Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83 - Cry-Baby And Ugly-Faced Woman
Chapter 84 - The Situation Took A Turn For The Worst
Chapter 85 - The Blood Clan’S True Form (One)
Chapter 86 - Blood Clan'S True Form (Two)
Chapter 87 - Your Blood Is Quite Nutritious
Chapter 88 - Awakening (One)
Chapter 89 - Awakening (Two)
Chapter 90 - Awakening (Three)
Chapter 91 - Return
Chapter 92 - Sin Of Hell’S River
Chapter 93 - Don’T Do It, It’Ll Hurt
Chapter 94 - All The Blood In This World Belongs To Me
Chapter 95 - The Charm Of That Shield
Chapter 96 - I Definitely Will Not Let You Suffer
Chapter 97 - Our Inland Sea
Chapter 98 - Arracca Murkh
Chapter 99 - Uncertain Fate
Chapter 100 - Ramon (One)
Chapter 101 - Ramon (Two)
Chapter 102 - Eckstedt’S Welcoming Ceremony
Chapter 103 - Gamble (One)
Chapter 104 - Gamble (Two)
Chapter 105 - The Kingdom’S Wrath
Chapter 106 - The Failed Bet
Chapter 107 - Mystic Gun
Chapter 108 - Chapman Lampard
Chapter 109 - Remnants Of Magic
Chapter 110 - Paid Homage
Chapter 111 - Kaslan’S Tavern
Chapter 112
Chapter 113 - The Intersection Of Fate
Chapter 114 - The People In Hell (One)
Chapter 115 - The People In Hell (Two)
Chapter 116
Chapter 117 - Star Killer
Chapter 118 - The Unexpected Guests
Chapter 119 - A Marquis From Camus
Chapter 120 - Bait
Chapter 121 - Clue
Chapter 122 - Until Dawn Came (One)
Chapter 123 - Until Dawn Came (Two)
Chapter 124 - Queen Of The Sky
Chapter 125 - The Female Warrior
Chapter 126 - Heroic Spirit Palace
Chapter 127 - The Born King (One)
Chapter 128 - The Born King (Two)
Chapter 129 - A Duel
Chapter 130 - The King And His Archdukes
Chapter 131 - The Strange Swordsman
Chapter 132 - Who Are You?
Chapter 133 - Hunt And Chase
Chapter 134 - Little Rascal And Alex (One)
Chapter 135 - Little Rascal And Alex (Two)
Chapter 136 - Stabs
Chapter 137 - Kidnapping The Archduke?
Chapter 138 - Numb Hands
Chapter 139 - A Unique Welcome Banquet
Chapter 140 - The Red Witch
Chapter 141 - Reunion
Chapter 142 - Who’S There (One)
Chapter 143 - Who’S There (Two)
Chapter 144 - The Sword Of Baptism’S Death
Chapter 145 - The Wait
Chapter 146 - The Culprit
Chapter 147 - The Northland Road
Chapter 148
Chapter 149 - Not Even Worth Half A Penny!
Chapter 150 - The Beloved Former King, Nuven
Chapter 151 - Veteran
Chapter 152 - Shadow
Chapter 153 - Have A Drink
Chapter 154 - The Secret Of ‘Triumph’
Chapter 155 - A Bargaining Chip You Cannot Refuse
Chapter 156 - Horrifying
Chapter 157 - The Death Of Soria
Chapter 158 - Betrayal
Chapter 159 - The Fateful Night
Chapter 160 - The Invitation
Chapter 161 - The First Mystic Declaration
Chapter 162 - Letting Go Of A Suspicion
Chapter 163 - Monster And Monster
Chapter 164 - Chaos Begins
Chapter 165 - Just Speak
Chapter 166 - Surprise
Chapter 167 - Flee
Chapter 168 - The Tragic End Of Weaklings
Chapter 169 - Air And Blood
Chapter 170 - The Desperate Dash
Chapter 171 - The Outcome Of The Civil War
Chapter 172 - Elimination
Chapter 173 - The Blade Of Purification
Chapter 174 - The Truth About Elimination
Chapter 175 - Same Kind (One)
Chapter 176 - Same Kind (Two)
Chapter 177 - Sudden Entrance Into The Battlefield!
