Was This Chu Xinghe's Trial or the Great Elder's?

The Vast Heaven Sect suddenly gained a new rule... Chu Xinghe was so angry he almost died on the spot.

Um... what happened to today being my trial?

Elders, and Sect Leader... your stern face is intimidating, but what's so frightening about what you're saying?

Didn't you guys write the script yesterday?

Can't you at least put on an act?

You guys are really putting me in a difficult position...

The Grand Elder was also furious...

The script wasn't written like this yesterday...

According to the normal script, today the sect leader was to hold someone accountable, and he himself was to step forward and announce the execution of Chu Xinghe. Then Elder He would step forward to stop him, and then Elder Yu would say that the country has its laws and the family has its rules, and Chu Xinghe must be executed.

Then the elders should personally step in to persuade them, and after a series of heated discussions, this rule of the sect should finally be brought out. The Grand Elder's lines are all prepared.

What Xinghe... Although so many elders pleaded for you today, your life will still be remembered. You must never act recklessly again.

This is a complete process for scaring Xinghe.

But Elder Yu, that traitor, forgot the script right from the start, and now Elder He is completely ignoring the script as well...

The First Elder looked at Sect Gu Mingchao with a pleading expression, and the two nodded to each other as they looked at each other.

The Grand Elder was secretly delighted. As expected, it was the Sect Master who remained calm in the face of danger. With the Sect Master here to keep things under control, things should be stable.

"Chu Xinghe! Since the sect rules apply this time, then follow them. However, while he may escape death, he will not escape punishment! Issue my order: strip Chu Xinghe of his title as a personal disciple and demote him to an ordinary inner disciple as a warning to others!"

The elder was dumbfounded by the sect leader's words!

Um... Sect Leader, this punishment wasn't in the script we discussed yesterday!

They didn't say they were going to take away the title of Xinghe's personal disciple...

Is this how you punish Xinghe? I get the feeling that none of you have ulterior motives.

So, what kind of sect leader... you're really messing with me! Does this mean that tomorrow Xinghe will be made the sect leader's personal disciple just because he stepped into the Haotian Palace with his left foot first?

Although it's just a matter of title, the Grand Elder feels that today's punishment ceremony seems to be punishing me.

Look at the looks in the eyes of the sect leader and the heads of the various palaces... Are you all sure you're not here to snatch disciples?

"Such punishment is excellent... excellent indeed..."

"The sect leader is truly wise!"

The elders were all talking at once, completely ignoring the Grand Elder, the sole victim.

The Grand Elder is about to slap someone... I thought you were just not following the script, but now I realize you're not just not following the script, you have your own unique script... Are you trying to act out my role today?

Ma Liang was dumbfounded...

When they said they were going to execute Senior Brother Xinghe, Ma Liang was honestly terrified... Even though he knew it was impossible, it still sounded pretty scary.

But this seemingly chaotic set of things only confused Ma Liang Liangren more. So, the only one being targeted today is the Grand Elder?

But thinking about it, it doesn't seem wrong... Look at how smug the Grand Elder is usually... He tells people at the drop of a hat that Xinghe is his personal disciple, and that he's quite useless... Do you think your mockery only hurts outsiders?

Our Vast Heaven Sect's elders and even the sect leader have all been harmed, okay?

Now look what's happened... Senior Brother Xinghe has been stripped of his title as the Grand Elder's personal disciple. How can the Grand Elder still be so smug now?

Chu Xinghe was also stunned... Wait... Isn't this trial for me, Chu Xinghe?

Why was the Grand Elder ultimately put on trial?

What did the Grand Elder do to deserve this?

Without giving the Grand Elder any chance to react, Gu Mingchao continued, "In addition, Xinghe will be confined for another six months. You'll be kept in my Haotian Palace, and I'll personally guide your cultivation!"

The moment Gu Mingchao uttered those words, the entire room paled!

Metropolitan!

Isn't this punishment a bit too harsh?

