Chapter 42

"Where is the path of martial arts ever smooth? It is inherently full of hardships..." Zheng Shi Yi rolled his eyes, a hint of disdain in his smile: "If I can't even stand up for myself when I'm insulted, what kind of martial artist would I be?"

"The suffering I endured before was all for the counterattack to come!"

Zheng Shi Yi's arms trembled, and a fierce aura radiated from him.

Wei Zhi Xing's eyes twitched with anger. He glared at Lu Ming, blaming him for how a new recruit, who was as stubborn as a mule, could have safely reached the Third Gate Hall. Why didn't he just kill him on the way?

Lu Ming shot Wei Zhi Xing a cold look. "Kill Zheng Shi Yi? You know nothing! With Old Master Huo's order, if he doesn't arrive safely, I'll be dead immediately! I thought I could rely on your Third Gate Hall for help, but... the Third Gate Hall is nothing but a bunch of useless people!"

The two, who were allies just moments ago, began to blame each other.

The Punishment Elder looked at Zheng Shi Yi indifferently and said, "You've passed the Third Gate. Speak of the injustice you feel."

The pent-up frustration in Zheng Shi Yi's heart finally found an outlet!

Wei Zhi Xing's face turned ashen. The thing he didn't want to happen, happened! With the Punishment Elder involved, there was no chance to threaten the other party.

Lu Ming slowly retreated, sensing that something bad might happen to him.

Xu Sa felt the atmosphere was off and was secretly nervous. He sneakily observed the Punishment Elder, thinking, "Uncle Grandfather is an elder of the Third Gate Hall, and the Punishment Elder is also an elder! Elders should give each other some face, right? Would a big figure really cause internal strife over someone like Zheng Shi Yi?"

The members of the enforcement team behind Lu Ming watched Zheng Shi Yi nervously, fearing he might implicate them in his anger.

Zheng Shi Yi fixed his gaze on Xu Sa!

Xu Sa's heart raced wildly under this intense gaze, but he maintained a strong demeanor. He had faced similar situations before!

The last time was in the Enforcement Hall! The elder of the Enforcement Hall had just gone through the motions, giving him a light punishment out of respect for his uncle grandfather.

This time? The Third Gate Hall and the Enforcement Hall shouldn't be much different, right?

Zheng Shi Yi observed Xu Sa's expression and secretly speculated, "Is the Third Gate Hall also just going through the motions? Otherwise, why is he so confident?"

Forget it! I have to try! Zheng Shi Yi clasped his hands and loudly said to the Punishment Elder, "Ancestor! The first person who wronged me is him! Xu Sa!"

"A few days ago, I joined a small team and entered the Immortal Spirit Mountains to hunt for beast cores! We accidentally discovered Qiu Tian Lang's trail and eventually found him!"

"At that time, he was already severely injured. Under the combined attack of our team members, we killed him and cut off his head!"

"When I went to Elder Su Li to claim my reward, Xu Sa jumped out and accused me, saying that Qiu Tian Lang's head was stolen from him and demanded I return it."

"Of course, I refused, and we had a dispute. With the testimony of my teammates, he didn't succeed and left in a huff!"

"Xu Sa, do you dare to admit this in front of the Punishment Elder?"

Zheng Shi Yi's gaze was intense, burning into Xu Sa.

Before answering, Xu Sa sneakily glanced at Wei Zhi Xing and noticed his uncle grandfather's expression wasn't good.

He denied it outright, shaking his head and saying, "I did say it! But it was because I made a mistake! I thought I had killed Qiu Tian Lang, but later found out it wasn't him! I didn't get the reward, did I? What injustice have you suffered?"

Mistaken identity? Zheng Shi Yi sneered, becoming even more convinced. Based on Xu Sa's reaction, this wasn't just a formality. Otherwise, why wouldn't he admit it outright?

Zheng Shi Yi nodded heavily and continued, "First, you didn't admit your mistake at the time! Second, you didn't get the reward because my friend testified for me! But because of this, you harbored a grudge and had Zhu Xiao cause trouble for me on my way to practice."

"I gave him the right of way, but he deliberately bumped into me, saying I was blocking his path, and then punched me."

"When I fought back, the Enforcement Hall people threw me into the dungeon."

"In the dungeon, I was beaten by over twenty disciples. Fortunately, I have a strong endurance and managed to survive after a fierce struggle."

"Because of this, the Enforcement Hall sent me to the Demon Blood Cave. After continuous killing inside, I successfully killed five thousand demons and came out!"

"From the dungeon to the Demon Blood Cave, each place was more dangerous than the last. If it weren't for my good fortune, I wouldn't be alive today."

"If it weren't for your grudge and desire for revenge, would I be in this situation?"

"If I don't seek justice today, who knows when you might kill me!"

