Inside the Hall of Punishment
Zhang Yong entered the Hall of Punishment accompanied by the escorting guards. Deacons were present on the sides, while the front rows were filled. At the very front sat all the Elders, under the personal presence of the Sect Master himself. Before them, Lu Li knelt on the ground, both hands bound behind her back.
Outside, over ten thousand disciples had gathered. It wouldn't be wrong to say every disciple of the sect was here, yet they were all silent. Some were shocked, others skeptical, with various expressions on their faces.
"Elder Sister Lu Li has been caught... is it possible she's..."
"It's impossible!Elder Sister Lu Li can't be the serial killer!"
"That's right,she's a good person, she couldn't do something so heinous."
Before the podium, precisely a short distance in front of Lu Li, was a wooden coffin. The corpse inside was Chen Biao's! His body was rotten, blackened, and emitted a foul, deathly smell.
Zhang Yong looked ahead. If Lu Li was truly caught... In truth, this Lu Li would have been a good person. If not for the current situation, with her talent, she would have already qualified to become the Sect Master, and would have been better than the current one. He had planned to win her to his side, and once she matured and reached the Venerable rank, he would replace the Sword Peak Elder with her. But unfortunately, the winds blow contrary to the ship's desires. However, this isn't necessarily always a bad thing.
The Punishment Hall Elder stepped forward and pronounced the charge: "Inner Disciple Lu Li is apprehended on charges of murder."
Immediately, Lu Li cried out, "You're wrong! I didn't kill anyone!"
The Sword Peak Elder roared, his eyes red and boiling with anger. "Liar! You killed the disciples! You even killed your own sect brother who took care of you!"
Zhang Yong, standing calmly in the back row with the escorting guards, cast a cold glance over the hall crowded with disciples and elders. It's clear he's making Lu Li a scapegoat to save himself. The faster he gets rid of her, the safer his secret is.
Lu Li cried out again, her voice trembling as she tried to defend herself: "I didn't kill anyone! This is slander! I've been framed!"
The Punishment Hall Elder pointed towards the coffin. "The corpse before us proves it. Chen Biao was one of the closest to you, and he died a horrific death at your hands."
The disciples outside were whispering among themselves. Some couldn't believe what they were hearing, while others began to doubt Lu Li's innocence.
Elder Gu observed the situation calmly, and his voice echoed. "It seems the Sword Peak Elder is in a hurry to dispose of his disciple. What a fragile relationship."
The Sword Peak Elder looked at Elder Gu with disdain. "Elder Gu, you are not in a position to speak. Regardless of your current appearance, your level doesn't even qualify you to speak. The only reason you're allowed to keep your position is your knowledge."
Elder Gu smiled coldly. "Oh? But I think since my disciple was a victim, I have every right to intervene, no? Or... can the Peak Elder not bear to keep his disciple alive for another second?"
Fury erupted on the Peak Elder's face. "You!... Don't falsely accuse me!"
Immediately, the Silver Frost Peak Elderess stood in front of Elder Gu, intercepting the Sword Peak Elder. Seeing this, the Sword Peak Elder turned away. This was neither the place nor the time for a confrontation.
The hall suddenly fell silent as the Sect Master took a step forward, raising his hand to quiet everyone. He looked at the Sword Peak Elder with eyes full of authority. "That's enough. Peak Elder Yu, you've done well in apprehending the killer."
The Sword Peak Elder beamed brightly. "It is my pleasure, all under the wise guidance of the Sect Master."
The Sect Master's reply was cold. "However, because you failed in your duty and allowed your disciple to commit this error, you will be punished with one month of confinement and a reduction in salary."
The Sword Peak Elder's smile froze on his face, his features turning into a mix of embarrassment and anger, but he bowed lightly. "As you command, Sect Master. I accept the punishment."
The Sect Master looked at everyone, his gaze carrying an unbearable weight. "Lu Li, you are charged with committing multiple murders within the sect. The judgment for this is clear in the sect's laws."
Lu Li breathed with difficulty. "Sect Master, I am innocent! I beg you to grant me a chance to defend myself!"
