Chapter 44: Execution on the Spot

The Emerald Creation Pill was precious not only because it healed injuries but also because it alleviated pain.

For cultivators facing life-and-death situations, the wounds themselves weren’t always the deadliest threat—it was often the pain-induced debilitating states that proved fatal.

A Celestial-Grade Emerald Creation Pill almost entirely nullified pain, making even the agony of Ten Thousand Swords Piercing the Heart feel negligible.

Li Qingran gazed at the ethereal green glow enveloping her body. She gently squeezed her wrist, her eyes lowering.

Once again, she owed the senior a great favor.

But she had already lost count of how many debts she had accumulated—so many that she no longer knew how to repay them.

"Senior… I…"

[It’s fine. Just a pill. Handle the situation at hand first.]

"Qingran, are you satisfied with my decision?"

Wu Duantian’s voice rang out as he turned to face her.

In the corner of her vision, Yun Zimo was already being dragged away by two disciples to the Enforcement Hall for punishment.

Indeed, even the cruelest punishment—gouged-out eyes, severed tongue, molten iron poured into the ears—paled in comparison to what she had endured.

Without the senior, Wu Duantian would have likely given Yun Zimo nothing more than a slap on the wrist out of consideration for Daoist Qingxuan.

She should have pressed for harsher retribution…

But thinking of the senior standing behind her, she let it go.

"Sect Master Wu is righteous and impartial. I naturally admire and respect his judgment."

Li Qingran gave a deep bow, signaling her acceptance of the verdict.

[Wait.]

A cold voice suddenly reverberated through the void.

[Qingran is satisfied. But I—am NOT.]

Wu Duantian’s smile froze.

His hand, mid-stroke on his beard, hesitated—neither lowering nor raising.

He cautiously inquired toward the empty air, "Uh… May I ask what your excellency thinks should be done?"

"Obviously, execution on the spot!"

Sitting cross-legged on his sofa, Chen Huai’an was vigorously petting his cat with one hand while pressing a Communication Talisman with the other.

"Who knows if you’re actually going to punish him at the Enforcement Hall or just pretend? I can’t see it. Seeing is believing. Hearing is deception."

A pause followed. Then, the ethereal voice spoke again:

[Justice must not be hidden. Law must not show favoritism. If punishment is not carried out publicly, how can it serve as a deterrent?]

[Therefore, the sentence shall be executed immediately.]

Li Qingran was momentarily stunned.

A warmth spread in her heart.

The senior—a man as pure as the heavens—surely didn’t wish to witness such gruesome brutality.

No, he merely feared that her hard-fought justice might be manipulated behind closed doors.

He wanted to ensure that those who had wronged her would truly face the consequences.

Wu Duantian let out a breath of relief.

For a moment, he had feared the mysterious cultivator would demand Yun Zimo be expelled from Qingyun Sect—or even outright killed.

That was beyond his authority.

Expelling a personal disciple required consultation with the elders—especially since the elder in question was Daoist Qingxuan.

But immediate punishment? That was no issue at all.

He shot a glance at the two Enforcement Hall disciples holding Yun Zimo.

In truth, every month, Wu Duantian led the disciples to the Cliff of Repentance to visit the punished, using their suffering as a lesson to others.

Since the mysterious cultivator insisted on immediate punishment, he wouldn’t argue.

At most, it would just make Daoist Qingxuan lose face.

And he didn’t care about that at all.

The Enforcement Hall disciples dragged Yun Zimo back to the center of the plaza.

One held him still, while the other pulled out a sharp hook.

Given cultivators’ enhanced regenerative abilities, there was no need to sterilize the hook with fire.

A piercing scream rang through the air.

Several Qingyun Sect disciples averted their gazes in discomfort.

In the middle of the plaza, Yun Zimo’s tongue was gone, his empty eye sockets bled profusely, and he could only let out a broken, guttural howl toward the sky.

"The molten iron must be prepared on the spot. It will take some time."

Wu Duantian’s words were directed at Li Qingran—but everyone knew they were meant for the mysterious cultivator behind her.

All eyes turned to Li Qingran, as if she were now the mouthpiece of the mysterious master.

Zhang Hanxiao continued playing dead.

Lu Changtian and Xiao Yifeng’s faces were ashen, but they didn’t dare plead for Yun Zimo.

They instinctively stood on either side of Mu Baishuang, shielding her from the horrific scene.

With so many gazes on her, Li Qingran felt a bit uneasy.

The senior hadn’t spoken, and she couldn’t speak on his behalf.

So she simply clutched her Su Xian Sword and counted ants on the ground.

[Qingran, what do you think?]

The gentle voice suddenly sounded.

Li Qingran’s face flushed crimson.

She froze for a second before forcing herself to stay calm.

"I believe… this is already enough."

Daoist Qingxuan snorted coldly, his face dark.

Wu Duantian, on the other hand, straightened his beard and grinned like a mediator.

The time was right.

He turned toward the mysterious presence and bowed.

"Forgive my shamelessness, but I have a humble request."

"Since Your Excellency was able to restore Li Qingran’s dantian, I wonder if you might also help my direct disciple?"

Wu Duantian stepped aside, revealing Zhao Lingtian.

With a bitter smile, he said:

"This child is brilliant and kind-hearted—a rare talent. But his dantian was destroyed by a demonic cultivator. I cannot bear to see him wither away, forever stuck at this bottleneck..."

Li Qingran lifted her head, her blush fading into icy coldness.

Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill.

She finally understood how precious the opportunity the senior had given her was.

A pill of such caliber—even for the senior—must have been hard to obtain.

And now, Wu Duantian opened his mouth and asked for one outright?

Did he think he was entitled to it?

Was he planning to use her to pressure the senior?

At the same time, on Chen Huai’an’s screen, a prompt appeared:

[Sect Master Wu Duantian requests an opportunity—Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. Please choose an action.]

: You think you’re worthy? Get lost—!

: This matter shall wait until the current issue is resolved.

: Fine. A mere pill means nothing to me. You may have one. (Lose one Primordial Heaven-Mending Pill. If none in inventory, forcibly deduct ¥1,000,000 or 100 Spirit Crystals.)

Chen Huai’an’s finger hovered over a choice.

He nearly clicked immediately—

But then, his eyes narrowed.

Something wasn’t right.

...

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