Chapter 106: Chapter 106
"Okay, then let me see what Voidshade has accumulated over the years," Edwin said coldly, his voice cutting through the still tension like a sharpened blade.
The entire martial arts arena held its breath as stunned disciples watched the fiery confrontation escalate.
The peak master of Voidshade Peak, Adyr, stood firm with his three elders, all masters within the Tribulation Transcendence realm, their auras rising steadily like gathering storms.
Across from them stood the Sword Immortal Althea and Edwin himself—the former master of Sword Peak. This was no ordinary battle; it was a clash of titans poised to shake the sect’s foundations.
The crowd found itself caught between awe and disbelief. Did the scene truly need to erupt into battle? Eyes darted anxiously among the watchers—none daring to breathe, the weight of impending violence pressing on every chest.
Just as the tension brimmed to its peak, a voice not from the assembly interrupted the deafening silence. It floated in, light and hollow, like moonlight slipping through ancient trees.
"Everyone, have you had enough trouble?"
Before the words could fully settle, a radiant red light trailed down from the sky. Lyralei, the Empress, descended with grace, spinning twice in the air before landing at the center of the martial arts stage. Her red dress fluttered like flames licking the cold wind. With languid calm, she surveyed the scene with detached indifference before planting her feet solidly on the ground.
"See the Empress!" came a rising cry from the witnessing disciples.
Hands lifted in respectful salutes, voices rang clear and loud. The disciples dropped to one knee in deference, while the peak masters and elders bowed with hands joined.
Lyralei’s eyes swept across the assembled, her tone casual but with unmistakable authority. "Just a martial arts competition between the four peaks to stir such a tempest? Tell me what’s going on."
Adyr stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes, voice sharp as a drawn sword.
"It’s Ethan of Azure Sky Peak! He seriously injured my youngest disciple, Allen, and nearly killed my eldest, Sam. Had I not intervened, Sam would be dead! And still, the boy provokes the saint and slanders her honor—a crime worthy of death!"
Lyralei’s glance briefly fell upon Allen, noticing the young disciple was out cold but stable, internal injuries serious but not fatal.
Her eyes then shifted toward Sam, the horror of his injuries clear even from a distance—his waist split nearly down the middle, dantian shattered, meridians severed; the breath clinging by a thread.
Turning to Ethan, Lyralei’s gaze sharpened. "Ethan, how do you explain yourself?"
Ethan’s reply was simple, unflinching: "Those who kill will always be killed."
There was a breath of tension before Lyralei pressed, "Explain yourself. What do you mean?"
From the depths of his memories and pain, Ethan’s voice rose firm as steel. "Long ago, Sam sent Alex to ambush and assassinate me in the tomb. Had I not been lucky, I would be a corpse."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Lyralei raised an eyebrow, "Is there anything else?"
Adyr’s voice cracked in anger. "Nonsense! Where’s the evidence?"
Without hesitation, Ethan tossed forth a token.
Lyralei caught it with a practiced hand and gave it a measured glance. "Indeed, this is the token of a Voidshade Peak disciple."
Prejudice rose to Adyr’s lips, mocking, "A token alone? How can you prove anything?"
Ethan’s lips curled with a thin smile. "Old dog, are you stupid? There are many powerful eyes here—the sect leader included. Evidence can be uncovered with but a thought. The stronger the person, the deeper the tricks—yes, but even without Alex’s token, it’s easy to learn the truth. It only depends on willingness."
Her eyes surveying the gathered, Lyralei’s voice rolled out across the arena. "Does anyone have ideas on how to confirm this?"
From the crowd stepped the beautiful Peak Master of Celestial Lotus Peak, the follower of charm arts. "I do," she said with calm confidence.
Lyralei tilted her head. "And what can you do?"
"My charm technique absorbs souls," the woman explained, voice silky but firm.
"Anyone questioned under it will unconsciously reveal the truth."
The Empress nodded, "Very well. Ethan, who do you want to question?"
"As his master, Adyr must know the truth behind Sam’s deeds, but it’s up to Her Majesty to decide," Ethan replied.
Adyr’s expression twisted with shock. It was over—he had not considered the power the Celestial Lotus Peak’s charm technique held.
"Since Ethan believes Sam is responsible, we shall question Sam. Junior Sister, I’m sorry to trouble you."
Without hesitation, the woman knelt beside Sam, who lay pale and battered, his breath thin as a fading candle.
"Wait!" Adyr’s voice cracked with warning.
"Sam only has one breath left. Using charm techniques might kill him!"
The woman’s reply was cool and precise. "Do not worry. My technique does not harm the body—only the soul. Even in this state, it will awaken his spirit without affecting his injuries."
Adyr clenched his fists but stepped back, unwilling to challenge the power summoned.
The woman’s palm glowed with tranquil light as she prepared to ensnare Sam’s soul.
Suddenly, a low voice escaped Sam’s cracked lips, startling many.
"What happened at that time was ordered by Sam!"
The proclamation stirred a chaotic wave through the disciples. Those who had lamented Sam’s death now understood the twisted past.
"Sam’s betrayal lies at the heart of this."
Their whispers rippled like wildfire.
A voice rang clear with awakened understanding, "Don’t underestimate the ordinary or the quiet. Careless foes may grow to become lethal enemies."
At this, Seraphina’s face turned grim, as if shaken by an unseen blow.
Adyr’s fire flickered, his stance collapsing into weary defeat.
"Sam did not intend to kill outright—only to teach Ethan a harsh lesson," he admitted in weakened tone.
Lyralei’s voice cut through the tension with iron resolve.
"The matter is clear now."
"Sam secretly plotted to kill his fellow disciples. By sect law, he must be stripped of his cultivation and imprisoned indefinitely in the Demon Sealing Cave for his crimes."
"The Voidshade peak allowed this to happen under their Peak Master’s watch and tried to harm the sects fellow disciples. The whole Voidshade Peak will be sent to the Outer sect with Lower resources and bare minimum requirements full filled. The peak is to stay in the outer sect for the next 50 years. Voidshade Peak shall re-elect its leader through the elders."
The room fell heavy with silence.
Adyr’s hands clenched into fists; his eyes darted darkly toward Ethan.
Today, he admitted defeat.
In public, with the Empress overseeing, it was impossible to avoid judgment. Punishment, however harsh, would be tempered with explanation.
"This matter is closed. The martial arts competition will continue without delay," Lyralei declared, gesturing toward the spectators.
"You two, take your seats on the viewing platform," she commanded, her gaze lingering on Ethan and Althea.
Ethan, however, turned back toward Seraphina, his voice rising strong and clear.
"Your Highness the Saint, our battle has just begun!"
A/N:
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