Chapter 39

Lu Ming was in a headache. He had thought that helping to frame a new disciple would be a minor matter, but he never expected things to escalate to this point, completely slipping out of his control!

The third test... only one more to go! If Zheng Shi Yi really passes the third test, today will not just be a matter of losing face; his life might be at stake!

No matter what approach he tried, it didn't work. What should he do now?

"Xiao Lu, why are you so anxious?" Wei Zhixing extended his hand to separate Lu Ming from Zheng Shi Yi, a sinister smile on his face. "Do you think this little brat can survive three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods?"

A simple question made Lu Ming feel as if he had been struck by lightning. His eyes bulged, and he looked at Elder Wei, speechless. "Three... three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods?"

The Soul-Extinguishing Rods are made from special materials. One strike can cause not just skin to tear but even the soul to tremble.

If a challenger can withstand one hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods, the people of the Three Tests Hall must be fair and just, and clear the challenger's name.

If a challenger can withstand two hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods, the sect leader will personally clear the challenger's name! However, whether to punish those who framed the challenger depends on the sect leader's decision.

But if a challenger can withstand three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods, neither the sect leader nor the Three Tests Hall can interfere. The challenger can clear their name and kill anyone they want!

Unfortunately, the Soul-Extinguishing Rods are lethal, and few can withstand even one hundred strikes, let alone two hundred or three hundred. No one has ever dared to challenge three hundred strikes, and the Three Tests Hall has never made a disciple do so.

Wei Zhixing's intention in making Zheng Shi Yi challenge three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods is clear: to kill him!

"You managed to pass the Blade Qi Test and the Gravity Test, but there's no way you can withstand three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods!"

One strike from the Soul-Extinguishing Rod can make the soul tremble. Even if the challenger has strong endurance, three hundred strikes will cause the soul to disperse and the body to die.

Perhaps even before the three hundredth strike, the challenger will die from the pain and injuries.

Lu Ming suddenly realized that his previous worries were unnecessary. Wei Zhixing, who had been an elder for so long, knew the ins and outs of the situation far better than a newcomer like Zheng Shi Yi.

Three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods mean death!

The others in the Three Tests Hall looked at Zheng Shi Yi, who insisted on the challenge. They knew the power of the Soul-Extinguishing Rods better than they knew their own savings. With Zheng Shi Yi's frail body, even thirty strikes would be a stretch, let alone three hundred.

Could three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods change Lu Ming's attitude? Zheng Shi Yi's eyebrows slightly raised, secretly doubting what the Soul-Extinguishing Rods were. But if he wanted to kill Lu Ming, this was the only way! What else was there to consider?

"Only three hundred Soul-Extinguishing Rods..." Zheng Shi Yi took a deep breath. "Since we've come this far, there's no reason to back down..."

The muscles on Wei Zhixing's face twitched with a sinister smile. He feared Zheng Shi Yi would back out! As long as he continued, he would be waiting to die!

Wei Zhixing turned and shouted at the member controlling the gravity, "Wen Jun! Go get the Soul-Extinguishing Rods!"

Wen Jun was still in shock from earlier. Hearing Elder Wei's command, he quickly ran to fetch the rods.

In no time, he returned, holding a three-foot-long rod with several needle-like points on the head, and a blue current flowing through it. As he passed, the people nearby felt their minds become hazy, and their bodies involuntarily twitched.

Even after he walked away, their palms continued to sweat.

Wei Zhixing took the Soul-Extinguishing Rod and sneered at Zheng Shi Yi, "If it weren't for the rules, the person wielding the rod cannot exceed the challenger's realm, I would have given you a few strikes myself. I want to see how many you can withstand!"

The power of the Soul-Extinguishing Rods varies depending on the wielder's cultivation. Without such rules, if Elder Wei wielded the rod, no challenger could withstand even one strike.

Wei Zhixing handed the Soul-Extinguishing Rod to a man behind him, dressed in blue, with a muscular build and a scar on his face. "Hao Dong, don't hold back!"

"Yes, Elder!" Hao Dong respectfully took the Soul-Extinguishing Rod, his eyes flashing with cold light, and he walked towards Zheng Shi Yi with a sinister smile.

Zheng Shi Yi found a clean spot and lay down. As long as he could endure these three hundred strikes, he could clear his name. Xu Sa, the Law Enforcement Hall, and Old Wei, you will all die!

The wielder raised the Soul-Extinguishing Rod, and the sky above darkened. A deep blue current, like a wild horse, roared and galloped on the rod.

"First strike!"

