Laozi won't accept it! Upon hearing this, the senior stewards in the audience stared in astonishment, nearly doubting their own hearing. Yuan Shi Tian Zun, speaking to the ten senior elders at headquarters—Laozi won't accept it? He truly intends to challenge the headquarters, to confront the highest echelon of the Five Elements Alliance. Has such a thing ever happened in the Alliance's twenty-some years of existence? To them, headquarters has always been the core of power, the holy hall of the spiritual travelers, exalted and supreme, with complete control over life and death. Yet, the authority of the headquarters is unquestionable. The stewards instinctively turned to the senior elders of the tribunal, only to find the powerful masters, each holding sway, now looking equally stunned and displeased. It seemed—as if nothing had been said. "You have no grounds to dissent!" cried the Dog Elder, leaping up to stand before the table, his voice sharp. "What qualification do you have to challenge the headquarters' judgment? Seize him—seize him immediately!" He appeared furious beyond measure, his white teeth bared, his black button-like eyes swirling with emotions that were utterly incomprehensible. The guards took another few steps forward. At the same time, hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor outside the tribunal, as a large group of guards arrived. "Master Yuanshishen!" Huang Taiqi spoke in a low, serious tone, "Stop speaking—admit guilt!" When Master Yuanshishen slaughtered Wei Yuanshou, the ten senior officials at headquarters had immediately noticed his brilliance and rebellious spirit. Throughout history, every ruling class had always hoped that their subjects and subordinates would be docile, like gentle sheep. A naturally rebellious talent was always a source of trouble—thus, they had to be tamed and disciplined. Only those who listened and followed were deemed worthy successors. Master Yuanshishen's self-assured and unconventional nature made the headquarters hesitant to fully trust him or assign him to key positions. As one of the Four Princes, Huang Taiqi was well aware of the attitudes of the ten senior officials, and thus instantly grasped the purpose behind Cai's actions. Cai's intention was to expose Master Yuanshishen's rebelliousness and demonstrate to the other senior officials that this prodigy was inherently unpredictable. To handle a prodigy of an alliance leader's caliber, one must proceed with patience and meticulous planning—Cai Elder first tarnished his reputation, then compelled him to rebel, advancing step by step with deep strategic foresight. "Master Yuanshǐ, admit guilt!" "Master Yuanshǐ, admit guilt!" "Master Yuanshǐ, admit guilt!" One after another, elders in the central hall spoke. Only Fu Qingyang remained unchanged, silent and composed. "Master Yuanshǐ, admit guilt!" Listeners in the audience began to grasp the crux of the matter. Those officials who had a close relationship with Zhang Yuanqing, or who held goodwill toward him, stepped forward in succession. "Admit guilt!" "Master Yuanshǐ, the penalties from headquarters are just—do not let your emotions cloud your judgment." "Indeed, there's no need to fight for the sake of sentiment." Cai Elder, seated at the judge's bench, radiated dignity and authority, like a deity above all. He seemed entirely indifferent to the clamor below. All the pressure converged upon Zhang Yuanqing, as if it were about to bend his spine and shatter his resolve. Take my robes, imprison my freedom—I have fought tirelessly for the official body, earned my dues, and yet this is what I receive? Because I refuse to be a compliant lamb, because I won't bend to their will? Yuanshi Tianzun openly defied the headquarters' judgment, prompting an instinctive sense of displeasure and hostility. At the right moment, Nu Lang Jingtao stepped forward, sharply accusing: "Isn't colluding with evil factions, killing colleagues, a crime?" Zhang Yuanqing burst into laughter. "You only claim I killed my colleagues—yet you say nothing about what Cai Longshen did within the副本. Cai Longshen has been selfish and timid, relying on his teleportation device to avoid battle during the main storyline, watching helplessly as Jiang Ju and Huang Taidi were surrounded and attacked by the evil forces, failing to intervene. He forced Jiang Ju to reach his breaking point and ultimately self-sacrifice, and compelled Huang Taidi to beg for his aid—only to refuse!" Zhang Yuanqing's gaze, sharp and intense, swept over the elders and the ten senior figures. "You all know this, yet you have all pretended not to." With a sense of determination, he launched a direct, on-the-spot questioning of the ten seniors before everyone's eyes. On the audience seats, the officials of Chihuo Sect exchanged expressions of surprise—this information had been entirely unknown to them. The mountain deities in the central courtyard remained composed, their faces stern and displeased. "Blow your own horn!" thundered Luang Jiangtao, sharply reprimanding: "Master Cai assessed the situation wisely and made the most rational choice—retreating to avoid the main force. How could this be considered cowardice? This is not the reason you have for killing him. 