219: Chapter 219: A Battle Shatters the Soul of the Sect

Li Changsheng sat down and opened the files.

The first case: Zhang San and Li Si fought, both sustaining injuries.

Proposed ruling: Fifty strokes of the cane for each, and compensation for the other party's medical expenses.

He nodded and signed.

The second case: Wang Wu stole Zhao Liu's Spirit Fruit, valued at ten Spirit Stones.

Proposed ruling: Five days of detention, and compensation of ten Spirit Stones.

He signed.

The third case: A customer dined and dashed at Sun Qi's restaurant, and the customer escaped.

Proposed ruling: The restaurant shall bear the loss itself, and the Patrol Guard shall increase patrols.

He signed that as well.

After reviewing a dozen cases in a row, they were all trivial matters.

Li Changsheng put down his pen and looked at Old Zhang: "Is that all? No major cases?"

If he only had to handle these, why would they need him?

Just finding a mascot would suffice.

Old Zhang hesitated for a moment, then pulled a file from the bottom shelf and placed it in front of Li Changsheng.

On it were the words "Luoxia Sect Disciple Case," the ink somewhat faded.

"There is one thorny case that has been dragged out for three months,"

Old Zhang said in a low voice.

"Several Luoxia Sect Disciples were robbing Loose Cultivators outside the city and collecting tolls. The situation is serious, but there has been no concrete evidence. Coupled with the fact that Luoxia Sect keeps pressuring us to release them, it has never been judged."

A light sparked in Li Changsheng's eyes; this case had some difficulty.

He immediately opened the file and read it page by page.

The file recorded the testimonies of over a dozen Loose Cultivators, all claiming to have been robbed by Luoxia Sect Disciples, but no one could provide concrete evidence.

There were no Image Stones, no physical evidence, only testimonies.

Moreover, those Luoxia Sect Disciples had complicated backgrounds. One was the son of a Luoxia Sect Elder, and the others were also Inner Sect Disciples, all with cultivation at the Nascent Soul Stage.

"Luoxia Sect..."

Li Changsheng narrowed his eyes.

Wasn't this the Sect where Xiao Ran bought territory?

A first-class major Sect, with an old monster at the Body Integration Stage holding the fort, and the Sect Master is at the Void Refinement Peak.

No wonder the previous Judge dared not rule on it.

Old Zhang leaned in, lowering his voice: "Judge Li, this case is not easy to handle."

"The Luoxia Sect side keeps pressuring us, saying their Disciples were wrongly accused."

"The Loose Cultivators in the city are also watching this case. If the judgment is too light, they will say the Judges Office is shielding the Sect."

"If the judgment is too heavy, the Luoxia Sect definitely won't stand for it."

Upon hearing this, Li Changsheng instantly made a judgment in his heart.

The Luoxia Sect won't stand for it?

I stand with the City Lord's Mansion; what I want is exactly for you not to stand for it.

So he immediately closed the file and stood up.

"Let's go, to the prison."

The prison was in the basement of the Judges Office, dark and damp, the air filled with the smell of mold and rust.

Several Luoxia Sect Disciples were locked in separate cells, each dressed in fine clothes, looking leisurely.

They didn't look like they were in jail at all; it looked more like a vacation.

Seeing Li Changsheng enter, a young Disciple crossed his legs and laughed.

"Another one? What, did they change people? Where is the previous Judge? Did he think this case was too difficult and run away?"

The other Disciples laughed heartily.

Li Changsheng ignored him, walked to the front of the cell, and looked at them with his arms crossed.

"You lot, robbing Loose Cultivators outside the city and collecting tolls."

"There are witnesses but no physical evidence; do you confess?"

The young Disciple sneered: "Confess? What evidence do you have? Would we, Luoxia Sect Disciples, do such a thing? Don't slander us."

Li Changsheng nodded: "If you don't confess, that makes it easier."

He turned around and said to his assistant behind him.

"Open court."

Old Zhang was stunned: "Judge Li, now?"

Li Changsheng looked at him: "What? Do I need to pick an auspicious day?"

Old Zhang hurriedly shook his head and turned to prepare.

The place for opening court was in the main hall of the Judges Office, a spacious hall.

In the center was a long desk, with a gavel and pen/inkstone placed on it.

On both sides stood four bailiffs, holding water-fire staves, their faces solemn.

Below the hall were several chairs for observers to sit.

Li Changsheng sat behind the long desk, having changed into a black official robe, wearing an official hat, and a token at his waist.

He picked up the gavel and slapped it down, the sound echoing in the hall.

"Bring in the criminals!"

