Chapter 99

The unprecedentedly oppressive atmosphere had persisted for two days. The once fiery atmosphere of the Seven Heroes' Struggle had been overshadowed by the Seven Absolute Orders, and the limelight was now focused on Lin Zheng and his companions. Of course, regardless of whether the Feng and Dou families played glorious or inglorious roles in this storm, they were still the main characters. However, over these two days, the Feng and Dou families had not revealed any news, continuing to welcome guests as usual! As for the Li family, the situation was quite the opposite. Over the past two days, no one except members of the Bai family had entered, and no one knew the current situation of the Li family. However, everyone still focused their attention on the Li residence!

For six hundred years, the Seven Absolute Orders had reappeared, and the Li family would be recorded in history because Lin Zheng had accepted the Seven Absolute Orders!

Time passed minute by minute, and Lin Zheng's secluded courtyard still showed no sign of his presence. The sun of the last day slowly set, and the last ray of twilight fell. Sitting outside the courtyard, Li Daoyuan, who had not moved for three days, finally turned a page in his book. The crisp sound of the page turning broke the silence!

Tap, tap, tap, a series of footsteps came from inside the courtyard. The people outside instinctively focused their attention on the few people who emerged. As night fell, some had already hung up lanterns. Lin Zheng and his companions looked disheveled and somewhat listless, but their eyes were unusually bright. Of course, there was an exception: a certain wolf still stood at the back, drunk, wearing a pair of gaudy shorts that sparkled under the light, looking exceptionally flamboyant!

Perhaps because they had come to understand the habits of the rogue wolf over these few days, no one paid much attention. They just looked at Lin Zheng and his companions with questioning eyes. Li Daoyuan put down his book, came to Lin Zheng and his companions, carefully examined them, patted Lin Zheng's shoulder, and left with the puzzled crowd without saying a word.

As soon as Li Daoyuan and the others left, Li Ruoshui brought Lin Qin and a group of servants carrying various delicious dishes over. Lin Zheng and his companions washed up briefly and sat down in the pavilion of the courtyard. They ate and drank, with Lin Qin and the rogue wolf playing finger-guessing games. Surprisingly, Lin Wen did not stop them. After a satisfying meal, they dispersed, not mentioning a word about the upcoming competition or the three days of seclusion. When they parted, Li Ruoshui hugged Lin Zheng tightly before leaving with Lin Qin.

That night, countless people were sleepless, eagerly awaiting the sunrise of the next day!

The next day, before dawn, the entire Ze Shui City began to buzz. Countless martial artists rushed to the Heavenly Punishment Platform. The gates of the various noble families opened early, and groups of people continuously emerged, all heading in the same direction!

Finally, the gates of the Li family slowly opened. Step! A foot stepped out of the Li family first, followed by a series of footsteps. A group of people surged out of the Li family's gate, surrounded by several squads of guards holding bright lanterns. The group quickly moved forward, and more people followed, forming a long, winding line like a dragon.

Lin Zheng, dressed in ordinary clothes, was still the focus of the crowd. Many people looked at Lin Zheng, and many women envied Li Ruoshui, thinking it was just a matter of several parties vying for a woman. However, the stakes were too high, and a single misstep could engulf the entire Ze Shui City!

"Wow! So handsome! So mighty!" Many women looked at Lin Zheng with passionate eyes!

After walking for a while, the crowd saw the so-called Heavenly Punishment Platform in the distance. The Heavenly Punishment Platform, the place where heaven metes out punishment, was already crowded with people. Various lighting tools illuminated the area, but no one dared to enter the inner stands. Not everyone could enter, and most people had to choose the best viewing spots, waiting for the first ray of morning light.

Lin Zheng and his companions walked over and entered the inner part of the Heavenly Punishment Square without any obstruction. The seemingly intelligent protective barrier enveloped them without resistance. Some people outside, hoping to follow, were bounced back by the invisible barrier. This action instantly dispelled many people's thoughts.

The Li family found a high platform, and everyone sat down. Lin Zheng and his companions did not go to the Heavenly Punishment Platform first but sat on the stands with Li Daoyuan and others. Soon, the Bai family also arrived and sat down next to the Li family. After a few pleasantries, the Dou and Feng families entered and found seats on the stands without any provocative actions. Afterward, many powerful martial artists crossed the protective barrier and found their seats. This barrier was merely a filter; those without sufficient power could not enter to watch the duel or challenge on the platform. Those who could enter were all people with some strength, though some were brought in by stronger martial artists or paid with crystals. In short, no one sitting here was an ordinary person!

Time gradually passed, and the venue became absolutely full. The bright lights made everyone's eyes dazzle. Finally, a bright light flashed on the distant horizon. The clouds turned a rosy red, and the sun rose, casting a unique pale blue over the city. The crowd gradually quieted down.

