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

this

wasn’t completely devoid of spiritual energy;

were only allowed half an hour to use it. Jared suspected this setup

even as their energy was drained was to prevent them from uncovering the secrets

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

spot, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating. Jared noticed how thin the spiritual energy became with so many drawing from it at

massive trunk, at least a hundred meters in circumference, stretched high

cultivating for a moment and come with me. Let’s check out that tree,”

wasn’t nearly enough time to absorb much spiritual energy, especially with so many fellow cultivators

I still want