The Heavenly Punishment Platform was the place where the Ascension Sect truly held the power of life and death, even capable of passing judgment on the life or death of true disciples. As the elder in charge of the Heavenly Punishment Platform, the authority was extremely high, his divine abilities were boundlessly profound, and his magic power was as vigorous as the waters of the four seas, immeasurable.
Jin Rilie led his son Jin Shitai, strolling towards the Heavenly Punishment Platform. Passing through layer upon layer of pavilions and grand buildings, they finally arrived beneath an extremely tall great hall.
The great hall towered high, with three thousand six hundred jade steps below. One had to climb step by step to reach the great hall. Especially on both sides of the white jade steps, countless blades, axes, hooks, ropes, swords, spears, halberds, lances, giant hammers, iron locks, chains, spiked clubs, and giant crescent spades were planted… Thousands of weapons, each one extremely large, a full ten times larger than ordinary weapons. At first glance, it seemed as if one had arrived in a world inhabited by giants. But upon a second look, it gave people an incomparably solemn, austere, and murderously cold feeling.
This was the location of the "Heavenly Punishment Platform," the Heavenly Punishment Great Hall.
The entire Ascension Heavenly Palace was a phenomenally massive sky city, plunging deep into the white clouds. No one knew how large it was inside, how profound, or how mysterious. No one knew why such a massive city could float in the air, or what power caused it to float.
Despite the Ascension Heavenly Palace being so vast and mysterious, the Heavenly Punishment Platform was the place with the most intense killing intent and the most solemn atmosphere in the entire Heavenly Palace.
Upon arriving at this place, even someone with Jin Shitai's personality could not help but shudder, as if a chill rose from the deepest part of his heart. He could not help but shudder; since the Ascension Sect established its foundation, who knew how many figures with tyrannical magic power spanning across universal worlds had been executed on this Heavenly Punishment Platform.
It truly was acting on behalf of heaven to execute punishments, with karma and retribution failing in no part.
The old Daoist Jin Rilie also straightened his robes and climbed the three thousand six hundred jade steps step by step. These jade steps were mottled everywhere, with bloodstains seeping into the jade, seemingly traces of blood left behind from the execution of some great power.
With his cultivation, he could easily fly, but on the Heavenly Punishment Platform, he did not dare to fly. This was a rule established by the Ascension Sect, and even elders were no exception.
After climbing the steps step by step, he saw an incomparably magnificent square in front of the Heavenly Punishment Great Hall. On the square, there was a square execution block, nine zhang high, nine zhang wide, and nine zhang long. However, it was not made of jade; its color looked like the most ordinary rock, but within its simplicity, an aura of ancient vicissitudes permeated. No one knew what kind of stone material this execution platform was made of.
This was the true prototype of the "Heavenly Punishment Platform" where traitors were executed, demon gods were slain, and true disciples fought life-and-death battles to determine the victor.
Blood-stained steps! A forest of weapons!
A towering great hall! A vast square!
An ancient stone platform!
It formed a peerless picture of a land of immortal execution.
Jin Shitai was startled. His gaze looked forward, not because of the Heavenly Punishment Platform, but because unexpectedly standing on the square was the thorn in his eye and the needle in his flesh, Fang Qingxue of Purple Lightning Peak! Besides her, there was actually a green-clothed Daoist with eyebrows like crescent moons.
"Senior Brother Tiandu!"
It turned out that the green-clothed Daoist was precisely the one who rescued Senior Sister Mo, Yuan Jiankong's group, the first true disciple, Hua Tiandu, and also the owner of the Heavenly Chicken Extreme Sun Rope.
"Heavenly Punishment Elder, of the group of disciples I brought back, an outer court disciple named Liu Kang died. The rest of the disciples have all been purged of the Six Desires Yin Lightning poison gas. However, all the flying swords on their bodies have been lost. Yuan Jiankong even lost the Silver Snake Sword, and even… even my Heavenly Chicken Extreme Sun Rope has vanished without a trace, seemingly having been destroyed. This is no small matter. I have come to report to the elder: first, how should this group of disciples who lost their flying swords and precious items be punished? Second, to thoroughly investigate this matter and see whose hands the flying swords and precious items have fallen into."
Hua Tiandu did not pay attention to Jin Shitai, but addressed the Heavenly Punishment Great Hall, recounting word by word, rhythmically and methodically.
