Chapter 25: The Whipping

## Chapter 25: The Scourge of the Fire Whip

Within the vast, frigid grandeur of the great hall, a multitude of figures stood, their gazes converging on the center. Murmurs and curses filled the air, each word aimed with venomous intent.

At the heart of this maelstrom, Ye Chen stood like an unyielding monolith. His expression remained impassive, not a word escaping his lips. Yet, within the stillness of his mind, gears were turning. The events of the day, he knew, were no accident. This was a deliberate conspiracy, a trap meticulously laid to ensnare him.

Turning his head with cool indifference, Ye Chen’s eyes fell upon Xu Ming, who lurked within the crowd, a sinister smile playing on his lips. A fleeting glance across Xu Ming's face revealed a jade badge hanging from his waist. The characters "Di Yang Peak" inscribed on it, though small, burned into Ye Chen's vision with exceptional clarity. He had already surmised this was a targeted scheme orchestrated by the cultivators of Di Yang Peak.

Still, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on Yin Zhi Ping, who stood not far off.

"Master is in seclusion. Therefore, today's matter shall be handled solely by me," Yin Zhi Ping announced, leisurely fanning himself. He projected an air of righteous indignation, an image of unwavering impartiality. Only when his eyes met Ye Chen's did a flicker of mockery and amusement dance at the corners of his mouth.

"Arbitrarily injuring a fellow disciple, Ye Chen, do you confess to this crime?"

"Why worry about finding fault when one wishes to add guilt?" Ye Chen’s laughter was cold, devoid of any further explanation. He knew this was a conspiracy; any attempt at justification would be futile.

"So, you admit your guilt?"

"Since you admit guilt, the matter is straightforward. According to the ninth article of the sect rules, arbitrarily injuring a fellow disciple is punishable by the application of the fire whip, to be executed immediately."

"Fire whip?" The term elicited gasps throughout the hall. Disciples gulped, their faces paling as they seemed to comprehend the terrifying nature of this punishment.

"Ye Chen is truly in for it this time."

"How many whips do you think he can endure?"

Amidst the rising and falling murmurs, two disciples from the Disciplinary Hall stepped forward. With iron chains, they bound Ye Chen to a rack. His upper garment was ripped away, leaving his back exposed.

Soon, a leather whip, wreathed in crackling flames, was presented.

"Junior Brother Ye, if the pain becomes too much, feel free to cry out," Yin Zhi Ping said, taking the fire whip. His eyes were alight with mocking amusement.

"Spare me the pleasantries. Let's begin!"

At Ye Chen's words, Yin Zhi Ping let out a cold laugh. The fire whip in his hand rose and descended with brutal force upon Ye Chen's back.

*Crack!*

The sound of the whip lashing against Ye Chen’s flesh was sickeningly clear. A searing pain, bone-deep and soul-piercing, erupted through him. Ye Chen had underestimated the severity of this punishment. Yin Zhi Ping's fire whip was clearly no ordinary instrument. A single lash had torn his skin and flesh, leaving a conspicuous, bloody gash.

Yet, despite the agony, Ye Chen gritted his teeth, not a sound escaping his lips.

"Very good, you're quite resilient," Yin Zhi Ping sneered, observing Ye Chen’s stoic silence. He began to unleash his fury, the fire whip lashing against Ye Chen's body again and again.

*Crack!*

*Crack!*

*Crack!*

As the sounds echoed through the hall, the blood marks on Ye Chen’s back multiplied.

"He deserves it. This is the fate of those who oppose Di Yang Peak," Xu Ming remarked from the crowd, a venomous smile on his face.

"Arbitrarily injuring a fellow disciple should be punished."

"This is all his own doing. He has no one to blame but himself."

Yin Zhi Ping, seemingly having received benefits from Di Yang Peak, showed no restraint. The fire whip in his hand moved like a slithering serpent, each lash sending fresh blood spraying from Ye Chen's back.

Soon, Ye Chen's back was a canvas of bloody gashes, the overflowing crimson staining his skin. It was a gruesome sight. Yet, from beginning to end, he never let out a single cry of pain.

"Let's see how long you can endure," Yin Zhi Ping muttered, his frustration growing with each silent whip. Ye Chen’s unwavering stoicism felt like a defeat, spurring him to lash the fire whip with even greater ferocity, desperate to elicit a cry of agony.

*Crack!*

*Crack!*

*Crack!*

Yin Zhi Ping's strikes became more and more frenzied, his shock deepening with each blow. As the chief disciple of the Disciplinary Hall, he was intimately familiar with the terror of the fire whip. Even cultivators of the Human Origin Realm found it difficult to withstand a hundred lashes. Yet, Ye Chen, a mere Qi Condensation Realm disciple, had endured over a hundred whips without a single cry. How could he not be shocked?

"This… this is the how many whip?" someone in the crowd whispered, unable to contain their awe. Even some kind-hearted disciples within the throng couldn't help but reveal expressions of unbearable sympathy at the sight of Ye Chen’s suffering.

