"..." The group that just arrived were the Presba Imperial Family's force. Dong Lin, the Imperial Prosecutor of Presba, were the one who previously shouted. When they arrived, they swept their gaze around at the surrounding cultivators. Typically, due to the cluster of thousands of cultivators with a variety of different sizes, spreading one's sense outwards without a peak cultivation base was detrimental. Therefore, they never once saw Yan Zaizen directly.
However, now that they were one of the first few to arrive on the second floor's gate area, how could they not spot him in this mediocre amount of people?
In Presba, Yan Zaizen had vanished mysteriously. Due to his chaotic immersion art, he could shift through chaotic space without leaving a single spatial trail. However, after he took off to the Dead Soul Desert, the Imperial Family put out an order of arrest. They even issued a bounty for information that could attract even grand-tier powers to search.
Despite all this effort, they found nigh a hair nor nail of Yan Zaizen anywhere. Considering his outstanding appearance, it'll be unlikely there'd be zero information about him. That was...unless he got off planet. They considered it, but if so, they couldn't do much. So, they decided to team up with the Wu Clan, a first-level heavenly-tier force in the Xiantu Continent.
Their goal? To gain backers during this venture AND find Yan Zaizen with Wu Clan's support.
As for Yan Zaizen, he was heavily ignorant of the outside world. For two years on the outside, but sixty years to him, he spent a majority of his time in cultivation or studies. Not to mention, how was he supposed to know he was a wanted man? He did no crime.
At least no crime that wasn't standard in the cultivation world for those with power.
"You!" Dong Sei, the Imperial Commander, thundered murderously. If one saw his eyes, they'd see madness and deep-seated hatred within. For others, they may not recognize Yan Zaizen, but how could he not? For the past two years, this man had been his life goal.
His cultivation base at the initial-True Essence Realm exploded outwards. However, he didn't rashly take action but only threateningly erupted with his aura. As for Yan Zaizen, he felt amused at all this. He felt like Tang Li or Ma Xiuren had done something, and he was more than willing to act as a bystander to enjoy the show.
As for Dong Sei's aura? Pfft.
Laughable.
If it was Yan Zaizen before he left Presba, then perhaps he'll take this man seriously, but at the moment? One must know that, despite his qi cultivation not progressing, his soul cultivation reached the Perfect Aurora Soul Realm and his Mortal Dao reached completion! The amplification effect of his dao was dozens of times stronger than lower-tier daos and lower-tier daos were a few times stronger than his previous nascent dao!
How could he be moved by an initial-True Essence expert's aura? It was like a bunny bearing its fangs at a T-Rex, it was cute.
The Ancient Emperor's eyes flickered, realizing that Yan Zaizen was surrounded by a group of powerful cultivators that easily out-matched their current group. Therefore, he didn't flare up like the others but quietly kept his thoughts inward.
"Yan Zaizen." Dong Lin flatly said, his eyes smiling but the rest of his expression felt off.
"Oh?" Yan Zaizen was shocked by being directly called. Not only him, the rest of his group as well. It's not like Yan Zaizen didn't know who these people were. As a citizen of Presba, he was educated thoroughly about the Imperial Family's crest and faces of its upper-echelon. They were celebrities in Presba, who didn't know?
"Are you ready to atone for your crime?" Dong Lin was incredibly calm, causing Dong Sei to slowly recede his thunderous aura and its tyrannical ferocity. He understood that acting was not beneficial to them at this moment, so he stayed his hand.
"Crime?" Startled, Yan Zaizen questioned with genuine confusion. Considering that they seemed angered by his existence, could he have killed someone important? However, thinking about it, he never met anyone of importance. Not to mention, he didn't directly kill anyone in his time within the capital. Well, directly at least. The Blood Fiend Sect members were killed by his protective spiritual sense.
"I wonder, what crime did I do?" He inquired curiously, his tone slightly playful. In truth, he didn't care about any crime they could pin on him. He'll just have them pardon that crime today, that is, if he did it. If they disagreed? Well, considering the circumstances and as a protective measure for his clan, he'll directly exterminate.
It may sound immature, but you can't falsely accuse anyone of a crime if you're dead. Just like your body when its merges back to the soil, all accusations will fade to dust in death.
