Chapter 19 – Tribunal of Shadows
The hall of judgment stood at the heart of the sect. Tall pillars carved with dragons and phoenixes reached high into the vaulted ceiling. The air inside was heavy, thick with the weight of centuries of power and tradition.
Kai walked slowly into the chamber, his steps echoing against polished stone. Behind him, Mei Lin, Lian Hua, Princess Yue, and Su Xinyi followed. Though they weren't required to attend, each had insisted on standing with him.
At the far end sat Sect Master Tian Rong, an elder whose presence seemed to bend the air. His hair was white as frost, his robes embroidered with golden clouds. His eyes, sharp and ancient, bore into Kai the moment he entered.
On the left side of the chamber stood Elder Yuan, his expression full of venomous satisfaction. Behind him clustered a group of disciples loyal to him, whispering like vultures circling a wounded beast.
The Opening Accusation
The Sect Master's voice was deep and commanding.
"Kai. Yesterday, you fought and defeated Liang Chen in an official duel. Yet Elder Yuan has brought forth accusations of forbidden practices. Before I pass judgment, speak your truth."
Kai bowed respectfully. "Sect Master, I fought with only my sword and my will. If that is forbidden, then I have nothing to say."
Elder Yuan stepped forward, slamming his cane against the floor.
"Lies! This brat carries an unknown aura. He advanced his cultivation too quickly, beyond natural limits. Such growth reeks of demonic arts!"
Gasps spread among the disciples. Demonic cultivation was a curse word in this world, a path of slaughter and corruption.
Kai raised his head. His tone was calm but sharp.
"Elder Yuan, you call what you do not understand 'demonic.' Tell me, if growth is too fast, does it automatically become evil? Or are you simply afraid of me?"
The crowd buzzed with whispers. Some laughed under their breath; others looked uneasy.
Support from the Harem
Lian Hua suddenly stepped forward, her smirk bold as always.
"Afraid? Of course he is. Elder Yuan thought his disciple was unbeatable, yet Kai cut him down like bamboo. Now, instead of admitting weakness, he cries like a child who lost his toy."
Elder Yuan's face twisted in fury. "You dare—!"
Princess Yue's voice rose, calm yet carrying the weight of royal authority.
"This sect thrives on strength and honor. I witnessed the duel. There was no foul play. Elder Yuan, your accusation insults not only Kai but the rules of the sect itself."
Mei Lin's eyes flashed like ice.
"And if you still insist otherwise, then prove it. Test his qi. See for yourself."
The disciples murmured louder. Some nodded, others glanced nervously at Elder Yuan.
The Test
The Sect Master raised his hand.
"Enough. Words will not settle this. Kai, step forward. Present your qi to the elder formation."
From the floor, a glowing circle of runes appeared. It pulsed with ancient energy, designed to detect corruption or demonic taint.
Kai took a deep breath. System, if you're hiding something, now would be the worst time to fail me.
[System Alert: Adjusting output to pure Spiritual Qi signature. Probability of detection: 0%.]
Kai stepped into the circle. He focused, letting his qi flow outward. The runes lit up with silver light, pure and untainted.
A disciple gasped. "It's… clean. No corruption at all."
Another whispered, "His qi feels even purer than some elders."
Elder Yuan's face paled.
The Sect Master's sharp gaze lingered on Kai for several seconds before he nodded.
"There is no demonic aura. Elder Yuan, your accusation is unfounded."
Elder Yuan's Desperation
Elder Yuan slammed his cane again.
"This formation cannot detect hidden techniques! He must be using some external artifact or… or forbidden method!"
Kai's lips curved in a thin smile.
"Then perhaps your disciple was simply weak. Must we tarnish victory with excuses?"
The hall erupted with laughter. Even some of Elder Yuan's own disciples couldn't hide their smirks.
Lian Hua whispered loudly enough for all to hear, "Maybe Liang Chen should have trained more instead of polishing Elder Yuan's boots."
The disciples roared with laughter. Elder Yuan trembled with rage, his face dark as thunderclouds.
The Sect Master raised his hand again, silencing the hall.
"Enough. Elder Yuan, you have embarrassed yourself. This tribunal is adjourned."
A Shadow Interference
Just as Kai stepped back, the formation beneath him flickered. A faint black ripple passed through the runes, so subtle only Kai and the Sect Master noticed.
The System screamed in his mind.
[Warning: Foreign Entity Attempt Detected!]
[Corruption Signature: Cosmic Blight Fragment.]
Kai's blood ran cold. The Blight… here? In the formation itself?
The Sect Master's brows furrowed slightly. His gaze lingered on Kai, then shifted toward the formation. But he said nothing, only dismissing the assembly.
As disciples filed out, Elder Yuan stormed away, his cloak swirling. His glare promised vengeance.
The Private Meeting
Later that night, in his courtyard, Kai sat with his women again. The tension from the tribunal still hung over them.
Mei Lin crossed her arms.
"Elder Yuan will not stop here. He's wounded, and men like him become most dangerous when desperate."
Princess Yue nodded. "He may attempt assassination. We must prepare."
Lian Hua grinned. "Let him try. If he sneaks in, I'll make sure he leaves without his pants."
Su Xinyi bit her lip nervously. "It's not just Elder Yuan. I sensed something strange in that formation… like a shadow lurking."
Kai's expression darkened. He hesitated, then decided to speak the truth.
"You're right. There was something. The System told me—the Blight has already infiltrated the sect."
The courtyard fell silent.
Mei Lin's face hardened. "Then it's worse than we thought."
Princess Yue's eyes narrowed. "If the Blight can infect our sacred formations, then no one is safe."
Lian Hua leaned closer, her usual grin fading into seriousness. "So, what's the plan, Kai? Are we running, or are we fighting?"
Kai's fists clenched. His voice was steady, though fire burned behind his eyes.
"We fight. If the Blight is here, then we'll root it out. But first, I need more strength."
The System's New Quest
[Quest Unlocked: Shadows in the Sect]
Objective: Discover and eliminate the Blight infiltrator.
Time Limit: 30 days.
Reward: +1 Major Cultivation Breakthrough, 10,000 Desire Points.
Failure: Sect Collapse Probability – 84%.
Kai exhaled slowly. Thirty days. No room for mistakes.
Emotional Moments
The women gathered closer.
Su Xinyi whispered, "Kai… promise you won't fight alone."
He smiled faintly. "I couldn't, even if I wanted to. You all would drag me back."
Lian Hua flicked his forehead playfully. "Damn right. You belong to us now."
Mei Lin muttered under her breath, her face pink. "Idiot."
Princess Yue's eyes softened. "Then let us face the shadows together."
For the first time since stepping into this world, Kai felt not just like a fighter, but a leader. And not just a leader, but someone who belonged.
Closing Scene
Far away, in a hidden cave beneath the sect, a figure cloaked in darkness knelt before a pulsating orb of corruption.
"The tribunal failed, my lord. But the seed has been planted."
A voice like grinding stone whispered from the orb.
"Good. Let the boy rise. The higher he climbs, the sweeter his fall will be."
The shadows thickened, swallowing the cave in silence.
The storm had only begun.