Chapter 1162: Unforgivable Crime

"Yun Che!!" Mu Bingyun cried out in alarm, while Mu Huanzhi and the others were utterly terrified.

"It's over... it's really... completely over this time," Huo Rulie said blankly.

"Oh? This young man... is quite interesting," the Brahma Heaven God Emperor said, stroking his chin and looking at Yun Che with interest.

"Interesting? Hmph, low-born, despicable in his methods, and so ignorantly arrogant. He should count himself lucky he's in the Eternal Heaven Realm; otherwise, in any other star realm, he'd have died ten thousand times over," the Star God Emperor sneered.

"Heh." Exorcist uttered a faint laugh, yet it sent a shiver down everyone's spine: "Despicable in his actions, guilty of a serious crime, yet not only does he show no shame or remorse, he dares to be so arrogant..."

"A serious crime?" Since the words were out, Yun Che no longer held back: "My methods were indeed despicable, and I deserve all the ridicule and contempt. But... I'd like to ask, how am I guilty of a serious crime?"

"Heh! Despicable cheating is a serious crime in any realm! To do so at the Profound God Convention, to disrespect my Eternal Heaven Realm, and to disrespect all profound practitioners of my Eastern Divine Region, is an even greater, unforgivable offense! How dare you even try to argue what serious crime you've committed?"

"Argue? Why do I need to argue!" Yun Che roared in a deep voice: "The rules of the preliminary battlefields were clearly announced: everything each person possesses will be fully projected, and the battlefield places no restrictions on any weapons, profound artifacts, or *methods*; only the final number of soul beads determines the ranking!"

"My methods are indeed contemptible, but they did not violate the battlefield rules in the slightest! You can mock and rebuke my methods, but what right do you have to call me a cheater, and on what grounds do you accuse me of a serious crime?"

"..." Exorcist was clearly stunned, momentarily speechless.

The Voice of Eternal Heaven not only resonated within the projected world inside the Eternal Heaven Pearl, but also outside, where it could be heard clearly. Recalling it now, the rules announced by the Voice of Eternal Heaven did indeed clearly state: no restrictions on any weapons, profound artifacts... or *methods*!

And the only reason Yun Che was standing there was precisely because of his "methods"!

Although contemptible, if it truly followed the announcement of the Voice of Eternal Heaven, he had indeed not violated the rules!

Not only was Exorcist momentarily dumbfounded, but even the Eternal Heaven God Emperor and others were slightly taken aback, and everyone on the Conferred God Stage exchanged bewildered glances.

"If I had genuinely violated the battlefield rules, I would have been disqualified and expelled directly by the Eternal Heaven Pearl. But I safely passed two rounds of preliminaries and now stand here, proving that even the Eternal Heaven Pearl acknowledges my ranking. What right do you have to call me guilty of a serious crime?"

Yun Che's words instantly sent Mu Bingyun's heart plummeting, her face turning pale... because no matter how logically sound or righteous Yun Che's argument was, he had just touched upon the greatest taboo of the Eternal Heaven God Realm.

The Eternal Heaven Pearl!!

"Impudent!" Everyone from the Eternal Heaven Realm darkened their expressions, and Exorcist flew into a rage: "Despicable junior, you first defied the Profound God Convention, and not only do you refuse to confess and repent, you even dare to presumptuously discuss the Eternal Heaven Pearl! This is utterly audacious and unforgivable!"

"This is outrageous!" The Eternal Heaven God Emperor's gaze also darkened slightly.

"This scoundrel! To actually dare try to use the name of the Eternal Heaven Pearl to cover up his disgraceful conduct is more than just brazen!" An Eternal Heaven Realm elder angrily declared: "Exorcist, there's no need to follow protocol and waste words on such a despicable junior. Immediately cripple his profound energy and blast him out of the Eternal Heaven Realm!"

"He brought this upon himself."

"To think there are still such arrogant and ignorant individuals; today has truly been an eye-opener."

Among the "Children of the Heaven's Chosen," a person stepped forward, bowed to Exorcist, and said solemnly: "Exorcist, we who are fortunate enough to be 'Children of the Heaven's Chosen' have all poured our lives' cultivation into this, treading carefully through the battlefield, not daring to relax for a moment, to earn this honor. To think that such a lowly scoundrel has infiltrated our ranks, not only disgracing the name of the 'Children of the Heaven's Chosen,' but also personally shaming this junior. I implore Exorcist to severely punish this lowly person and deliver justice for us."

