Chapter 2711 Kick Him While He Was Down

With Chao Zonglin’s cultivation, even if caught off guard, it should have been impossible for him not to fail to react in time. Of course, the truth was, he had never imagined that Lin Xun would dare to act so brazenly inside the Heavenly Treasure Hall.

At first, panic and fury flashed in his eyes, but he quickly steadied himself and sneered coldly, “Junior Brother Lin Xun, anyone who dares to resort to violence within the Heavenly Treasure Hall will be punished... Three years of allowance deducted, thirty strokes of the Divine Staff of Law and Punishment, and one year in the Prison of Repentance!”

Even though Lin Xun’s grip was crushing his neck, he still managed to look at him with a mix of pity and ridicule. Three years’ allowance amounted to thirty six thousand pounds of immortal divine essence!

In addition, the so-called thirty cane strikes were no ordinary punishment either. Law enforcement disciples of Origin Sky Pavilion would be dispatched to administer them publicly with the Divine Staff of Law and Punishment.

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Regardless of one’s cultivation, every strike from that staff inflicted unbearable agony. Thirty blows would leave even the toughest cultivator wishing for death. However, what was worse than the physical pain was the humiliation. Being flogged in full view of the successors of the nine peaks, that strike to one’s dignity was the deadliest.

As for the Prison of Repentance, it was said to be a place loathed by gods and shunned by ghosts. To be confined within was like being cast into endless darkness, cut off from even the faintest trace of the great dao.

No matter how unshakable one’s dao heart was, a year of torment in that prison would reduce them to a state worse than living or dead. Inside the Heavenly Treasure Hall, many had already noticed Lin Xun’s actions. When they saw him seize Chao Zonglin, the crowd immediately stirred.

“He actually dared to strike?”

“Lin Xun is far too reckless. Even if he was furious, he should have challenged him in the Heaven’s Judgment Arena.”

“He’s new here, after all. Perhaps he doesn’t yet understand how harsh the punishments are for breaking the rules.”

Voices rose in heated discussion...some sighed, some pitied him, and others gloated openly.

This only fueled Chao Zonglin’s arrogance. Smiling radiantly, he declared, “Junior Brother, you’re finished.”

“You broke the rules first,” Lin Xun replied coldly. “So the one to be punished...should be you.” His palm lashed out.

Chao Zonglin’s head buzzed as stars danced before his eyes. His cheeks flushed red and swollen, blood dripped from his nose and mouth, and his smug grin twisted into shock and rage.

“You dare strike me? That’s an even graver offense!” he howled.

PA!

Lin Xun struck Chao Zonglin with another slap, knocking his teeth loose and swelling his head like a pig’s as a pained scream tore from his throat. Gasps rippled through the hall. People exchanged shocked glances, eyes wide with disbelief.

Is Lin Xun smashing the pot now that it is cracked? Acting reckless with nothing to lose?

“If Chao Zonglin really violated the rules first, then by the sect’s laws Lin Xun won’t be punished for this,” someone analyzed.

“However, who can prove it? Besides, plenty of influential figures already dislike Lin Xun. Since Chao Zonglin dared to provoke him so openly, he must have made preparations.” Another’s eyes glinted coldly.

“What are you doing?!”

At that moment, Lin Xun dragged the battered Chao Zonglin out of the hall.

“Senior and junior brothers, help me! Capture this lawless bastard!” Chao Zonglin shrieked in panic

“Lin Xun, you’ve already broken the rules! Stop immediately! Put Senior Brother Chao Zonglin down at once!” A thunderous voice rang out as a tall, imposing man in silver robes stepped forward to block Lin Xun’s path.

Lin Xun, however, remained calm. “This man abused his position to obstruct me from collecting my monthly allowance, a direct violation of the sect’s nineteenth rule. I am taking him to Origin Sky Pavilion for judgement. Anyone who dares to stand in my way will be treated as his accomplice, so don’t blame me for being merciless!”

His words echoed through the hall, leaving everyone stunned. Chao Zonglin angrily shouted, “You’re talking nonsense! How can you prove that I abused my position? How have I broken any rules?”

PA!

Lin Xun slapped him again, “You know the truth yourself. Since you’ve chosen to be someone else’s cannon fodder, you better be prepared for it.”

Everyone exchanged uncertain, bewildered looks. Lin Xun was simply too unyielding! Rules were rigid, but people were not. If Chao Zonglin really had someone backing him, would you ever have the chance to defend yourself?

“Move!”

Lin Xun’s eyes turned cold as he stared straight at the silver-robed man blocking the path ahead. That single look made the man’s heart seize with dread, and the oppressive aura forced him to subconsciously step aside.

Just as Lin Xun was about to drag Chao Zonglin out of Heavenly Treasure Hall...

“Ridiculous!”

A deep and solemn voice boomed through the hall. “Someone who just joined the sect dares to run wild on Origin Emptiness Pavilion’s territory? Such brazen defiance...outrageous!”

An old man with a pointed goatee, clad in purple robes, suddenly appeared out of thin air. A terrifying aura of immortality radiated from him.

“Deacon Xu Wen!”

The hall instantly fell silent. Not a sound could be heard as everyone recognized the old man. He was Xu Wen, one of Origin Emptiness Pavilion’s deacons, and a formidable immortal. The moment he appeared, his gaze locked onto Lin Xun, and he thundered, “Release him at once!”

Despite that, Lin Xun remained calm as ever. “Senior, before right and wrong are made clear, you want me to let this man go? Isn’t that a little too hasty?”