At this moment, a massive pressure enveloped the area. Everyone felt their breathing pause, blood rushing to their heads, and cold sweat drenching their backs. A huge crack appeared in the still dim sky, and a man stepped out of the void, appearing before the crowd. Behind the man, a hundred-meter-wide crack was filled with writhing lightning, and bright flashes of lightning cut through the dark space, making people feel a chill. The newborn sun slowly illuminated the land, and the middle-aged man stood in the wind, like an ancient giant, overshadowing the heavens and earth,震撼着众人的心神。

“Those who hold the Seven Absolute Orders must not retreat or leave the platform. If there is more than one person still alive on the platform after seven days, the side holding the Seven Absolute Orders will win this Heavenly Punishment Battle. After sunset each day, the competition ends, but no one can leave. If all five people die, it will be considered a failure!” The thunderous voice, like the words of the heavens, echoed in everyone's ears. As soon as the words were spoken, a huge crack behind Wei Chi Huang opened like the maw of a prehistoric beast, swallowing the entire Heavenly Punishment Platform. Instantly, lightning and thunder raged, and countless bolts of lightning poured down from the dark crack, turning the entire platform into a sea of lightning!

The Heavenly Punishment Platform, the place where heaven metes out punishment! The first light of dawn was instantly swallowed, then burst forth in a brilliant glow. Some timid people watched the scene with pale faces. Was this the power of the Heavenly Punishment Platform's activation? Just this one barrier made countless people hesitate! The Feng and Dou families sneered at Lin Zheng and his companions from a distance, thinking a fallen minor noble could never have seen such a scene.

The Li family's faces were somewhat grim. Even if Lin Zheng and his companions successfully stood on the Heavenly Punishment Platform, they would likely expend a lot of energy. For a moment, the crowd watched Lin Zheng and his companions with various emotions.

Lin Zheng looked at the sea of lightning before him, stood up with a gentle smile, and was about to move forward. Li Ruoshui stood up with a smile and straightened Lin Zheng's already wrinkle-free clothes. Lin Wen and the others watched the two with grins, seemingly not taking the upcoming events seriously. Lin Qin tilted her head in thought, then stood up to straighten Lin Wen's clothes, but ended up wrinkling the perfectly fine robe. Lin Wen, annoyed, pushed her hand away and followed Lin Zheng, Lin Dao, and Lin Qian. The rogue wolf scratched his head in a flamboyant manner, adjusted his shorts, and strutted behind the four.

The crowd watched this scene, unsure whether to laugh or cry. The originally intense and warm atmosphere suddenly cooled down. The lightning on the Heavenly Punishment Platform continued to fall, and the huge crack seemed tireless, spewing lightning nonstop!

Thud, thud, thud! The not-too-heavy footsteps lightly fell into everyone's ears, stirring their hearts! Three steps, two steps, one step, Lin Zheng stepped onto the Heavenly Punishment Platform without hesitation. Instantly, countless bolts of lightning, as if finding a gap, rushed toward Lin Zheng. Lin Wen, who had taken out a jade pen at some point, wrote several "scatter" characters in the air, and the powerful lightning seemed to dissipate, not a single bolt hitting Lin Zheng. Lin Dao suddenly flashed out from behind Lin Zheng, his long sword unsheathed, and a silver light brighter than lightning slashed forward. Bang, bang, bang! Countless bolts of lightning were shattered, and a stunning scene appeared: a straight line of emptiness appeared in the raging sea of lightning, and Lin Zheng and his companions quickly moved forward along this line. Lin Wen's hands continuously formed seals, and with a series of puffs, hands shot into the sky like arrows, each colliding with a bolt of lightning, turning to dust and making the lightning disappear!

Until they reached the center of the Heavenly Punishment Platform, Lin Zheng stopped, his smile gone, and an excited expression appeared on his face!

"Hate Heaven, Regret Earth!" A loud shout seemed to overpower the rolling thunder. Lin Zheng's arms extended, and in the lightning, a pair of translucent arms slowly formed. Countless bolts of lightning fell on these massive arms and dissipated, with the remaining silver lightning writhing like snakes on the arms!

"What is Lin Zheng doing?" Someone in the crowd muttered, watching Lin Zheng's actions, which were truly eye-catching!

"Roar!" Lin Zheng's arms swung violently, and the massive waves of lightning were deflected. Boom, boom! Two loud sounds, and two massive fists struck the crack in the sky that spewed lightning! The huge crack seemed to pause, then tremble violently, as if offended, and the speed of the lightning spewed from the crack increased. Lin Zheng's two arms, reaching to the sky, grabbed the upper and lower edges of the crack and pulled with all his might, trying to close it!

The crowd below watched Lin Zheng's mad actions with wide eyes, many faces turning red, and they finally fell silent, muttering to themselves! Crazy! All crazy! Is Lin Zheng defying heaven?!

PS: Third update! Only a few hours left this week, everyone, give me more red votes! And those who haven't favorited, please do so! Chapter 99, almost reaching the triple digits, worth commemorating!