"One hundred and eighth whip."

"He endured the one hundred and eighth whip without dying. Is his body not made of flesh and blood?"

"He didn't even let out a single whimper."

*Crack!*

When the final, resounding lash fell, the punishment of the fire whip finally came to an end.

"Release him!" Even Yin Zhi Ping was breathing heavily, his breath ragged from the exertion, sweat dripping from his brow.

The chains binding Ye Chen were immediately removed. He stumbled, swaying for a few moments before somehow managing to remain on his feet.

"May I leave now?" Ye Chen lifted his face, his cold laughter directed at Yin Zhi Ping.

"As you wish," Yin Zhi Ping replied, taking a deep breath before finally waving his hand in dismissal.

Ye Chen's gaze swept across the hall, an indifferent flicker in his eyes. A cold light gleamed within. He turned, staggering, and walked towards the hall entrance, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in his wake.

Just outside the great hall, Zhang Fengnian rushed forward to meet him.

"Child," Zhang Fengnian's aged hands trembled as he reached out to support Ye Chen, yet he hesitated, unsure where to touch. Ye Chen's entire body was covered in blood marks; he feared any contact would inflict further pain.

"Old grandpa, I'm thick-skinned. I won't die," Ye Chen forced a carefree smile. Though the words were light, his eyes began to blur. He swayed again, and this time, he finally collapsed.

Zhang Fengnian stepped forward, catching him and hoisting him onto his hunched back.

"Child, we're going home."

"Old grandpa, you were right. Everything requires endurance. But if the weak are destined to be bullied, then I would rather walk a more arduous path. The pain they inflicted upon us today, on that day, Ye Chen shall make them repay a hundredfold."

Unbeknownst to him, Ye Chen had fainted.

In a daze, Ye Chen felt the bumpy journey on Zhang Fengnian's back, felt the old man's immense effort to carry him back to the small spirit garden. He even felt Zhang Fengnian gently wiping his wounds.

He awoke again when night had fallen.

The fiery pain still raged throughout his body. That fire whip was peculiar; even the nourishment of his True Qi struggled to quell the intense, burning agony.

"Just you wait," Ye Chen muttered coldly.

Enduring the searing pain, Ye Chen struggled to sit cross-legged on the bed. Soon, the sound of bones colliding, a *kaba* sound, resonated through his body. The Savage Body Refinement Method was in operation once more.

Instantly, a pained expression flickered across his face. However, as time passed and the number of refinement cycles increased, he had gradually adapted to this pain. But even so, the added agony from the fire whip was incomparable to the pain of body refinement.

After three hours, Ye Chen completed one grand cycle with great difficulty. What surprised him was that this Savage Body Refinement Method possessed a magical effect of accelerating wound recovery. The damaged flesh was discarded, and through refinement, new flesh began to grow.

An unexpected blessing! Ye Chen secretly exclaimed in his heart. He had never imagined that the Savage Body Refinement Method possessed such a wonder.

"Perhaps being beaten is also a form of alternative cultivation."

Subsequently, he became two-minded. One side focused on body refinement, while the other opened all his pores, swallowing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth like a whale. Wisp after wisp of spiritual qi from the world around him flowed into his body, sometimes even entering through his wounds.

Thus, he completed another grand cycle of Savage Body Refinement. The effect was even more pronounced. The wounds on his body had healed considerably.

"Excellent." A faint smile graced the corner of Ye Chen's lips. Without the slightest pause, he continued to temper his body.

It was late into the night before he finally ceased the body refinement method. At this moment, his skin was smooth and flawless, not a single wound visible. This kind of recovery power, if witnessed by others, would surely leave them utterly dumbfounded.

"Savage Body Refinement is indeed formidable," Ye Chen laughed heartily, jumping down from the bamboo bed and stepping out of the room.

Coming to the garden, he unleashed a powerful punch, then followed with a swift side kick. After the body refinement and consuming the Jade Spirit Liquid, his entire being was brimming with vitality. The Beast Heart Fury martial technique was at his fingertips, ready to be displayed as he loosened his stiff muscles and bones.

*Roar!*

*Roar!*

For some inexplicable reason, his movements underwent a strange transformation. More accurately, each move was accompanied by a beast's roar: the roar of a tiger, the cry of an eagle, the howl of a wolf, the bellow of an ape.

Ye Chen was completely immersed in comprehending the profound mysteries of Beast Heart Fury. Each profound concept was gradually being fused together, and his movements subtly sublimated into a strange and wondrous state.

"Very good," Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh aloud, feeling his movements becoming strange and profound. Even his laughter carried a faint, indistinct beast roar.

Unbeknownst to him, the sky had already begun to lighten. Ye Chen was still completely engrossed in showcasing his fists and feet. Perhaps too deeply immersed, he didn't notice Zhang Fengnian who had just emerged from the room.

"Young… young man?" Seeing Ye Chen, Zhang Fengnian was instantly stunned.

(End of Chapter)