Gang Xin got out of the judgement room, while being escorted by 2 clansmen.
He was to be sent to the Punishment Pavillion.
The two people wore an expression of pity for the boy. After all, the place he was being sent to was a very notorious place inside the clan.
All the while, they failed to notice the slight grin that had surfaced on Gang Xin's face.
...
The Punishment Pavillion was notorious for a variety of reasons. The first reason was that it was a heavily protected place. The second, that it was only a place where clansman who committed heavy crimes would be sent here.
Third reason was the historical significance.
Originally, it used to be a sacred ground of the clan. Its history had dated even back to the period where the Gang Clan was in another, and a much bigger city.
Then, it was much more powerful than the current Gang Clan. It wouldn't even be much of an exaggeration if it was the previous Gang Clan, they would've already lorded over the entire Swallowing Rock city.
What Gin Clan? What 4 great families? They would be on their knees in front of the Gangs.
However, a great disaster struck as the patriarch of then, the person who was at the middle stage of Tearing Transcience, suddenly went berserk.
His cultivated deviated while he was cultivating within the Punishment Pavillion-
Yes, you heard me right. Back then, the Punishment Pavillion was not a place where sinners with heavy crimes would be sent to.
Instead, it was a sacred ground to practice and cultivate at - it was rumored that while training there, their clan's cultivation technique Roaring Tiger would undergo a transformation, and bestow fire qi affinity.
It was also because of this transformation that their clan's hair had gradually turned from the original brown to the fiery red color of today.
Their clan was at its hayday, with even 3 people who broke their mortal limits. They were a notable force even among the kingdom.
Yet, because the great patriarch's cultivation deviated, and he became a mad demon who only knew how to kill and massacre, he caused the fall of another great elder, and injured the last one.
The clan was in shambles due to this. And because they could no longer stay in that city, they had moved cities. Along the journey, even the remaining great elder fell and their clan had no more people who could break the mortal limit.
Thus, they were opressed by this city's forces. Tales say that the reason they clan truly fell was due to the people who had the potential to break their mortal limits, all going to the sacred ground, the Punishment Pavillion of now, to breakthrough.
And you can guess what happened - those people also experienced cultivation deviation, but were conscious enough to kill themselves before they hurt the clan anymore.
Otherwise, the Gang Clan would truly have been no more.
There is a rumor that the old patriarch's soul was even haunting the pavillion until now. Thus, anyone that entered the pavillion's punishment ground would be lit in hell flames, tortured greatly.
Throughout history, there were even a few powerful people that had been supressed with the use of this pavillion.
"A new guy? Just a youngster too?" a clansman that was guarding the entrance to the pavillion interacted with the 2 escorts.
Seemed like they knew each other. They talked for a bit, before the guard opened the door, with the help of 2 other people.
After going through such doors once more, the 2 escorts finally let him go.
"Go in. Up ahead is the door to the punishment pavillion. How long you will stay here is specified on your crimes - which is a month. The higher you go, meaning the more floor you climb, the faster your punishment time will go.
If you are to spend 30 days on the first floor, you only need to spend 15 on the second, 10 on the third, and so on.
And if you can spend 5 days on the 5th floor, your crimes will be completely lifted, and you may enjoy special privileges inside the clan.
Unless you fulfill the full time of your punishment, you are not allowed to leave the pavillion.
However, beware. Because of greed and wish for lesser time, many clansmen have been corrupted and died as a result. Don't let yourself get tempted!"
They intentionally emphasized the last one with seriousness. Obviously, they had witnessed such cases many times before.
"Alright. Thanks for the tips" Gang Xin replied, and clashed his fists with his palm as a show of sincerity.
"Don't worry. It's required" the two escorts nodded slightly, before standing back as they watched Gang Xin enter through the door.
Then, they left, not even bothering to lock it.
...
"Such dense fire qi!" Gang Xin exclaimed once he entered through the door. This place was basically a haven for fire cultivators!
However, his brows soon became locked, forming a frown.
"However, it is very invasive" although this place had abundant fire qi, they weren't suitable for cultivation. This was because they weren't pure fire qi, and was corrupted instead.
Just from standing there for a little while, Gang Xin had felt his skin getting corroded and attacked by the fire qi.
If a person were to cultivate using this type of qi, not only would they be unable to fully refine this qi into their own and absorb it, as it wouldn't contain the purifying qualities of normal fire qi.
Instead, it would even attack and damage the meridians and qi flow vessels!