The First Elder, who had just realized what was happening, was the first to jump out. "Sect Master, this punishment is absolutely outrageous! I personally think it's too harsh!"

"Exactly! What heinous crime has Xinghe committed to deserve such severe punishment? I object!"

"Xinghe has made so many contributions to the sect, why should he be punished so severely? This is unacceptable!"

"Sect Leader, I hereby express my full opposition to this punishment!"

Ma Liang was dumbfounded... Just now, when it was said that he would be stripped of his title as a personal disciple and demoted to an ordinary inner disciple, all the elders expressed their approval. But now, they say that a six-month confinement is too harsh?

Ma Liang felt like his brain wasn't working properly...

Um... which is more serious, six months of confinement or being stripped of one's status as a direct disciple?

Can someone please explain this?

Ma Liang didn't understand, but did the elders understand, especially the First Elder? At this moment, the First Elder was saying, "Sect Leader, you know your little scheme has completely backfired on me?"

Are you suggesting we lock up Xinghe in seclusion?

Are you trying to turn Xinghe into your personal disciple?!

After these past six months, Xinghe has performed exceptionally well, so are you planning to take him on as your personal disciple?

Your tricks might fool ordinary people, but you think you can fool us?

As expected, this time all the elders sided with the Grand Elder, saying that Xinghe had only used the Haotian Token... how could he be punished so severely?

This punishment is absolutely outrageous! If the outside world knew, they'd think our Vast Heaven Sect had gone mad!

Gu Mingchao sighed helplessly as he watched the elders jump up in anger and voice their objections. "Well... was my reaction really that obvious?"

Actually... what's wrong with Xinghe becoming my personal disciple?

Are you all really that serious?

And Elder... what was that look you were giving me?

I, Gu Mingchao, am devoted to the public good and would never show favoritism!

Another heated and brutal discussion ensued, and in the end, Chu Xinghe was still confined for six months. However, when Ma Liang heard where he would be confined for six months, Ma Liang almost cried with anger.

Excuse me, is being confined to the Vast Heaven Sect for six months considered solitary confinement?

Elders, don't you want to listen to what you're saying...? Do you call this solitary confinement?

Although the sect leader was very dissatisfied with a dark expression, he could only put aside his own plans due to the opposition of all the elders who had spoken out against it. He would never show favoritism to Gu Mingchao.

After dealing with Xinghe's matter, Elder He also brought news from the Cloud Firmament Sect.

The Cloud Firmament Sect personally sent a message to the Vast Heaven Sect via a spirit bird, lodging a formal protest regarding the matter concerning Ma Liang's Great Moon Kingdom.

What? You're asking why Chu Xinghe wasn't mentioned?

The Cloud Firmament Sect is negotiating, not issuing a challenge!

He said Ma Liang was acting recklessly, which was one thing, but the last person who said Chu Xinghe was acting recklessly has now lost his Lineage!

If Cloud Firmament Sect really dares to say that Chu Xinghe is acting recklessly, then the only victim in this incident, the Grand Elder who is so angry that he's about to vomit blood, can lead his men to storm Cloud Firmament Sect tonight!

At this moment, no one hated the Cloud Firmament Sect more than the Grand Elder... The Grand Elder even suspected that this was a deception orchestrated by the Sect Master and the elders in collusion with the Cloud Firmament Sect.

Whether the Great Moon Kingdom's capital city is gone or not, the Grand Elder doesn't know; he only knows that his personal disciple is gone...

"You still have the nerve to ask us about the dirty deeds of the Great Moon Kingdom? A few years ago, I heard that old dog Tian Qingquan went to the Great Moon Kingdom and immediately took a fancy to two women from the Great Moon Imperial Clan... That night, his shameless daughter arranged for those two women to serve her in bed... Those two women called that old dog Tian Qingquan's daughter 'Auntie.' If I had taken action, I would have destroyed the Great Moon Kingdom long ago!"

