Chapter 329

"This jade disc was created by Mr. Xiao Shui and Ms. Miaoyin, on the hundredth anniversary of their wedding, using the Water Mirror Recall Technique to extract memories from their consciousness and etch them into this record."

Li Cheng pressed the jade disc, summoning a 3D projection, and explained in sync: "At that time, Mr. Xiao Shui, merely a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator, was being hunted down for carrying spiritual herbs, lost his footing off a cliff, suffered severe injuries, and collapsed into unconsciousness."

Ms. Miaoyin, also a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the time, discovered and rescued him, bringing him back to her humble thatched hut to nurse him back to health. As they lived together, feelings gradually blossomed; after a year, they confirmed their relationship and married at the Xiao Shui Sect."

When the jade disc was made, the couple's affection was still strong. The editing, lighting, and soundtrack of the recording were carefully crafted."

At that time, the entire sect had fallen into ruin; the wedding was held on barren ground, with only about a dozen Qi Condensation disciples in attendance—but every face radiated joy and blessings, truly heartbreaking to witness."

The judge frowned, "What's the problem here?"

"There is."

Li Cheng pressed the pause button, adjusted his upgraded Information Synthesis Glasses·Modified, and said:

"Mr. Xiao Shui and Ms. Miaoyin registered their marriage the very next day after their wedding ceremony at the local state's Immortal Court Minzheng Bureau."

According to the Immortal Court Civil Code, male cultivators must be at least 22 years old, and female cultivators at least 20, to register marriage."

If either or both parties are underage and register marriage using forged documents—such as fake cultivator ID cards or Death Registers—the marriage is void ab initio."

For a cultivator population with an average lifespan nearing two hundred years, twenty-something is still childhood. Xiao Shui and Miaoyin married before thirty—exceptionally early."

"Wait,"

The judge's face showed confusion, "Are you saying Lord Xiao Shui concealed his age? He was under 22 when he married?"

"It wasn't Xiao Shui who concealed his age—it was Miaoyin who falsified hers."

Li Cheng grinned, glancing at Ms. Miaoyin Ju Shi, silent in the plaintiff's seat, his eyes clearly displaying her true age."

"According to the memory recording, Ms. Miaoyin Ju Shi claimed her master was Wei Xi Xianzi, a once-renowned, morally ambiguous Jin Dan hermit from Qingzhou."

In the year 3233 of the Bu Zhou Calendar, she perished alongside demonic cultivators while pursuing the abduction of over a thousand innocent infants."

Miaoyin inherited Wei Xi Xianzi's lineage and met Xiao Shui three years later, in 3236; they married in 3237."

But in truth, all of this was a lie."

Miaoyin's real identity was a fragment of Wei Xi Xianzi's lingering soul. She possessed the body of one of the kidnapped infants, used her past-life memories to rapidly mature into adulthood, and cultivated back to Foundation Establishment."

The Immortal Court Civil Code determines age based on the cultivator's spiritual soul age."

That is, strictly speaking, when Miaoyin married, her legal soul age was under four years old. The entire marriage is invalid."

If you doubt it, you may ask the judge to examine Ms. Miaoyin's spiritual soul strength."

???

This statement made Xiao Shui's eyelid twitch, Zhang Wei stare in shock, and even Hua De and others on the opposite side stunned—they immediately leaned in to confer."

Li Cheng exhaled silently. He had merely guessed, based on the anomalous age displayed by his upgraded Information Synthesis Glasses·Modified."

But from the reaction on the other side, it seemed he was right."

Is this even possible?"

Under the table, Zhang Wei clenched his fists in excitement—deadly peril, then rebirth. He silently mouthed: "Big Brother Pi is awesome."

Li Cheng spread his hands: "Precisely because Miaoyin inherited Wei Xi Xianzi's memories, her cultivation advanced so rapidly. On the worst interpretation: Qingzhou is vast—how could a young male cultivator with Ice-Thunder elemental affinity possibly chance upon a young female with Wind-Fire elemental affinity?

It's likely Miaoyin, leveraging her head start, orchestrated this 'chance encounter.'"

"The men who pursued Xiao Shui may have been arranged by Miaoyin herself."

"Wait,"

From the plaintiff's seat, the aged Hai Ye rose, his gaze sharp: "You should know that Article 236 of the Immortal Court Criminal Code explicitly states: any sexual relations with a female under fourteen, regardless of consent, constitute a crime and warrant aggravated punishment."

If Ms. Miaoyin Ju Shi's legal soul age was under four at the time of marriage, then Lord Xiao Shui is already a serious criminal."

Yuan Zhixia, Zhang Wei, and Lord Xiao Shui on the defendant's side conferred briefly; the latter made his decision, nodding solemnly."

With the client's consent secured, Zhang Wei stood and said, "We accept," then sat back down."

What is currently being tried is a divorce case."

Not a case of old ox eating tender grass—or tender ox eating old grass—over age confusion."

For Lord Xiao Shui, the most important thing now is to survive this divorce case and secure the majority of the assets."

"Shit!"

Hua De drew in a sharp breath: "Xiao Shui is determined to expose us—he's willing to spend three to ten years in prison for it!"

"With aggravating circumstances, the sentence could be upgraded to over ten years, life imprisonment, or even death."

Hai Ye paused, "But from the jade disc footage, it's unlikely."

In this cultivator world, the Water Mirror Recall Technique can instantly retrieve memory footage from over a hundred years ago."

From their first meeting to their wedding, Miaoyin was always the active party—it's hard to impose the maximum penalty on Xiao Shui."

Three to ten years' imprisonment? For cultivators with two-hundred-year lifespans? It's acceptable—just another long meditation."

Ms. Miaoyin Ju Shi remained silent, her palm pressed flat on the table, knuckles whitening faintly."

"In any case,"

Yuan Zhixia interjected, "Since they were never legally married, their property division must follow cohabitation rules."

According to the Immortal Court Civil Code and related judicial interpretations, the basic principles for dividing cohabitation assets are as follows: First, whoever invested owns the asset."

Second, assets with clear proof of sole ownership—such as property contracts or transfer records—belong to that party; unproven assets are treated as jointly owned."

Third, divide assets according to each party's contribution."

I suggest both sides use the Water Mirror Recall Technique to meticulously clarify their respective contributions to the entire Xiao Shui Sect conglomerate."

Property division in divorce differs drastically from cohabitation division."

Lord Xiao Shui's greatest advantage lies in being the nominal sect leader—land deeds, cave estate certificates, and spirit stone mining permits all remain in his possession."

Moreover, the couple had no children, so there is no need to apply the principle of protecting the weaker party in asset division (e. g., compensating the spouse who contributed more to household duties or child-rearing),"

granting Miaoyin a larger share."

"Ms. Miaoyin Ju Shi,"

The presiding judge turned to the plaintiff's bench, "Do you agree to the defense attorney's proposal to conduct a strength test on your divine soul and re-evaluate your legal age?"

"No need."

After a brief consultation, Haye rose and said, "Our side requires time to prepare a defense for the new evidence; we request a temporary recess."