Chapter 178 - True Form
Chapter 179 - Silence And Darkness
Chapter 180 - Knocking On The Door
Chapter 181 - Phantom
Chapter 182 - A Gentle Kiss
Chapter 183 - The Cost Of Victory
Chapter 184 - The Paradoxical Assassin
Chapter 185 - Thunder Rumbles In Winter
Chapter 186 - End Of Arc: A Good Name
Chapter 187 - The Night Ends, The Day Breaks
Chapter 188 - It Is You
Chapter 189 - Symphony Of Blood (One)
Chapter 190 - Symphony Of Blood (Part Two)
Chapter 191 - Stop Meddling Into The Matters Of Elders
Chapter 192 - Six-Fifty
Chapter 193 - Choose Who You Want To Become
Chapter 194 - Ice-Cold
Chapter 195 - Spirit Of The Contract
Chapter 196 - The Manipulator (One)
Chapter 197 - The Manipulator (Two)
Chapter 198 - Price
Chapter 199
Chapter 200 - Encounter
Chapter 201 - The Prince’S End
Chapter 202 - Really Bad Luck (One)
Chapter 203 - Really Bad Luck (Two)
Chapter 204 - Understanding
Chapter 205 - Execute On The Spot
Chapter 206 - Guest From Barren Bone
Chapter 207 - The Prince’S Doubts
Chapter 208 - The Black Prophet From The Other Side
Chapter 209 - Code Name: Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 210 - The Importance Of Dragon’S Blood
Chapter 211 - A Gamble In The Dark (One)
Chapter 212 - A Gamble In The Dark (Two)
Chapter 213 - The Curse Of The Witch
Chapter 214 - The Scorching Blade
Chapter 215 - Stall
Chapter 216 - The Latecomer
Chapter 217 - A Very Big Problem
Chapter 218 - The Blade And The Wing
Chapter 219 - Trust And Loyalty
Chapter 220 - Nicholas’ Bargaining Chip
Chapter 221 - Shelter
Chapter 222 - A Critical Decision
Chapter 223 - Failure
Chapter 224 - Little Rascal’S ‘Consolation’
Chapter 225 - Save This Country
Chapter 226 - King Slayer
Chapter 227 - Creating Trouble For Ourselves
Chapter 228 - The Strongest Chess Piece (One)
Chapter 229 - The Strongest Chess Piece (Two)
Chapter 230 - The Strongest Chess Piece. (Three)
Chapter 231 - Lampard’S Plan
Chapter 232 - The Archduke’S Fight
Chapter 233 - It Has Been A Long Time
Chapter 234 - A Great Threat
Chapter 235 - Contention
Chapter 236 - The Inextinguishable Starlight
Chapter 237 - The Virtuous King
Chapter 238 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (One)
Chapter 239 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Two)
Chapter 240 - Centuries Of Strategic Planning (Three)
Chapter 241 - Genuine Patrols
Chapter 242
Chapter 243 - Seize Control
Chapter 244 - Chad Vlad
Chapter 245 - Severing Souls With A Slash!
Chapter 246 - A Game Of Chess
Chapter 247 - A Chance Encounter
Chapter 248 - I Am Very Honored
Chapter 249 - When Swords Cross (One)
Chapter 250 - When Swords Cross (Two)
Chapter 251 - Arduous
Chapter 252 - I Am So Relieved
Chapter 253 - I Can Help You
Chapter 254 - The Black Knight’S Death
Chapter 255 - Changing Hands
Chapter 256 - Counter-Attack
Chapter 257 - Check
Chapter 258 - Checkmate
Chapter 259 - A Speculation
Chapter 260 - The Reason For Battle (One)
Chapter 261 - The Reason For Battle (Two)
Chapter 262 - Twist Of Fate
Chapter 263 - A Child Who’S Not Able To Drink Alcohol
Chapter 264 - You Northland Barbarians!
Chapter 265 - Two Minutes
Chapter 266 - What A Shame (One)
Chapter 267 - What A Shame (Two)
Chapter 268 - We Won
Chapter 269 - The Archduchess
Chapter 270 - The Blood-Stained Crown
Chapter 271 - The Day Before The Bitter Cold Winter
Chapter 272 - Yc
Chapter 273 - End Of Arc: The Destiny They Missed
Chapter 274 - The Quiet Prince
Chapter 275 - A Game Of Chess (One)
Chapter 276 - A Game Of Chess (Two)
Chapter 277 - First Lesson
Chapter 278 - The Truth Brothers
Chapter 279 - Traitors
Chapter 280 - Target
Chapter 281 - An Awkward Dinner
Chapter 282 - Upset
Chapter 283 - Riot
Chapter 284 - The Familiar Guest
Chapter 285 - The Honor And Humiliation Of The Great Dragon (One)
Chapter 286
Chapter 287 - The Mystery About Putray
Chapter 288 - The Dragon’S Blood Has Yet To Dry
Chapter 289 - Dragon Breaker (One)
Chapter 290 - Dragon Breaker (Two)
Chapter 291 - Meryl Hicks
Chapter 292 - The Boundaries Of Governance (One)
Chapter 293 - The Boundaries Of Governance (Two)
Chapter 294 - What Is Magic?
Chapter 295 - An Unforeseen Invitation
Chapter 296 - The Game In The Carriage
Chapter 297 - The Former King’S “Present”
Chapter 298 - The Prince’S Shackles
Chapter 299 - Friend And Foe
Chapter 300 - Victory And Defeat
Chapter 301 - A Duel
Chapter 302 - Not Too Bad?
Chapter 303 - Leave
Chapter 304 - A Storm Is Coming
Chapter 305 - The Creation Of The Two Empresses
Chapter 306 - Raven Of Death
Chapter 307 - Ian The Nuisance
Chapter 308 - Collusion
Chapter 309 - The Writers Of Legend (One)
Chapter 310 - The Writers Of Legend (Two)
Chapter 311 - The Day Of The State Affairs Hearing
Chapter 312 - The Hatred For Stealing His Sister
Chapter 313 - The Beginning
Chapter 314 - For Dragon Clouds City
Chapter 315 - The Archduchess And Her Vassals
Chapter 316 - Plan
Chapter 317 - A Romantic Story
Chapter 318 - Are All Of You Coming?
