Yang Dingtian was startled and stood still. With his back facing Ximen Ju, he said coldly, "Why?
Is Steward Ximen going back on his words and denying the trial by duel? "
"Of course not."
Ximen Ju said coldly, "A loss is a loss, and a win is a win. The trial by duel is sacred, and no one has the right to destroy it.
Therefore, when you wanted to kill Qin Shaobai earlier, none of us stopped you. "
Yang Dingtian asked, "Then why did you call me?"
Ximen Ju looked at Yang Shishi and said loudly, "Yang Shishi is suspected of murder. Arrest her immediately and choose a date for the trial."
When he said this, everyone's expression changed, including Great Elder Yang Yan. Yang Shishi was his daughter.
Ximen Ju looked at Yang Yan with a determined gaze and didn't say anything.
Based on his trust in Ximen Ju, Great Elder Yang Yan nodded. Immediately, four judgement warriors jumped down from the city wall and went forward to capture Yang Shishi.
Meanwhile, Yang Shishi was immersed in grief. After being captured, she was only slightly startled. She then continued to hug Qin Shaobai in pain, allowing the four of them to take her and Qin Shaobai away.
Everyone immediately revealed looks of admiration. Yang Yan and Ximen Ju were truly selfless.
"Yang Dingtian, you can't leave like this. At least, you have to wait for Great Elder Yang Yan to announce the result," Ximen Ju said. He then said to Yang Yan, "Great Elder, please announce the result."
Yang Yan's expression changed. He couldn't help but suspect what Ximen Ju meant. Could it be that he saw that the situation wasn't good and decided to switch sides in front of everyone?
However, under everyone's gaze, the situation was pressing. He didn't have any leeway to turn around.
Yang Yan took a deep breath and said loudly, "I announce that in this trial by duel, Yang Dingtian is the winner.
Ximen Yanyan is not guilty! "
Instantly, the plaza erupted into cheers. Yang Yan and the others' expressions became even more unsightly.
Ximen Ju said, "Yang Dingtian, do you think it's fair to deal with it like this?"
"Sure."
Yang Dingtian frowned. However, he instinctively felt that this matter wouldn't end so easily.
"It's good that it's fair."
Ximen Ju said coldly, "The trial by duel is sacred. No one can taint it. we have to be fair to you, but at the same time, we have to be fair to the other party.
Next, I'll ask you a few questions. Please answer truthfully. "
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place fell silent. Everyone could see that things were not over yet. Next, there would be another great wave.
Yang Dingtian turned to Ximen Ju and said, "Please speak. I will only answer what I can!"
"Let me ask you, what stage is your profound qi cultivation at now?" Ximen Ju asked coldly.
Yang Dingtian's heart went cold. This Ximen Ju's eyes were indeed sinister. He found the most crucial point in an instant.
"Three Star Xuan Warrior," Yang Dingtian said.
Ximen Ju exclaimed in admiration, "In just nine days, he advanced from a nine-star Mystic Martial Artist to a three-star Mystic Martial Warrior. Such talent and such progress is unheard of and unseen."
Hearing Yang Dingtian's praise, Yang Dingtian's frown deepened.
"Of course, I won't ask you where you went during these nine days.
What did he rely on to break through?
This is your privacy. You have the right to not answer. "Ximen Ju went straight to the point and blocked Yang Dingtian's words.
Immediately after, Ximen Ju asked again, "I'll only ask you this.
Under normal circumstances, would a three-star Mystic Martial Warrior be able to defeat a four-star Mystic Martial Master?
A four-star Mystic Martial Master is eleven levels higher than you. His cultivation is several times higher than yours. Furthermore, it is a battle that transcends levels.
Under normal circumstances, I'm talking about under normal circumstances. Is there a possibility? "
"Under normal circumstances, it is impossible. But without a doubt, I am special." Yang Dingtian said.
"That's right. You are abnormal." Ximen Ju said.
"I'm talking about special, not abnormal." Yang Dingtian said coldly.
"Alright, I'll take it that you are special."
Ximen Ju said coldly, "Then two hundred years ago, there was a special case, a special duel. Everyone should still have an impression of it. It was almost the same as today's situation."
Once these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed drastically.
That's right. It was a very famous event. It was also an event that had the most far-reaching influence. It changed the fate of countless people.
This duel destroyed a powerful sect, the Wooden Sword Stronghold, as well as the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
"The duel was between the Wooden Sword Castle's Young Master, Li Tianxiao. The other was the Northwest Qin Clan's Third Young Master, Qin Yi. The third party involved was our Cloud Heaven City's Ninth Generation City Lord's daughter, Yang Tingting."
