Chapter 124: The Iron Prison Seal

Wei Cheng truly understood at last.

His problem was not great—it lay in his perspective.

Previously, he had always regarded the Mountain-Moving profession as one of defense and protection, at most a passive counterattack.

Therefore, he never imagined that the Iron Prison Law, an external martial art technique, would be so unorthodox as to abandon defense altogether and choose offense instead.

When he attempted to learn and master the Iron Prison Law and realized that this technique actually altered his Mountain-Moving visualization map, he was shocked and uneasy.

In truth, without the changing skies and the bleak, withering winter, how could one launch a thunderous offensive?

“Then, let me give it a try!”

Wei Cheng returned to his small courtyard, once again summoning the Immovable Golden Bell, regulating his breath and steadying his mind, silently reciting the technique’s incantations. At the same time, his hands formed a series of seals as specified by the technique, while his Mountain-Moving internal force was delivered with precise timing.

These three were indispensable.

The incantation was the key.

The Mountain-Moving internal force was like electricity, sustaining the key’s operation.

The hand seals were the mechanical pathways, the computer interface, and also the operational environment and software platform for the key.

The three operated as one.

In the next moment, the Mountain-Moving visualization map activated automatically.

For the first second, it was still the familiar scene of mountains, sunrise, and a great river—a vibrant world teeming with life.

But in the next, dark clouds hung low and the north wind howled.

When ice and snow covered the mountains and everything withered, it was as if all birds had fled and all human traces vanished along countless paths.

All vitality was severed.

But it was not Wei Cheng’s vitality that was broken, nor the majestic mountain formations of the nine mountain groups within the visualization map, nor the nature of the Mountain-Moving internal force.

What was severed was the enemy’s vitality.

The cold shroud, the frozen mountains—these manifested within the Mountain-Moving visualization map, yet they were not real cold winds or snow to freeze foes.

No.

This was a sealing force.

And this force originated from the Mountain-Moving visualization map.

Thus, Bai Han’s understanding was not entirely wrong—“Brocade-Clad Heavenly Prison” was a vivid name.

It seemed an ordinary name, yet it represented the dreaded prison of the Brocade Guard.

The fiercer the Brocade Guard, the more terrifying their prison.

By the same logic, the more perfected and powerful the Mountain-Moving visualization map, the more dreadful the sealing effect of the Iron Prison Law.

In a flash, everything fell into place.

Wei Cheng withdrew the Immovable Golden Bell, standing quietly in his courtyard, silently reciting the Iron Prison Law, his Mountain-Moving internal force following suit, and the nine mountain groups within the visualization map evolving in response.

For a moment, the once sunny courtyard became one of solemnity and weight, as if the mountains from the visualization had truly descended into reality.

“Hmm? Not quite.”

Suddenly, Wei Cheng sensed that within this solemn, heavy force, there was yet another subtle change, faint and elusive.

It was definitely more than just Bai Han’s simplistic notion of full-on offense.

Perhaps, this was not meant for attack at all, but rather—

A flicker of realization passed through Wei Cheng’s mind, golden talisman symbols appearing in his eyes as he incorporated the Golden Bell visualization map.

He was not experimenting blindly—the Iron Prison Law turned mountains into a frozen world, and this faint aura harmonized perfectly with the Immovable Golden Bell at its consummate state.

At this trial, indeed, the Mountain-Moving visualization map immediately revealed an entirely new transformation.

Black clouds hung low, the mountains silent and desolate, colorless and soundless, lawless and unbound!

Everything had changed.

A profound clarity blossomed in Wei Cheng’s heart, accompanied by the flowing Mountain-Moving internal force and the increasingly heavy, solemn nine mountain groups, as if any moment they would descend into reality, crushing all beneath.

“Law!”

Wei Cheng spoke out firmly.

His voice was not loud, but carried great authority—like the striking of the Golden Bell, the blare of the army’s horn, the decree of the empire.

At this moment, he truly grasped the essence of the first level of the Iron Prison Law.

Bai Han was utterly clueless!

Almost led him astray.

In a shift of thought, Wei Cheng’s hands quickly formed seals, but no longer the ones before. Those had only opened the treasure box—they were not the seals of the treasure itself.

Bai Han was like one who bought a finely carved box but discarded the pearl inside.

Though these seals were extremely intricate, Wei Cheng felt an uncanny familiarity.

Because these belonged inherently to the Mountain-Moving visualization map, an extension of the transformation of the Immovable Golden Bell seals.

This was not starting from scratch.

Rather, it required a strong foundation.

Learning and mastering it on this foundation was naturally effortless.

Without a solid foundation, no matter how hard one tried, it was like a blind man feeling an elephant or seeing a leopard through a bamboo tube, as Bai Han did.

His visualization map was less than fifty percent optimized, yet he forced himself to train in the Iron Prison Law, ending up with a crude “Brocade-Clad Heavenly Prison” and “Western Depot Prison”—an error of millimeters causing a thousand-mile deviation.

In the blink of an eye, Wei Cheng successfully formed the complex seal between his hands. At that instant, the nine mountain groups seemed to descend into reality.

But in the end, they dissipated like smoke, vanishing without a trace.

Except beneath Wei Cheng’s feet, where several hard bluestone slabs crumbled to dust.

He stood there stunned for a long moment, then pondered.

“With my nine cycles of Mountain-Moving internal force, I can’t even perfectly release the first level of the Iron Prison Law?”

“Looks like my guess was right. This technique truly bridges the gap between innate realm warriors and cultivators, perhaps even surpassing them.”

