Chapter 1474: All Under the Tribunal Are Ants, Xuanji Hall Master First Round

"The sinner Dao Qiong Cang, since the battle at Tian Kong Zhi Cheng, has been negligent in his duties, failed to govern effectively, and caused immense damage to the Sheng Shen Dian Tang and the Sheng Shen mainland."

"Considering his past diligence and significant contributions, he was appointed as acting hall master in the hope that he could atone for his sins. However, he showed no remorse afterward, merely occupying the position without substance, and committed further offenses."

"Now, the charges are listed as follows for him to acknowledge."

"First, failing to assess the situation clearly and underestimating the enemy, leading to the fall of the former Three Emperors Yan Wu Se, the Red Robe Chief Executor Rao Yao Yao, and the Tian Ji Divine Envoy Number Two."

"Second, refusing to correct his mistakes, showing cold indifference to his subordinates, treating the Red Robes, White Robes, Six Departments members, and even the Six Departments heads as insignificant, abandoning them without aid."

"Third, inherently lazy and unwilling to strive, hoarding talents on Sheng Shan yet refusing to use them, ultimately allowing Tian Kong Zhi Cheng to fall into the hands of Sheng Nu—this is a grave error."

"Fourth, improper personnel selections and indecisive decisions..."

"Fifth, inadequate protection, resulting in the loss of Xuan Cang..."

"Sixth..."

One charge after another was read out in an indifferent tone by the gold-robed adjudicator from the Trial Division, in front of the crowd on Sheng Shan and the spectators.

The more people listened, the more uneasy they felt.

"This is terrifying! It's like they're carving up Dao Dianzhu's heart with a knife, slice by slice, right to the bone..."

"We've all reviewed the Tian Kong Zhi Cheng campaign—didn't Dao Dianzhu handle it well? The loss wasn't our fault; it was because those Sheng Nu were too cunning and their plans too meticulous!"

"No! That's true for us, but he's Dao Qiong Cang, the enigmatic one. If it were him, he really shouldn't have lost so badly. The Trial Division has a point, doesn't it?"

"Sigh..."

Murmurs spread through the crowd below.

This was just the open discussion.

In secret transmissions, exchanges flew back and forth, crisscrossing without pause.

People divided into two factions: most felt Dao Dianzhu shouldn't be treated this way, while a minority thought it was justified.

As for the person involved, Dao Qiong Cang...

Everyone looked toward him and saw that he appeared calm on the surface, his gaze fixed on Dao Xuan Ji standing in his position, revealing no emotion.

"Sigh!"

Yu Lao let out a heavy sigh as well, stepping back from the front to stand beside Fang Wen Xin of the Red Robes, shaking his head repeatedly:

"They've gone too far!"

"Don't they realize that even Dao boy could only do so much in that situation? If someone else were in his place, everything would have collapsed completely?"

After waiting a moment with no response from beside him, Yu Lao bumped shoulders with the old Red Robe:

"Fang, my friend, what do you think?"

Fang Wen Xin's brows were furrowed, his eyes half-closed, completely ignoring the ongoing judgment. He just glanced up at the distant sky, murmuring with a hint of worry:

"Too slow..."

"What?" Yu Lao didn't catch it, feeling like he'd gone deaf. Was this about the same thing?

"I said!" Fang Wen Xin turned his head, "They're taking too long!"

"Do you have something going on?"

"Yes."

"Is it urgent?"

"Yes."

"No matter how urgent, don't act rashly. These are Trial Division people, and there might be a succession ceremony later!" Yu Lao quickly advised.

"I know." Fang Wen Xin glanced back at the gold-robed figure ahead and Dao Xuan Ji's silhouette, a flicker of disgust flashing in his half-lidded eyes.

"Utterly foul..."

"What?" Yu Lao dug at his ear again, still not hearing clearly.

"Nothing."

"Don't do anything rash, Fang, my friend. By the way, why did you come out of seclusion? Is there another major ghost beast incident that needs you?"

Fang Wen Xin said no more, knowing that more words could lead to mistakes.

"Oh, right, that kid Yue Gong Li has gone missing, and now the Red Robes have no one, so any trouble means they have to pull you, the nominal 'Vice Executor,' out. Heh!" Yu Lao chatted on, amusing himself.

Soon, the gold-robed adjudicator from the Trial Division finished listing the charges against Dao Qiong Cang from the Void Island incident.