The Soul-Extinguishing Rod fell like a mountain collapsing, its momentum fierce. The wind it carried, like a tidal wave, pushed the onlookers back several steps.

"Smack!"

The powerful strike landed on Zheng Shi Yi, making him feel numb all over. The intense pain, like ants gnawing at his flesh and ice knives piercing his heart, almost made him faint.

Pain comes in many forms...

Zheng Shi Yi had endured many kinds of pain, even the pain of having his martial soul extracted. He thought nothing could compare to that.

But... now... Zheng Shi Yi realized that there was indeed a pain that rivaled the extraction of a martial soul! And he had to endure this pain two hundred and ninety-nine more times.

His body was riddled with wounds, and large amounts of blood flowed out. Sweat poured from his head like steam.

At this moment, Zheng Shi Yi understood something... Old Wei was so confident because he knew that it was a matter of life and death! The Soul-Extinguishing Rods were deadly!

Without superhuman willpower and endurance, not to mention one hundred strikes, even one strike was impossible to endure!

Zheng Shi Yi gritted his teeth, and the soul seed in his body pulsed rapidly, releasing waves of martial soul power.

A surge of spiritual energy, like a wild beast breaking free, continuously entered the injured areas, penetrating the cells.

"Endure three hundred strikes, and you will all be finished!"

Pain filled Zheng Shi Yi's eyes with murderous intent.

"Smack!"

Another strike fell, bringing the same intense pain and numbness.

Zheng Shi Yi almost couldn't bear it and nearly fainted on the spot!

"Thud, thud!"

The soul seed, sensing Zheng Shi Yi's crisis, pulsed even more fiercely than before.

Under its rapid pulsing, the deep wounds began to heal rapidly.

"Keep going, harder!"

Seeing Zheng Shi Yi's pale face, Wei Zhixing smiled smugly. This disobedient disciple needed to be taught a lesson. He raised his arm high and brought it down with a forceful command, feeling immensely satisfied.

The wielder quickly increased the force of his strikes.

Lu Ming, on the side, waved at Elder Wei excitedly, "Elder Wei, don't be in such a hurry. He has to endure three hundred strikes. If you kill him now, that would be bad!"

Elder Wei nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes."

However, he did not order the wielder to reduce the force of his strikes.

"Third strike!"

"Fourth strike!"

"..."

"One hundredth strike!"

As the first strike fell, the onlookers were shocked, their mouths agape. "My goodness, he actually endured one hundred strikes!"

"That's one hundred strikes!"

"In the records of the Three Tests Hall, only a few people have ever endured one hundred strikes!"

"Who would have thought this kid could make it to one hundred strikes! It's truly unbelievable!"

The Soul-Extinguishing Rods hadn't even touched them, but the onlookers were already uneasy, pushed back several steps by the wind from the strikes.

They knew the power of the Soul-Extinguishing Rods. They couldn't even withstand half a strike, let alone one hundred.

This kid, however, not only endured one strike, two strikes, but made it to one hundred.

Each strike, from the first to the hundredth, left Zheng Shi Yi pale and near death.

But what they couldn't understand was how he managed to survive without dying or fainting.

Moreover, based on his current state, he might be able to endure more strikes.

One hundred strikes! Just one hundred...

Wei Zhixing's face was already very grim. As Zheng Shi Yi endured more strikes, his face grew darker.

When Zheng Shi Yi reached the tenth strike, he had already shown signs of not being able to endure. How did he make it this far... in a state where he was always on the brink of death but never died?

If this continued, he might break two hundred strikes and reach three hundred.

"No, I need to order the wielder to increase the force!"

Feeling uneasy, Wei Zhixing turned to the wielder, wanting to order him to increase the force, but he lowered his raised arm. This was already the limit set by the sect! If he increased it further... that would be breaking the rules!

Those who fail the Three Tests are personally investigated by the Punishment Elder...

Thinking of the Punishment Elder, Wei Zhixing's face became even grimmer. He cursed in his heart: When will this old man die? If he doesn't die, I can't do anything beyond the rules! Otherwise, that old man will find something from the dead and kill me!

"Elder Wei..." Lu Ming was really anxious now...

Wei Zhixing turned and smiled kindly, patting Lu Ming's shoulder, "Xiao Lu... have you heard the story of the straw that breaks the camel's back?"

"A single straw on a camel's back won't affect it. But if you keep adding straws..."

"When the camel reaches its limit, one more straw will break its back!"

"This kid, though barely surviving each strike, has almost reached his limit. It won't be long before he can't take it anymore!"