6. The Escape
(In the morning, Somewhere in the wilderness near Golden Prosperity City)
When Mu Tian woke up, he found himself in a different place. The place reeked of damp rot and old blood. A thick, suffocating darkness clung to the stone walls, broken only by the occasional flickering torch, its feeble glow barely enough to chase away the shadows that slithered in the corners. The air was heavy, thick with the scent of mildew and unwashed bodies.
The cells stretched down the corridor in a row of rusted iron bars, their jagged edges corroded by time and neglect. Some stood empty, their silence more unsettling than the distant, ragged breathing of unseen prisoners. Others held wretched figures huddled in corners, skeletal hands clutching at threadbare rags, sunken eyes staring vacantly through the gloom.
Water dripped from the ceiling in slow, rhythmic beats, pooling in uneven depressions on the cold stone floor. The occasional scuttle of rats echoed through the halls, their eyes gleaming in the dark as they fed on whatever scraps—or remains—they could find. The chains bolted to the walls swayed slightly, as if moved by an unseen breeze, their rusted links whispering against the stone like the voices of forgotten souls.
Somewhere deeper in the dungeon, a scream rang out—cut short too soon. Then silence. Mu Tian realized it immediately.
He had been tricked.
He was wearing new rags and iron handcuffs. There was only one conclusion. He was going to be sold as a slave. He knew he could not do much at this moment, since he was handcuffed. Therefore, the only thing he could do was cultivate. As Mu Tian was thinking about cultivating he realized he still had rewards left. Maybe they could be of some help in this situation. So he quickly entered his Mindspace and clicked on [Rewards].
[Rewards]
[Training Space Mind Technique Manual – Ready to be received.]
[Reverse Chain of Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation Manual – Ready to be received.]
[Return]
Mu Tian quickly clicked on the cultivation method 'Reverse Chain of Yin and Yang Dual Cultivation Manual'. It happened again. His vision blurred. His breath hitched. His thoughts, once his own, were drowned beneath a torrent of foreign understanding. Words he had never learned surfaced in his mind as if they had always been there. Symbols and equations burned themselves into his memory. Once it was done, Mu Tian fully understood the cultivation method.
The Reverse Chain of Yin and Yang is a demonic dual cultivation method that defies convention, reversing the natural balance of Yin and Yang. Instead of Yin being passive and unpredictable, it embodies order, thus steady, profound, and all-encompassing. It is flowing like an unshakable current. Meanwhile, Yang rejects structure, surging with the raw, unrestrained force of chaos. It is wild and untamed like a raging storm.
Mu Tian realized there is multiple problems with this cultivation method. This cultivation method is incredibly powerful but it would be considered forbidden or dangerous by most righteous sects due to its extreme instability and high failure rate. Only those with unwavering willpower and absolute control can hope to master it.
Without perfect control, the structured Yin may suppress growth, leading to stagnation, while the chaotic Yang may spiral out of control, consuming the user in reckless destruction. The constant struggle between order and chaos places immense strain on the body requires the cultivators to have a strong body. If the balance is broken during dual cultivation, one partner may drain the other's life force, leading to serious injuries or death of the partner. Therefore, a cultivator would need another cultivation method to create a strong foundation and that could balance the forces together.
But the worst of the matter is it requires a partner and an opened Dantian. This is something the current Mu Tian has no access to.
*Sigh*
Mu Tian was a little disappointed when the reward did not help him resolve a crisis as he had hoped. After waiting a few minutes for the headache to subside, he quickly entered his Mindspace and clicked on [Rewards].
[Rewards]
[Training Space Mind Technique Manual – Ready to be received.]
[Return]
Putting all his hope on the second reward, Mu Tian clicked on the 'Training Space Mind Technique Manual' to receive it. By now, he started to adapt to the influx of information. He neither got knocked out or started sweating. After the information transfer was done. Mu Tian started to review again. The 'Training Space Mind Technique' is a cultivation method designed to refine, temper, and expand one's consciousness by constructing a personal mental realm. Within this space, a cultivator can sharpen their will, accelerate comprehension, and overcome mental weaknesses. The mastery of this technique comes with different benefits. At Entry mastery, you create a mind realm. At the proficient mastery level, you refine the space. At the Master level, the space is strong enough for mind battles. At the perfection stage, the space is almost indistinguishable from reality.
This technique also has a downside. If the mind is shattered, even the strongest body becomes a lifeless husk. But this downside does not seem to be that bad, since Mu Tian cultivates 'The Whispers of the Demon' that negates the downside completely as this method focuses on stabilizing the mind and controlling the body with absolute precision through sheer mental strength.
For this technique, Mu Tian is extremely excited. Although it cannot directly help him with combat. It greatly shortens the amount of time it takes to learn new techniques or cultivation manuals. Additionally, you can use the Mindspace to test out the techniques to prevent qi deviation or failures.
He immediately wanted to test out this technique, but before he could sit cross-legged he heard footsteps in the hallway.
*step step step*
The footsteps were approaching Mu Tian slowly. Shortly after a man in a green robe appeared before the cell that Mu Tian was locked up in. It was Zheng Xi who looked at him with an sneer. After a short moment Zheng Xi asks "Are you comfortable in there, Tian Jue?"
Despite seeing the sneer, Mu Tian shows no reaction. He looks at Zheng Xi with a blank face and says "I've seen worse places."
