"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Chou. Zhou and this bandit are locked in a fight to the death. How could I retreat now?"
On Zhou Zongshi's deathly pale face, his eyes shone with a lifeless gleam as he fixed them on Xu Yi and said, word by word, "I, Zhou, stake the Star on my chest and beg you, my lord, to investigate this case to the very end."
At Zhou Zongshi's words, the entire hall changed color.
The Star on a star official's uniform was incredibly precious. It was not only a symbol of status and rank but also a mark of countless privileges.
By saying this, Zhou Zongshi was clearly willing to accept punishment if necessary, just to determine right and wrong, victory and defeat. Every official present was moved.
As the saying went, those present held statuses similar to Zhou Zongshi's, so they could best understand his feelings. At this moment, Zhou Zongshi had been driven to use his last shred of dignity to prove his innocence.
In an instant, the public sentiment Xu Yi had painstakingly cultivated, which had gradually begun to favor him, was utterly destroyed.
Chou Taichong slapped the courtroom block. "Xu Yi, even if you take this case before the presiding judge later, you must explain what gives you the confidence that you obtained the Earth Soul Talisman."
"No comment!"
Xu Yi replied coolly.
"How dare you!"
Chou Taichong was furious. "Do you really want me to use severe torture before you'll confess?"
"You may do as you please, my lord. I'll appeal afterward."
Xu Yi remained cold and composed.
To Zhou Zongshi's surprise, Xu Yi's conduct only convinced him that Xu Yi was bluffing. He had no backup plan at all.
Chou Taichong, too, had not expected Xu Yi to be