Chapter 2150: The Wild Devouring Punishment (Part 1)
Yun Che’s words left everyone dumbfounded, stunned for a long time. Falling upon Meng Kongchan’s ears, they were nothing short of earth-shattering.
It was a response no one had anticipated.
Even the elegant and composed Divine Attendant Su Shang, who was always as placid as clouds, and Yuan Ying, the Divine Attendant who took nothing to heart and was as carefree as the wind, both showed clear astonishment on their faces.
The rosiness in Hua Caili’s jade-like face faded at a visible speed. She grabbed Yun Che’s hand and said in a panicked voice, “Brother Yun, what are you saying… No! No! Absolutely not! Whether it’s punishment or pardon, I’ll be with you. Don’t even think about leaving me behind!”
Her jade-like fingers intertwined tightly with his, as if she feared he would let her go again.
“Yuan’er, you… take back those words at once!” Meng Kongchan shouted urgently, “How can you speak such nonsense!”
He had never imagined that, when a blessing from heaven had clearly fallen upon them, Yun Che would instead turn it into a double punishment for himself—transforming a chance at life into a deeper abyss of despair.
Meng Jianxi, disregarding everything else at this moment, stepped forward several paces and roared with all his might, “Yuan Di! Although the Wild Devouring Punishment is not a death sentence, its terror far exceeds your imagination! This punishment seeps into the blood, the flesh, the sinews, the bones, the marrow, and the soul… Every single minute part of your body will endure agonies a million times more terrifying than ten thousand nightmares. There is nowhere to defend against it; you will only wish for death!”
“In the records of the Xuanji Hall, one hundred and seventy-six people have endured the Wild Devouring Punishment—yet only nine survived it to the end.”
“The rest could not bear it and chose to end their own lives during the torture!”
“And of the nine who completely endured the punishment, six were at the late stage of the Divine Annihilation Realm, and three were at the Divine Extreme Realm. This is a torture you simply cannot withstand! A double Wild Devouring Punishment… is absolutely impossible, absolutely unacceptable! Take back what you just said! You must take it back no matter what! Never, ever be reckless!”
“Even if it’s for the sake of Father God, for the sake of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom!”
By the end, Meng Jianxi’s roar was filled with anguish and desperation.
During the three years in the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, he had never told Yun Che any information about the “Wild Devouring Punishment.” He thought Yun Che had made this decision only because he was completely unaware of how terrifying the punishment was.
“Yun Che,” Hua Qingying, always cold and taciturn in front of others, spoke lightly, causing countless admirers to prick up their ears, “I know your feelings for Caili, but the horror of the Wild Devouring Punishment is beyond what your understanding can grasp. Listen to your father god and retract your words. With the two divine officials pleading on your behalf, Yuan Huang and the Grand Priest will not be too harsh.”
Yun Che’s gaze did not waver; he still stared directly at Yuan Huang: “My mind is made up. I beg Yuan Huang, in consideration of the respect due to the two divine officials, to grant my request.”
Despite being repeatedly told how terrifying the Wild Devouring Punishment was, his response still showed not the slightest hint of hesitation or fear.
“Yuan’er, you…”
“Yuan Di!!”
“…” Hua Qingying’s eyes rippled, and for a moment, she was speechless.
“Brother Yun, I don’t want this!” Hua Caili shook her head vigorously, her already intertwined fingers tightening until they lost all color. Her previous panic had turned into deep resolve in the span of a few breaths: “I told you, I will never leave you to bear this alone… Never.”
The profound practitioners from other kingdoms kept changing expressions. They were already having trouble understanding the situation and even more so understanding Yun Che, this junior who had just returned to the divine kingdom. They didn’t know whether to mock his ignorance of the Wild Devouring Punishment or praise his fearlessness in bearing the punishment alone.
“Yun Che,” Divine Attendant Su Shang spoke, offering advice that was beyond her position to give, “I urge you not to do this. The terror of the Wild Devouring Punishment is beyond what ordinary willpower can endure. If you do this… I won’t be able to explain it to my master.”
“Seconded.” Divine Attendant Yuan Ying immediately followed, “This move does take extraordinary courage, which even I, a man of few desires, find quite surprising. But I really can’t explain it to my master either. You should still beg for mercy more. The worst outcome is that both of you only bear half the punishment, and perhaps both can come out unscathed.”
Yun Che turned his eyes and smiled gratefully at them, “Please forgive me, junior, for being unable to bow due to my restraints. I must trouble you to thank the two divine officials on my behalf.”
Su Shang sighed softly, gave Yun Che a deep, lingering look, then bowed lightly to Yuan Huang and the Grand Priest before drifting away into the distance.
Yuan Ying let out a long breath and also walked away on the clouds. But as he departed, his voice came through, seemingly muttering to himself, as if in admiration, “No wonder he managed to make little Caili fall so deeply. Whether this kid is stupid or not is one thing, but he certainly has guts.”
Yuan Huang suddenly spoke lightly, “Tell this emperor, why is it so?”
Even Yuan Huang, who rarely spoke superfluously, seemed to have grown curious about Yun Che’s shockingly bold response.