'Master Yuanshǐ Tianzun,' the legal principles are clear and impartial. Don't think that your eloquence can shift the facts." "Then who has been shifting the facts?" cried Zhang Yuanqing, rising to his feet: "Master Cai, the Dragon God, has shown timidity and fear, hesitating to act when others are in peril—failing to rescue Jiang Ju and Huang Taiqi. If you are truly at ease with your actions, why haven't you presented their reports publicly to show whether I am lying or whether you yourselves are shamelessly insincere?" Huang Taiqi spoke calmly: "Master Yuanshǐ Tianzun's statements are all true. I intended to mention this earlier, but Elder Cai refused to allow it." The audience instantly reacted with murmurs of astonishment. The furious fire Zhang Yuan spoke with great dignity: "To reverse the situation, I willingly risked my life, actively absorbing the boss's soul—this caused my mental collapse. It was I who saved Huang Taidi and Jiang Ju, and it was I who extinguished the evil faction. As for Cai Longshen? He was greedy and cowardly, retreating into the Sword Pavilion, indifferent to the suffering of his colleagues. After witnessing my efforts to turn the tide, he, relying on his status as the grandson of Cai Long, used his position to shamelessly demand spoils. When I refused, he seized them by force. "Even if I were mentally unstable at the time, let alone now—how could I tolerate such a base and unprincipled man? I, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, would have executed him without hesitation." His gaze swept over Cai Elder, then settled upon the nine senior elders above: "When the Demon Eye threatened Songhai, the deputy elders were helpless. It was I who was dispatched to infiltrate the evil faction, summoning the Master of Illusions to assist—only then was the Demon Eye captured. 'What is the character of Wang Wei?'—do the senior elders of headquarters not know? After capturing the Demon Eye, they orchestrated public relations campaigns, emphasized their authority—now, they abandon their allies and slander me, a key contributor, for having collaborated with the evil professions. 'This is the official stance?' 'This is the official?' You're not even better than the very professions you claim to oppose." The murmurs suddenly stilled. He abruptly turned to face the audience: "Since I joined the official ranks as Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, I have conquered S-tier dungeons, resolved the Holy Grail incident, eliminated entire evil factions in dungeon battles, assisted Songhai's division in capturing the Demon Eye and slaying the Lord of Lust. I have also quelled the murder cases at Qin Feng Academy and saved my colleagues." In the tumultuous five-element raid, I've saved the day—each and every one of these feats, each and every one of these victories, has been won at the cost of my life. Yet, what have I gained? "Ladies and gentlemen," he laughs wildly, his voice booming, "what have I gained? I've become the accused of collusion with the evil professions—hah, hah, hah!" The audience falls utterly silent. All of them gaze at this resolute young man, moved by his spirit. Guan Ya's eyes glisten with tears. Xie Lingxi bites her lips, her tears flowing steadily. Yin Ji stares at him, stunned—his laughter, his defiance, his fierce, unyielding nature, all so reminiscent of that person. She feels the same way as Miao Teng'er. Zhang Yuanqing turns to look at Cai the Elder: "Today's trial—doesn't it all hinge on the fact that I killed your grandson? What justice? What laws? All mere nonsense. Go ahead and seek your revenge—kill me, break me, whatever you wish. But this fabricated charge? I, Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn, will not accept it!" He turned his gaze toward the nine elders, his expression defiant: "To strike? To tame? Elder们, the Primordial Sovereign is born with rebellious spirit, ever proud and unyielding." His voice resonated with authority, echoing throughout the tribunal. The audience stared in silence at this figure, his upright posture seeming as solid and unbreakable as anything in the world. The Senior Elder Di Hong, seated at the central throne, glanced at Cai Elder, then withdrew his gaze, fixing it upon this bold and unruly young man, and slowly asked, "Master