The purification punishment was a way for the angels to punish criminals. There were different levels to the same punishment. A lighter version of this punishment would be to purify the criminal with the regular power of light. The heavier version was to tie someone to the top of the tower and purify them over a long period of time, just like what Xiang Shaoyun was currently being subjected to. The former rarely caused death, while the latter was fatal.
The so-called gods were the three suns in the sky. Their sunshine contained the power of purification, and so did the tower. When the two sources of power were combined, all evils could be purified.
A devil's devilish energy and evil blood would wither away under such punishment, with death being the only result. It was obvious the high priest intended to purify Xiang Shaoyun to death.
When Xiang Shaoyun jolted awake, he found himself held in place by rays of light. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free. He could see the many angels around the tower pointing and talking about him, their eyes brimming with hostility.
"Damn it! Release me!" Xiang Shaoyun howled.
He erupted in strength, trying to shake off his bindings. But the more he struggled, the stronger the bindings grew. He had no way of freeing himself. At the same time, the tower also rippled with a radiance that sent waves of light energy into his body.
"Ahhhh!"
The light energy carried with it the power of purification. Xiang Shaoyun's bloodline and devilish energy were weakened as an intense pain assaulted him, causing him to wail in pain.
The white sunlight also shone upon him, intensifying the power of light around him. Instantly, the light energy invaded his entire body. His consciousness blurred from all the pain. The devil blood within his veins was forced to withdraw, and the speed of his blood circulation dropped.
If this continued, his blood circulation would eventually stop completely, resulting in his death as his body stopped functioning. However, when the light energy was about to penetrate his bones, his innate lightning power erupted, blocking the invasion of light.
The lightning power was the most destructive of powers, and even the invading light energy was scattered, failing to purify his bones. The counterattack allowed Xiang Shaoyun to regain a momentary clarity of mind. Only then did he realize how close to death he was.
He calmed his mind and stopped struggling. Instead, he activated his cultivation method and circulated the light energy into his light star. The invading power was the power of light, while the trait of purification originated from the profundity of light.
First, he had to absorb the power, and then he needed to comprehend the profundity of light. Only then would he stand a chance of freeing himself.
As Xiang Shaoyun started circulating the light energy into his light star, the purification of his body dropped in speed, giving the lightning energy the chance to counterattack. With the absorption of the invading light energy, his blood circulation also recovered.
However, the light energy coming from the three suns and the one tower was too powerful. It invaded his body unendingly, and it did not seem likely that he would be able to absorb everything they were throwing his way.
Left with no choice, he started using the other energies in his body to withstand the light energy while increasing his comprehension speed.
Calm down, calm down. I will definitely last long enough to comprehend the profundity of light, Xiang Shaoyun told himself.
Apart from absorbing the light energy, he was also chanting the Desolation mantra, trying his very best to comprehend the profundity of light.
While Xiang Shaoyun tried painstakingly to survive, the overseer stationed in the City of Light found out what was happening. Arriving before the tower, he overheard the conversations of the angels. Realizing how bad Xiang Shaoyun's situation was, he decided to negotiate for a release.
However, he also knew how much the angels hated the devils. He did not dare to remain there any longer. He eventually decided to return and report to the academy's higher-ups.
Previously, Xiao Wei was the elder in charge of guarding Xiang Shaoyun in secret. However, he did not enter the City of Light with Xiang Shaoyun. He knew how kind the angels in the City of Light were, and he did not think that there would be any danger in the city.
That was why he had remained in the academy to cultivate in peace. Little did he expect that in his absence, Xiang Shaoyun would be subjected to the angels' purification punishment. When he heard that, his heart nearly popped out of his mouth from the shock.
"That kid has devil blood within him? W-What should I do about this?" he panicked.
The moment he was informed, he rushed toward the meeting hall. But before he could reach it, someone came and notified him to negotiate with the angels about Xiang Shaoyun. He was also prohibited from using violence. His face turned ghastly. If violence was prohibited, how was he supposed to save Xiang Shaoyun?
How many secrets does that kid have? Xiao Wei cursed inwardly as he rushed toward the City of Light.
When he arrived, he brought the overseer and headed toward the tower. Sure enough, Xiang Shaoyun could be seen on top of the tower. He was completely shrouded in the power of light, his vitality extremely weak.
"Xiang Shaoyun!" Xiao Wei shouted as he nearly charged right to the top of the tower.
Xiang Shaoyun was someone he thought highly of. Moreover, Xiang Shaoyun was a youth the gravekeeper elder had taken a liking to. Just that alone made it worth risking his life to rescue Xiang Shaoyun.
But the overseer stopped him and said, "Elder Xiao, please be calm. Otherwise, something bad will really happen."
"The angels are going overboard! Our disciples should be handled by us! How can they exact punishment independently?" Xiao Wei snapped.
Fortunately, he was speaking through voice transmission. If the angels heard him, more trouble would come.
"I'll call for their envoy first," said the overseer. Facing the Tower of Light, he said, "Great envoy of angels, a Dragon Phoenix Academy elder is requesting a meeting."
The four-winged angel appeared and shouted, "Humans, I know what you're here for, but that devil can't be spared. The high priest has commanded that he has to be purified for 49 days. If he can survive that long, we will allow you to take him away."
He then turned and entered the tower again, not even giving Xiao Wei and the overseer a chance to talk.