“So, I have truly comprehended a dragon-slaying skill?”

Wei Cheng chuckled wryly, then after a moment’s thought, formed seals once more, this time deliberately weakening the first level of the Iron Prison Law.

He weakened it twofold, then fourfold, tenfold.

Even fiftyfold—but no success.

Finally, with a surge of determination, he weakened it a hundredfold—and the seal formed perfectly.

This Iron Prison seal, like drifting smoke, hovered around him, wavering yet unscattered by the wind, very much like the Golden Bell seal.

Wei Cheng casually picked up a small stone and tossed it five hundred meters into the air, simultaneously releasing the Iron Prison seal.

The seal instantly consumed a full cycle of Wei Cheng’s Mountain-Moving internal force, transforming into a surging white frost that shot upward, striking the stone.

The next moment, the frost dissipated, and the stone plummeted, seemingly unharmed.

But when Wei Cheng brushed it off casually, the stone crumbled to dust, scattering with the breeze.

“It can serve as a pseudo-long-range attack, but offensively it’s not cost-effective. I can only release it nine times with nine cycles of internal force—what a joke.”

“But it’s excellent for controlling the enemy, even better than the Immovable Golden Bell—like immobilizing a head.”

In Wei Cheng’s mind, the Iron Prison seal continuously evolved. The Immovable Golden Bell could restrain an enemy, but they remained lively. Yet if an Iron Prison seal was hurled, the opponent would surely lose the ability to resist for at least a second.

He was not certain.

Because this required real combat, a live enemy to test on.

—

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Wei Cheng had not stepped outside his courtyard, as if cut off from the world.

This was a rare opportunity—not disturbed, and without worry over resources for cultivation.

So he tirelessly began anew, thoroughly revisiting the Mountain-Moving heart method, including the Immovable Golden Bell, the Iron Prison Law, and even the power granted by his Flame Ring—the ability to transform into a Flame Giant.

Besides, he also took time to study and comprehend the sixth and seventh levels of the Sky Ladder Ascension, mastering them completely until he could freely release five Sky Ladder seals in midair.

For a Spirit Swallow profession, the Sky Ladder seal was as essential as the Immovable Golden Bell was to Mountain-Moving.

A Spirit Swallow unable to master the Sky Ladder seal was utterly unqualified.

The Sky Ladder seal was created by instantaneously forming seals and injecting Spirit Swallow internal force, generating a platform out of thin air to assist movement.

Like a catapult, it could change direction midair and, by rapidly injecting large amounts of internal force, gain greater propulsion.

Wei Cheng tested it—one cycle of Spirit Swallow internal force almost doubled his speed briefly or increased his vertical jump by a hundred meters.

With the Sky Ladder seal, Wei Cheng could perform a five-stage jump in the air, ascending up to five hundred meters, or suddenly rebound in the opposite direction, or adjust direction as circumstances demanded.

This Sky Ladder seal was so wondrous that Wei Cheng even considered learning the eighth level from Chen Ce and Xu Shan.

But before he could act, a deep, heavy bell tolled suddenly throughout Cangwu City.

Twenty days had passed, and the first wave of the Shadow Curse in this trial was about to erupt.

Unlike the sixth level’s Shadow Curse, this wave struck with 200% strength stacked from the start.

“Old Wei!”

“Brother Wei!”

“Boss!”

As Wei Cheng solemnly pushed open his courtyard door, Bai Han, Chen Ce, Liu Sui, Xu Shan, Tang Yuanshan, Yu Liang, and Mei Renli—the seven team members—had already gathered.

Their morale was high, and Wei Cheng checked their progress with satisfaction.

Bai Han’s Mountain-Moving visualization map had deepened to 45%.

Tang Yuanshan’s to exactly 20%.

Chen Ce’s Spirit Swallow visualization to 27%.

Liu Sui’s Purple Mist visualization to 29%.

Xu Shan’s Spirit Swallow visualization barely to 19%.

Yu Liang and Mei Renli’s Mountain-Moving visualization both broke through to 10%.

“Boss, Mei and I definitely won’t hold you back. We won’t join this initial push, but next time we’ll meet the requirements! I swear it!” Yu Liang declared loudly, having adjusted his mindset—complaints were pointless.

Wei Cheng smiled.

“I had you all strengthen your foundation for a reason. When you realize that, you won’t lag behind anymore. Let’s go, we’ll head to the city walls to see what this delayed fifth wave of the Shadow Curse looks like.”

At this moment, the warning bell continued to toll through Cangwu City.

The streets were nearly deserted.

The native civilians had long since retreated indoors, and the trial participants—whether former shop assistants, apprentices, or other professions—were all rushing to the city walls of their respective factions.

In this regard, the situation was far better than the chaotic past of Floating Cloud City.

At least even the newcomers understood that slacking off or acting aloof would only doom themselves.

“Old Wei, shall we go to the North City?” Xu Shan suggested. The North City was Qin Douzi’s territory; she and Liu Sui had decent relations with him. They did not want to go to the East City, where Zhou Wu held sway.

“No, East City! The Shadow Curse approaches from east to west. There may be other surprises. If something sudden happens, we must be ready to act,” Wei Cheng said sternly.

This was not just strategic analysis. With his now formidable spiritual power, he could clearly sense the malevolence surging from the east—the direction where Floating Cloud City once stood.

As for his grudges or competition with Zhou Wu, they were trivial.

Only Zhou Wu still foolishly regarded him as a rival.

But it was meaningless.

(The End of this Chapter)