Volume 1, Chapter 29: Public Trial in the Main Hall, Tensions Rise

Three days later, at the hour of Chen.

At the Qingshi Town station of the Yunni Sect, in the Main Hall.

This blue-stone hall, typically used for meetings, receptions, and ceremonies, had an exceptionally solemn atmosphere today.

The hall doors were wide open, and Deacon Disciples stood on both sides, their expressions stern, holding Magical Artifacts as they scanned every entrant with vigilant eyes.

Inside the hall, on the high platform at the front, three figures sat, their pressure faintly enveloping the entire venue.

The person in the center was not a physical entity, but a projection cast through a communication Formation—it was Zhao Yuanqing, the Revered Master of Han Feiyu, an Elder of the Yunni Sect Inner Sect, and a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Although the projection had no physical form, the pressure emanating from such a high-level Cultivator still made many low-level Disciples in the hall struggle to breathe.

On the left sat an old man with white hair and beard and a rigid expression; he was Zhou Lie, the Elder sent by the Law Enforcement Hall of the Yunni Sect, a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage known for his impartiality.

In front of him was a desk with pen, ink, paper, an inkstone, Sect law codes, and a Jade Slip recording information about the case.

On the right was Deacon Wang, who, as the supervisor of the station, was present to observe; he looked grave, his gaze scanning the people in the hall from time to time, lingering especially on Lin Xuan.

Below the high platform, the relevant parties stood on either side.

On the left, Han Feiyu stood with his hands behind his back, having changed into a clean blue Inner Sect Disciple robe; the sword scar on his face had scabbed over, and although he looked slightly disheveled, his eyes were sinister as he glanced at Lin Xuan opposite him from time to time, a cold sneer on his lips.

Behind him stood the four Inner Sect Disciples defeated by Lin Xuan, as well as two Soul Searching Technique Deacons who had regained consciousness but looked pale and weak.

On the right, Lin Xuan stood quietly in coarse cloth clothing; his breathing was steady, and although his complexion remained slightly pale (as his injuries had not fully recovered, he deliberately maintained this state), his back was as straight as a spear, and his gaze was as calm as water, showing no waves in the face of the pressure from Zhao Yuanqing's projection and Han Feiyu's sneer.

Wang Mang and Li Dali stood a little further behind him, their faces full of tension and anger.

Su Qingyue stood in the witness stand, dressed in a moon-white dress with a cold expression, holding that Recording Stone in her hand; she looked at Lin Xuan with a trace of worry in her eyes, but more of it was determination.

There were also many Disciples, Deacons, and leaders of Loose Cultivators who had come from the town and had dealings with the Yunni Sect in the hall; this level of public trial was rare in Qingshi Town.

"Dong—"

A dull sound of a chime rang out, announcing the official start of the public trial.

Elder Zhou Lie, sitting in the center, cleared his throat, his voice aged yet dignified: "Today, by the order of the Sect, I am publicly presiding over the 'Soul Searching Technique incident' at the Qingshi Town station. The parties involved, Inner Sect Disciple Han Feiyu, Guest Elder Lin Xuan, witness Inner Sect Disciple Su Qingyue, and the relevant personnel, are all present. I hope you will all speak impartially and tell the truth; no false accusations will be tolerated, and offenders will be severely punished."

He paused, his gaze falling first on Han Feiyu: "Han Feiyu, three days ago late at night, why did you take people to the West Courtyard and use the 'Soul Searching Technique' on Guest Elder Lin Xuan? Speak the truth!"

Han Feiyu stepped forward, bowed, his face full of grievance and righteous indignation: "Elder Zhou, please judge fairly! This Disciple is wronged! That night, I went to the West Courtyard not to use any forbidden technique, but to follow Revered Master's orders (he glanced at Zhao Yuanqing's projection) to conduct a routine inquiry about the details of the Black Wind Ridge ruins! As a Guest Elder, Lin Xuan participated in the exploration, but after returning, he kept silent about the core matters of the ruins. As the leader, I naturally had to ask for clarity! As for the 'Soul Searching Technique'..."

He pointed to the two Soul Searching Technique Deacons, "This Disciple just asked two Junior Martial Uncles to accompany me, in case Lin Xuan was unconscious due to severe injuries and needed to be awakened with a secret technique! Who would have thought that this Lin Xuan, harboring evil intentions, would feign unconsciousness and launch a sneak attack! The two Junior Martial Uncles were forced to defend themselves, but were seriously injured by his evil arts! My personal sword was also broken by him with his bare hands! I ask the Elder to judge!"