After a pause, he continued:

"The above eighteen charges could warrant stripping the sinner Dao Qiong Cang of his hall master position and banishing him to the Dead Sea."

"However, in consideration of the Ten-Person Council's pleas for a chance at reform, it was not done. Unexpectedly, Dao Qiong Cang later planned the 'Tian Zu Action,' still acting negligently and suspected of colluding with dark forces."

This statement drew quiet objections from the crowd below, the spectators nearby, and even the semi-saints on the high platform.

Dao Qiong Cang remained unmoved.

The gold-robed adjudicator coldly declared the charges:

"Now, the charges are listed as follows for him to acknowledge."

"First, capturing but not apprehending, repeatedly endangering White Robes, including the Ten Venerables Xiang Yao Yao and other dark forces members who committed heinous crimes, yet failing to bring them back to Sheng Shan, resulting in massive casualties among Tian Zu members, with the death toll still rising."

"Second, breaching agreements and ruining alliances; Si Ling Shan Sheng Gong stands equal to the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, yet he abused his private authority, deceived repeatedly, endangering Semi-Saint Wei An and causing unrest at Si Ling Shan's main base."

"Third, disregarding rules and lives, using the Si Xiang Secret Realm as a pawn in confrontation with dark forces, leading to countless casualties among Wu Yu's talents and endless complaints from Sheng Gong trial participants."

"Fourth, knowing but not reporting, acting recklessly; aware that the Zhan Shen Guan ruins' emergence was harmful, he still proceeded stubbornly, scheming there, causing various saints on Sheng Shan to go missing, their fates unknown."

"Fifth, colluding with ghost beasts, endangering the mainland..."

The earlier charges were somewhat numbing, as if people had grown accustomed.

News of Dao Dianzhu's suspected failure in the Tian Zu Action had already spread widely, so this only amplified the disappointment.

But when "colluding with ghost beasts" was mentioned, even the murmurs on Sheng Shan ceased, and the secret transmissions stopped!

Ghost beasts...

Not just in Wu Yu.

Even at Sheng Shan's headquarters, aside from the Red Robes, few dared to speak of them lightly.

And now, the Trial Division had just arrived, and one of the charges against Dao Qiong Cang was this?

"Dao Dianzhu is in danger!"

Everyone felt a chill, realizing this assembly was no minor matter.

This could even decide the life and death of a semi-saint. Dao Qiong Cang... might lose his life?

Even Fang Wen Xin frowned, suspiciously glancing at the still composed Dao Qiong Cang.

The gold-robed adjudicator seemed oblivious to it all, emotionlessly continuing:

"Fifth, colluding with ghost beasts, endangering the mainland, privately breaking the Si Xiang secrets, and releasing the Sheng Di Qilin, causing chaos in Wu Yu, successive natural disasters, and countless deaths, yet all in vain!"

A low wave of shock rippled below.

Yes, that was the reality!

The Sheng Di Qilin, along with Sheng Di Bei Huai and Xu Xiao Shou's Extreme Giant, had fought from Qilin Realm to Zhong Yuan Realm.

And it got away...

This was Dao Qiong Cang's scheme, now painfully clear in hindsight.

No matter how brilliant Dao Qiong Cang had been before, acting this way and letting Xu Xiao Shou escape was an undeniable stain on his record!

"I have something to say."

Dao Qiong Cang stepped forward half a pace, raising his hand.

The adjudicator holding the decree didn't move, nor did the one holding the seal.

The one with the sword turned, looking at Dao Qiong Cang with a cold gaze, stating firmly:

"Be silent!"

In an instant, Sheng Shan fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Among the spectators nearby, there were faint sounds of sharp intakes of breath, but they stopped abruptly, everyone falling silent as if chilled.

Yu Lao's eyes widened, his toes curling up in his worn straw sandals.

Zhong Yuan Zi stood straight, eyes fixed ahead, stopping his constant muttering.

Jiu Ji Gui Ling crossed her hands at her waist, gripping tightly, tension in her gaze.

Fang Wen Xin still looked to the distance, his expression growing heavier.

The nine blood-shadow coins strung at his waist suddenly moved without wind, making a "ding dong" sound.

Piercing in the dead silence!

Like thunder in the quiet!

Everyone jumped in fright.

Fang Wen Xin instinctively shifted his foot, about to step forward.

