Now confined within the Hall of Retribution, Xue Xinyu knelt, ensnared by immortal shackles—restraints so potent that even those with formidable qi found them unyielding. The gravity of his predicament weighed heavily on him as he struggled to comprehend the unfolding events. He recalled how, in the novel, Huai Xiaozhun had shattered similar bonds, overwhelming them with his qi until they exploded. But here, Xue Xinyu found himself helpless.

Behind him, Liang Zhiguan was held fast by two guards. Although he had stopped struggling when Xue Xinyu awoke, the shackles were doubly agonising for him, his demonic roots reacting violently to their suppressive power.

Despite their designation as shackles, they emitted an otherworldly luminescence, a golden hue that pulsed with vibrant energy, resonating with the very essence of qi. The intricate links released a steady stream of qi, cascading like ethereal tendrils that intertwined with the air, mocking Xue Xinyu's powerlessness.

Xue Xinyu struggled to understand his alleged transgression. Even if Liang Zhiguan had acted recklessly, how could it implicate Xue Xinyu, a respected peak master? What crime had he committed to warrant such a severe punishment?

"Xue Xinyu," came the voice of Zhou Xin, softer than before, tinged with regret. He stood beside Sect Master Zhuang Tianming, his eyes reflecting a deep sadness. "I never imagined it would come to this," he said, the righteous indignation in his tone replaced by genuine sorrow.

It dawned on Xue Xinyu that this was about his connection to demonic arts. But even so, the severity of the response seemed overwhelming. Zhou Xin's demeanour suggested he wished for a different outcome.

"Shizun harboured no ill intentions—" Liang Zhiguan began, but a guard's harsh grip silenced him.

"Xue Xinyu," Zhuang Tianming's voice cut through the tension, calm yet resolute. "Ordinarily, the punishment for such transgressions would be public execution. However, we have deemed it more fitting to consign both of you to the Divine Forbidden Heaven Prison."

The name alone sent a shiver down Xue Xinyu's spine. The Divine Forbidden Heaven Prison was the most dreaded place of incarceration in the cultivation world—an impregnable fortress where even the most powerful warlocks and demons were rendered powerless. Hidden deep within Fenghuang Peak, its existence was known only to a select few, and even Xue Xinyu had only heard whispers of its terrors.

Zhou Xin's gaze lingered on Xue Xinyu, a silent plea in his eyes, as if to say he had tried to prevent this outcome but had failed. The kindness in his expression contrasted sharply with the harshness of the situation, underscoring the deep divide between duty and personal feelings.

As they found themselves thrust into the cold, oppressive confines of the prison, their shackles still binding them tightly, a heavy silence settled over the chamber. The air was thick with despair, yet the flickering torchlight cast shadows of their resolve. Liang Zhiguan, his frustration boiling over, finally broke the silence. "How could they treat their own peak master like this?!" His voice trembled with indignation as he turned toward Xue Xinyu, his eyes filled with guilt. "Forgive me, Shizun... If only I hadn't—" he began, his voice cracking under the weight of his remorse.

"Don't worry," Xue Xinyu interrupted, his tone calm yet firm. He had no clear understanding of how they ended up here, but he could make a few educated guesses.

From what Liang Zhiguan had hinted, it seemed that Xue Xinyu had done something significant for him. Yet, even if Xue Xinyu had killed someone, as a peak master, such an act wouldn't normally warrant this level of punishment. It had to be more severe—perhaps linked to a massacre or, more likely, his dabbling in demonic cultivation.

"Zhiguan," Xue Xinyu's voice was steady, his gaze piercing, "What do you value more: righteousness or your Shizun?" The question hung in the air, laden with determination. Regardless of the reason for their imprisonment, one thing was clear—Xue Xinyu had no intention of spending his newly acquired life rotting in a cell.

"Of course, I'd choose Shizun," Liang Zhiguan replied without a moment's hesitation. "After all, you chose me over what's considered right for humans too."

Xue Xinyu surveyed their surroundings, his mind racing to formulate an escape plan. The journey to the prison had been disorienting, conducted under the cover of darkness, leaving him with only a vague sense of direction. The chamber they were in resembled a secluded cavern, its stone walls barren and unyielding, with no obvious exits. But perhaps there was a hidden door, concealed within the rock.

Determined, Xue Xinyu rose to his feet, focusing his qi with precision. He poured a substantial amount of energy into the shackles, carefully blending it with a trace of demonic essence to avoid triggering an explosion. The gamble paid off. With a sharp crack, the shackles shattered, clattering to the ground.

He turned to Liang Zhiguan, extending a hand to free him as well. The younger man's astonishment was evident; few could break such powerful restraints, let alone with such ease.

"They must not have anticipated we'd escape," Xue Xinyu mused, his eyes scanning the chamber. "We were blindfolded during the journey here. They likely didn't consider food or an easy way out for us. But there has to be something—a hidden passage, a mechanism."

"Zhiguan," he said, urgency threading through his voice, "help me search the chamber. There must be a way out." He pressed his hand against the rough stone wall, feeling for any signs of a concealed entrance. They had no time to lose—freedom was within reach, but only if they acted quickly and decisively.

The weight of their predicament pressed down on them like an unbearable burden. As the minutes dragged on, the air in the chamber grew colder, thick with the despair that gnawed at their spirits. Xue Xinyu and Liang Zhiguan combed the walls, their hands scraping over the rough stone, but their efforts seemed futile. The oppressive silence only deepened their sense of hopelessness.

"I'm sorry, Shizun, but I can't find anything," Liang Zhiguan lamented, his voice trembling with frustration and guilt. His breath came in ragged gasps, the exhaustion evident in every word. The bleakness of their situation seemed insurmountable.

