"I was wrong."
Dongfang Hansong spoke again, his voice hoarse and low.
Most importantly, it was filled with regret.
But regarding Dongfang Hansong's admission, Xiahou Jue scoffed.
"It's too late. No matter how you admit your fault, you can't escape death."
Xiahou Jue stared coldly at Dongfang Hansong, his gaze sharp enough that had he possessed the strength, he would have killed Dongfang Hansong without hesitation.
His resolve showed not the slightest wavering in response to Dongfang Hansong's confession.
Dongfang Hansong didn't bother explaining further. Instead, he grabbed Xiahou Jue and departed from the great hall.
He left the area where Chu Feng was imprisoned and arrived at a temporary forbidden ground of the Prison Sect.
It was a palace constructed from supreme treasures, and outside it stood none other than Dongfang Hansong's most trusted confidants, standing guard.
"My Lord, what happened to you?"
"Was it the New Faction that did this?"
When Dongfang Hansong's confidants saw his weakened state, and then saw Xiahou Jue — who had already been reduced to a soul form — they instinctively assumed that Baili Xukong had launched an attack against Dongfang Hansong.
"It's nothing."
Dongfang Hansong waved his hand dismissively, then kicked the palace doors open with a single strike.
Inside, six elders of the Neutral Faction were present.
Although their cultivation had been completely stripped away, they were conscious.
However, they all lay in the depths of the hall, clearly still very weak.
Upon seeing Dongfang Hansong, their rage immediately ignited. They had been about to curse him.
But when they saw Xiahou Jue in Dongfang Hansong's grasp, they froze.
They thought the same thing as Dongfang Hansong's confidants — that there had been an internal clash between the Old Faction and the New Faction.
And Dongfang Hansong's subordinates, none the wiser about the truth, filed in after him.
The last one to enter even thoughtfully closed the hall doors behind him.
As for Dongfang Hansong, he walked straight up to the six elders and then dropped to his knees before them.
He then produced the item that carried the Prison Lord's aura.
"That is...?"
Looking at the item, every person present lit up with recognition.
After all, that aura was far too familiar.
"Elders, Hansong deceived you."
"The Prison Lord is Chu Feng's grandfather, and Chu Feng… is the young master of our Prison Sect."
The moment these words left Dongfang Hansong's lips, the six elders were struck with shock.
Even when Dongfang Hansong had stripped them of their cultivation, they had never believed he was deceiving them.
And Dongfang Hansong's confidants were struck even harder, as if bolted by lightning. Every one of them stood frozen in stunned silence.
"I harbored ulterior motives. I wanted my son Chen Hui to ascend to the position of Prison Lord, and to conceal this, I even killed Lord Yun Ao — who had been traveling with me — with my own hands."
Dongfang Hansong continued his confession, and his confidants' eyes widened even further.
Every single revelation was something they had been completely unaware of.
But each one shattered their worldview, striking deep at their hearts.
"I was foolish. I believed myself righteous. Even betraying the Prison Lord, I thought I was paving the road for my son's future."
At this point, Dongfang Hansong let out a bitter laugh.
"All those years I spent fighting alongside the Prison Lord, and yet I was less loyal to the Prison Sect than Hui'er."
Right then, several bursts of killing intent surged from behind Dongfang Hansong. His own confidants had drawn their weapons, their murderous auras soaring as they surrounded him.
"Lord Dongfang Hansong… what you're saying — it can't be true, can it?"
A middle-aged woman spoke coldly. Her cultivation was no weaker than Xiahou Jue's, and she was one of Dongfang Hansong's most trusted subordinates.
Though her words sounded like a question, the killing intent in her eyes was already unmistakable.
But Dongfang Hansong paid them no mind. He continued looking at the six Neutral Faction elders.
"My Lords."
"The Sealing Formation that the Seven Realms Sacred Palace has deployed appears to have locked down our young master, but in truth, it is devouring the power of the Prison Infant within him."