These words turned black into white, describing himself as a loyal official who was wronged while on duty, and painting Lin Xuan as a villain who feigned unconsciousness to launch a sneak attack.

Zhou Lie frowned slightly and looked at Lin Xuan: "Lin Xuan, what do you have to say?"

Lin Xuan raised his eyes, looked calmly at Han Feiyu, then swept his gaze over the cold projection on the high platform, and spoke slowly; his voice was not loud, but it clearly entered everyone's ears:

"May I ask Senior Brother Han, why did your 'routine inquiry' take place at the third quarter of the Zi hour, in the dead of night?"

"Why did you bring two Foundation Establishment Deacons proficient in the Soul Searching Technique, rather than ordinary inquiring Disciples?"

"Why, during my 'unconsciousness,' did you send my two companions away from the station so they wouldn't witness it?"

"And why..." He paused, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth, "Before the inquiry, did those two Deacons take out Soul Searching bone needles and Soul Seizing bronze mirrors, rather than any Magical Artifact for 'awakening secret techniques'?"

As the three questions were asked, there was a commotion in the hall.

Han Feiyu's face changed slightly, and he argued forcefully: "You... you are spouting blood! You were unconscious at the time, how could you know all this?"

Lin Xuan said calmly: "If I were truly unconscious, I indeed wouldn't know. Unfortunately, I happened to wake up for a moment and witnessed and heard it all personally."

He looked at Zhou Lie: "Elder Zhou, I have a witness."

Everyone's gaze instantly turned to Su Qingyue.

Su Qingyue stepped forward, raised the Recording Stone in her hand, and her cold voice echoed in the hall: "Disciple Su Qingyue is willing to swear on my Dao Heart that what is recorded in the Recording Stone is the true scene of the West Courtyard at the Zi hour three days ago, without any tampering."

She injected a trace of spiritual energy into the Recording Stone, and a light screen was projected in the air of the hall—

In the light and shadow, it was clearly visible that Han Feiyu brought people to break into the quiet room, the two Soul Searching Technique Deacons took out bone needles and a bronze mirror, and the skinny Deacon's hoarse voice echoed: "Lin Xuan, this old man will ask you one last time... tell the truth, or you may be spared the suffering of the Soul Searching Technique." Immediately after, there was the thrilling scene of Lin Xuan suddenly erupting and defeating several people.

The truth was revealed to the world!

The hall was in an uproar!

"It really was the Soul Searching Technique!"

"Han Feiyu actually dared to use a forbidden technique and even turned black into white!"

"This... this is too shameless!"

Han Feiyu's face turned pale, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead. He turned around abruptly and looked at the projection on the high platform: "Revered Master! Revered Master, save me!"

Zhao Yuanqing's projection had a face as gloomy as water. He didn't expect that the Recording Stone in Su Qingyue's hand would be so complete and clear. But after all, he was an old Cultivator, and he adjusted his strategy instantly.

"Quiet!" Zhao Yuanqing's projection spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, instantly suppressing all discussion in the hall. He looked at Zhou Lie, "Elder Zhou, the recording of the Recording Stone indeed proves that Feiyu used the Soul Searching Technique. This child is foolish, and I will strictly discipline him and deal with him according to the Sect rules when I return. But..."

He changed the subject, his gaze piercing Lin Xuan like a knife: "The Recording Stone also clearly shows that this child Lin Xuan feigned unconsciousness first and then launched a sneak attack to hurt people! Although the two Soul Searching Technique Deacons were at fault, they were acting under orders and did not actually cast the technique on Lin Xuan! Yet Lin Xuan acted ruthlessly and seriously injured the two until they fell unconscious! How is this behavior any different from attacking a fellow Disciple? According to the Sect rules, he should also be severely punished!"

With this move of advancing by retreating, he admitted Han Feiyu's fault but shifted the focus to Lin Xuan's "excessive counterattack."

Zhou Lie pondered and looked at Lin Xuan: "Lin Xuan, what is your explanation for this?"

Lin Xuan's expression did not change, and he said calmly: "Elder Zhou, may I ask, if someone broke into your room with a knife and held it to your neck, would you sit and wait for death, or would you fight back?"

