Meanwhile, Jiang Yantian had already returned to Elder Peak.
The Crimson Flame Golden Ni and the Illusory Feather Azure Luan had stopped fighting long ago. One had vanished without a trace, while the Crimson Flame Golden Ni lay sprawled in the clearing at the summit.
Many disciples still lingered at the foot of the peak.
They were waiting too.
Waiting for the two elders to return.
A contest between elders was no battle to the death. It was just a fight.
But at that moment, high in the sky, Jiang Yantian was the only one who returned.
This set quite a few disciples speculating.
Ye Feng looked nervous too.
Judging by the situation, her master must have fallen one move short.
Was that damned Jiang Yantian really that formidable?
If Luo Xingcai had won, this matter would surely have been dropped.
But now, Jiang Yantian had clearly won.
Did that mean she still had to kneel?
Probably not. Her master surely had some standing, and Jiang Yantian would not embarrass her master.
A faint sense of shame rose in Ye Feng's heart. To think she had needed her master's protection.
But the more she feared something, the more likely it was to happen.
She had thought Jiang Yantian would not bring up the kowtowing again.
Yet Jiang Yantian came right up to Ye Feng.
Ye Feng stiffened and swallowed.
"Senior brother, honestly, why put yourself through this?"
"When you're told to kneel, just kneel. Once you're done, you can go home and chow down. But no, you had to be stubborn!"
Smiling, Jiang Yantian raised his hand and patted Ye Feng's shoulder.
Ye Feng did not move. Her body stood ramrod straight, her fists clenched-endure!
Smack!
A crisp crack rang out.
Without the slightest scruple, Jiang Yantian slapped her across the face, his tone indifferent. "Can you go kneel now?"
Ye Feng's head tilted to one side as immense humiliation welled up in her heart again.
But she still refused to budge. Her bones were still unbending.
Smack!
Jiang Yantian delivered another slap with the back of his hand. "Still being stubborn!"
"Kill me if you've got the guts!" Ye Feng gritted her teeth. Humiliation after humiliation had left her somewhat desperate.
Better to die standing than live kneeling!
At the thought that Jiang Yantian might torment her endlessly, her Dao heart wavered once more.
She felt an impulse to seek release.
Of course, it was only an impulse. She was certain Jiang Yantian would not dare kill her now.
Otherwise, he would have no way to account for it.
But how could Jiang Yantian possibly go along with Ye Feng's wishes?
Humiliation was an art.
"Trying to provoke me into killing you? I have to say, you're far too green. You're still plenty useful alive."
"But since you've got such a backbone, fine. I'll strip off your pants right now and let everyone see what a rootless person you are!"
As he spoke, a swirl of Qi condensed in Jiang Yantian's hand, ready to blast Ye Feng's robes apart.
Thud!
In an instant!
Ye Feng dropped straight to her knees.
"I'll kneel! I'll kneel!"
Ye Feng felt utterly humiliated.
The others did not know about her severed dick, because Grand Elder Qi's dignity had to be preserved.
That matter was to be left to rot inside the great hall.
But if everyone found out, he would be the one who lost the most. Even alive, he would be as good as dead.
"Hahahaha! Good, good, good!" Jiang Yantian roared with laughter.
"You're not bad. You can be soft or hard, bend or stand tall. What a shame-the little brother who grew up with you used to be just like that. Now there's nothing left."
Ding! Consecutive critical hits. Humiliation Points +5,000
Seeing Ye Feng resume kowtowing and climbing the mountain, Jiang Yantian returned to the summit as well.
He had no interest in watching this. He still had an all-fish feast to prepare.
He could mistreat anyone, but not his own stomach.
The disciples all went off to attend to their own affairs as well.
Ye Feng was left alone, bearing the humiliation as she slowly made her way up.
That road of shit still awaited her arrival.
Time flew by.
The sky had long since gone completely dark.
The summit blazed with lamplight.
Jiang Yantian was enjoying Banqiu and Nuandong's attentions.
The three of them were eating an all-fish feast.
Ye Feng finally reached the summit too.
Her heart burned with fury as she looked at the laughter and chatter in the courtyard and the table laden with delicious food.