The speaker wore white robes, his attire strikingly similar to Luo Changsheng's. His identity was none other than Luo Chang'an, the son of the Great Realm King of the Sacred Universe Realm, and Luo Changsheng's elder brother, born of the same parents.

Luo Chang'an's talent and cultivation were also exceptionally high, and he was renowned in the Eastern Divine Region. However, ever since Luo Changsheng appeared in the Sacred Universe Realm, his aura had been completely overshadowed. Yet, he seemed not to mind, remaining as arrogant as ever, though notably respectful and obedient to his younger brother Luo Changsheng, often taking pride in being Luo Changsheng's elder brother.

"For such a despicable person to enter this Conferred God Stage is not merely an insult to us 'Children of the Heaven's Chosen,' it's an utter disgrace to the profound way of my Eastern Divine Region!"

"What if he's the direct disciple of the Profound Sound Realm King... he must be severely punished!"

"Enough!"

Exorcist waved an arm, silencing all voices, and stared intensely at Yun Che. He rarely became angry, as rage could cloud his judgment and distort his absolute impartiality. Yet, facing Yun Che, he was genuinely furious: "Yun Che! The young often make mistakes. Confessing your wrongdoing, accepting your guilt, and submitting to punishment might not be unforgivable, but you insist on..."

"I'm not refusing to admit my mistakes; on the contrary, I'm speaking frankly with every word!" Yun Che interrupted him in a deep voice: "It's you who insists on insulting my master! Heh... How could I, Yun Che, ever concede to someone who insults my master!"

"Impudent!" Exorcist was even more enraged, his scowling eyebrows forming two sharp swords. As the leader of the Eternal Heaven Arbiters, even a Realm King would be cautious and deferential in his presence. He had never imagined a young man, not even sixty years old, would dare to challenge his judgment so audaciously: "You first engaged in despicable cheating, disrupting and defying the Profound God Convention—that is already a grave crime. Then you presumptuously tried to use the Eternal Heaven Pearl to cover up your disgraceful acts—adding crime upon crime! How can I possibly spare you!"

"Even if the Profound Sound Realm King were here today, she wouldn't be able to protect you!"

Exorcist's rage was so terrifying that none of the Realm Kings on the Conferred God Stage dared to utter another word. His gaze suddenly swept to Yun Che's back: "There's another person; step out yourself!"

The person Exorcist was referring to was naturally the one who helped Yun Che cheat.

No sooner had he spoken than Wu Guike immediately shook as if struck by lightning, his legs buckling, and he heavily collapsed to his knees, stammering: "This junior... knows... knows his mistake... I... I was forced... I... I..."

Wu Guike's sudden collapse to his knees astonished everyone. Who didn't know the name Wu Guike? They never in their wildest dreams imagined that the one to come forward after Exorcist's sharp command would be the son of the Divine Martial Realm King!

The Divine Martial Realm King, Wu Sanzun, who had been leisurely sitting there watching the spectacle, looked as if he'd just been slapped in the face with excrement. After a moment of shock, his face instantly contorted. He stood up, trembling, and pointed a shaky finger at Wu Guike: "Ke'er... you... you!!"

"Royal Father! Your son truly didn't mean to... Your son was forced by him, otherwise, even if..."

"Silence!" Wu Sanzun's insides were practically exploding with rage. He could tell, even with his backside, that Yun Che must have had some immense leverage over Wu Guike. His chest heaved as he publicly cursed: "You rebellious child, you fool!"

Even though he was infuriated to the extreme, Wu Guike was ultimately the son he had been most proud of over the years, and this was a critical moment, on the verge of entering the "Eternal Heaven Divine Realm." Wu Sanzun took a deep breath and, full of remorse, said to Exorcist: "Exorcist, Sanzun has failed in raising his son, who has committed a great error. But he was, after all, merely coerced by that villain, and furthermore..."