"You think you can clear your name with just a few words? Do you think that's possible?"

Zheng Shi Yi's account made everyone break out in cold sweat. Surviving an attack by over twenty people was already a miracle.

He was then sent to the Demon Blood Cave, where he must have been severely injured.

The Demon Blood Cave is extremely dangerous. Even without injuries, it's not easy to come out of it.

Those who come out are either driven mad or become timid and fearful.

No one like Zheng Shi Yi, who came out to challenge the "Three Gates," has ever been seen.

"No wonder he wants to clear his name; he must have suffered greatly!"

The suffering Zheng Shi Yi endured would be unbearable for anyone else.

The Punishment Elder's face remained as calm as ever, giving no hint of his thoughts.

Xu Sa, seeing the Punishment Elder's unperturbed expression, felt more at ease. The head elder of the Enforcement Hall had the same expression last time.

"That's how it happened!" Xu Sa shrugged, looking relaxed. "But all of this was because you didn't give me face at the reward collection point! All the mistakes weren't just mine..."

Elder Wei's face turned pale, thinking, "You fool, are you crazy? Saying such things in front of the Punishment Elder is asking for death."

Elder Wei grabbed Xu Sa's arm and shouted, "Shut up!"

Xu Sa gave Elder Wei a resentful look, silently complaining, "Last time, the time before that, and the time before that! Every time in the Enforcement Hall, you taught me to respond like this. There are always secret deals between the upper echelons!"

Elder Wei, not waiting for Xu Sa to finish, quickly dragged him behind him, glancing fearfully at the Punishment Elder and explained, "Punishment Elder, my grandson indeed had a grudge against Zheng Shi Yi."

"But the situation isn't as he described. I did mistakenly accuse him because I misidentified the wanted person."

"Later, when I sent people to cause trouble for him, it was a momentary lapse in judgment. Please consider his youth, Elder..."

"When he was beaten in the dungeon, it was because he was too arrogant, and it had nothing to do with my grandson!"

"Such a person, if not sent to the Demon Blood Cave to humble him, would be a disaster!"

"This boy has clearly twisted the facts. Please, Punishment Elder, do justice for my grandson and punish this despicable and arrogant person!"

Elder Wei looked aggrieved, as if Xu Sa were the one wronged.

Zheng Shi Yi sneered inwardly. The one who suffered was him, yet he was being accused of wrongdoing. Wei Zhi Xing, like Xu Sa, was no good!

The Punishment Elder raised his head, and the cold light in his eyes made everyone fall silent.

"I am not here to determine who is right or wrong," the Punishment Elder said calmly, without any emotion. "I am here to clear the name of those who have passed the Three Gates."

"If you are not satisfied, you can challenge the Three Gates."

The domineering and unreasonable statement made everyone feel suffocated.

The Punishment Elder walked up to Zheng Shi Yi and pointed at Xu Sa, detailing the events: "You said that Qiu Tian Lang's head was clearly yours, but Xu Sa accused you of stealing it. Is that correct?"

"According to Rule 35, falsely accusing and defaming a fellow disciple results in fifty to one hundred lashes. Xu Sa's behavior is severe, and he should receive one hundred lashes!"

"Xu Sa, harboring a grudge, sent fellow disciples to challenge you, leading to your arrest and nearly being beaten to death."

"According to Rule 210, endangering a fellow disciple's life, or nearly causing their death, results in the revocation of cultivation!"

"What? Revocation of cultivation?" Everyone except Xu Sa turned green at this.

If cultivation is revoked, one becomes a mere mortal.

For someone who has practiced for years, losing their cultivation is more painful than death.

Xu Sa began to swallow nervously, feeling the cold sweat on Elder Wei's hand.

He wanted to stop the Punishment Elder, but a glare from him silenced him immediately.

The Punishment Elder continued, "Because of this, you were sent to the Demon Blood Cave, nearly dying at the hands of demons."

"According to Rule 749, endangering a fellow disciple by sending them to the Demon Blood Cave or other dangerous places, nearly causing their death, results in the severing of tendons and expulsion from the sect, with a lifetime ban from rejoining!"

"Because of the injustice you suffered, you had to pass the 'Three Gates' to clear your name."

"According to Rule 808, endangering a fellow disciple, forcing them to pass the 'Three Gates' to clear their name, results in the death penalty!"

"I have listed all the crimes and punishments for Xu Sa's actions!"

"He has committed multiple offenses. How do you want him to be punished, and I will carry it out!"

The Punishment Elder, like a waiting servant, awaited Zheng Shi Yi's command.

The others immediately turned their gaze to Wei Zhi Xing...

After all, he was an elder of the Third Gate Hall. Though his status was far below the Punishment Elder, he was still an elder!