Chapter 2457 - 2457: What Is Heavenly Retribution

The ominous clouds covered the sky, and suddenly a cold wind arose between heaven and earth, swirling endlessly within the valley. The trees covering the mountain shivered in fear under the cold wind, as if surrendering to its might.

The cold wind swept through everything, as if the entire valley was obscured by the ominous clouds. Underneath these clouds, despite standing with the Minghong Knife's scabbard in hand, the Divine Clan corpse seemed a bit panicked at this moment. He looked up at the clouds in the sky, standing there dazedly, not knowing what he was thinking, but he didn't attack the Knife Saint once again.

Upon seeing the ominous clouds and the cold wind, Wanyan Hongfeng's expression changed suddenly. He looked at the Knife Saint in shock and said in a deep voice, "Is this... is this divine punishment?"

"Ha ha ha..." The Knife Saint laughed loudly, "You have a good eye, being able to recognize divine punishment!"

Wanyan Hongfeng naturally recognized it. Several people in the Wanyan Family had suffered divine punishment before. His father had once faced divine punishment as well, and he personally witnessed its arrival. However, the situation back then was different from now. Divine punishment was indeed triggered by supreme peak power, but upon using such power, it doesn't immediately bring divine punishment; there would be two choices. As Ye Qing had known before, there are two outcomes of provoking divine punishment: either disappear mysteriously or die an unnatural death. In between, there is a time to choose, whether to disappear mysteriously or die an unnatural death.

Members of the Wanyan Family belonged to those who could sacrifice their lives for the family, so despite provoking divine punishment, they never chose to disappear mysteriously but decided to endure it. As a result, many from the Wanyan Family died due to divine punishment, including Wanyan Hongfeng's father.

The so-called dying an unnatural death is just rumors among people. Wanyan Hongfeng knew very well that the so-called dying an unnatural death was merely a divine thunder striking the person down. Despite the Wanyan Family's thousand-year accumulation, while not knowing much about the histories of the Divine Clan, they knew that the world did not possess such excessively fantastical things. So-called gods are merely people. Therefore, he didn't believe that the so-called heavenly thunder was truly the force of the heavens; it must be the result of human manipulation, although they had never known who controlled the divine thunder.

Seeing the ominous clouds covering the sky, Wanyan Hongfeng felt anxiety rising within him. When his father died, the situation was just like this: ominous clouds overshadowing the sky, followed by a strike of divine thunder from within. Even though his father's power was overwhelming, he couldn't withstand the divine thunder striking from the heavens. Just one bolt of divine thunder left not a trace of him, truly dying an unnatural death. To this day, there remains only a marker for him, with no trace of his father's corpse, not even the slightest remains.

Now, the ominous clouds have arrived again, and divine punishment has returned, naturally reminding Wanyan Hongfeng of the scene he had witnessed in the past. However, his heart was filled more with shock and astonishment because this time the divine punishment came too quickly, leaving no time for choice or waiting. What on earth is happening?

In fact, upon witnessing the Knife Saint unleash Form Transformation powers earlier, Wanyan Hongfeng had already given up on the Knife Saint. His lengthy speech beside him was merely to seize the chance to humiliate the Knife Saint. Because when the Knife Saint unleashed Form Transformation power, divine punishment would inevitably arrive. Even if the Knife Saint were to join the Wanyan Family now, he wouldn't be able to stay long enough to assist them with anything.

However, he never expected the divine punishment to come this swiftly. As he watched the ominous clouds slowly cover them, Wanyan Hongfeng took several deep breaths and retreated a few steps, saying in a deep voice, "Knife Saint, since you have brought about divine punishment, it saves me some effort. After your death, I will personally wipe out your Sword Saint Sect, ensuring that it disappears completely from the earth!"

"Ha ha ha..." The Knife Saint laughed again, looked at Wanyan Hongfeng, and said, "Young man, don't bother saying such nonsense. First, think about your situation over there. Do you truly believe this divine punishment is targeting me?"

Wanyan Hongfeng was already over one hundred years old, but he had no argument when the Knife Saint addressed him as 'young man.' After all, the Knife Saint had lived for three to four hundred years, and even a creature like the Corpse Ghost Dragon was just a youngster in front of the Knife Saint.

Listening to the Knife Saint's words, Wanyan Hongfeng frowned slightly. He glanced at the slowly descending dark clouds and then said in a deep voice, "Knife Saint, are you trying to scare me? The divine punishment wasn't triggered by me; how could it target me? Don't forget, I haven't even made a move!"

"Of course, the divine punishment isn't targeting you." The Knife Saint slowly pointed at the Divine Clan corpse ahead and said, "But he's uncertain."

Wanyan Hongfeng glanced at the Divine Clan corpse and sneered, "Knife Saint, do you truly not know or are you pretending not to know? Do you know what that scabbard in his hand is?"