Yun Che’s posture remained as before, his words clear, neither humble nor arrogant: “I have indeed committed a grave sin. No matter the hidden circumstances or helplessness, they cannot conceal this fact. I deserve this punishment, without regret or resentment.”
“Only by completely enduring this punishment can I truly atone for my crime, be worthy of Yuan Huang’s forgiveness, and win the approval of the world… so that Weaving Dream does not suffer too much shame because of me.”
The people of Weaving Dream were all stunned. Even those Dream Hall masters who had always resented Yun Che for stealing Meng Jianxi’s position felt their eyes blur for an instant.
“Yuan’er,” Meng Kongchan shook his head gently, “Weaving Dream has only owed you… how could it be shame? Your well-being is the greatest blessing to your father and to Weaving Dream.”
Meng Jianxi choked up, and it took him a while before he could speak with difficulty, “Yuan Di, you truly… don’t have to do this…”
The nine Dream Hall masters exchanged glances, their emotions churning chaotically in their eyes and hearts.
Yuan Huang spoke again, “If that’s the case, you could beg this emperor to pardon Caili. Why do you choose to bear double the Wild Devouring Punishment alone?”
Yun Che’s gaze softened, and his voice became gentle, “Caili is the most wonderful woman in the world. She made a mistake because of me. Even if I had to bear ten times the Wild Devouring Punishment, I would never allow her to suffer the slightest pain, nor would I allow her to be criticized by the world… I only ask that this double punishment also atone for Caili’s transgression.”
Hua Fuchen raised his head slightly, and after a long moment, slowly exhaled a breath.
Hua Caili still shook her head. By now, her expression was eerily calm, and her gaze grew increasingly resolute: “Brother Yun, we have walked side by side through life and death. How could I let you bear this alone… Whether it’s the Wild Devouring Punishment or anything else, as long as you are here, I will fear nothing.”
But Yuan Huang’s response mercilessly shattered her resolve.
“Good.” Yuan Huang averted his gaze, his words devoid of emotion, only the indifference of an imperial decree: “Since you have invoked the favor of Lingxian and Liuxiao, this emperor will naturally grant your wish.”
Hua Caili’s expression instantly turned into terror: “Uncle Yuan Huang, no…”
The Grand Priest had already received the order. Without any visible movement, only a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
In an instant, the profound light binding Hua Caili’s body scattered. An irresistible force abruptly pushed her body away—but surprisingly, it did not drive her far. Her fingers were still desperately entwined with Yun Che’s, producing a heart-wrenching sound of breaking bones.
“Uncle Yuan Huang,” tears streaming down her face, she sobbed in supplication, “You’ve always doted on me the most… Please let me accompany him… Uncle Yuan Huang!”
Crack! Crack!
Her jade-like five fingers were twisted out of shape. The sound of breaking bones continued, but she still refused to let go, clinging stubbornly.
The Grand Priest said in a deep voice, “If you do not withdraw, your crime will be increased!”
Hua Qingying’s figure flickered, and she stood beside Hua Caili. Her snow-white hand, cold as jade, reached out and gently grasped their intertwined fingers.
“Caili,” her voice was tender, a tone completely foreign to others, only ever used before Hua Caili, “Since the imperial decree has been issued, it cannot be changed. Do not… spurn his intentions.”
“…” Hua Caili’s expression froze. Her pale jade fingers finally lost all their strength, and Hua Qingying gently separated them from Yun Che’s grasp.
A green shadow moved, and Hua Caili, now limp, was brought by Hua Qingying to Hua Fuchen’s side. A gentle profound aura covered her fingers, healing her injuries.
Over at the Xiaodie Divine Kingdom, Pan Buzhuo sneered softly, “Tch! Talking big! He has no idea how terrifying the Wild Devouring Punishment is. The nicer he sounds now, the uglier he’ll scream later. He’ll be bawling and begging for mercy in the middle of his screams… How ugly that will be to watch.”
He had no enmity with Yun Che. But… Yun Che’s talent in the profound way was unparalleled, he had won the affection of the Heaven-Breaking Divine Maiden, and even his appearance surpassed his own by several points. How could he not feel jealous of such a peer?
And now that someone who had stirred such great jealousy in him was about to endure the Wild Devouring Punishment, the thought of the pain he would soon suffer and the disgrace he would show filled him with an uncontrollable, surging delight.
At that moment, the cruel pronouncement sounded:
“Yun Che, receive your punishment!”
The Grand Priest spread his five fingers. A withered yellow profound light shot out from his palm and transformed into countless hair-thin light needles in midair, covering Yun Che’s entire body.
The moment they touched Yun Che’s body, it was as if countless withered yellow steel needles pierced through his limbs, pores, and bone crevices, straight through skin, flesh, blood, bones, meridians, bone marrow… and deep into his soul.
In an instant, every shred of Yun Che’s consciousness was engulfed by indescribable pain.
Extreme itching, like ten thousand venomous ants gnawing on every inch of his bones… Extreme pain, like ten thousand red-hot poison needles madly stabbing every part of his body…
A torture so cruel that even demigods would rather choose to end their own lives midway—its cruelty multiplied countless times beyond ordinary people’s understanding and imagination of the word “pain.”
