CHAPTER 453: CHAPTER 453 : 99 LIGHTNING STRIKES

Although he was currently inhabiting the frail frame of a five-year-old, Zhang Fengxi couldn’t fully disguise the spirit of the supreme general.

Despite his stripped cultivation, his posture and every movement retained the quiet power of a warrior who had conquered countless battlefields.

"Zhang Fengxi greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty’s reign last for ten thousands of years," Zhang Fengxi said once he fell on his knees.

A flicker of amusement danced across Xie Jianshen’s eyes as he met Zhang Fengxi’s gaze. Of all his celestial subjects, Fengxi was the one who carried himself with the least deference.

Their prior exchanges, both before and after the tragic demise of Xie Jianyu, had forged an unspoken understanding that transcended the usual bow of subservience.

So what made the supreme general willing to grovel before his liege lord, now?

"It is always flattering to have a subject come and ask for a punishment," Xie Jianshen sneered at the tiny alpha before him. "I have always wanted to punish you, one way or another."

Zhang Fengxi raised his head and scoffed.

"Well, today, I shall grant you the wish. Of course, I do not do it for free."

Zhang Fengxi rolled his sleeves and showed Xie Jianshen the marks left by the Binding Seal Of Heaven.

"I want this seal to be lifted off me. And I want my sons to recover from the backlash by the end of my punishment."

Xie Jianshen arched a brow at Zhang Fengxi.

"Are you torturing yourself just because you want to go back to the Human Realm?"

"No. I am doing it because I want to pay for all of my and their transgressions. Additionally, I need to be in my adult form if I have to protect my babies from harm."

Xie Jianshen leaned on his throne and pinned Zhang Fengxi with a stare.

"Most certainly, a midget does not serve well as a supreme general," he remarked after a while.

"Do we have a deal, then?" Zhang Fengxi stared back at the ruler of the entire Heavenly Realm.

Xie Jianshen’s lips were twisted into a cruel smirk.

"Well, you better not regret it, then."

"I don’t. I won’t."

"Good. Guards!"

Two guards standing outside of the audience hall marched in on cue, ready to serve the Heavenly Emperor.

"Supreme General Zhang Fengxi has committed several counts of transgressions in the Human Realm. I herewith sentence him to 99 Lightning Strikes. Drag him to the Platform Of Penitence to receive his punishment."

The guards turned ashen at once.

The Supreme General posed the highest authority within the Heavenly Empire’s military. Naturally, he was also in charge of all palace guards.

"No need to drag me," the tiny Supreme General said. "I can walk on my own."

The Platform of Penitence was located at the highest peak of the Human Realm, the Sky-Piercing Fangs.

The peak was named after the five fang-like stone pillars that extended from the Human Realm toward the Heavenly Realm.

Back in the days of its conception, a stone platform stretched between the five sturdy fangs.

And yet, after multiple gods and deities served their punishments for the past thousand years, the platform crumbled into nothing, leaving only the thick iron chains hanging menacingly from each fang.

Zhang Fengxi went through this punishment once in his past life. It was when he defied the law of nature and tried to bring Liu Wenyuan back from the realm of the dead.

He was found out rather quickly, thus he was punished with 9 Lightning Strikes only.

9 Lightning Strikes in his adult body, and he had to recuperate in Longjing Palace for two months.

Just what would 99 Lightning Strikes do to the body of a little boy?

Zhang Fengxi was afraid to think about it.

"Hey, Zhang Fengxi!"

Zhang Fengxi raised his head and looked at Jiang Muchen, who was approaching the non-existent platform with his spiritual lion.

"Have you gone completely insane?" He snapped. "99 Lightning Strikes in that body? Can you even survive one???"

Zhang Fengxi chuckled.

"If I die, you can finally take my boys away. Shouldn’t you be happy?"

It would be a lie to say that Jiang Muchen did not entertain the thought at all. Jiang Muchen had always wanted to get his hands on Zhang Mingrui and Xie Junjie.

On the other hand, there was a very good reason why he and his mother had yet to steal them away from under Zhang Fengxi’s nose.

The Fire Guardian snapped at him without skipping a beat, "Are you out of your mind? Little Uncle is going to disown me if I dare to do that! I am just going to protect them without raising them!"

Zhang Fengxi almost burst into laughter.

Jianbao, oh, Jianbao, he thought to himself. What can I do without you? Even when you are asleep, you are still the strongest fortress that protects our babies from harm.

"Did the Heavenly Emperor send you here to oversee my punishment?" Zhang Fengxi asked.

One of the guardians of the five elements was usually in charge of overseeing this level of punishment.

"Yes. But it is not too late to step back," Jiang Muchen pointed out. "I can take you back to Longjing Palace."

Zhang Fengxi shook his head.

"I have to do this."

"Stubborn guy," Jiang Muchen muttered under his breath.

"Count well," Zhang Fengxi said. "I am not taking more than 99 Lightning Strikes."

Chains, taut as harp strings between five stone pillars, yanked Zhang Fengxi into the air. A choked groan escaped his lips as his tiny body strained against the cold metal bites.

Facing the sky, Zhang Fengxi blinked and said, "You can begin."

Jiang Muchen raised his hand hesitantly. Menacing rumbles tore through the sky, whipping the clouds into a swirling vortex. Jagged bolts of lightning danced dangerously overhead, sparking and sizzling with the promise of imminent punishment.

Zhang Fengxi closed his eyes in resignation.

The first thunderbolt shot downward like a vicious serpent, stabbing Zhang Fengxi in the gut. Zhang Fengxi’s eyes flew open and a blood-curdling scream tore through his lips.

"AAAAAAARGHHHHHHH!!!"

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Author’s note :

Before any reader claims that this is child abuse!

Please remember that Zhang Fengxi is and remains an adult.

Also, he is a heavenly creature. He doesn’t get burned or sizzled by the lightning strikes the way human beings do.

He will sustain injuries, but the lesson this punishment seeks to teach is through the pain.

Heavenly body or not, the pain of being struck by lightning bolts is the same for everyone.

Fengxi : This is still abuse... Animal abuse...

Author : Did you not offer to get punished? 乁⁠(⁠ ⁠•⁠_⁠•⁠ ⁠)⁠ㄏ

Fengxi : You. Wrote. This. Chapter!

Author : ⁄⁠(⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠)⁠⁄ Ah. Now that you say it, it is a little embarrassing hehe...

Fengxi : ... Someone, dearest readers, do beat the Author up for me.