"The Minghong Knife's scabbard, I know," the Knife Saint answered calmly, "It can screen divine punishment. For a master beyond the pinnacle, it is simply the best treasure."

Hearing the Knife Saint answer so straightforwardly and calmly, Wanyan Hongfeng was taken aback. He looked at the Knife Saint, then at the ominous clouds, and said in a deep voice, "Since you know it's the Minghong Knife's scabbard, then you should be aware that it absolutely wouldn't bring about divine punishment!"

The Knife Saint said, "Indeed, he can't provoke divine punishment, but I can!"

"The divine punishment you brought upon yourself, what does it have to do with him, or with my Wanyan Family?" Wanyan Hongfeng said in a deep voice, "Knife Saint, I advise you to consider your own fate first. You won't even have the chance to leave behind a body once the divine punishment descends!"

"You're too confident!" The Knife Saint slowly shook his head and said, "I have mentioned this to you once, but you didn't believe my words. This time, you will pay the price for your confidence!"

"What do you mean?" Wanyan Hongfeng was stunned, not understanding why the Knife Saint remained so leisurely at this moment. Facing divine punishment, why was he not worried at all? Was he not afraid of death?

"If it was only targeting me, there's no need for divine punishment to come so quickly!" The Knife Saint said calmly, "Leaving other things aside, just tell me, do you know why divine punishment is called divine punishment?"

"Is there any particular reason?" Wanyan Hongfeng wondered. Of course, he didn't know this question.

"Divine punishment is called so because it represents a kind of heavenly intent, a reprimand from the heavens," the Knife Saint said, "Divine punishment, in simple words, is akin to the heavens reprimanding anything that goes against heavenly intent. Supreme peak power is actually damaging the rules of heaven and earth, hence why it provokes divine punishment."

After saying this, the Knife Saint paused and added, "In truth, supreme peak power does indeed damage the rules of heaven and earth. And this Divine Clan corpse is an even greater violator of those rules. Dead things resurrected, and with such power, this is something the Dao absolutely does not permit!"

Upon hearing this, Wanyan Hongfeng was momentarily stunned. He looked at the ominous clouds and then at the Knife Saint, saying, "You... you're trying to deceive me?"

"Ha ha..." The Knife Saint laughed and said, "Do I need to deceive you? Hmph, if the divine punishment was only called upon by me, how could it come so quickly? Besides, if it's just me who brought divine punishment, I would have many choices. But the situation this time is different; the divine punishment is mainly targeting the Divine Clan corpse. For such an existence, the Dao won't permit them, so no escape choice will be given, thus the rapid arrival of divine punishment!"

"This…" Wanyan Hongfeng was momentarily bewildered by the Knife Saint's words, uncertain but pondering if the Knife Saint might be speaking the truth?

"Do you actually think I'd stay here and fight this Divine Clan corpse desperately?" The Knife Saint laughed again, "If I weren't absolutely prepared, why would I waste time staying here?"

Wanyan Hongfeng looked up at the ominous clouds, unsure if the Knife Saint's words were true or false. However, seeing flashes of lightning within the clouds, he felt an indescribable sense of panic.

"So what!" Suddenly taking a deep breath, Wanyan Hongfeng pointed at the Knife Saint and shouted, "Even if this divine punishment truly targets the Divine Clan corpse, don't expect a pleasant outcome. You've already unleashed Form Transformation powers earlier; divine punishment will definitely not spare you!"

Knife Saint: "No problem, anyway, before you arrived, I was already prepared to leave. Now that divine punishment has come, I'll choose to disappear mysteriously. But before leaving, if I can take a Divine Clan corpse down with me, I'd say it's worth it!"

"You…" Wanyan Hongfeng almost exploded with rage, realizing why the Knife Saint dared stay after knowing the strength of the Divine Clan corpse. The Knife Saint had made up his mind long ago; this time, the Wanyan Family really suffered a great loss. Not only had they lost the Divine Clan corpse they cultivated over generations, but they also failed to kill the Knife Saint or gain the Sword Saint Sect's power. How could he accept this?

Taking several deep breaths, Wanyan Hongfeng barely suppressed the anger within, pointing at the Knife Saint from afar while shouting, "Knife Saint, my Wanyan Family nurtured this Divine Clan corpse solely to deal with you. Now that it's ruined, you won't have it easy either. Without you, who can stop me in the Sword Saint Sect? Hmph, I will ensure your Sword Saint Sect perishes!"

"Really?" The Knife Saint glanced up and down at Wanyan Hongfeng and said, "Want to obliterate my Sword Saint Sect? What gives you that confidence?"

"The Minghong Knife's scabbard, and…" Wanyan Hongfeng raised his hand, pointing to the swarm of long-toothed rats behind him, "this army of millions of long-toothed rats!"