One after another, young people walked into the public court. They were precisely those students of the Academy that had joined the assault squad, and were captured thereafter. Thankfully, Empress Luan Xing moved fast enough, or they would probably still be imprisoned in their cells at this moment.
Zhao Lun’s eyes swept over the company, and he couldn’t help but show a hint of shock in his expression. He had only found over a dozen “witnesses”, yet now, the number was almost 30 in total.
Why were there more of them?
“I am Yu Ziming.”
“I am Ming Yueren.”
“I am Bu Xing.”
“I am…”
These people recited their names one after another. However, some people needed only think of their backgrounds, and would be able to discover that their elders were either the subordinates of Great General Sha or in the direct line of descent of Great General Zhao.
Zhao Lun instantly understood. So it turned out that Sha Yuan was on the same side with him on this matter.
Hehe, he had really not expected this.
However, if they still did not manage to get an outsider brat killed with the combined forces of the sons of two Great Generals, that would really be bizarre.
“I saw with my own eyes that Ling Han was captured with us. I was even jailed with him in the same prison cell.”
“It had only been half a day, and Ling Han was summoned for interrogation. After that, he did not come back again!”
“If he had not defected, how could he have managed to escape the enemy troops and return back to base?”
“Thankfully, Heir Zhao managed to bring the intel back, forcing the Golden Lion Nation and the Eternity Sky Majestic Empire to retreat. If not, with a traitor like Ling Han as their planted agent, who knows how great the damage they would be able to inflict to our empire!”
These people all kept repeating accusations over and over, lying through their teeth.
As the saying went, public opinion was powerful enough to melt metal. With so many people accusing Ling Han at the same time, whom should the masses who were unaware of the truth believe?
Naturally, they were going to believe the side that had more people!
“Traitor!” Among the crowd, someone called out first.
“Traitor!” Even more people began to cry out, and instantly, the situation became earth-shattering. Even if Li Weiwei, Ji Yun’er, and the others believed Ling Han, their voices of objection instantly vanished among these outraged cries.
Shui Yanyu clenched her fists. As long as Ling Han entered into the Black Tower, it would prove that he could not possibly be captured by the enemies, but if the secret that he possessed a Spatial God Tool was revealed, then who knew how many people would make a move on him.
Although he was freakishly talented now, his level was still too low, after all. Elites like the Left Minister and the Seven Generals could not possibly notice him, but once the secret of the Spatial God Tool was exposed, she was afraid that even Her Imperial Majesty, the empress, would be moved.
This was a choice between a rock and a hard place. He either would be tagged with the label of a traitor, or would become the target of various elites. Whichever option it was, the consequences would be horrible.
Why did the empress still not come to resolve the situation? Could it be that in Her Imperial Majesty’s eyes, such a small matter was completely beneath her notice?
“Ling Han, what else do you have to say?” Kong Chenghe asked balefully.
“I have nothing to say.” Ling Han shook his head.
“Then you plead guilty?” Gu Tianchu continued.
Ling Han shook his head as he said, “I really have nothing to say to this bunch of stupid birds. They are all lying through their teeth, so there’s absolutely no space for communication.”
“You!!”
“Traitor, you still dare deny it!!”
“After committing such a disgraceful deed, you still dare to act arrogant!!”
These witnesses were all filled with righteous indignation. They were actually called stupid birds in public!
Ling Han said calmly, “What we do the heavens see. Ask the heart of your cultivation; if you do so, would you be able to go on with a light heart?” He used the Seven Kill Subduing Soul Technique to speak out these words. They merely reached the depths of their souls, and did not possess any destructive ability.
Suddenly, these witnesses all paled. Their hearts all endured a questioning, and even their souls were trembling.
“Ling Han, you actually dare threaten the witnesses!!” Zhao Lun exclaimed sinisterly. Boom , as a red sun rose up behind him, the aura of the Sun Moon Tier spread out without any reservations, and constricted Ling Han.