A lazy voice came from deep within the Heavenly Punishment Great Hall: "Lost flying swords? Even the Extreme Sun Rope is lost? This group of disciples is truly disappointing! This matter will be handed over to you to investigate thoroughly. You must recover our sect's magical treasures and flying swords. Although our sect has a large estate, we cannot withstand such losses! Additionally, punish this group of disciples by locking them in the immortal prison for three months. At the same time, suspend all of their medicinal pill supplies. Let them eat the coarse food cooked in the Five Qi Immortal Pot. After all, if they can even lose their flying swords, there is no hope for them to cultivate divine abilities."
"Understood, this disciple knows. This disciple will thoroughly investigate this matter." Hua Tiandu nodded: "However, Yuan Jiankong is tenth on the Mountain and River Ranking, an outstanding disciple with the most hope of stepping into the Divine Ability Realm. Suspending his medicinal pills… could the elder make a slight concession?"
"Hmph! Where there is a fault, there must be punishment, otherwise where are the sect rules? You do not need to plead for leniency. Go! You handle matters steadily and are the first true disciple of my Ascension Sect. I grant you the authority to thoroughly investigate, and the power of life, death, and decision is naturally given to you as well. This is the Heavenly Punishment Token! With this token, you can request any true disciple, including elders, to cooperate with your actions. Ruyi-zi spent a great deal of effort refining that Extreme Sun Rope; it absolutely cannot fall into the hands of others. This is also to prevent other immortal path sects from saying that our Ascension Sect lost a precious item without even a word."
The lazy voice became quicker, and then, a token-like object flew out from the Heavenly Punishment Great Hall and landed in Hua Tiandu's hand.
"Also, recently I heard that some outer court disciples are becoming more and more restless; you need to rectify the atmosphere. I do not wish for the Heavenly Punishment Platform to initiate killings every day in the future."
Hua Tiandu caught it, a trace of joy appearing on his face. Then he turned his body and saw Jin Shitai and Jin Rilie. He shook his head and did not speak to them, but said to Fang Qingxue: "Rumor has it that under Junior Sister Fang's banner, there is someone named Fang Han. He has a supreme demonic sect treasure on him, which was bestowed upon him by Junior Sister Fang. He also fought with an inner court disciple and took his Spirit Wind Sword. Moreover, he has a great connection to the disaster those junior brothers and sisters faced this time. Since the Heavenly Punishment Elder has given me the power of life and death to thoroughly investigate, I will have to touch Junior Sister Fang's person. Here, I am speaking clearly with Junior Sister Fang, to avoid any friction when the time comes."
While Hua Tiandu spoke, he had already thought deeply and deliberated.
He considered problems with extreme thoroughness in every detail. He kept the overall situation in mind in everything he did, and his speech was also very graceful, actually carrying a trace of a sect master's bearing.
"Hmph!" Fang Qingxue's gaze turned towards Jin Shitai and Jin Rilie, and she did not carefully listen to Hua Tiandu's words, merely giving a cold humph: "That is correct, that demonic treasure on Fang Han's body was bestowed by me, called the Seven Baleful Calashes. I snatched it from the Heavenly Wolf Little Demon Wang Molin. This Fang Han is a person of my Fang family, and I appreciate him very much. Taking a flying sword is nothing; the Demonic Marshal wanted to give him seven flying swords, and he firmly rejected them with his words. Senior Brother Hua, if you want to investigate, then investigate. But if anything untoward happens to Fang Han, I will absolutely not let the matter drop. Even before the Sect Master, I will demand justice."
"Very well! I have always handled matters impartially, otherwise the Heavenly Punishment Elder would not have handed the Heavenly Punishment Token to me. Junior Sister Fang, mind yourself." Hua Tiandu's voice became deeply meaningful. He turned and walked down the steps step by step, floating away with an extreme demeanor.
"Heavenly Punishment Elder, you must stand up for me." Seeing Hua Tiandu leave, Jin Shitai plopped down, prostrate on the ground, looking at Fang Qingxue with venomous eyes.
