Jamal swallowed hard. He could tell from their expressions that his father was losing control of the situation. His instincts screamed that Gray wasn't faking this.
He really was planning to get him punished by the clan leader.
If the crystal truly held damning evidence, he would have his cultivation crippled according to the clan rules.
Their only option was to make Gray an offer he couldn't refuse.
Elder Gustav gritted his teeth and abandoned subtlety. "100,000."
At last, Gray stirred, he could tell that this was Elder Gustav's limit. Any more and he might take the risk and ask for the evidence.
His eyes lifted slowly, locking onto Elder Gustav with a look so calculating and amused that Elder Gustav felt a shiver run down his spine.
"How clumsy of me to drop this crystal ball, speaking of clumsiness. I believe I dropped a bag of holding earlier on the way here, I wonder if anyone here has seen it?" Gray asked innocently.
Elder Gustav clenched his jaw so tightly it could crush a spirit stone. He had seen toddlers lie more convincingly.
But he and Jamal sighed in relief, at least, the crisis was averted. "Is this the one? I was wondering who this bag of holding belonged to." Elder Gustav played along.
"That's it! You're a lifesaver, Elder Gustav."
Elder Gustav forced a smile, 100,000 Spirit Stones was no joke. For an outer clan member, it would take them over 200 years of constantly slaving around to earn that much.
Even for him, it would take a few years of savings to earn that amount.
Being forced to give someone 100,000 Spirit Stones out of nowhere and having to smile at the person afterwards left him in an indescribably sour mood.
…
"We shall now conclude this trial." the clan leader announced, seeing that the matter has been resolved.
"Gray Anarkin, adoptive grandchild of Cena and Meno Anarkin. You claim that there was a murder attempt on you by Jamal Anarkin. I ask you, do you have any evidence or witnesses?" the clan leader's booming voice resounded across the hall.
Jamal and Elder Gustav clenched their fists as cold sweat dripped from their foreheads. They were afraid that Gray would go back on the deal and betray them.
Gray looked at the two of them in silence for a few seconds.
To Jamal and Elder Gustav, those few seconds felt like years.
"... I have no evidence, nor any witnesses, clan leader." Gray turned to the clan leader and bowed deeply as he admitted.
A heavy silence lingered in the grand hall as Gray's words faded.
The clan leader, Jamal, and Elder Gustav subtly exchanged glances, a wave of relief washing over them.
They had been prepared for the worst, for the damning evidence within the Imagery Crystal to be revealed before the entire clan.
But to their immense satisfaction, Gray had made no move to use it. He had taken their bribe. 100,000 Spirit Stones in exchange for silence.
Elder Gustav exhaled slowly, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.
Jamal, regaining his composure, smirked slightly, believing the matter had been settled.
But then Gray stepped forward once more, his eyes scanning the hall.
The murmuring of the crowd quieted as all attention turned back to him.
Meanwhile, Grandpa Meno and Grandma Cena watched silently at the side, their withered faces filled with worry and anxiety.
A few moments ago, Gray already whispered to them that he had a plan and told them not to interfere.
They trusted Gray's words, hence, they did not interfere no matter how uncomfortable they were.
…
"I did not come here today seeking justice for myself," Gray said, his voice steady, yet carrying an underlying fire.
"I knew from the beginning that justice for someone like me, an orphan, an outsider… was a luxury that would never be granted."
A ripple of tension spread through the gathered clan members.
The elders shifted uncomfortably; the clan leader's expression darkened ever so slightly.
"Nonsense. Justice would be served if it is required. You have no evidence, yet you have the gall to spout nonsense as if all the adoptive members in our clan don't get the justice they deserve." the clan leader said with a strict voice.
"Do you wish to die, boy?"
As the clan leader, he would not tolerate nonsense in the court room. If Gray did not provide a proper explanation, he would cripple his cultivation or execute him for disrespect.
Grandma Cena and Grandpa Meno couldn't help but worry when they saw the clan leader getting upset.
"Clan leader, please have mercy. Gray is just a rash child who doesn't understand what he's saying!" Grandpa Meno couldn't stay quiet anymore and tried to defend Gray.
