Chapter Fifty-Four: Ambush Beyond the Sect's Borders

"What, you think I wouldn't dare?!"

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Emperor Sect unleashed his Nascent Soul aura, attempting to suppress Ji Qingyou, but he was instantly intercepted by Ye Zhetian.

How could anyone be allowed to touch his junior sister right here within the Great Dao Sect?

Ye Zhetian practiced the "Grand Thunder Art," and in a split second, a bolt of lightning struck the Heavenly Emperor Sect Master, forcing him violently to his knees.

Crackle!

Being merely in the early stages of the Nascent Soul realm, he was no match for Ye Zhetian at all. Under the strike of the lightning, his outer garments instantly shattered into pieces, and wisps of blue smoke rose from his body!

Yet, even as he knelt on the ground, he kept his head proudly raised.

"Mankind is born with sin. Since that is so, the day of my atonement has arrived, but your transgressions shall remain unredeemed for all eternity!"

Seeing this, Ye Zhetian grimaced, feeling a wave of annoyance without quite being able to pinpoint what was wrong, and simply glared at the fellow with fierce hostility.

"In that case, let me help you," Ji Qingyou said with a light chuckle. No one knew what she whispered, but the Left Protector nearby cleverly handed over a "whip." The whip appeared to be made of snake skin, densely covered in small barbs, and turned out to be a rare "Mystic-grade Dharma treasure."

Upon seeing this whip, the kneeling Heavenly Emperor Sect Master showed no fear whatsoever; instead, he became even more arrogant, chanting unintelligible scriptures under his breath and adopting an increasingly unyielding posture.

Ji Qingyou merely smiled faintly at the sight. Accepting the whip, she walked over to Ye Zhetian. Ye Zhetian understood the cue, immediately opening his maw to unleash a massive blast of lightning directly onto the whip.

Instantly, the whip ignited with crackling blue thunder-flames, looking as though it had come alive as the barbs grew noticeably larger.

"What are you doing?!" Upon seeing this, the Heavenly Emperor Sect Master's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly tried to stand up, only to be heavily lashed down with a single stroke!

"Ah!"

Under the thunder whip, a gash instantly split open across his back, inside which blue thunder-flames raged.

The Heavenly Emperor Sect Master let out a miserable scream, instantly in too much pain to even speak, and glared daggers at Ji Qingyou.

"Since you are so eager for atonement, let me assist you. Don't mention it." Ji Qingyou maintained a blank expression, wielding the thunder whip and lashing out repeatedly.

"Ah, ah, ah!"

"I was wrong! I was wrong!"

"I don't want to seek atonement anymore! I don't want to seek atonement anymore!"

After several consecutive lashes, the Heavenly Emperor Sect Master was beaten black and blue, howling miserably. He abandoned his persistence regarding the "sinful nature of mankind," kowtowing and begging for mercy instead.

Witnessing this, a flash of disdain crossed Ji Qingyou's eyes. What she loathed most were such self-serving and harmful hypocrites; if he had truly persevered to the end, she would have at least respected him as a man.

Ji Qingyou tossed the thunder whip into the hands of the Left Protector, who was standing nearby thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, and then returned to her original spot to sit in cross-legged meditation.

Meanwhile, Ye Zhetian watched this scene. Though he couldn't quite explain why, a wave of profound satisfaction washed over him, and he wagged his tail happily before sitting back down to resume his lecture with delight.

However, after this interruption, apart from the flock of little rabbits and various small animals who remained unaffected, everyone else in the audience was trembling with fear, and the effectiveness of the lecture became negligible.

From a corner, Lin Jun watched the scene with an amused smile. Before leaving, he flicked his wrist and tossed a newly crafted small puppet into the hands of Ji Qingyou's avatar.

Looking at the tiny black puppet in her palm, which nonetheless harbored immense energy and was supremely suited to be driven by her divine soul, Ji Qingyou knew who had sent it, and a warm feeling instantly bloomed in her chest.

[Ding! Reward disciple with the Seven-Kill Puppet! Congratulations to the host for obtaining a (Heavenly Dao Puppet)!]