"This..." Zhou Lie was speechless.

Lin Xuan continued: "Once the Soul Searching Technique is cast, the best outcome is damage to the Divine Soul, and the worst is becoming a fool. At that time, my life was hanging by a thread, so what was wrong with my self-defense and counterattack? As for the severity of my actions..." He glanced at the two pale Soul Searching Technique Deacons, "If I really wanted to kill them, could they still be standing here now?"

These words were neither humble nor overbearing, yet sharp.

Everyone in the hall nodded one after another. No matter who it was, in that situation, it would be impossible to wait for death.

A cold light flashed in Zhao Yuanqing's eyes, and he snorted coldly: "Eloquent! Regardless, you seriously injured a Sect Deacon, which is a major fault! As an Inner Sect Elder, I have the right to..."

"Elder Zhao!" An old voice suddenly interrupted him.

Everyone followed the sound and saw Sun Miao, who had been silent and observing, slowly stand up. He looked at Zhao Yuanqing's projection and then at Zhou Lie, saying in a deep voice: "Elder Zhou, Elder Zhao, I have a few words, I don't know if I should say them or not."

Zhou Lie nodded slightly: "Junior Martial Uncle Sun, please speak freely."

Sun Miao took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across Han Feiyu, Lin Xuan, and Su Qingyue, and said slowly: "I participated in the entire exploration of the Black Wind Ridge ruins. Although this child Lin Xuan is not a Disciple of our Sect, he has repeatedly taken action in times of crisis and saved the lives of many fellow Disciples. Especially during the final evacuation, he disregarded his own serious injuries and risked his life to save a Disciple under my command (he glanced at the Deacon Disciple with the surname Wang). How could such behavior be that of someone with 'evil intentions'?"

He paused, his gaze shooting at Han Feiyu like electricity: "On the other hand, Senior Nephew Han, as the leader, made many command errors during the exploration, causing casualties among fellow Disciples; furthermore, at the core of the ruins, he monopolized the Jade Box and scrolls obtained, not allowing others to touch them; during the final evacuation, he even..." (He paused, not mentioning the matter of Han Feiyu kicking the stone, but everyone knew what he meant.)

"Sun Miao!" Zhao Yuanqing shouted sharply, "Do you know what you are saying?!"

"Of course this old man knows!" Sun Miao did not back down, "This old man is just stating the facts! Today's public trial is about the 'Soul Searching Technique incident,' but if the cause and effect are not made clear, how can it be judged fairly?"

The atmosphere in the hall became tense instantly.

Zhao Yuanqing's projection had its pressure surge, and the body condensed by spiritual energy fluctuated slightly due to anger. Although Sun Miao's cultivation was not as high, he stood straight and did not give an inch.

Zhou Lie's brows were tightly locked, and he was flipping through the Sect law codes in his hand, unable to make a decision for a while.

Just then, a hoarse voice came from outside the hall:

"Since it is difficult to decide the public trial, why not let this old man be a peacemaker, how about that?"

Everyone was stunned and looked in the direction of the sound.

At the entrance of the hall, I don't know when, but an extra figure appeared.

It was an old man with white hair and beard, a withered face, wearing a tattered gray robe, leaning on a dark cane, hunched over, as if a gust of wind could blow him down. But the occasional sharp light in his turbid old eyes made all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators present feel a sense of inexplicable trepidation.

Zhao Yuanqing's projection's pupils shrank the moment he saw the old man, and he blurted out: "Is it you? Bailian Villa, Ouyang Ye?!"

The old man grinned, revealing a mouthful of uneven yellow teeth: "Heh, little Zhao, it's been many years, you still remember this old man."

He walked slowly into the hall, and every step seemed to step on everyone's heart. Those Disciples below the Foundation Establishment Stage only felt difficulty breathing, and their spiritual energy circulation became sluggish.

Ouyang Ye walked to Lin Xuan, stopped, looked him up and down, and a look of appreciation flashed in his turbid old eyes: "Kid, not bad. To be able to survive in the Black Wind Ridge ruins and get that thing, it's a bit interesting."

Lin Xuan was shocked. This old man actually knew that he had obtained the Legacy token? Moreover, the aura on him... unfathomable, far exceeding Zhao Yuanqing! Even, faintly similar to the ancient will of the battle spirit in the ruins!

"Senior is..." Lin Xuan asked tentatively.

