Chapter 2450: Sophistry

If Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue were present alone, with their cultivation and status, they would not give face to this new Scioness.

No matter how powerful the Scioness was, she was only at the Neverwither Realm. How could she command them?

They were figures who could break through to the divinity at any time.

However, Pan Ruo chose the perfect timing when the two of them were present and they were at loggerheads.

As long as Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue agreed to let her be the main adjudicator this time, the Supreme Saints of the Fane of Destiny, the Destiny Commanders, and Marshals of the Thousand-Koan Realm and the Banshi Isshou Realm would definitely treat Pan Ruo differently from now on.

…

The Scioness would no longer be just a decoration.

Zhang Ruochen raised his voice and said, “If the Scioness can be the main adjudicator, Divine Judge, and Lord Wu Yue as the jury, it should be fair and just. Of course, I’m willing to go with you.”

As he spoke, the inscription of the Sevenstar Imperial Palace’s array disappeared, and the light gradually dimmed.

Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue felt that the Scioness of Destiny was a way of compromise, so they both agreed.

Zhang Ruochen, Lord Wu Yue, Pan Ruo, Zhuo Yunong, and thousands of enforcers and saint guards went straight to the Scioness Hall of Mount Destiny.

Huo Xing said coldly, “Zhang Ruochen is so lucky. The Destiny Division and Scioness Pan Ruo are involved at the same time. It won’t be easy for the Adjudication Division to kill him!”

“I don’t think it’s luck,” Ling said with a meaningful look.

Huo Xing was surprised. “What do you mean?”

Ling said, “Let’s not talk about that. Zhang Ruochen’s life can be taken at any time. However, there is only one Fane of Origin. Finding the superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin is the most important thing.”

“Didn’t Zhang Ruochen steal the superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin?” asked Huo Xing.

Ling said, “Is Zhang Ruochen that stupid? He stole the superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin, but returned to Vastsea Manor to wait for everyone to surround him?”

Huo Xing came back to his senses and nodded. “This is indeed strange.”

Ling secretly transmitted his voice. “Send someone to investigate immediately. From the time Tan Fei self-detonated his Sainthood Source to the time the enforcers set out, who visited the Adjudication Division during this period?”

He thought for a moment and added, “During this period, it’s best to investigate all the cultivators who have entered Mount Destiny. Perhaps there will be a surprise.”

“You suspect that someone framed Zhang Ruochen. The person who framed him is the one who stole the superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin?” said Huo Xing.

Ling patted Huo Xing’s shoulder and said, “Let’s split up! You go to Mount Destiny. I’ll go to the area where the Violet Gourd appeared according to the witnesses.”

…

Zhang Ruochen had already destroyed Cang Baizi and Xing Qian’s bodies. Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue naturally didn’t get any results.

The witnesses that Zhuo Yunong had found only saw the Dimensional Array burst out from the Violet Gourd. They didn’t see clearly who had been taken into the gourd. Zhang Ruochen claimed that he had taken in two Saint Realm slaves to deal with them.

Was it wrong for the slaves to escape and use the Violet Gourd to suppress them as their masters?

Should he hand over the two Saint Realm slaves?

He can’t, he had already killed them.

The interrogation came to an impasse.

Zhuo Yunong laughed. “What a dead man. Zhang Ruochen, do you dare to let me search your soul and search your memory? As long as your memory is fine, you can leave immediately.”

As he spoke, Zhuo Yunong released his spiritual power to form a powerful saint might. His body was as tall as a giant god.

Even Zhang Ruochen’s divine power could withstand it, let alone his pressure?

“Search my memory? Zhuo Yunong, how dare you? Do you want to pry into the secrets of the Xue Jue Family, or steal the cultivation experience of the Wargod Bloodximius? Do you really think that the disciples of the Xue Jue Family are for you to push around?” asked Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen activated the blood-red aura and injected it into the Wargod Belt.

Suddenly, the simple and unadorned belt on his waist glowed with blood. It released divine qi and the Wargod’s will. It condensed into a pair of blood-red bat wings behind Zhang Ruochen’s back.

“Wargod Belt.”

The cultivators in the Scioness fane were all shocked.

No one had expected that Wargod Bloodximius would give such an important relic to Zhang Ruochen.

How was this like treating a grandson who had just come back from the Celestial Court? Even the eldest son might not receive such treatment.

Zhang Ruochen took out the Destiny Token, he said, “My token is condensed from the divine power of the 12 Reverends, representing the will of the 12 Reverends. Although I’m not a cultivator of the Fane of Destiny, I can be considered the most honorable guest of the Fane of Destiny, right? With the Destiny Token and having my soul searched, who would want this token in the future? Who would be willing to work for the Fane of Destiny? Who would still respect the 12 Reverends?”

“Don’t use the Reverends’ name to pressure me,” said Zhuo Yunong.

Zhuo Yunong slammed the red copper table heavily, his eyes as sharp as swords.

Zhang Ruochen said, “If you want to search my soul, that’s fine. But, do you dare to let Lord Wu Yue search your soul too?”

Lord Wu Yue rubbed his fingers and looked eager to try.

Zhuo Yunong was so angry that he laughed. “I did my best to work for the fane, and I didn’t do anything illegal. Why should I be searched?”

Zhang Ruochen said, “If that’s the case, please tell everyone who gave you the intelligence that I killed Xing Qian and captured Cang Baizi?”

With the Intergold Tiger using the Apex Intergold Qi to cover up his memory, Zhang Ruochen was not afraid of being searched.

