316: Chapter 316 Joint Trial at the Hall of Inquiry

Ye Tian's mind raced.

Feng Xuan's proposal was the best situation he could strive for at the moment.

It avoided immediate conflict, bought valuable time, and more importantly, provided an opportunity to defend himself publicly before the Sect's high-level officials and expose Ling Juexiao's conspiracy in a formal setting.

As for a confrontation? That was exactly what he wanted!

He released the hilt of his sword, his surging aura slowly receding. He cupped his hands to Xing Tiexin, Feng Xuan, and Elder Tianshu respectively: "Disciple Ye Tian has a clear conscience! I am willing to accept this proposal, stay at Tianshu Peak for the time being, and wait for the Sect to arrange the Three-Hall Trial.

At that time, I will certainly confront Ling Juexiao and the envoys from other Sects face-to-face, bringing all the conspiracies and frame-ups to light to prove my innocence!"

Xing Tiexin gave Ye Tian a deep look and nodded slowly: "Good! Since Nephew Feng Xuan has made this public proposal and Senior Brother Tianshu is willing to act as a guarantor, we shall proceed accordingly.

Yan Song, take some men to 'escort' Ye Tian to the Side Hall of Tianshu Peak for settlement. Before the Sect Head's decree and the trial, no one is allowed to enter Tianshu Peak to disturb him without permission; violators will be severely punished!"

"Yes!" Yan Song took the order.

Ye Tian nodded to Feng Xuan in greeting and, accompanied by Elder Tianshu, Leng Feng, and others, headed towards Tianshu Peak.

Hou Xiaojie followed closely, and the Dragon Ape shrank back down to squat on his shoulder, its golden eyes alert.

Gao Ling and Zhao Yan stared at Ye Tian's back with unwilling resentment, but in front of Xing Tiexin and Feng Xuan, they dared not say much, secretly clenching their fists.

The crowd gradually dispersed, but speculations about the 'Demonic Path accusations' and the 'Three-Hall Trial' spread rapidly within the Sect.

At Kaiyang Peak, by the window of a secluded pavilion, Han Li looked towards Tianshu Peak from afar, a wisp of purple lightning flickering on his fingertips.

"Three-Hall Trial..." Han Li whispered with a sneer, "Heh.

Ye Tian, the speed of your growth has indeed surprised me a bit. It's just a pity..." The lightning on his fingertips flared up and then died out. "The faster you fly, the easier it is to break your wings!"

At Tianquan Peak, on the top floor of the Library, Feng Xuan stood by the window, the scroll in his hand unturned.

"True Martial Tenth Level, refined aura, possessing both lightning Sword Intent and internal vitality... It doesn't look like a Demonic Technique."

He whispered, "Wanren Sword Pavilion..." His gaze was profound. "This boy might be a variable. On the day of the trial, I shall observe him closely."

At Yaoguang Peak, by a mist-covered hot spring, her jade arms half-covered by a seven-colored gauze dress, Shui Qingdie soaked lazily in the spring, her eyes closed as if sleeping, yet a playful curve hooked the corner of her lips.

"The mountain gate is quite lively... That Ye Tian is somewhat interesting. Jingji Lightning Arts? Hmm, perhaps I can test him in the next Illusion Trial..." With a light chuckle, her figure slowly sank into the water mist and disappeared.

At Yuheng Peak, on the training grounds, Pei Tieshan had just shattered a ten-thousand-jin boulder, steam rising from his body as he wiped off sweat.

"I heard that kid named Ye Tian went up against Junior Martial Uncle Xing as soon as he returned?

Heh, quite a tough temper, even dared to draw his sword! That monkey looks spirited too! I'll have to find a chance to clash with him sometime!" He grinned and continued throwing punches, the air booming.

At Tianxuan Peak, on the summit of a snowy cliff, Yu Miaoqing stood alone in the cold wind, her white clothes as pure as snow, an ancient sword resting across her knees.

She slowly opened her eyes, casting a cold gaze toward the mountain gate for a moment before closing them again.

"Clamor." She uttered these two words softly, and they dispersed with the wind; she said nothing more.

At Tianshu Peak, deep in the sea of clouds, a black-clad figure stood with hands behind his back atop a cloud peak, as if merging with heaven and earth.

The Tianshu Peak True Disciple—Yun Wuji, Sea Transformation First Layer, the head of the seven True Disciples. His eyes were as calm as an ancient pool, without a ripple.

The mountain wind howled, and the sea of clouds churned.

Because of Ye Tian's return, undercurrents had already begun to surge within the Liuli Xuan Sect.

Tianshu Peak, Side Hall Courtyard.

On the morning of the fourth day, the jade chime of Wendao Peak resounded through the seven peaks.

Accompanied by Elder Tianshu and the Law Enforcement Deacons, Ye Tian rode the wind toward Wendao Peak.

Streaks of light converged along the way towards the solemn and dignified Wendao Hall.

The square in front of the hall was solemn, and the atmosphere inside the hall was heavy.

On the seven red sandalwood chairs to the north sat Sect Head Perfected Qingxu and the six Grand Elders, their auras deep and profound.

In the seats to the left and right, the Sect's high-level officials, guests, and observers were each in their places.

In the guest seats on the right, Pavilion Master Ling of the Wanren Sword Pavilion sat alone, his black robes like ink and his eyes like swords, coldly watching Ye Tian as he entered the hall.