Chapter 319 - Not According To Plan
Chapter 320 - Releasing In “Installments”
Chapter 321 - The Price Of Saying “No”
Chapter 322 - The Moral Of The Story
Chapter 323 - Good Morning
Chapter 324 - Returning The Favor
Chapter 325 - Send Reinforcements
Chapter 326 - Five Archdukes
Chapter 327 - The Prince’S Whereabouts
Chapter 328 - Just Like Chapman Lampard
Chapter 329 - The Final Journey
Chapter 330 - Assassinating Lampard?
Chapter 331 - Bumping Into A Ghost
Chapter 332 - Headquarters
Chapter 333 - Smooth-Sailing
Chapter 334
Chapter 335 - The Confusion While Going Back Home
Chapter 336 - The Veteran On The Wheelchair
Chapter 337 - Double The Amount?
Chapter 338 - The Point Of Contact
Chapter 339 - His/Her Eyes
Chapter 340 - The Magical Therren
Chapter 341 - You Son Of A *Censored*
Chapter 342 - Which Will You Choose?
Chapter 343 - Exterminate Them All
Chapter 344 - Black Track
Chapter 345 - Join Us
Chapter 346 - Silver Shadow
Chapter 347 - You Will Fail In The End
Chapter 348 - You Fell Into The Trap, Eh?
Chapter 349 - The War Of The Deceased Souls
Chapter 350 - Never Lost
Chapter 351 - The Pulse Of The Ground
Chapter 352 - God Knows
Chapter 353 - The First Rule
Chapter 354 - Pursuers
Chapter 355 - The Hardest Fight
Chapter 356 - Unique Only To One
Chapter 357 - Just Die Here
Chapter 358 - The Three-Second Fight
Chapter 359 - Surpassed Kaslan
Chapter 360 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (One)
Chapter 361 - The Raven And The Snow Blade (Two)
Chapter 362 - The Black Raven’S Eyes
Chapter 363 - Who Does Your Loyalty Belong To?
Chapter 364 - Turning Against One Another
Chapter 365 - Saber Or Crossbow?
Chapter 366 - Prince In The Desert
Chapter 367 - Sellsword
Chapter 368 - Dante’S Greatsword
Chapter 369 - Desert Threat
Chapter 370 - There’S Someone
Chapter 371 - Barren Bone People
Chapter 372 - Bloody Thorn Lizard
Chapter 373 - Young Cub
Chapter 374 - Foreign Blood
Chapter 375 - Coming-Of-Age Ceremony
Chapter 376 - Flag
Chapter 377 - The Destructive Army
Chapter 378 - Freaks
Chapter 379 - Welcome To Constellation (One)
Chapter 380 - Welcome To Constellation (Two)
Chapter 381 - Ghost Prince
Chapter 382 - My Home (One)
Chapter 383 - My Home (Two)
Chapter 384 - Age Of Mercenaries
Chapter 385 - Confrontation And Stalemate
Chapter 386 - Prince Versus Prince
Chapter 387 - So Many Tricks
Chapter 388 - You Have To Laugh
Chapter 389 - Shackles Of Power
Chapter 390 - Perhaps I Have
Chapter 391 - Happily Ever After
Chapter 392 - Technical Skill
Chapter 393 - Intention
Chapter 394 - New Guest
Chapter 395 - Shadows And Swords
Chapter 396 - The Dark Side
Chapter 397 - Emergency Mission
Chapter 398 - Alliance Of Traitors
Chapter 399 - The Mole
Chapter 400 - As Bad As Can Be
Chapter 401 - Affectionate And United
Chapter 402 - F*Ck You
Chapter 403 - H.N. Jadestar
Chapter 404 - Stupid Idea
Chapter 405 - Sinner
Chapter 406 - The Intruders
Chapter 407 - Head Towards Omniscience
Chapter 408 - Black Prison
Chapter 409 - Behind The Iron Curtain
Chapter 410 - Hallucination
Chapter 411 - Seven
Chapter 412 - People Whom History Has Forgotten
Chapter 413 - The Mourning Of The Guards
Chapter 414 - Where Is He?
