Hu Le knew that the Xuanmen had made a move, but due to his own limited strength, he couldn't go looking for them.
Moreover, he knew that even if he went to them, they would have countless excuses to avoid him.
As for asking the two teachers to come forward, he never even considered it. After all, those two were at a crucial moment in their breakthrough to the Hunyuan realm, and he would be too embarrassed to disturb them.
Anyway, we'll have plenty of opportunities to deal with each other in the future, and there'll always be a time to get revenge...
He stood in the corridor of the Tongming Hall for a while, then ordered someone to summon Venus.
"Brother, what brings you here this time?" Venus asked.
This wasn't a formal occasion, and there were no outsiders present, so Venus naturally didn't need to address Hu Le as Emperor...
Hu Le then gave a few instructions to Venus, who accepted the order and walked out of the Heavenly Palace.
After a long while, Venus returned to the Tongming Palace and handed a jade bottle to Hu Le.
Hu Le held the jade bottle, reached out and brushed his hand across it, erasing the mark left by the Great Sage Kui Long.
Just as he was about to forcefully activate the restrictions within the treasure, he sensed, in the darkness, the presence of another person within it.
He channeled his divine sense into the source, scanned it, and quickly sensed another primordial spirit imprint hidden within the treasure.
Just as he was about to investigate, the brand suddenly disappeared, apparently because someone had removed it automatically.
"Hmph! You're smart to know your place!"
Hu Le snorted inwardly, withdrew his divine sense, and then forcibly activated the restriction inside the treasure bottle.
The next instant, a figure flew out of the bottle and landed in the hall.
This person is none other than Yuan Zhen, the Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Court who Subdues Demons.
He stepped out of the jade bottle, feeling completely relaxed. He bowed to Hu Le and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving my life."
"You! You are one of the top generals in my Heavenly Court. How could you be so careless as to be captured by a demon and cause my Heavenly Court to suffer a great defeat? Tell me, what crime should you be punished for?" Hu Le sighed and asked, frustrated by his lack of ambition.
The Grand Marshal of Demon Subduing blushed deeply and said with shame, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
"Enough! I should have sent you to the execution platform, but considering your past merits and the fact that my Heavenly Court needs capable people, I will spare your life today..."
Yuan Zhen was, after all, a general promoted by Taiyi. After Hu Le took control of the Heavenly Court, he was very respectful to him. Hu Le was really reluctant to send him to the Execution Platform to be beheaded.
However, in order to demonstrate his authority, Hu Le was not going to let him off easily.
"...However, while you may be spared the death penalty, you will not escape punishment. Today, I will deduct three thousand years' worth of your salary and subject you to one hundred lashes... Do you accept this?"
That's right, the Heavenly Court does offer salaries; otherwise, who would risk their lives for you?
Of course, this salary is not in the form of gold, jade, or precious stones found in the lower realms, but rather in the form of merit.
One wisp of merit is one merit.
A deity of the rank of Grand Marshal of Demon Subduing receives an annual salary of 10,000 merits. After achieving merit, they can receive even more rewards, including various spiritual objects, golden pills, and fine wines and delicacies, in addition to merits.
The Heavenly Court has dedicated personnel to collect various merits, refine them into golden flowers, and then distribute them as stipends...
Yuan Zhen was punished by losing his salary for three thousand years, which is equivalent to thirty million merits, and the thought of it still pained him quite a bit.
As for the hundred lashes, they were equally unpleasant.
The whips used for punishment in Heaven are specially crafted, containing not only the power of thunder, but also causing pain that penetrates to the very bone marrow and soul when they strike.
Below the level of immortals, one cannot even withstand a single lash; a single lash would obliterate one's soul. Even with Yuan Zhen's strength, enduring a hundred lashes would not only cause immense pain, but the injuries inflicted would also be difficult to heal in a short time...
Even so, Yuan Zhen still had to thank Hu Le, because the other man had really gone easy on him.
If Taiyi were in charge of the Heavenly Court, and he suffered such a crushing defeat, even if he didn't die, he would be severely punished, and at the very least, he would lose his official position...
"Your Majesty is merciful..."
Yuan Zhen repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude...
A short while later, the Fire Spirit Officer entered the hall and escorted Yuan Zhen to be punished.
Hu Le and his group left Tongming Hall, casually tossing the jade bottle to Taibai Jinxing.
"This treasure is quite good, I'll give it to you."
Although this jade bottle is not an innate object, it was made by a future sage.
He himself was not lacking in magical treasures, and recalling how Venus had served him faithfully over the years, he gave this treasure to him as a reward.
"Then I thank you very much for your generous gift, elder brother!"
Venus, holding the jade bottle, bowed deeply as a gesture of thanks...
Just as Hu Le was about to wave Taibai Jinxing away, a celestial general came in to report that Marshal Tianhe was outside requesting an audience.
Hu Le ordered someone to summon Marshal Tianhe.
Soon, Marshal Tianhe floated in.
The reason for using "floating" to describe it is simply because Marshal Tianhe is in this state at this moment.
Previously, Ji Meng had struck him down from the sky with a single palm strike, sending him crashing into the Earth's core.
Not only was his physical body not preserved, but his primordial spirit was also shattered. Now, only a broken primordial spirit wrapped around his soul remains, and he can only float into the hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Marshal Tianhe's primordial spirit was somewhat illusory, and his voice was also elusive.
Seeing Marshal Tianhe's current state, Hu Le couldn't bring himself to say anything about punishing him.
He sighed, "Alas! I never imagined that my beloved minister would be so badly injured. That fiend is truly despicable!"
"Your Majesty, I have suffered a defeat and disgraced the Heavenly Court. I beg Your Majesty for punishment!" Marshal Tianhe pleaded guilty.
Upon hearing this, Hu Le waved his hand and said, "Enough! Although you have lost, you have done your best for the Heavenly Court. Now that you have fallen to such a state, how can I bear to punish you..."
Then, he ordered someone to bring him a Creation Golden Pill and allowed him to soak in the Immortal Transformation Pool for some time.
This Immortal Transformation Pool was a treasure personally crafted by the first Heavenly Emperor, Cangli, when he established the Heavenly Court and received great fortune from the Heavenly Dao. It can be said to be the foundation of the Heavenly Court.
Most of the heavenly soldiers and generals came from this Immortal Transformation Pool.
Even the souls of mortal beings can acquire a celestial body after soaking in this Immortal Transformation Pool for some time and absorbing its spiritual energy.
The longer it soaks, the more spiritual energy it absorbs, and the higher the quality of its physical body's foundation.
Of course, the Immortal Transformation Pool also has its limits. The highest physical body it can create is only a divine body, which is far inferior to the divine body that is naturally formed.
Furthermore, the spiritual energy within this Immortal Transformation Pool is entirely derived from the primordial energy of heaven and earth. After each use, it requires a certain amount of time to absorb primordial energy and replenish its spiritual energy...
As for that Creation Golden Pill, it was of course extremely precious, and was specially given to Marshal Tianhe to nourish his soul and reforge his primordial spirit...
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