Chapter 4: Slaying the Heavenly Emperor, Breaking the Prison Art

Si Kongjing’s confusion and doubt eventually transformed into a cold, indifferent smile.

Thinking of the blood feud with Yan Tianmo and Yan Ruyu, and thinking of Su Yuexi’s protection…

Si Kongjing could no longer care about so much.

What if he was the Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts? What if he had become a demonic beast? Things had reached this point; there was no turning back!

Looking at the sky filled with demonic beasts, he blurted out, "Though I am human, I am now the Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts, and I am willing to save you all."

As soon as these words were spoken, heaven and earth fell silent; the ten thousand beasts were hushed!

After a long while, the golden divine dragon that had appeared first exhaled and said, "A mere human dares to claim he wants to save us? Ignorant and laughable. See if you can even cultivate the 'Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art' that we created together before you speak."

As the words fell, golden chapters appeared amidst the clouds, infinitely complex.

Then, one character after another floated up, imprinting themselves deeply into Si Kongjing’s mind, impossible to shake off.

Si Kongjing’s entire body shuddered violently.

Upon first reading the "Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art," he could feel his dantian erupting, a tyrannical true qi breaking through its shell.

He could conclude that this was a technique of extreme power.

"Only when you reach the Great Completion of the 'Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art' will we be willing to acknowledge you as our master," the golden dragon said, its voice deep and somber as it exhaled dragon breath.

The ten thousand beasts bound by chains stared deeply at Si Kongjing, their gazes filled with mockery, resentment, and a hint of anticipation.

Si Kongjing took a deep breath and said, "I have a question."

"Human, before we acknowledge you, we will not answer any questions regarding the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Prison. Leave," the golden dragon barked decisively, its attitude extremely hostile.

However, Si Kongjing still asked, "My question is, how does one cure the venom of the Crimson Spider?"

The Crimson Spider venom was extracted from the demonic beast known as the Crimson Spider. In the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Prison before him, there was a terrifying-looking spider—though he did not know its name, Si Kongjing asked the question anyway.

All the giant beasts fell silent once more, each looking at him with strange expressions.

Shouldn't a normal person be asking why they were trapped here, or what kind of existence the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Prison was?

This human, however, asked such a low-level question.

It was simply lowering their prestige.

At this moment, the terrifying giant spider replied in a woman’s voice, "The Crimson Spider is merely a low-level beast. As one who has absorbed the blood of ten thousand beasts, you only need to reach the ninth level of the Ming Realm to use your own blood to cure the poison."

The golden dragon nodded and added, "No beast venom is of any use against the Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts."

A look of joy appeared on Si Kongjing’s face. He cupped his hands and replied, "Many thanks, farewell."

Watching Si Kongjing disappear, the beasts in the Ten Thousand Beast Heavenly Prison asked the golden dragon, "Why give him the 'Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art'?"

This technique had been created by their collective efforts over one hundred thousand years, prepared specifically for the true Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts.

Its full name should have been: Slay the Heavenly Emperors, Break the Prison Art!

However, this human was very likely a pawn in the conspiracy of the Five Heavenly Emperors; giving it to him now was inappropriate.

The beasts were confused.

The golden dragon replied with deep, profound eyes, "If he is an ordinary human, he will surely die upon cultivating it... If he reaches Great Completion, he will inevitably sprout a beast’s heart and refuse to submit to the Five Heavenly Emperors, naturally becoming our master."

The ten thousand beasts were awestruck, quietly fading back into the earth.

Back in the hut, Si Kongjing’s consciousness returned.

"The 'Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art.' Once I reach the ninth level of the Ming Realm, I can use my blood to cure the Crimson Spider venom. Then I shall cultivate!"

In the Great Shang Dynasty, a martial artist’s realms were divided into: Ming Realm, Dark Realm, Human Realm, Earth Realm, Heaven Realm... each realm divided into nine levels.

These were the five mortal martial realms, followed by the five transcendent realms!

Before Yan Tianmo had crippled him, Si Kongjing had already reached the peak of the fifth transcendent realm, only a step away from breaking through to a higher and stronger realm.

Although he had reshaped his dantian with the help of the blood of ten thousand beasts, he had to start over from the beginning.

But the lowly Ming Realm posed no difficulty for Si Kongjing.

The only question was whether he could adapt to the "Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art." Regardless, Si Kongjing had to return to his peak, slaughter his way back to the Great Shang Imperial City, and take the heads of Yan Tianmo and Yan Ruyu.

I was once loyal and devoted, giving everything for the Great Shang. Now, I am willing to become an Asura and cut away all this humiliation!

Sitting cross-legged, Si Kongjing studied the technique in detail.

The deeper he delved, the more Si Kongjing felt like a frog in a well. The strongest technique of the Great Shang he had practiced before was like scrap metal compared to this "Emperor-Slaying Prison-Breaking Art."

"But this is clearly customized for demonic beasts. I wonder what changes it will undergo in a human like me?"

Si Kongjing finished speaking and laughed nonchalantly. In his current state, there was no need to overthink.

Entering a state of cultivation, the moment the true qi in his body began to circulate, his dantian—shaped like the head of a giant beast—vibrated, and a surge of true qi flowed through his entire body. Si Kongjing opened his eyes: "First level of the Ming Realm."

Close eyes, cultivate again!

Half a quarter of an hour later, Si Kongjing opened his eyes again: "Second level of the Ming Realm."

Close eyes again...

The next instant, an angry shout suddenly came from outside the hut: "Su Yuexi, you have some nerve! How dare you cut off the hands and feet of my loyal servant? Are you looking for death?"

Si Kongjing opened his eyes once more, rose with a cold face, and strode out of the hut.