Chapter 447: 446. Chapter 441: No Ability to Fight Back

446. Chapter 441: No Ability to Fight Back

Xiu Xu stepped forward, bowed in formal greeting, then spoke with grief and fury: "My son Xiu Lun refused my advice and insisted on entering the Immortal Chancellor's household as a son-in-law, marrying Bu Bu Yingyin."

But less than a year after their marriage, Bu Bu Yingyin broke her marital vows and conspired with her lover to kill my son Xiu Lun…"

Upon hearing Xiu Xu's words, Bu Bu Yingyin immediately began to weep softly.

Bu Yue coldly said: "Master Xiu, your words must be backed by evidence. If you continue to slander my daughter Yingyin, don't blame me for sentencing you."

This is the Immortal Court's Precious Hall—if not here, Xiu Xu would have been seized long ago for speaking this way.

Xiu Xu cried out in anguish: "Have I spoken a single false word? Isn't my son dead in your Immortal Chancellor's household?"

"Xiu Lun died from demonic cultivation—what does that have to do with my household?" Bu Yue roared.

"You are the Immortal Chancellor—you naturally protect your daughter. You can shield your daughter, but can you silence the whispers of the entire realm?" Xiu Xu's hands trembled with rage.

Bu Yue chuckled: "If your son was truly murdered by others, why did Lu Chongdao embezzle what you gave him? Wasn't that your attempt to bribe Lu Chongdao into lying?"

Lou Wushang Emperor frowned—how long would this drag on without resolution?

He snorted: "Then set Xiu Xu's case aside for now; first resolve Lu Chongdao's case."

"Our Immortal Court established the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws—everything must follow them. Immortal Chancellor, you imprisoned Lu Chongdao. Appoint a law officer to present a convincing justification to all."

"If you have no legitimate grounds, even as Immortal Chancellor, you will be punished under the law."

"Yes." Bu Yue responded, then turned to Ying Fang: "Master Ying, read aloud the crimes committed by Lu Chongdao. All sentencing must follow the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws."

"If anyone doesn't understand, explain clearly. Every charge must have a precise legal source—make it crystal clear to all."

Ying Fang, with his pale, clean skin, stepped forward, first performing the imperial-subject bow to Lou Wushang Emperor, then the subordinate bow to Bu Yue:

"As Master of the Immortal Law Department, I must base every action on the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws. Otherwise, what right or dignity do I have to hold this position?"

Those in the Immortal Court's Precious Hall sighed inwardly.

Ying Fang was Master of the Immortal Law Department—who in the Immortal Court knew the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws better than he did?

What were the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws? They were not about who was right.

Whoever understood the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws better would win.

Now that Ying Fang sided with Bu Yue, who could help Lu Chongdao?

Even Pingwei Emperor Luo Yu frowned—he hadn't expected Lou Wushang Emperor to disregard his face and insist on the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws.

Clearly, whoever Ying Fang supported would win.

It seemed Bu Yue's standing in Lou Wushang Emperor's eyes was even higher than he'd imagined.

"Brother Pingwei, you should also appoint a law officer for Lu Chongdao," Lou Wushang Emperor said to Luo Yu.

Luo Yu hesitated, his gaze falling on Mu Mu Jiuting, Master of the Thunder Law Department.

Before Luo Yu could speak, Mu Mu Jiuting stepped forward: "Brother Pingwei, Mu Mu Jiuting volunteers as Lu Chongdao's law officer."

"Good, thank you, Master Mu," Luo Yu nodded.

Everyone knew that as Master of the Enforcement Law Department, Mu Mu Jiuting had deep expertise in the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws—but he still fell far short of Ying Fang.

But Luo Yu had no other choice.

In this hall, besides Ying Fang, only Mu Mu Jiuting of the Thunder Law Department could be chosen.

Lou Wushang Emperor said: "Since both law officers are present, begin."

Ying Fang took a deep breath and looked at Lu Chongdao: "Lu Chongdao, did you openly rebuke Immortal Chancellor Bu Yue?"

Lu Chongdao, having been imprisoned for some time, had lost much of his former spirit.

He spoke slowly: "I needed to investigate Bu Bu Yingyin, so I went to the Immortal Chancellor's household. But Bu Yue, as Immortal Chancellor, scolded me and ordered me to leave."

"I am the chief investigator appointed by the Immortal Court—I have the authority to enter the Immortal Chancellor's household."

"So you insulted the Immortal Chancellor? According to Article 736 of the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws, offending a superior and directly confronting an Eighteen Offices Immortal Official, you must sever twenty-two meridians and be imprisoned for thirty-eight thousand years."

"Since the Immortal Chancellor is head of the Eighteen Offices, punishment is doubled: sever twenty-two meridians, imprison for thirty-eight thousand years."

"At the time, the Immortal Chancellor's qi and blood were disrupted, his Dao cultivation impaired, and he made no progress for years. According to Article 70,021 of the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws, add thirty thousand years of imprisonment and rupture the Purple Mansion…"

All present were stunned—minimum punishment for offending a superior was merely a reprimand; the most severe was punishment for Dao disruption.

If Ying Fang could produce the Law Crystal Ball from that day, and if Bu Yue's qi had surged and his Dao resonance had been disturbed, this case would be settled.

