Strange Skeleton

Dalvin's forehead was lined with sweat as he read the last few lines of the simulation. He had actually managed to escape but died in the end due to the kind of thing he feared the most about these kinds of magical worlds, esoteric powers beyond the realm of common sense.

It was why he stood ramrod still within his cell and only dared to simulate, in case there was some being observing him or some sort of rule-based domain here that required careful actions, lest one be subjected to a horrible fate.

Dalvin hesitated. He had gone to the left and had only seen strange skeletons before being killed, so he could rule out that direction as worthwhile for now. However, what about the path to the right?

"Start another simulation," Dalvin instructed after releasing a stressed sigh.

[3.00pm. You knew that the left side of the hallway was dangerous, so you aimed to explore the right side.]

[3.10pm. Using the same methods as for the first simulation, you escaped your cell. You only rested for a bit and did not celebrate, all manner of happiness leaving your body due to your earlier simulated grim fate.]

[3.11pm. The right side was actually short with only a few cells on either side before reaching a sharp bend that went leftward. In each of these cells were similar skeletons splayed in a strange manner, making you pensive.]

[3.12pm. You inched closer to the bend and placed yourself against it carefully, peeking on the other side. There, you see another row of cells that extend into the distance before reaching a fork.]

[3.13pm. Frustrated at the lack of an exit, you continued down this new passageway while inspecting each of the cells on the way.]

[3.14pm. To your surprise, you came across a skeleton that was laying on its bed in a peaceful manner, unlike all the others you had seen so far. What made you even more curious was that there seemed to be something lying within its ribcage.]

[3.14pm. You hesitated greatly before deciding to use your blink bloodline ability to enter the cell. This was supposed to be your last resort for escaping the prison, but your curiosity got the better of you.]

[3.15pm. You ever so slowly and gingerly approached the corpse while whispering respectful words and flattering praises towards the individual it had been in life. To your surprise and pleasure, nothing occurred even as you stood above it, making you sigh with relief.]

[3.16pm. You glimpsed into the ribcage and were surprised to see a booklet and a pouch. You slowly and carefully removed both without damaging the skeleton, holding them up before your eyes.]

[3.17pm. You opened the booklet and began reading. You were shocked to see that it was written in English, but were not aware that it is the mighty system that has provided the illiterate you with the capability to read the language of the myriad races of Tianzi.]

[3.20pm. You have read the entire booklet and closed it, your face being extremely thoughtful yet apprehensive. From the booklet, you have acquired a wealth of information about your situation and what to do next.]

[3.20pm. You are currently within the Immortal Locking Prison, a cruel and vicious place located in the center of the world's most dangerous forbidden ground, the Immortal Ascension City.]

[3.20pm. This place was once a paradise for cultivators of Tianzi, but due to some strange events of the past, it became shrouded with Death Qi, making it a place that neither mortal nor cultivator could survive in. As you feared, the entire city was populated by many anomalies that had rule-based abilities, trapping unfortunate victims who entered the territory and subjecting them to painful endings if they could not discover the rules quickly enough.]

[3.20pm. Even worse was this famous Immortal Locking Prison. It was well known outside for both its cruelty and allure, for actual immortals had perished here in the deeper levels in the past, leaving their pristine corpses, techniques, and spatial rings full of resources.]

[3.20pm. The cultivator who wrote the booklet was such a person attracted here by wealth, aiming to break through the Soul Formation Realm and achieve Dao Integration. Due to his great strength, he could brute force his way through the anomalies, but was finally captured in the fourth level of the Immortal Locking Prison after sustaining injuries throughout his charge.]

[3.20pm. He was then brought up to the first level, the current level you were on, and spent over 30 years here. In that time, he had seen more than 20 people come in and be imprisoned as well, and he had noticed one chilling fact. The rumors about the Immortal Locking Prison were completely true; every 24 hours, all those trapped within the cells would be subjected to forced Qi Deviation by the prison, a punishment meant to tickle the original immortal prisoners but was a death sentence for the current cultivators.]

[3.20pm. The rest was mostly biography, him boasting about his achievements and some heartfelt advice for the lucky person to find his booklet after his death. He also left one annotation within that struck you deeply.]

[3.20pm. "This is a prison of immortals, and cultivators, while not yet at that level, are fledglings of the same path. However, lacking the requisite power, the mild punishments of the prison are fatal for us. However…!! However, I have discovered something from the prisoner in Cell Number 45. He had been a low-level follower of a Foundation Establishment young master who entered here with his Dao Protectors, but he did not have a spirit root, and only practiced martial arts."]

[3.20pm. "I witnessed the young master and his fellow Dao Protectors suffer through the same agony as me each day as we underwent Qi Deviation, but that Martial Artist was fine the entire time! Realizing this, all of us resolutely crippled our cultivation and began cultivating Martial Arts, a discipline we once looked down on, but now required to survive. Life is truly full of ironies."]

[3.20pm. "The Martial Arts follower was high within his discipline, far higher than us who were starting from scratch. After entering the first realm of this new discipline, the young master could not wait anymore and ordered the Martial Artist to break them out. The fool obeyed, not realizing that the balance of power had long shifted, to used to being a dog that had to obey."]

[3.20pm. "He easily broke the rotting bars and freed all of them. They offered to take me out as well, but I knew they were looking for cannon fodder. I had crippled my majestic Soul Formation cultivation and was now only a Skin Tempering Martial Artist, what right did I have before the follower who was at the Martial Master Realm?"]

[3.20pm. "I watched them charge out with envy, passing the right at the junction. I wondered when I would be strong enough to free myself and escape, but my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of agonized screams. I won't lie to you, I have fought killed and been in countless dangers, even this one, but have never truly despaired."]

[3.20pm. "But by god, no man… no, not a single living thing should ever have to make a sound like that. I don't know what fate they faced and I don't want to know… all I know is that my time is up. Today, after finishing my biography and leaving some resources for whoever finds this, I will lie down, sever my heart meridians and pass away on my own terms."]

[3.20pm. "My name was Feng Lin, Ancestor of the Sky Eagle Sect. If you ever manage to escape, please head to my sect and let my daughter, Feng Qin, know that daddy thought of her up until my last moment. I will forever love her."]