Xu Wen’s expression darkened. “Wretch! You committed violence in Heavenly Treasure Hall before everyone’s eyes. What is there left to argue? Since you stubbornly refuse to repent, I’ll personally take you to Origin Sky Pavilion!”

Boom!

As he spoke, he struck out to seize Lin Xun. Immortal laws surged forth, condensing into a massive hand that pressed down with suffocating force, leaving many in the hall gasping for breath.

It was clear to everyone that if Xu Wen captured Lin Xun, he would have no chance to turn the tables! The most chilling part was that Xu Wen had no intention of even hearing Lin Xun’s side. He moved directly, clearly not planning to give Lin Xun any chance to struggle or resist.

However, Lin Xun didn’t flinch. He simply held Chao Zonglin in front of him like a shield. Xu Wen’s massive palm froze in midair. If he struck, even if Lin Xun couldn’t escape capture, the first to be obliterated would undoubtedly be Chao Zonglin.

“Despicable! How dare you use the life of a fellow disciple as a shield? This is simply unforgivable!” Xu Wen’s face twisted with fury and his aura surged, heavier and more terrifying than before.

Lin Xun refused to back down and sneered coldly, “Old man, I’m a true disciple of the Ninth Peak, yet you keep calling me ‘wretch.’ Who gave you the audacity to insult me like this?”

Gasps rippled through the hall. In all these years, no one had ever dared to confront a great deacon of the Origin Emptiness Pavilion so boldly!

Unbelievable.

In truth, disputes within the Origin Sect rarely escalated to this degree. Clearly, all of this turmoil was aimed squarely at Lin Xun.

Xu Wen laughed in anger, “Hah! You harmed others, showed no remorse, and still dare to speak with such defiance. This is the Origin Sect, not a place for you to run wild!”

As his words fell, his terrifying might radiated outward, vast and unstoppable, surging toward Lin Xun like a mountain collapsing or a tidal wave, seeking to utterly crush him beneath immortal power.

However, who would have thought that Lin Xun would once again place Chao Zonglin in front of him and use him as a human shield?

Xu Wen’s face darkened with fury. He had seen shamelessness before, but never anything like this! Helplessly, he could do nothing but restrain himself. After all, one must be careful not to destroy the vessel while trying to kill the rat.

“You’re right. This is the Origin Sect. Even an elder cannot act recklessly and trample the rules,” Lin Xun said calmly.

“Lin Xun, let him go at once!”

A cold, majestic voice rang out from beyond the hall. Then, a familiar figure stepped inside. It was Zheng Qian, the Ninth Peak’s elder in charge of law and punishment!

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed. “Elder Zheng, you’ve come at just the right time. Earlier, I only came to collect my monthly allowance, but this scoundrel went out of his way to make things difficult for me and...”

Before he could finish, Zheng Qian cut him off impatiently, snapping, “I told you to let him go at once!”

Lin Xun’s heart sank, the warmth in his eyes gradually fading into a cold, chilling glare. “Your own disciple of the Ninth Peak is being bullied, yet you, Zheng Qian, as an elder, not only refuse to step in, but even side with outsiders to oppress your own... Isn’t that a bit disgraceful?”

Three days ago at the banquet, Zheng Qian had already revealed his disdain and hostility toward Lin Xun, speaking with utter rudeness. At the time, Lin Xun felt displeased but he saw no need to make an issue of it.

Now, it seemed Zheng Qian could already be counted as an ‘enemy’! Perhaps, just as Ye Chunjun had said, Zheng Qian was most likely trying to use him as a means to earn merit in hopes of securing a position as a deacon in the Origin Sky Pavilion!

“Absurd! I am acting impartially. Before the sect’s rules, I would never shield someone like you who refuses to admit his mistakes or repent!”

Zheng Qian’s expression darkened. The atmosphere in the Heavenly Treasure Hall grew increasingly oppressive and tense. Many successors nearby exchanged uneasy glances, realizing the situation was spiraling out of control, and Lin Xun’s position was becoming increasingly perilous.

“Act impartially? Fine, then let’s go to the Origin Sky Pavilion together and let the entire sect witness just how ’impartial’ you are?” Lin Xun sneered coldly.

He wasn’t afraid of escalating this matter. On the contrary, the bigger the storm, the better. Long before entering the Origin Sect, Xiao Wenyuan had warned him that there were plenty here who despised him, but also many who supported him. Lin Xun was curious to see if he stirred the waters enough, whether the hidden powers in the shadows would be forced to reveal themselves!

Zheng Qian faltered, hesitation flickering across his face. However, Xu Wen spoke coldly, “Why not? Let’s head to the Origin Sky Pavilion now!”

He appeared very calm. From his attitude, it was obvious to everyone that even if they went to the Origin Sky Pavilion, the situation was bound to be unfavorable to Lin Xun...

One could even say that within the Origin Sky Pavilion, there were inevitably forces hostile toward him!

“Lin Xun, are you satisfied now? What was originally a trivial matter, you’ve turned into such a mess. Let’s see how you clean it up!” Zheng Qian snorted coldly, his gaze frosty.

“Heh, how unfortunate for the Ninth Peak to have an elder like you.” Lin Xun laughed lightly.

Compared to his enemies, what he hated even more was Zheng Qian, an elder of the Ninth Peak, who chose to kick him while he was down.

With that, Lin Xun no longer spared Zheng Qian a glance. Grabbing hold of Chao Zonglin, he strode straight out of the Heavenly Treasure Hall.