Chapter 415 - Fall Out
Chapter 416 - Disaster Sword’S Battle
Chapter 417 - The Knight Of Judgment
Chapter 418 - A Different World
Chapter 419 - The Queen’S Dowry
Chapter 420 - The Greatest King
Chapter 421 - Knew Clearly
Chapter 422 - Nameless
Chapter 423 - Awaken
Chapter 424 - Loyalty
Chapter 425 - Peer
Chapter 426 - He Was Probably Old
Chapter 427 - A Stalemate
Chapter 428 - Dusk
Chapter 429 - The Man At The Proximal World
Chapter 430 - The Second Declaration Among Mystics
Chapter 431 - The Anchor Point
Chapter 432 - Taurus Mill
Chapter 433 - Decision
Chapter 434 - Correcting The Mistake
Chapter 435 - Malicious Flower, Malicious Fruit
Chapter 436 - Moriah Returns
Chapter 437 - Old Self
Chapter 438 - The Prince Is Not Here
Chapter 439 - Scheme Between The Thief And Bandit
Chapter 440 - Seven To Three
Chapter 441 - Missing One
Chapter 442 - Quick Wit
Chapter 443 - Not Just You
Chapter 444 - Someone Needs An Answer
Chapter 445 - A Forbidden Name
Chapter 446 - Three Calamity Allies
Chapter 447 - Enemy Of The World
Chapter 448 - 1 Vs 8
Chapter 449 - Chaos Of Armies
Chapter 450 - Two Hands
Chapter 451 - Xx Films
Chapter 452 - Fratricide
Chapter 453 - It Was Not A Coincidence
Chapter 454 - More Than Half
Chapter 455 - I Hated Him
Chapter 456 - Nothing At All
Chapter 457 - The Person Who Supported Him
Chapter 458 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (One)
Chapter 459 - Where The Sun Does Not Shine (Two)
Chapter 460 - Rebirth (One)
Chapter 461 - Rebirth (Two)
Chapter 462 - Rebirth (Three)
Chapter 463 - Rebirth (Four)
Chapter 464 - Rebirth (Five)
Chapter 465 - Truth Swords
Chapter 466 - Beheaded
Chapter 467 - Revealed In Flames
Chapter 468 - The Silent Demon
Chapter 469 - So Naïve That You Are Adorable
Chapter 470 - The Fate Twins
Chapter 471 - The True Essence Of The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 472 - Leaving The Prison
Chapter 473 - I Am Not A Devil, After All
Chapter 474 - Much… Higher
Chapter 475 - The Warden
Chapter 476 - Life, Safety And Freedom
Chapter 477 - Something Lighter
Chapter 478 - Get Me Something To Eat And Drink
Chapter 479 - Exclusive Possession
Chapter 480 - Kill Them
Chapter 481 - A Different Way Of Living
Chapter 482 - Get Yourself A Girlfriend
Chapter 483 - Make Me Even More… Excited
Chapter 484 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 485 - Too High
Chapter 486 - You Are Good-Looking
Chapter 487 - Too High
Chapter 488 - That Night
Chapter 489 - Usurp Power
Chapter 490 - Do Something
Chapter 491 - Power Comes From Violence (One)
Chapter 492 - Power Comes From Violence (Two)
Chapter 493 - The Third Party
Chapter 494 - Destiny Is Like A Poem
Chapter 495 - Raven Leader
Chapter 496 - Never
Chapter 497 - His Majesty’S Blessing
Chapter 498 - Black Lion
Chapter 499 - I Have Come In Peace
Chapter 500 - End Of Arc: Duke
Chapter 501 - Everything Will Be Better
Chapter 502 - Six Divisions And Seven Attendants
Chapter 503 - Divided Western Desert
Chapter 504 - Only One Day Left
Chapter 505 - Protection
Chapter 506 - This Is Just The Beginning
Chapter 507 - Hometown
Chapter 508 - A Small Spark
Chapter 509 - Anxious
Chapter 510 - Fifteen Minutes
Chapter 511 - King In The Mist
Chapter 512 - Crazy
Chapter 513 - A Small Favor
Chapter 514 - Like A Fleeting Cloud
Chapter 515 - Timetable
Chapter 516 - Coincidence?
Chapter 517 - Went To High School
Chapter 518 - Discovered?
Chapter 519 - Let’S Fight
Chapter 520 - Not Just The Power Of Eradication
Chapter 521 - World Class Battle Worthy Of Being Written In Historical Poems
Chapter 522 - Continuous Fights
Chapter 523 - Mutant
Chapter 524 - Self-Reliant
Chapter 525 - Lustful Woman
Chapter 526 - Knowledge Of People
Chapter 527 - Holiness Exorcism
Chapter 528 - Fight Between The Eldest And Youngest
Chapter 529 - Privacy
Chapter 530 - Alien Star
Chapter 531 - Guest
Chapter 532 - The Young Kingdom
Chapter 533 - Calm On Iron Spikes
Chapter 534 - Sorry To Keep You Waiting
Chapter 535 - Polaris
Chapter 536 - Times Have Changed
Chapter 537 - Pretty Boy
Chapter 538 - Magnificent Scene Of Hell
Chapter 539 - Side Story 7: Joint Council
Chapter 540 - Never Kneel
Chapter 541 - A Piece Of Cake
Chapter 542 - Merciless
Chapter 543 - That Gaze
Chapter 544 - Watchmen’S Code
Chapter 545 - The End Of It
Chapter 546 - To Not Perish As Foes (One)
Chapter 547 - To Not Perish As Foes (Two)
Chapter 548 - To Not Perish As Foes (Three)
Chapter 549 - To Duke Thales
Chapter 550 - What Rationality
Chapter 551 - Better
Chapter 552 - Sacrificing A Pawn (One)
Chapter 553 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Two)
Chapter 554 - Sacrificing A Pawn (Three)
Chapter 555 - Unfulfilled
Chapter 556 - Chess Player
Chapter 557 - Relieved
Chapter 558 - Punishment
Chapter 559 - Eight Arteries
Chapter 560 - Imperial Style
Chapter 561 - Cannot Escape The Sheath
Chapter 562 - Want Everything
Chapter 563 - Cause And Effect
Chapter 564 - Blazing Blood
Chapter 565 - Of Course—Not
Chapter 566 - Crown Jewel Of The Kingdom
Chapter 567 - Head Over Heels
Chapter 568 - As Truthful As Possible
Chapter 569 - Hand In Marriage
Chapter 570 - What Do I Need You For
Chapter 571 - Defects
Chapter 572 - Heart Of The Guards
Chapter 573 - You’Re A Real Dog
Chapter 574 - Antecessors
Chapter 575 - The Years Have Caught On To Me
Chapter 576 - Shooting Yourself In The Foot
Chapter 577 - Lie
Chapter 578 - The Wine Merchant
Chapter 579 - Damn The Prince
Chapter 580 - The Prince Likes Them
Categories Genre: Action, All, Drama, Fantasy, Mature, Ongoing, Psychological, Seinen, Tragedy Status: Ongoing Alternative names: Wang Guo Xue Mai, 王国血脉, ______
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
______
LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 580 Page No. 579 Page No. 578 Page No. 577 Page No. 576 Page No. 575 Page No. 574 Page No. 573 Page No. 572 Page No. 571 Page No. 570 Chapter 409 - Behind The Iron Curtain
Chapter 409: Behind The Iron Curtain
“Aahhhhhhh!…”
The strange wail lasted for a whole five or six seconds before it slowly faded away. Everyone’s faces were pale.
