Chapter 95

(Second update, please give me some monthly votes)

The cost of one Grass Return Pill is thirty thousand white jade coins, but its effect on treating internal injuries is indeed excellent. After one night, Chen Zong felt that his injuries had largely healed, and it no longer significantly affected his normal movements.

In the early morning, Chen Zong practiced swordsmanship in the small courtyard. He swung his sword very slowly, recalling each battle from the previous day.

Especially the battle with Zhan Ying, the senior disciple of Wu Yao Hall. Although he did not gain any advantage and was injured, the gains were the greatest. After all, Zhan Ying had exerted tremendous pressure on him. Under that pressure, his True Sword Heaven-Cutting Technique reached its peak at the third level, and the next step was to break through to the fourth level.

Moreover, as he practiced swordsmanship, Chen Zong found that his sword strikes seemed to be more concentrated in terms of power.

One should not underestimate any minor progress; small improvements accumulate and eventually lead to a qualitative change.

With one strike, he easily pierced through the hard ironwood post, then sheathed his sword and rested.

"By tomorrow, my internal injuries should be fully healed." He muttered to himself, then stood up: "First, I'll go see Li Zhen Shi, then I'll inquire about the price of the Blood Sink Jade Essence."

The more he wore it, the more Chen Zong found the Blood Sink Jade Essence useful, and the more reluctant he was to sell it. But he had to sell it; he would just have to spend more time and work harder in cultivation.

Unexpectedly, Chen Zong's plans were disrupted again.

In the Sword Testing Hall, Bai Yushan, the chief senior disciple of Jian Yao Hall, and Zhan Ying, the chief senior disciple of Wu Yao Hall, were present. Additionally, there were three people Chen Zong had never seen before, who were also disciples of the Seven Radiant Martial Academy. Each of them had a cold and stern expression, and the fluctuations of their blood qi power clearly indicated they had reached the ninth layer of the Blood Qi Realm.

Seeing Chen Zong enter, a hint of regret flashed in Zhan Ying's eyes, while a hint of satisfaction flashed in Bai Yushan's eyes. The three unfamiliar martial artists had stern faces, and their cold, sharp gazes seemed to pierce through everything, carrying an indescribable authority.

"Disciples of Xing Yao Hall." Seeing the martial clothing of the three unfamiliar martial artists, Chen Zong immediately knew their identities and began to speculate.

"Chen Zong, yesterday you intruded into Wu Yao Hall and injured eighteen Wu Yao Hall disciples. Is this true?" One of the Xing Yao Hall disciples asked, his stern tone carrying a peculiar power that could make the guilty feel uneasy and unable to argue.

"Yes." Chen Zong did not offer any defense; if he did it, he did it, and there was no need to deny it.

"Since you admit it, you must be punished." The second Xing Yao Hall disciple said.

"Wait, I have already said I will not pursue this matter." Zhan Ying interjected.

"No." Bai Yushan quickly followed, speaking with righteous indignation: "As the chief senior disciple of a hall, it is my duty to protect the disciples of my hall, but I cannot shield them unjustly, especially those who are troublemakers."

"As the chief senior disciple of Jian Yao Hall, I must first reflect on myself for not restraining Chen Zong, allowing him to intrude into Wu Yao Hall and injure many Wu Yao Hall disciples. This is my dereliction of duty." Bai Yushan's tone seemed gentle, but it concealed a deadly intent. His sharp gaze fell on Chen Zong's face: "Chen Zong, you used the pretext of a challenge to intrude into Wu Yao Hall and injure many Wu Yao Hall brothers. You have committed a grave mistake. I have said that achievements should be rewarded, and mistakes should be punished. Do you have any objections to this?"

"No." Chen Zong saw through Bai Yushan's hypocritical facade and did not argue with him.

He knew that today's situation was directly related to Bai Yushan, and arguing would be meaningless. If he was to be punished, so be it. He would endure it, and when he had the strength, he would repay everything, doubling it, and make Bai Yushan regret it.

Since Chen Zong said so, Zhan Ying remained silent and did not say anything more. However, he could sense something, but what could he do? Ultimately, it did not have much to do with him.

"Three Xing Yao Hall junior brothers, Chen Zong has a good attitude in admitting his mistake. I suggest we impose only one punishment, but it should be memorable, so he will remember this lesson and never repeat it." Bai Yushan spoke confidently, then looked at Chen Zong: "Ten days of confinement in the dark room, which will allow you to reflect properly and recognize your mistakes, and remember them well."

"Ten days!" Zhan Ying's face changed, and the three Xing Yao Hall disciples' lips twitched.

The punishment of confinement in the dark room was expected, but five days was the maximum they imagined. They did not expect Bai Yushan to be so harsh, immediately proposing ten days.

"Actually, I have a personal motive." Bai Yushan continued: "Among the Wu Yao Hall disciples who were injured, Bai Xingye is a member of my family, and we have been close since childhood. He was injured so severely, and I am very sad and heartbroken, especially since the one who injured him so severely is a disciple of Jian Yao Hall, an outstanding disciple. I am even more distressed. I hope you can understand my feelings."

