The status of the Spirit Realm Travelers is unique and does not conform to ordinary legal principles. The Court of the Investigation Department of the Five Elements Alliance is specifically established to handle cases involving Spirit Realm Travelers. The laws enacted to penalize Spirit Realm Travelers also differ significantly from conventional legal systems—human rights concepts are largely absent, with capital punishment as the primary measure and imprisonment as a secondary one. On one hand, Spirit Realm Travelers, possessing extraordinary abilities, pose an overwhelming threat to society, much like time-bomb hazards; it would be the most inhumane act to insist on human rights when dealing with such threats. On the other hand, certain offenders exhibit exceptional potential; if not promptly returned to the Spirit Realm, they may rapidly develop and grow through frequent visits to the realms, eventually becoming Saints or even Masters of supreme strength. Therefore, returning them promptly to the Spirit Realm is the simplest and most efficient solution. The grand, imposing doors of the Court stand open. Zhang Yuanqing, escorted by two investigators, walks through the long corridor and passes through the three-meter-high entrance, entering the magnificent, cathedral-like courtroom. The layout of the courtroom is similar to that of a regular court, featuring a bench for judges, a gallery for spectators, and a prosecutor's stand—yet there is no dedicated area for lawyers. Additionally, behind the judges' bench, there are ten high-backed chairs, elevated and overlooking the entire hall. Today is a special day: the official legend, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, will receive the highest-level trial at the Investigation Department's courtroom. To prepare for this, the department's security personnel have arrived an hour early, sealing off the building and guarding all entrances and exits, strictly prohibiting any personnel from entering or leaving. Senior leaders of the rank of Master have personally maintained order on site. Their primary objective is to prevent the accused from panicking and resorting to forceful resistance or escape. At this moment, the vast courtroom is utterly silent—the judges' bench, the spectator gallery, the prosecutor's stand—all empty. Only the security officers, dressed in formal attire and wearing various badges, stand straight and poised along the corridors and at the seats, resembling well-trained guards from ancient times. Zhang Yuanqing has been led to the defendant's bench. The defendant's chair is a solid black iron chair, unadorned with carvings or openwork, with a simple, ancient appearance. The young investigator loosens the handcuffs and says in a steady tone, "Place your hands on the armrests." Zhang Yuanqing follows the instruction while simultaneously reading the item information appearing in his field of vision: 【Name: The Seat of Silence】 【Type: Accusatory Chair】 【Function: Restriction】 【Description: A chair commissioned by a general to a craftsman for use in interrogations. It enables the person to become silent and immobile. The general personally experienced its effects and was highly satisfied. However, a tragedy unfolded—the craftsman himself could not figure out how to free the person from the chair's hold, and the general remained trapped. Fortunately, the general's deputy was a Fire Mage.】 【Note: General: You broke my hands, you old six...】 What is the cost of breaking free from the Seat of Silence—breaking one's own hands? The cost is quite high. Besides the difficulty of severing his own arms while bound, once the arms are cut, his combat effectiveness plummets, and he'll likely be subdued right on the spot by his own guards. He can't speak at all—am I being denied the chance to defend myself? As Zhang Yuanqing read through the item details, he was stunned to realize he had lost his ability to speak. As for the overly lively annotations, he had grown used to them. The training at Qin Feng Academy had made him realize that the essence of the spiritual realm might very well be composed of an impressive, even unimaginable, combination of multiple-tiered items. For instance, moral standing is a cause-and-effect type item. Rule-based items possess self-awareness, and higher-tier cause-and-effect items are no exception. Things with consciousness tend to be mischievous. After seating himself, Zhang Yuanqing waited ten minutes until a middle-aged man in a black suit, with pronounced lines around his forehead, entered the courtroom. The middle-aged man glanced at Yuanshitan Zhen on the "Seat of Silence," his expression cold, then moved aside and sat at the prosecutor's bench. He checked his watch and said to the guard standing beside him, "Time's up!" The guard bowed, removed his walkie-talkie, and announced, "The hearing is now in session!" With a series of crisp "clicks," the projectors above each seat activated, projecting glowing blue beams that materialized into a series of formally dressed men and women. Young, middle-aged, elderly—over one hundred in total. These were the senior officers (levels 5 and 