Only the echoes were left. They floated in the dark and empty hall, barely discernible, and brought a chill to everyone’s hearts.
“What’s the matter?” Ricky furrowed his brow and barked out an order, “Report!”
The Disaster Swords turned their heads together as they nervously searched for the source of the scream. More than a dozen torches were raised to light up the surrounding area. The group members were like adventurers exploring and developing a wasteland. They were nervous while on the lookout for the unfamiliar, and the unknown.
The surprised and bewildered Thales stopped using hell’s senses. Except for the dust, the old stone table, and the cells full of bones, he saw nothing else.
Ricky’s command was passed down from person to person, from the hall to the heavily guarded stone steps.
“No.” After a long while, Shawn spoke from behind them while huffing and puffing. “It’s not from us. Everything at the rear is normal.”
The worry on Ricky’s face became more prominent.
Meanwhile, Stake spoke in low whispers with a subordinate who appeared out of nowhere before the latter retreated into the darkness. Then, Stake solemnly raised his head.
“It’s also not us… it’s something else.”
Ricky turned to Samel and cast an inquisitive look at the former Constellatiate noble.
Samel seemed to have discovered something. He looked at the iron sign next to the iron curtain in slight surprise, then at a hanging ring next to the iron plate. “So this is—”
However, at that moment…
“Uwaaaahhhh!!”
The heart-breaking, blood-curdling, and pained scream traveled faintly from the darkness again. Everyone’s hearts tensed once more!
This time, the horrible ‘ghostly wail’ was accompanied by a piercing and unbearable screech, formed by someone scratching on something.
*Screeeeeech..!.*
Almost everyone subconsciously frowned, and some even covered their ears with their hands.
“What the hell?!” Lasalle face’s twitched. “What’s going on?!”
While the harsh and unpleasant noise continued, Ricky grabbed his sword hilt tightly and suppressed his annoyance before he asked Samel, “Do you think this is related to the Alchemy Tower?”
“Ahhhhhh!!”
*Screeeeech…!*
Thales gritted his teeth tightly, and felt that this sound made him incredibly nervous. It was similar to a sound he remembered in his past life, of someone scratching the blackboard with their fingernails.
When he thought of this, he was suddenly stunned. ‘Scratching a blackboard?’
At this point, the contemplating Samel suddenly said, “I know what this is!” Samel turned his head around and looked delighted, like a lost traveler who found a water source in the desert.
“This is is the scratching of nails on the surface of rough metal!” Samel touched the surface of the iron curtain and said excitedly, “It’s coming from behind this curtain!”
Everyone was stunned! Countless pairs of eyes looked at the heavy and strange iron curtain. Thales looked at the iron plate next to the iron curtain and used hell’s senses.
[Angelo, male, born Year 622 in Walla Hill]
[Imprisoned in Year 653. Crimes: Murder, robbery, theft, murder of nobles, unlawful assembly]
[Adjudicator: Johnny Brennan, Judge of Jade City]
[Warden: Joshua Covendier, Viscount of Arch Sea City]
[Warden: Garrett Luhmann, Baron of Blade Fangs Camp]
‘Imprisoned in Year 653…’ Thales wrinkled his brow slightly. There was another name on the iron plate:
[Fowler, male, born Year 613, somewhere in the Eastern Peninsula]
[Imprisoned in Year 653. Crimes: Smuggling, theft, tax evasion]
[Adjudicator: Johnny Brennan, Judge of Jade City]
[Warden: Joshua Covendier, Viscount of Arch Sea City]
[Warden: Garrett Luhmann, Baron of Blade Fangs Camp]
[Note: Died in Year 672]
Ricky seemed to have figured something out. He looked at the iron curtain, then at the iron plate next to him. Surprise appeared on his face. “So, the lone thief written on the plate is still alive?”