The Sect Master looked towards the Punishment Hall Elder and said, "Elder Ji, the punishment will be carried out before the disciples as a lesson."
His words fell with immense weight on Lu Li—words of a complete death sentence.
At that moment, Zhang Yong moved slowly from the back row, advancing towards the front. All eyes turned to him—disciples and elders alike—even the Sect Master looked at him with interest.
"Sect Master, Disciple Lu Li is innocent of this."
"Zhang Yong?" the Sword Peak Elder spoke in a tone full of contempt. "Who are you to give testimony here? Have you forgotten you are still under punishment?"
Zhang Yong stood before Lu Li, ignoring the Sword Peak Elder's words and the clear hostile atmosphere. He bowed lightly towards the Sect Master, then raised his head. "Sect Master, I have a way to prove that Sister Lu Li is innocent."
The elders frowned, and whispers rose among the disciples outside. How could Zhang Yong possibly save not only himself but also Lu Li from this?
The Sword Peak Elder raised his hand sharply, his eyes flashing with anger. "This is just an attempt to cause chaos! Lu Li is the murderer, the evidence is before us! What can someone like you possibly offer?"
Zhang Yong turned towards the Sword Peak Elder, looking at him coldly. "Clearly, I was speaking to the Sect Master. Do you think yourself above him to speak in his place?"
Silence fell over the hall for a moment. Zhang Yong's words were like a slap to the Sword Peak Elder's face. The anger on the Elder's face turned into a shadow of embarrassment.
The Sect Master stared at Zhang Yong and waved his hand. "You may proceed."
Zhang Yong smiled lightly and continued, "If you will permit me to call my final witness, I summon... Long!"
Astonishment surged in the hall upon hearing the name "Long." Whispers broke out among the disciples and elders.
"Long? Who is that?"
"Can he be a real witness?Or is Zhang Yong just trying to buy time?"
Lu Li raised her head in confusion, her bright eyes staring at Zhang Yong, while whispers filled the Hall of Punishment.
Suddenly, the entire place shook, and a hole immediately appeared in the ground. From it emerged a dragon.
It was a Chinese-style dragon without arms or limbs, just a serpentine body. Its body appeared snake-like, covered in black scales. Its large, golden eyes made their way out of the pit.
Suddenly, a terrible silence descended upon the Hall of Punishment. All breaths froze the moment it appeared. A feeling of terror and mystery swept through the hall, as if the very atmosphere had become heavier. No one dared to move or breathe; they felt that the moment they did, it would be their end.
The Sect Master stared in shock at the dragon. 'The Sect's Guardian Spirit is here?! How did this Zhang Yong manage to persuade it?' His thoughts raced.
The Sect Master took a step forward, staring at the dragon cautiously and respectfully. "I did not expect the Guardian Spirit to personally attend to bear witness."
The Sect's Guardian Spirit! The sect has a Guardian Spirit! None of the disciples could contain their shock. Pride surged in their blood, and they felt immense happiness. The sect possessing a Guardian Spirit meant it was secure. Not to mention, only the top sects with the best cultivation resources possessed Guardian Spirits and Qi Springs. Their joy couldn't be expressed in better words.
Knowing it was the Guardian Spirit that had appeared, the disciples' spirits relaxed somewhat.
But Zhang Yong's words were thunderous, as no one had expected him to have the audacity to persuade the sect's Guardian Spirit to intervene in such a matter.
The dragon, Long, looked towards the Sect Master. "Hmph, kid Ao Dong, it seems you have many problems in your sect."
The dragon slowly advanced, directing its large head towards Zhang Yong, then spoke in a voice as deep as thunder. "So, it's time for my appearance."
Zhang Yong smiled calmly. "Guardian Spirit of the Sect, can you tell us who the killer was that was disturbing the peace of the disciples?"
The dragon raised its massive head, stared at the corpse placed inside the coffin, then looked at Lu Li bound on the ground. Then it looked at the Sword Peak Elder and spoke, its voice echoing like thunder. "This girl here possesses two souls. She did not kill the disciples of her own will." Then it breathed, and two streams of vapor flowed from its nostrils. "This Elder controlled her using a Soul Enslavement Stone and made her practice demonic techniques, which led her to carry out the serial killings."