6) from each branch, the most senior and powerful group below the elders. He recognized Guan Ya, Xia Shu-lian's love story, Sun Miao-miao, Zhao the City God, and Yin Ji. Among them, only Xia Shu-lian and Yin Ji qualified by rank; the others had entered through personal connections. —Level 4 Sages were not eligible to attend. In addition, a small number of disciples from the Lingjing Clan attended the trial—no more than ten in total. Among them were Xie Lingxi, Xie Su, and a graceful, delicate woman whose beauty resembled that of osmanthus blossoms after a rain. On the witness stand stood Huang Taidi, a man of stern demeanor and rarely smiling. The jury consisted of various elders, including Fu Qingyang, the Dog Elder, the Peak Elder, and the Luo Shen Elder—some of whom were familiar to Zhang Yuanqing. As Zhang Yuanqing scanned the entire hall, he exchanged a glance with Fu Qingyang before turning his attention to Cai, the judge. Cai, the elder, was enveloped in a thin mist, with no visible pupils in his eyes—instead, they shimmered like black pools of water. A dark droplet mark adorned his forehead. Though he appeared younger than expected, he had a full head of black hair with only slight gray at his temples, giving him the appearance of a middle-aged man in his prime. With each breath, a dense mist exhaled from the nostrils, and faint thunder and wind sounds drifted through the projector's built-in speakers. Unearthly—like a deity or a demon! Zhang Yuanqing stared directly into the full-holographic projection of Cai Elder for several seconds, then suddenly felt his breathing grow rapid, his lungs blazing with heat, his exhaled breath now scorching. He was ill. Though the symptoms were mild, he was indeed unwell. Simply gazing at the full-holographic image of Cai Elder had triggered these subtle signs. Zhang Yuanqing was struck with alarm, immediately recalling the "Spread" ability of the God of Plague—known for spreading illness. It was well established that the core skill of the God of Plague was disease, but disease itself required transmission. "Spread" was an active ability that could transmit illness through air, contact, moisture, or bodily fluids, silently reaching its target. Zhang Yuanqing had never imagined that a virtual, holographic projection could serve as a medium for such transmission. How terrifyingly powerful was the Apex Sovereign! He dared not look any longer, shifting his gaze away from Cai Elder and turning toward the figure behind him. On the ten prestigious thrones elevated above the others, nine Grand Masters sat, each possessing extraordinary qualities due to their immensely powerful spiritual energies. At the peak of the Ninth Rank, their life levels had transcended the ordinary, with their spiritual essence clearly manifesting in their hair, facial features, hands, and limbs. Only the Central Grand Master, Di Hong, remained composed and gentle, like a majestic mountain range, yet still maintained a human appearance, showing no unusual traits. As Zhang Yuanqing observed the other Grand Masters, a series of focused glances also turned toward him, drawing complex expressions from both the audience and the elders. The middle-aged man on the prosecution stand rose immediately and read from the document: "My name is Lingjing ID Nu Lang Jing Tao, Group Leader of the Investigation Department. While reviewing the Yellow Taiji's副本 mission report, we identified several omissions and instances of concealment or false reporting. After verification, we confirm that Cai Long Shen was killed by Yuan Shi Tian Zun, due to Yuan Shi Tian Zun's dissatisfaction with the distribution of captured assets. According to Article Three of the Five Elements Alliance regulations, any colleague who is killed or severely injured shall be sentenced to death or life imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense. We believe the facts of Yuan Shi Tian Zun's crime are clear, the evidence is solid and conclusive, and there is a precedent. Therefore, we respectfully request that the Presiding Judge impose a sentence of death, to be carried out immediately." Under everyone's watch, Huang Taiji spoke calmly: "The accusations of furious waves and roaring tides are far from accurate. In my statement, I have already explained that Cai Longshen relied on..." Before he could finish, the middle-aged man interrupted: "Your Honor, I believe any remarks unrelated to this case should be suppressed." Cai Longshen said gently: "Huang Taiji, you only need to present facts directly relevant to this case. Statements that have no bearing on the matter need not be elaborated upon. Should this happen again, I will have you silenced." What does it mean to make statements unrelated to the case? Is a statement that harms your grandson considered unrelated to the case? Zhang Yuanqing tried to speak but found himself at a loss. He had not even been given the chance to defend himself. Huang Taiji paused, deliberately avoiding the details of Cai Longshen's hesitation, and said: "The Yuanshishen did indeed kill Cai Longshen. However, in order to reverse the inevitable defeat of the Order of Order, he