Chapter 36: The Secret of Prisonfire

"Here to catch up on lost time?" Whale Year glanced at the Prisonfire-scorched earth below.

Li An nodded.

"Will she be descending with you?" Whale Year tilted his chin toward Frost Snow. "Her condition seems... unstable."

Li An: "Her choice."

Frost Snow: "I'll go."

"Suit yourselves."

The Five Tiers of Hell

Whale Year led them to the orbital station's edge, gesturing across the crimson-black expanse:

Polar Zone (Current Location): Temperatures manageable for Third Realm cultivators.

Mid-Latitudes: Fourth Realm threshold.

Subtropical Belt: Fifth Realm survivability.

Tropical Zone: Sixth Realm endurance.

Equatorial Crucible: Seventh Realm or perish.

"These tiers apply to average cultivators," Whale Year sneered. "Geniuses? They rewrite the rules."

Li An frowned. Completing the Prisonfire Trial meant circumnavigating the planet—including the Seventh-Realm equatorial inferno. Two full realms beyond current limits. The definition of "divine trial."

Whale Year's Guidance

"Completion is just the beginning," the gatekeeper continued. "True masters dig deeper." He stamped the floor. "Legends say Prisonfire's consciousness slumbers in the core. Few reach it. None return."

"Now, the truth: This trial is designed to be impossible. Realm gaps can't be bridged by talent alone—each breakthrough doubles your cultivation base. So cheat."

"Take Lin He—that swordless swordsman. He plans to outrun the equatorial flames. If he succeeds, he'll be the fastest in history. Pathetic? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely."

Li An blinked. "That's allowed?"

Whale Year laughed. "Rules? For ants. Geniuses make their own paths. That's why this universe stays interesting."

Profit in Hell

"Money schemes?" Whale Year arched a brow at Li An's request. "With Her Highness beside you, you lack funds?"

"Her wealth isn't mine," Li An said firmly.

"Admirable." Whale Year tossed him a data crystal. "Blackfire Ore veins. Each gram sells for a Fourth-Realm cultivator's annual income. Mining permits require..." He paused, eyeing Lin He's trial pass in Li An's hand. "...that."

Descent

Li An and Frost Snow leapt from the railing.

"IDIOTS! USE THE ELEVATOR!" Whale Year's roar faded as they plummeted.

Baptism by Fire

Li An hit ground first. Agony erupted—not skin-deep, but soul-deep. His organs broiled as if microwaved in an autopsy pan. This was Prisonfire's true test: mental fortitude against existential torment.

He straightened, face smoothing into icy calm.

Frost Snow knelt, palm flat on smoldering rock. "Cold," she murmured.

"Cold?!" Li An stared.

"Like winter streams." She frowned, perplexed.

Observation Deck

Whale Year watched through monitors, heart clenching. Li An's brief grimace spoke volumes—years of hardship hardening his will. But Frost Snow's blank expression cut deeper. To feel nothing... what hell has she endured?

His Star Terminal buzzed—a message to Liu Xiuyuan:

[The Dreamer awakens. Come see your failed project.]