Daheng, the sixth year of the Jiazhi era, summer. The weather was scorching, and chaos arose in all thirty-seven prefectures of Daheng. A large number of otherworldly visitors came from beyond the heavens, mingling among the population, making it difficult to ascertain their numbers.

An imperial edict was issued from the Empress Dowager's palace, ordering the Zhenmo (Demon Suppression), Zhenxie (Evil Suppression), and Xingbu (Ministry of Justice) to jointly enforce the law, investigate and clear out the prefectures, execute or capture the ringleaders, and open three inner treasuries and one royal library to reward those with meritorious service.

The Zhenmo, Zhenxie, and Xingbu constabularies all began to expand greatly, recruiting soldiers and buying horses.

From this time onward, the Xingbu dungeon gradually became overcrowded.

Ye Chuxiao, the prison warden, proposed to the Xingbu officials to reopen the sixth to eighth underground levels, but his suggestion was rejected by his superiors.

A month later, the Xingbu approved the addition of upper levels to the dungeon, breaking ground and rising from the earth, with a total of three floors, named 'Heavenly Prison'.

Official criminals and those with minor offenses were transferred to the Heavenly Prison, while the underground dungeon continued to hold serious and heinous criminals.

Having successively adapted to local conditions and utilized the unique resources of the dungeon, Ye Chuxiao advocated for interest groups and reform activities such as the 'Prison Elixir Refining Research Group,' 'Formation Fine-Tuning Squad,' and 'Low-Level Talisman Wholesale Center.' His position as prison warden became increasingly secure.

Naturally, most of the monthly profits were handed over to be divided among the Xingbu officials, and a small portion was distributed to the dungeon jailers. The remaining portion still allowed Ye Chuxiao to earn a fortune, so he basically didn't have to worry about ordinary cultivation resources.

Moreover, the monetary gains were only the most insignificant part of Ye Chuxiao's many benefits.

In terms of knowledge, with the guidance of numerous criminal officials, Ye Chuxiao progressed rapidly.

Whether it was refining elixirs, crafting tools, arranging formations, drawing talismans, or even various minor arts, Ye Chuxiao had dabbled in them all.

Although most of them didn't reach the level of crossing the sea of bitterness, he had at least gained a superficial understanding, so he wouldn't be completely clueless when dealing with similar methods.

A person's energy is limited. While it's impossible to master everything, it's still necessary to have some understanding of various fields, as opponents can be strange and varied.

Even a sword cultivator who claims to break all techniques with a single sword must eventually go through such a cognitive process. Otherwise, how can one break all techniques without understanding the opponent?

Ye Chuxiao's stage in cultivation was called 'Recognizing a Hundred Schools.' Usually, this is something that many cultivators who have entered the Mysterious Realm and have a longer lifespan would consider doing.

Because collecting, organizing, and learning knowledge from various schools requires a long process in itself.

Ye Chuxiao was indeed ahead of schedule.

But he had the conditions to do so.

Not only because the criminal officials and elders and elites of various major sects imprisoned in the Xingbu prison provided him with ample knowledge.

But also because, among the increasingly numerous prisoners who came with the changing times, there were also many who possessed Dao rhythm.

Some of those who possessed Dao rhythm and were imprisoned for committing heinous crimes were lucky to meet Ye Chuxiao.

Without having to wait until the autumn execution, Ye Chuxiao only needed to use a little trick to make them contract an epidemic and die quietly in the Xingbu prison.

After their deaths, Ye Chuxiao recovered the Dao rhythm that had been absorbed and utilized, storing it in the golden clock or directly crushing it to read the cultivation experience.

Now, Ye Chuxiao's golden clock contained as many as seventeen Dao rhythms that could be used as tickets and general equivalents inside the Ark of Fortune.

"Some of the prisoners held in the Xingbu prison are actually 'transcendents' who came to Daheng aboard the Ark of Fortune. The Dao rhythm on their bodies is naturally more abundant. Of course, I can't get my hands on those unowned Dao rhythms that can be seized. But the Dao rhythm they have already used has all benefited me. Becoming the prison warden of the Xingbu was indeed the right move. Although it seems to be without rank or grade, it is extremely beneficial to me when combined with my unique abilities." Ye Chuxiao, as usual, led a team to inspect the Xingbu prison.

Wherever they passed, those prisoners who knew to bow their heads under the eaves, no matter how glorious they once were or what status they had, now licked their faces and showed humble smiles to Ye Chuxiao, who was inspecting the prison.

Several elders from 'small places' in Daheng even greeted Ye Chuxiao, willing to impart the 'untransmitted secrets' of their sects in exchange for a few mouthfuls of wine and dishes.

Ye Chuxiao turned a deaf ear to this.

For the current Ye Chuxiao, the so-called 'secret techniques' that are not powerful enough and do not have enough characteristics can no longer attract him.

Learning these things is a waste of time.

Ye Chuxiao had already set his sights on who the real masters were in the Xingbu prison, and what good things these masters had.

He was slowly planning it.

"These transcendents, unlike me, can use Dao rhythm to go to the Ark of Fortune in an instant. They need to have rituals, altars, or special powerful magic weapons as traction to use Dao rhythm as a ticket to cross the world." Ye Chuxiao's gaze was now scanning a transcendent prisoner, watching the other party secretly cover a place with moldy bedding. Ye Chuxiao knew very well what the other party was doing.

They must be trying to draw a ritual to communicate with the Ark of Fortune.

But it was all in vain. The heaven and earth energy in the Xingbu dungeon was under strong control.

Without the seal to open the gate, no matter how much they draw, it would be futile.

"Among them, there are also things that I need to pay special attention to."

"Transcendents use Dao rhythm as tickets and fate as chips to exchange for the qualifications and time to travel in other worlds. Once the time purchased by the imprisoned transcendents is up, they will definitely not choose to renew it and continue to stay in Daheng, but they have not been able to leave."

"This shows that Daheng's prison-suppressing artifact is stronger than I imagined. It may not be able to directly fight against the reception of the Ark of Fortune, but it can offset part of the influence."

"The traction ability of the Ark of Fortune is not like the main god in the infinite flow novels I have read before, which has the ability to ignore everything. Even if it does, it is impossible to evenly sprinkle it on every transcendent without any consumption."

"And Daheng's prison-suppressing artifact is not an isolated case. Daheng has this artifact that interferes with the reception of the Ark of Fortune, and other worlds should also have it. I need to pay attention, if I go to other worlds to cultivate, not to be targeted by similar artifacts."

"However, using Dao rhythm as a ticket should attract a stronger reception from the Ark of Fortune. My direct interworld travel in the dungeon was proof... Of course, it may also be because the golden clock I have is too powerful, directly tearing through the obstacles and has nothing to do with the Ark of Fortune." Ye Chuxiao walked to a prison cell and motioned for a jailer behind him to open the door lock.

Pushing the door open and entering, a cultivator covered in blood and dozens of Zhenlong (Dragon Suppression) nails all over his body opened his eyes and looked at Ye Chuxiao.

"Your spiritual root visualization method is indeed very interesting. I have tried it, and it can indeed create something from nothing, and simulate a spiritual root that is completely compatible with myself based on my own imagination and fiction."

"But the progress is too slow. Individual spirits are limited, and time is also limited. Even if it is a low-grade spiritual root, it will take at least several years to visualize and condense it from scratch. From a cost-performance perspective, it is far better to buy a real spiritual root." Ye Chuxiao said, looking at the cultivator.