Whipping the Saints

In the endless chaos.

The Grand Pure Saint and the Upper Pure Saint, Sect Master Tongtian, fought fiercely, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Chaos continuously shattered and reassembled.

There were still Saints within the Primordial Era World!

The shocking news crashed down like raging waves, making the Grand Pure Saint cry out that it was impossible.

But even more astonishing was that Sect Master Tongtian, his third brother, called that person Grandpa!

What the hell!

Terrifying!

Just thinking about it made the Grand Pure Saint's scalp tingle.

He was not afraid of the Saint Tongtian spoke of, whom he had never met.

He feared Dao Ancestor Hongjun. He feared the Heavenly Dao!

How could the Heavenly Dao tolerate another sleeping beside it?

How could it possibly allow someone to defy the heavens?!

"You wish to become enemies with Teacher? You will suffer a calamity," the Grand Pure Saint said.

"What is there to fear?"

Sect Master Tongtian was completely fearless.

"You truly have courage."

"As for Laojun's avatar, I will spare that Jade Emperor brat for now. But this matter will not end here."

"Thank you, Eldest Brother."

Tongtian secretly rejoiced. The mess the Jade Emperor had created was finally resolved.

It also counted as helping Grandpa Zhang Yifan resolve one matter.

"Please," the Grand Pure Saint said with a nod.

Sect Master Tongtian nodded in response. They still had to keep acting. With a wave of his hand, the Four Immortal Slaying Swords shot into the sky and charged into the chaos.

"Are they going all out?" The Jade Emperor frowned as the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was withdrawn.

It seemed there was still quite a gap in strength between Sect Master Tongtian and the Grand Pure Saint.

"Formation, rise!" With sword in hand, Sect Master Tongtian's Saintly aura abruptly soared to an utterly terrifying level.

Even a half-step Saint caught up in it would likely be ground into ashes within a single breath.

Boom!

The Grand Pure Saint also unleashed a full-force strike!

By sheer coincidence, both of their attacks deviated ever so slightly.

The Grand Pure Saint's supreme power and Sect Master Tongtian's vast sword intent both struck back toward the Primordial Era World!

Rumble!

The Ninth Heaven shattered, and the Primordial Era World was split into two massive pieces by their attacks!

Billions of living beings instantly vanished in smoke, their bodies and souls destroyed!

What the hell?!

Fuck!

Was this a joke?

They had actually fought all the way into the Primordial Continent!

The great powers of the Primordial Era World were profoundly shaken. They all rose, acted, and brought forth their strongest formations and methods to protect the Primordial Era World.

If they allowed this to continue, the Primordial Continent would be shattered beyond repair beneath the Saints' attacks!

Boom!

In an instant, the Primordial Continent, the Ninth Heaven, and space-time all froze.

A terrifying aura that made all beings tremble poured down from the heavens like the Milky Way cascading from the Ninth Heaven. It was the aura of the Heavenly Dao!

The Primordial Continent, which had been split into two pieces, merged back into one, while the billions of dead living beings revived where they had fallen.

The might of the Heavenly Dao was truly terrifying.

High above the Ninth Heaven, a black-and-white eye suddenly opened!

The Eye of Heavenly Punishment?!

Saint Zhunti, Saint Jieyin, Primeval Lord of Heaven, and the other Saints all trembled.

After countless years, the Eye of Heavenly Punishment had appeared again!

"Stop."

An utterly indifferent voice resounded throughout the Primordial Continent and across the Ninth Heaven.

A terrifying force swept over the Grand Pure Saint and Sect Master Tongtian, forcibly halting the two as they fought to the death.

An old man in a gray Daoist robe appeared before them. His expression was exceedingly indifferent, without sorrow or joy.

"Teacher."

The Grand Pure Saint bowed in salute, his heart violently shaken.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun was actually this powerful. He could directly separate the two of them and prevent them from fighting!

Everyone in the Primordial Era World said that I, the Grand Pure Saint, was close to matching Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Now, it seemed truly laughable. The Grand Pure Saint secretly mused.

"Teacher." Sect Master Tongtian merely addressed him and did not bow.

Saint Zhunti, Saint Jieyin, Primeval Lord of Heaven, Nuwa, and the other Saints also appeared within the chaos.

"Teacher!" The Saints all bowed in greeting.

It had been more than a hundred thousand years. They had not seen their teacher for more than a hundred thousand years.

How could they possibly stay away now that Dao Ancestor Hongjun had appeared?

"Mm. Come with me." Dao Ancestor Hongjun gave a slight nod, then arrived above the Heavenly Court with a single step.

"Greetings, Dao Ancestor!" The Heavenly Court gods all knelt in worship.

The Jade Emperor and Queen Mother were no exception, clasping their hands in salute.

"I already know the cause of this matter."