Ling Han couldn’t help but become sluggish. He could even be unafraid of the air of Eternal River Tier, but air and aura were two different things. Now, this aura was real and solid pressure pressing down on him 1 .
It was suppression of a whole major tier. This was a gap that no genius could possibly compensate for. Ling Han immediately broke out in a sweat. Ka, ka, ka . His Godly bones were cracking, and his face flushed red instantly.
He did not bend in the slightest, and merely asked coldly, “Heir Zhao, are you trying to obtain a confession under duress?”
“In front of so many witnesses, you still deny it flatly. So what if I force a confession out of someone like you?” Zhao Lun smirked icily.
“Zhao Lun, you have gone too far!” Li Weiwei couldn’t stop herself from standing up.
“Fourth Young Miss, excuse me!” Xiang Chengyun immediately moved. His palm swept over, and Li Weiwei was instantly rendered mute. This was a complete suppression from one at consummate level towards another in the low extreme.
The Lord Left Minister had commanded for Li Weiwei to maintain a distance from Ling Han as much as possible. For Xiang Chengyun, this was really a piece of good news. Thus, he was very happy to become a villain like that. In any case, he knew that it was definitely impossible for Li Weiwei to favor him, so what if he garnered her hatred? He only had to hold on tight to the Lord Left Minister.
“Ling Han, things have already come to this point. If you are still unwilling to confess, we can only hand you over to the torture devices!” Nanmen Yang declared sinisterly.
Chapter 1074 - Will of the Empress
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Hahaha!” Ling Han laughed loudly. “All right then. I would really like to see how are you all going to obtain a confession from me under torture!”
“Ling Han, even if you are a glib speaker, do not think you will be able to escape today!”
“Facts speak louder than words. Now that you have done this shameful deed, you should pay the price for it!”
“The empire will not accept traitors!”
Those witnesses had already recovered from the Ling Han’s attack to their spirit. Naturally, they were all very energetic again, wanting nothing more than to rush up personally and force Ling Han’s head to the ground, compelling him to kneel down and confess his guilt.
“Traitor, die!” On the spectators’ grandstand, someone tossed out an egg.
Pa , it was naturally impossible that it would hit Ling Han, and was blocked by the shield of Origin Power that he had put up.
Ling Han’s eyes swept over, and he saw that it was a sneaky-looking young man. When the latter realized his eyes were focused on him, he immediately shrank bank, and did not dare meet his gaze.
‘One of either Zhao Lun’s or Sha Yuan’s underlings,’ Ling Han immediately thought. They were trying to trigger a public outrage.
True enough, with this toss from him, a great many became stirred up. Some people had come prepared, and were throwing eggs. Some had not been prepared, and so they spat down at him.
Though Ling Han had put up a shield, and would not be hit by anything, nor be spat on, there was over 1000 people here, and at least one half of the
m was doing something insulting to him. What kind of humiliation was that?
If this spread out, how would Ling Han be able to face the public any longer?
Zhao Lun smirked coldly. He did not care what the truth was. If he could use the crime of treason to kill Ling Han, that would naturally be the best-case scenario. But even if he couldn’t, merely this scene alone was enough for Ling Han to suffer. How would he be able to hold his head up high in future?
In this battle, he had won, and it was a complete victory!
Pei, he was a minor character without any background nor foundation to speak of, so what qualified him to be an apt match for him?
Zhao Lun looked towards Shui Yanyu, and saw that this seductive beauty was clenching her fists, her beautiful face pale. Involuntarily, a maniacal pleasure rose up in him. He had already gotten bored of Yang Luodan. Looking at her on her own, she was quite beautiful, but if she was standing next to Shui Yanyu, she was completely out of her league.
‘Hehe, you will not be able to escape the palm of my hand!’
“Come, bring the torture devices!” Gu Tianchu called out. With so many witnesses here, it was not too much for him to suggest the use of torture, and complied with the rules.
Very soon, two men carried in a massive grindstone.