"Just keep looking," Xue Xinyu urged, though his own voice was tinged with the heavy weight of doubt. As he turned to check on Liang Zhiguan, he noticed the young man stumbling, his steps faltering with fatigue. Before Xue Xinyu could react, Liang Zhiguan's foot caught on a loose stone, and he tumbled to the floor with a muffled cry of pain.

Xue Xinyu's heart leapt in concern, but before he could move to help, a loud, grating noise echoed through the chamber. The sound reverberated off the walls, startling both of them. They watched in stunned silence as the stone wall shifted, revealing a narrow passage behind it.

Liang Zhiguan, still on the ground, winced as he pushed himself up, clutching his arm where he had landed hard. His eyes widened in disbelief as he realised what had just happened. "I... I triggered the door?" he muttered, his voice a mix of astonishment and relief.

Xue Xinyu stared at the opening, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. "You did," he confirmed, helping Liang Zhiguan to his feet. The despair that had clung to them moments ago began to lift, replaced by a renewed determination.

"Let's go," Xue Xinyu said, his voice steady now, as he helped Liang Zhiguan up.

As they ventured through the hidden passage, they were met with a maze of twisting corridors, each more ominous than the last. The walls seemed to close in on them, the air thick with the scent of decay. Xue Xinyu and Liang Zhiguan pressed on, their steps cautious, but their resolve unshaken.

Suddenly, the air around them grew colder, and from the shadows emerged a horde of undead creatures, their hollow eyes glowing with malevolent intent. With no time to think, Xue Xinyu snatched up the shackles he had used earlier, brandishing them as makeshift weapons. The chains clanged and rattled as he swung them in wide arcs, desperate to keep the creatures at bay.

At first, it seemed the undead might retreat, sensing the ferocity in Xue Xinyu's attack. But then, with a renewed frenzy, they surged forward, undeterred. Xue Xinyu twisted the shackles with precision, ensnaring several of the creatures in a tight, suffocating grip. But the struggle was far from over.

As he poured demonic qi into the shackles to control the undead, Xue Xinyu felt a sharp, debilitating weakness spread through his body. His knees buckled, and his vision swam as the strain of manipulating such powerful entities took its toll. Controlling ordinary corpses was one thing, but these were high-level undead, their resistance fierce and unyielding.

"Zex'drak Mud'eth," one of the undead rasped as Xue Xinyu finally exerted enough control to bend it to his will. The words, though understood, barely registered as the world around Xue Xinyu darkened, his strength utterly spent. With a final, exhausted gasp, he collapsed to the cold, unforgiving ground.

When he finally stirred, it was to the soft sensation of Liang Zhiguan's thighs beneath his head, a stark contrast to the harshness of their surroundings. "Shizun, you're finally awake," Liang Zhiguan murmured, his voice tinged with relief. The controlled undead now sat obediently in a line, their malevolence subdued, as if waiting for orders—or forgiveness.

Xue Xinyu blinked, disoriented but alert, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. Sitting up, Xue Xinyu suddenly had a "lightbulb" moment and rocketed upright, as if he'd been lying on a bed of hot coals. He scratched his head with such vigour you'd think he was searching for hidden treasure. Anything to divert attention from the fact that he'd just been using Liang Zhiguan's thighs as his personal pillow.

"Shizun, you shouldn't do such dangerous things anymore," Liang Zhiguan pleaded, his eyes filled with concern. Though Xue Xinyu's actions had saved them, the toll it had taken on him was evident. "Promise me."

Seeing the genuine worry etched on his disciple's face, Xue Xinyu couldn't help but relent. "I promise," he said softly, the weight of the promise settling over him. He knew better than to make light of it, especially after seeing the fear in Liang Zhiguan's eyes.

For now, they were safe, but the path ahead was more uncertain than ever.

"Now, we should get moving," Xue Xinyu urged, breaking the stillness.

"They tried speaking to me," Liang Zhiguan said, glancing uneasily at the undead creatures still seated in eerie silence, "but I can't understand what they're saying."

"Zex'ethex?" Xue Xinyu ventured, trying to engage with the undead for the first time.

One of the creatures responded with a raspy, "Fren'ka vor'kren." Xue Xinyu paused, his mind working to decode the ancient language. "Help us, please," he interpreted aloud, the weight of their plea settling over them.

"What did he say, Shizun?" Liang Zhiguan asked, curiosity and concern mingling in his voice.

"They're asking for help," Xue Xinyu explained, his tone reflecting the gravity of their situation.

As they began to navigate the labyrinthine corridors, Liang Zhiguan couldn't help but ask, "Shizun, why did you start learning Maldrak?"

Maldrak, the forbidden tongue of the undead, was feared and despised not just for its dark connotations but also because any cultivator who learned it was branded a traitor, regardless of intent.

Xue Xinyu's response was laced with a resigned calm. "It was only a matter of time before they exiled me. Delving into this was just another choice among many I've made."

"So, you knew they'd turn on you?" Liang Zhiguan pressed, trying to make sense of it all.

In truth, Xue Xinyu hadn't foreseen exile. He had anticipated a far more final end, much like the fate that befell Huai Xiaozhun. Exile came earlier than expected, but perhaps that was fate's twisted mercy. Either way, their betrayal was inevitable—timing, merely a trivial detail.

"You seem troubled by it," Xue Xinyu observed, noting the tension in Liang Zhiguan's voice.

"Of course I am, Shizun. You did so much for them," Liang Zhiguan replied, the hurt evident in his words.

"Zhiguan, remember this: no matter how much you do for someone, all it takes is one reason for them to turn against you," Xue Xinyu advised, his tone cold yet tinged with a wisdom hard-earned.

Xue Xinyu had never been one for poetic wisdom, but it seemed this world was forcing him to embrace it.