Chapter 544
by fanqienovelChapter 544: The Divine Ability Exchange Device
On the third day after Master Qianling returned, the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect came back.
“Leader, you’re finally back! You have no idea how bad it’s been. Our fleet is gone, and almost half of my palace artifacts are destroyed.”
“All those years of hard work, gone in an instant.”
At that moment, Master Qianling looked like a bullied kid running to his parent for comfort.
“You’ve had it too easy lately. A little setback might do you some good,” the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect said calmly.
“Leader, seeing how pitiful I am, can you let me off the hook for the five hundred punishment thunder whips?” Master Qianling begged.
In his life, he’d been hit with the punishment thunder whips twice, and each time was pure agony. The memories were still fresh.
“This is the sect’s rule; it can’t be broken. You know what happens to ordinary disciples who break the rules, and your guess of five hundred whips was spot on.”
“What about second brother and the others? Were any of the sect’s disciples or elders hurt?”
“If there were casualties, we’d have to add more punishment,” the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect said lightly.
Xu Fan, standing nearby, almost laughed. So Master Qianling was putting on this pitiful act just to get out of the punishment thunder whips.
The punishment thunder whips sounded brutal. Xu Fan wondered if he should introduce something similar in his own sect when he got back.
“No, no, not a single disciple was lost. I protected them all with everything I had.”
As he spoke, Master Qianling handed over a palace-like artifact to the Grand Elder.
“You did well there,” the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect nodded.
“So, can you let me off the punishment whips?” Master Qianling asked again.
“If I did that, it would go against the sect’s rules,” the Grand Elder said, looking at Master Qianling.
“Then can you make a decision that goes against the rules?” Master Qianling asked cautiously.
The Grand Elder of Qianling Sect looked at him and smiled.
“Fine, I’ll make a decision that goes against the rules.”
Hearing this, Master Qianling’s face lit up with hope.
“I’ll give you one thousand punishment thunder whips. Adding five hundred more does break the rules, after all,” the Grand Elder said.
“Leader, you can’t do this! I’ve done so much for the sect! I’ve bled for the sect!”
“Adding more punishment is too much!”
Master Qianling was furious.
“Your contributions and sacrifices don’t make up for the losses you caused. If I don’t punish you properly, how can I trust you to lead the Star Ships in the future?”
The Grand Elder’s voice carried a hint of anger, but mostly disappointment.
“Leader, I’ll take the five hundred punishment thunder whips, but please spare me the other five hundred. I’ve learned my lesson.”
Seeing the Grand Elder’s anger, Master Qianling genuinely looked pitiful now.
“Do I look like someone who takes back their words? The other five hundred will be delayed for a hundred years. If you mess up again in that time, I’ll carry out the punishment immediately,” the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect declared.
Just then, Spirit Cut returned, piloting Hidden Spirit No. 2.
Xu Fan noticed that the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect was about to scold Master Qianling, so he quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
“Let’s head back first; fixing the classic Star Ship is the main priority,” Xu Fan said.
“Alright,” the Grand Elder agreed with a nod.
A month and a half later, Hidden Spirit No. 2 hauled the classic Star Ship back to the Hidden Spirit Sect, and the repairs began.
On the Ten Thousand-Mile Giant Lake, Xu Fan and Master Qianling were out fishing.
“Master Qianling, is the punishment thunder whip really that terrifying? You seem really scared of it,” Xu Fan asked, curious.
“The punishment thunder whip is the top-tier artifact of the Qianling Sect’s Punishment Hall,” Master Qianling explained.
“It targets the soul. One strike feels like having a strip of flesh ripped straight from your body.”
“And that’s not even the worst part. After being struck, your soul will feel a tingling, numbing pain for at least ten years, like being slowly cut with a dull blade.”
As he spoke, Master Qianling couldn’t help but shudder.
Seeing his reaction and hearing the details, Xu Fan figured Master Qianling must have been on the receiving end of that whip more than once.
“Master Qianling, if you’re going to get whipped anyway, why not learn a technique to resist the punishment thunder whip?”
“We’ve got over two months before the classic Star Ship is fixed—plenty of time to master the basics of such a technique,” Xu Fan suggested.
It was a practical idea. If you can’t avoid the problem or the person causing it, you might as well find a way to mitigate the damage.
Hearing this, Master Qianling’s eyes lit up. He remembered Xu Fan’s other identity—the Creation Spirit Master.
“Grand Elder, save me!” Master Qianling exclaimed, as if he’d just found a lifeline.
“For one artifact, I can help you develop a technique to resist the punishment thunder whip,” Xu Fan said, narrowing his eyes. His services didn’t come cheap.
“One artifact…” Master Qianling hesitated, weighing the cost.
A small bronze bell appeared in his hand.
“This was a gift from my leader back when I was in the Core Formation stage. Let’s use it for the exchange,” Master Qianling offered.
“Master Qianling, you should keep something with such sentimental value. Trade something else,” Xu Fan said, glancing at the bell.
It was an entry-level artifact, and a rather niche one at that. Not much use to him.
“Is the Grand Elder not satisfied with this artifact? I’ll offer something else.”
A small jade eagle appeared in Master Qianling’s hand.
“This is the Spirit Controlling Eagle, a detection-type artifact. Its stealth capabilities can fool even most Great Ascension Masters,” Master Qianling explained.
Xu Fan quickly took the Spirit Controlling Eagle and said, “Three days.”
“Grand Elder, can you really deduce a technique in just three days?” Master Qianling asked, surprised. He’d expected it to take at least a month.
“How long do you think it takes to create a soul-protection technique?” Xu Fan replied with a smile. If he didn’t deliver quickly, Master Qianling might think it wasn’t worth the price. In truth, he could have done it in half an hour.
“Alright, Grand Elder, do your best. I’m paying a high price for this,” Master Qianling said.
“You might feel some physical discomfort, but your soul will be safe. I guarantee it,” Xu Fan assured him.
“Grand Elder, I’m counting on you,” Master Qianling said with a nod.
Xu Fan nodded back, confident in his work.
Three days later, Xu Fan handed Master Qianling a jade slip containing the new technique.
Master Qianling scanned it with his consciousness and smiled in satisfaction.
“As expected of the Grand Elder. A custom-made technique like this is truly exceptional,” he said.
“Spirit Power Heavy Armor—steady as a mountain! Once I master the basics, the punishment thunder whip won’t stand a chance,” Master Qianling declared with a grin.
“As long as you’re happy, the artifact was worth it,” Xu Fan replied with a chuckle.
Meanwhile, on the Ten Thousand-Mile Giant Lake, the Grand Elder of Qianling Sect, who was out boating and relaxing, glanced lightly in Master Qianling’s direction.