Several bailiffs escorted the Luoxia Sect Disciples out of the prison and made them kneel in the hall.

The young Disciple still looked disdainful, head held high, looking at Li Changsheng.

"Judge Li, I advise you to release us early."

"Otherwise, the Luoxia Sect will not let this rest."

Li Changsheng looked at him: "What is your name?"

"Zhou Zixuan, Inner Sect Disciple of the Luoxia Sect. My father is the Luoxia Sect Elder Zhou Boyong."

Li Changsheng nodded: "Zhou Zixuan, someone accused you of robbing Loose Cultivators outside the city three months ago and collecting tolls."

"Do you confess?"

Zhou Zixuan sneered: "I don't confess. If you have the ability, produce evidence."

Li Changsheng opened the file and read aloud.

"Loose Cultivator Zhang San accuses you of robbing him of fifty Spirit Stones; Loose Cultivator Li Si accuses you of robbing him of a century-old Lingzhi; Loose Cultivator Wang Wu accuses you of robbing him of an Earth Rank Low Grade Magic Treasure."

"A total of twelve Loose Cultivators have consistent testimonies. Do you still dare to say there isn't any?"

Zhou Zixuan curled his lips: "What are testimonies worth?"

"What if they colluded to frame me? If you have the ability, produce physical evidence."

Li Changsheng put down the file and looked at him, his eyes filled with dangerous light.

"Do you think I can't deal with you without physical evidence?"

Zhou Zixuan looked at him provocatively: "What can you do to me?"

Li Changsheng laughed.

He picked up the gavel and slapped it down.

"Come here, bring the Soul-Shattering Staff."

"Beat him for me!"

Zhou Zixuan's expression changed.

The Soul-Shattering Staff, that was a torture instrument among torture instruments, specifically targeting the Divine Soul.

One strike, and the Divine Soul would shake, causing excruciating pain.

Ordinary Cultivators would have their cultivation regress after taking a few strikes.

"How dare you! My father is a Luoxia Sect Elder!"

Li Changsheng looked at him.

"This is the Sword Qi Great Wall, not the Luoxia Sect."

"Here, I have the final say."

He waved his hand: "Beat him."

The two bailiffs looked at each other upon hearing this, then stepped forward one after another to pin Zhou Zixuan to the ground.

They then looked at Li Changsheng, and under Li Changsheng's affirmative gaze.

Both swung the Soul-Shattering Staff and struck down.

"Smack!"

Zhou Zixuan screamed, veins bulging on his forehead, his whole body convulsing.

"Smack! Smack! Smack!"

Strike after strike, Zhou Zixuan's screams echoed in the hall.

The other Luoxia Sect Disciples watched with pale faces, their legs turning soft.

By the tenth strike, Zhou Zixuan finally couldn't hold on anymore and shouted.

"I confess! I confess! Stop beating me!"

Li Changsheng raised his hand, and the bailiffs stopped.

Zhou Zixuan lay on the ground covered in blood, his face deathly pale, tears streaming down.

"I confess... it was me... I collected tolls... that money from the Loose Cultivators... I robbed it all..."

A single strike shatters the Sect's soul; Officer, I am an honest man.

Li Changsheng then looked at him directly.

"Who else participated?"

Zhou Zixuan gritted his teeth and pointed at the few Disciples beside him.

"They... they all participated..."

Those Disciples' expressions changed, and they hurriedly knelt down.

"We confess! We confess! Judge Li, spare us!"

Li Changsheng picked up his pen and wrote the verdict on the file.

"Zhou Zixuan, principal offender, robbed Loose Cultivators, collected tolls, serious circumstances."

"Sentence: Fifty strikes of the Soul-Shattering Staff, three years of imprisonment, and compensation for the victims' losses."

"The remaining accomplices, sentence: Thirty strikes of the Soul-Shattering Staff, one year of imprisonment, and compensation for the victims' losses."

He put down the pen and looked at the Luoxia Sect Disciples below the hall.

"Do you accept this?"

Zhou Zixuan gritted his teeth: "I accept..."

Li Changsheng nodded: "Lock them up."

The bailiffs dragged them away.

Outside the hall, several Loose Cultivators observing the scene were moved to tears with excitement.

"Judge Li is wise!"

"A righteous official!"

"Finally, someone has stood up for us!"

Li Changsheng stood up, waved his hand, and turned to walk into the back hall.

Old Zhang followed, his face full of admiration: "Judge Li, you are too awesome! Even daring to beat people from the Luoxia Sect!"

Li Changsheng said indifferently.

"Watch what you say."

"It's not that I can beat them, it's the law that can beat them."