The pained wailing and scratching sounds gradually weakened. It then turned into a low-pitched whine.
“Wuuu…”
This time, Thales recognized the sound. This was someone sobbing, but when it went through the thick iron curtain, the pitch changed.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on the iron curtain and whatever that was behind it.
“I understand now.” Before everyone’s eyes, Samel walked to the middle of the iron curtain. Under the light, he scrutinized the special room covered by the iron curtain.
“This is the switch for the Black Prison. I don’t know whether it was built with the Alchemy Tower, or whether it was modified by the Constellatiates.
“The cells we saw earlier are full of bones, but those are all empty cells. This one with the iron curtain is the only cell with anyone alive.” Samel looked at the hanging ring on the wall carefully. His voice was a little grave. “This ring is the switch that controls the opening and closing of this iron curtain.”
The distorted sobs behind the iron curtain continued to linger in the air.
As he listened to Samel’s words, Thales looked at everything in the hall with complex feelings. His eyes swept over the thick dust, and over the workmanship in the hall that was inconspicuous but unique, and might have been made one thousand years ago…
“Beldin. He’s a veteran of the Royal Guards, and the chief penal officer after Zakriel was promoted. He was responsible for bringing criminals sentenced by the royal family to the Prison of Bones. He told me many years ago that the felons in Black Prison suffered from the pain of dying and living at the same time. I never understood what he meant until today.”
Samel’s hand gently stroked the ring, and swept off a layer of dust. His tone was airy.
“The living prisoners are locked inside the cell. The iron curtains then rise and isolate them from the light and the hall. The supplies are thrown down through holes above them, but they will only land behind the iron curtain, into the hands of the cells with the living inside them.”
He looked incredulously at the other empty cells around him. Then, he swept his gaze over the dried skeletons behind the bars.
“By doing so, the despair of being isolated from the world descends on the prisoners, but the hope of dragging out their miserable existences is also given to them. Two kinds of suffering,” said Samel dully. His face was very unpleasant. Everyone fell silent.
The former Baron Lasalle had a grave look on his face. “Why isn’t this prisoner behind the iron curtain talking or calling for help? Why is he only wailing like a ghost and scratching the curtain?”
Stake shrugged, and did not speak. The one who answered him was Josef, whom was rescued by the Disaster Swords.
“Because he can’t.” Josef shook his head. It startled Lasalle slightly.
“It’s just like practicing with the sword. If you don’t practice it for one day, your skills will become rusty. As I have said, when you are isolated from the world, and stay in a lonely cell with no other people for too long, so long that it exceeds your imagination…” The Disaster Sword whom had just been released from the Prison of Bones looked at each person, and those who met his eyes felt a chill.
“Trust me, you will lose more than just time and freedom.”
Thales stared at the cell behind the iron curtain. He felt that the air here had become a lot colder.
“What the hell?” Klein stared at the iron curtain with a burning gaze. He paid attention to the movements behind it. “The Prison of Bones, does this place want people… to be dead or alive?”
No one answered. There was only that indistinct sobbing.
‘Does this place want people… to be dead or alive?’ Thales stared at the hefty iron curtain with a heavy heart.
After a few seconds, Stake sighed. “Or neither.”
Ricky twitched his mouth and interrupted the depressing conversation, “I think we are on the right track.” He turned around. “Keep going.”
The Disaster Swords followed him, and started to move one after another.
“We’re going to leave just like this, without caring about the prisoner behind the curtain?” Lasalle raised his eyebrows and looked at the heavy iron curtain.
Stake shook his head and smiled disdainfully. “Why should we care?”
With indescribable emotions in them, everyone turned around. Thales gave one last look at the heavy iron curtain. His heart, too, was heavy. The lights that shone in the dark left the hall. They left the iron curtain behind them, along with the wailing that became more and more agonized and miserable.
They continued on with their journey, but it was clear that the discovery just now made the Disaster Swords considerably more motivated, since they came to this place with a goal in mind. Soon, they moved down, and the halls they passed through got bigger and bigger. The cells in each hall increased in number, from nine, ten, up to a dozen, twenty…
What made Thales uneasy was that there was more than one iron curtain covering these cells. In other words…
“We found out how this place works.” After going down countless floors, Samel frowned and looked at another iron curtain in front of him. He looked at the sign above and said, “The real Black Prison are the floors below the tenth floor.”
Klein nodded, ignoring the crazy banging behind the curtains. “It seems that that is true.”
Ricky straightened his back once he read the iron plate beside another iron curtain. On it was the prisoner’s profile.
[Tucker Peng, male, born Year 630 in the city of Zodra]
[Imprisoned in Year 661. Crimes: Robbery, leading a rebellion]
[Adjudicator: Kessel Jadestar, the Supreme King]
[Warden: Honorary Baron Klaus Chatham]
[Warden: Roman Williams, Baron of Blade Fangs Camp]
Thales looked at these iron plates while feeling depressed. Besides the lone bandit they first met imprisoned alone in his cell, they found occupied prisons on every floor they descended.
