Chapter 998: Three Lashes to the Soul
Chapter 998: Three Lashes to the Soul
Xuan Sushang took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on Li Fan. "I am willing to help you resolve this crisis, Senior," she said slowly, "but..."
Li Fan cut her off with a wave of his hand. "That won't be necessary. Just give me the information on the second incarnation. I'll handle it myself."
"Hmph. You human juniors have no place interfering in the conflict between us."
She was a dignified Dao Integration Immortal Sage, yet Li Fan addressed her as a junior without a second thought. Xuan Sushang, however, felt no anger. Compared to the ancient Heavenly Profound Mirror, she was indeed countless generations younger. The title was entirely appropriate.
In fact, she was relieved that Li Fan only required information and not her direct intervention.
After a moment of contemplation, she transmitted the relevant information to Li Fan with her divine sense.
A moment later.
"Father, please forgive me," Xuan Sushang thought silently, her task complete.
Instead, his gaze fell upon Lu Xichan, who stood silently to the side with her head bowed. His expression was grim.
Lu Xichan sensed his gaze, and a wave of apprehension washed over her.
"Master..." When Li Fan remained silent for a long moment, she finally summoned her courage and spoke, her voice tentative.
"Xichan, you have greatly disappointed me." Li Fan's voice reached her ears, and a slight tremor ran through Lu Xichan's body.
"It has been two hundred and eighty-six years since I formally passed the position of Chief of the Array Strategy Hall to you. After all this time, your mastery of the Dao of Formations has remained stagnant..."
"Master, I..." Lu Xichan began, a feeling of injustice welling up inside her.
When she had first taken the position of Chief of the Array Strategy Hall, only a handful of elders had supported her. The vast majority had chosen to watch from the sidelines, and many more had coveted her position for themselves. Her every step had been fraught with peril. It had taken years of careful maneuvering and political balancing before she had finally secured her standing.
The duties of the Chief of the Immortal Alliance's Array Strategy Hall were incredibly demanding. She not only had to manage the myriad reports and miscellaneous tasks from the branch halls in every province but also attend monthly meetings to coordinate with other departments on the Alliance's operations.
In two hundred years, aside from the previous security breach concerning the grand protection array, the Array Strategy Hall had been virtually flawless under her leadership. She had even accumulated considerable merit for her work.
This success was unequivocally due to her tireless dedication.
She had already given her all to achieve what she had. How could she possibly have found the time and energy to advance her cultivation of formations as well?
Besides, it wasn't as if her skills had made no progress at all; she simply hadn't achieved any major breakthroughs.
...
Lu Xichan's heart was a knot of conflict, and she opened her mouth to defend herself.
But Li Fan cut her off harshly. "I know what you're thinking. But only the weak make excuses for themselves."
"A true master," he declared, "never abandons the pursuit of the Dao, even when standing on the brink of life and death!"
Li Fan's voice was low and severe. "Ask yourself, have you truly given it your all?!"
"I..." Lu Xichan was rendered speechless.
His tone grew heavier still. "Instead of striving for progress, you indulge in carnal pleasures..."
As he spoke, Li Fan shot a pointed glance at Xuan Sushang.
A blush crept up Xuan Sushang's cheeks, and she lowered her head even further, her gaze fixed on the floor.
Li Fan turned back to Lu Xichan. "You must be punished!"
A long whip, woven from the power of his divine soul, materialized in his hand. "Kneel!" he commanded.
Lu Xichan was a Dao Integration cultivator, the Chief of the Immortal Alliance's Array Strategy Hall—a figure of immense power and authority.
Pride stirred in her heart. She raised her head, about to voice her defiance.
But then her eyes met Li Fan's, and she was struck by their cold, merciless depths.
In that instant, a flood of childhood memories washed over her.
It was as if she were a child again, living in constant fear of her master's reprimands. Her legs went weak, and before she knew it, her body had acted on instinct. She knelt.
Kneeling on the cold floor, the fear that had just gripped her vanished. In its place, a nameless fire of rebellion ignited within her.
However...
Before that flame could grow, she saw the shadow of a golden whip whistling toward her.
"Do not dodge!"
Li Fan's grim command halted her subconscious attempt to defend herself.
And so, Lu Xichan could only watch as the golden whip of soul energy struck her divine soul.
It struck the very spot where her defensive seals had been previously erased by his spiritual pressure. A pain beyond description instantly seared through her entire being.
It was as if countless steel needles were being driven into her body and brain, twisting mercilessly. In an instant, her entire consciousness was consumed by agony.
Her body went rigid, then collapsed to the floor, twitching uncontrollably.
She could not even scream; only broken whimpers escaped her throat.
Her body convulsed, twisting into a ball on the floor. It was several long, agonizing minutes before the pain, originating from the depths of her soul, began to recede.
As a sliver of consciousness returned, Lu Xichan opened her mouth to beg for mercy.
But Li Fan, showing no mercy, struck again—another lash squarely upon her soul!
Just as she had begun to escape the torment, Lu Xichan was plunged back into hell!
This time, her reaction was even more violent. Tears streamed down her face, her noble composure utterly shattered.
Hearing Lu Xichan's faint whimpers, Xuan Sushang, who had been standing silently with her head bowed, stole a glance in her direction.
A strange light flickered in her eyes.
She knew Lu Xichan had never reacted like this before; her tolerance for pain was exceptionally high.
Xuan Sushang's subtle reaction was exactly what Li Fan had anticipated.
He paid her no mind for the moment. As soon as Lu Xichan's torment began to ease, he brought the golden whip down a third time.
This time, Lu Xichan did not scream.
Only instinctive sobs and pleas for mercy were left.
"Master, Chan'er knows she was wrong..."
"Master, have mercy..."
Lu Xichan's miserable cries echoed through the small wooden house.
Li Fan's expression remained as cold and unyielding as a glacier, but Xuan Sushang's face had grown inexplicably flushed, her eyes hazy.
He did not strike a fourth time.
His task complete, Li Fan held the whip in his right hand, resting it behind his back.
He waited for Lu Xichan to regain her senses.
The scene of punishment left Xuan Sushang trembling with a mixture of fear and something else. She, too, dared not move, waiting where she stood.
After what seemed like an eternity, Lu Xichan finally emerged from the white void of her mind.
Lying on the floor, she saw Li Fan's imposing figure standing over her, and an instinctive tremor of fear shot through her.
She struggled to her feet, first composing herself and straightening her robes, before bowing her head with great difficulty. "Thank you, Master, for your punishment," she managed, her voice broken.
"Rise," Li Fan replied coolly.
Lu Xichan tried to straighten up but nearly collapsed again.
Seeing this, Xuan Sushang rushed forward to support her.
"The Great Dao is boundless, and its pursuit ends only in death," Li Fan declared. "These three lashes are your punishment for your negligence!"
"The path of formations is like a boat rowing against the current; to not advance is to be swept back. From now on, you will remain here in this bamboo sea and devote yourself to your studies. Do not leave unless it is absolutely necessary!"
(End of Chapter)
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