However, he was a genius of the Yuanhui level and the Scion of the Xue Jue Family. He valued his reputation very much.

In the world of saints, It was more humiliating for a cultivator’s soul to be searched than kneeling down.

“I can’t reveal the informer,” Zhuo Yunong said.

Zhang Ruochen said, “Why not? Bring him up. I can confront him and find out who killed Xing Qian and captured Cang Baizi.”

“I think what Zhang Ruochen said makes sense. Yunong, this is a serious matter. You should summon that person and let him confront Zhang Ruochen,” Lord Wu Yue said sincerely.

Zhuo Yunong shook his head and said, “What if Zhang Ruochen seeks revenge on him? I will never hand him over.”

Lord Wu Yue really wanted to say, “Why don’t you let me search your soul and find the answer myself?”.

He thought it was unrealistic, so he gave up.

The trial was in a deadlock again.

Zhuo Yunong changed the topic and said, “Did you kill Tan Fei in the House of Enchanteurs?”

“Tan Fei? Who’s Tan Fei? I’ve never heard of him,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Marshal Zhen, who was standing in the lower-left corner of Zhuo Yunong, said, “Tan Fei was the Thousand-Koan Realm Supreme Saint of the Asuras. He self-detonated his Sainthood Source in the House of Enchanteurs and died. Before he died, he called out your name and claimed that you killed him.”

“Can there be an even worse way to frame someone?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

Marshal Zhen was furious. “You’re saying this is a frame-up? Who do you think is willing to sacrifice a Thousand-Koan Realm Supreme Saint to frame a Hundred-Shackle Realm Supreme Saint?”

Zhang Ruochen knew who Tan Fei was, so he thought of a plan. He said, “Marshal, can you describe Tan Fei’s surroundings, the cultivators present, and his expression when he died in detail?”

“Erm…”

Marshal Zhen glanced at Zhuo Yunong.

Zhang Ruochen had learned from Guye Jing that the five superior-grade Divine Crystals of Origin were in Tan Fei’s hands. He was sure that the cultivators participating in the contest for the divine crystals wouldn’t tell the public the truth.

Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue were both thoughtful people. They must have noticed the clues.

Who was hiding it?

Why?

What had happened that forced a Thousand-Koan Realm Supreme Saint to self-destruct?

And why were so many Supreme Saints gathered at the House of Enchanteurs tonight?

As long as Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue’s thoughts were attracted to the House of Enchanteurs, they would not keep their eyes on Zhang Ruochen.

“It seems that the Death Palace’s High Priest is hiding something more important. He just treats me as a blade to get rid of Zhang Ruochen,” said Zhuo Yunong. He was extremely displeased and his body emitted waves of cold light.

Lord Wu Yue thought, ‘The House of Enchanteurs is most likely the center of the storm today.’

Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue ignored Pan Ruo. They discussed telepathically with each other for a moment. Then, they communicated with Pan Ruo, who was sitting in the center, to convey their will.

Then Pan Ruo announced, “Xing Qian has been killed, Cang Baizi has been captured, and Tan Fei has self-detonated. These three matters threaten the order of the Divine Domain of Destiny. However, there are still many suspicious points. I have decided to send the Destiny Division and the Adjudication Division to investigate. Zhang Ruochen is still the biggest suspect. He will be temporarily detained in the Scioness Hall.”

Zhuo Yunong and Lord Wu Yue each led a large group of people to Metaform City where the House of Enchanteurs was located.

Only Zhang Ruochen and Pan Ruo were left in the Scioness Hall.

The entire world became quiet!

Zhang Ruochen stood below and stared at the new Scioness sitting above him. He chuckled. “What’s the point of being a puppet Scioness?”

There was no joy or sadness on Pan Ruo’s face. “It’s all thanks to you, isn’t it?”

Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen felt as if he had been pricked by a needle. For some reason, he thought of the Realm Bearer banquet.

If he wasn’t the one who helped Huang Yanchen become a Realm Bearer and sent her to Chi Yao’s side, the two might not have parted ways.

Perhaps they would have given birth to children now or fought side by side in Kunlun to survive.

Alternatively, they would have taken the Qiankun Realm, the former ministers and people of the Shenming Central Empire, and their good friends to wander the universe and see the starry world prosper.

Or, for the sake of his children, Zhang Ruochen was willing to give up the hatred in his heart and ignore the life and death feuds in the world. He would find a beautiful place in Guanghan and enjoy the peaceful days of having his children together.

However, if that was the case, Zhang Ruochen would not have grown up in the battle, and it would be even more impossible for him to obtain so many opportunities in Kunlun and the Infernal Court. He might be able to become a god in the future, but he definitely would not be able to go far.

Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath and withdrew his thoughts. He smiled self-mockingly. “Today, I have to thank you, the puppet Scioness. Otherwise, the Divine Judge would never have allowed me to speak.”

“You shouldn’t be thanking me, but your fiancée, Princess Luo Sha. Why do you think Lord Wu Yue would interfere in this matter?” said Pan Ruo. Her expression was cold as she looked out the window.

Zhang Ruochen was silent for a moment, then he said in a low voice, “I was wrong. I take back what I said. Lady Scioness wasn’t as useless as I thought. Since you knew Luo Sha’s actions, you must have had many spies on Mount Destiny. I’ve underestimated you. Your methods have grown, and you’re no longer like before… where everything can be seen through at a glance.”

“If a person doesn’t learn and grow, what’s the difference between living and dying?” Pan Ruo asked.