Everyone was stunned, including the Sect Master himself. Silence reigned in the Hall of Punishment.
The Sword Peak Elder's face contorted, turning pale like a corpse. His hands trembled, but he tried to hold on with an angry voice: "This is slander! I committed nothing! All of this was planned by that Zhang Yong!"
The Sect Master looked towards the Sword Peak Elder. His voice boomed powerfully, cutting off the Sword Peak Elder. "Silence!" His eyes were filled with anger and majesty. He then turned towards the dragon and said respectfully, "Guardian Spirit, can you clarify more about this situation?"
The Sect Master could only request this. The Guardian Spirit had borne witness, and the Sect Master was certain it would not lie. Why? From generation to generation of the Purple Star Sect Masters, the contract is renewed with each new Sect Master with the Guardian Spirit, and it includes that no information concerning the sect shall be concealed.
The dragon looked disdainfully at the Sword Peak Elder and said, "The Soul Enslavement Stone from the Soul Path. He used it to control this girl and used her to kill the disciples. All of it to get rid of the boy Zhang Yong and his master in one go."
Whispers rose among the elders and disciples outside. This information was like a detonating bomb.
In a voice full of anger, the Sect Master shouted, "Sword Peak Elder Yu! Do you have an explanation for this?"
Elder Yu was sweating profusely. His eyes were darting rapidly, searching for a way out. But he suddenly exploded in anger: "You are all fools! Since this Zhang Yong appeared, the sect has known no peace! I did it for the sake of the sect!"
"Nonsense!" Zhang Yong shouted, stepping towards the Sword Peak Elder. "You say for the sake of the sect, yet just to get rid of me and my Master, you sacrificed innocent disciples!"
Zhang Yong clutched his chest and began to cry. "How could you be so cruel? Those were our brothers and sisters! Just to get rid of me, you wasted their lives!"
Everyone felt shocked. Zhang Yong was crying! Even the elders who had been suspicious of him felt awkward. His tears added credibility to his words. Everyone was gently moved by the scene.
Sword Peak Elder Yu tried to take a step back, but the dragon Long didn't allow it. It said in a low, deep voice, like thunder coming from the sky, "Don't you dare try to escape!"
The Sword Peak Elder jumped, trying to flee. But the moment he tried, a green light burst from Long's body, immediately surrounding him and pinning him to the ground.
Zhang Yong walked towards the Sword Peak Elder, carrying the Mountain-Cleaving Axe in his hand. "According to sect law: causing the death of disciples, creating chaos within the sect... all of it equals the punishment of execution."
Immediately, the Sect Master shouted, "Wait, Zhang Yong, you must—"
Zhang Yong cut him off indifferently. "Sect Master, don't tell me you want to save him. According to sect laws, the punishment for what he did is execution." Zhang Yong's gaze was terrifying as he stared at the Sect Master, but suddenly replaced it with a smile. "Oh, I see. Is it possible the Sect Master is looking for an executioner to perform this task? Don't worry, I'll gladly take on this role."
Zhang Yong raised his axe once and swung it with force.
Thwack!
Sword Peak Elder Yu's head fell and rolled on the ground. A deafening silence filled the place.
Zhang Yong turned and walked towards Lu Li. "Now that the Sword Peak Elder is gone, and one candidate has died as a result, that leaves only Sister Lu Li to assume the position." Zhang Yong waved his axe, breaking the restraints on Lu Li, and helped her stand. "However, since Sister Lu Li is tainted with demonic Qi, I suggest she go to the sect's Valley of Repentance to purify her aura of it. She will serve as an unofficial Elder until she breaks through to the Venerable rank."
Lu Li stared at Zhang Yong in astonishment. She closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then slowly raised her head. Tears of gratitude streamed down her cheeks. "Thank you, Brother Zhang Yong. Thank you."
Zhang Yong calmly returned his axe to his storage and looked towards the Thunder Peak Elder. A shiver spread through the Elder's body upon seeing Zhang Yong's gaze. His look said one thing:
'You're next.'