It was as if magma was burning his bones… as if venomous vines were corroding his heart… as if red-hot iron was scraping and churning inside his marrow… as if his soul was being pressed onto barbaric rubble and ground, crushed, and torn apart again and again…
Yun Che’s features twisted violently. Every joint in his body spasmed and dislocated in intense convulsions. The veins on his body bulged terrifyingly as they tightened…
Then, the skin and flesh all over his body began to undulate and tremble, as if countless abyssal ticks were crawling and gnawing beneath his skin—every cell in his body was twisting and convulsing in extreme agony.
Almost in an instant, cold sweat had soaked through Yun Che’s outer clothes. As his frantically trembling body splattered it, the sweat fell messily onto the ground of the Eden Cloud Summit, quickly forming a shocking patch of dampness.
Around him, the bodies and souls of the profound practitioners from various divine kingdoms also began to tremble. One by one, they averted their gazes, unable to bear watching any longer.
That too-terrible physical reaction vividly demonstrated the inhuman suffering Yun Che was enduring.
And this kind of pain was to last a full one hundred breaths!
No—the double Wild Devouring Punishment meant he had to endure a full two hundred breaths.
“Brother Yun…” Hua Caili’s cheeks were already wet with tears, her snow-like face as pale as paper. If not for Hua Qingying supporting her, she would have collapsed to the ground the moment the Wild Devouring Punishment was applied to Yun Che. Between her bloodless lips came a heart-wrenching sob.
Meng Kongchan pressed his hand to his heart, barely able to breathe. But he gathered his divine soul, desperately maintaining his composure, and called out again and again, “Yuan’er, hold on… try to listen to my voice… Yuan’er, Yuan’er…”
One breath, two breaths, three breaths… ten breaths!
Even the air seemed to be infected by the trembling of pain. Even the flawless thin clouds were scattered by the sudden cold wind… But people began to notice with astonishment that Yun Che, whose body seemed to be repeatedly flayed in ten thousand layers of purgatory, had not uttered a single sound.
No one noticed that a strange color had appeared in the depths of the Grand Priest’s eyes.
Every time the Wild Devouring Punishment was executed, he was present, and sometimes he carried it out himself.
But never—not even the few Divine Extreme Realm powerhouses—had anyone endured ten breaths without making a sound.
Eleven breaths, twelve breaths… fifteen breaths…
The onlookers’ expressions shifted from initial horror to surprise, and then to a deepening shock and disbelief.
Meng Kongchan forcibly suppressed the pain in his heart and called out in a gentle tone, “Yuan’er, you don’t need to hold back. Shout out if you want to; shouting can slightly alleviate the pain… It’s fine, just let it out, Yuan’er!”
He kept calling, trying to prick and distract Yun Che’s mind and soul, hoping desperately that he wouldn’t collapse spiritually.
Because too many who had undergone the punishment ended their own lives when their souls shattered.
Meng Jianxi kept shouting too: “Yuan Di, no one has ever endured the Wild Devouring so long without screaming. As expected of you. You are not only the pride of Weaving Dream, but across the Abyss, perhaps no one can match you. So you can definitely hold on… Even the double Wild Devouring cannot overcome you!”
Crack! Crack! Crack…
The crisp, piercing sound of bone fractures rang out one after another. The Wild Devouring Punishment does not break the body or bones; these were the sounds of Yun Che snapping his own finger joints.
Shattered bones pierced into the flesh of his palms. Blood mixed with sweat dripped through his fingers onto the ground, then evaporated into white steam carrying the smell of blood, silently dispersing in the air.
Hua Qingying reached out and covered Hua Caili’s eyes: “Caili, don’t look… It will pass soon.”
Hua Caili’s body trembled almost as violently as Yun Che’s. The horrifying torture applied to Yun Che’s body also cut and scraped at her own heart and soul.
But she reached out, trembling and stubbornly moving her aunt’s hand away from her eyes. Her gaze, blurred by a veil of tears, fixed unwaveringly on Yun Che.
“I… want… to… see…” she murmured, each word like a dream. To her, this was the most cruel scene of her life, yet she wanted to imprint every instant completely into her eyes and engrave it into her soul.
Twenty breaths… twenty-five breaths… thirty breaths!
Yun Che’s features were twisted beyond human recognition. Blood foam sprayed continuously from between his tightly clenched teeth, yet still… not even a single groan escaped.
“What astonishing willpower,” Cha Xing muttered to himself in a daze, the shock in his heart accumulating with Yun Che’s silence.
Cha Xing’s voice jolted Xianyue back to reality, making him remember to breathe. He exhaled deeply and sighed sincerely, “If he can survive this tribulation, then this person… we must befriend him no matter what.”
Shen Wuyi suddenly reached out and pressed her hand hard against her heart, her crescent brows tightly furrowing.
What’s going on…
Why does it keep stabbing with pain, impossible to suppress or stop…
Is it an internal injury left from the battle with Dian Jiuzhi…
—
(To be continued)