Chapter 2

The enforcement celestial soldiers are lifeless beings, strictly adhering to the sect rules without any favoritism. According to the rules, once the water and fire cudgel is used, it must draw blood before it returns!

However, as Fang Lie endured such a heavy blow, he gritted his teeth and remained silent, even tightening his legs to hold his ground without taking a single step. He then said in a deep voice, "Disciple understands!"

In response, another vicious blow came, and the enforcement celestial soldier repeated, "Rule two: No mutual harm among sect members!"

"Disciple understands!" Fang Lie answered again, his voice unwavering.

This is the first punishment of the three non-compliance penalties of the Mo Sect: beating according to the rules!

At this moment, the enforcement celestial soldiers represent the founding master of the Mo Sect, teaching through each rule. For every rule recited, a blow is delivered, and the person being beaten must answer properly. If the answer is wrong or not given, the blow is considered ineffective, and the process starts over.

The Mo Sect has 108 rules, meaning 108 blows must be endured, each of which must draw blood. Typically, after the beating, the skin will be torn, and the body will be covered in wounds.

Such severe punishment is not something everyone can endure. Generally, after a few blows, they would beg for mercy. As long as they admit their guilt and show submission, the punishment would stop, and the next judgment would proceed.

Therefore, very few can truly endure all 108 blows, almost none. Most would submit, even if they were wronged, they would have to grit their teeth and accept it!

While Fang Lie was being beaten, Yuan Hua was joking with a group of well-dressed young men: "Look at Fang Lie's foolishness? He's standing straight and taking the blows, not even knowing that kneeling would be less painful? He's just a fool!"

"Haha, indeed, he's the son of a fool. By the way, how many blows do you think this idiot can take? I bet he'll kneel after ten blows and beg for mercy after fifteen!"

"Haha, you're too generous. He'll definitely cry for his parents after ten blows!"

"I think he can take a few more. The Fang family has a stubborn nature, so he might last twenty to thirty blows."

"Haha, brothers, what if we bet on who guesses correctly?" Yuan Hua suggested with a sly smile.

He quickly gained the approval of these young rascals, who all laughed and placed their bets.

In this sacred Ancestor Hall, they were gambling and laughing, seemingly disregarding the solemn rules. Even the enforcement officer Li Feng pretended not to see.

These young men, though not particularly talented, all had deep backgrounds, being direct descendants of the 800 noble families. These families had intermarried for generations, forming a vast network. Offending one meant offending all. Therefore, even Li Feng, who was already a Purple Mansion Elder, dared not say much to these young rascals.

"Haha, ten blows, and this idiot hasn't fallen yet, you lose!"

"Damn, how can he be so persistent? Twenty blows, and I've lost too! Fang Lie, you bastard, you made me lose, wait until later to see how I deal with you!"

"Thirty, thirty blows, and he still hasn't knelt? Damn, I've lost too, what a despicable dog, why don't you just die?"

At this moment, Fang Lie's Dao robe was completely shredded, revealing a bronze-colored back covered in blood, with many areas of skin completely split, exposing the pink muscle underneath!

Blood mixed with sweat flowed like a stream to the ground, turning it red.

But Fang Lie still stood straight, like a piece of iron, unmoved by the repeated blows of the water and fire cudgel!

The hundreds of outer sect disciples watched in shock, showing admiration, but the young rascals cursed and continuously cursed Fang Lie for making them lose their bets.

However, as time passed, the young rascals gradually fell silent, their faces filled with shock as they looked at the blood-soaked, resolute man!

Fifty blows, eighty blows, one hundred and eight blows!

Until the last of the 108 rules was completed, Fang Lie did not beg for mercy, nor did he kneel!

At this moment, even though his back was completely torn, with no good flesh left, and he was drenched in sweat from the pain, and his legs were stained with blood, he still stood firm like a mountain!

"Truly a man of iron! Since the Ancestor Hall began enforcing the rules, countless people have been beaten to tears and cries, even the toughest men have knelt to endure it. This is probably the first time someone has stood straight through it!" an outer sect disciple said in admiration.

"Damn, he's really a man!" Even among the well-dressed young men, some whispered in admiration.

However, Fang Lie's iron will did not move the enforcement officer; instead, it enraged him. "Fang Lie, you're tough, but don't get too cocky. This is just the first of the three non-compliance penalties. There's worse to come. If you don't submit, I'll see how I can finish you off!"