All of these cells were covered with heavy iron curtains. Some of the prisoners could only cry out in agony, and some could still cry for help, though those were rare and far in between… Some of them only had dead silence.
According to Samel and the vague details on the iron plate, in these prisons were a viscountess who murdered her husband and child, pirates who robbed merchant ships, frustrated nobles who launched revolts, and a person who killed thirty-four people in a single night to avenge his family.
Ricky did not care about these prisoners. He simply continued downwards.
The further down they went, the crimes of the criminals became more grave, horrible, complicated, hard to discern, treacherous, and difficult to judge.
Thales walked through the floors, past the cells and the curtains. Among the prisoners, he saw Robin Hood-like figures who stole from military supplies to help the commoners during the Bloody Year war. He also saw people who killed their incompetent superiors to become generals, and led the army to kill their enemies, eventually winning the battle.
There were even high-ranking nobles who were generous, kind, noble, righteous, and had a great reputation.
“Why is he locked up?”
The Northland swordsman Klein stood before the cell of the nobleman and his subordinates. He frowned at the iron curtain and the iron plate. “Based on what you said, he is generous, kind, and has a good reputation. Is this a crime as well?”
“Of course it’s wrong.” Lasalle stood by his side and coldly said, “Because his ancestor was a prince who received his own fiefdom and formed his own family. He is a close relative of the royal family with the blood of the Jadestar Royal Family coursing through his veins.
“In the eyes of the king of his era, this was called ‘being too ambitious, and up to no good’.
“Did I ever tell you that there was never a lack of these bloody struggles over power in the history of Constellation? These struggles have been around since the time of the Empress Dowager Iron Spike, Sumer the First, Erica, and the Red King.”
A thought came to Thales. He gave a sideward glance at Quick Rope, who was far away on the other side of the hall.
At the side, Samel was somewhat startled. He snorted, and continued to move forward.
Along the way, they passed by countless prison cells covered by iron curtains, and met with a criminal who made great contributions to the kingdom, but at the same time was highly corrupt; a priest who preached that all gods were one and that all things were determined by fate; and a historian who insisted on raking up old and taboo cases from the era of the Red King.
“And there’s this person. I remember him. This is a scholar who was thrown in for writing some books.” Stake looked at a cell and said with a smile, “He seems to be locked up with a noble who instigated a private war, and has been imprisoned for thirty years.”
When he heard this, Thales could not help but say, “A scholar? Why?”
Samel walked up from behind them, and said coldly, “Because he wrote a book talking about how the power of the people was higher than the royal power, and how the teachings of the people were higher than religious teachings.”
Thales was stunned, and was instantly rendered speechless.
“Your ancestors did not take his life. They just threw him in here. It was already considered a very kind gesture, Your Highness.” Samel’s gaze made Thales quite uneasy. “Each of these people’s stories are incomparably complex, mysterious, and legendary. They are grand enough that bards had joyfully written songs about them for three days and three nights.”
Samel stared at the iron plate in front of him with a strange gaze. When he spoke next, there was an underlying meaning in his words.
“Many times, the kingdom could not determine whether they should live or die, or hold them accountable for their crimes using the existing laws.”
Thales frowned. “So, you mean, the Prison of Bones is—”
Samel only interrupted him, saying quietly, “Now, they are confined behind these iron curtains, waiting for time to kill them.”
Samel was still staring at Thales. His eyes were sharp and full of unspeakable emotion.
It made the uneasy Thales look elsewhere to avoid direct eye contact.
Lasalle rubbed his chin and was deep in contemplation. “I was thinking. If you free these more or less strange felons and control them, could they… towards Constellation—”
Ricky interrupted him coldly, “That’s not our goal. As our guest, you don’t have to do anything… unnecessary.”
Lasalle grunted in displeasure. In the dark, Stake coughed and caught everyone’s attention. He then narrowed his eyes and said,
“I don’t know if all of you have noticed it, but the empty cells in the first few floors were dried skeletons. And now…” He turned and looked at the sight behind several empty cells. “The empty cells before us are occupied by mummies, and some have a slight smell.”
Ricky’s expression changed. “Are you saying…?”
Stake’s expression was stern. “Either these prisoners just died a few years ago, or we are already so deep underground that even corpses decompose much more slowly here.”
‘So deep underground…’ Thales’ mood sank to rock bottom.
Stake slowly expressed his intentions. “Honorable Crassus, if you continue to search so aimlessly, are you sure that we can return to the surface safely within our time limit?”
Ricky’s expression did not change. He raised his torch. “How long have we been walking?”
Klein who stood beside him replied quietly, “More than half an hour, and we went down eighteen floors.”
Ricky was silent. He looked at Samel.
Samel shook his head. He still looked as determined as ever. “We should be there soon. We must find him. Only then will we have our answer.”
Ricky was quiet for a while, then he nodded solemnly. Everyone turned around again to search for their unknown goal. Stake smiled helplessly once he found that his advice was of no use.
“It’s too big here, they wouldn’t be able to find it.” Lasalle snorted, but still followed them.
“Yes, it is too big, but what surprised me the most is that, although the air is a little stagnant and the smell a bit pungent, I do not feel that it is difficult to breathe here,” Stake said to Lasalle who was beside him.
