Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Xi Jianwei Punished

Xi Jianwei was utterly perplexed. Before coming, he had made ample preparations, reviewing a vast amount of the Sect’s records. He was certain he was thoroughly familiar with the method to use the Wordless Jade Bi. Yet, when he followed the recorded procedure, the jade showed no response whatsoever, let alone inducing the fabled feeling of sudden enlightenment.

Could my aptitude for comprehension be too poor? Can even the Wordless Jade Bi not help me? I managed to reach the seventh-rank Pill King Realm through my own hard work. On the path of the Alchemy Dao, my aptitude surely can’t be that terrible.

Unable to figure it out, Xi Jianwei could only continue to patiently try and comprehend the Wordless Jade Bi.

What Xi Jianwei didn’t know was that the true essence of the Wordless Jade Bi had already been taken by Ye Qingchen. The artifact before him was now no different from ordinary jade. How could it possibly grant him enlightenment?

After a full day and night of effort, Xi Jianwei finally gave up, concluding that he truly had no fate with the Wordless Jade Bi.

Still, Xi Jianwei remembered the other purpose of his trip: to use a Secret Technique to take the Wordless Jade Bi. Though he was reluctant, he recalled Huan Yuehua’s repeated instructions and steeled himself to perform the technique.

He formed one Hand Seal after another, channeling both his Spiritual Power and Soul Power into the Wordless Jade Bi. The jade began to emit a faint green glow under the infusion of energy, and Xi Jianwei was instantly overjoyed.

It’s just like the legends say! The Wordless Jade Bi is truly extraordinary!

However, even after a long wait, nothing else happened. The jade glowed, but that was all. It did not transform into a jade stone and enter his body as Huan Yuehua had described.

Am I using the Secret Technique incorrectly? If I don’t achieve enlightenment or obtain the Wordless Jade Bi from this cave, how will I explain myself to the Sect Leader and his wife when I get back?

With this in mind, Xi Jianwei tried again, but the result remained unchanged. The Wordless Jade Bi had no reaction at all. He tried for another two days and two nights, depleting his Spiritual Power and Soul Power multiple times, but it was all to no avail.

In the end, Xi Jianwei had no choice but to give up and leave the cave.

Lin Lanxin had been waiting outside for a long time. Seeing Xi Jianwei emerge, she was too anxious to ask questions, fearing some mishap had occurred. She hurriedly bid farewell to Xiao Ruoli and departed.

Lin Lanxin rushed back to the Huanyue Sect with Xi Jianwei. Only after seeing Huan Yuehua did she anxiously say to Xi Jianwei, ”Elder Xi, quickly, take out the Wordless Jade Bi. This is very important to the Sect!”

A bitter taste filled Xi Jianwei’s mouth. He had accomplished nothing on this trip. Lin Lanxin’s words also made him uncomfortable. Before heading to Thunder Valley, they had sworn that the trip was to help him seek an opportunity to break through to become an eighth-rank Pill King. Yet now, upon their return, neither of them asked if he had achieved his breakthrough. Their true intention was clear: they just wanted him to steal the Wordless Jade Bi.

Although he was upset, Xi Jianwei didn’t say much. Seeing the expectant looks on the faces of Lin Lanxin and Huan Yuehua, he sighed and told them the truth.

”Sect Leader, Madam. I tried to retrieve the Wordless Jade Bi using the Secret Technique you taught me, but there was no response at all.”

Huan Yuehua frowned and asked, ”Did you use the wrong method? Didn’t you try several times?”

Xi Jianwei gave a bitter laugh. ”I speak the truth, Sect Leader. I tried no less than fifty times, but the Wordless Jade Bi was like an inanimate object. It showed none of the changes you described!”

”Hmph! How audacious, Xi Jianwei!” Lin Lanxin could no longer hold back. She scoffed coldly and pointed at Xi Jianwei, berating him, ”You were in that cave for three days and three nights. How could you possibly not have obtained the Wordless Jade Bi? If there was no reaction, you should have come out to report it long ago! I don’t believe you failed to get it at all. You just want to keep the Wordless Jade Bi for yourself!”

Facing her accusation, Xi Jianwei’s face turned ashen. ”Madam, you’ve wronged me! I have always been loyal and devoted to the Huanyue Sect. How could I possibly do such a thing?”

Lin Lanxin sneered, ”Loyal and devoted? First, you helped Chen Yue Pavilion rise, and now you’re hiding the Wordless Jade Bi. Is that what you call devotion?”

Knowing he couldn’t reason with her, Xi Jianwei quickly knelt before Huan Yuehua and pleaded, ”Sect Leader, please see the truth! I truly did not obtain the Wordless Jade Bi!”

Xi Jianwei had assumed that his many years of service to the Huanyue Sect would have earned Huan Yuehua’s trust. To his dismay, the Sect Leader merely sneered, ”Elder Xi, if you hand over the Wordless Jade Bi now, I can pretend none of this ever happened. But if you remain stubborn, don’t blame me for disregarding our past relationship.”

Hearing that even Huan Yuehua didn’t believe him, Xi Jianwei felt all his strength drain away, and he slumped to the floor. The last shred of faith in his heart completely collapsed. After serving the Huanyue Sect so diligently and without complaint, to then face such accusations was utterly disheartening.

I thought of this place as my home, but Huan Yuehua never saw me as family. He was just using me all along!

The naked reality of it was a devastating blow that left him utterly heartbroken.

Seeing Xi Jianwei collapse, Huan Yuehua showed not a hint of pity. Instead, he roared with even greater fury, ”You’re still not handing it over? It seems you won’t shed tears until you see the coffin! Guards!”

At his command, two Huanyue Sect disciples rushed in and saluted.

Huan Yuehua pointed at Xi Jianwei on the ground and ordered, ”Bring out the Sect’s instruments of punishment and begin the torture!”

The two disciples hesitated. Torture the Sect’s Chief Pill King? But a single glance at the venomous expression in Lin Lanxin’s eyes told them they had no choice but to obey.

One disciple restrained Xi Jianwei while the other drew a Jade Willow Whip and began lashing it furiously across his back.

Xi Jianwei cried out in agony, but Huan Yuehua and Lin Lanxin remained unmoved.

”It seems this old fool is determined to oppose the Huanyue Sect to the very end,” Lin Lanxin said to Huan Yuehua, seeing that Xi Jianwei still refused to hand over the Wordless Jade Bi.

Huan Yuehua grunted but said nothing. Lin Lanxin waved a dismissive hand at the two disciples, who saluted and retreated.

She slowly walked up to Xi Jianwei. A smile that didn’t reach her eyes played on her lips as she said, ”Elder Xi, since you refuse to talk, I’ll let you have a taste of the Ten Thousand Gu Devouring Heart!”

After speaking, Lin Lanxin took out a jade bottle and flicked a series of hand seals toward Xi Jianwei. Under her control, the jade bottle began to glow brightly. Streams of tiny light spots shot from it and entered Xi Jianwei’s body.

As the points of light burrowed into him, he let out another series of horrifying, heart-wrenching screams.