The Daxia Dynasty covered a vast expanse of land, more than thirty percent larger than the Flying Horse Dynasty, with countless states within its borders.
Located in the southeastern part is the Cui Liu Region, one of many. Due to its lack of unique geographical features and history, as well as a lower than average martial arts standard, this region is not well-known.
Outside Wind Thunder City in White Cloud State of Cui Liu Region, there lies a low, verdant valley that enjoys spring all year round and offers beautiful scenery. Yet, it is seldom visited due to the abundance of wild beasts and its remote location.
What no one knows is that within this valley, multiple arrays of the Void Origin Realm level are laid out. Within the arrays, there are connected corridors and courtyards where scantily clad men and women pass by, their laughter and frolicking sounds continue day and night.
A veritable den of iniquity.
In the darkest corner on the western side of the courtyards, there is a damp prison that goes straight down to the earthâs core. Imprisoned here are young men and women, all with exceptional talent, but at this moment, they are all in tatters, with lifeless eyes, like human-shaped puppets.
In the middle of the dungeon.
A disheveled youth covered in dirt slowly opened his eyes at the sound of footsteps, a fleeting glint of anger flashing by.
"You scoundrels, the chief steward is here; why havenât you knelt yet?"
The door swung open, and three women walked in. The woman on the left pointed at the young man and bellowed angrily.
"Kneel? I, Yang Feng, only kneel to heaven, earth, my parents, and my mentors. What are the likes of you?"
The youth let out a cold laugh, his face faintly illuminated by the weak candlelight in the cell, revealing that he was none other than âLightning Bladeâ Yang Feng who had been missing for so long.
"Youâre asking for it!"
A lash whipped through the air, accompanied by a gust, striking Yang Fengâs face with such force that it sent him flying against the wall with a thud, then tumbling to the ground, coughing up blood.
Yang Feng just sneered relentlessly.
Ever since he was captured by the Happy Valley, he had given up all hope for life. To degrade himself and serve women just to stay alive was out of the question.
The woman in the middle, tall and naturally proud, said in a lofty voice, "I will never forget the first time I saw you, that disdainful look in your eyes. No other wretched man has ever dared to look at me like that, so I want you to live and be tortured every day until you beg for mercy, subjected to all thirty-six tortures."
Soon after, pained screams could be heard from the cell, loud enough for those nearby to hear every day, yet they would still tremble and their skin would crawl.
To punish those who disobeyed, Happy Valley had invented thirty-six heavenly tortures; most people couldnât even withstand the first type. Even the most resolute and hot-blooded men could not endure past three types.
However, the person in that cell, it was said, had been subjected to the complete thirty-six heavenly tortures, seventy times, coming close to death from pain many times. Yet, the cruel chief steward always stopped just in time and then would feed him healing elixirs, waiting until he recovered a little only to continue the torment.
Two hours later, the screams had weakened to the point of being barely audible.
"Feed him the medicine, and weâll come back tomorrow."
After the door was shut, Hall Master Qu Wuyan walked out, her exquisite beauty one in ten thousand, with a figure equally stunning. Yet everyone who knew her summed up their impressions of her in just four words: heartless as a serpent.
"Brother Shi."
In the dim dungeon, Yang Feng lay on the floor, his body a bloody mess.
When people are at their most vulnerable, they tend to fantasize about hope. In Yang Fengâs heart, if anyone could rescue him from Happy Valley, that person would certainly be Shi Xiaole.
"Iâm afraid I wonât make it that long."
The last news he heard about Shi Xiaole was when the other became the peerless swordsman at Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain. Afterwards, Yang Feng came to the Daxia Dynasty, where he sought adventures and acted chivalrously, not having heard from his old friends for years, nor knowing how Brother Shi or Crown Sword Marquis were doing.
With Brother Shiâs talent, he thought, he must at least be an Eighth Tier Earth Immortal by now. Unfortunately, such experts were not uncommon in Happy Valley, not to mention Ninth Tier Earth Immortals, Invincible Earth Immortals, and even more powerful figures.
Even a Void Origin Realm Martial Emperor might not be able to rescue him!
Deep into the night, the moon was cool like water.
Suddenly, a stone on the side of the prison cell was gently moved, and a lovely-looking girl crawled in, whispering, "Brother Yang, youâve been tortured again."
"Xiaoyu, Iâve told you not to come here. What if youâre discovered?"
Seeing the girl, Yang Fengâs expression softened.
His capture was not unrelated to this young girl. When he was passing through Wind Thunder City, Yang Feng saw her being harassed and moley, and stepped in, crippling her harassers. Little did he expect it would draw the attention of Happy Valley, leading to both their captures.
But he didnât blame her.
Perhaps from the day he saw her giving buns to beggars on the street, he was already captivated by her beautiful smile. If given another chance, he would still take action.
Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Donât worry, Brother Yang, I look so plain that all these days Iâve just been carrying water and cooking in the valley. Even if Iâm caught, at worst theyâll just punish me."
As she spoke, she took out a sandalwood lunch box from the wall, opened the lid, and carefully took out rice and several delicate dishes, then handed over chopsticks.
"You shouldnât take such risks for me."
Yang Fengâs voice was choked with emotion, but he skillfully took the chopsticks and began to eat heartily. He knew all too well that without Xiaoyu risking her life to bring food every night, he would never have survived the daily torture.
