Final verdict

"I, Yang Qing, as a judge of the Superior Core Court, hereby exercise my authority as presiding judge to pass the verdict on the case between Sect Master Cheng Yuan and Wen Chang, having ascertained that I have sufficient information to make a sound judgment.

I declare Cheng Yuan, Sect Master of the rank-four sect, Green Fog Swamp, innocent of the accusation of dereliction of duty and obligation toward Wen Chang.

Likewise, I declare Wen Chang innocent of welching on her end of the bargain struck with the sect. Her innocence is based on the fact that her actions were manipulated by the sect's elders—Dong Yanlin, Peng Zhen, and others—who contrived a false narrative and planted treasures in the sect vault to goad her into a feud with Cheng Yuan."

Yang Qing paused as his gaze focused on Wen Chang.

"However, despite your innocence in this matter, I would advise you to repay the emerald milk you owe the sect, even though you were deceived into the conflict. The reason for it is simple," Yang Qing began.

"The sect upheld its end of the bargain by providing for you, while your end fell short. As you can already tell from the changes in your body, the herbs the sect continuously fed you, though not sky-rank, were all mid- to high-grade earth-rank treasures. Their energy and nutrients were responsible for the drastic transformation in you.

Without them, your cultivation art alone would not have produced such an immense change.

Do your part, Wen Chang, and give back to the sect that has invested all it could to support you," gently implored Yang Qing.

Wen Chang lowered her head in embarrassment, her eyes welling with tears. Only after her sudden evolution did she realize how spoiled she had been acting.

"I will," she said firmly.

"Good. As for you, Cheng Yuan, don't be stingy with your sky-grade resources. I understand saving them for the sect's future, but never forget—young plants need tall trees to shelter them from the harsh weather before they can stand on their own. You need Wen Chang in her optimal state, and that will give you the time and support needed for your plans.

Moreover, her emerald milk holds significant value, especially in alchemy circles. Some organizations would be willing to exchange sky-grade herbs for it. They may not be high-grade, but they are still sky-grade in the end. I'll provide you with contacts for some of those alchemy organizations—the negotiations after that will be up to you. Introductions are the best I can offer within my capacity," Yang Qing said.

"Thank you, Judge Yang Qing, for everything. I don't even know how to repay you," Cheng Yuan said, bowing in gratitude.

"There's nothing to repay. This is my duty as a judge of the Order and an advocate of its ideals. If you still want to repay me, then make sure I never see you or any Green Fog Swamp Sect members in this courtroom again. Having less workload is the best payment you can give me," Yang Qing said with a light smile.

Cheng Yuan could only smile helplessly at the statement, while Yi Jie and the rest knew that, despite his joking tone, Yang Qing was entirely serious about that suggestion.

"Now, as for you two," Yang Qing began, his gaze settling on Peng Zhen and Gui Bingwen.

"While I respect, understand, and even sympathize with all that you had to do for the survival of your sect, it doesn't change the fact that you dragged the Order into your schemes, pulling us right into the mud with you. You got what you wished for," Yang Qing said, his sharp gaze settling on the elder duo.

"We are waist-deep in this now, just as you hoped," he added.

"Dragons have their reverse scales, and the Order has its bottom line—you touched upon it, despite your well-meaning intentions," said Yang Qing as he interlocked his fingers and leaned on it slightly.

"What you did, at the very least, warrants having your cultivation crippled and spending the remainder of your days as laborers in the war-torn villages we support through our charity programs.

In the worst case, I would sentence you to death and carry out the execution immediately. But…" Yang Qing said pausing briefly. "Your situation is a tricky one," he added as a soft sigh escaped his lips.

"If I were in your position, with my back against the wall, I can't say I would have acted any differently.

To cripple your cultivation or sentence you to death would make me a hypocrite or a villain in this. However, I also can't pardon you, because your actions exposed Feng Xin to real danger. He could have died because of your scheme and getting involved in something he really didn't have a full picture of.

Of that, you're guilty," Yang Qing solemnly said.

"As such, this is my judgment and the punishment afforded by it:

Peng Zhen, I find you guilty of making the Order an unwitting accomplice to your actions and schemes, as well as withholding information vital to the execution of our duties—thus leading to the potential endangerment of a member of the Order. This is a violation of the Full Divulgence Act, which falls under Article 45 of the Cultivation Order."

Yang Qing paused briefly before continuing with the sentencing.

"With this, I hereby sentence you to a life-and-death sentence for ten years. During this period, you will serve as a duel partner for the students of the Order's Institute. Each month, you will engage in a life-or-death battle against students whose cultivation realm would be in the middle to late stages of the Foundation Realm.

You are to fight with everything you have, and they will do the same.

However, should their lives be in fatal danger, the instructors will intervene. For you... they will not," Yang Qing slowly said.

"Whether you live or die will be entirely in your hands," he added.

"The battles will end either in incapacitation or death. If you incapacitate your opponent or force the instructor to step in, you win. For your opponent, victory is achieved by either incapacitating you or if they kill you.