Primordial Sovereign, do you truly know what you are saying? Do you realize what you have missed?" Zhang Yuanqing replied with a cold, steady smile: "You may kill me, but you shall never make me bow." The tribunal fell utterly silent. ... Outside the vast, clear-sky grove, Lady Yin Yao sat cross-legged before the antique cabinet, idly handling Qin dynasty coins and antiquities. —— Materials of master level have already been stored in the sect's warehouse by the Primordial Sovereign. Within the hat's space, there are the rising and setting of sun and moon. Lady Yin Yao is clear that she has been hidden here for three days. She finds herself growing restless, longing to leave this world of a single grain of rice. It's not due to boredom—after all, she has spent several centuries within the underground palace. Rather, she is concerned about that person. Three days without resolution indicate that the matter is far more complicated than she had anticipated. Indeed, it is complicated. That man, Cai Longshen—by her dynasty's standards, even a prince's son, a royal bloodline. If the imperial court were to kill a royal relative, what good fruit could they offer you? Suddenly, from within the satchel at a distance, a soft, electric hum begins. Lady Yin Yao tilts her head, and the low male voice resonates in her ears: "They say, you must tame your boldness, as if wiping away the grime. They say, you must ascend step by step, at the cost of bowing your head." "Then let me remain unyielding, unbroken—let me ride the wind—yet still proud, in that solitary courage. Who says a game of chess "Love how you walk alone through the dim alleys, love how you stand firm, never bowing, love how you faced despair head-on, refusing to weep..."... Unyielding—killable, but never to kneel! The words of Yuan Shi Tian Zun struck like a heavy blow, resonating deeply within every heart. This was a prodigy of unrivaled spirit, shedding his carefully crafted façade to reveal his pride and integrity to all. Even if his career crumbled, even if he found himself imprisoned—unyielding, never to kneel. At this moment, the senior stewards finally realized the gap between themselves and this prodigy. They lacked the courage to challenge the headquarters, to question the Ten Elders, to rise in the courtroom and cry out: Born defiant, with a backbone forged in rebellion! In the quiet silence, Cai Elder spoke calmly: "Yuan Shi Tian Zun has colluded with the evil profession, murdered colleagues, refusing to repent, openly defying headquarters—his actions constitute serious misconduct. He is to be immediately detained and formally reviewed at a later date." A formal review—no longer merely a fine or penalty for equipment. His objective had already been achieved. From this day forward, Yuan Shi Tian Zun would never recover. Yet, with Cai's composure and stature, he had remained calm throughout. As soon as the words fell from his lips, a black-robed elder stationed outside launched into the judgment hall, stepping through the waves of water beneath his feet. "Ladies and gentlemen, today it is the Five Elements Alliance that has rejected me—not my fault!" Zhang Yuanqing sneered, opening his inventory and withdrawing the pre-prepared transmission jade token, which he bit into his mouth. With the token, he could leave at will—no one, not even the Sovereign, could stop him. He could simply withdraw from the Alliance, wander the world, and become a wandering cultivator. "Cai Elder, please reconsider..." "For heaven's sake! I believe Yuan Shi Tian Zun is entirely right. Cai Long Shen caused Jiang Gong to self-explode—what's wrong with that?" "Ladies and gentlemen, this trial lacks credibility. We must request a retrial." "The official stance cannot treat a veteran hero this way—it simply won't resonate." Amid the rustling of chairs, most of the officials in the audience rose to their feet A solid backing for the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, even the attendants of the Water Deity's Palace chose to remain silent. At the tense moment, a voice thunderous as lightning and explosive in force resonated through the courtroom: "Damn it! What are you all up to?" Whoosh! A flame dragon vortex rose spontaneously in the judicial hall, spinning rapidly, waves of heat surging forth. The vast courtroom instantly transformed into a high-temperature furnace, the air itself distorting. A sturdy figure, towering two meters, emerged from the flames. Composed of vibrant crimson molten elements, his facial features and clothing details were sharply defined, resembling a legendary elemental being. Fu Qingyang, who had remained expressionless until now, finally lifted a corner of his mouth and stood up, saying: "May I have the honor of addressing the Master?"