As for the tunnel, it was a strange coincidence that it had been there for a long time. Although Yang Feng was puzzled by this, he was always straightforward; since he trusted Xiaoyu, he would not question it too much.
"Does it taste good?"
"Hmm, itâs delicious."
Under the moonlight, the girlâs pure and beautiful face rippled with a warm and sweet smile, making Yang Feng feel as if all the pain of the daytime had disappeared.
The two of them sat opposite each other, less than three feet apart; Yang Fengâs emotions surged, "Xiaoyu, how great it would have been if we hadnât been captured. I would have taken you to see the grand rivers and mountains, visited various scenic spots, and introduced you to my friends."
"Brother Yang, in what capacity would you take me?"
Xiaoyu asked, bowing her head.
A sudden silence.
Yang Fengâs face turned red, but he still mustered the courage, "Xiaoyu, I donât know when I might die, and I donât want to regret not being honest about my feelings for you."
Xiaoyuâs long eyelashes trembled a few times, and her fair face blushed instantaneously, like a shy rose blooming, her hands fidgeting with the corner of her clothes.
She would never know that her expression at this moment was a memory Yang Feng would never forget in his lifetime. Nor would she know that it was not only his pride that helped him endure the torture, but also the desire to see her one more time.
The power of love is indeed strong.
"But we canât get out."
Xiaoyu forced a smile, "Thereâs something I forgot to tell you, Brother Yang. Many days ago, I secretly sent a letter to that friend you often talk about. By my calculations, he should have received the message by now."
Yang Fengâs complexion changed, holding back an urge to rebuke her.
He had never considered asking Shi Xiaole to save him, as it would be implicating him in wrongdoing, but seeing Xiaoyuâs pained expression, he knew she couldnât bear to see him suffer and thus could not blame her.
Perhaps Brother Shi was on an adventure and had not received the message. That was for the best.
"Xiaoyu, remember my words, never give up hope. The Valley of Joy, with its endless evils, will sooner or later be wiped out, and youâll regain your freedom, and find someone to love and grow old with."
Xiaoyuâs eyes suddenly reddened, "Please donât say that, Brother Yang. You must also survive; Xiaoyu wonât let anyone hurt you."
Yang Feng extended his hand, stroking the girlâs hair - the first time he had touched this girl, and the young man, unafraid of death, now felt his heart pounding with nervousness.
The warmth he felt from the touch intoxicated him; Yang Feng told himself that heaven had already been very generous to him, for at least before his death, he had tasted the flavor of love.
Xiaoyu held his hand tightly, closing her eyes as tears streamed down.
...
The Valley of Joyâs Hall Master, âSoaring Azure Dragonâ Ouyang Jing, was a middle-aged man with well-preserved features and no facial hair. At this moment, he sat in the front yard hall, drinking and thoroughly enjoying the company of beautiful women serving him.
He indeed had reasons to be proud.
Through his endeavors, the Valley of Joy had rapidly expanded over the years, while successfully avoiding trouble with the Righteous Path. Most delightful was that half a year ago, two more individuals from within the valley had become Martial Emperors of the Void Origin Realm.
Although the era had advanced and the abundance of spiritual qi had made it many times easier to achieve the rank of Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm, not everyone was capable of making such a breakthrough. To any power, a Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm was an invaluable support pillar.
"Hall Master, bad news!"
Discordant shouts of alarm rang out.
"What has happened?"
Ouyang Jing squinted, slightly displeased.
"Hall Master, Qizheng Sect, Feiyan Pavilion, and Flowing Water Sectâthese three major powers have joined forces and are attacking us!"
Ouyang Jing tossed his wine cup aside, pushed the woman on top of him away with a slap, and his expression grew terribly grim.
Qizheng Sect, Feiyan Pavilion, and Flowing Water Sect were well-known first-rate forces in the Martial World of the Daxia Dynasty, not located within the Cui Liu Region. For these three powers to suddenly join forces signified only one possibility: the matters of the Valley of Joy had been exposed, even their true strength likely fully known; otherwise, there would have been no need for them to unite.
There must be a traitor!.
"Follow me to face the enemy!"
The combined forces of the Qizhang Sect and the others were ferocious, each led by a Martial Emperor of the Void Origin Realm, and their overall strength surpassed that of the Valley of Joy.
Unexpectedly, Ouyang Jing had hidden his true capabilities; he was, in fact, a peak Earth Immortal Martial Emperor. Under his command, the Valley of Joy launched a frenzied counterattack and, after more than half a month of bitter fighting, managed to severely damage the three major powers.
But Ouyang Jing was also gravely injured.
"Hall Master, we have found the traitor,"
One day, a young man wearing a green brocade robe walked into the hall and said in a chilling tone. He was the Hall Master of the Valley of Joyâs Xing Hall, âFlower Plucking Saintâ Zheng Xiqi.
"Who is it?"
Ouyang Jing was impatient.
Zheng Xiqi clapped his hands, and immediately two men escorted a pale-faced young woman in, pushing her harshly to the ground where her knees smashed the floor.
"Isnât this the maidservant of Qu Wuyan?"
"Exactly. After an investigation, Zheng has found that the traitor is none other than the Chief Steward, Qu Wuyan. A few months ago, she abused her authority to sneak this woman out and contacted the three major powers."