forcibly absorbed the souls of the master-level bosses, which caused him to lose his mental clarity and undergo a significant change in temperament." "Yet Caile Gong was truly dissatisfied with the distribution of benefits—he sought to seize the spoils, thereby provoking Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn." Did Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn forcibly absorb the boss's soul? The audience suddenly understood—this now fully explained why Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn had resorted to killing. Night-You Shen's lingering effects were severe; once accumulated to a certain point, his mental faculties would deteriorate—a well-known fact. Moreover, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn had absorbed the soul of a master-level boss. There was also another detail the audience had not previously known—Caile Gong's ambition to claim the spoils. It was Caile Gong who felt aggrieved over the unequal distribution of benefits. "Judge, I object!" The middle-aged man raised his hand, gaining Caile's approval, then turned to Huang Tai Ji and said: "In your statement, you claimed that Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn possesses a life-sustaining artifact granted by the Day-You Shen—a consumable item. It is precisely because of this consumable that he has been able to suppress the boss." "It's well known that the sun god can clear the pollution of negative emotions. How can you be certain that the madness of Yuan Shi Tian Zun isn't feigned?" Huang Tai Qi was taken aback. The earth monster's honest and unpretentious nature made him a man of practical truth. Indeed, he couldn't refute the question raised—nor could he prove it unreasonable. The middle-aged man exhaled, "Judge, I believe this issue no longer requires further discussion." Huang Tai Qi frowned. "No, I can't prove that Yuan Shi Tian Zun is truly mad, but you haven't provided any evidence that he's feigning it either." Not at all, Old Huang, my senior—you should have proposed the tiger seal for truth-testing! Zhang Yuanqing was growing increasingly anxious. There were no lawyers on the bench; Huang Tai Qi himself served as his witness and legal counsel. Yet Huang Tai Qi's demeanor clearly wasn't suited for a courtroom confrontation, where sharp exchanges and verbal sparring would be expected. If it were Fu Qingyang, he would have easily silenced this storm of anger. The middle-aged man, with waves of anger and thunderous voice, offered no response to Huang Taidi. He didn't need to provide evidence—he only needed to raise a question, turning "mental instability" into a point of doubt. He turned to the next page and declared: "The second matter: According to the copy of the mission reports from Huang Taidi and Jiang Ju, during the 'Five Elements Chaos' quest, a spirit-medium broke ties with the evil faction to save the Primordial Sovereign. 'Your Honor, under Article One of the Five Elements Alliance regulations, any collusion with the evil profession, or any ambiguous association with them, constitutes a death sentence.' 'We believe the Primordial Sovereign's offense is clearly established, with solid and sufficient evidence, and there are precedents for such cases. Therefore, we request that Your Honor impose a death sentence and carry out the execution immediately.' The murmurs from the audience grew louder. Collusion with the evil profession is a serious offense—ranked first among the most serious. Huang Taidi spoke calmly: "That particular evil profession holds a special status. When the Songhai Branch first apprehended the Eye of the Demon, the Primordial Sovereign himself volunteered to join the evil The night before the hearing, Qian Gongzi came to him. They had both anticipated the course of today’s proceedings and realized that Feng Nü was a weak point. Huang Taiji learned about the relationship between Yuan Shi Tian Zun and Feng Nü from Fu Qingyang. At that moment, he felt particularly relieved—this demonstrated that Yuan Shi Tian Zun was not an uncompromising "black watchdog," but rather a undercover operative. Moreover, Feng Nü’s backing was the person known as Wu Wei Wu Xian. A legendary figure who, though operating in the shadows, harbored a vision of light. An undercover operative… Xie Lingxi, seated in the audience, exhaled softly. She had been so tense earlier that her heart nearly stopped—Yuan Shi Brother’s killing of Cai Long Shen could certainly be contested. But collusion with evil forces was indeed a matter of undeniable guilt. Yet, as soon as she felt a sense of relief, the elderly man from the Investigation Department rose and declared firmly: “I object! The judge, while Yuan Shi Tian Zun has been assigned to operate undercover, this does not prove that he has not colluded with evil forces.” "The chaos of the Five Elements is a death-defining raid—either the chaotic or the lawful faction must perish. Imagine, what kind of bond could compel a seer to willingly sacrifice himself to save the Primordial Sovereign? 