clan dao seed!'"

"The Human Immortal Sect has granted me disciple status!"

"Mount Qi Heaven has a dao agreement with me!"

These pronouncements echoed, and the light from various tokens flashed, shaking the starry sky and causing the two wardens' expressions to change dramatically.