Ximen Ju said, "Back then, Miss Yang Tingting was an outstanding beauty and was known as the Northwest's number one beauty. Back then, the Northwest Qin Clan wasn't as powerful as it is now. Back then, the Wooden Sword Castle hadn't declined and was ranked as one of the Three Sects and Nine Clans."
Hearing the name Li Tianxiao, Yang Dingtian had obviously heard of it before. Even the entire world had heard of it.
This was the most notorious name in the past two hundred years, and it was also the name with the most heinous crimes. He was the biggest traitor of the Heavenly Law Union in the past few hundred years, and the number of people who died at his hands numbered in the hundreds of thousands.
Dugu Xiao had even mentioned this name not long ago. The previous owner of the soul tool ring that he gave to Yang Dingtian was Li Tianxiao.
Ximen Ju continued, "Back then, Li Tianxiao and Qin Yi adored Miss Yang Tingting. Li Tianxiao was outstanding and handsome while the Qin Clan's Third Young Master had astonishing talent and martial arts. Both of them had deep feelings for her, which made Miss Yang Tingting unable to make a choice.
"Therefore, Miss Yang Tingting decided to travel thousands of miles with the two of them and venture to the Far West to cultivate. She hoped that she could make the right choice during the journey.
However, half a year later, only Li Tianxiao and the Qin Clan's Third Young Master returned. They also brought back Yang Tingting's corpse, which had been humiliated and in a terrible state. "
Even though almost everyone present had heard of this story before, when they heard it again, they couldn't help but gasp.
A beauty that was as beautiful as a fairy, had a noble status, and was pure as ice and jade. She had two infatuated and outstanding men who were crazy for her. She was supposed to be the happiest woman, but unexpectedly, she had such a tragic ending.
"Back then, Li Tianxiao and Qin Yi's Third Young Master both accused each other of torturing and killing Miss Yang Tingting, but they couldn't produce any evidence.
Back then, Wooden Sword Castle, Cloud Heaven City, and the Northwest Qin Clan investigated for three months, but there were still no results. Therefore, both parties agreed to a trial by duel. Whoever lost would die and whoever lost would be guilty.
Of course, this trial by duel required the agreement of the three parties: Wooden Sword Castle's Young Master Li Tianxiao, Qin Clan's Third Young Master, and Cloud Heaven City's agreement. "
"As everyone knows, Wooden Sword Castle's Young Master Li Tianxiao was outstanding and talented.
However, he was far from the Qin Clan's Third Young Master in terms of martial arts.
Back then, Li Tianxiao was only a Four-Star Great Mystic Martial Master, while Qin Yi was a Five-Star Martial Mystic expert. The two of them were eleven levels apart, and they were fighting across levels. "
After Ximen Ju finished speaking, he looked at Yang Dingtian and smiled. "What a coincidence. They were eleven levels apart as well, and they were also fighting across levels."
Ximen Ju's words were full of ulterior motives, but Yang Dingtian didn't care.
Ximen Ju continued, "Everyone thought that Wooden Sword Castle's Li Tianxiao wouldn't agree to this trial by duel, but unexpectedly, he agreed.
It was also on the trial day of every month, and the sun was also in the sky.
The trial by duel between the two of them was held in Cloud Heaven City. That's right, what a coincidence. It was also at the place where Yang Dingtian and Qin Shaobai had their duel. What's even more coincidental was that the duel also happened on the 23rd day of the tenth month. The time and location were exactly the same. It was just that it was two hundred years ago at this time and two hundred years ago at this place. "
These words had even more ulterior motives.
"Similarly, it was an extremely shocking and unexpected result.
Wooden Sword Castle's Young Master Li Tianxiao was retreating step by step, and when he was about to lose his life, he suddenly counterattacked. His strength increased drastically, and he instantly killed Young Master Qin Yi. "Ximen Ju continued," Everyone was shocked and couldn't believe it.
However, there was no doubt that the trial by duel was sacred, and no one dared to question it.
Therefore, even though they had doubts in their hearts, everyone accepted this result.
Cloud Heaven City Lord announced that Wooden Sword Castle's Young Master Li Tianxiao was the victor and was not guilty.
Qin Clan's Third Young Master Qin Yi was defeated and died, and he was guilty.
The Northwest Qin Clan was unwilling, but in view of the sacred trial by duel, they also accepted this result. "
Yang Dingtian had never heard of this story, but he already knew what Ximen Ju was going to say next.
Ximen Ju continued, "If nothing happened later on, then all the truth would have been buried. Until one day, the Temple of Annihilation's Master, the world's number one expert, and the supreme of the Evil ways, Wan Wentian, unified the Evil ways and led millions of evil armies out of the Sea of Hell. They launched an apocalyptic war against the Primal Chaos World and destroyed countless places in a short period of time.