Even if Mu Mu Jiuting understood the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws better than Ying Fang, he could not overturn this.

As if fate had anticipated it, Ying Fang produced the crystal ball.

The crystal ball activated, showing footage of Lu Chongdao pointing at Bu Yue and shouting: "Old fool, the Immortal Court's virtue is ruined by scoundrels like you!"

"You allow your children to oppress Immortal Officials, prey on the Court, and corrupt your household—you are utterly wicked…"

Then Bu Yue's face turned ashen with rage, and he spat a jet of blood.

From the chaotic Dao patterns on the crystal ball, it was clear: Ying Fang's sentencing was correct, grounded in law and evidence.

Mu Mu Jiuting's face turned equally pale—how could he possibly argue now?

They had iron evidence—even the Dao resonance disturbance from Bu Yue's humiliation was captured in the crystal. He had nothing.

Even if Ying Fang didn't understand the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws better than him, he still could not provide Lu Chongdao any legal defense.

"This is merely the offense of offending a superior. Now let us discuss Lu Chongdao's embezzlement case…" Ying Fang spoke confidently.

Pingwei Emperor sighed—he knew his side had lost.

Lu Chongdao, that fool, was such a headache.

He had been in the right, but now he'd made himself utterly wrong.

He Lian Aodong saw Mu Mu Jiuting's expression and knew he could not let him serve as Lu Chongdao's law officer. She stepped forward without hesitation:

"Emperor Wan Kang, this matter involves the destruction of Qianyuan Immortal Estate. I humbly request to summon a law officer directly involved in the case."

"Master Mu is indeed one of the finest law officers, but he has not studied the case's details."

A law officer is not an official appointed by the Immortal Court—anyone who can provide legal aid under the Nine Courts' Immortal Laws qualifies as a law officer.

Hearing this, Mu Jiuting sighed in relief, for if he were sent out to serve as the legal officer for Lu Chong Dao, he would surely lose.

"Mu Qizhang hasn't spoken yet; the legal officer can still be replaced." The Lou Wushang Emperor also saw that Lu Chong Dao would inevitably lose, and he had no objection to letting Lu Chong Dao change its legal officer.

"Thank you, Great Emperor. My legal officer needs a little time to arrive here." He Lian Aodong quickly thanked him.

"No problem. Since this case has been opened for trial, we must deliver justice to everyone." The Lou Wushang Emperor waved his hand.

He Lian Aodong immediately sent out several messages.

"Aodong, this matter..." The Pingwei Emperor looked at He Lian Aodong, his eyes filled with worry.

He Lian Aodong had no confidence either, but Ding Huan had told her that if she needed help from the Nine Courts Immortal Law, he could come.

Ding Huan had studied the Five Elements Principles so thoroughly; perhaps he had insights into the Nine Courts Immortal Law as well.

"Great Emperor, the fields planted by Lu Renjia of the Immortal Agriculture Department have been inspected—no clues were found. The fields were cleaned spotlessly, not even a single rice root remained."

The people sent out by the Lou Wushang Emperor returned with an answer that left him deeply dissatisfied.

Moreover, the strongmen dispatched earlier to find Lu Renjia had not returned yet; it seemed the situation was not good.

…

Ding Huan stepped out of the Bai Wang Cave teleportation array; his appearance had once again become that of a frail itinerant cultivator.

Ding Huan knew clearly that he must leave the Immortal Court's vortex as soon as possible, so he did not use the iron pot—he chose the teleportation array instead.

He was unfamiliar with other teleportation arrays; the only one he knew well was the Bai Wang Cave array that Lu Busi had brought him to.

But as soon as he stepped out of the array, his communication bead began flashing incessantly.

He Lian Aodong?

Ding Huan picked up the communication bead, puzzled. Didn't He Lian Aodong know he was on the run right now?

Didn't he already tell her when she took away Lu Busi?

"Ding Huan, though I find it hard to say this, it concerns Lu Busi's grandfather's life—I must ask for your help."

"Please serve as the legal officer for Busi's grandfather and rescue him from the hands of Fang, the Flag-Bearer of the Immortal Law Department..."

Ding Huan frowned. He had promised to help He Lian Aodong, but not now.

Right now, he would die if exposed.

Before Ding Huan could think it through, He Lian Aodong's second message arrived.

"Don't worry—this time the hearing will be held in the Immortal Court's Precious Hall. We have the Pingwei Emperor protecting us; no one will dare touch you. After this matter is settled, whether we succeed or fail, you can leave with me and follow the Pingwei Emperor."

Ding Huan's heart stirred. That could work.

He knew the Pingwei Emperor—he was one of the Four Emperors.

With the Pingwei Emperor standing up for him, his troubles would no longer be troubles.

This wasn't just helping He Lian Aodong—it also gave him a backer for appearing openly in the future.

During his time in the Immortal Court, Ding Huan had deeply learned a truth.

If one's own strength was insufficient and one had no backer, one could not take a single step in the Immortal Court.

Now, here was an opportunity to meet the Pingwei Emperor—he accepted the task.

Once he had thought it through, Ding Huan turned without hesitation and stepped back onto the teleportation array.