Chapter 65: The Trial of Loyalty
The royal court of Dawnriver exuded an aura of solemn judgment, its marble floors gleaming under the soft radiance of midday sunlight streaming through high windows, the air saturated with the rich, woody scent of burning incense and the tense undercurrent of whispered accusations. The hall thrummed with the rustle of silk robes as Wudu Clan elders stood trial, their faces pale and drawn under the weight of exposed poison networks that had plagued the kingdom. Lin Xuan occupied a central position, his crimson eyes sharp with insight, the robust power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation a steady anchor amidst the legal tempest. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed faintly, a quiet guide as he employed Illusion Diversion, his qi weaving a subtle veil that allowed him to uncover a hidden ledger from an elder's sleeve, the parchment crackling as he held it aloft. "Your crimes are laid bare for all to see," he announced, his voice slicing through the murmurs, the evidence a damning weight in the silence that followed.
Liu Yue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with the ethereal grace of Icy Skin mist, stood guard near the throne, her snowflake mark glowing softly as she monitored the room for any signs of resistance, the frost at her feet a deterrent to potential escapees. "Keep the exits clear, Senior Brother—trouble's brewing," she said, her moonlight eyes vigilant, her raven hair swaying gently as she adjusted her stance. Liu Yang, his 5th Layer Qi Gathering qi growing more robust with each passing moment, flanked her with his blood-forged glaive at the ready, its crimson edge glinting as he scanned the crowd. "No one moves unless we say so, Elder Sister," he grunted, his young face etched with a mix of pride and focus, the weapon's weight a grounding force in the tense atmosphere.
Ji Yunjing, now at the mid-4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, presided over the proceedings with a council of Bai Clan elders, his silk robes rustling softly as he rose from the throne, his voice steady and authoritative. "The law will prevail—let justice be served," he declared, his gaze hard as he reviewed the evidence, the air thickening with the gravity of his judgment. Bai Ningxue, her 8th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene counterpoint to the courtroom's tension, moved through the hall with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering like delicate shields as she purified the lingering qi taint from Wudu's poisons. "This ensures a fair trial—proceed with confidence," she said softly, she brushed a strand of hair from her face, her presence a stabilizing force.
As the trial progressed, Wudu resistance flared, a hidden blade flashing from an elder's sleeve, but Lin Xuan reacted swiftly, subduing the threat with a precise qi burst that sent the weapon clattering to the floor, the elder collapsing with a gasp. The hall erupted in gasps and murmurs, the air growing heavy with the clink of chains as guards restrained the guilty. The afternoon wore on, the trial a crucible of loyalty that tested the kingdom's resolve, the court a shining beacon of justice amidst the shadows of treachery. Liu Yue approached Lin Xuan later, her breath steady but her eyes warm. "You've turned the tide again, Senior Brother—we're stronger for it," she said, her hand brushing his arm in quiet support. The marble echoed with the hum of order restored, the trial of loyalty a stepping stone toward a united Dawnriver.