'The Primordial Sovereign has ties to the chaotic factions,' that is undeniable." Xie Lingxi's face paled slightly, then immediately heard murmurs from the audience around her. The Primordial Sovereign's mental state remains uncertain; insisting he's feigning madness seems strained. Yet the depth of his connection to the chaotic factions is self-evident—the seer's actions themselves serve as irrefutable proof. What kind of bond would compel someone to risk their own life to save a member of the opposing faction? "Trouble..." Xie Su whispered softly. Guan Ya looked visibly distressed—not because the seer had close ties to the Primordial Sovereign, but because, despite her best efforts, she couldn't think of a single rebuttal. No one would believe that the chaotic factions possess any sense of integrity. The original Yuan Shi, saved at the cost of his life by a villainous colleague, could not clear his name no matter what he said. This is Car Elder's masterstroke. Among the audience, everyone connected to Yuan Shi Tian Zun felt a strong sense of helplessness and concern. Huang Tai Ji sat in silence, feeling as though he had been placed under military command. Only Fu Qingyang remained expressionless, his face still as it was since he arrived—motionless, with no visible emotion. Sitting high on the bench as the judge, Elder Car spoke calmly: "Mr. Witness, does the spirit-medium have a relationship with Yuan Shi Tian Zun that goes beyond friendship? Please simply respond 'yes' or 'no.'." Huang Tai Ji moved his lips, then remained silent for a while: "I cannot determine!" A murmur of discussion rose from the audience. At this moment, responses such as "cannot determine" or "don't know" were essentially defaults. "Order! Silence!" "Master Cai spoke solemnly: 'The court has heard the testimony of the witnesses and the evidence submitted by the prosecution. The arguments presented during the trial have been authenticated by the Tiger Seal and are genuine and valid. Therefore, we hereby announce the verdict.' 'The court finds that the defendant, Yuan Shi Tian Zun, murdered his colleague, Cai Long Shen, and colluded with evil forces. The evidence is solid and conclusive, and the charges are upheld. Considering the defendant's outstanding achievements and significant contributions, we shall mitigate his penalties according to law.' 'The judgment is as follows: The defendant, Yuan Shi Tian Zun, shall serve three months in prison, pay a fine of 1 billion, have his sacred celestial attire confiscated, and lose all honors and privileges.' 'The judgment is now final and shall be immediately enforced!' A wave of murmurs spread across the audience, and the senior officers could no longer contain their excitement, beginning to discuss fervently. 'Yuan Shi, it's over,' said Sun Miao Miao, her face pale. Master Cai not only intends to seize Yuan Shi's sacred attire but also to tarnish his reputation completely, etching him permanently on the pillar of disgrace for his collusion with evil forces Murdered a colleague, colluded with evil forces, yet the official, remembering past merits, showed leniency—merely imprisoning him for three months and imposing fines and penalties for equipment. Outsiders not only fail to perceive the headquarters as suppressing talents; they actually regard the headquarters as showing mercy and demonstrating genuine compassion. As for Yuan Shishen, who committed a capital offense yet escaped justice, he is destined to be scorned. There is no greater wound to the soul than this. Even Sun Miao-miao could see this clearly—Guan Ya, Yin Ji, Zhao Chenghuang, and others perceived it even more profoundly. This trial has nearly destroyed the reputation Yuan Shishen had painstakingly built over the years. It is a form of retribution by Cai the Elder—and only the beginning. "Father, what should we do?" Xie Lingxi clutched at her father's sleeve. "Ah..." Xie Su sighed—this young prodigy, who had risen like a comet, now seemed poised to fall into obscurity. With a surge of anger, Luangang moved away from the podium and approached Zhang Yuanqing, speaking coldly, "Retrieve the set of ceremonial garments for the heavenly sacrifice." Zhang Since the announcement of the verdict, he had been低头. "Retrieve the celestial attire," Luo Nang Jingtiao repeated, his voice calm. "The Seat of Silence has only restrained your hands; you can still access your inventory and cast off the set." Zhang Yuanqing still paid no attention. Luo Nang Jingtiao barked, "Master Yuan Shi, dare you defy the headquarters?" A purple-gold pumpkin mallet detached from the inventory and fell through the air, its ethereal form separating from the physical body to catch it. "Thud! Thud!" Two heavy impacts, bones snapping and sinews tearing. Zhang Yuanqing, who had been bowed low, suddenly rose to his feet. The attendants in the audience seats were startled—was Master Yuan Shi truly preparing to confront the headquarters? "Clatter, clatter..." Urgent footsteps echoed, and the guards on the judicial platform immediately gathered around, alert and vigilant. Yet Zhang Yuanqing seemed entirely unaware of them, gazing steadily at Elder Cai and the nine elders above. Finally able to speak, he grinned and said: "I'm not buying it!"