Chapter 1872 — 1872: Kulas' Situation

"Are you...?" Tian Yang hesitated, his gaze fixed on the woman before him. He was almost certain it was Ren Xia, but a sliver of doubt remained. Was it truly her, or merely someone sent in her place to deliver her words? He needed to be sure.

"It's me," Ren Xia said as she removed her disguise.

"I don't like this at all," Tian Yang said with a frown. However, his unease wasn't directed at Ren Xia but the room itself. The air felt heavy, the atmosphere unpleasant and oppressive.

"Please, sit down." Ren Xia gestured at the seat across from her.

Once Tian Yang was seated, Ren Xia began, "Before I talk about Kulas, there's something you should know."

Tian Yang didn't say anything and allowed her to continue.

"Shortly after you clashed with the Immortal Clans outside the mountain," Ren Xia revealed, her voice calm but laced with underlying tension, "Patriarch Gu of the Immortal Gu Clan, the Sect Leader of the Seven Divine Sword Peaks, and two other prominent figures from the Immortal Clans confronted me. They wanted to know about my connection to you after learning that I'd traveled with you for some time."

"Although I told them we only met through Kulas and that I barely knew you, they refused to believe me," Ren Xia continued. "They accused me of conspiring against the Immortal Clans alongside Kulas and you."

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

"Conspiring against the Immortal Clans? That's a stretch," Tian Yang raised an eyebrow.

"You not only killed Patriarch Gu's son but also acquired Han Zexian's legacy, not to mention the Limitless Sword Domain as well as other techniques. That's right; they also know that you'd acquired several techniques inside Han Zexian's Tomb."

"Everything you've done seems directed at the Immortal Clans, so I am not surprised they think you are conspiring against them."

"So, nothing happened to you, right?" Tian Yang asked.

"I wouldn't be here if that were the case. Thanks for worrying about me, though," she smiled.

"Now, tell me about Kulas," he said.

"I'll be honest. I don't have much information on Kulas, and what information I managed to gather had cost me a fortune," she said.

"Get straight to the point…"

Ren Xia stared at him for a long moment, her gaze unreadable. Then, with a quiet sigh, she finally revealed, "According to the information I obtained, Kulas was taken away by the Immortal Gu Clan after you entered that mountain. Since then, he hasn't been seen or heard from by anyone—including his own family."

Tian Yang's expression darkened, but he remained silent as she continued.

"This information wasn't difficult to find, but as you know, it still took me several years to contact you. Anyway, the Immortal Might Clan began pouring their resources into another heir shortly after Kulas' disappearance. That only happens when the previous one is either dead… or no longer qualified."

The weight of her words settled over the room, the unspoken implications pressing down like a suffocating force on Tian Yang.

"Are you saying that Kulas is dead?!" Tian Yang roared, his voice shaking the room as his expression twisted with anger. His hands clenched into fists, veins bulging beneath his skin. The very idea was unbearable. Kulas—gone? Just like that?

Ren Xia met his gaze steadily, unfazed by his outburst. "I'm saying that, to the Immortal Might Clan, he might as well be. Also, let me finish."

After taking a deep breath, Ren Xia continued, "Kulas isn't dead, but he's currently imprisoned in the Immortal Confinement Dungeon."

"Immortal Confinement Dungeon? Never heard of it," Tian Yang frowned at this unfamiliar yet ominous name.

"I'm not surprised. It's a secret prison shared by the Nine Immortal Clans," she explained, her tone grave. "A place reserved for those who have committed unforgivable offenses against them. Once someone is sent there, they are never seen again. Even within the Immortal Clans, only trusted members are aware of its existence."

Tian Yang fell silent, deep in thought. A moment later, he asked, "Where is the Immortal Confinement Dungeon?"

Ren Xia's eyebrows shot up. "Don't tell me you're planning to break Kulas out of that place?"

Tian Yang scoffed. "Of course. Why else would I be asking? To bring him lunch?"

Ren Xia blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Of all the responses she had expected, sarcasm wasn't one of them. For a moment, she could only stare at him in a daze, unsure whether to be exasperated or impressed.

Eventually, she snapped out of her daze and said, "Sorry, but I don't know. I told you that only trusted members of the Immortal Clans know about its existence, right? Well, even few people know its location."

"Aren't you the young lady of the Immortal Sword Clan? Your status should be pretty high up there."

"Of course it is, but that doesn't mean I know everything that happens within the Immortal Clans. Moreover, I am just a—"

Ren Xia suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her expression flickering with bitterness, though it vanished almost instantly.

She took a breath before continuing, her tone firmer. "Anyway, I cannot help you with this. If I dig any deeper, they'll start noticing, especially when it comes to information on the Immortal Confinement Dungeon. Hell, I probably don't even have the funds to continue, as I am already near bankrupt from this favor."

"Is that so…" Tian Yang murmured, his voice devoid of emotion as he fell into silence once more.

Ren Xia watched him carefully, her eyes studying his expression. Finally, unable to hold back her curiosity, she asked, "So, what are you going to do now?"

"My goal hasn't changed in the slightest. If Kulas is imprisoned within the Immortal Confinement Dungeon, I will get him out of there," he declared.

"And how in heaven's name are you going to do that? You don't even know its location."

"There are many ways to find out."

"Don't tell me you're going to kidnap someone from the Immortal Clans?" Ren Xia said in a somewhat joking tone.

Tian Yang glanced at her, a small smirk tugging at his lips.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea."