The academies in the stands had no objections to the verdict and raised their hands in approval.
But Flender and the others from Shrek Academy clenched their fists when they heard that Qin Ming would have his cultivation crippled.
"If Little Ming is crippled, how is that any different from dying?"
Zhao Wuji stared at Qin Ming, who knelt on the platform at death's door, and roared in anger, his eyes bloodshot.
Hearing the commotion beside him, Flender hurriedly reached out to restrain Zhao Wuji.
"Old Zhao! Calm down. This is a Public Hearing."
Zhao Wuji snorted coldly and turned his head away.
"I understand, Boss Fu."
"I object! Isn't this too harsh?"
At that objection, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who had been ready to adjourn and finish work, abruptly stopped packing up.
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Yu Xiaogang standing in Shrek Academy's seating area, his hands clasped behind his back and his chin raised.
Under so many gazes, even Tai Tan, who was usually notorious for being unreasonable, felt uncomfortable all over.
When Xue Ye saw that it was this attention-seeker again, his solemn face darkened.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice asked impatiently.
"Why do you think it's too harsh? What, in your view, is punishment unnecessary unless he gets a student killed?"
"He's from Shrek Academy?"
"So that's Shrek Academy. What a trash heap, raising students like that."
Once the teachers from the other academies saw that Yu Xiaogang belonged to Shrek Academy, they began murmuring among themselves.
In an instant, everyone from Shrek Academy became the target of a thousand arrows.
"What are you saying?!"
With her explosive temper, Liu Erlong could least tolerate people pointing fingers at her, and she erupted on the spot.
Seeing that Liu Erlong was actually about to unleash her Martial Soul, Sunday held nothing back. He rose and swept a hand toward her.
A massive shaft of golden light crashed down, smashing her straight into the ground.
Sunday looked at Flender and the others, his voice indifferent.
"What? Do you have objections?"
Seeing Sunday take action, Flender hurriedly offered an apologetic smile and an explanation. He pulled Liu Erlong out of the ground, and the group slunk away from the hearing.
With the problem resolved, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice first glanced at Xue Ye, then at Sunday, before announcing the result.
"He shall be punished according to the law. Furthermore, this incident has made the empire acutely aware of failings in education. Educational laws will be redrafted!"
With that, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice turned and left the platform. Everyone else looked toward Xue Ye when they saw him leave.
"Ahem, it's getting late. You should all head back."
Xue Ye naturally knew what they wanted. He stood, waved a hand, and turned to leave.
"Since things have concluded, I shall take my leave."
Ning Fengzhi rose with a smile, said goodbye to Xue Qinghe and Sunday, and hurried out of the venue as well. He had to prepare for tomorrow night's events.
Xue Qinghe and Sunday sat in the carriage returning to the Crown Prince's Manor.
"Sir, what do you think my teacher will do?"
After staring at Sunday for a while, Xue Qinghe finally could not resist asking.
He could not understand why Ning Fengzhi suddenly wanted to move against the Strength Clan. Hadn't the man always said that the Upper Three Sects were branches of the same tree, sharing the same breath?
Sunday turned to glance at Xue Qinghe, then looked out the window again.
"I don't know. But with Sect Master Ning's depth of cunning, I fear something major is about to happen."
"Didn't you say you wanted a paradise where everyone was equal, sir? Why won't you stop what my teacher is doing, then?"
Hearing Xue Qinghe bring up the matter again, Sunday looked at him with some surprise, his expression growing considerably more serious. He had not expected Xue Qinghe to remember.
"I did say that. But forging paradise will inevitably bring bloody winds and rains of slaughter. The bubbles of old dreams will drift away with the current,
upon the ruins of the old days, new, beautiful dreams will flourish. Not everyone deserves redemption,
and if they are the shackles of the old era, then they can only become nourishment beneath the grand celebration!"
Xue Qinghe's mouth fell open in shock at Sunday's words.
For all their beautiful phrasing, the meaning behind them was incomparably cruel.
"So this is how the Seven-Hour Paradise is forged..."
Sunday watched Xue Qinghe sink into thought and did not disturb him. What he had said was simply the truth.
Sunday wanted to reshape Douluo Star, and sacrifices would inevitably be made in the process. For the sake of the magnificent new world, Order would remember them.
Meanwhile, inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi had finished their preparations.
"Uncle Gu, once Uncle Jian and I leave, the sect will be in your hands. Remember, put on a convincing performance."
Ning Fengzhi gave Gu Rong, who stood in the hall, one final reminder.
Gu Rong nodded in response.
"Don't worry. Something this simple won't stump me. But you, you old bastard-can you handle it alone?
You won't have much time to act inside Heaven Dou City. If you fail to finish..."
Hearing Gu Rong's words, Chen Xin could not help casting him a sidelong glance.
"You old bag of bones, can't you wish me well for once?
It's only a Soul Douluo clan. Once I unleash my ninth Soul Skill, even if they don't all die, there won't be many left breathing."
"All right, Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu. Let's move."
Both men nodded, their expressions grave.
The following night, Sunday sat in a pavilion in the Crown Prince's Manor, gazing at the bright moon overhead, somewhat lost in thought.
"Aren't you going to rest yet, sir?"
Xue Qinghe walked up beside Sunday and looked at the bright moon, sounding puzzled.
Sunday had already been staying at the Crown Prince's Manor for two days, ostensibly to protect him.
"I'm not sleepy yet. You should rest early, Your Highness, or you might catch a chill if you fall asleep outside later."
Hearing Sunday's baffling remark, Xue Qinghe grew even more confused, unable to understand why he had said it.
Just then, Sunday's eyes flickered, and he looked toward the Strength Clan's compound.
The night was deep and quiet at the Strength Clan's compound. Apart from a few disciples on night watch, everyone had already entered dreamland.
Clad in black robes, Chen Xin stood high in the sky, looking down at the buildings below. He was waiting for an opportunity.
He would wait until the latter half of the night, when Heaven Dou City's garrison changed shifts. That was when everyone would be least vigilant.
His first strike had to kill Tai Tan. Only then could he wipe out the entire Strength Clan in the shortest possible time.
Old gorilla, old gorilla. If you must blame something, blame yourself for choosing the wrong side!
Chen Xin considered this, then closed his eyes to rest as he quietly awaited his chance.
Meanwhile, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect not far from Heaven Dou City, flames already blazed into the sky, and disciples rushed back and forth, frantically fighting the fire,
many disciples still had terror on their faces as they shouted over and over that they were under attack.
Gu Rong, meanwhile, sat in the hall wrapped in bandages, watching the scenes unfold outside.
"Old bastard, Fengzhi, the rest is up to you."
Sunday waited a long while longer. Seeing that Chen Xin still had not made a move, he could not help wondering how long the man intended to wait.
"Never mind. It doesn't matter when he acts. I'll get started."
With that, Sunday closed his eyes and stirred the Order Divine Power within him, beginning to spread it across all of Heaven Dou City.
Those who had been resting, standing guard, or working all collapsed to the ground and fell into a deep sleep.
As though nothing had happened, they went about their ordinary activities within their dreams.
"With the Dream of the Great Unity, I shall guide you into paradise."
Before you continue