Chapter 539: First Place in the Immortal Tournament!

Lord Lu and Lu Cheng turned and made their way back to the dark chamber where Liu Chaochao and the other Arbiters hurried forward to greet them.

"Bring out Lu Yao!"

Seated squarely in the center was Lord Lu, his voice booming like thunder. Lu Cheng sat to his right, and Liu Chaochao took his place on the left.

Around them stood a host of Arbiter Commanders, including Liu Mumu and Sun Ran, casting a grim and oppressive atmosphere throughout the dimly lit room. Any ordinary person brought into this setting would dare not even breathe too loudly.

Soon after, Yun Xiao, stripped of his Arbiter armor, was brought in. He was dressed in white robes, his hair slightly disheveled, and his shoes removed. His bare feet touched the cold floor, and his hands were shackled. His treatment was starkly different from that of Sun Xiaoqi.

From the moment Yun Xiao entered, both Lord Lu and Lu Cheng watched him coldly, as the young man in white stood upright, his hair tousled but his demeanor resolute, his eyes fiery.

"I am a Rank 9 Arbiter of the Celestial Court, and I am not guilty. What right do you have to chain me?" Yun Xiao asked calmly.

"Lu Yao, you are under serious suspicion. Cooperate with the Skyruler Immortal Manor's investigation!" Liu Mumu commanded sternly.

"Master, I have been cooperative," Yun Xiao responded.

"Lu Yao." Liu Chaochao shook his head and said, "Stop pretending. Sun Xiaoqi and Lu Qian, during their interrogation, made mistakes in their cooperation, contradicting themselves and were exposed by the Skyruler Immortal Manor. In hopes of a lighter sentence, they have already confessed to your crimes."

"Is that so? Then may I ask the presiding officer, what crime have I committed? I'm only in the Early True Immortal Realm. Did I single-handedly crush and slaughter 12 Arbiters?" Yun Xiao challenged.

"You conspired with others to commit murder and split the spoils, the evidence is conclusive. There's no use in denying it. This trial is merely a formality. You will soon be taken back to Sky Soaring City for severe punishment," Liu Chaochao declared harshly.

With that, the chamber fell into a stifling silence.

"Of course," Liu Chaochao added, "if you're willing to confess the real culprit, there might be a chance for a lighter..."

"Master!" Yun Xiao's eyes blazed as he looked towards Liu Mumu. "Is it because you know you can't crack this case, and since I'm conveniently caught in this vortex, powerless, that you sacrifice me to take the blame?"

"Silence!" Liu Chaochao barked. "The Skyruler Immortal Manor upholds the Celestial Court's decree with strict justice. We never wrong the innocent, nor do we spare the guilty."

"Then let the Skyruler Immortal Manor present my so-called evidence. I want to know how I'm being made a scapegoat," Yun Xiao demanded, his gaze piercing.

"..." Liu Chaochao was left speechless. He knew from the start that this review was pointless, merely a procedure to accommodate Lord Lu.

"So, from the start, there was never any evidence, just a ploy to trap me into talking, is that it? Well, here's my statement. I, Lu Yao, stand tall and righteous, having never breached the law!" Yun Xiao declared, sweeping his gaze over to Lord Lu but addressing the others. "I am a Rank 9 Arbiter of the Celestial Court, shielded by its decrees. You have no proof, no right to detain me."

His voice rang out fiercely, deepening the silence that already smothered the dark room.

"Release him," Liu Mumu commanded.

"Commander Liu, this—"

"Release him!" Liu Mumu interrupted with a dismissive twist of her lips. "The Skyruler Immortal Manor has its processes. We'd do better to search the murder site, to look for clues... While the victim's family deserves our sympathy, we need not disrupt proper proceedings."

Her words were nearly a slap to Lord Lu's face.

"Shut your mouth!" Liu Chaochao bellowed back.

Liu Mumu paid her older brother no mind, personally stepping forward to free Yun Xiao, then turning to address the presiding officials. "My apprentice might be dull and unsophisticated, but he is no villain."

"Get out," Liu Chaochao waved dismissively.

"Let's go." Liu Mumu grasped Yun Xiao's hand, leading him out of the interrogation room.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Stepping out felt like emerging from the deep sea, allowing Yun Xiao to finally breathe free from the oppressive atmosphere.

Liu Mumu's expression was icy as she led him far from the room, her grip tight on his hand. Outside, she turned, her beautiful eyes cold and accusing, "You killed them!"

