Sushang took a deep breath, looked directly at Li Fan, and said slowly:
"I am willing to help senior resolve the crisis, but…"
Li Fan waved his hand, cutting her off:
"It doesn't matter. Just tell me the information about the second clone; I'll handle it myself."
"Hmph. You humans are not qualified to act in the struggles between us."
After all, he was also a dignified Dao Integration Immortal, yet had been bested by Li Fan, a junior.
But Xuan Sushang was not angry. Compared to the ancient Tianxuan Mirror, humans were indeed inferior by countless generations. There was nothing wrong in acknowledging that.
On the contrary, since Li Fan only required information without her taking action, Xuan Sushang felt relieved.
After a moment of thought, she transmitted the relevant information to Li Fan through her spiritual consciousness.
After a while, she silently thought:
"Father, please forgive me."
Li Fan, having learned the location of Tianxuan Mirror's human clone, did not act hastily.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Lu Xichan, who had lowered her head in silence, his expression darkening.
Lu Xichan noticed his gaze and grew increasingly uneasy.
"Immortal Ancestor…" she finally whispered, summoning the courage to speak.
"Xichan, you really disappoint me," Li Fan's voice reached her ears, causing her body to tremble slightly.
"Two hundred and eighty-six years have passed since I officially passed the position of Chief of the Celestial Formation Hall to you. After all these years, your formation level is still like this…"
"Immortal Ancestor, I…" Lu Xichan felt a pang of grievance.
After taking over as chief, she had only a few supportive elders. Most waited and watched, and many even sought her replacement.
Danger was everywhere, each step a trial.
Fortunately, after years of mediation and careful checks, she finally held firm.
The chief of the Xianmeng Celestial Formation Hall bore an immense workload.
She had to handle reports from various state formation halls, participate in monthly meetings discussing the operation of the Immortal Alliance, and more.
In the past two hundred years, except for a previous leak of the protective formation, the Cezhen Hall had no mistakes.
She had made many contributions, a result of her exhaustive effort.
Yet her formation level had stagnated—no major breakthrough had been achieved.
…
Lu Xichan opened her mouth to explain herself but was interrupted:
"I know what you are thinking," Li Fan said coldly, "but only the weak make excuses. A truly strong person never gives up the pursuit of the Dao, even when constantly facing life and death!"
He continued in a deep voice:
"Ask yourself—have you truly tried your best?!"
"I…" Lu Xichan was left speechless.
Li Fan's tone hardened further:
"If you don't want to progress, you will indulge in women…"
He glanced at Xuan Sushang.
Xuan Sushang's cheeks flushed as her head sank deeper.
Li Fan's gaze returned to Lu Xichan:
"You should be punished!"
Suddenly, a long whip of pure soul energy appeared in his hand.
"Kneel down!" he commanded angrily.
Lu Xichan, now a Dao Integration cultivator and chief of the Immortal Alliance Formation Hall, felt arrogance rise in her heart. She lifted her head, ready to protest—but met Li Fan's cold, ruthless eyes.
Instantly, countless childhood memories surged back—days of fear when she had been scolded by her Immortal Ancestor.
Her legs went weak. She instinctively bent her knees, kneeling on the cold ground.
The fear subsided, replaced by a strange fire of resistance—but before it could grow, she saw the golden whip swinging down.
"Don't hide!"
Her subconscious defense was cut off by Li Fan's dark voice.
Lu Xichan could only watch as the divine golden whip struck her divine soul.
It hit the area where her soul's defensive restrictions had been previously washed away.
Pain like countless steel needles pierced through her body and brain. Her consciousness filled with agony.
Her body stiffened, fell to the ground, and twitched uncontrollably.
No words escaped—only intermittent whimpers.
Her body curled, and it took half a cup of tea's time before the pain slowly subsided.
Lu Xichan, regaining some consciousness, attempted to plead for mercy.
Li Fan showed no leniency, striking again with his soul whip.
She was pulled back into torment.
Tears streamed down her face, her noble composure shattered.
Seeing Lu Xichan's small cries, Xuan Sushang, who had lowered her head, secretly glanced over, a strange color in her eyes.
Li Fan ignored her.
When Lu Xichan calmed slightly, he swung the golden whip again.
This time, she no longer howled—only instinctive sobs and pleas:
"Immortal Ancestor, Chan'er knows she was wrong…Please spare my life…"
Her mournful screams echoed in the wooden hall.
Li Fan's face remained as cold as an eternal iceberg, while Xuan Sushang's cheeks flushed and her eyes blurred.
There was no fourth strike.
After finishing, Li Fan held the whip behind his back and waited for Lu Xichan to regain full consciousness.
The punishment left Xuan Sushang slightly fearful; she dared not move, waiting in place.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Xichan finally awoke from her mental blankness.
Lying on the ground, she saw Li Fan standing imposingly.
Her heart trembled instinctively.
Struggling to rise, she tidied her appearance, then bowed repeatedly:
"Thank you, Immortal Ancestor, for the punishment."
"Get up," Li Fan responded lightly.
Lu Xichan almost fell again. Xuan Sushang quickly stepped forward to help.
Li Fan's words cut sharply:
"The Dao has no bounds; you will never stop pursuing it until death. These three strikes are my punishment for your slackness. The way of formation is like sailing against the current—if you don't advance, you will retreat. From now on, stay in this bamboo sea. Concentrate on studying formations; do not leave unless necessary!"