Just as Lin Jun was walking back toward the Myriad Laws Peak, the system's voice suddenly rang out. Following that, a Heavenly Dao Puppet flickering with thunderous radiance appeared in his hands.

Feeling the mysterious aura contained within the Heavenly Dao Puppet, Lin Jun felt a surge of delight.

This lecture lasted for a total of three days.

It was hard to say whether anyone else gained anything, but at least Ye Zhetian had thoroughly enjoyed himself.

Compared to the rogue cultivators from various sects who chose to leave, the small rabbits, little foxes, and other animals chose to linger near the Great Dao Sect so they could listen to "Master Ye's teachings" at any time.

As for those who departed, a completely different scene was unfolding.

Because they were leaving together, the members of various sects interacted along the way, hoping to forge alliances or connections.

In particular, Bai Feng of the Mysterious Dan Sect shuttled tirelessly among the various major sects, a dignified Golden Core cultivator aggressively hard-selling himself.

"My friend, have you heard of the Mysterious Dan Sect? Do you need a genius alchemist to refine pills for you? I can offer you a twenty percent discount!"

"Friends of the Vajra Sect, I heard your physical bodies possess the capability of regeneration from a single drop of blood. Might you be willing to impart this to me? As an alchemist, I will compensate you handsomely!"

"Don't, don't, don't attack! I'm leaving right now!"

"Friends of the Heavenly Emperor Sect, does your sect have any fairy maidens still in need of a cultivation companion? Or perhaps, do you need a dashing, peerless young man? I'm available!"

"Oh, you don't?"

"Then does your sect require a genius alchemist? I am willing to marry into your sect as a resident son-in-law~"

Watching Bai Feng shuttle relentlessly among the major sects, Northern Hanyan, the master of the Mysterious Dan Sect, turned pale with fury.

She never expected that this disciple of hers would completely change after breaking through to the Golden Core realm!

Clearly, he no longer held the Mysterious Dan Sect or her, his master, in any regard!

What made it even more hateful was that the fellow had already broken through to the Golden Core realm, and she might not even be a match for him anymore.

"Jiuyou, you must never turn into such an ungrateful, wolf-hearted ingrate in the future!" Gu Ya said indignantly as she watched the spectacle, turning to Ji Qingyou.

"I am not that kind of person." Ji Qingyou nodded expressionlessly.

As everyone walked out of the Great Dao Sect, preparing to part ways and leave, they suddenly discovered that the heaven and earth seemed to have been sealed; the path ahead grew endlessly longer!

Soon, someone noticed that something was amiss.

"Everyone, wait a moment! I feel as though we've walked into a cage. Let everyone try flying and see if we can get airborne!"

The Sect Master of the Vajra Sect had a drastic change in expression, scanning his surroundings with a calm gaze.

Bang!

Without a second word, a Golden Core cultivator threw a punch directly into the void.

Yet this punch, powerful enough to shatter mountains and split rocks, felt as though it had struck a mirror.

It rebounded violently, nearly injuring the attacker in the process!

Seeing this, the expression of the Vajra Sect Master turned grim.

"What is going on? Could we have fallen into someone's trap?"

"Could it be that the Great Dao Sect put on a benevolent facade to lecture us, but actually intended to trap us here so that Lin Jun could use us to practice some evil cultivation technique?"

"Before this, Lin Jun was merely an ordinary mortal incapable of cultivation, yet in less than a year, he has trained a dog to be terrifyingly powerful! There must be a catch behind all of this!"

"When unusual things happen, demons are afoot! Everyone must be careful!"

"Damn you, Ye Zhetian! We trusted you with good intentions, and even gave a dog face by listening to its lecture, yet this is how you treat us!"

Some of the smaller sects panicked and lost their composure, launching frantic attacks in all directions, only to find themselves trapped as if enclosed beneath a dome, completely unbreakable. They immediately began cursing violently.

Listening to the endless stream of foul language echoing around her, Ji Qingyou frowned slightly.

A great deal of the cursing was also coming from the members of the Mysterious Dan Sect.

In this world, there were simply far too many ungrateful and treacherous souls.

"Jiuyou, what, what on earth is going on here?"

amidst the panic-stricken atmosphere, Gu Ya instinctively grabbed hold of Ji Qingyou.