This was a cruel torture. It was to crush one underneath the grindstone, and every bit of blood, flesh, and bone would be crushed into mush. However, Immortals were hard to kill, so they could endure it for a very long period of time. Thus, the pain they had to endure was naturally even more extreme.
Anyone would pale when speaking of this torture device.
Zhao Lun and Sha Yuan both smirked coldly. Finally, they could make this commoner endure some real and genuine suffering.
Those witnesses, meanwhile, smirked coldly. Some of them had no choice but to provide false testimony due to their orders, while others wanted nothing more than for Ling Han to vanish from this moment on due to their jealousy of him. Now that their plans were finally going to succeed, they were naturally pleased.
“Begin the torture!” Gu Tianchu commanded, clapping down the judge’s gavel.
“Wait!”
Just at this moment, a woman strode over. She was wearing a brilliant gold armor, just like a female Goddess of War, exuding a supreme aura.
“W-we pay respects to the Chief Commander!” The three judges quickly stood, circled around from behind their desks, and knelt down to pay respects to this female guard.
“Respects to the Chief Commander!” Even Zhao Lun and Sha Yuan knelt, and everyone on the spectators’ grandstand knelt. No one dared to refuse to pay their respects.
Qu Qiuxue, the Chief Commander of the Imperial Guard, an elite of the Heavenly Body Tier!
Whichever identity she was using, it was enough to intimidate the whole world. In the whole Chaotic Stars Majestic Empire, only nine Kings, the Left and Right Ministers, and Seven Generals could stand with her on equal level.
However, Qu Qiuxue was always by the side of Her Imperial Majesty, the empress, and could be considered her trusted aide. In a sense, she could be considered the latter’s representative, so her status was naturally even higher than the others’.
Such a powerful figure had personally arrived; who wouldn’t be very scared and on edge at her presence?
“Rise!” Qu Qiuxue said calmly. She was incredibly beautiful, but at this moment, who would dare to take a second look at her? Such a powerful figure, such an elite… If anyone actually dared to stare at her, wasn’t it courting death?
Only now did everyone dare to rise to their feet. They were all confused and filled with incomprehension. This was only a trial for a mere ninth-ranked military officer, so how had it attracted the favorite of Her Imperial Majesty?
“I came here today to read out a commendation from Her Imperial Majesty!” Qu Qiuxue said, her eyes sweeping over Ling Han and Zhao Lun.
Her Imperial Majesty wanted to present a reward?
Then it had to be for Zhao Lun!
Everyone was sure of this. Zhao Lun had discovered the huge conspiracy of the Eternity Sky Majestic Empire, finally culminating in the latter willingly retreating. This was a huge service, so it was logical that Her Imperial Majesty, the empress, would reward him for this outstanding service.
Still, she chose to do so at this moment. Wasn’t that completely announcing Ling Han’s death sentence in a roundabout way?
It looked like they didn’t even need to use torture, and the empress was already declaring her position in this matter. Later, they would simply have Ling Han dragged out and beheaded!
Even Zhao Lun thought that way, and involuntarily put on a proud look. He had just been rewarded by the empress not too long ago, and granted the title of a seventh-rank military officer. Now that he was again rewarded for his service, no matter what, his official rank could be boosted to another rank.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. A sixth-rank military officer that had not even reached the age of 1000. Even in the empire, this was rarely seen. Who knew how many people would die of envy?
Qu Qiuxue drew out an imperial decree. Instantly, golden light shot out in all directions, exuding a frightening pressure.
“Her Imperial Majesty flourishes!” Everyone once again knelt to receive the decree from the empress.
“Imperial appointment for…” Qu Qiuxue read out loud. She was an elite of the Heavenly Body Tier, so there was no need for her to read too loudly. As her divine sense spread out, her words could clearly spread to each and every corner.
“…Ling Han as a seventh-rank military officer!”
Pu!
