Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

2208 Horse-Running Ventilation Tubes!

Li Yao thought for a moment and realized that it did make sense. Considering the selfishness of the Immortal Cultivators and the cruel competitions within the four Kurfürst families, when the jailors watched their peers fighting battles and claiming military credits in the frontline before advancing into higher levels with the trophies while they could do nothing except to discipline a bunch of prisoners in a land of bitterness and coldness…

It was inevitable that they would think they were prisoners too, just in a different way.

No wonder the guards of the Godly Might Prison were angry.

“Wushuang’s work is very effective. Of course, we have to pay a high price for it too.”

Li Linghai smiled. “Thankfully, after we control the Council of Elders, there will be abundant vacancies that promise copious returns. They will be enough to meet the appetite of a deputy warden and a deputy advisor of the fleet.

“Those people who have joined the reformists have passed multiple tests. Their loyalty is certainly not a problem. I am not risking the future of all the reformists. Please rest assured about that.”

After hearing that, Dongfang Sheng and Jin Yuyan finally took a long breath in comfort.

“So, Your Grace has long prepared for the emergency.”

Jin Yuyan said, “No wonder Your Grace was as calm as before when the news came over that General Lei Chenghu was secretly locked in the Godly Might Prison.”

“This is not exactly a careful plan in advance. I can only say that the Imperium of True Human Beings is not destined to perish yet, and it is fate’s arrangement that we will revive the Imperium!”

Her eyes glowing, Li Linghai said, “I’ve been preparing since a long time ago to attack the Godly Might Prison when the time is ripe to free the prisoners inside. Many of the prisoners were indispensable persons in the enormous bureaucratic system of the Imperium before they failed the political competitions with the four Kurfürst families and ended up as prisoners because of slanders and setups. They will be an important help for us to keep the normal functions of the Imperium after we control the Council of Elders.

“In order to keep it a secret, the four Kurfürst families escorted General Lei Chenghu to the Godly Might Prison. They thought that nobody knew it, but it was exactly what I wanted!”

Dongfang Sheng said solemnly, “If a deputy advisor of the Godly Might Fleet and the captains of a few main-force warships have a ‘battlefield uprising’, and a deputy warden cooperates with us from inside, it will indeed be possible that we conquer the Godly Might Prison unstoppably before the four Kurfürst families realize what is going on!”

“It is not a possibility but a must. The future of the Imperium depends on the battle. General Dongfang, the burden on your shoulder is very heavy!”

Li Linghai demanded vehemently. Pausing for a moment, she calmed down slightly and said in a softer voice, “However, I have absolute faith in the Deep Sea Fleet and General Dongfang, and I believe that this battle will be a triumph.

“The only problem right now is General Lei Chenghu’s safety.

“Our ultimate purpose is not to conquer the Godly Might Prison but to rescue General Lei Chenghu.

“The Deep Sea Fleet is a rapid strike force that has been developed in darkness after all. Although it is made of one-in-ten-thousand elites, it is incomparable to the super fleets of the four Kurfürst families in terms of scale.

“Even if we have the cooperation of the spies, there will be heavy losses after the conquest of the Godly Might Prison. It will be impossible to stall the enemy for long.

“In any case, we have to attract the ‘Astounding Thunder Fleet’ and other troops in the frontline who are dissatisfied with the four Kurfürst families to join the reformists’ side.

“To achieve that, General Lei Chenghu must be alive and take our side.

“Without General Lei Chenghu’s unparalleled prestige, it will be barely possible for us to win the support of the troops in the frontline in a short time.

“This is exactly the biggest problem of the battle!”

“Indeed…”

Dongfang Sheng hesitated for a moment and said, “Even though we are an unexpected, unstoppable troop, it will still take some time to break into the Godly Might Prison from the outside. The Godly Might Prison will be able to deal with General Lei Chenghu unhurriedly in the meantime.

“In my opinion, although the optimal choice for the four Kurfürst families right now is to keep General Lei Chenghu under arrest and slowly control the Astounding Thunder Fleet through him so that the situation will not escalate suddenly, they will certainly not hesitate to execute General Lei Chenghu secretly to end the trouble once and for all if there is a possibility that General Lei Chenghu might escape or be rescued!”

“That is very true, General Dongfang. Once the Godly Might Prison confirms that they cannot resist our attack, they will certainly kill General Lei Chenghu in secret. Then, our hope will be gone.”

Li Linghai narrowed her eyes and said, “So, before our army launches the assault, someone must infiltrate the Godly Might Prison first for a single mission, which is to find and protect General Lei Chenghu from any harm until the Deep Sea Fleet completely occupies the Godly Might Prison!”

“Well…”

Di Feiwen and Jin Yuyan looked at each other and thought for a long time. “It will be rather difficult!”

“It is not just difficult; it is barely possible!”

Slightly frowning, Li Linghai said, “So, a special expert with an unparalleled combat ability, who is adept at stealth, disguise, infiltration, sabotage, and preferably the knowledge of all kinds of traps, rune arrays, and magical equipment, must be sent for the mission.”

While talking, Li Linghai looked at Li Yao with an expression that was full of expectation.

