Zhu Chang scratched the back of his head. "It would have been so amazing if I was right on the first try. This is exactly what I didn't want to face."
"How about you let me meet my friend? We can talk about the rest later?" he asked.
It was evident to him that he wasn't strong enough to face the Heavenly Emperor. He never intended to fight him either. He knew his limitations.
His entire plan was to go in, get his friend and escape before the Heavenly Emperor could even get a wind of it.
Now that the Heavenly Emperor was involved, he had no other option but to escape. Still, he wanted to meet Long Chen and try to escape with him. The chances of that happening were slim.
"Even though I shouldn't allow you, I would allow you to meet him. However, you'll have to find him for that first. Since even we failed to find him."
The Heavenly Emperor also wanted to get his hand on Long Chen, who was the cause of all this. Unfortunately, they weren't able to find him. Either that guy was dead, or he was hiding.
If he was dead, it didn't matter. But if he was hiding, the Heavenly Emperor wanted to know where he was hiding. Which place could be so good that even they weren't able to find him.
That wasn't all either. The Heavenly Emperor didn't want to kill Zhu Chang either. Even though this guy had helped some prisoners escape, he hadn't killed a Heavenly Warrior so far. In fact, he didn't hear about any deaths being caused by Zhu Chang.
This kid hadn't gone overboard even though he could. And just for that, the Heavenly Emperor didn't want to have an unnecessary conflict with the Black Tortoise Clan for such a small reason. He had a better idea to punish Zhu Chang.
Since Zhu Chang was running from his family, the best way to punish him was to call his family here. In fact, he had already sent a message to the Black Tortoise Patriarch. Now all he needed was to delay Zhu Chang until he arrived.
So by letting Zhu Chang find Long Chen, he was hunting two birds with one stone. First, he was going to find Long Chen, and second, he was going to get back at Zhu Chang.
There was also a third reason. He could blame the Black Tortoise Patriarch for the mistakes of his son and ask him something for the damages. Inside his heart, the Heavenly Emperor was laughing. He had already decided what he was going to ask for compensation.
"You failed to find him? What do you mean?"
"I don't think I'm talking in any secret language. I told you what I meant. I came here, asked my men to search Long Chen. According to my information, he was here. But the search didn't bear any fruit. He's probably hiding somewhere," the Heavenly Emperor explained. "Try calling for him. Maybe he'll stop hiding?"
Zhu Chang was slightly surprised. Even in a place like this, Long Chen was able to keep his whereabouts a secret even from the Heavenly Emperor? That was certainly very impressive.
"I'll try to find him myself then." He took a step forward before he shouted out loud. "Long Chen! Come out! I'm here to get you out!"
Zhu Chang's voice was so loud that it reached far and wide. It even reached inside the Dark Tower, echoing in the mystical space.
It also got inside the Inner Prison. Most of the Inner Prisoners were wondering who this Long Chen was. And who was there to save him?
Zia Uzhi and Gu Chen were the only two prisoners who recognized Long Chen, but even they were surprised. Did someone really break inside the prison to help Long Chen? Was the Heavenly Emperor there for him as well? Just who was this Long Chen who was able to bring forth such high-profile people for him?
Didn't he say he was from the Immortal World? Then how was this possible?
...
The old man's consciousness inside the Dark Tower also heard the call for Long Chen.
"Intriguing. It looks like his friends are here. Albeit, he's a bit busy," the old man muttered.
The voice of Zhu Chang, which reached far and wide, failed to reach the only place where it mattered. It didn't enter the special place where Long Chen was actually going through a challenge.
Long Chen remained lost in his comprehension to realize that his freedom was already waiting outside for him.
...
Zhu Chen again screamed with full strength, but there was no response even now. He even waited for ten minutes, but there was no reply. Long Chen didn't come out.
Zhu Chang spread his consciousness far and wide to be able to hear even the slightest of noise. Even if Long Chen was kept in the depths of the prison, he would have been able to sense him if Long Chen had responded. But there was no response.
"Looks like I was wrong. He certainly isn't hiding. No wonder I wasn't able to find him. That could only mean that he's dead," The Heavenly Emperor muttered, rubbing his chin.
"Nonsense. He isn't dead. I would've felt it if he had died. He's the contracted partner of this Supreme Monarch!" The Snake Monarch exclaimed.
"Where can he be then?" The Heavenly Emperor muttered, frowning.
Zhu Chang glared at the Heavenly Emperor suspiciously. "Tell me where you hid him! Did you already send him away since you knew we were coming here for him?"
"I didn't. Moreover, why would I? Do you think I would be scared of a kid like you to send him away?" The Heavenly Emperor smirked.
"That's certainly right. Only I can scare Old Li!" A mighty voice spread far and wide. A blinding light came from the sky, taking the shape of a human.
"F-father!" Zhu Chang exclaimed, seeing the man. He hastily decided to retreat.
"Don't bother. I've sealed the space. You can't run anymore, my annoying son." The dark-haired man turned to Zhu Chang. "Two words... You destroyed two worlds. What should I do with you? You're really troublesome!"
"I didn't destroy them. I had no hand in it! I just, ah, happened to be there when those words were destroyed," Zhu Chang smiled wryly. "I promise I'm innocent. Let me go. I promise it won't happen again!"
Zhu Chang's father sighed, disappointed. "Sigh, when will you grow up, my childish son? Why trouble this old man so much?"