There were even two stunning beauties massaging Jiang Yantian's shoulders and pouring him wine.
She was about to explode with anger.
She had suffered so much on her knees, yet this bastard was enjoying himself.
Ye Feng suppressed her anger once again. "Disciple Ye Feng greets Elder Jiang!"
Jiang Yantian glanced over. "Eh? Senior brother? Why are you still here?"
"I..." Ye Feng nearly fainted from anger again.
She almost burst out cursing, Fuck, don't you fucking know why this eunuch is here?
Eh? Why did I call myself a eunuch?
"This disciple, Ye Feng, insulted an elder while he was enforcing discipline. I now recognize my mistake and have received the punishment I deserved."
"I hope you will show mercy, Elder!"
Ye Feng bowed with her hands clasped.
To make it to the Spirit-Imprisoning Forbidden Land without complications, she could only cast her dignity aside for now.
"Oh, that!" Jiang Yantian picked up a scalding piece of fish from the pot and ate it, hissing and puffing.
With his mouth full, he said indistinctly, "I told you ages ago I wasn't taking it to heart. After all, we share the same master. We're fellow disciples, in a manner of speaking."
"This tastes a little bland. Qiu'er, add some seasoning!"
"Tell me, am I such a petty junior brother? Honestly, you! Your junior brother was just joking with you, and you actually knelt!"
Ye Feng was so furious that her veins bulged and her whole body trembled. That damned Jiang Yantian-sooner or later, she would tear him into ten thousand pieces.
But for now, she still said nothing.
"All right, that matter's over. Do you need anything else?" Jiang Yantian asked.
Ye Feng held back her anger. "N-no..."
"Oh, nothing? If there's nothing, then scram. Waiting to be fed?" Jiang Yantian said sternly.
Ye Feng's "delicate body" trembled. She wanted to cry. She desperately wanted to cry.
She clasped her hands in salute once more, then flew away on her sword.
She wanted to go back and have a good cry, to cry out all her grievances, frustration, and humiliation!
But on the way back, her tears were already falling.
"Fuck! Damn it, this is too fucking much!"
Ye Feng's tears fell completely beyond her control.
In truth, she did not know what was happening either.
She had faced plenty of injustice and grievances before, but she had never despaired, much less shed tears.
It seemed... ever since her dick had been severed, she had suddenly become a crybaby fool, without the slightest semblance of a sect prodigy or an outstanding genius.
So wronged!
When she reached Azure Mist Peak and jumped down to the ground from her Law Artifact, the Severed Injury Sword, Ye Feng was still secretly wiping away tears.
Damn it, even I didn't expect to cry the whole way.
It was after the evening meal.
Cultivators generally had to reach Core Formation before they could practice Grain Avoidance. Most people here were at Foundation Establishment and generally still needed food.
Quite a few of Azure Mist Peak's disciples, men and women alike, had gathered around the disciples' quarters after their meal to discuss cultivation.
They learned from one another and improved together.
Of course, not all of them were striving to improve. A few dao companion couples were being lovey-dovey too.
There were also several female disciples gathered together, embroidering.
When they saw Ye Feng return, quite a few fellow disciples hurried over to greet her.
Word of what had happened to Ye Feng at Elder Peak had already spread throughout the sect.
Some mocked her, privately cursing her for courting death. Some scorned her, saying she had lost face.
Some were angry, saying kneeling was shameful. Some sighed that Ye Feng had eaten shit.
Most were just watching the show. After all, what the hell did it have to do with them?
There were actually quite a few people who cared about Ye Feng too.
Leaving aside the rest of the sect, on Azure Mist Peak alone, Ye Feng's character really was quite good.
She was usually amiable, treated others well, and often helped her fellow disciples.
She was just a little too fond of stealing the limelight and leaving others with no face, which made it easy to offend people.
After all, cultivation was not all fighting and killing. Cultivation was about navigating human relationships!
He had indeed offended quite a few people.
There was also her tendency to get full of herself. Ye Feng could criticize others, but if anyone criticized Ye Feng even a little, she could not take it.
At the drop of a hat, she would demand they go to the sparring grounds to see who was better.
Of course, everyone had both strengths and weaknesses. That was normal.