Divine Punishment

The shocking news of Gu Xunhe, the once-unrivaled First Young Master, being imprisoned in Remnant Wind Valley spread like wildfire throughout the Seed Demon Holy Sect. Overnight, everyone knew of his downfall.

The exact cause of his punishment remained unclear, but with Gu Xunhe detained, Gu Feiyan dead in the Forgotten Self Mystic Realm, and the Young Master position falling to the previously low-profile Second Young Master Gu Yinjiao, the sect was abuzz with speculation and sighs of disbelief.

—

Meanwhile, in Konglan Valley, where new disciples gathered, another notable event occurred.

Shen Tianyin, once an unpopular figure, had suddenly gained Gu Yinjiao’s favor and risen to prominence. He was now one of the Second Young Master’s most trusted aides, granted access to the core disciples’ inner sanctum and often seen by Gu Yinjiao’s side.

Those who had previously offended Shen Tianyin were now trembling in fear, hastily accepting external missions from the sect’s contribution hall to avoid being flayed alive by the now-powerful Shen Senior Brother.

—

A Moonless Night.

Shen Tianyin, basking in his newfound glory, was walking arm-in-arm with a heavily made-up, seductive female disciple, laughing and chatting as they headed to his residence.

Initially, when tasked with a special mission directly from Lord Cthulhu, Shen Tianyin had been anxious, unsure if his limited abilities could be of any use. But thanks to Gu Yinjiao’s efforts, Shen Tianyin had reaped countless benefits without lifting a finger, living a life of carefree indulgence.

—

As the pair laughed under the dim moonlight, Shen Tianyin noticed a figure standing beneath a tree, holding a gleaming dagger. The figure’s presence was eerie, especially in the faint light.

Leaning against the tree, Chen Dayi made no effort to hide. Stepping forward, he fixed his cold gaze on the woman beside Shen Tianyin and said, “Leave.”

The seductive woman turned pale, retreating a step before Shen Tianyin pulled her back by the waist.

“What are you afraid of? Don’t you want to see your Shen Senior Brother show his might?” Shen Tianyin sneered confidently.

The woman, however, wasn’t foolish. She quickly wriggled free from Shen Tianyin’s grasp. She had only approached him for his newfound status, knowing full well that his meager cultivation couldn’t even match hers. If she exerted a little force, she might accidentally crush this weakling to death.

“If you leave now, don’t bother coming back,” Shen Tianyin growled, his face darkening with anger.

Hesitating briefly, the woman sensed the overwhelming aura emanating from the menacing figure before her. Bowing apologetically, she said, “I suddenly feel unwell and fear I won’t be able to serve Senior Brother properly. Please forgive me.” With that, she turned and left, her expression tinged with regret.

—

“Ruined my fun, did you? How do you plan to compensate me?” Shen Tianyin snarled, turning his venomous gaze to Chen Dayi.

Chen Dayi’s metallic Wind Listener Ears glinted faintly as he carefully monitored the surroundings. His voice was cold. “The Second Young Master recently visited the main hall to meet the Sect Master. That same night, the First Young Master was punished. As the Second Young Master’s right-hand man, you must know something.”

“So you’re one of the First Young Master’s lackeys?” Shen Tianyin sneered. “And you ruined my night over this? Unforgivable.”

“Unforgivable?” Chen Dayi’s face twisted with rage, veins bulging on the hand gripping his dagger. “The First Young Master lost the Young Master position and is suffering in Remnant Wind Valley, and you call that a small matter?!”

—

“Relax,” Shen Tianyin said mockingly, crossing his arms. “You want to know why the First Young Master was punished? Fine, I’ll tell you. The Second Young Master exposed all of Gu Xunhe’s schemes against Gu Feiyan to the Sect Master! And I played no small part in assisting him!”

Shen Tianyin grinned maliciously. “Gu Xunhe dared to target a woman I had my eye on. He brought this upon himself!”

“You dare speak so disrespectfully of the late Third Miss?!” Chen Dayi’s eyes burned with fury. “Thank you for clarifying the First Young Master’s punishment. Now you can die!”

—

Chen Dayi charged forward, his dagger gleaming as he closed the distance between them like a wild beast.

“What? You’re attacking me? Hahaha! I suggest you think twice before throwing your life away!” Shen Tianyin taunted, his confidence unwavering.

But Chen Dayi showed no fear, shouting as he advanced, “A man dies for his confidant!”

“Crazy bastard!” Shen Tianyin spat, mocking him. As Chen Dayi’s dagger neared, Shen Tianyin suddenly dropped to his knees, clasping his hands together.

“Oh, great Lord Cthulhu, this man dares obstruct your divine plans. Please, deliver your holy punishment and show him your boundless might!”

—

Chen Dayi hesitated, startled by the unexpected display. He stopped in his tracks, watching as Shen Tianyin remained kneeling, muttering fervently.

But as the seconds ticked by, nothing happened. The so-called holy punishment never came, and the mysterious, all-powerful Lord Cthulhu failed to manifest.

“What… what’s going on?” Shen Tianyin stammered, cold sweat dripping from his brow. “It must be my posture! Wait, give me a moment to fix it!”

Prostrating himself on the ground, Shen Tianyin repeated his prayer, even more earnestly. Still, there was no response.

“Lord Cthulhu, now’s not the time for jokes! This is a matter of life and death!” Shen Tianyin screamed, his voice trembling with panic.

By then, Chen Dayi’s dagger was pressed against his throat.

—

Meanwhile, on the Spirit Boat.

“We’ve finally reached the Golden Ridge Mountains,” Gu Feiyan said cheerfully. “It won’t be long before we’re back at the sect. Maybe we’ll even catch our grand funeral!” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation and a hint of battle spirit.

Qin Gou remained silent, smiling faintly. At first, he had worried about returning to the sect with his newfound demon bloodline, fearing he’d be branded a traitor. But the system had reassured him: as the bloodline was a system product, it would remain dormant unless he actively used its abilities, such as Mimicry. In his day-to-day life, he would remain fully human, with only passive enhancements. This knowledge eased his concerns considerably.