Chapter 52: The Crimson Trials
The royal court of Dawnriver shimmered with an air of solemn judgment, its marble floors reflecting the soft glow of midday sunlight streaming through high windows, the air thick with the rich scent of burning incense and the undercurrent of nervous whispers. The hall buzzed with the rustle of silk robes as nobles, advisors, and guards gathered, their faces a mix of anticipation and dread, the weight of the kingdom's trials pressing down like a storm cloud. Lin Xuan stood at the forefront, his crimson eyes sharp with focus, the steady power of his 8th Layer Qi Transformation grounding him amidst the legal tempest. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a quiet guide as he prepared to unveil the truth. "This is where we cleanse the rot," he murmured to himself, his voice a low rumble, the resolve in his stance unshakable.
He employed Illusion Diversion, a subtle weave of qi that cloaked his movements as he moved through the crowd, his senses heightened to gather evidence from the murmurs and hidden glances. A scrap of parchment slipped from a Wudu Clan elder's sleeve, its ink smudged but revealing a network of corruption tied to their poison trade. "Got you," Lin Xuan whispered, pocketing the proof, his mind racing with the implications. Liu Yue, now at the 4th Layer Qi Transformation, stood guard near the throne, her snowflake mark glowing softly as she monitored the room with Icy Skin mist curling at her feet, her moonlight eyes vigilant. "Keep an eye on the exits, Senior Brother—trouble's brewing," she said, her voice calm but firm, her raven hair swaying as she shifted her stance.
Liu Yang, his 1st Layer Qi Gathering qi still fragile but growing, flanked her, his blood-forged glaive resting against his shoulder, his young face etched with a mix of pride and uncertainty as he wrestled with his identity crisis. "I'll hold them if they try anything," he said, his tone gruff but earnest, his grip tightening on the weapon. Ji Yunjing, at the mid-3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, presided over the trials from the throne, his silk robes gleaming under the light, his voice steady as he judged the traitors. "The evidence is clear—your crimes end here," he declared, his gaze hard, though a flicker of compassion softened his words as he sentenced a trembling elder to exile.
Bai Ningxue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene presence, moved through the court, her Thousand Lotus Seal Art shimmering as she purified the lingering qi taint, her seals weaving a protective barrier. "This will clear the air—let justice breathe," she said softly. The trials exposed Wudu Clan corruption in excruciating detail—poisoned wells, sabotaged caravans, and bribes to Ironfang—each revelation met with gasps and murmurs. Lin Xuan presented the evidence, his voice cutting through the noise. "This ends the shadow they cast," he said, his tone resolute, the court's marble echoing with the clink of chains as guards escorted the guilty away.
The afternoon wore on, the air growing heavy with the scent of incense and the weight of justice, the trials a crucible that tested their unity. Liu Yue approached Lin Xuan, her breath steady but her eyes warm. "You've turned the tide, Senior Brother—we're stronger for it," she said, her hand brushing his arm in quiet support. The court secured, the crimson trials marked a turning point, the hall a testament to their resolve as the kingdom began to heal from within.