Chapter 1159: Unpardonable Sin
"Yun Che!" Mu Bingyun was greatly alarmed, and Mu Huanzhi and the others were utterly terrified.
"It's... over, this time it's truly... completely over." Huo Rulie muttered blankly.
"Oh? This kid... is quite interesting." Shitian Shendi stroked his chin, looking at Yun Che with great interest.
"Interesting? Hmph. Lowly origins, despicable means, and so ignorant and arrogant. He should count himself lucky to be in the Zhou Tian Realm. If he were in any other star realm, he would have died a thousand times over." Xing Shendi snorted coldly.
"Heh." Quhui Zunzhe let out a faint laugh, but it made everyone feel a chill that seeped into their bones. "Despicable conduct, heavy guilt upon you, yet instead of being ashamed, bowing your head in repentance, you dare to be so arrogant..."
"Heavy guilt?" Since the words had already been said, Yun Che no longer held back. "I admit my methods were despicable, and I deserve mockery and scorn. But... I would like to ask, what heavy guilt do I have?"
"Heh! Despicable cheating is a heavy crime in any realm! In the Profound God Convention, it is so. To disdain our Zhou Tian Realm and all profound practitioners of the Eastern Divine Region is even more heinous and unforgivable! And you still have the face to quibble about what heavy guilt you have?"
"Quibble? Why would I need to quibble!" Yun Che shouted sternly. "The rules of the preliminary battlefield were clearly announced: everything each person possesses is fully projected. The battlefield does not restrict any weapons, profound artifacts, or means. The final ranking is determined solely by the number of soul orbs!"
"My methods may indeed be contemptible, but they did not violate the battlefield rules in the slightest! You can mock and rebuke my methods, but on what grounds do you accuse me of cheating, and on what grounds do you claim I am guilty of a heavy crime?"
"..." Quhui Zunzhe was visibly stunned, momentarily speechless.
The Zhou Tian Sound had not only resounded in the projected world within the Zhou Tian Pearl but could also be heard clearly from the outside. Recalling it now, the rules announced by the Zhou Tian Sound had clearly stated: no restrictions on any weapons, profound artifacts... or means!
What Yun Che relied on to get here was precisely "means"!
Although it was contemptible, if one truly adhered to the Zhou Tian Sound's announcement, he indeed had not violated the rules!
Not only was Quhui Zunzhe momentarily taken aback, even Zhou Tian Shen Di and the others were slightly startled. The people on the Feng Shen Platform also exchanged bewildered glances.
"If I had truly violated the battlefield rules, the Zhou Tian Pearl would have disqualified me and directly expelled me. But I passed both preliminary rounds safely and now stand here, which proves that even the Zhou Tian Pearl recognizes my ranking. On what grounds do you say I am guilty of a heavy crime?"
Yun Che's words caused Mu Bingyun's heart to plummet into an abyss, her face turning pale white. Because no matter how justified Yun Che's words were, no matter how righteous his tone, he had precisely touched upon the greatest taboo of the Zhou Tian Divine Realm.
The Zhou Tian Pearl!!
"How dare you!" The faces of the Zhou Tian Realm crowd darkened, and Quhui Zunzhe became furious. "Despicable junior, you insulted the Profound God Convention first. Not only do you not admit your guilt and repent, but you even dare to recklessly discuss the Zhou Tian Pearl! Your audacity is extreme, your crime unpardonable!"
"This is outrageous!" Zhou Tian Shen Di's gaze also sank slightly.
"This bastard! He dares to try and use the name of the Zhou Tian Pearl to cover up his ugly deeds! This is more than just audacity!" a Zhou Tian Realm elder said angrily. "Quhui Zunzhe, there's no need to follow the rules and waste words on such a despicable junior. Cripple his profound strength immediately and expel him from the Zhou Tian Realm!"
"One who brings disaster upon himself cannot be saved."
"To think there is such an arrogant and ignorant person. Today, I have truly learned something new."
Among the "Heaven's Chosen," one person strode forward, bowed to Quhui Zunzhe, and said solemnly, "Quhui Zunzhe, we who are fortunate to become 'Heaven's Chosen' have devoted our entire life's cultivation to the battlefield, treading cautiously at every step, never daring to slack off for a moment, in order to obtain this honor. Who would have thought that among us, such a despicable little man had sneaked in, not only defiling the name of 'Heaven's Chosen' but also bringing humiliation to us juniors. I beg Quhui Zunzhe to severely punish this despicable little man and uphold justice for us."