"No need to say more!" Exorcist, however, waved his hand, cutting off Wu Sanzun, and said coldly: "Wu Guike, as a profound practitioner, even if you are not masterful in the profound way, you must never lose your conscience or shame! As the esteemed son of a Realm King, to commit such a grave error at the Profound God Convention, do you have any shred of shame or dignity left as a Realm King's son or a divine profound practitioner?!"

Although publicly rebuked, Wu Guike was certainly not as "foolish" as Yun Che. He heavily knelt down again, his upper body completely bowed, and he tearfully said: "Guike knows he has committed a grave error, and is ashamed before Royal Father and all seniors. I also have no face to remain a 'Child of the Heaven's Chosen.' I ask Exorcist for punishment; no matter how severe the penalty, Guike will have no complaints."

"Hmph! Though you are guilty of a serious mistake, you are not the primary culprit. While punishment is unavoidable, it will not go so far as to expel you from the 'Children of the Heaven's Chosen.'"

These words brought a hidden look of joy to the prostrated Wu Guike, and Wu Sanzun also let out a long breath of relief.

"How you should be disciplined can be discussed later." Exorcist's gaze suddenly snapped back to Yun Che, his arm slowly rising, his voice several times colder: "Yun Che! I ask you one last time, do you admit your guilt?!"

"Hehehe... hahahahahaha!!"

Before Yun Che could answer, a harsh laughter suddenly erupted, completely out of place.

On the eastern stands, the Brahma Heaven God Emperor was lounging in his seat, laughing incessantly. As one of the God Emperors of the Southern Divine Region, his profound energy cultivation was terrifyingly immense. His laughter carried an overwhelmingly powerful penetrating force, causing everyone's eardrums and souls to tremble wildly. Exorcist's movements also froze, his entire body stiffening.

"Hahahahaha... how truly splendid, how utterly ridiculous." Under the astonished gazes of everyone, the Brahma Heaven God Emperor raised both hands dismissively, his wild laughter and words carrying unconcealed mockery: "And here I was, foolishly believing the Eternal Heaven Pearl was an unparalleled sacred object in this world. Turns out, it's nothing special after all, tsk tsk tsk."

The Conferred God Stage instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone from the Eternal Heaven Realm was first startled, then completely enraged.

Yun Che's words merely mentioned the Eternal Heaven Pearl to "exonerate" himself, which was already a taboo for the Eternal Heaven Realm. But the Brahma Heaven God Emperor's actions were clearly blatant contempt.

Exorcist abruptly turned, his face sinking, but given the Brahma Heaven God Emperor's status, it was not his place to rebuke him.

"Cang Shitian!"

Even with the Eternal Heaven God Emperor's composure, facing the Brahma Heaven God Emperor's words, he flew into a rage: "My Eternal Heaven Realm has treated you with the utmost respect as a guest, lacking nothing. Yet you dare to insult the Eternal Heaven Pearl like this... Do you truly think my Eternal Heaven Realm is easy to bully?!"

"I insulted the Eternal Heaven Pearl? Now that, this king doesn't understand." His smile faded, and his narrow eyes squinted as he sneered mockingly: "Aren't you the ones who are despising and insulting the Eternal Heaven Pearl?!"

He suddenly extended his hand, pointing directly at Yun Che, his voice echoing through the sky: "This young man named Yun Che passed two rounds of preliminaries at the Profound God Convention under the rules established by the Eternal Heaven Pearl. And it was with the Eternal Heaven Pearl's acknowledgment that he entered the top thousand of the overall rankings."

"His presence here is also, without a doubt, a result acknowledged by the Eternal Heaven Pearl."

"Yet you, with every word, righteously declare that he cheated despicably and committed a grave crime, not only wanting to expel him from the 'Children of the Heaven's Chosen,' but by the looks of it, even crippling this young man would be considered light punishment..."

"Tsk tsk tsk, your Eternal Heaven Realm is truly grand and domineering, completely disregarding the rules set by the Eternal Heaven Pearl and the results it acknowledged. You even twist a result obtained by following the rules into a serious crime. This isn't just contempt and insult; it's practically treating the Eternal Heaven Pearl's will as nothing! And you still accuse this king of insulting the Eternal Heaven Pearl... Hehe, tsk tsk tsk, this king has truly had his eyes opened and his sides split with laughter, hahahahahahaha!"