Yu Lao sensed something, looked to the distance, then quickly reached out, pulling the Red Robe beside him back.

"Slow down, slow down..."

"Are you in such a hurry to meet your end? Look at the situation, my friend Fang!"

Fang Wen Xin paused, noticing the tense atmosphere around, with all eyes subtly on Dao Qiong Cang.

He turned his head abruptly, making everyone else's hearts skip a beat again.

"Very well, adjudicator..."

Behind him, Dao Qiong Cang seemed startled, glancing extra at the sword-holding gold-robed figure.

He quickly withdrew his gaze, stepped back half a pace to his original spot, his lip muscles twitching slightly.

The gold-robed figure's gaze was like a sword: "I hear no reverence!"

Dao Qiong Cang lowered his head, snowflakes accumulating on his black hair, responding promptly:

"Very well, adjudicator sir."

Snow and laurels, wind and sounds.

For some reason, at that moment, everyone on Sheng Shan felt a wave of sorrow.

Even the spectators nearby sensed the desolation, as if witnessing something quietly falling.

"Sixth..."

The decree-holding gold-robed adjudicator's voice continued.

But on Sheng Shan, nearly ninety percent of the people could no longer hear what he was saying, their hearts filled with shock.

This was Dao Dianzhu!

Even without merits, he had toiled hard.

Even if he erred, how could he be treated like this?

Wasn't this public humiliation?

But...

Recalling the three gold-robed adjudicators' disregard for all, their eyes cold even to semi-saints, everyone felt it was only right.

They just hadn't seen it before because the Trial Division rarely descended.

The Trial Division was the supreme entity on the Heavenly Ladder, representing the will of the Five Great Sheng Di families.

Guilt must be exposed, faults punished—equality for all.

What no one expected was that even Dao Dianzhu couldn't transcend this "equality"...

A slight curve appeared at Dao Xuan Ji's lips.

In her vacant gaze, she reflected the trembling figures on Sheng Shan, but not Dao Qiong Cang.

Dao Qiong Cang was behind her.

During the rest of the gold-robed adjudicator's charges, no one dared interrupt, not even moving a toe.

Dao Xuan Ji breathed deeply, as if alone, extending her hand to gather handful after handful of snowflakes.

She rolled them into balls, crushed them, and let them fall...

Then rolled them forcefully, crushed them hard, and let them fall gently...

Over and over!

Boldly!

A thrill of pure satisfaction rose from her soles, surging through the sky's clouds, bringing an electric shiver.

To stand at the peak and survey the mountains below!

Sacred thoughts looked down, and the crowd trembled, each in peril.

No one dared lift their eyes to her.

Before, they couldn't see; their eyes were only on him. Now, they didn't dare, because even looking up was forbidden.

He was finally left far behind by her.

Very far...

The gold-robed adjudicator finished listing another eighteen charges, but few heard the details clearly.

Dao Xuan Ji didn't listen either.

She had drafted this decree, so she knew the content well.

In short, Dao Qiong Cang had sunk to the bottom, with no chance of recovery!

When the indifferent final words reached her ears, Dao Xuan Ji, and everyone on Sheng Shan, finally came to their senses:

"Sinner Dao Qiong Cang, do you admit your guilt?"

A thousand gazes turned in unison to the lonely figure in the snow at the back.

Dao Qiong Cang seemed not to hear, his eyes still on Dao Xuan Ji's silhouette.

From start to finish, she hadn't glanced back at him once.

Even her shadow in the light was longer, deeper than others...

Dao Qiong Cang chuckled softly, looked at the adjudicator, and said calmly:

"I admit guilt."

The wind and snow howled, laurel shadows swayed.

In a daze, the multitude vaguely heard the adjudicator's indifferent words before departing:

"Strip Dao Qiong Cang of his Sheng Shen Dian Tang chief hall master position; let Dao Xuan Ji serve as temporary replacement, with Tian Zu Action leadership also transferred..."

"Sever one arm, banish to the Dead Sea..."

"Imprison for ten years..."

Yu Lao watched as Dao Qiong Cang was led away by the adjudicators, still in a stupor, when Fang Wen Xin grabbed his arm:

"Come with me."

As Zhong Yuan Zi started to move, he grabbed him too, pulling hard:

"No one else is available—you're coming with me too!"

Yu Lao was stunned for a moment and almost got dragged away.