Dong Lin furrowed his brows, scanning Yan Zaizen's group with his gaze. His eyes lit up as he recalled the White Crane Sect's information and mantra. With a devious glint in his eye, "Your crime of forcefully assaulting and tainting Princess Qin against her will." His words were calm, but he looked at the reactions of the White Crane Sect members.
Shock.
Disgust.
Hatred!
Their expressions flickered with various emotions. However, none of them were positive. As True Essence Cultivators, how could they not know who the Ancient Emperor of Presba was? They memorized all recognizable forces in Presba. You never know when you'll need to engage with them or become enemies with them. Understanding who's who is important in the cultivation world.
For them, they wouldn't throw out this accusation without irrefutable proof, nor would they publicize this fact amongst experts without even further proof. Not to mention, the first reaction they had was rather violent, backing their belief in this so-called crime.
Almost instinctively, the White Crane Sect members wielded their blades, flashing with traces of sword law infused true-essence. Their prideful eyes turned fiercely sharp. However, none of them took action, obviously awaiting Yan Zaizen's reaction or response.
Unfortunately for them, Yan Zaizen only tugged at his lips and furrowed his brows in contemplation. It was a rather indeterminate expression. "What proof do you have?" Yan Zaizen wasn't the type of person to shout 'I'm innocent, I'm innocent!' He didn't have anything to prove, nor did he feel the need to deal with such troubles. If he went at their pace, it's likely he could dig a hole so deep he didn't know the truth anymore.
Therefore, he rather advance the narrative at his own pace.
Dong Lin didn't hesitate, withdrawing a translucent orb from his spatial ring. After an infusion of soul energy, a scene projected itself for all those to see. It was a point-of-view perspective. From his guess, it was likely Princess Qin's. He knew of this orb - a Soul Recollection Orb. As the soul flame contained in-depth memory and instincts of the person, this Soul Recollection Orb could vividly copy specific memories within and display them.
Typically, they're used to pass on battle records from certain perspectives or cultivation lessons. The juniors of the clan could view them for theoretical battle experience. It was mainly due to the fact that hundreds of exchanges could happen in seconds at the top-level. It'll be difficult for juniors to see these battle live, so they would slow it down using this item.
Soon, 'Yan Zaizen' appeared with his vibrant amber-gold eyes and handsome appearance. Violently, he struck Princess Qin, restricted her body with qi-essence, and proceeded to violently take her with a malicious smile. His voice, body type, and even vibrant eyes were the same as his. The only difference was that his expression during the actual crime was violent and evil that seemed to take pleasure in Princess Qin's pain.
Princess Qin yelled constantly for mercy, begging to stop, and even asking for reasons and justifications. However, 'Yan Zaizen' only laughed maliciously in her face, only doing so harder, or striking her whenever she seemed to annoy him or weren't loud enough with her screams. This lasted for a few minutes. Then 'Yan Zaizen' departed after reaching a personal climax.
Many in the surroundings felt odd and intense emotions rise up in their hearts watching this scene, and some looked towards Yan Zaizen with extreme disgust. A Soul Recollection Orb couldn't be faked unless one possessed a profound soul cultivation. It's unlikely that Princess Qin, someone who was just mercilessly taken, had a soul cultivation base that could do so.
Even Yan Zaizen himself would have a difficulty doing so.
"This is YOUR CRIME!" Dong Lin shouted.
However, Yan Zaizen furrowed his brows in thought. Witnessing this violent scene, the White Crane Sect members were completely holding back their emotions and desires due to Guàn Cui's gesturing. Despite this, her eyes were also filled with intense anger. The White Crane Sect was a female-only sect and many of their cultivators were exceptionally beautiful and wanted by many. They had to constantly fight against those who take action against their girls.
It became custom that they would destroy any force behind the person who did so and tortured the person's soul for one hundred years before death. Only then did people start thinking nine times before taking action. As women in a world where a murder was legitimate if you were stronger, how could it be easy? The same could be said for men, who must protect their women!
"Well, one indisputable fact determines the person in that image wasn't me…" Yan Zaizen said slowly.
"?" Many of them were shocked, wondering how he'll attempt to clear himself of this crime, but a vast majority who witnessed this scene had already deemed him guilty.
Spreading out fingers to indicate the number of minutes that passed during the recollection, Yan Zaizen said with a confident tone, "Well, I would've...lasted longer than that."
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