Chapter 518 - 258: Nightmare Demon Palace, Blood Prison Department, Slaughter Blade Camp (Part 2)

According to intelligence reports, Ren Beichen works in the Blood Prison Department of Nightmare Demon Palace, currently serving as the head of the fourth division.

The Blood Prison Department is similar to the Criminal Law Department of the Disciplinary Hall at Five Extremes Mountain, specializing in punishing disciples who violate sect rules.

"Ren Beichen and Dou Qianyu have never gotten along well, and this time he’s come with people from the Blood Prison Department, they’re up to no good," Liou Yuan scanned Ren Beichen’s face, which had a smile-not-smile expression, feeling a bad premonition inside.

This Ren Beichen is at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, the quality of his Qi Mansion is not much inferior to Liou Yuan’s, reaching the quality of the fifth rank.

Liou Yuan doesn’t have the absolute confidence to defeat Ren Beichen without using Sword Qi.

While thinking, Liou Yuan slanted his gaze towards Wei Miaomeng; the latter also recognized Ren Beichen’s identity with a solemn expression, ready to act at any time.

The survival of the fittest rule in Nightmare Demon Palace is even more intense than in the Outer Sect of Five Extremes Mountain.

Even Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators might engage in fierce fights.

"Miss Wei, don’t panic, let’s see what medicine Ren Beichen has in his gourd!"

Liou Yuan softly transmitted sound and then carefully studied the three people from the Blood Prison Department led by Ren Beichen, asking harshly: "Ren Beichen, what do you mean by this? Are you bringing people from the Blood Prison Department to take me in?"

"Hey!" Ren Beichen sneered, with eyes full of mockery as he looked at Liou Yuan.

Both entered the sect at the same time, and fought many times during the Qi Refining Realm, each having wins and losses.

They even battled several times after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Certainly, Ren Beichen relied on his superior Cultivation Technique quality to surpass Dou Qianyu in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

So he doesn’t regard Dou Qianyu at all.

With a blooming smile, Ren Beichen’s expression suddenly turned solemn; he pointed at Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng, harshly reprimanding: "Inner Sect Disciples Dou Qianyu and Fu Lin, were ordered to aid Youhuang State’s battlefield."

"Our sect sent five Foundation Establishment cultivators; the remaining three fell entirely, leaving only you two returning."

"Moreover, you delayed your return for three years, wasn’t it you two who fled?"

"Our Blood Prison Department handles sect discipline, now you two deserters are to be captured."

Ren Beichen’s intentions were already apparent; he pinned the label of cowardice on Liou Yuan, intending to bring him into the Blood Prison Department.

In Nightmare Demon Palace, harming fellow disciples and even pillaging resources is tolerated.

But two things must never be touched—betraying the sect and fleeing during battle.

If linked to these two, being taken into the Blood Prison Department means enduring severe punishment, even if not death.

Liou Yuan immediately recognized Ren Beichen’s intention, his face full of fury, angrily shouting: "Ren Beichen, you spout nonsense!"

"You’re clearly abusing your position, using this excuse to mess with me today."

"You claim I fled during battle, where’s your evidence!"

Ren Beichen knew Dou Qianyu wouldn’t surrender, coldly questioning: "What evidence is needed? Our sect sent five Foundation Establishment cultivators to Youhuang State, only you two returned alive."

"A return delayed three years—no other possibility than fleeing the main battlefield?"

Dou Qianyu is reckless and brave; he was certain the latter couldn’t provide a reasonable explanation.

Due to assuming Dou Qianyu’s identity, Liou Yuan couldn’t respond using Five Extremes Mountain’s speaking style to Ren Beichen, turning instead to Wei Miaomeng.

Wei Miaomeng instantaneously grasped the situation, stepped forward, and spoke sweetly:

"In the battle at Youhuang State, Evil Corpses breached both sides’ Array defenses, causing half our fellow disciples’ deaths. Then, cultivators from Jiuli State exploited the breach to attack, forcing Dou Qianyu and me into a defensive retreat under siege by three Foundation Establishment cultivators, leading us out of Youhuang State."

"If this counts as fleeing, then in the Linlang Domain’s involvement in Youhuang State’s battle, none could be said not to have fled."

This was the explanation Liou Yuan and Wei Miaomeng agreed upon after investigating the details of the Youhuang State battle, prepared as a response to inquiries from high-ranking Nightmare Demon Palace officials.

Unexpectedly, no high officials came, only a division head.

Ren Beichen coldly glanced at Wei Miaomeng; Fu Lin had always been craftier than Dou Qianyu, and her explanation accounted for their three-year delayed return.

But Ren Beichen was determined today to take Dou Qianyu and Fu Lin into the Blood Prison Department.

His cold smile didn’t diminish, nonchalantly saying: "Whether it’s fleeing or not, enter the Blood Prison Department with me, and it will be decided."

"No way." Liou Yuan raised a hand, pointed at Ren Beichen’s nose, and angrily cursed.

"Entering the Blood Prison Department is easy; coming out alive is hard—how can I return alive after entering with you?"

"Also, you’re merely a division head, without a Blood Prison Department arrest warrant, and without evidence, you can’t constrain me."

Dou Qianyu is at least Foundation Establishment; it wouldn’t be proper for Ren Beichen to arrest him with mere words—a Blood Prison Department warrant is needed according to rules.

Thus, at critical moments like this, he couldn’t back down.

"Arresting you, a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment weakling, needs no warrant," Ren Beichen, vexed with Liou Yuan today, continued their usual challenge as they locked eyes.

"Without a warrant, we’ll see if you can take me in!" Liou Yuan sneered, taking a step forward.

He used the Cloud Concealment Skill to disguise his Celestial Spirit True Essence as Dou Qianyu’s Yin Floating Court True Essence, forming a blue-black aura around him.