Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 699: Chapter 699 Abolished Wu Chang

"I believe it’s best to strip him of his cultivation and the title of Saint Heir, then let him live on in the Wuji Immortal Palace as an ordinary man," the Palace Master said slowly after a moment of thought. He felt this was the most appropriate punishment. It would not only teach Wu Chang a lesson but also demonstrate the magnanimity of the Wuji Immortal Palace.

Huo Mei’s expression became intrigued upon hearing this. When it comes to ruthlessness, this Palace Master is in a league of his own! And to think I assumed he was going to help Wu Chang. Stripped of his cultivation and his status as Saint Heir... wouldn’t a wretched existence in the Wuji Immortal Palace subject him to endless humiliation? What an excellent idea!

"Then let’s do as you suggest," Huo Mei finalized the matter.

Kneeling on the ground, Wu Chang dug at his ears in disbelief. "Wait, Palace Master, weren’t you here to rescue me?" When Wu Chang realized that what he had heard was neither a hallucination nor a mistake, he grew agitated and clutched at the Palace Master’s trousers.

This punishment wasn’t meant to save him at all—it was worse than death! How could the Palace Master do this?!

"Wu Chang, you’ve angered the Grand Ancestor. This is the best outcome you could have hoped for! From now on, you had better learn your lesson."

The Palace Master’s words plunged Wu Chang into absolute despair.

"No! Palace Master! No! You can’t do this to me! I am the Saint Heir of the Wuji Immortal Palace! I am the Saint Heir!" Wu Chang screamed and shouted as if he had lost his mind.

The Palace Master sighed, "It seems you’ve gone mad!" With that, he struck Wu Chang’s chest with his palm. In the next second, Wu Chang collapsed to the ground like a dead dog.

"Grand Ancestor, I have crippled his cultivation. Are you satisfied?"

Huo Mei nodded. "Of course, very satisfied. By the way, Palace Master, I suggest you replace the core personnel of the Wuji Immortal Palace to prevent future troubles. Also, when selecting the next Saint Heir, remember to consider their moral character."

Huo Mei lectured the Palace Master, who bowed his head and listened respectfully to her words. Although his latest closed-door cultivation had resulted in a breakthrough, his strength was nowhere near as formidable as Huo Mei’s. In her presence, he was a minor figure who dared not disobey any of her commands.

"Xiao Xiao, Ye Qingchen is still with Elder Chen. Let me take you to him." Huo Mei turned, took one look at the dazed Xiao Xiao, and pulled her along as they vanished on the spot.

"Palace Master! You’re finally out of seclusion! Disposing of Wu Chang was the best decision you’ve ever made!" the Third Elder cried out after Huo Mei had left, sobbing as he recounted his ordeal.

The Palace Master glanced coldly at Wu Chang lying on the ground. "He brought this upon himself. Daring to provoke the Grand Ancestor... Heh. Third Elder, when you leave, don’t forget to dump him on the back mountain."

There wasn’t a hint of emotion in the Palace Master’s voice, as if Wu Chang was utterly insignificant in his eyes—no more than an ant. And this was the very person he had personally nurtured from a young age.

A cold sweat broke out on the Third Elder’s back. "Palace Master, the back mountain is full of wild beasts. He probably won’t survive if we leave him there." Didn’t the Palace Master just intend to let him live?

"Of course, I won’t let him die that easily." With that, the Palace Master stuffed something unknown into Wu Chang’s mouth.

The Third Elder dared not say another word and hurried to follow his instructions.

***

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiao followed Huo Mei, and they quickly arrived at Elder Chen’s Alchemy Room. Sensing the turbulent energy fluctuations all around, Xiao Xiao anxiously rushed inside.

"Young Master! Young Master! How are you?!"

However, upon bursting in, Xiao Xiao found Ye Qingchen sitting cross-legged on the bed, his face deathly pale. Elder Chen had placed a protective barrier around him, preventing anyone from disturbing him.

"Elder Chen, my Young Master... what’s happening to him?" Xiao Xiao looked around. My Young Master looks like he’s about to have a breakthrough! But why is his face so pale?

Huo Mei, following behind her, explained the entire situation.

After hearing everything, Xiao Xiao covered her mouth in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes. "Young Master, please don’t scare me! If anything happens to you, what will I do all alone?"

As Xiao Xiao spoke, her eyes unconsciously took on an eerie quality. They turned blood-red, as if she were on the verge of succumbing to demonic cultivation, but the phenomenon lasted for only half a minute. Everyone was focused on Ye Qingchen, so no one noticed Xiao Xiao’s strange state. Even Xiao Xiao herself was unaware of it.

At that moment, Ye Qingchen was enduring the immense pain of his breakthrough. Not only that, but the wounds Jiang Qi had inflicted on him also made him furrow his brow.

Damn it, I absolutely cannot collapse! If I do, everything will be over!

Ye Qingchen chanted this mantra in his heart. At the same time, his rate of energy absorption began to accelerate. Outside the barrier, the others saw a massive energy vortex form with Ye Qingchen at its center. Countless streams of energy surged toward him in a frantic rush.

The hearts of Elder Chen, Huo Mei, and the others were in their throats. If Ye Qingchen’s breakthrough failed, all would be lost.

Just as this fear gripped them, the immense energy influx caused Ye Qingchen’s entire body to swell.

"No, how can this be! Elder Chen, why... why is this happening to the Young Master?!" Xiao Xiao watched the scene in disbelief. Who’s ever heard of someone swelling up during a breakthrough?!

With a grave expression, Elder Chen pulled Xiao Xiao aside. "This is not a good sign at all. For his body to react like this before the breakthrough is complete... I’ve heard of such a case before!"

"What happened to that person?" Xiao Xiao asked anxiously.

Elder Chen shook his head regretfully. "That person failed to break through. Instead, his body exploded, and he died." He wasn’t trying to scare them; he was citing an actual case. Ye Qingchen was not a god. Despite his exceptional talent, he couldn’t guarantee success in the face of such a trial.

Xiao Xiao, however, shook her head in refusal. "Elder Chen! My Young Master is different! Others may have died, but he definitely won’t!"

Seeing her certainty, Elder Chen didn’t have the heart to dash her hopes.

Worry was etched across Huo Mei’s face as well. "Elder Chen, are you sure there’s no way to help him?" I’ve been inside his body for so long... it would be a lie to say I have no feelings for him. I truly don’t want him to die!

"Grand Ancestor, you of all people should know that a cultivator cannot be disturbed during a breakthrough!" Only then did Elder Chen seem to register who he was talking to. When did our Grand Ancestor become so concerned about Ye Qingchen? Judging by her expression, she doesn’t want him to die either. This kid really is lucky to have even the Grand Ancestor on his side. I can only hope he makes it through this trial. Otherwise, I’ll have a hard time explaining this to Elder Yang.