Chapter 554: Chapter 544: Divine Punishment Sect, Cultivation Ends in Ashes

All Heavens and Myriad Realms, a void world.

In this void world, there is no sun, no light, only an endless black earth.

A dark mist shrouds the earth. Through the mist, looking towards the black earth, you can see one black mountain after another.

As the view zooms in closer, you will find that these mountains are very peculiar.

First is their color, which is dark gray, the surface is in a particle state, with irregular shapes.

And in the center of these "black mountains" stands a towering stone gate.

This stone gate rises high into the mist, with an ancient and solemn appearance that gives a terrifying feeling that stops you in your tracks.

The next second, a black "particle" drifts out from the stone gate, landing on a nearby black mountain, becoming part of the surrounding black mountains.

It turns out these black mountains are formed by particles like burning ash.

How many "ash particles" must there be to form a black mountain towering a thousand meters!

And it’s not just one, as far as the eye can see, like a mountain range stretching to the horizon.

.....

On the black earth, in front of the stone gate.

Ninety-nine "black mountains" have gathered to form a "dragon dome-shaped" mountain range.

Within this dragon dome-shaped mountain range, magnificent halls are built, arranged meticulously and in an orderly fashion.

On a piece of black stone at the entrance of the mountain range, three big characters are carved - "Divine Punishment Sect".

....

In the mountain range, on the highest black mountain, there is a glazed cyan tile hall, very conspicuous.

In front of the cyan tile hall, there is an open space.

On the open space, a stone table is placed, with two figures sitting opposite each other.

"Hall Master Jiang summoned me from thousands of miles away to your Divine Punishment Three Palaces, surely not just to have a cup of tea?" a man in a willow robe said, taking a gentle sip from the teacup on the table with a laugh.

"Of course not." The speaker was a handsome young man, wearing a clean and simple white Immortal Robe, strikingly contrasting the surrounding black scenery.

.....

"If Hall Master Jiang has something to say, please say it." The willow robe man said.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Li did not respond but pointed to a gray ash particle drifting out from the distant large stone gate and said, "Do you think... what is the true meaning of these people’s cultivation...."

Hearing this, although the willow robe man was a bit unhappy, he held back his temper and replied, "I don’t know, but everyone has their own meaning in cultivation."

This was the first time the willow robe man had contact with this famous Hall Master of the Divine Punishment Sect’s Third Palace.

Before coming, he had heard that this "Hall Master Jiang" was rumored to be somewhat mentally unstable...

"I rather think that the true meaning of these people’s cultivation is to become those particles of ash...." Jiang Li smiled as he spoke, "If that’s the case, they shouldn’t have chosen the path of Cultivation from the start."

"All this struggling is just to be a pawn in the hands of the big players..... Oh, no, these people don’t even qualify to be pawns, they can only become... let me think...."

"Fodder, yes, I like this word."

Upon hearing this, the willow robe man also turned pale, speaking lowly, "Jiang Li, I warn you, don’t talk nonsense about things like pawns...."

With those words.

Jiang Li laughed out loud, "Hahaha."

"Moon Hall Master, you are such a... boring person."

"Have you become so insecure that you can’t even joke about yourself?"

Hearing this, Yue Ying frowned deeply, his tone already a bit displeased, "Hall Master Jiang, what do you mean?"

"Moon Hall Master, don’t be so tense. I’m just venting, a little bored self-deprecation, that’s all."

"Just a pawn’s self-deprecation."

"Rest assured, you and I serve different masters, at most we are just allied collaborators. If my self-deprecation offends my master, they will discipline me without involving you."

"There’s no need to be so tense, take a deep breath, relax." Jiang Li leaned back in his chair, smiling lightly.

"Jiang Li, your words... might they hurt your master’s feelings...."

"As far as I know, you’re a trusted confidant of your master, yet you joke about being a pawn...." Yue Ying frowned and said.

.....

"Do you think I’m not a pawn?"

"Or do you think that you’re not a pawn?" Jiang Li teased, "Brother, I’ve already said, you are a boring and insufficiently self-aware person."

"Don’t worry, you and I are the same, we are both just pawns."

Hearing this, Yue Ying suddenly stood up, glaring at Jiang Li and saying, "I’ve followed my master for countless years, and they value me greatly. I know this well enough without your teaching."

Hearing this, Jiang Li smiled and said, "Alright, alright, Moon Hall Master, I was just joking, no need to take it seriously, no need to get so agitated."

Given their current relationship, Yue Ying couldn’t afford to lose his temper, as it was a critical time in their plan and there could be no mistakes.

.....

After sitting down again, Yue Ying said earnestly, "Hall Master Jiang, if there is something, please speak directly, if not, I’ll be on my way."

Hearing this, Jiang Li pointed to the stone gate and said, "After this ’Divine Punishment’ ends, I want to hand the Three Palaces over to you."

Once he finished speaking, Yue Ying frowned and said, "Is this by your master’s directive?"

.....

Jiang Li shook his head.

Seeing this, Yue Ying gestured with his hand and said, "I’m sorry, the Divine Punishment Sect was established by your master and my master, they are the decision-makers, neither you nor I have the authority to make decisions."

"Besides, I’m already the Ninth Hall’s master, there is no time to take over your Third Palace."

In response to these words, Jiang Li shrugged with a smile and said, "If you’re afraid, then forget it."

Yue Ying’s face turned displeased and he said, "What do you mean I’m afraid? Is this about fear? It’s about ability!"

"You’re managing the Ninth Hall, which is just a small place with no development prospects."

"If you take charge of my Third Palace, you must know the benefits, right?" Jiang Li smiled and said.

"I’ve said, this is just your wishful thinking, not your master’s directive!" Yue Ying emphasized again.

....

"Rest assured, as long as you’re willing to take it, you don’t have to worry about anything else." Jiang Li said, staring at him.

After those words, Yue Ying hesitated for quite a while.

Seeing this, Jiang Li gestured with his hand and said, "Forget it, forget it, if you’re not willing, then it’s fine."

....

"You!" Before Yue Ying could finish speaking.

The entire earth began to shake violently.

Seeing this, both of them stood up simultaneously, looking towards the distant "stone gate."

"This is the disturbance from the Gate of Divine Punishment!" Yue Ying was the first to exclaim.