Children Should Not Be Spoiled

The rumors of the Chongming Immortal Clan being enslaved by Emperor Heavenly Tribulation intensified, and quite a few eyewitnesses even stepped forward to testify.

Some of the enslaved Chongming clansmen also went out to spread the word, confirming the rumors.

The story of Emperor Heavenly Tribulation holding a ten-thousand-zhang starry abyss in one hand and being invincible in the world circulated widely.

Some skeptics even ran to the Chongming Immortal Clan's territory to see for themselves, only to be greatly shocked.

The entire territory of the Chongming Immortal Clan had been destroyed. It looked as if it had suffered a magnitude-ten earthquake, with broken walls and ruins everywhere.

However, some of the enslaved Chongming clansmen had already begun rebuilding.

Moreover, the Chongming banners that once hung high above the Nine Heavens had been replaced with banners bearing the character Gu. The entire Chongming Immortal Clan was now surnamed Gu.

At this point, no one doubted the authenticity of the news anymore.

For a time, Emperor Heavenly Tribulation's reputation soared, echoing throughout the Sixth Star Ruin, his limelight unmatched.

Furthermore, Gu Qingfeng released news that he was reopening his tribulation-crossing business. Regardless of gender, age, or cultivation level, as long as they were sincere, anyone could come to cross their tribulation.

He did not value wealth; he only cared about sincerity.

The criterion for judging sincerity was also very simple: if a person was not even willing to part with their entire net worth, how could their heart be sincere?

Unfortunately, several days after the news was released, not a single person came to cross their tribulation, which made Gu Qingfeng extremely depressed.

Inside a grand hall of the Chongming Immortal Clan.

Gu Wuyou knelt on the ground in fear and trepidation, while Gu Qingfeng sat high in the seat of honor. Beside him, Immortal Empress Xihe obediently fed him Jade Cloud Immortal Fruits—a type of emerald-green, grape-like immortal fruit that could increase magical power and strengthen the physique when eaten.

"My son Wuyou, as your father, I am very disappointed in you," Gu Qingfeng sighed.

Gu Wuyou instantly shuddered all over and hurriedly explained, "Lord Adoptive Father, your child has not slacked off in the slightest these past few days. I completely followed your instructions and spread the news throughout the entire Sixth Star Ruin. Even for those ascetic cultivators far away at the edge of the starry sky, your child kicked down their doors to inform them of the news. Several cultivators even died from qi deviation because of this."

"Then why hasn't a single person come to cross their tribulation?"

"Perhaps... they are afraid of your prestigious name, Adoptive Father..."

"Insolent! This Emperor has always been kind to others, forming good karma far and wide, and has quite a good reputation in the Star Ruin. How could I possibly make people too afraid to come? The way this Emperor sees it, there are clearly wicked people obstructing things from the shadows. They do not want everyone in the world to be able to cross their tribulations. It must be those useless fools occupying high positions! They are trying to block the path of upward mobility, forever occupying the top, enjoying the world's resources, and making everyone work for them!"

"Lord Adoptive Father, your child has actually heard some rumors recently..."

"Speak quickly."

"Yes, Lord Adoptive Father. Your child heard that the other Immortal King factions are secretly spreading rumors, saying that you... saying that you..." Gu Wuyou stammered, hesitating to speak.

Gu Qingfeng glared and said coldly, "What did they say?"

"Your child dares not say."

"Speak boldly, this Emperor pardons you of any crime."

Gu Wuyou swallowed hard and hesitated before saying, "They say that you, Adoptive Father, are nothing but a jumping clown, a despicable villain who only dared to attack because the Chongming Immortal King was away. Once the Chongming Immortal King returns, you will flee in disgrace like a rat in a stinking gutter. That is why those people don't dare to come to you to cross their tribulations. They are afraid of being purged after the Immortal King returns."

"What!"

Gu Qingfeng flew into a rage and suddenly stood up from his chair.