"This old man? Just an old guy who is about to enter the grave." Ouyang Ye waved his hand and turned to look at Zhao Yuanqing and Zhou Lie on the high platform, "Little Zhao, Little Zhou, this old man came today to take someone away, entrusted by others."

"Who?" Zhao Yuanqing asked in a deep voice.

Ouyang Ye stretched out a withered finger and pointed at Lin Xuan: "Him."

The hall was in an uproar again!

Zhao Yuanqing's face was livid: "Ouyang Ye! Although you are the Old Ancestor of Bailian Villa, how can I allow an outsider to interfere in the internal affairs of my Yunni Sect?"

"Outsider?" Ouyang Ye grinned, his laughter as hoarse as a night owl, "Little Zhao, you probably forgot that when your Yunni Sect was founded, you borrowed three Artifact Refining diagrams from my Bailian Villa? Did your Revered Master ever mention that favor before he died?"

Zhao Yuanqing was speechless. That was indeed an old matter, and it involved the secrets of the Sect, so he dared not deny it in public.

Ouyang Ye continued: "Besides, this old man is not here to snatch people, but to... protect someone. This kid possesses a remnant of the Body Refining technique that has been lost in my Bailian Villa for many years. This old man has to take him back and 'inquire' about it properly. Don't worry, after the inquiry, I will naturally send him back. As for the messy business of your Yunni Sect, this old man has no interest in meddling."

His words were half true and half false, but they gave the Yunni Sect a way out.

Zhou Lie looked at Zhao Yuanqing, a flash of hesitation in his eyes. Ouyang Ye's cultivation was unfathomable, and it was rumored that he was already at the Nascent Soul Stage. Although he was old, he was definitely not someone they could contend with. If they forcibly blocked him, I'm afraid...

Zhao Yuanqing's face was uncertain. In the end, he glared at Lin Xuan fiercely and gritted his teeth: "Ouyang Ye, you can take the person. But the matter of the Black Wind Ridge ruins, my Yunni Sect will not let it go! When your 'inquiry' is finished, this child must be sent back! My Sect will deal with him!"

"Fine, fine, we'll talk about that later." Ouyang Ye waved his hand, not caring at all. He turned and looked at Lin Xuan, "Kid, let's go."

Lin Xuan looked at this sudden turn of events, his thoughts racing. Bailian Villa, Ouyang Ye... this name, he had vaguely seen it in the books in the Yunni Sect's library, an ancient force in the Northern Region known for Artifact Refining and Body Refining, with a complex relationship with the Yunni Sect. Why did this person want to protect him? Was it really just because of the "Body Refining technique"? Or was there another motive?

But he knew that if he didn't leave now, staying in this Main Hall, facing Zhao Yuanqing's hostility and the constraints of the Sect rules, there would be no benefit at all. This old man might be his only chance to get out of the current predicament.

He looked at Wang Mang and Li Dali: "My two brothers..."

"Take them together." Ouyang Ye waved his big hand, "Although my villa is dilapidated, I can still afford to feed two more people."

Wang Mang and Li Dali were overjoyed and followed quickly.

Lin Xuan took one last look at Su Qingyue. Su Qingyue was still standing in the witness stand, her face pale, but her eyes held a trace of relief and... loss?

He nodded slightly, as a gesture of thanks, and then turned around, following Ouyang Ye, and strode away amidst the complex gazes of the entire hall.

Behind him, Zhao Yuanqing's projection had cold light flickering in his eyes, like a volcano about to erupt.

The public trial ended hastily in a way that no one expected.

But everyone knew that this turmoil was far from over.

Lin Xuan's reputation was destined to spread throughout Qingshi Town and even further places after today.

(Volume 1, Chapter 29 complete)

[Volume 1 Complete]

[Next Chapter Preview]: Volume 1 ends, the turmoil subsides temporarily. Lin Xuan leaves the Yunni Sect station with Ouyang Ye and heads to Bailian Villa. Is what awaits him a blessing or a curse? What is the purpose of this unfathomable Old Ancestor of Bailian Villa? Will Han Feiyu and Zhao Yuanqing just let it go? What consequences will Su Qingyue's actions today bring to her? And how will Lin Xuan, carrying the ancient Legacy and his unhealed injuries, survive and grow in a new environment? Volume 2 Preview: Northern Region Confrontation, Bailian Wind and Clouds!