Daily life of a cultivation judge

Chapter 849 Sentence given (26)

While the Order's presence reduced the activity of the Scavengers, the Grim Blood Scavengers still remain active in both nations to date, having deeply entrenched their roots in both nations well before the Order came there. Those roots enabled them to hide in plain sight, which made it difficult for the Order even with its considerable resources to completely root them out as they played catch up. But though small, the Order was making ground but they still didn't know why the scavengers were interested in the two places.The Order had some educated guesses, but it was just that.

This was why Yang Qing had to agree to Song Ba's trade. Even if he had only marked low-ranking members, maybe one or two of those low-ranking members had ties to an important figure. The hundred droplets provided a hundred threads to follow and one of them could potentially lead to something if followed. The trade was too good to pass up. Song Ba would still get executed in the end, the only difference was the process, and if he could trade an easy death for the chance to uncover something about the Grim Blood Scavengers, then he had no choice but to agree.

Song Ba riding the high of a successful trade, produced recordings from the same heavenly secrets cicada wing that contained the evidence of his collusion with Chen Zholan.

The recording was what would be expected of a merchant. It was clear, concise, and heavily detailed, leaving no room for doubt, and as the main instigator of the whole thing, Song Ba's recording contained more damning evidence than what the Order had, and the fact it was recorded with the heavenly secrets cicada wing, it left little room for doubt. The recordings were made by borrowing on the abilities of the cicada, which concealed itself by borrowing and mimicking the true essence of whatever was around it.

The cicada's ability to capture the true essence of the world around it was legendary and this ability was translated to the recordings made. Just like the recordings made by Mei Xiling, using the silver void talisman, by using the heavenly secrets cicada's wing, the recordings Song Ba had captured everything to its truest essence.

In the recording that showed him and Chen Zholan plotting in the Emerald Lake Inn, those in the courtroom not only heard the gentle swooshing sound of the lake but could even smell its scent, along with wine and the dishes they had at the inn.

The recording didn't seem like a recording, but it made one feel like they were experiencing the memory themselves, like they were there as it was happening, and all that was thanks to the wing of the heavenly mystery cicada.

With the damning and thorough evidence completely laid out, the elders shown in those recordings couldn't help but lower their heads in embarrassment.

"Thank you for the testimony, you can now step back.." said Yang Qing, as the air around the courtroom turned heavy, with everyone except Chen Gutian, affected by it.

Chen Gutian still had a lost look on his face as he muttered, how? how ? over and over. If it wasn't for Yang Qing using his spiritual qi to calm him, with how unstable he was, owing to the emotional upheaval he was in, his qi would have long gone erratic along with his mind, but even with Yang Qing's assistance, he seemed to be barely hanging on.

"This is it!" unanimously thought the elders as they saw Yang Qing clasp his hands together.

"Now with all evidence presented, I now leave the floor to you all, the accused to make your case. If you have any defense you want to use, feel free to bring it up, but as I warned you earlier, any hint of falsehood in your statements and the penalties against you increase considerably on top of what you're supposed to face.

But.." Yang Qing paused.

"Owning up to your mistakes may have a slight impact on your treatment after the sentence. While your sentence won't change, I will send a recording of your conduct to those in charge of handling your sentence.

I can tell you now, being responsible and forthright goes a long way with them, sp please keep that in mind, and also as I said earlier, should any of you wish to have your clan leader speak on your behalf, you can, provided he agrees with it..

Is there something you'd wish to say, Clan Leader Chen Zian?" asked Yang Qing when he saw Chen Zian's movements.

"Yes, judge, forgive my interruptions once more, but I would like to make my stance clear on the matter, I hope I can.."

"You can. Go on.."

"Other than Chen Gutian, I will not be speaking on behalf of any other member present. For the crimes they have committed, all I can say..." Chen Zian paused as his solemn gaze fell on the elders.

"You have dishonored our clan and spit on the sacrifices our ancestor and those who came after have given to ensure we are where we are today.

You have done what you have done, and that can't be changed, but you have a chance here, while it may not undo what you have done, or repair the damage done to those children and the clan, you have an option to bring honor to the Chen in your names by being honest and take responsibility.

We all know how ancestor Chen Fu was. His character was just like his sword, firm, enduring, direct, simple, and honest. His heart remained unblemished by falsehood.

I have failed to live up to who he was, but I have tried to, and I hope you will. Please uphold your honors of the Clan which I think you once loved and revered. Be sincere and direct and own up to the things you did. It may not undo everything but if you do, when the end comes, you will not be ashamed to face the predecessors that went before us.

Do what is right, as a fellow clan member, I implore you.." Chen Zian said as he bowed slightly to them.