He quickly pulled back, nodding toward the main seat at the proud, aloof silhouette:

Fang Wen Xin closed his eyes heavily, then withdrew his hand and bowed:

"May I ask, Dao Dianzhu..."

The words "Dao Dianzhu" made everyone leaving halt, feeling something return, and they stopped to look back.

"Fang, you're too polite. Just call me 'Xuan Ji Dianzhu.' If you have something, speak."

The wind and snow vanished abruptly, everything becoming hazy.

That sense of loss lingered with the cold wind, piercing back into the bones and sending everyone away.

Fang Wen Xin noticed nothing.

In the past decades, he had rarely said "Dao Dianzhu," and even then, only a handful of times.

After all, when the Red Robes were no longer Red Robes and the executor position became a plaything of the Sheng Di families...

He had sat in seclusion for a hundred years, watching a thousand autumns, nearly forgetting the world.

"Ghost copper sounds stir; great disaster approaches outside Yu Jing City."

"The new Red Robe Chief Executor Yue Gong Li is absent, so I must step out to deal with the petty threats."

"To prepare for emergencies, I need to take these two with me. I humbly request Xuan Ji Dianzhu's approval."

Dao Xuan Ji turned around, flicked her dust whisk, and lightly parted her lips:

"Go ahead."

"Also, investigate the cause of the ghost beasts' movements."

"Outside Yu Jing City, at the foot of Sheng Shan, this shouldn't happen—it's likely internal trouble. Find that person."

Fang Wen Xin, who was about to leave, paused:

"Internal?"

Yu Lao and Zhong Yuan Zi were also baffled.

Racking their brains, they couldn't imagine anyone on Sheng Shan bold enough to collude with ghost beasts!

Dao Xuan Ji's lips curved slightly, staring meaningfully at Fang Wen Xin.

She had known about the ghost beasts' movements early and even summoned Fang Wen Xin.

But the old man had no interest in Sheng Shan affairs and preferred seclusion, unwilling to be used again.

Even when he emerged, it was only for ghost beasts.

Yet, how could worldly matters be so absolute?

Caught in the game, even if unwilling, when it was time to act, he had to—willing or not!

Watching the three saints gaze at her, Dao Xuan Ji smiled softly:

"If the trouble doesn't come from within, and there are no petty threats on Sheng Shan, how could it alarm the Trial Division?"

"You all go investigate and make sure to uncover that person's information, then personally hand it to me. I'll report it to the Trial Division for handling."

The Trial Division again?

This insider must hold a high position?

Fang Wen Xin hesitated, not wanting to get involved in this mess, but since it concerned ghost beasts...

"What? Is there a problem?" Dao Xuan Ji tilted her head. "The three of you, feel free to speak."

"No problem for me." Yu Lao raised his hand first—who cares where to fish?

"No problem." Zhong Yuan Zi echoed—explosives work anywhere.

"I..." Fang Wen Xin hesitated, then nodded heavily. "Alright."

Dao Xuan Ji didn't let it go, sighing:

"Don't say ' alright.'"

"Since you've agreed, put your full effort into the search."

"Ghost beasts aren't the priority; if that person isn't found, chaos will continue."

"I'll entrust this task to you as the lead, Fang. The first merit goes to you, the rest split between the other two. I'll just provide support and a little help, no stealing glory."

Fang Wen Xin wasn't naive to the world; he just didn't want to be. "Xuan Ji Dianzhu should take the first merit."

"You take it!" Dao Xuan Ji emphasized firmly, waving her dust whisk. "That's settled. You three, go ahead."

Fang Wen Xin fell silent and strode away.

Zhong Yuan Zi, with his bushy explosive hair, glanced around and followed.

Yu Lao was utterly confused, performing the courtesies before leaving: "Then, Dao Dianzhu, we'll take our leave first."

"I said! Don't call me 'Dao Dianzhu'!"

"Uh..."

Yu Lao was even more baffled, feeling numb.

"Very well, Dao..."

"Uh, Xuan Ji Dianzhu."

He hurriedly slipped away—dammit, better to be rude!

This woman is impossible to deal with!

After the Sheng Shan crowd left, the twenty or so spectators huddled forward, all smiles, full of delight.

Jiang Na Yi rushed ahead of the others, his face full of flattery, bowing ninety degrees, his voice shrill as he cupped his fists high:

"Congratulations to Xuan Ji Dianzhu, felicitations to Xuan Ji Dianzhu..."