The destined connection with the Purple Mansion must occur here.
Boom!
The Ghost King’s enormous hand pressed down.
An invisible force restricted everyone’s movents, rendering them immobile.
Song Lin’s expression turned grave as he secretly cursed Zhi Xin for not arriving yet.
Given Zhi Xin’s personality, having received such a significant favor from him, he was sure Zhi Xin would co to assist.
"Wait!"
At this mont, a tunneling light flew in from the edge of the sky.
The visitor was none other than Zhi Xin.
Seeing Zhi Xin arrive, Tianjie halted and withdrew his spell.
Chu Yuying furrowed his brows and said, "Mage, Song Lin has committed a capital offense..."
Zhi Xin, though highly respected, no longer held his forr position; furthermore, he was a half-disabled man who brought little benefit to the Taoist School.
"If you want to kill, you should first figure out the cause and effect. What if Song Lin acted in self-defense?" Zhi Xin said with a smile.
Upon seeing the corpses strewn across the ground, Zhi Xin remained calm outwardly but inwardly cursed Song Lin for bringing him such trouble.
Only after Chu Yuying explained the background did Zhi Xin realize this matter was quite serious.
Three Capitals and a Taoist Lord were dead—aside from the Dragon Abyss Conference and the recent Void Realm incident, this was the greatest loss.
It must be noted that Holy Might Taoist School’s preserve consisted of only fourteen organizations, and when combined with organizations of similar stature, there were roughly twenty-five.
That is to say, there were approximately forty individuals at the level of a Taoist Lord.
A Taoist Lord was equivalent in status to a secular Prefectural Governor. Song Lin had killed a Prefectural Governor, and he had done so openly and directly. Zhi Xin felt this was beyond his ability to contain.
At this juncture, Zhi Xin realized it was impossible to exonerate Song Lin; he could only attempt to shift the charge from rebellion to involuntary manslaughter.
"Let soone from Xuanke Temple explain this," Zhi Xin commanded.
Song Lin stepped forward and recounted the events.
He hinted at the truth behind Fire Cloud killing Chi Hai but refrained from directly stating that Fire Cloud had killed Chi Hai. He rely said that he did not personally witness Chi Hai’s death, only finding a bloodied and mutilated Chi Hai upon his arrival at the back hall.
If he said he had witnessed Chi Hai’s death, he might be implicated in charges of collusion.
"Afterward, Fire Cloud repeatedly tornted . This ti, he even conspired to send Three Capitals to kill my disciples while I was in the Void Realm. If this isn’t self-defense, then what is? Should I just wait to be slaughtered?"
Song Lin asked rhetorically.
This ti, killing Fire Cloud appeared justified in principle. He understood that even a righteous justification wouldn’t guarantee his safety, but Fire Cloud had to die.
The benefits of killing Fire Cloud outweighed the risks of keeping him alive; otherwise, he would inevitably be toyed with and destroyed one day.
"Fire Cloud may be guilty, but it’s not your place to execute judgnt," Chu Yuying retorted.
As Yunzhou’s Commandery Officer, overseeing all personnel under Yunzhou’s jurisdiction, Chu Yuying despised actions unsanctioned by the Taoist School.
Zhi Xin gestured to the corpses on the ground and the Taoist Temple nearby and said, "This place is Xuanke Temple; it wasn’t Song Lin who provoked them but the other way around, coming uninvited. Who has the greater claim to justice should be self-evident, no?"
Tianjie was about to argue when Chu Yuying abruptly stopped him and said, "I am Yunzhou’s Commandery Officer; I have the authority to handle this matter."
The underlying implication was that Zhi Xin, holding no title or position, had no jurisdiction over these affairs.
Chu Yuying’s confidence was bolstered by his recent breakthrough.
Though both Zhi Xin and Chu Yuying were tribulation-crossing experts, Zhi Xin was now a half-disabled figure, while Chu Yuying radiated vigor.
Chu Yuying held no particular grudge against Song Lin but was compelled to enforce the law.
Zhi Xin listened with a faint smile, stroked his beard, and said with a chuckle:
"Don’t try those tricks with . Three days from now, we shall present our case before the Heavenly Master and let him make the judgnt."
As his words landed, Zhi Xin’s snow-white hair fluttered despite the absence of wind, his robes billowing, and his lean fra towering like a mountain. His entire being erupted with an overwhelming aura.
Tianjie and Chu Yuying unconsciously stepped back half a pace.
Once they regained their composure, Zhi Xin reverted to his amicable deanor.
Chu Yuying said, "Very well. I hope three days from now, you’ll deliver Song Lin intact to Xuanyu City. This incident will be truthfully reported to the Heavenly Master."
Chu Yuying departed with his entourage. Those who had gathered to watch the drama dispersed in small groups, except for the cultivators of Xuanke Temple.
On the way back, Tianjie rode a cloud to catch up and asked, "What was that just now? Isn’t Zhi Xin supposed to be crippled?"
"He’s still an old mage; his forr Taoist Realm remains intact in part," Chu Yuying replied, recalling Zhi Xin’s storied past.
In his pri, the old man was just as bold and decisive, known for his mastery in the Curse Killing Technique that had earned him renown far and wide.
In duels, he never even needed to step outside. A ritual altar set up at ho sufficed; his curse techniques could kill without a trace, leaving his victims to die unnoticed and mysteriously.
Such a figure was not to be provoked lightly; this matter could only be left to the Heavenly Master to resolve.
Elsewhere, Song Lin deeply bowed to Zhi Xin.
"I must trouble the mage to assist ."
Without Zhi Xin, even the most compelling argunts Song Lin had would go unheard.
In a place like the Taoist School, power was everything.
No matter the justice of one’s case, Song Lin knew long ago that others would simply ignore it.
"No problem. You helped imnsely," Zhi Xin replied with a smile.
"Is the Heavenly To truly useful?" Song Lin asked skeptically.
"Of course it’s useful. My Tao is nearing completion," Zhi Xin said with great vigor, preparing to return to isolation and cultivate further after resolving Song Lin’s situation.
"Congratulations. Let’s sit inside for a while," Song Lin suggested.
Song Lin turned to Wang Ziyue and ordered, "Clean up the Taoist Temple and deal with these corpses."
He intentionally spared Shi Yinhua from the task, allowing him so ti to calm down.
"Yes," Wang Ziyue responded.
Song Lin and Zhi Xin entered the grand hall.
"That young woman earlier—she’s of royal lineage, isn’t she?" Zhi Xin suddenly inquired.
"Indeed, Princess rlin Qingyu. Does the mage know her?"
"Not her, but I knew one of her elders," Zhi Xin replied.
A glimr of reminiscence flashed through Zhi Xin’s eyes; Qing’er from back then had also been a royal daughter, though not as distinguished as Qingyu.
The mory flickered and was gone.
Zhi Xin’s deanor turned solemn as he lowered his voice and said, "Young man, do you realize you’re in serious trouble now?"
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