"Fine!" Fang Lie's eyes blazed, and he roared, "Come on, let's continue. We'll see if your punishment is harder or if Fang Lie's bones are harder!"

"Brave!" Li Feng's face twisted, and he slammed the table, roaring, "The criminal shows no remorse, stubborn and unyielding. Use the second of the three non-compliance penalties, the three cuts and six holes!"

"Yes!" The enforcement celestial soldiers immediately responded. The two soldiers who had been holding the water and fire cudgels threw them away and reached out to grab two foot-long triangular swords from the air!

These swords were entirely black, with saw-like teeth on the triangular edges, and blue lightning occasionally flashed along the blade, clearly a special magical weapon.

Then, they slowly pierced Fang Lie's back. The rough surface of the triangular swords rubbed against the flesh, causing pain that was almost unbearable. Even a man of iron like Fang Lie could not help but tremble.

Finally, the two triangular swords pierced through Fang Lie's body, protruding three inches from the front, and they stopped.

But this was not the end, as the three cuts and six holes penalty required three swords to be inserted into the body, each piercing through to create two holes, totaling six holes.

So, after the first two cuts, one of the enforcement celestial soldiers took out another triangular sword and continued to pierce.

Although they avoided vital areas to ensure it was not fatal, the rough triangular swords, combined with the occasional electric current, caused significant internal damage and intense pain, making it one of the most torturous punishments!

But in the face of such severe punishment, Fang Lie once again showed his resolute side, standing firm and enduring all three cuts without moving. Such a tough man left even Li Feng and Yuan Hua speechless, unable to believe it.

"Good boy, you're indeed tough, but being stubborn won't help. According to the rules, the final penalty for non-compliance is the destruction of the meridians and the pulse, completely ruining the eight extraordinary meridians and the dantian, turning you into a cripple, with no chance of cultivation ever again." Li Feng sneered, "Your injuries are severe, but with a few years of rest, you can recover. If you admit your guilt and show submission, there's still a chance. Think about it!"

At this point, even the outer sect disciples, who feared the power of the noble families, could not help but speak up, "Senior Brother, just admit it. You have the Fire Dragon Spirit Root, a top-tier talent. Even if you leave the sect, you still have a bright future. Why waste it here?"

"Yes, Senior Brother, as long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood."

Many of the disciples were moved by Fang Lie's resolve, and almost all the female disciples shed tears. Only the young rascals like Yuan Hua showed disdain and spoke arrogantly, "Hmph, no matter how tough you are, you're still just scum in front of us. Fang Lie, no matter how strong you are, you'll still have to admit your guilt."

"Rubbish, one is one, two is two. If I didn't do it, I won't admit it. I, Fang Lie, can lose my head, can shed my blood, but I will never bow down and beg for mercy!" Fang Lie's eyebrows furrowed, and he roared in anger, "Not even the destruction of my meridians and pulse, or a thousand cuts, will make me submit!"

"Fine, fine, fine~ I see you won't cry until you see the coffin!" Li Feng sneered, "Since that's the case, I'll fulfill your wish. Bring him in, this person is stubborn and refuses to admit guilt. According to the rules, if he still doesn't submit after the third penalty, destroy his meridians and pulse, cripple him!"

"Yes~" The enforcement celestial soldiers did not hesitate, and after responding, they placed their palms on Fang Lie's shoulders.

Immediately, a red and a blue divine light emitted from their palms, entering Fang Lie's body.

Fang Lie instantly felt a hot current and a cold current, like a torrent, flowing into his meridians through his shoulders. His meridians, facing these two powerful forces, were completely defenseless. Wherever they passed, the cold and heat alternated, and the fragile meridians broke into pieces, making a crisp sound.

The onlookers saw red and blue light flowing over Fang Lie's body, and with the cracking sound, his body trembled violently.

After the red and blue light passed, Fang Lie's originally iron-like muscles instantly shrank, becoming soft like dough, with wrinkles, like an old man.

Not only that, the red and blue light eventually converged in Fang Lie's lower dantian, dispersing the qi sea he had cultivated for a lifetime. The crimson spiritual energy, like a flood, rushed out of Fang Lie's dantian, and his body bent, as if a gust of wind could knock him down.

Everyone knew that the highly talented young cultivator would now become a complete cripple, with no chance of cultivation for the rest of his life!

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