Yun Xiao responded calmly, "You give me too much credit."

"Stop pretending, you're an unprecedented prodigy with 11 Sword Rings. No one believes you could do it, but I do." Liu Mumu's eyes blazed.

Yun Xiao met her gaze, and after a moment, he nodded. "Shouldn't you be pleased? I avenged Lu Yao, something you couldn't achieve in ten years. I did it in three days, and now he can rest."

"..." Liu Mumu was taken aback, her eyes reddening, unable to speak for a long while. Finally, she bit her lip and said, "What about the other Arbiters? Fourteen innocents."

"There are billions more innocent people in this world. Do you care about their lives?" Yun Xiao retorted.

"You..." Liu Mumu stared at him for a long time before turning away, waving dismissively. "Just go! I wanted you to make Miss Yu happy, but your actions grow more reckless. If you end up harming her, I can't face Lu An."

"I can't leave." Yun Xiao shook his head.

"Don't take the people of the Lu Immortal Manor for fools. You also killed the descendant of Governor Jiang! They think you were sent by my father to stir trouble, which is why you're still alive. Otherwise, you'd be long gone! Don't think your Arbiter status is a free pass from death. In these times, too many Arbiters have died, who cares about a lowly Rank 9 Immortal?" Liu Mumu said sternly.

"I am innocent," Yun Xiao stated gravely. "If I were to flee, that would only confirm guilt, further implicating her."

Hearing this, Liu Mumu's brows furrowed deeply. She clutched Yun Xiao's robe, her voice cold as she accused, "So you're just a troublemaker, utterly unaware of the weight of your actions, bringing harm to everyone!"

"Master." Yun Xiao took her hand, his tone earnest. "Since arriving in Sky Soaring City, I've had my own mission. Some actions may seem reckless, but they are necessary. You and I are not on the same path, and you needn't reproach me. I am confident in each step I take."

"And what of Miss Yu?" Liu Mumu asked.

"If Lord Lu knows I'm an imposter, how could he naively use her to threaten me? Do you think I would have feelings for Lu Yao's mother?" Yun Xiao challenged.

"Do you?" Liu Mumu pressed.

Yun Xiao paused, taking a deep breath before responding, "She has suffered greatly, and all the torment has already occurred. She was powerless to fight back, and I wanted to fight back for her, even if it meant dying on this path. Whether it be I or her, we would both consider it worthwhile! If she knew today that I avenged her son, she would be thankful, even at the cost of her own life."

"You are not her. How can you be so sure of what she would think? You're too presumptuous!" Liu Mumu snapped, teeth clenched.

"Think what you will. My vengeance isn't complete, and I've no time to discuss these meaningless matters with you."

With that, Yun Xiao headed towards the direction of the Skyruler Sword Vessel.

"Where do you think you're going?" Liu Mumu followed quickly, blocking his path.

"Back to Sky Soaring City," Yun Xiao declared.

"You're still needed here to cooperate with the investigation," Liu Mumu said coldly.

"Aren't you my master? You said I could go, so I can leave. Any issues, you just take responsibility." Yun Xiao suddenly chuckled.

"You're far too presumptuous." Liu Mumu shook her head, speechless.

The young man had the appearance of an Immortal, yet he was stubborn to the core.

Liu Mumu still couldn't understand why Sun Xiaoqi and Lu Qian would cleanse his name for him.

"Master." Yun Xiao's smile faded, his voice serious. "I've heard from Xiaoqi that the Celestial Court's Arbiters are about to begin a competition called the Immortal Tournament. All Arbiters under 30 years old from all departments of the Celestial Court have a chance to participate. The victor not only has the chance for an exceptional promotion but, if they perform extraordinarily well, reaching the top ten or even first place, they can be crowned Champion of the Heavenly Palace, ascending in status."

"You have quite an appetite." Liu Mumu realized she really didn't understand him anymore.

Yun Xiao took her words as a compliment and confirmed, "The tournament is a friendly exchange among the enforcers of the Celestial Court's departments. Each department first selects a portion of talented Arbiters, then all head together to the Divine Heavenly Gate. And for us from the Thunder Department, the internal selection within the various departments of the Skyruler Immortal Manors starts tomorrow."

"Right, and then?" Liu Mumu stared at him intently.

Yun Xiao's gaze was fierce. "If I shine in the Immortal Martial Contest, no one in Sky Soaring City can touch me."