Chapter 508 518: This Seat

"Wen Qingye! Die!"

Suddenly, a figure shot out, launching an attack on Wen Qingye.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The air crackled with the sound of a Qi Burst. A raging whirlwind threatened to sweep everyone away as the very heavens seemed to press down.

When the crowd got a clear look at the attacker, they were all shocked. It was Wu Shuangying!

RUMBLE!

A massive Hand Seal materialized in the air, pressing down on Wen Qingye with the weight of a mountain.

Wen Qingye was startled. 'I can't fight this head-on.' He was just about to summon his Ice Python.

"You dare!"

The next moment, a figure shot out, blocking Wen Qingye.

"Fall back!"

Yum Tianyang saw this and roared.

He didn't even need to say it; most people were already scrambling frantically to get away.

BOOM!

An incomparably violent storm of Primordial Qi ravaged the space between heaven and earth. The violent impact blasted the clouds apart, and in an instant, the sky was completely clear.

"Blech!"

Wu Shuangying spat out a mouthful of blood, her body sent flying like a paper doll. She landed heavily in the center of the Three Pristine Platform.

Wu Shuangying, an Elder of the Three Realms Sect at the Life and Death Realm Second Layer, was grievously wounded.

Everyone instinctively looked at the person standing before Wen Qingye, and they were all left dumbfounded.

Zhang Zhilin looked down at Wu Shuangying, coughed into his hand, and said, "Cough, cough... I haven't made a move in many years. It seems you've all forgotten I exist, haven't you?"

Everyone present turned pale with shock. They stared in astonishment at the stooped, middle-aged Confucian scholar, then gasped in unison.

'So strong!'

'Is this the true strength of the Life Peak Master?'

'Zhang Zhilin is actually this powerful?' A storm raged in Elder Huaa's heart, threatening to overwhelm her.

Yum Tianyang's brow furrowed. 'He's no simple man,' he thought. 'If it weren't for that incident all those years ago, things might be very different now.'

"My master... he's certainly good at hiding his true strength," Wen Qingye murmured with a chuckle, gazing at the figure before him.

Xia Qianhe's expression was grim. He shot over to Wu Shuangying and Cai Tianyuan's side. Finding they were both still breathing, he felt a wave of relief.

"It was my Three Realms Sect that violated the rules of this life-and-death match. I hope you can be lenient. As for the matter with Wen Qingye"—Xia Qianhe's teeth audibly ground together as he continued in a low voice—"handle it as you of the Celestial Profound Sect see fit. The Three Realms Sect will have no complaints."

"Go ahead," Zhang Zhilin said coolly, his hands clasped behind his back.

Xia Qianhe gritted his teeth. "We're leaving!"

The elders of the Three Realms Sect came forward, supported the injured Cai Tianyuan and Wu Shuangying, and departed.

Seeing this, Liu Mingliang's expression changed.

Everyone else was still in a daze.

Ji Hai then turned to Gao Changtian, cupped his fists, and said, "Elder Gao, please accompany me to the Law Enforcement Hall. I will personally preside over the judgment of Wen Qingye. How does that sound?"

Gao Changtian seemed to finally snap out of his stupor at Ji Hai's words and responded instinctively.

"Yes, of course."

Ji Hai nodded. He then addressed the crowd from the Celestial Profound Sect. "Alright, the match is over. You may all disperse."

The disciples of the Celestial Profound Sect saw the people from the Three Realms Sect leave. It seemed Wen Qingye's life was safe, for now. All that remained was his sentencing.

Huang Zishan sighed softly. "Wen Qingye is truly a monster."

Watching Wen Qingye's retreating figure, Mingkong shook his head. "He won't die, but he'll pay a heavy price for this. He's a monster, alright."

For once, Yum Baobao was silent. Her large eyes were fixed on Wen Qingye, who stood behind Zhang Zhilin, her gaze filled with worry.

Qiuu Ming took a deep breath. "Brother Wen... he's just too strong."

Zhou Yue gave Wen Qingye a long, thoughtful look, then muttered under her breath, "As expected of the one our Palace Master favors. His talent is truly astonishing."

Yann Chuxue just watched Wen Qingye. She watched him as if she had been standing right there beside him, as if they had fought that battle together.

Just then, the pale-faced Wen Qingye turned his head. His gaze cut through the crowd, as if he knew exactly where Yann Chuxue was, as if he knew she was watching him. He gave her a nod and a small smile.

Yann Chuxue nodded back, a slight smile gracing her lips.

At that moment, Zhang Zhilin turned to Ji Hai. "Junior Brother Ji, you all head to the Law Enforcement Hall first. I'm going to take my disciple back to recuperate."

Ji Hai nodded without hesitation. "Of course, Senior Brother Zhang. Go on."

Hua Lie was about to speak, but when he saw that no one else seemed to find this strange—not even the people from the Flowing Cloud Sect objected—he swallowed his words.

Zhang Zhilin led Wen Qingye toward Life Peak, and they gradually disappeared from view. After a moment of reflection while watching the master and disciple's retreating backs, the remaining crowd turned and made their way to the Law Enforcement Hall.

...

「In the Law Enforcement Hall of the Main Peak.」

Ji Hai sat enthroned at the head of the hall, looking at the representatives from the Flowing Cloud Sect. "It is true," he began slowly, "that Wen Qingye pierced the Qi Sea Acupoints of the disciples from your two sects, leading to their deaths. However, the disciples from both sects had already been poisoned with Corpse Condensing Powder. In my opinion..."

Liu Mingliang's brow tightened. He looked at Ji Hai and said, "Even if they were poisoned with Corpse Condensing Powder, it doesn't necessarily mean the disciples of my sect would have died."

Gao Changtian rose and said in a grave voice, "That's right. While I won't be as harsh as Master Xia and insist on Wen Qingye's death, I do believe that for all his talent, his disposition is severely lacking. In my opinion, he must be punished severely."

"Of course. The punishment for Wen Qingye will certainly be to your satisfaction," Ji Hai said with a nod.

After speaking, Ji Hai took out a row of bamboo scrolls from the table before him. He slowly unrolled them and said, "The crime Wen Qingye has committed falls under Article 2721 of the Celestial Profound Sect's rules: killing the disciples of an allied sect without just cause. The punishment is either one year of exile in the Dragon Imprisonment Abyss or enduring the cleansing of the Earth Element Waterfall nine times."

The Dragon Imprisonment Abyss and the Earth Element Waterfall were both methods the Celestial Profound Sect used to punish its disciples. They were extraordinarily treacherous and dangerous places, and it wasn't uncommon for disciples to die there. In that sense, Ji Hai's sentence was fair and by the book; not at all excessive.

Yum Tianyang spoke slowly. "In my opinion, the Dragon Imprisonment Abyss is a fitting choice. It would be a good place to temper his character."

"The Dragon Imprisonment Abyss is not enough," Gao Changtian said, shaking his head. "I think Wen Qingye should not only be sent to the Dragon Imprisonment Abyss, but he must also undergo the cleansing of the Earth Element Waterfall."

Hearing this, Liu Mingliang grew anxious. He knew that with Wen Qingye's strength, neither punishment posed a real threat. It would be a harsh ordeal, nothing more—and that was not the outcome he desired.

Liu Mingliang put on a pained and sorrowful expression. "Isn't that punishment a little light?" he said grievously. "We must remember, Wen Qingye killed six people from our two sects. Six lives!"