The Grand Elder was so angry that he stomped on and shattered the Vajra bricks of the Haotian Grand Hall!

"The Grand Elder is right. That old dog Ling Su is no decent person either. He claims to be a descendant of the Great Moon Kingdom, but if he were my descendant, I would have killed them all long ago for what they did..."

"Ma Liang... what's wrong with your brain? Why didn't you report this to the sect when your sister was in trouble? What? Do you think the sect won't stand up for you in this kind of thing? Or do you think my Vast Heaven Sect wouldn't dare to destroy the Great Moon Kingdom?"

"That's right! Ma Liang, if you had just said one word to me, I would have razed the Great Moon Kingdom to the ground! Why would a Little Wang like you have to fight to the death? If it weren't for your Senior Brother Xinghe arriving in time, would you still be alive?"

"The sect has its rules of conduct. If your Lineage were to fight with others fairly and squarely, regardless of victory or defeat, the sect would have no right to interfere. But how could the sect sit idly by and watch your sister be poisoned by such despicable means?"

The elders grabbed Ma Liang from the side, dragged him to the center, and berated him mercilessly. Ma Liang was so relentlessly scolded by the elders that he didn't dare utter a single word.

The eldest elder, in particular, got so angry over a single word that he kicked Ma Liang twice...

In fact, Ma Liang was wrong this time. He was only thinking about the Wan Lineage's matter last time, but the conflict between the Wan Lineage and Zhou Medical Hall that time was open.

Even if the methods used by the Zhou Medical Hall are unscrupulous, they are all within the bounds of the rules.

If your Wan Lineage is no match for them in a direct confrontation, and you lose, what can the Vast Heaven Sect do?

You can't just say that because your Lineage has a disciple of the Vast Heaven Sect, your family will be the winner in every future conflict, right?

But this time, Ma Liang's situation was different. His elder sister had been murdered in such a vicious way. If Ma Liang reported this to the sect, it would definitely not be what he expected. The sect would demand an explanation from the Cloud Firmament Sect. Given the temperament of the sect elders, they would probably go to the Dayue Imperial Palace and start a massacre that very night.

If you win a direct confrontation with my disciple's Lineage, it's because my disciple's Lineage was less skilled. My Vast Heaven Sect will remain silent.

But you've harmed my disciples and family behind my back, how could the Vast Heaven Sect possibly ignore it?

Although Ma Liang was scolded mercilessly and even kicked twice by the elder, he showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever. Instead, Ma Liang was moved to tears!

"Tell all disciples that if anything similar happens again, anyone who dares to imitate Ma Liang will be kicked out of the Vast Heaven Sect. What? Does the Vast Heaven Sect not protect the families of its disciples? Anyone who dares to use despicable means to harm the families of the Vast Heaven Sect disciples will be killed without mercy!"

The Grand Elder's eyes were bloodshot, it was unclear whether it was because of this matter, or... that matter...

"Elder He, didn't the Cloud Firmament Sect demand an explanation from us? Have your secret agents from all sides thoroughly explain the events in the Great Moon Kingdom to the entire world, giving the Cloud Firmament Sect a proper account!"

"And that Tian Qingquan, have someone keep a close eye on him. If they find even the slightest problem with him, I'll make him regret ever being born!"

After the Grand Elder finished speaking, Elder He nodded, indicating that he would definitely give Cloud Firmament Sect a proper explanation. As for Tian Qingquan, Elder He felt that there was no need to keep such a close eye on him. As long as he dared to leave Cloud Firmament Sect, Old He had plenty of ways to make him die.

At the same time, Elder He glanced at the furious First Elder with pity...

Well... I haven't been interacting with the Grand Elder much lately; he's been incredibly irritable lately...

Chu Xinghe didn't know if the Grand Elder was short-tempered or not; at this moment, Chu Xinghe only wanted to thank all the elders...

Because the Misfortune Compass finally began to spin wildly the moment he was stripped of his personal discipleship...