"The Jade Emperor obstructed the Journey to the West Tribulation, killed a Saint's Good Corpse avatar, and insulted the dignity of a Saint. Though death may be spared, punishment cannot be avoided."

"From this moment onward, the Heavenly Court Sky Protecting Great Array shall be removed, and the Jade Emperor's authority to mobilize the power of the Three Realms shall be suspended."

Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke softly, but his words allowed no doubt.

This?

The Jade Emperor frowned.

Without the Heavenly Court Sky Protecting Great Array, how could the Heavenly Court defend itself?

Without the ability to mobilize the power of the Three Realms, how could he contend with Saints?

The Jade Emperor understood. This was turning him into a lamb among wolves.

Anyone could come and take a bite.

Still, with his father Zhang Yifan around, none of this mattered.

"Is that all, Teacher?" The Grand Pure Saint's expression was grim, but he refused to let the matter rest.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun merely cast the Grand Pure Saint an indifferent glance, then beckoned. "God Beating Whip, come."

"The Jade Emperor neglected his duties, causing billions of living beings in the Primordial Era World to suffer. Strip him of his Quasi-Saint cultivation and punish him with twenty lashes!"

Boom!

The Eye of Heavenly Punishment sent down an enormous pillar of light, enveloping the Jade Emperor.

"Heh." The Jade Emperor threw back his head and roared. The divine light sought to force him to kneel, but his face remained resolute. He raised his head to the heavens, utterly unyielding.

Boom!

The divine light became even more dazzling, forcing the Jade Emperor to his knees. Yet he gritted his teeth against the crushing supreme force. Even as blood spilled from his mouth, he would rather break than submit. His legs trembled as he slowly stood again!

The Jade Emperor straightened his back and glared furiously at the Eye of Heavenly Punishment, his face filled with pride!

He would not kneel to heaven! He would not kneel to earth! He would kneel only to his father, Zhang Yifan!

The Eye of Heavenly Punishment was unworthy!

The Jade Emperor's domineering aura overflowed. The aura of an emperor surged endlessly around him, and his imposing figure stood tall and extraordinary, moving all the Heavenly Court gods and leaving them deeply shaken.

Before they realized it, the gods' eyes had grown moist, yet the hot blood in their hearts burned fiercer than ever.

This Jade Emperor was worth following!

Giving their lives for such a Jade Emperor was worth it!

This bearing, this dominance, this arrogance—this was the Jade Emperor!

Sect Master Tongtian, the Grand Pure Saint, and the other Saints could not help but glance at him, inwardly marveling at how unyielding the Jade Emperor was.

However, the Jade Emperor's Quasi-Saint Peak cultivation was still instantly stripped away, falling to the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Yet the Jade Emperor remained unconcerned. He only needed to have a few more meals at his father Zhang Yifan's place.

Smack!

The God Beating Whip immediately lashed down!

The Jade Emperor's skin split open and flesh tore apart, while blood soaked his shattered imperial robes.

Yet pride remained on his face, and his imperial majesty did not diminish. He stood as steady as a mountain, his body not even trembling once.

"Father Emperor!"

The Seven Fairies cried out and tried to rush forward, but Queen Mother stopped them.

Smack.

Another lash.

Yet the Jade Emperor remained proud and upright, standing with his hands behind his back. He coldly stared at Hongjun and calmly accepted his punishment.

No matter how his flesh tore or his bones broke, the Jade Emperor did not let out even the slightest cry of pain. He remained utterly composed and even leisurely adjusted his imperial robes, looking effortlessly handsome.

Holy shit!

He really pulled that off!

Sect Master Tongtian and the others could not help but admire him!

Queen Mother's eyes shone, her face full of infatuation. So handsome! This was my man!

The Jade Emperor? The ruler of the Three Realms?

Even the dignified ruler of the Three Realms could only endure whipping beneath heavenly punishment. Saints were no exception.

This was the Primordial Continent.

In this world, only one person reigned supreme: Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

The Primordial Continent belonged to only one person: Dao Ancestor Hongjun!

He was the heavens here!

The Jade Emperor and Saints were merely chess pieces at another's mercy.

No!

I, Zhang Bairen, will never be such a Jade Emperor!

The Jade Emperor secretly swore that Dao Ancestor Hongjun would one day be cut into a thousand pieces and executed by Lingchi!

In that instant, the Jade Emperor stood proudly, his imperial majesty even greater. His emperor's aura surged like a tsunami, shocking everyone present. Even Hongjun could not help but secretly praise his arrogance.

The mortal realm.

Within Zhang Yifan's small courtyard.

Qilin Old Ancestor Big Black Dog stared at the Jade Emperor in astonishment.

The nine Ten Golden Crows and Dragon Ancestor Big Goldfish also turned to look, secretly praising him. The Jade Emperor, this young master, truly was extraordinary.

During the Witch-Demon Calamity, even the Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Race's Heavenly Court had not possessed the dominance, majesty, and imperial bearing the Jade Emperor displayed now.