That was an unbearable history, and it was also the bloody history of our world's famous sects. "
Ximen Ju said in a mournful voice, "But what I want to talk about is Wooden Sword Castle, one of the Nine Sects in the world. They dominated the Southwest Continent and were the overlord of thousands of miles. They were also the core strength of the Tiandō League.
"However, when the Tiandō League's Alliance Army and the Evil ways were fighting to the death in the Northwest Continent, all the experts of Wooden Sword Castle died mysteriously overnight. Hundreds of thousands of the Tiandō League's Southwest Army were infected with a plague overnight.
No one knew why until a person appeared in the Evil ways's Alliance Army and appeared beside the Temple of Ten Thousand Blood's Master, Dugu Beiming. That person was Wooden Sword Castle's Young Master, Li Tianxiao. He was the one who killed all the experts of Wooden Sword Castle, and he was also the one who caused hundreds of thousands of the Tiandō League's Southwest Army to die of a plague. Because he was a spy placed in the Tiandō League by the Temple of Ten Thousand Blood's Temple! "
"Then, the truth about the trial by duel was revealed. The truth about Yang Tingting's murder was also revealed. Although it had been more than ten years since the trial by duel, and the bones of the Qin Clan's Third Young Master had long been turned into ashes, the truth was the truth, and it would remain in this world forever."
Ximen Ju looked at Yang Dingtian and said, "The truth was that when Li Tianxiao, Qin Yi, and Yang Tingting were traveling in the Far West Continent, Yang Tingting finally made a choice. She chose Qin Yi.
In his anger, Li Tianxiao humiliated and killed Yang Tingting before framing Qin Yi.
The reason why he agreed to the trial by duel was very simple. It was because the Temple of Ten Thousand Blood's Master, Dugu Beiming, had imparted an evil art to Li Tianxiao. It was an extremely evil evil art. This evil art was called the Evil Soul Art! "
Hearing this name, Yang Dingtian's body shook.
"The Evil Soul Art used an evil and vicious method to absorb and refine the martial artist's soul before storing it in the soul artifact.
During a battle, as long as the Soul Burst Art was used, the Puppet Battle Soul in the soul artifact could be released to kill the opponent instantly, even if the opponent was several times stronger. "
"At that time, Li Tianxiao used poison to restrain his own uncle before extracting his soul and refining it into a Puppet Battle Soul.
Then, during the duel with Qin Yi, he lost every move and was surrounded by danger.
Just when Li Tianxiao was about to lose his life, he released this evil Battle Soul from the soul artifact and instantly killed Young Master Qin Yi, obtaining the victory of the duel. "
"From that moment onwards, Li Tianxiao's soul was completely polluted and became a lackey of Evil ways. Finally, after more than ten years, he committed a heinous crime and destroyed the entire Wooden Sword Castle. He killed hundreds of thousands of righteous and innocent lives, causing the entire Southwest Continent to lose its vitality and become a desolate land."
Ximen Ju sneered and said, "And the most ridiculous thing was that he was the one who told the truth."
Ximen Ju took a deep breath as if he was calming down his grief and anger. He then continued, "After the world-ending war, the Wooden Sword Castle, Northwest Qin Clan, and Cloud Heaven City made a ruling that in the trial by duel more than ten years ago, Li Tianxiao had used evil arts to win and the results were invalid.
They judged that Young Master Qin Yi was the winner and declared that Qin Yi was innocent.
Even though Young Master Qin Yi had been dead for more than ten years, his grievances were finally cleared. Perhaps, he could rest in peace. "
"From that moment onwards, the Tiandō League ordered that anyone who used evil arts to cheat in the trial by duel would immediately lose and be dismembered into thousands of pieces.
Evil ways and good cannot coexist. Our Tiandō League has zero tolerance for Evil ways and will kill on sight. Those who become lackeys of Evil ways will be punished even more! "
Finally, Ximen Ju looked at Yang Dingtian and said, "Yang Dingtian, I don't want to suspect you, but the situation today is too similar to what happened 200 years ago. I cannot imagine how you could win when you were 11 stages apart.
Hence, I officially suspect that you are in cahoots with Evil ways. You used the Evil Soul Art to cheat and defeat Qin Shaobai. We have to capture you immediately and investigate thoroughly. Hence, you cannot leave for now! "
At this moment, Yang Dingtian wanted to laugh, but he couldn't.
He wanted to curse, but he couldn't make a sound.
