When Jiang Chen had first learned that his father had been sent by the Falling Heaven Society to the Moon God Sect and then handed over to the Black Prison Area, he had practically been on the verge of despair.
Yet who could have guessed—just when all hope seemed lost, a new path would appear.
Once he arrived at the Black Prison Area, his father was still here. He was barely clinging to life, but at least he was still breathing. As long as his father yet lived, Jiang Chen had the means to restore him to full health and return him to the vigorous, tiger-like state of his prime.
He slowly channeled his own True Essence into his father's body, helping to strengthen his physical form and boost his life functions.
Under Jiang Chen's combined internal and external assistance, after a single hour, Jiang Feng's condition had recovered by a small margin. He was still quite weak, but his vital signs had more or less stabilized.
"Chen'er, your cultivation… it seems rather extraordinary?" Jiang Feng was visibly surprised. He could naturally sense the immense potential that lay dormant within Jiang Chen's body.
"Father, let's talk once we're out of here. Back then, you told me not to come to the Upper Eight Domains to find you until my strength was fully realized. Though I was burning with anxiety, I didn't dare disobey your wishes. So I had no choice but to train harder and push myself to the limit, hoping to come here and be reunited with you as soon as possible."
Jiang Feng broke into a broad smile. "Good, good! The fine son that I, Jiang Feng, have sired."
Jiang Chen hoisted his father onto his back. "Come. Let's get out of here."
Carrying a man of over a hundred jin on his back barely affected Jiang Chen's speed at all. He had originally planned to avoid the two men who had been hunting him.
But he soon discovered that the way out was completely unobstructed.
Once he emerged outside, he found that the two pursuers were already there. Upon seeing him, both men wore awkward expressions, even averting their gazes.
Jiang Chen was a shrewd man. Taking in the scene, he immediately understood that the Peerless Emperor had already "convinced" these people through force.
He harbored absolutely no goodwill toward these fellows.
They were among those most responsible for reducing his father to such a state. But at least his father was still alive, and that fact defused the greater part of Jiang Chen's towering rage.
When they saw Jiang Feng draped across Jiang Chen's back with his vitality apparently recovering, the group let out a long, collective sigh of relief. Moments ago, every single one of them had felt like they had a knife at their backs, terrified that Jiang Feng might have died or proven impossible to save.
If that had been the case, none of them would have escaped punishment.
Now, seeing Jiang Feng alive, each one felt as though they had dodged a death sentence.
"Brother, how is he?" The Peerless Emperor stepped forward and asked with concern.
"Heaven has been merciful—there's still hope." Jiang Chen's gaze turned cold as it swept over the powerhouses of the Ten Extremes Zone. "I know the Black Prison Area has its own rules of survival. I won't pursue this matter further, but don't expect my gratitude either. I'm taking this man away now. Does anyone have a problem with that?"
Everyone could plainly see that this young man's cultivation was not superior to their own—it was, in fact, somewhat weaker. Yet when confronted by Jiang Chen like this, not a single person dared to talk back. They all shook their heads, indicating they had no objections whatsoever.
He Fenghui even said with a solemn expression, "Young Master Shao, we were blind and couldn't tell good from bad. Please be magnanimous and don't lower yourself to our level."
At a time like this, saying a few humble words—no one would think the less of him for it.
"That's right, Young Master Shao. If we had known this friend had such an important background, we never would have harbored any designs on him."
"Sigh, it's all the Moon God Sect's fault. Without knowing the depth of the water, they lock just anyone up in the Black Prison Area. That sect truly operates beyond all law and reason."
Jiang Chen had no interest in listening to these people shirk responsibility, nor did he intend to have any further dealings with them.
He nodded coolly. "I've taken one person from here. If someone from the Moon God Sect asks about it, what then?"
He Fenghui chuckled. "People die in the Black Prison Area every single day. Who's going to notice one person missing? Don't worry, Young Master Shao—there will absolutely be no problems here. No one will even ask."
"What if someone reports it?" Jiang Chen smiled faintly.
He Fenghui's gaze turned fierce as he swept it across the group. "Does any of you dare to report this?"
"We wouldn't dare! Whoever reports this is signing his own death warrant! Besides, this is the Black Prison Area—very few important people ever come here. Even if you wanted to report, you probably wouldn't have the chance."
"Exactly, exactly! Whoever reports this will die a horrible death!"
The Peerless Emperor smiled leisurely. "Brother, you don't need to worry about any of this. Old He is a clever man. He should understand that if I can come once, I can come again. Unless they're determined to make an enemy of me, in which case…"
The Peerless Emperor didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was crystal clear to everyone present.
It wasn't a threat, yet it was more intimidating than any threat could be.
"We wouldn't dare…"
"Rest assured, Senior. We will absolutely keep our mouths shut."
One after another, they slapped their chests and swore oaths. Clearly, they were deeply wary of the Peerless Emperor, and equally wary of this mysterious young man, Jiang Chen.
Though they were imprisoned in the Black Prison Area, that didn't mean they would never leave.
And whether they left or not, being marked by a Great Emperor powerhouse was obviously extremely undesirable.
With Gu Xintang as their captain, and with both Jiang Chen and the Peerless Emperor dressed as enforcement disciples of the Cold Moon Punishment Hall, taking one person out with them aroused no suspicion whatsoever.
Their journey was smooth and uneventful from start to finish.
Once they exited the Ten Extremes Zone and entered the general Black Prison Area, that sharp-featured man had been waiting in a corner for quite some time. When he saw that Gu Xintang's group had actually brought someone out, his eyes nearly bulged from his head.