If you face a kind-hearted opponent who stays their hand, you may survive even in defeat. The instructors will not interfere in any way except to protect the students," patiently explained Yang Qing.

"Each duel will be a one-on-one match held once per month. Any injuries you sustain will be treated by the Order—provided you survive to the end of the battle. You are not allowed to hold back in any way," Yang Qing said as his tone turned grimmer, sharper, and heavier.

"If the instructors detect that you are restraining yourself, your sentence will be revoked, and you will be executed on the spot.

That is all for the ground rules. If there are any additional details, the instructors will inform you," he added, as his tone turned slightly lighter.

"Since the way things unfolded wasn't entirely of your choosing and you had no malicious intent, you will not be imprisoned by the Order. You are allowed to return to your sect and will only need to be present on the day of your duels. Someone from the Order will escort you back and forth.

I will also grant you a blue-grade cultivation art that you may choose to use in your duels. The students of the Institute typically use cultivation arts of that grade, though some may opt for orange-grade arts to temper themselves against you. Having access to a blue-grade art may improve your odds, but you are strictly forbidden from sharing it with your sect.

Fight with everything you have, Peng Zhen. Who knows? If you survive the full ten years, you might even benefit from this experience," Yang Qing endearingly said, as a small smile tugged at his lips.

"Now, as for Gui Bingwen—since you were not directly involved in the scheme to entangle the Order and acted solely out of loyalty to your friend, you are fully pardoned. Even without Peng Zhen's plea for your acquittal, I had no intention of punishing you.

"With that, I hereby bring the case of Sect Master Cheng Yuan versus Wen Chang to a close."

Yang Qing struck his gavel downward.

Mao Yunru lifted her dainty, slim hands as a white jade talisman flickered intermittently with a blinding white light. This continued for a few seconds before it ceased. Yang Qing gave her a nod as she placed the talisman on his podium, where it disappeared instantly. The white jade talisman recorded the proceedings and final ruling of the case, automatically transmitting them to the higher-ups for review and archival.

"Judge Yang Qing, I still wish to receive the same punishment as Peng," Gui Bingwen pleaded urgently, his expression firm.

"Elder Gui Bingwen, I admire your loyalty as a friend, but what you're asking for will only be a burden to Elder Peng Zhen. What he will face requires his full focus—any distraction could cost him his life. Do you think he'll be able to fight at his full strength if he's worrying about you going through the same ordeal?

"And forgive my bluntness, but your chances of surviving the first duel are less than ten percent. If I were to grant your request, I might as well outrightly sentence you to death. Don't underestimate your friend—this may not be as hopeless for him as you imagine. Isn't that right, Elder Peng Zhen?" Yang Qing said, turning to Peng Zhen with a nod.

"It is, Judge Yang Qing. This is a great opportunity—far more than what old bones like mine deserve. Gui, Cheng, you both know me well enough, from childhood till now. One thing has never changed nor wavered—my love for cultivation.

"To anyone else, this might seem like a tormenting sentence, but to me, it's a dream come true—a precious treasure I would never have encountered in my lifetime. Clashing with the talents of the Order, experiencing their cultivation firsthand through battle—there's nothing better. I can't help but want to duel them this instant. Even a once-a-month duel doesn't feel like enough."

Gui Bingwen and Cheng Yuan watched as Peng Zhen softly looked their way.

"I will live."

Just three words, spoken slowly and softly, yet they carried an undeniable momentum and resolve. The irrepressible fighting intent burning within Peng Zhen was so palpable that even Wen Chang, despite her higher cultivation realm, found herself momentarily shocked, a flicker of apprehension flashing across her face.

Gui Bingwen and Cheng Yuan were silent at first, then smiled in unison.

"I'm sorry," Gui Bingwen chuckled. "I forgot what a battle fiend you are. It's been so long since I saw that side of you, I thought it had faded."

"You better keep your word, Peng," Cheng Yuan added with a grin. "Otherwise, I'll have to beat up that caiman by myself."

"This is actually a blessing for me, Cheng," said Peng Zhen. "Other than you, there's barely anyone from the sect I can truly spar against, and even then, when it comes to our spars, they lack the true flavor of a real battle, since there's no risk of death, but these duels will. They might just be the boost I need to finally break through to the Core Formation realm. And, I even get to learn a blue-grade cultivation art."

Peng Zhen's demeanor suddenly shifted as it became serious, with a little sharpness and solemnness to it.

"We'll need to throw everything we possibly can at that caiman, and even then it might not be enough. He is not an easy one, not by any stretch. It will take everything," solemnly said Peng Zhen as Cheng Yuan nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Yang Qing's gaze flickered slightly as it fell on Peng Zhen.

"I knew I was right about him," he softly murmured.

"Anyone who willingly goes through a cleansing thunder tribulation to improve the grade of his pillars without breaking through isn't a normal person. Not many would take that risk. Thunder-blue grade pillars, huh... he's quite the interesting individual," Yang Qing amusedly thought.

"Hehehe, those students from the Order are in for the toughest fights of their lives," Yang Qing mused to himself, a cheeky smile forming on his lips.