Even at the last moment, even if he was going to die under Qin Shaobai's sword, even if his soul was going to be destroyed by the berserk sword soul, he didn't use the Evil Soul Art. Instead, he chose an extremely dangerous path with disastrous consequences.
This path was successful. He defeated Qin Shaobai, but his master, Dongfang Minmie's soul, suffered devastating damage. He had no choice but to leave Yang Dingtian and might never return.
Furthermore, it might have a huge impact on his perfect sword soul in the future.
Such a painful price was because Yang Dingtian wasn't willing to use the Evil Soul Art.
But now, Ximen Ju wanted to frame the crime of cheating and colluding with Evil ways on Yang Dingtian.
How could Yang Dingtian not be angry and laugh?
"Haha …" Yang Dingtian laughed and said, "Steward Ximen, how do you plan to investigate?"
Ximen Ju said, "It's very simple. Please tell me. You are 11 levels lower than Qin Shaobai. You were defeated at the beginning. How did you manage to make a comeback and turn defeat into victory?"
Yang Dingtian instantly became silent.
Ximen Ju smiled and said, "Of course. Is there anything inconvenient to say?"
Yang Dingtian said, "There's nothing that can't be told. The reason why I was able to turn defeat into victory was because of the sword soul. I used the sword soul to fight."
Once these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked again. They let out sounds of disbelief. Of course, most of them were still shocked by Yang Dingtian. Therefore, they didn't turn it into doubts for now.
But this was too crazy. It was enough to overturn everyone's understanding.
There were only three people in the world who had cultivated the sword soul.
Dongfang Minmie, Ximen Wuya, and the last one was a peerless expert who had secluded himself from the world. He was the true number one expert in the world, the Hidden Sect's Patriarch.
These three people were all Grandmaster level experts. Yang Dingtian was only a Three-Star Mystic Martial Warrior.
Moreover, Qin Shaobai was defeated too quickly. No one saw it clearly before Qin Shaobai was sent flying while vomiting blood. They didn't know how Yang Dingtian defeated him.
Ximen Ju didn't have any ridicule on his face. Instead, he said seriously, "That's really inconceivable. If I didn't remember wrongly, there are only three people in the world who can use the sword soul to fight.
The three of them are all Grandmaster level experts.
Of course, I don't have any intention of looking down on you. But you are only a Three-Star Mystic Martial Warrior. It's too hard to believe that you can use the sword soul to fight. "
Grand Elder Yang Yan sneered and said, "Yang Dingtian, the evil soul and the sword soul are only one word apart. Don't get it wrong.
The evil soul is an evil thing of Evil ways. The sword soul is the righteous path of martial arts. It's the symbol of a peerless expert.
It's too early for you to wear this symbol now. "
Once these words were said, the tens of thousands of people present revealed a doubtful expression. Ximen Ju easily destroyed the worship that everyone had for Yang Dingtian.
After all, Yang Dingtian used the sword soul to fight. This was too inconceivable. It was completely impossible.
In everyone's heart, the sword soul was the pinnacle of martial arts. With Yang Dingtian's cultivation, he was indeed not qualified at this age.
"Yang Dingtian, don't you have any explanation for this?
After all, at your age and level, it's too inconceivable for you to be able to control the sword soul to fight. "Ximen Ju said sincerely.
Yang Dingtian shook his head and said, "I don't have any explanation.
You told me how I defeated Qin Shaobai. I already told you that I used the sword soul.
As for how I used it, I don't have the obligation to explain. "
Because this sword was given by Horror Mountain Village, once Yang Dingtian revealed its origin, it would bring a calamity to Zhao Mu.
Ximen Ju frowned and sighed. "Alright, it's fine if you don't say it. You said that you used the sword soul to defeat Qin Shaobai. Even though it's very unbelievable, I will take it as believing you.
Then, you have to prove to everyone that you used the sword soul and not the Evil Soul Art. "
Yang Dingtian's facial muscles twitched slightly. "How do I prove it?"
"Very simple." Ximen Ju said, "Demonstrate it one more time. Use the sword soul to launch an attack on me.
If you really used the sword soul, then you, Yang Dingtian, have created a thousand years of history. Then, I will apologize to you in front of everyone and support you to become the successor of Cloud Heaven City Lord. How about it? "
Yang Dingtian didn't reply.
Ximen Ju's expression turned cold as he continued, "If you can't use the sword soul to attack me, then I'm very sorry. We can only suspect that you used the Evil Soul Art. We can only suspect that you are an infiltrator of Evil ways.
According to the orders of the Tiandō League, we will punish those who cheat and those who infiltrate Evil ways. We will kill them on the spot and dismember them into pieces! "
*****
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