"I already know about your severed arm. Fang Qingxue also spoke to me about it just now. It was Shi Longzi who insisted on competing with Ying Tianqing, and his skills were inferior. However, since that little Demonic Marshal severed your and Shi Longzi's arms, I will sooner or later sever one of his arms too, lest others say my Ascension Sect fears his Innate Demonic Sect. This matter has nothing to do with Fang Qingxue. On the contrary, Fang Qingxue fought with a demon god's clone at the underground demon god altar, received immense tempering, and her realm has broken through again. She has made a tremendous contribution to my Ascension Sect and won supreme glory for us. I have already sent a missive to the Sect Master, bringing her to the Little Immortal Realm to cultivate. Once she breaks through to the Heaven and Human Realm, my Ascension Sect will add another expert of the Divine Ability Realm's fifth layer, the Heaven and Human Realm, capable of refining spirit weapons and precious items."
The Heavenly Punishment Elder did not pay attention to Jin Shitai's tearful complaints.
"What! She's about to break through to the Heaven and Human Realm?" Jin Shitai was stunned, an expression of disbelief appearing on his face. Even Jin Rilie frowned deeply.
The fifth layer of the Divine Ability Realm, the Heaven and Human Realm, was no trivial matter. One could use divine abilities to set up great arrays and communicate with heaven and humanity. Its power was limitless, and one could truly begin to refine various extremely high-level spirit weapons and even precious items. Moreover, their lifespan would drastically increase to eight hundred years.
The ten layers of the Divine Ability Realm: First, the Magic Power Realm.
Second layer: True Origin Realm.
Third layer: Yuan Gang Realm, also known as Astral Qi Realm.
Fourth layer: Yin-Yang Realm.
Fifth layer: Heaven and Human Realm.
Sixth layer: Return to One Realm. One can cultivate many profound divine abilities without fearing magic power conflicts; this is the so-called 'all methods return to one.'
Seventh layer: Divine Ability Seed Great Golden Core. Fusing countless divine abilities into a single golden core seed.
Eighth layer: Wind and Fire Great Tribulation.
Ninth layer: Heaven and Earth Dharma Idol.
Tenth layer: Heaven-Defying Fate Change.
The ten layers of the Divine Ability Realm were harder to cultivate layer by layer. For each layer advanced, one had to undergo countless tribulations, need immense luck, and possess boundless wisdom and perseverance.
Even among true disciples, those who could cultivate to the fifth layer Heaven and Human Realm were extremely rare. Once reaching the Heaven and Human Realm, one could make a massive contribution to the sect and enhance its strength. Therefore, the sect placed great importance on it.
"Hmph! Heavenly Punishment-zi, you must consider matters thoroughly. This woman dallies with the son of the Demonic Emperor. If she is allowed into our Ascension Sect's cultivation holy land, the Little Immortal Realm, and an accident occurs, how will you bear the responsibility!" Jin Rilie suddenly shouted.
"I do not need others dictating how I do things. Jin Rilie, this child of yours is useless. You went through untold hardships to obtain a Yin-Yang Ten Thousand Life Pill for him to eat, and now his cultivation has not progressed in the slightest. Do you still think he can bring down a true disciple with a boundless future?"
The Heavenly Punishment Elder's voice became lazy again, speaking very bluntly. His cultivation was unfathomably deep, and he was the most terrifying among the elders of the Ascension Sect.
"Hmph! I will personally report this matter to the Sect Master and vehemently express the pros and cons. The Sect Master will certainly make a decision. I cannot be bothered to waste breath with you here." Jin Rilie pulled up Jin Shitai.
"Suit yourself."
The Heavenly Punishment Elder did not try to make them stay, lazily spitting out the words as he watched Jin Rilie leave.
"Qingxue, starting today, you will go to the Little Immortal Realm. Do not think about anything else, just put all your effort into breaking through your realm."
…
Within the "Sleeping Immortal Courtyard," three days passed hurriedly. Early this morning, Fang Han awoke from his dreams. With a slight stretch, his entire body let out cracking, popping, and tearing sounds, a noise that caused people's hearts to tremble.
It was the fascia flicking and trembling, the bones thundering, and the skin and muscles tearing. Throughout his entire body, everywhere displayed powerful vitality and vigor.
As he stood up, his body was surprisingly a full half-head taller than before!
In three days, he grew this much taller.
Casually grabbing, the solid wooden bed was like tofu; a large chunk of wood was ripped off. Picking up a porcelain teacup and gently squeezing it, the teacup immediately shattered. Then, he continued to squeeze and squeeze, crushing it into porcelain powder that drifted down to the floor.
"Such immense strength! I feel that I have at least the strength of eight or nine horses! Let's go to the Heavenly Demon Battlefield and see just how formidable heavenly demons are."