The people here wouldn't run even if you let them. After all, they were only sentenced to a few years and would be out soon. An escape attempt would mean a brutal beating, and they might even get an additional few thousand years added to their sentence.
After handing over the prisoners to the Tier-D jail personnel, Qi Heng led Wan Lei towards the left.
They didn't walk far before arriving at a vast area devoid of anything but three large gates, each marked with a single character.
Bing, Yi, Jia.
"Except for the Tier-D prison, where we can wander freely, on the other three tiers, we can only go to our assigned areas. We cannot enter anyone else's territory."
Qi Heng gestured for Wan Lei to swipe his identification card at the Tier-Yi gate. The gate then slid open.
Wan Lei was now a guard, granted free passage into the prison.
The opening of the gate startled Wan Lei. Inside, there was no staircase, only a large, brightly lit shaft.
The shaft was surrounded by metal plates that Wan Lei tested, finding they could block divine sense.
The two descended into the shaft. Wan Lei estimated they dropped for about a hundred meters before reaching the bottom.
At the bottom was another large gate. Wan Lei swiped his identification card again, and they entered.
The first thing that greeted them was another office area.
"The prisoners in Tiers-D and C have dedicated mess halls and recreation areas, and they undergo labor reform. But it's different for Tier-Yi. The prisoners can never leave their cells; they eat, drink, and relieve themselves within their rooms."
Qi Heng pointed to the doors in the office area.
"This is the kitchen, where meals are prepared for the prisoners. We don't eat here.
Over there are the offices of the various team leaders. I am the leader of Team Thirteen, so that office is mine.
This largest office belongs to the prison warden. He is a Boundless Realm expert and is in charge of managing our Tier-Yi prison."
As he spoke, Qi Heng knocked on the warden's office door. Upon entering, Wan Lei saw a middle-aged cultivator seated in cultivation.
After a brief greeting with the warden, the warden also spoke kindly with Wan Lei for a few minutes, offering encouragement and stating that it was good for young people to train, but they should not be too arrogant and must obey the law.
After their conversation, they exited the office.
"Tsk, tsk, it's different when you're famous. Boss, such a stern person, actually chats with people with a smile."
Qi Heng looked at Wan Lei with envy, thinking that if he were the strongest disciple of the Five Elements Hall, he'd dare to walk in and bang on the warden's desk.
"Does Boss often reprimand people?"
"Not often. This guy is too lazy to even leave his office. After all, there aren't many significant events in the prison, and no one ever escapes."
"No one escapes? How is that possible? These people were all proud talents in the Five Elements Hall; how could they be willing to be locked up here for life?"
Hearing this, Qi Heng burst into laughter and patted Wan Lei's shoulder.
"Brother, don't let the fact that there are only about four hundred guards in our Tier-Yi prison fool you. The external guards are even more numerous, and all these building materials and formations are top-tier.
These individuals are also equipped with cultivators' suppressors, rendering them unable to break free with their own strength. Tell me, how can a mortal escape from here?
Furthermore, it's not just the prison guards who maintain security. Outside the prison, there are millions of Five Elements Hall disciples, plus over ten Saints permanently stationed at the Five Elements Hall, and the Five Great Immortal Venerables overseeing it all. Tell me, who would be foolish enough to attempt an escape?
At least here, they can live. If they try to escape, they'll likely be turned into dust."
Wan Lei nodded at this, as it was his greatest concern.
He was now a guard and, by virtue of his position, had a high chance of successfully breaking out. However, outside, there were still so many other forces.
That was the real problem.
"Let's go, I'll take you to meet our brothers."
Qi Heng smiled and pushed open his office door.
Wan Lei followed him in, only to be startled by the scene before him.
The warden's office was spacious, bright, clean, and spotless. In contrast, Qi Heng's office was cramped and dirty.
Directly opposite the entrance was a desk and a chair. On the seat was an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts, and the trash can on the floor was piled high with garbage. To the right of the entrance were two rows of sofas with a coffee table in between.
The coffee table was littered with snack bags and cigarette butts.
People were sitting on both rows of sofas, with about nine of them at a rough estimate.
"Yo, boss is here?"
"Good morning, boss."
As soon as they saw Qi Heng enter, everyone greeted him with smiles, their actions not ceasing as they snacked and smoked.
"Look at this mess you've made of my office, turning it into a dog kennel. Hurry up and tidy it up. Is this how you welcome a new colleague?"
Qi Heng expressed his extreme displeasure, feeling thoroughly embarrassed.
"Yo, this must be Wan Lei, Senior Wan, hello, hello."
"We've heard great things, heard great things."
"An impressive figure has joined our team. It's an honor."
Everyone stood up to greet Wan Lei, who responded with a smile.
He noticed that among these people, there was a demon and a divine race member.
The demon was covered in scales, with a fish-like head. The divine race member was a six-star deity, similar to Dada.
"Hello, everyone. I'll be working with you all from now on. I won't say much else. After work tonight, I'll treat you all to drinks."
"Awesome."
"Senior Wan is generous."
"This guy's loaded, we gotta take him for a good meal."
...
After brief introductions, Wan Lei got to know his nine colleagues.
Qi Heng introduced Wan Lei, saying,
"Our Tier-Yi Team Thirteen has a total of twenty guards and one team leader. I was short one person under me, so I personally patrolled the tenth row of cells. Now that Wan Lei has arrived, the tenth row of cells will be your responsibility.
The twenty of us are divided into day and night shifts, with ten people per shift. I also work the day shift and am responsible for the handover between the two shifts.
It's almost nine o'clock now, and it's time for the shift change. Come with me."
With that, Qi Heng led the way out of the office, and the others followed.
Led by Qi Heng, Wan Lei navigated the maze-like corridors, turning and twisting, almost getting lost.
Finally, they arrived outside the cells of Team Thirteen.
It was a thick, seemingly sturdy glass door.
"This door requires facial recognition, my identification, and a key to open. No one else can open it, except the prison warden."
Qi Heng looked up, allowing the surveillance camera to scan his face, then his ID card on his chest, and finally, he used his key to open the large door.
Wan Lei silently committed this detail to memory, contemplating how he would open it during a jailbreak.