"Grandpa, it's okay. I know what I'm doing. Trust me." Gray patted his grandfather on the shoulder and reassured him with a smile. He felt touched due to his grandfather's concern.
"This…" Grandpa Meno hesitated but at that moment, Grandma Cena pulled him back and shook her head.
"Let's trust him." Grandma Cena said calmly, but her palms were dripping with sweat.
Grandpa Meno gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, child, please be careful with your words. We're powerless here."
Gray simply smiled and nodded at Grandpa Meno.
It was at this moment that Gray brought out the Imagery Crystal from his pocket and started playing with it.
This made the clan leader and Elder Gustav's face change.
The clan leader's face contorted as his aura surged 'This brat is threatening me!'
Elder Gustav panicked when he saw the clan leader getting angry. In his rage, he might just throw away all civility and force Gray to show his evidence.
"Clan leader, please calm down!" he sent a telepathic message.
"No way! This kid dares to challenge my authority. Who does he think he is?!" the clan leader roared telepathically in Elder Gustav's ears.
"Please, clan leader! My son's life depends on this, I beg of you, please calm down." Elder Gustav was on the verge of crying.
"Hmph, who doesn't know that the adoptive members and the outer members of our clan get unfair treatment by our disciplinary hall? Even if I did put out evidence, these people with strong backgrounds will get away scot-free." sneered Gray.
"But I came here for something greater, something far greater than myself" Gray continued, his voice rising.
"I came here for those who suffer in silence. For those who are spat upon because of their birth. For those who are called dogs, unworthy of standing in the same hall as those born into privilege."
His words cut deep. The adoptive and outer clan members, those who had long since learned to endure the casual cruelty of the clan's hierarchy, clenched their fists as their hearts burned with emotion.
Gray's gaze landed on Jamal.
"Jamal, a direct descendant of an exalted inner elder, called us filth. He spat on the struggles of those who have had to claw their way up, who have had to fight twice as hard for half as much."
Jamal stiffened; his smirk wiped away in an instant, he didn't understand where Gray was going with this.
The crowd, previously hesitant, now stirred with unrest.
The clan leader's eyes narrowed. He was no fool, Gray was leading them somewhere.
"So what do you want? Punishment? Just because of that?" he asked, his voice even, but laced with suspicion.
"Just because of that, huh? So our faces are just there for you guys to step on? Is that what you're trying to say, sect leader?" Gray's voice dripped with derision.
"How presumptuous!" The sect leader stood up as his aura surged throughout the hall.
However, no matter how angry he was, he knew he had to settle this with civility as nearly the whole clan was watching.
At this point, he was already regretting why he even allowed the clan members to watch this hearing in the first place.
"I only ask for one thing." Gray spat a mouthful of blood, but withstood the aura forcefully. He inhaled deeply, then spoke with conviction.
"Fair treatment!"
A hush fell over the hall. Even the inner elders exchanged glances. It was such a simple request, yet everyone knew it carried far deeper implications.
The clan leader frowned. "Fair treatment?"
"Indeed," Gray nodded.
"Not just for the adoptive members, but for everyone in the clan. We should not be bound by birthright alone. We should not be cast aside before we are given the chance to prove ourselves. Let talent, hard work, and results be the measure of a person, not lineage."
Some of the inner elders frowned. Others, however, were looking at Gray with newfound interest.
The younger members of the clan, especially those who had long been pushed to the background due to their lack of powerful backing, started murmuring amongst themselves.
The clan leader folded his arms. "And how do you propose we accomplish this?"
Gray slowly smiled.
His smile made the clan leader's wariness deepen.
"A tournament," Gray declared solemnly.
The entire hall reacted at once.
"A tournament?" one of the elders echoed, startled.
"Elaborate." the clan leader spoke.
"A tournament for the slots of the Disciple Selection Test" Gray clarified, his voice carrying over the rising whispers.
"Every 3 years, our clan sends its chosen few to the sects, those born into the right families, those selected due to blood ties and favoritism. But what if, instead, we allowed strength to decide?"
Anticipation flickered across the faces of the outer clan members, the adoptive members, and even some of the lesser branch families.
They knew what Gray was implying.
A chance to fight for their futures!