In the scene, Lin Yun effortlessly deflected Lie Wuyan’s attack. Then, Lie Wuyan and Wu Gu attacked Lin Yun together, but Lin Yun defeated them both with a single sword strike.
“This guy…”
The three elders, seeing Lin Yun, a First Layer Heaven-Piercing Realm cultivator, so easily overpower Lie Wuyan and Wu Gu, couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. This guy is formidable!
“Lin Yun, this only shows you defeating them. It doesn’t prove that Shu Zhen instructed them,” the red-robed elder in the centre said.
“Elder, keep watching, and it will become clear,” Lin Yun replied.
In the scene, Lin Yun pointed his sword at Lie Wuyan, questioning why he tried to kill him. Lie Wuyan said it was for the True Saint Artifact.
Lin Yun pressed further, asking how he knew about his True Saint Artifact.
“It… it was Shu Zhen who told me,” Lie Wuyan gritted his teeth and said.
When the scene reached this point, everything became abundantly clear.
Shu Zhen trembled in shock, cold sweat dripping down his back.
“Elders, Lie Wuyan is framing me! I never told him anything!” Shu Zhen hurriedly protested.
Lin Yun sneered. “Shu Zhen, only people from the Heavenly Fire Temple knew I had a True Saint Artifact. It could only have been leaked by someone from the temple. You happen to be friends with Lie Wuyan, and he confessed under threat of death. With all this, can you still claim it’s false?”
“Lin Yun, you… you…” Shu Zhen’s face turned ashen.
“Enough. The facts are clear, no need for further argument,” the red-robed elder waved his hand, silencing them both.
Elder Li also stood up, saying coldly, “Shu Zhen, you targeted a Death Servant of the Heavenly Fire Temple with lethal intent. You know how serious the consequences are, don’t you?”
“I… I…” Shu Zhen’s face paled, fully aware of the gravity.
If judged harshly, this was also a capital offence!
Shu Zhen never expected that coming to accuse Lin Yun would backfire like this!
Of course, since Lin Yun wasn’t killed by Lie Wuyan, the matter could be treated lightly or severely, depending on the elders’ decision.
Lin Yun’s offence was similar. It was serious, but since it didn’t cause significant consequences, he only let one person go without causing major losses to the Heavenly Fire Temple. Thus, his punishment also depended on the elders’ judgment.
Lin Yun immediately spoke. “Three Elders, I’m willing to accept the same punishment as Shu Zhen. If Shu Zhen insists on my execution, so be it. However, Commander Guang Tiancheng didn’t betray the temple or cause it any real harm. Please be lenient with him.”
“Then your punishment will be combined with Shu Zhen’s. You’ll both receive the same penalty,” Elder Li said.
Hearing this, Shu Zhen quickly forced a smile. “Three Elders, in truth, Lin Yun’s offence doesn’t warrant death. He didn’t cause serious consequences. I may have exaggerated his actions before. The situation wasn’t that bad. He should be punished, but I think we can spare his life, give him a lesson, and observe his future conduct!”
He wasn’t pleading for Lin Yun; he was clearly pleading for himself, as their punishments were now tied, and Lin Yun’s execution would mean his own.
“Two Elders, I also think they can be spared death, but they must receive a profound lesson and punishment. What do you think?” Elder Li looked at the other two red-robed elders.
The red-robed elder in the centre spoke. “Very well, all three will receive the same punishment: forty lashes of the Soul-Extinguishing Whip!”
“Soul… Soul-Extinguishing Whip?” Shu Zhen’s face turned green upon hearing this.
Guang Tiancheng’s facial muscles twitched as well.
Undoubtedly, this Soul-Extinguishing Whip was extremely brutal!
“Any objections?” the red-robed elder asked coldly.
“No… no objections,” Shu Zhen forced a smile.
The red-robed elder in the centre stood up, producing a long black whip.
“From left to right, Shu Zhen, you’re first,” the red-robed elder looked at Shu Zhen on the left.
“Remember, don’t resist, or you’ll bear the consequences!”
As soon as the elder finished speaking, he fiercely swung the black whip, striking Shu Zhen harshly.
Crack!
“Ah!”
With the crisp sound of the whip, Shu Zhen let out a piercing scream.
Crack!
“Ah!”
The second lash followed, and with another scream, Shu Zhen collapsed to the ground.
Crack! Crack!
The third and fourth lashes came in quick succession.
Though Lin Yun hadn’t yet experienced the Soul-Extinguishing Whip, just hearing Shu Zhen’s agonised screams was enough to imagine its power.
As the whip struck repeatedly, Shu Zhen not only screamed continuously but began rolling on the ground in pain.
