Chapter 820: Punishment
Chapter 820: Chapter 820: Punishment
In the blink of an eye, two months had quietly passed.
Bathed in a beam of light, Fang Lin, who had been silently cultivating atop a desolate mountain, was directly taken away from the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area.
The time to leave had arrived.
It was not just Fang Lin; the other Hall Master Descendants, still in the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area, were all transported out by the guiding light, returning to their respective Halls.
Even if some were unwilling and wanted to stay longer in the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area, it was impossible; the time had come, and no matter their reluctance, they were all carried away by the guiding light.
Only one person was the exception.
That was the young man in white.
Because he belonged to no Hall and had awoken within the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area, no guiding light fell upon him.
Normally, he would have been left inside the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area.
However, another ray of light descended and took the young man in white away.
…
Within North Town Hall, Fang Lin’s figure appeared inside an array; Ye Mengxian and several North Town Hall Elders had been waiting for a long time.
“You’re back,” said Ye Mengxian, her expression carrying a mix of complexity and helplessness.
Not just her, the other Elders also had strange expressions on their faces.
Fang Lin stepped out of the array and immediately noticed something odd about Ye Mengxian and the others. He asked, “Do Master and the Elders not welcome my return?”
Ye Mengxian shook her head. “That’s not it. It’s just that what you did inside the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area was a bit too much, and our North Town Hall is now facing a lot of pressure because of it.”
Fang Lin was taken aback for a moment, then he understood Ye Mengxian’s meaning. He touched his nose, embarrassed, and said, “Now that I’ve already grabbed them, should I return those items?”
Ye Mengxian couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Of course, there’s no need to return them. It’s just that the fury of those ten or so Hall Masters still needs to be calmed.”
“It seems Master already has a plan. The disciple is then at ease,” said Fang Lin as he bowed with his hands clasped.
Ye Mengxian’s lips curved into a meaningful smile. “There is a plan indeed, but it will require you to suffer a bit.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin’s face immediately turned sour. “Master, I’ve just returned from the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area and have already gone through much hardship. Must I endure more suffering? Isn’t that asking for my life?”
The North Town Hall Elders spoke up irritably. “If you hadn’t been so reckless, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Do you know that those Hall Masters even threatened to attack North Town Hall a few days ago?”
Hearing this, Fang Lin felt a headache coming on. He hadn’t expected his actions to have such severe consequences.
At the time, Fang Lin had considered that stealing the Nine Palace Bags from those Hall Master Descendants might cause trouble, but he thought that, given the status of these Hall Masters, they wouldn’t target him personally. Even if there were troubles, with Master Ye Mengxian, the Hall Master, to shield him, it wouldn’t affect him.
Now it seemed that Fang Lin still knew too little about the thirty-two Halls. This was an opportunity, an opportunity to target North Town Hall, and how could those ten or so Hall Masters let it pass?
“Now there’s already a method for dealing with you. You will be sent into the Abyss Pill Well and detained for a hundred days before being released,” Ye Mengxian announced.
Upon hearing Ye Mengxian mention the Abyss Pill Well, the several North Town Hall Elders all showed concern on their faces.
“The Abyss Pill Well? What is that place? Is it dangerous?” asked Fang Lin.
Ye Mengxian said, “It’s a dangerous place where Earth Qi often gushes out. For Pill Refiners with insufficient Martial Arts strength, entering the Abyss Pill Well is very dangerous. But for you, staying there for a hundred days shouldn’t be a problem.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin’s worries dissipated. If it was just a perilous place where Earth Qi gushed out, he indeed would not be in any danger.
“However, the Abyss Pill Well you’re going to this time is quite special. Several Pill Refiners have been locked in there before, and they mysteriously disappeared,” Ye Mengxian’s tone shifted as he spoke.
“Mysteriously disappeared?” Fang Lin furrowed his brows.
Ye Mengxian gave Fang Lin a glance and continued, “Indeed, mysteriously disappeared. There’s nothing unusual beneath the Abyss Pill Well, but those Pill Refiners left no trace at all, as if they had evaporated from this world, and to this day, there’s no clue or lead.”
After a pause, Ye Mengxian added, “However, such incidents have only occurred three times. Maybe you’ll be lucky and won’t encounter such misfortune, and you’ll be able to come out of the Abyss Pill Well unscathed.”
Fang Lin, with a grimace, said, “Can’t I just not go in?”
Ye Mengxian sighed and shook his head, “This is already the lightest punishment for you. Although you can do anything within the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area, these ten-odd Hall Masters have joined hands to deal with you. Even if I sought help from the Elder, this is all I could do for you.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin knew he had to go to the Abyss Pill Well.
Though the mysterious disappearances were somewhat frightening, Fang Lin believed his luck couldn’t be that bad. If he honestly stayed for a hundred days, everything would be fine once he came out.
“You’re not going to make me go now, are you?” said Fang Lin.
“At most ten days. After ten days, you will be escorted into the Abyss Pill Well,” Ye Mengxian replied.
Fang Lin nodded. Ten days were just enough time to rest and prepare.
“By the way, Master, here are the bones of Qin Yu. Please have someone send them back,” Fang Lin said, handing over the wooden box containing Qin Yu’s remains to Ye Mengxian.
“Hmm,” Ye Mengxian nodded.
…
Upon returning to his residence, many Pill Refiners came to visit Fang Lin, but he refused to meet any of them, turning them all away.
With a wave of his hand, he released Dugu Nian from the Supreme Saint Hall. The poor girl had only come out for air in the last two months in the Ancient Alchemy Prohibited Area, having been thoroughly bored.
Fang Lin informed Dugu Nian of his impending imprisonment in the Abyss Pill Well.
After listening, Dugu Nian glanced at Fang Lin and laughed, “You can only blame your rash actions for this. Seems like punishment is finally coming your way, huh?”
Fang Lin gave a wry smile, “And here you are making light of the situation. What if I disappear in the Abyss Pill Well? Let’s see if you won’t be worried then.”
Dugu Nian’s smile faded, and she looked concerned.
“Otherwise, let’s think of something else, not go to the Abyss Pill Well,” Dugu Nian suggested. She didn’t want Fang Lin to truly vanish in the Abyss Pill Well.
Fang Lin shook his head, “If there was another way, Master Ye would’ve considered it. This is several Hall Masters targeting me together. I must accept my fate, unless I sneak away from North Town Hall. But then, I’d be on the Pill Alliance’s blacklist.”
“Once I’m in the Abyss Pill Well, you stay in North Town Hall and wait for my return,” Fang Lin said to Dugu Nian, looking very relaxed without much worry.
Dugu Nian wanted to accompany Fang Lin, but this time he absolutely refused, insisting that she stay at North Town Hall.
Helpless, Dugu Nian had to obey.
On the tenth day, the people who were to escort Fang Lin arrived.