When they heard Qu Qiuxue read out the last words, everyone choked. They stared with eyes wide open, their mouths so wide agape that a fist could fit inside.
The imperial appointment from the empress was actually not for Zhao Lun, but rather Ling Han!
This, this, this… What was going on here?
Wasn’t this guy a traitor? Hadn’t Zhao Lun exposed the conspiracy of the Eternity Sky Majestic Empire, and thus performed a great service?
How come it was now the opposite?
Everyone was stupefied, but would the Chief Commander Qu joke around regarding the will of the Empress?
You had to be f****** joking!
She was Chief Commander Qu, the empress’s trusted aide!
Hiss, the empress did not ask whether Ling Han was a traitor, but chose to announce her imperial appointment for Ling Han at this moment in time. Was her meaning not clear enough?
The empress was pleased with Ling Han here!
You f*******, who else would dare proclaim that Ling Han was a traitor? If anyone dared to call Ling Han a traitor, wasn’t that a direct slap to the empress’s face?
Just ask the world, who would dare slap the face of the empress? En, was there anyone that bold?
Zhao Lun’s initially proudly upheld expression instantly crumbled. His body had even begun to tremble.
As the son of Great General Zhao, he was very awesome! But in front of Empress Luan Xing, he was considered f******* nothing! Putting him aside, so what if it was his father instead? If the empress wanted to kill him, she would similarly not be merciful at all.
Otherwise, the Eight Generals wouldn’t have become the Seven Generals in the first place.
The empress herself favored Ling Han, and yet you wanted to set him up. Wasn’t that outright going against the empress? To dare go against the empress in the Chaotic Stars Majestic Empire… You had to be an idiot! The kind with no fear of death!
Zhao Lun felt that he was presently an idiot, but he had a very healthy fear of death.
Chapter 1075 - One who Rendered Meritorious Service Should Not Be Treated Unfairly
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Things had taken a new turn.
Who would have imagined that the empress would suddenly intervene?
Such a trivial matter that merely involved a minor ninth-rank
military officer actually caused the empress to personally issue an imperial decree to be read at this point in time. Furthermore, a super elite the likes of Qu Qiuxue was dispatched.
A great many sensed even more than that. The empress was definitely not just rewarding Ling Han.
“Ling Han, receive the decree!” Qu Qiuxue handed the decree over to Ling Han.
“Yes!” Ling Han respectfully accepted the decree, yet was mocking her internally. ‘Couldn’t you have f****** come earlier? You had to wait until such a crucial point, and almost caused him to be tortured.’
Qu Qiuxue turned around, and declared, “Her Imperial Majesty has said that those who rendered meritorious service should not be treated unfairly, and we should not allow our loyal subjects to be bitterly disappointed!”
Those who rendered meritorious service?
Ling Han had rendered a meritorious service? What outstanding merit had he actually rendered?
Zhao Lun was suddenly shocked. When Ling Han had returned to the base camp, he immediately persuaded the Ninth King to go back to the Imperial Capital. At the time, he only thought Ling Han was a coward—after all, there were several hundred Sun Moon Tier elites on the opposite bank. Without an elite of the Heavenly Body Tier standing guard, who would be unafraid?
But now that he thought of it, Ling Han had to have found out some incredible secret.
Could it be that the fact the Eternity Sky Majestic Empire retreated was also linked to Ling Han?
Involuntarily, his face turned livid. At first, he had thought he had made a great achievement. Who would have thought that he had completely misunderstood it and made a mistake?
Why! Why!! Why was it that whenever he tangled with Ling Han, it was always the latter who had the upper hand?!
Zhao Lun was so confused he wanted to pull out his own hair. Whichever aspect it was, wasn’t he superior to Ling Han a few hundredfold? So why was it that he was always losing to Ling Han?
Qu Qiuxue’s killing intent soared, her eyes sweeping over the 30 witnesses, causing these people to shudder in fear.
Loyal subjects should not be bitterly disappointed. This… what did that mean?
Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao c1-1294 Page 551