It was not until then that Dongfang Sheng and Jin Yuyan realized why Li Linghai let Li Yao take part in a secret meeting of such a high level.

Li Yao had reached a deal with Li Linghai a long time ago to help her with an extremely dangerous mission. Li Linghai made an empty promise that he would be an “elder of the Imperium” in return, but Li Yao was certainly not convinced. After much bickering, ten intact treasures from the Supreme Emperor were traded for Li Yao’s highly risky mission.

All the treasures had been scrutinized by Li Yao one by one. They were now resting inside Li Yao’s Cosmos Ring steadily.

Now that he was already paid, it was time to do his job. Li Yao coughed and walked forward, with determination beaming out of his eyes.

“Yue Wushuang is supposed to be the best candidate for the mission.”

There was not any regret that a lot of treasures of the Supreme Emperor had been given away on Li Linghai’s face at all. She looked at Li Yao in approval and smiled. “However, the situation in the capital is erratic and treacherous and requires the supervision of Wushuang. So, I have to ask ‘Vulture Li Yao’, my personal bodyguard, to take action. Is there any objection to the candidate?”

Of course, Yue Wushuang, Dongfang Sheng, and Jin Yuyan had no objection.

After all, there were not many experts in the Divinity Transformation Stage on the reformists’ side. Besides, not every one of them was suitable to sneak into a wretched hell such as the Godly Might Prison.

For those who had advanced into the Divinity Transformation Stage, they were mostly the important leaders of major forces such as Dongfang Sheng and Jin Yuyan. All of them were big shots that planned and influenced the general picture.

Only a few of the experts in the Divinity Transformation Stage preferred to fight in the frontline as a special force without any self-respect like Li Yao.

So, he was naturally the best choice in the current situation.

“Fellow Cultivator Li!”

Dongfang Sheng spoke with admiration. “The mission to sneak into the Godly Might Prison is very dangerous. It concerns not only the cause of the reformists but also the future of the Imperium in the next ten thousand years. We must thank you for your trouble!”

“It’s not a big deal. Ever since my spiritual root was awakened, I have sworn to my heart that I will live and die for the true path of immortality!”

Li Yao declared resolutely, “We, the Immortal Cultivators, are the sabers of mankind, the flames that pursue the momentary brilliance. For the future of the Imperium of True Human Beings, I will never hesitate to fight!”

Li Linghai: “Well, Bodyguard Li, that’s about enough.”

Li Yao: “Every man has responsibility for their country. In such a dirty and dark world, it is exactly the best moment for the hotblooded men to change reality and renew the Imperium! The future of the Imperium of True Human Beings must be defended by us. Please rest assured, even if my bones are broken, my soul falls apart, and my every cell is obliterated, I will still protect General Lei and the Imperium with the last bit of my remaining soul! This is the oath of me, a most determined Immortal Cultivator! If I cannot achieve it, I would rather be haunted by the devil in my heart without relief forever!”

Dongfang Sheng, Jin Yuyan, and Yue Wushuang were all greatly touched. “Fellow Cultivator Li…”

Li Linghai: “That’s really enough, Bodyguard Li. We are all aware of your loyalty to the Imperium. You are a real, pure, and time-tested Immortal Cultivator. Your devotion to the Imperium and the true path of immortality can already be seen by the fact that you were willing to hide in the darkness for so many years for our great cause. We all appreciate your integrity. Please say no more.”

Li Yao: “… Okay.”

Li Linghai looked around and asked, “Is there any question?”

Li Yao jumped out again. “Yes.”

Li Linghai furrowed her eyebrows hard. “What is it?”

Li Yao blinked his eyes quickly. “If I may ask, Your Grace, do we have the detailed structure of the Godly Might Prison, particularly the part regarding the ventilation tubes?”

Li Linghai nodded her head. “Of course, in the beginning, we compromised the deputy warden exactly for the purpose of the detailed map of the Godly Might Prison. Everything including the ventilation tubes is included.”

“Fantastic.”

Li Yao was quite delighted. “I wonder, how are the ventilation tubes of the Godly Might Prison constructed? Are there any special traps, rune arrays, defense systems?”

Li Linghai thought for a moment and replied, “There are no special traps and defense systems. They are just the most typical structure. Also, to provide fresh air for the hundreds of thousands of prisoners and jailors below the ground, the ventilation tubes of the Godly Might Prison are exceptionally broad. They are more than two meters in diameter. One can even ride a horse in it!”

“Really?”

Li Yao found it hard to believe his ears. “Ventilation tubes more than two meters in diameter, without any hindrance or special defense system? Are they not worried that the enemy might sneak in through the tubes, or that the prisoners will crawl out through the tubes to escape?”

“Of course they are, but any trap or defense system might go wrong. So, the prison adopts the silliest approach.”

Li Linghai said, “The Godly Might Prison has arranged for abundant jailors to be stationed in the broad ventilation tubes. There is one after every dozen meters, making sure that every jailor can be seen by at least two companions at the same time.

“There is also a set of special random passwords. Every jailor has to report their latest password to their superior every minute, and they have to report more than a thousand different passwords every day. Furthermore, the passwords are shuffled every day. There is no pattern in them at all.

“Bodyguard Li, why do you look so awful all of a sudden?”