The Valley of Lost Souls was the Tian Clan’s means of punishing wrongdoers.

One could even say it was a place where people were tormented to death by any means possible.

If a person could survive the duration of their sentence, their crimes would be absolved.

But few could emerge alive. Even those who did were often crippled, their cultivation ruined.

Entering the valley meant losing one’s mind, and that was no exaggeration.

A typical sentence in the Valley of Lost Souls was a single day. Only a rare few could survive that, remaining conscious and alive.

Tian Chang’s month-long sentence was practically a death warrant. In the history of the valley, no prisoner had ever endured longer than half a month.

Of course, Tian Anping was an exception. He had voluntarily stayed there for a year…

In short, many members of the Tian Clan would rather face execution than enter the Valley of Lost Souls, such was its terror.

Tian Chang knew how formidable Tian Anping was. That’s why he had meticulously crafted his explanation, leaving no room for loopholes. His injuries were genuine, a brush with death itself.

However, he hadn’t anticipated that Tian Anping wouldn’t even listen, simply because he considered him a “clever man.”

*You’re* the clever one! Your whole family are clever men!

Tian Chang roared inwardly, but his fear remained undiminished. The Valley of Lost Souls was a place the entire Tian Clan spoke of with dread.

He truly didn’t want to die.

It had been so difficult to get where he was today. Forging his cultivation, assassinating clan elders, stealing the renowned blade Tidecaller. Killing his teammates in the Hidden Star World for survival. Wounding himself grievously to stay alive!

Perhaps he should have chosen defection from the start. Now, with Tian Anping present, escape was impossible.

Tian Chang’s gaze, a mix of terror and pleading, turned to Tian Huanzhang.

The vast sum of wealth he’d secretly offered was having its effect.

Tian Huanzhang cleared his throat. “Anping, a month in the Valley of Lost Souls is a death sentence. For your uncle’s sake, reconsider this. Tian Chang is an exceptional scion of our clan, always reliable and loyal. To simply execute him would breed resentment among the clan.”

“Did you hear that?” Tian Anping said, looking at Tian Chang. “Your uncle’s face, will you grant it? Whether you go to the Valley of Lost Souls is your decision.”

Tian Huanzhang’s expression darkened, but he remained silent.

He was one of those who didn’t know his own limits, accustomed to throwing his weight around due to his status and seniority. He actually believed he could have any “face” before Tian Anping.

There were many old fools in the Tian Clan who didn’t know their worth and couldn’t face reality.

But it didn’t matter. Tian Anping would help them face it, in his own way.

No one could escape reality.

That held true for Tian Chang as well.

He now had only two choices: enter the Valley of Lost Souls and face a slim chance of survival, or be killed now.

“That’s your face? You doddering old fool, you took so much money from me and now you can’t even squeak?” Tian Chang cursed Tian Huanzhang a hundred times over in his mind.

But his face revealed nothing.

Driven by a surge of ruthlessness, he made his decision.

Straining his injured body, he kowtowed heavily to Tian Huanzhang. “I troubled you, Uncle!”

Then he kowtowed to Tian Anping. “I ruined Young Master Ping’s plans, and Tian Chang deserves a thousand deaths! I shall go to the Valley of Lost Souls at once!”

Having finished, he rose, turning away with resolve.

Tian Huanzhang saw a single tear fall from the corner of his eye.

Even he, a man who had seen the world and whose heart had been tempered like iron, couldn’t help but feel sorrow. Such a fine youth, so resilient, so simple. All because of a moment’s mistake, forced to his death by this scoundrel, Tian Anping!

Tian He and Gongyang Lu also remained silent, following Tian Chang. Displaying similar loyalty.

They were also sentenced to three days in the Valley of Lost Souls, their chances of survival equally slim. But neither chose to betray Tian Chang to save themselves. This undoubtedly increased Tian Chang’s credibility.

The loyalty shown by these two only raised Tian Chang’s value in Tian Huanzhang’s eyes. Such a good youth, so capable of winning hearts!

But to stand against Tian Anping for this “good youth,” that was another matter…

Growing more frustrated, he flicked his sleeves and prepared to leave.

“Wait,” Tian Anping called out.

Tian Huanzhang suppressed his anger. “Anping, is there anything else you need from your uncle?”

He was reminding Tian Anping to know his limits. Don’t forget, by seniority, I am your uncle!

Tian Anping looked at him calmly. “I heard you were spreading rumors that the Seven Stars Pavilion Mystic Realm would yield life-extending treasures?”

The mission Tian Chang had undertaken was a secret, personally assigned by Tian Anping. The true objective wasn’t revealed to Tian Chang and Tian Yong until they entered the Seven Stars Valley, with the two acting as checks on each other. Everyone else was only informed of the mission after entering the mystic realm world, by Tian Chang and Tian Yong.

From every angle, there shouldn’t have been any leaks.

Tian Huanzhang shouldn’t have known about the mission to the mystic realm world.

But today he learned that the rumor about life-extending treasures in the Seven Stars Pavilion Mystic Realm had been spreading for a while. And the one who spread it was none other than Tian Huanzhang!

“It was me, so what?” Tian Huanzhang was somewhat bewildered. Tian Chang hadn’t mentioned any details of the mission when asking him for help, only that he hadn’t done what Tian Anping had asked him to do.

He saw Tian Anping’s stern gaze and said, displeased, “It was just cooperating with the Town Protector Marshal’s office, spreading a false rumor. Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You have connections with the Town Protector Grand Marshal?” Tian Anping’s expression grew colder.

Faced with Tian Anping’s attitude, Tian Huanzhang was indeed somewhat flustered. He didn’t want to admit his hidden fear, but he had to. Thus, he grew even more exasperated.

“It was Wen Lianmu who had someone come to me, saying that Military God’s closed-door disciple, Wang Yiwu, was asking for help. I just helped out. What! Am I not even allowed to handle such trivial matters, that I have to be questioned by you?”

He said resentfully, “Even the clan head wouldn’t say anything to me about such matters!”

“Heh.” Tian Anping shook his head and chuckled. “I’ll tolerate this matter.”

He withdrew his smile, pointing at Tian Huanzhang. “But I’ll only tolerate you this one last time. I offer you a word of advice. When people get old, they should accept it. Do less unnecessary things, you accomplish nothing all day and only make things worse!”

“Tian Anping!” Tian Huanzhang was enraged.

There were still many Tian Clan members in the Seven Stars Valley. He was such a respected clan elder, how could he be insulted like this?

“Watch your tone when speaking to me! Don’t act so disrespectfully every day. Do you really think no one in the clan can control you?”

These words were clearly an empty threat. Even in his rage, he knew very well that he couldn’t deal with Tian Anping on his own. He could only invoke the clan.

“Whether or not anyone can control me, it certainly won’t be you. You’d better remember that and not anger me again.” Tian Anping remained calm.

Tian Huanzhang glared at him, seemingly about to burst with rage.

Tian Anping raised his hands, dragging the iron chains connected to the shackles.

“I’m currently bound by the Karmic Shackles, and can only exert 50% of my strength. How about it, want to try killing me? No one will blame you for killing such a monster. You’ll be rewarded instead!”

“Based on our current strength comparison, my chances of winning are less than 10%!”

There was even a hint of excitement in his eyes. “How about it, want to give it a try?”

Tian Huanzhang knew very well that Tian Anping was speaking the truth. The Karmic Shackles did suppress his strength by at least half. That couldn’t be faked. So, based purely on strength, he had a very high chance of winning.

But to fight to the death with a man like Tian Anping…

Tian Huanzhang stormed off, saying, “Why would I bother with a junior like you!”