After returning to Mount Kunlun, Xian Junyu knelt directly in the Daoist Sanctuary without a word of complaint.
The Jie Sect Disciples who returned later also knelt one after another in the Daoist Sanctuary. They had disobeyed their Master's orders this time, so they had nothing to say for themselves.
After the work of repairing Heaven was finished, Tongtian also returned to the Interception Sect's Daoist Sanctuary. Looking at his disciples kneeling all over the place, he did not speak right away. He simply sat on the high platform.
Just as the repair of Heaven came to a complete end, Heavenly Merit Descends. Nuwa and the Black Tortoise of the North Sea took the lion's share—one had repaired Heaven, while the other had supported Heaven and Earth with her limbs.
If they did not take the largest portions, who would?
After that came the several Sages who had helped.
A massive amount of merit, shining with golden light, flowed into Tongtian's body.
The disciples of the Interception Sect all looked at their Master with envy.
Merit could not only be used to offset karmic obstacles, but also to accelerate cultivation and enlightenment. It could even be used to refine merit-based Spiritual Treasures and influence Fortune. It was practically a universal remedy.
No one would not want something so good.
It was simply too difficult to obtain.
However, after Tongtian received his share of the merit, another vast amount descended, distributed among the cultivators who had rescued the living beings of the Primordial during the calamity of the Heavenly Pillar's collapse.
In an instant, all the disciples of the Interception Sect received merit. Xian Junyu, who had led them, received an especially large Golden Merit Cloud.
It was even greater than the combined share of all the Interception Sect's disciples.
The entire Interception Sect had mobilized, so the sect itself also received a portion of the merit, and its Fortune increased as well.
After receiving so much merit, Xian Junyu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He truly had wanted to rescue the Human Race, but he had also truly wanted to obtain merit.
Now that he had merit protecting him, anyone who wanted to make a move against him would have to consider the karma involved.
It was as if he had put on a life-saving talisman.
Seeing that everyone in the sect had received a share of the merit, Tongtian was no longer as angry. This action had also invisibly increased the Interception Sect's Fortune.
Moreover, every disciple of the sect had participated, so it would be difficult for him to punish them.
Although it was difficult to punish them, Xian Junyu, their leader, definitely had to be dealt with.
He was certain that the disciples had gone out because that rascal had stirred things up.
"This time, all of you disciples went out to rescue the living beings of the Primordial. The merit bestowed by Heaven has also proven that your actions were correct. Since you disobeyed your Master's orders this time, I will not pursue the matter!"
"However, there must never be a next time. If there is, I will show you no mercy. All of you, return to your cultivation—except Xian Junyu!"
The sect's Fortune had increased, so Tongtian did not argue with these disciples. He only intended to keep Xian Junyu behind.
Everyone had originally intended to leave, but seeing that several Personal Disciples and the Seven Attendant Immortals had not moved, they did not get up either.
"Why have none of you left? Is there something else?"
Seeing that not a single disciple below had departed, Tongtian narrowed his eyes slightly.
Jin Ling, whose status was second only to the Senior Disciple Brother, was the first to speak.
"Master, the Senior Disciple Brother simply could not bear to see the living beings of the Primordial suffer. Everything happened for a reason. This disciple, Jin Ling, boldly begs Master to forgive the Senior Disciple Brother!"
With Jin Ling taking the lead, the others also pleaded for Xian Junyu.
"This disciple, Duobao, boldly begs Master to forgive the Senior Disciple Brother!"
"This disciple, Wu Dang, boldly begs Master to forgive the Senior Disciple Brother!"
"We disciples boldly beg Master to forgive the Senior Disciple Brother!"
After several Personal Disciples, including Jin Ling and Duobao, spoke up, the Seven Attendant Immortals and all the other disciples of the sect also joined in.
Tongtian looked at these disciples, his expression turning somewhat gloomy. From their words, he could hear an attempt to pressure him.
Xian Junyu also sensed the pressure in their actions. Perhaps his junior brothers and sisters did not mean to pressure their Master and only wanted to plead for him, but this sort of plea was inappropriate.
They were not helping him. They were harming him.
Seeing his Master's face darken, Xian Junyu realized that things were bad. He hurriedly turned around and scolded the junior brothers and sisters behind him.
"Impudent! What do you think you're doing?"
"How Master decides is Master's business. When did it become your place to point fingers? I, Xian Junyu, take responsibility for my own actions. I don't need anyone to plead for me!"
"If Master told you to leave, then leave quickly. Why are you still kneeling here?"
After scolding them, Xian Junyu glanced at Duobao and Jin Ling, subtly shaking his head.
He signaled for them not to get involved and to hurry up and take their junior brothers and sisters away.
Seeing this, Tongtian inwardly exclaimed that this eldest disciple truly understood him. What Tongtian hated most was anyone forcing him to make a decision or interfering with his actions.
Xian Junyu's move had undoubtedly won the Sage's favor.
As expected, only this little rascal Yu'er understood him...
Seeing this, Duobao and Jin Ling knew that their Senior Disciple Brother did not want them involved. After hesitating briefly, they exchanged a glance and stood up.
"This disciple was presumptuous, Master. This disciple will take his leave!"
"Master, this disciple will take his leave!"
Led by the Personal Disciples, everyone bowed to their Sage Master before leaving the Daoist Sanctuary.
After all the disciples had left, Tongtian said sarcastically:
"Not bad, Xian Junyu. Your words are more effective than your Master's. Perhaps it is time for me to hand over the position of Sect Master of the Interception Sect to you!"
At this, Xian Junyu looked genuinely surprised.
Was Master jealous of him? How had I never noticed that Master could be so petty...?
He immediately hurried to explain.
"Master will always be the Sect Master of the Interception Sect. How could this disciple compare with Master? My temperament is not suited to being a Sect Master..."
"Just now, my junior brothers and sisters were pleading for me. They were merely confused by their concern, not deliberately trying to pressure Master. Please do not blame them!"
"Everything was this disciple's fault alone. This disciple is willing to bear it all without complaint. I beg Master to grant my request!"
He was not some masochist, but to prevent any misunderstanding between his Master and his junior brothers and sisters, he was willing to accept anything this time.
Whether it meant being beaten or confined, he accepted it all. For the sake of the junior brothers and sisters who had returned his cultivation to him, anything was worth it!
"I never realized that you had quite a sense of responsibility. That is certainly worth praising!"
"Originally, since you had secured merit for the sect this time, I intended to let your merits offset your faults. Since you are now asking for punishment yourself, wouldn't it be narrow-minded of me not to grant it?"
As he spoke, Tongtian looked at Xian Junyu with an ominous expression.
This rascal never learned his lesson. He had ended his three-hundred-year punishment early, released him for ten years, and the boy had started causing trouble again.
He was truly the sort who would tear the roof off if left unchecked for three days. If he did not discipline him severely this time, who knew what trouble he would cause in the future?
When Xian Junyu heard this, he did not show much of a reaction. He accepted whatever punishment came. Whether there was punishment or not, he no longer cared.
"Twenty thousand strikes of the Thunderfire Whip each, followed by facing the wall until your Second Martial Uncle next gives a lecture—in other words, until the year 2690. Do you have any objections?"
After announcing the punishment, Tongtian looked at Xian Junyu again.
"No objections. I was at fault, so I deserve punishment. This disciple thanks Master!" With that, Xian Junyu kowtowed three times to his Master.
Facing the wall for more than two thousand years was nothing. But forty thousand strikes from the Thunderfire Whip would definitely be no light punishment. Being struck by such a divine whip would certainly be agonizing.
He would probably need several years lying in bed before he could recover.
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