A Man Like None Other

The following morning, the arcane array within the cell deactivated automatically. Ezio stepped out and called to Jared, “Come on, time for some fresh air. We only get thirty minutes, so let’s not waste it.”

Jared rose from his spot and followed Ezio out.

The burly man Jared had beaten the previous day remained in the corner of the cell, curled up and fast asleep.

Outside, the sunlight felt like a blessing, warming Jared’s skin as if it were washing away the gloom of the prison. The prison itself was cloaked in a dense white mist. Those outside couldn’t see in, and those inside were cut off from the outside world.

Cultivators began emerging from the other cells. Jared noticed their gaunt faces and frail bodies, drained of vitality.

As he surveyed the scene, he estimated there were thousands of inmates in this prison, but it was impossible to gauge their true cultivation level in their current state. Their energy was too depleted, and their aura was exposed.

What caught Jared’s attention was the ancient tree at the heart of the prison. The spiritual energy of thousands of cultivators was being absorbed and stored by this tree. Jared dared not imagine the sheer magnitude of energy the tree must have accumulated.

headed?” Jared asked, sticking close

energy. There’s only one place in this

of spiritual energy; it was under the control of

were only

prisoners to cultivate even as their energy was drained was

led to an open area that was as vast as several soccer fields combined. It was already packed with cultivators, each vying to absorb what little spiritual energy was

began cultivating. Jared noticed how thin the spiritual energy became with so many drawing from it

the ancient tree towering over them. Its massive trunk, at least a hundred meters in circumference, stretched high into the clouds, its dense branches creating a

with me. Let’s check

hour wasn’t nearly enough time to absorb much spiritual

want to-” Ezio