"Senior Brother Bai, we understand your feelings, but ten days is too long." One of the Xing Yao Hall disciples said.

"Chen Zong, given your unauthorized intrusion into Wu Yao Hall and the severe injuries you caused, the circumstances are very serious and must be punished severely. You will be confined in the dark room for eight days, during which you can carry energy pills and water. Do you have any objections?" Another Xing Yao Hall disciple said directly.

"Can I wait until my injuries are fully healed?" Chen Zong asked, not knowing what the punishment of confinement in the dark room entailed, but he wanted to ensure his injuries were fully healed and his mental and physical states were at their peak before entering.

"Nine o'clock in the morning the day after tomorrow, you will enter the dark room on time." The third Xing Yao Hall disciple said.

The decision of the Xing Yao Hall disciples could not be changed by Bai Yushan, but eight days should be sufficient.

"Remember, next time, do not intrude into other halls and injure people." The Xing Yao Hall disciple warned: "If you do it again, the punishment will be more than eight days."

"I understand." Chen Zong nodded, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor, which made Bai Yushan secretly resentful.

Leaving the Sword Testing Hall and returning to the eighty-eighth small courtyard, Chen Zong speculated about what the confinement in the dark room would be like.

"Don't worry too much, you'll know the day after tomorrow." Chen Zong shook his head, knowing from the reactions of others that the confinement in the dark room must be terrible.

"But it's nothing. To become strong, one must experience all kinds of good and bad things, which are a form of tempering." Chen Zong encouraged himself.

Soon, Chen Chuyun came to see him. She had heard the news.

The news was actually deliberately spread by Bai Yushan to warn others about the consequences of wrongdoing.

"Eight days of confinement in the dark room is quite long." Chen Chuyun always had a cold demeanor.

"It will pass." Chen Zong smiled.

"Yes, I have never been in the dark room, but I know the greatest danger comes from the darkness and solitude. You can't see or hear anything, and there is no one to talk to, as if you have been abandoned by the world. It can severely interfere with and oppress your mental will." Chen Chuyun told Chen Zong what she knew: "So, brother, you should try to stay calm and avoid distractions."

"Okay." Chen Zong nodded.

He went to visit Li Zhen Shi, who was showing some improvement but still needed more time to fully recover.

"Chen Zong, you were too impulsive." Li Zhen Shi smiled bitterly, feeling a bit moved. He knew that Chen Zong had acted this way because he was injured and wanted to stand up for him.

"Living sometimes requires a bit of impulsiveness, otherwise, it would be too boring." Chen Zong smiled: "Take good care of your injuries. I hope they will be fully healed by the time I come out of the dark room."

"Stay calm." Li Zhen Shi said.

Chen Zong nodded and left.

As usual, he woke up very early, washed up, practiced swordsmanship, and then had breakfast before heading to the dark room.

His injuries, primarily healed by the Grass Return Pill and aided by the Blood Sink Jade Essence, were fully recovered, and his mental and physical states were at their peak.

Each hall had a dark room. Outside the dark room, Bai Yushan and others were present, as well as the three Xing Yao Hall disciples.

"Chen Zong, I thought you would be too scared to come." Bai Yulou mocked without restraint, but Chen Zong ignored him, treating him like a clown, which made Bai Yulou's face turn green.

The dark room was a square room, three meters long, wide, and high, made of five-finger-thick refined steel, extremely heavy and hard. Even a ninth-layer Blood Qi Realm martial artist's full-strength attack could only leave some marks, unable to damage it at all.

"Chen Zong, before entering the dark room, you must be inspected." The Xing Yao Hall disciple said, starting the inspection.

The inspection was to check if he had smuggled any food in.

A normal confinement in the dark room did not allow any food or water, but this time, for eight days, Chen Zong was allowed to carry energy pills and water to avoid starving to death inside.

After the inspection, the Blood Sink Jade Essence, worn close to his heart as a pendant, was not considered a violation, as some people wore accessories. Additionally, he had twenty energy pills, two pots of water, and a treasured iron sword.

"Chen Zong, don't be scared to the point of losing control." Bai Yulou mocked again, but Chen Zong still ignored him, pretending not to hear.

"Chen Zong, if you can't bear it, you can slit your throat with your sword. You won't have to suffer, and it will be over." Bai Yulou said again.

"Don't worry, I won't die before you." Chen Zong, standing at the entrance of the dark room, turned to look at Bai Yulou, smiling coldly, his sharp gaze causing Bai Yulou's expression to change dramatically.

Turning around, he walked into the dark room made of refined steel, and the heavy steel door was slowly closed. The only light gradually dimmed and finally disappeared.

Darkness, only darkness, as if nothing else existed.

"With my eyesight, I can't see anything at all." Chen Zong muttered to himself, his tone full of surprise. It was darker than some nights.

However, his breathing was not affected, indicating that the structure of the dark room was quite sophisticated.

At the beginning, Chen Zong found it novel and moved around, but the small space, only three meters in length and width, made it easy to touch the cold walls.

Especially in such darkness, where he could see and hear nothing, all his senses were blurred, severely affecting his judgment of the surroundings. He accidentally bumped into the walls and decided to stop and sit down.