Beside him were several representatives of small Northern Region forces who claimed their Disciples had been "harmed," their expressions filled with grief and indignation.

Leng Feng, Luo Qiushui, and others who supported Ye Tian were in the observer seats with Elder Tianshu's permission, their expressions tense.

On the high circular gallery within the hall, several True Disciples watched quietly. Feng Xuan observed warmly, Han Li had a cold sneer on his lips, Shui Qingdie's eyes held playfulness, and Pei Tieshan stood with his arms crossed, looking like he was watching a show.

Ye Tian walked to the center of the hall and performed the salutations with proper etiquette, neither humble nor arrogant.

"The one standing below, are you the Tianshu Peak Disciple Ye Tian?" Perfected Qingxu's voice was peaceful, yet it cleansed the soul.

"Yes."

"Pavilion Master Ling of the Wanren Sword Pavilion and several Fellow Daoists from the Northern Region have jointly accused you of killing the innocent, seizing treasures, cultivating Demonic Techniques, and falling into the Demonic Path. Do you plead guilty?"

"Disciple does not admit it," Ye Tian's voice was clear and resolute.

"Humph!" Ling Juexiao snorted coldly. "Death is at your doorstep, yet you still dare to be stubborn! This Pavilion Master will leave you with no room for denial!"

He first brought up the crime of "killing the innocent," instructing those representatives of the small forces to present so-called "evidence"—images of the Disciples' corpses and records of the "lightning Sword Qi" at the scene.

In the images, the wounds were charred black, and the aura was similar to lightning but appeared chaotic and violent.

"What do you have to say about this?" Xing Tiexin asked in a deep voice.

Ye Tian's expression remained unchanged: "Those I killed in the Land of Flowing Fire were all Yao Beasts that attacked me, or underworld bandit leaders like 'Du Ya,' as well as pursuers from the Wanren Sword Pavilion and the Shadow Calamity Tower.

I have never seen, let alone killed without cause, the Disciples of these Fellow Daoists. Forging the aura in such images is not difficult. Especially this lightning aura; it has the form but lacks the spirit, and it is far different from what I Cultivate.

I ask the Sect Head and Elders to investigate clearly, or perhaps invite a Senior proficient in lightning arts or Aura Identification to verify it on the spot."

"Specious words!" Ling Juexiao sneered, throwing out the second crime. "Seizing treasures and harming fellow cultivators!

At Lijian Villa, you killed and injured our pavilion's Disciples and Elders to seize treasures! In the Land of Flowing Fire, you attacked and killed our Elder Yin Li and took his belongings! This is ironclad evidence!"

He displayed edited battle footage and then took out a blood-stained fragment of an identity jade pendant engraved with the Wanren Sword Pavilion mark: "This is Yin Li's personal item, and the Sword Intent and Evil Qi remaining on it are identical to your Sword Intent! What else do you have to say?"

Seeing the jade pendant fragment and the faint but familiar sharp aura, Ye Tian's eyes narrowed slightly. The opponent's preparations were indeed thorough.

"Pavilion Master Ling has good methods." Ye Tian's voice grew even colder. "The matter at Lijian Villa is known to all as a trap set by the Wanren Sword Pavilion to harm me first.

What I did was a counterattack in self-defense to save my fellow Disciples from fire and water! As for Elder Yin Li, he and the Shadow Calamity Tower assassins ambushed and attacked me in the Earth Fire Demon Abyss; I was forced to fight back and fortunately managed to kill him.

It was your Wanren Sword Pavilion that pursued and tried to kill me first, so how can you talk about seizing and harming? As for the aura on this fragment, the battlefield was chaotic; how can it be determined that I left it? Why doesn't Pavilion Master Ling release the full footage and let everyone see who intended to kill first?

And who is it that is involved with an unsavory organization like the Shadow Calamity Tower?"

"You...!" Ling Juexiao was checkmated; the matter with the Shadow Calamity Tower was indeed disgraceful. His face darkened. "The matter of the Shadow Calamity Tower is pure slander! Your killing of Yin Li is an established fact!"

"A single fragment is hardly conclusive," Elder Tianshu said slowly. "Pavilion Master Ling accuses him of seizing a great treasure; I wonder what treasure it is? And is there any physical evidence to prove that this treasure originally belonged to the Wanren Sword Pavilion?"

Ling Juexiao's eyes narrowed: "This is a secret of our pavilion. But this boy definitely has something on him that is tainted with the aura of our pavilion's ancestors!"

"Since the ownership cannot be clearly proven, the so-called 'seizure' is out of the question," Elder Tianshu said indifferently. "As for the matter of Yin Li, both sides have their own stories, so it will be set aside as a point of doubt for now."

Perfected Qingxu nodded slightly and looked at Ling Juexiao: "Pavilion Master Ling, is there any direct evidence to prove that Ye Tian Cultivates Demonic Techniques and has fallen into the Demonic Path? This is the core issue."

Ling Juexiao knew his first two strikes had been neutralized. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he threw out his killing move:

"The most direct evidence is his cultivation progress, which defies all logic!" He raised his voice and pointed at Ye Tian. "According to your Sect, this boy was only at the True Martial Sixth Stage when he left, yet in just a few short months, he has reached the True Martial Tenth Level!

Such a cultivation speed is unheard of! If he weren't practicing a Demonic Technique that devours essence blood and plunders Origin, how could he have achieved it?"