In the entire cultivation world, there was no one who didn’t know this place: this was none other than the Ruolu Prison, used by the Nine Great Heavenly Gates specifically to imprison the most powerful figures of the demonic path!

In his previous life, Adam Cooper had countless righteous cultivators clamoring every day to throw him into Ruolu Prison. He never imagined that after seizing a body and being reborn, he would actually end up in such a place. And the previous owner of this body was also someone from Ruolu Prison, though not a prisoner.

Eric Bennett was the lowest-ranked servant in Ruolu Prison, doing all sorts of odd jobs—guarding the gates, delivering food and water to prisoners, running errands for the wardens, washing clothes, and so on.

He muddled through life, not even knowing how he ended up in Ruolu Prison. After Adam Cooper seized the body and was reborn, the useful information he could obtain was pitifully little. However, as the Emperor of Southern Wasteland, whose wisdom far surpassed ordinary people, even with such scant information, he could deduce that although Eric Bennett held a lowly position, being able to stay in a place like Ruolu Prison for so long must mean there was more to his background.

Eric Bennett had died yesterday after greedily reaching for a rare medicinal herb and accidentally falling from the Eagle Beak Cliff. Adam Cooper was also unlucky—his “Drought Demon Blood Burn” carried his soul wandering everywhere, but he could never find a suitable body. Time was running out; once the sun rose, Adam Cooper’s last chance would be gone. Just then, he spotted this body. He had no choice but to dive right in.

Adam Cooper devoured the lingering memories of the deceased Eric Bennett and learned that Eric Bennett was actually someone from Ruolu Prison. He was startled awake at once, rushed up to take a look, and sure enough, it was Ruolu Prison. Adam Cooper immediately felt as if the heavens were playing a huge joke on him. Even with the bearing of the Emperor of Southern Wasteland, he couldn’t help but curse out loud.

But now, having calmed down, Adam Cooper’s heart stirred. After pondering for a moment, he burst out laughing: “Such a great opportunity delivered right to my door—how could I waste it!” He pointed to the sky: “You old scoundrel, I, Adam Cooper, accept this generous gift!”

With that, he patted his backside and strode toward Ruolu Prison.

That’s right, Adam Cooper was heading back to Ruolu Prison. He wasn’t crazy; rather, he felt that, for now, Ruolu Prison was the most inconspicuous place. Even if someone guessed that the Emperor of Southern Wasteland, Adam Cooper, had seized a body and been reborn, no one would ever imagine that he was hiding right inside Ruolu Prison.

After running for a while, Adam Cooper was drenched in sweat and utterly miserable. The Drought Demon Blood Burn had gathered up Adam Cooper’s soul, carried him running all night, and then repaired Eric Bennett’s damaged body, completely exhausting the last trace of spiritual energy. Now it lay dormant at his brow, unmoving, and he had no power to draw upon.

And this Eric Bennett had never cultivated at all—just an ordinary mortal body. After running under the sun for a while, it was only natural that he couldn’t keep up.

In his previous life, when had Adam Cooper ever been so wretched? He immediately wanted to curse out loud. But thinking of Eric Bennett’s muddleheaded appearance, Adam Cooper understood—Eric Bennett simply had no way to cultivate.

What’s the most important thing for cultivation? It’s not talent or spiritual roots—those are important, but not the most important. The most important thing is wisdom.

Cultivation relies on experience, comprehension, and insight. The same manual will be understood differently by different people, and this is the most crucial reason for differences in cultivation.

Adam Cooper forced himself to be patient, step by step, and only by sunset did he finally stand beneath the gates of Ruolu Prison. Up close, Ruolu Prison looked even more terrifying: the high walls soared out of sight, and the spiritual light on those giant stones, seen up close, formed bands as thick as a person’s arm. With Eric Bennett’s body, even brushing against one would be fatal.

On the two massive prison gates, each thirty zhang high, were carved two Bi’an beasts, their double claws like blades, glaring fiercely.

Now, in his memories, Adam Cooper actually felt a bit of fondness for these two lifeless Bi’an beasts. When Eric Bennett used to watch over people, during those long, boring hours, he would often chat with these two statues. Only these lifeless things wouldn’t mock Eric Bennett, quietly listening to his complaints.

Adam Cooper shook his head helplessly and casually took a jade token from his robe.

This jade token looked much like a talisman, but it was bare, with neither a head nor a tail. It was merely a pass for entering and leaving Ruolu Prison, definitely not a talisman. Talisman masters were rare in the cultivation world, and talismans were incredibly precious. Even the lowest ninth-grade talisman was something someone like Eric Bennett could never possess.

Adam Cooper pressed the jade token against the prison gate. A swirl of spiritual light drew him inside.

“Idiot!”

As soon as he entered Ruolu Prison, an angry shout came from the side: “You little brat, where did you run off to yesterday? Made me stand guard myself!”

A burly warden, clad in ancient black-and-red armor, strode over, grabbed Eric Bennett by the neck, and lifted him up, tucking him under his arm. Eric Bennett had no strength to resist; his body had never cultivated, so how could he possibly be a match for a fierce warden who had already reached the “Nine Palaces” realm?