The speaker was dressed in white, very similar in attire to Luo Changsheng. His identity was precisely the son of the Great Realm King of the Shengyu Realm, the elder brother of Luo Changsheng by the same father and mother—Luo Chang'an.
Luo Chang'an also had very high talent and cultivation, and was renowned in the Eastern Divine Region. But ever since the Shengyu Realm had Luo Changsheng, his radiance had been completely overshadowed. Yet he seemed not to care, remaining as arrogant as ever. He was quite respectful to his younger brother Luo Changsheng, following his every instruction, and often took pride in being Luo Changsheng's elder brother.
"Having such a despicable person on this Feng Shen Platform is not only an insult to us 'Heaven's Chosen' but also a disgrace to the profound way of our Eastern Divine Region!"
"He is a personal disciple of Realm King Yinxue... but he must be severely punished!"
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The scene at the Feng Shen Platform had spiraled out of control because of Yun Che. Princess Cai Zhi's lips were wide open, her hands clenched tightly. Her heart was filled with worry and fear, but she dared not speak.
"He... hasn't... changed at all..."
In her ear came Mo Li's dreamlike whisper.
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"Enough!"
Quhui Zunzhe waved his arm, silencing all voices. His gaze pierced straight at Yun Che. He rarely became angry, because anger affected his judgment and twisted his absolute fairness. But facing Yun Che, he was truly enraged. "Yun Che! The young always make mistakes. If you admit your fault, accept punishment, it may not be unforgivable. But you insist on..."
"I am not refusing to admit my fault. I have confessed everything plainly!" Yun Che interrupted him, his voice heavy. "It is you who insisted on insulting my master! Hah... How could I, Yun Che, submit to someone who insults my master like you!"
"How dare you!" Quhui Zunzhe grew even more furious, his furrowed brows turning into two sharp swords. As the leader of the Zhou Tian Arbiter, even a Realm King had to be cautious and submissive before him. He had never imagined that a young man not even half a jiazi old would dare to face his judgment with such audacity. "You committed despicable fraud, disturbed and insulted the Profound God Convention first, which is already a grave sin. Then you dared to try and use the Zhou Tian Pearl to cover up your ugliness, adding sin to sin. How can you be forgiven!"
"Even if Realm King Yinxue were here today, she could not protect you!"
Quhui Zunzhe's anger was terrifying. Not a single Realm King on the Feng Shen Platform dared to speak. His gaze suddenly shifted, looking behind Yun Che. "And there is one more person. Roll out yourself!"
The person Quhui Zunzhe was referring to was naturally the one who helped Yun Che cheat.
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Guike felt as if struck by lightning. His body shook violently, his legs went weak, and he fell heavily to his knees, trembling. "Junior... admits... my fault... I... was forced... I... I..."
Wu Guike's sudden collapse to his knees shocked everyone. Who didn't know the name Wu Guike? They never dreamed that the person who would come out under Quhui Zunzhe's stern shout would be the son of the Realm King of the Shenwu Realm!
Wu Sanzun, the Shenwu Realm King, who had been sitting there leisurely watching the show, looked as if someone had slapped a pile of shit on his face. After a moment of shock, his face twisted. He stood up, trembling, and pointed at Wu Guike. "Ke'er... you... you!!"
"Father! Your son really didn't mean... It was because he forced me, otherwise even..."
"Shut up!" Wu Sanzun's internal organs felt like they were about to explode from anger. Even if he used his ass to think, he could figure out that Wu Guike must have been caught with some huge leverage by Yun Che. His chest heaved, and he cursed publicly, "You unfilial son, you idiot!"
Though he was furious to the extreme, Wu Guike was still the son he was most proud of in recent years, and now was a critical moment just before entering the "Zhou Tian Divine Realm"... Wu Sanzun took a deep breath and said to Quhui Zunzhe with shame, "Quhui Zunzhe, Sanzun has failed to teach his son properly, and he has committed a great mistake. But after all, he was only coerced by a villain, and besides..."