“Look at this building. It’s the Confinement Research Center, right?”
Stake looked around. Then, to the increasingly impatient Lasalle, he exclaimed, “The so-called wizards during that time must have been very powerful.”
Thales had a thought. He saw Ricky discuss something with Samel while they walked ahead.
“Yeah.” Thales walked to Stake’s side, as if he had nothing in mind, and said sincerely, “I think so, too. It’s a large building buried deep in the ground, but everything is done meticulously, be it is the preservation, layout, or the ventilation.”
Stake gave a surprised look at Thales. This was the first time the prince took the initiative to speak to him.
Thales smiled and said, “My father told me about the Prison the Bones. According to him, the wizards were really amazing existences. They can constantly bring you surprise.”
‘Surprise?’
Sure enough, in the next second, Thales saw Stake’s expression change.
Their search did not last long. Soon, on the next level, they came to an unprecedentedly large hall.
It was still covered in dust, still a ruin, and still had a thick stone pillar. Thales looked around and found that there were nearly thirty cells in this place.
Five of them were covered by thick iron curtains. The bars and prisoners behind it could not be seen. Samel stood firmly before one of the cells and raised his torch.
Thales heard it clearly. During that second, Samel’s breathing suddenly quivered in the quiet darkness. The fire of the torch in his hand flickered.
“Yes.” Samel’s voice quivered. “This is… our goal.”
The mentally-exhausted people instantly jolted. Ricky stepped forward, he then looked at each iron plate seriously. Thales used hell’s senses and tried to see the iron plate clearly.
[Quill Barney Junior, male, born Year 631 in Eternal Star City]
[Imprisoned in Year 661. Crimes: Collaboration with the enemy]
[Adjudicator: Kessel Jadestar, the Supreme King]
[Warden: Cyril Fakenhaz, Mayor of the Ruins, Guardian Duke of Western Desert]
[Warden: Bob Cullen, Mayor of Splendid Port City, Guardian Duke of the Eastern Sea]
[Warden: Leinster Covendier, Mayor of Jade City, Guardian Duke of the South Coast]
[Warden: Val Arunde, Mayor of Cold Castle, Guardian Duke of the Northern Territory]
[Warden: Appointed Count Lewis Bozdorf, Mayor of Brave Souls Fort]
[Warden: Appointed Count Davon Kroma, Mayor of Wing Fort]
[Warden: Honorary Lord Morat Hansen, Chief of Intelligence]
[Warden: Honorary Lord Arracca Murkh]
[Warden: Honorary Lord Roman Williams]
[Warden: Honorary Lady Sonia Sasere]
‘Quill Barney Junior… who is this person?’
When he saw this iron plate, the time of imprisonment, and the names of the unusual adjudicator and wardens, Thales became filled with even more questions.
‘So many prominent and extraordinary wardens… And his crime was… collaboration with the enemy?’
“Wow.” Stake’s voice rose beside him. He seemed to have understood something. “This is THAT Barney…?”
Samel took a deep breath. He knocked on one of the iron curtains and tried to pull the hanging ring next to the cell, only to find that it refused to budge.
He seemed somewhat disappointed, and turned his head around, no longer facing the iron plate.
“Is there a way to open the iron curtain? These five cells… All of them?”
Ricky smiled. He brought out the rod-like ‘key’ again, and walked to the stone pillar in the middle of the hall. The dust was blown away, and the emblem of the Alchemy Tower was exposed under the light.
Ricky put the key into the hole in the center, just like how he had done before. He waited for it to jut out before he nodded at Samel.
Samel took a deep breath and gestured at the others. Five people walked in front of the five cells, placed their hands on the dusty rings, and pulled them with force.
*Kraaaagh.*
Five unpleasant sounds of machinery rose into the air.
The next second…
*Rumble…*
The sound of friction echoed. The fire of the torches in the hall flickered simultaneously!
A lot of dust suddenly fell from the juncture where the five iron curtains connected with the ceiling.
*Rumble…*
The sound of friction traveled to their ears.
Soon, Thales noticed a gap between the iron curtain and the ceiling. Metal bars could be seen from the gap. It also revealed the darkness behind it.
‘Falling,’ Thales thought. ‘The iron curtain is falling.’
He could not help but clench his fists.
*Rumble…*
Gradually, more of the iron curtain fell, and as it did, it let out an unpleasant, scraping noise. The lights shone on the metal bars that had appeared in their sights after the iron curtains fell.
Compared to the empty cells, these bars were not covered in dust. When light shone on them, they reflected a smooth, metallic glow.
*Rumble…*
However, the light only illuminated a small part of the cell. The area behind the bars was still shrouded in darkness.
A strange, pungent smell came from behind the iron curtain. Everyone did not care about it. They trained their full attention on the five cells behind the falling curtains with incredible hope in their hearts.
*Rumble…*
The iron curtains fell lower, and in the end, completely descended to the ground. None of it could be seen again.
*Boom.*
A muffled thud arose. Thales knew that the iron curtain had been completely drawn… to reveal darkness.
Total Chapters in book: 580
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 2362673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 11813(@200wpm)___ 9451(@250wpm)___ 7876(@300wpm)
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