Taken aback by his blank face, Zheng Xi asks "Don't you realize you are going to be sold as a slave? You would have no free will and you are going to be treated worse than a dog!". After seeing that there was still no reaction from Mu Tian, he started to get angry. He suddenly screamed "Guards!". In less than 20 seconds 3 cultivators entered the dungeon. When they stood before Zheng Xi, they asks "What can I do for you sir?"
Following that question, Zheng Xi pointed towards Mu Tian and said "Beat him up until he understands his situation."
Immediately after saying that Zheng Xi left in an angry bout.
*Stomp Stomp Stomp*
Mu Tian could hear his footsteps from miles away. After he was completely gone, the Guards opened the door to the cell.
Mu Tian understood what was going to happen, so he stood up.
The cell was dark, there was only light coming from the dim glow of torches in the distant hallway.
The three guards started to surround him, cracking their knuckles and staring at him with a glare full of malice. Their breaths fogged in the cold air of the dungeon, but their movements were fiery like hungry wolves.
Mo Tian stood still with his back against the wall, fist clenched but relaxed and steady breathing. Seeing his lack of stance, the guards sneered with arrogance.
One of the guards lunged impatiently at Mo Tian. He gave a wide hook with his right arm aimed at Mo Tian's Face.
"Too slow" said Mo Tian as he ducked below the hook.
Not waiting a moment, he used his movement technique to appear at his side and drove his fist into his stomach. A muffled sound was heard as the guard felt his lunch coming up again.
Seeing the skill of their opponent, the other guards who stood at his sides did not wait and punch simultaneously. One punch came from the right aimed at his ribs. The last guard aimed to knock Mo Tian out in one punch towards his temple. Seeing that he was in a pinch, Mo Tian weaved the punch that was coming towards his temple, but could not avoid the punch towards his rib.
*Crack* A muffled crack followed, and Mo Tian staggered, gasping for air. The Attackers did not let this opportunity go as they joined together to beat him up. But Mo Tian was not an easy target. Despite his injury he weaved the punches and punched one of the guards straight to his temple. *Thump* He got knocked out.
The two guards started to become cautious. They realized that the one they thought was an easy prey turned out to be a cornered rat.
They started to corner him again, until one guard was in the front and the other in the back. Mo Tian could not focus his sights on both targets.
Suddenly, they simultaneously lunged forward. Both guards swinging a wild punch aimed at Mo Tian's head. Quickly Mo Tian ducked an donkey rolled out that situation. A shameless act, but effective nonetheless.
He quickly kicked one of the guards to get him out of balance. The guard staggers and falls forward onto the other guard. Before they could recover, Mo Tian appeared. He grabbed the back of a guard's head and slammed it on the head of the other. After 3 times, they both lose conscious.
Mo Tian quickly took the keys and walked out of the cell.
*Click Thump* The handcuffs fell on the ground.
He locked both guards in the cell. And stumbled through the dungeon with a broken rib. As he walked through the dungeon, he sees many people. Most of these have no martial arts or really weak.
Suddenly, he hears a low voice.
"Hey you, how did you get out?"
When Mo Tian looks right he sees an old man in rags and handcuffs looking at him. Mo Tian did not know why but he felt a dangerous aura coming from the old man in the cell.
"I walked out." replied Mo Tian to the old man before trying to walk further. However he stopped at the old man's next words.
"Do you know your way around? I do. This used to be my palace." Says the old man.
"What do you mean?" asks Mo Tian quickly.
"Some things are better left unsaid. However you won't be able to leave if you go alone." Said the old man while coldly looking at Mo Tian.
"But if I help you out of your cell, I will?" asks Mo Tian.
"Yes" Replied the old man. His tone was cold, but Mo Tian could hear the confidence in his voice.
Mo Tian hesitates. He could feel that the old man was dangerous, but he had no other choice. Time was limited. Any extra help would increase his chances to escape.
*Sigh* sighs Mo Tian and he throws the keys to the old man.
*Clink Thump* Another set of handcuffs falls to the ground.
"Let's go. We don't have much time before those guards notice something amiss." Says Mo Tian to the old man. However the old man was not really listening. He rushed out of the dungeon at a speed that Mo Tian barely sensed. Shortly after, Demonic Inner Energy could be felt in the air that is definitely from the old man.
"Hah… So that old man is a demonic cultivator. Pity he lost his mind." said Mo Tian under his breath and proceeded to walk towards the exit of the dungeon.
As he walks to the exit, the glare of the sun falls onto his eyes. Blinding him for a short moment. Calmly breathing in and exhaling loudly, stood Mo Tian in front of the ruins of what should have been a palace. The smell of blood permeated the cold evening air. Around him lay corpses of various guards of the Zheng Family.
"I cannot believe I'm so unlucky. First, I get hunted down by those from the Jian noble family. Secondly, I got kidnapped by a two faced bastard and thrown into a dungeon to be sold as a slave." sighed Mo Tian.
He quickly undresses one of the corpses and takes his armor as his clothes.
"The old man is already gone after he massacred everyone here." concludes Mo Tian after hearing the silence within the surroundings.
"I really need to find a way to get some time to cultivate." thinks Mo Tian as he again regrets his weakness. Then he started looking around to find a way back to the city. Shortly after, he is standing on the tallest tower of the abandoned palace. This place used to be a sect before, but now it was completely in ruins. It reminded him of the demonic cult.
*sigh*
"It seems I need to go east to go back to Golden Prosperity City. I need to hurry before the reinforcements from the Zheng family arrive here." thought Mo Tian.
He quickly left the tower and rushed back into the forest.