"Enough!" Quhui Zunzhe waved his hand, cutting off Wu Sanzun's words, and said coldly, "Wu Guike, as a profound practitioner, even if you are not adept in the profound way, you must never lose your conscience and sense of shame! As the son of a Realm King, to commit such a great mistake in the Profound God Convention, do you have even a shred of the shame and dignity befitting the son of a Realm King and a profound practitioner of the divine path!"
Though he was being scolded publicly, Wu Guike, of course, was not as "stupid" as Yun Che. He knelt heavily again, his upper body also bowed completely, and said in a tearful voice, "Guike knows he has committed a great mistake, shamed my father and all the seniors, and is no longer worthy to be a 'Heaven's Chosen.' I beg Quhui Zunzhe to give me punishment. No matter how severe the penalty, Guike will have no complaints."
"Hmph! Though you have committed a great mistake, you are not the main culprit. Though punishment cannot be avoided, you will not be expelled from the 'Heaven's Chosen.'"
These words made Wu Guike, whose upper body was bowed, show a hint of joy in secret, and Wu Sanzun also let out a long sigh of relief.
"Let us discuss your punishment later." Quhui Zunzhe's gaze suddenly fell back on Yun Che, his arm slowly raised, his voice turning several times colder. "Yun Che! I will ask you one last time: Do you — or — do you not — admit — your — guilt!!"
"Hehehe... hahahahaha!!"
Before Yun Che could answer, a grating laugh suddenly sounded at an inappropriate time.
On the eastern seat, Shitian Shendi was reclining, laughing heartily. As one of the Divine Emperors of the Southern Divine Region, his profound strength was terrifying. His laughter carried a fierce and unmatched penetrating force, causing everyone's eardrums and souls to tremble violently. Quhui Zunzhe also stopped moving, his entire body stiff.
"Hahahaha... How wonderful, how ridiculous." Under everyone's astonished gazes, Shitian Shendi raised his hands high as if no one else was present. His wild laughter and words carried undisguised mockery. "I always thought the Zhou Tian Pearl was an incomparable sacred object in this world, but it turns out it's nothing more than that. Tsk tsk tsk."
The Feng Shen Platform fell into dead silence. Everyone from the Zhou Tian Realm was first stunned, then all became furious.
Yun Che's words had only mentioned the Zhou Tian Pearl to "exonerate" himself, which had already violated the Zhou Tian Realm's taboo. But Shitian Shendi's words were blatant contempt.
Quhui Zunzhe abruptly turned around, his face sinking. But Shitian Shendi's status was too high for him to rebuke.
"Cang Shitian!"
Even with all his forbearance, Zhou Tian Shen Di was furious at Shitian Shendi's words. "Our Zhou Tian Realm has treated you as a guest with no lack of hospitality, yet you dare to insult the Zhou Tian Pearl like this... Do you truly think our Zhou Tian Realm is easy to bully!"
"I insulted the Zhou Tian Pearl? That I don't understand." His smile faded, his narrow eyes squinting, and he sneered with a mocking expression. "Isn't it you yourselves who are insulting and humiliating the Zhou Tian Pearl!!"
He suddenly pointed at Yun Che, his voice shaking the heavens. "This kid named Yun Che, under the rules set by the Zhou Tian Pearl, passed the two preliminary rounds of the Profound God Convention. It was also with the Zhou Tian Pearl's recognition that he ranked among the top thousand in the overall list."
"His being sent here is undoubtedly a result recognized by the Zhou Tian Pearl."
"And yet you, time and again, righteously and solemnly determine that he cheated despicably and committed a great crime. Not only do you want to expel him from the 'Heaven's Chosen,' but from the looks of it, even crippling this kid would be considered light..."
"Tsk tsk tsk, your Zhou Tian Realm truly shows such impressive authority! You completely disregard the rules set by the Zhou Tian Pearl and the results it recognized. You twist the outcome that followed the rules into a heavy crime. This is not just insult and humiliation—it's treating the Zhou Tian Pearl's will like a fart! And you still dare to say that I insult the Zhou Tian Pearl... Hehe, tsk tsk tsk, this really opens my eyes and makes me laugh my teeth out! Hahahahahaha!"
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[Shitian brand troublemaker, only 998!]