Caught off guard, the fruit platter held by Immortal Empress Xihe was knocked away, and various precious and exotic fruits scattered all over the floor.

Immortal Empress Xihe cried out in surprise and hastily bent down to pick them up.

Gu Wuyou was frightened into shivering and hurriedly said, "Please calm your anger, Lord Adoptive Father! These were not your child's words. It is all those Immortal King factions. They are jealous of you and afraid of you, which is why they framed you like this. In your child's eyes, Adoptive Father is absolutely the number one great hero in this world! Adoptive Father, please calm down. It would be bad if you ruined your health from anger."

"These petty scoundrels actually dare to slander this Emperor behind my back like this. Heh, so what if they are Immortal Kings? Even if the Five Great Immortal Kings joined forces, this Emperor would still be invincible in this world!"

"That's right, Lord Adoptive Father. Your magical power is boundless, universally respected in the cosmos, and invincible in the world!" Gu Wuyou hurriedly flattered.

"Men!" Gu Qingfeng shouted loudly.

Soon, two enslaved Chongming clansmen entered the palace. Both of them were Great Luo Golden Immortals, chosen by Gu Qingfeng to be his guards.

"Greetings, Emperor Lord."

"Mm." Gu Qingfeng nodded, then pointed at Gu Wuyou and said, "Drag this kid away and throw him into the Infernal Heavy Prison. Do not release him until he breaks through to the Great Luo realm."

"Yes, Emperor Lord." The two guards exchanged a glance, a hint of joy flashing in both their eyes.

These past few days, Gu Wuyou had done nothing but exploit his master's power, ordering them around arrogantly. Coupled with his identity as a traitor, this led to many people hating Gu Wuyou—no fewer than those who hated Gu Qingfeng. Seeing Gu Wuyou about to be imprisoned now, they were naturally happy.

Gu Wuyou turned pale with fright and hastily asked, "Adoptive Father, what is the meaning of this?"

"What do you think?" Gu Qingfeng said indifferently.

Gu Wuyou cursed inwardly, Damn you, Old Devil Gu! You go back on your word. You told me to speak, and after I finished, you still arrested me and threw me in prison. You will die a horrible death!

"Lord Adoptive Father, those words just now were not said by your child, but by those Immortal King factions. Besides, didn't you pardon me of any crime before I spoke?"

Gu Qingfeng nodded calmly, "This Emperor knows you didn't say them."

"Then why did you..."

"This Emperor just feels that when you repeated those words, you more or less carried some personal emotion."

Gu Wuyou froze, then cried out his innocence, "Your child's devotion to Adoptive Father can be witnessed by heaven and earth, with the sun and moon as proof! How could I carry personal emotion? Even if there was emotion, it was anger—anger that they insulted Adoptive Father."

"Oh? So you're saying you think this Emperor's judgment was wrong?"

"Uh... this..." Bead-sized drops of sweat emerged on Gu Wuyou's forehead. Answering yes was wrong, and answering no was also wrong.

"Enough, drag him away."

And so, Gu Wuyou was dragged away just like that and thrown into the Infernal Heavy Prison.

The Infernal Heavy Prison was a prison specially used by the Chongming Immortal Clan to lock up criminals. The gravity inside was much stronger than the outside world, and lightning punishments would fall from time to time.

Under normal circumstances, criminals thrown into it would have their cultivation crippled, enduring the burden of heavy gravity and the pain of lightning punishments day and night. However, if their cultivation was not crippled, the Infernal Heavy Prison could be considered a treasured land for cultivation.

Whether it was the gravity or the lightning punishments, both could temper the body and purify magical power. Cultivating with their aid yielded twice the result with half the effort, though it just required enduring a tiny, insignificant bit of pain.

Gu Qingfeng believed that since Gu Wuyou was his adopted son, he must have inherited his fine traditions. How could he possibly be unable to endure this little bit of hardship?

Besides, only by enduring the bitterest of hardships can one rise above others. A child cannot be spoiled.