Watching Qin Feng's smug expression, Chen Xi Shuai really wanted to give him a solid slap. How dare you be so bold! He wasn't the only one thinking that—Qingya shared the same sentiment. In the Heavenly Realm, Huangtian Emperor was undoubtedly one of the most revered figures. He was gentle and unpretentious, and even the officials of the Heavenly Palace who received salaries from the Jade Emperor held him in the highest esteem. Qin Shao chuckled, saying, "Actually, this is no choice at all. Think about it—already I've clashed with Ju Ling Shen and the people of Pan Gu Realm. If I don't quickly find a patron, I'll surely be crushed under their pressure. I'm telling you both—can't you just look at me with a different eye? We're allies, aren't we? Don't make me feel like your enemy!" Qingya scoffed, "Once Huangtian Emperor's people arrive, see how you'll explain yourself." Honestly, Brother just pulls out Huangtian's hammer—what's there to explain? Well, let's just shift the topic. He asked, "What's the third part of our evaluation?" Chen Xi's expression grew increasingly grave, and Qingya also seemed a bit off. "Seriously, what is it?" he repeated, as if you two were trying to drive me crazy. Xi, with a determined look, swallowed hard and said with some irritation, "Within ten days, hunt down and kill one five-level beast..." "Five-level?" he exclaimed, eyes wide open. "I can easily handle seven-level beasts—what's so special about five-level ones?" Qingya rolled her eyes and replied, "Actually, when you completed the first evaluation, you already fulfilled the third one. And just now, in front of everyone, you demonstrated the corpse of a seven-level beast—so you've already passed. The only unfortunate ones are us two, who have to go out and hunt down five-level beasts and fight them to the death—what a pity." He spoke with a sense of noble purpose, "I'll help you." "The rare commander glanced at him." "Thank you. This assessment, like the first one, must be completed entirely on your own—no assistance from anyone else allowed. Otherwise, it will be considered cheating." Qin Shao spread his hands. "Then I'm sorry, I won't be able to help you. But please rest assured—I'm not going to sit idle. That giant boy has already cleared the eighth rank. I'm going to take on a beast myself to prove I'm not behind him." The female inspector murmured, "Isn't that redundant? Even if the giant defeats the market's fierce beasts, what's the point? He's already fallen at your hands—proving you're stronger from the start. What more do you need to prove?" "It's not the same," he chuckled. "The point is, I can't afford to be idle. What if I develop some issue just from being idle?" Thus, the three parted ways. Since he could cheat with his divine artifacts and no one was paying attention, he confidently employed the Stellar Shuttle and flew straight to the heart of the dense forest—the area where senior, high-level beasts were most active. It was said that a beast of level ten possessed combat power comparable to a mid-tier immortal cultivator. He longed to encounter such a beast and test his own abilities, thereby gauging the gap between himself and a mid-tier immortal cultivator, and thus estimating the strength of Ju Ling Shen, an upper-tier immortal cultivator. At this moment, the large, sturdy man was kneeling before Taota Tian Wang, trembling like a quail. Li Jing, his face flushed with anger, barked out, "You this guy—when you haven't brought me any trouble in three days, you start feeling restless, don't you? Just a few days ago, officials from the Imperial Stables came to me complaining about your mistreatment of the horses, which I had to settle. Today, you've even managed to disgrace yourself by bullying a cultivator who has just achieved transcendence—someone even a descendant of the Huangtian Emperor! Are you trying to make yourself die?" "The big guy hurriedly bowed and said, 'General, I'm sorry. I didn't know he was the heir of the Emperor of the Heavens. Besides, we've already agreed that we'd meet on the battlefield three months from now...' 'Hold your tongue!' Li Jing stood up, raised the tower in his hands, and slammed it onto his head. 'What rank and status do you hold, yet you dare to face someone who has just ascended to the heavens—do you really think you're treating him with respect?' Jugling God explained, 'The timing was set by the other party. I just...' 'Nonsense!' Li Jing scoffed. 'He's a newcomer, full of confidence and courage—unaware of the intricacies of the heavenly court. That's understandable. As for you, when the other side makes demands, you simply agree. What will people think of us in the future? He's the heir of the Emperor of the Heavens. If you defeat him, aren't you defacing the Emperor's honor? Honestly, just now in the heavenly court, the Jade Emperor scolded me severely, saying I'm failing in my duties—blaming it all on you!' "Li Jing grew more and more furious: 'How can I bear this rogue among my companions? If it weren't for you constantly bringing me trouble, I'd have lived for several thousand more years! Why are you still kneeling there? Go and accept your punishment!' Ju Ling Shen thought, 'You haven't even asked me to rise—I must remain kneeling. Wait—what kind of punishment is this?' Tojia Tian Wang was in a rage and barked, 'Bring this presumptuous fellow out here and whip him with three hundred military lashes!' 'Three... three hundred,' Ju Ling Shen blinked, stunned—three hundred lashes would surely split his backside open. The heavenly military lashes were no ordinary ones; they were metal-wrapped sticks capable of delivering thousands of catties of force. Even sturdy soldiers had to grit their teeth to endure thirty lashes, which was already a great feat. 'Do you find that insufficient?' Tojia Tian Wang asked. 'Then have him whipped with five hundred!' Li Jing narrowed his eyes: "Today, whether the three hundred lashes can silence the Jade Emperor and the other ministers is another matter entirely. If the Jade Emperor decides to reprimand you, that will be something far beyond just a few lashes." The big, slow-witted man's face drooped: "Thank you, General, for your kindness..." What kind of situation is this? Getting hit and still having to thank someone? Is today truly my year of bad luck? Just a few days ago, while riding out for a morning gallop, my horse stumbled and trampled on the flowers and plants in the imperial garden—complained about by the attendants. Then, in a bad mood, I gave the royal steed two lashes, hoping to make it more attentive. But the staff of the Imperial Stables accused me of mistreating animals. With these two unfortunate incidents still fresh, I've now drawn the attention of the Jade Emperor's heir—and lost my nephew's life. I haven't even figured out how to explain this all to my elder brother yet. Now, here I go, facing another three hundred military lashes. He lay flat on the stone slab in front of the Marshal's office, and when the first blow landed on his buttocks, he suddenly realized a more serious issue—recovering from three hundred lashes wouldn't be something that could be accomplished in just a day or two. What if it affected the match scheduled three months later? Who would he go to complain to? "Wait a minute... Oh my!" "General Ju Ling, just bear with it a bit. Once we start striking, we won't stop until we've delivered exactly three hundred lashes—this is our rule, and you should know it well. So please stay silent and endure it with your teeth clenched." "Good heavens! I have something very important to report to the Marshal!" "That can wait until after the lashes are finished—of course, only if you survive the three hundred and still have the strength to speak. Then, by all means, you may share your thoughts with the Marshal at length." Hmm. After enduring all this, what would I have to say to the Marshal?