"Grandfather, the Jade Emperor is getting whipped," Yang Jian said.

"Getting whipped?" Zhang Yifan raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"

Thus, Yang Jian told Zhang Yifan everything he had seen and heard.

"Hahahaha, excellent! What a fine whipping!"

Yet after hearing this, Zhang Yifan clapped his hands and laughed heartily, even praising the punishment!

What the hell?

Qilin Old Ancestor, Dragon Ancestor, the nine Golden Crows, and Yang Jian were all utterly stunned.

"Grandfather, why?" Yang Jian could not understand it at all.

"That whip is not lashing the Jade Emperor. It is lashing all the living beings of the Primordial Era World. It is whipping the Saints!" Zhang Yifan said with a smile.

"Whipping the Saints?"

Yang Jian and the others found it even stranger. The Jade Emperor was clearly the one being whipped, so how had it become a whipping for the Saints?

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun is displaying his supreme authority."

"He can remove the Sky Protecting Great Array whenever he wishes. He can seal away one's authority to mobilize the power of the Three Realms whenever he wishes. He can grant you supreme status, and he can just as easily turn you into a lamb awaiting slaughter."

"A Quasi-Saint Peak cultivation attained through billions of years of diligent cultivation was easily stripped away in a single day."

"If Dao Ancestor Hongjun can strip the Jade Emperor's cultivation today, can he not strip the Saints' cultivation someday?"

"If he can whip the incomparably noble Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Court, ruler of the Three Realms, today, can he not whip the Saints someday?"

"You think Dao Ancestor Hongjun is whipping the Jade Emperor, but he is actually whipping the Saints! He is warning them to behave themselves and know their place."

"Whether Saints or ordinary living beings, they are all screws arranged by the Heavenly Dao. Each has their own fate and must not move even half a step beyond it."

What?!!

Qilin Old Ancestor, Yang Jian, and the others were greatly shaken.

It really did seem to be so!

"Then why was it a good whipping?" Yang Jian still did not understand.

"From this moment on, the Saints, the great powers of the Primordial Era World, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun will be divided in heart." Zhang Yifan smiled. "At this moment, Dao Ancestor Hongjun is like a tyrant."

"What do common people do under a tyrant?" Zhang Yifan asked Yang Jian.

"They... rebel!" Yang Jian's expression changed dramatically before he smiled.

"For the Primordial Era World to advance, one of the conditions is to kill Dao Ancestor Hongjun. Now, Dao Ancestor Hongjun has personally pushed the great powers of the Primordial Era World to stand against him. This truly is not a bad thing."

"Oh, he'd finally caught on. Hongjun was lifting a rock only to smash his own foot." Zhang Yifan smiled. But why had the Primordial Continent changed? Something was off.

Above the Heavenly Court.

At this moment, the Jade Emperor had thought of this as well.

The Grand Pure Saint, Jieyin, Junti, Nuwa, Sect Master Tongtian, and the other Saints were all in turmoil.

Though the Jade Emperor was the one being punished, no one could laugh, nor did anyone dare enjoy the spectacle.

Even the Grand Pure Saint frowned, without the slightest joy at seeing a great enemy repaid.

Sect Master Tongtian took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Teacher, enough! Stop!"

???

???

???

Saint Jieyin, Saint Zhunti, and Saint Nuwa all turned to look at Sect Master Tongtian.

He actually dared provoke Dao Ancestor Hongjun at a time like this?

Hongjun acted as though he had not heard him and did not stop.

Sect Master Tongtian flashed forward, blocking the Jade Emperor, and seized the whip Hongjun had lashed out with!

Huh?!!

The Saints were stunned!

The many great powers of the Primordial Continent were stunned as well!

Sect Master Tongtian had actually stopped Hongjun from punishing the Jade Emperor and even stepped forward to snatch the whip?

Sect Master Tongtian was fucking incredible!

He actually dared step forward at a time like this!

That courage alone was enough to awe the entire Primordial Continent!

"What?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked at Tongtian, his expression as indifferent and unruffled as ever.

"I said you've had enough!" Sect Master Tongtian faced Dao Ancestor Hongjun directly, refusing to yield.

"You can receive the punishment you deserve later. Move aside." With a wave of his hand, Dao Ancestor Hongjun swept Sect Master Tongtian aside.

Even a Saint could not resist that power.

"You old bastard!" Sect Master Tongtian suddenly shouted. "You are unworthy of being the Dao Ancestor!"

Old bastard~

Old bastard~

The sound echoed throughout the Primordial Continent!

Ah!

Aahh??

The Saints were instantly dumbfounded.

The gods trembled in terror!

Sect Master Tongtian had actually insulted Dao Ancestor Hongjun as an old bastard!

Oh, my mother!

Had Sect Master Tongtian been possessed?

Did he not want to live?