Upon entering the Hall of Insight, Ji Wuye was immediately enveloped by a profound silence that seemed to reverberate through the vast space.
The imposing sight of towering marble pillars lined the room, their polished surfaces reflecting the crimson glow of numerous lanterns hanging from the darkwood walls.
Just like everyone who had seen the Hall of Insight from the outside—where its circular structure was unmistakable—the interior mirrored the same grand design and solemn atmosphere Ji Wuye had encountered before, particularly on Floor 3 of the Tower.
Escorted by silent guards, Ji Wuye found himself surrounded by rows of elevated wooden chairs, their high backs positioned to encircle him completely. He could feel the weight of countless judging eyes bearing down upon him from every angle.
Directly in front of him sat the renowned Kunlun Patriarch, his face obscured by deep shadows cast by the flickering lantern light. Flanking the Patriarch were familiar faces—Kunlun Elders and representatives from other factions—all seated in elevated chairs arranged in a perfect circle around him.
The members of the Ye Clan were also present, and also among them was the injured and bandaged Murong Yu, his piercing gaze locked onto him, flanked by his two equally hostile bodyguards who seemed poised to strike at any moment.
The Wudang disciples stood silently beside their Elder, their faces heavy with guilt. Some stole brief glances at him before quickly looking away, their expressions conflicted. Their injuries, visible and numerous, only added to their subdued demeanor.
Yet, the most palpable killing intent seemed to emanate from the Emei Sect disciples, who glared daggers at Ji Wuye with open hostility.
All of this entered Ji Wuye's crimson eyes as he surveyed the crowd. His gaze eventually returned to the Kunlun Patriarch, whose face remained cloaked in shadows, the silence stretching on until it was finally broken by a stern voice that seemed to reverberate.
"The perpetrator has entered the hall."
The voice emanated from an elderly figure seated beside the Patriarch. Ji Wuye immediately recognized him - it was the same hunched man he had often seen behind the polished oak counter in the Kunlun Thousand Pavilion.
This wizened elder, whose piercing gaze had once defended him against Elder Mu's rude behavior, now leveled that same intense stare directly at him.
'So he is the Grand Elder,' Ji Wuye realized with a flicker of surprise crossing his mind.
Then the realization dawned on him: was this why the Grand Elder had not reappeared in the previous timeline? Did this mean the Grand Elder would perish in the imminent attack from the Unorthodox factions?
Ji Wuye's thoughts were abruptly severed as the Grand Elder's steady voice rang out, shattering the tense silence. "Now, we shall begin the judgment by listing his crimes."
While Ji Wuye gazed at the Grand Elder, the Grand Elder unwavering tone began reciting the litany of transgressions.
"You stand accused of grievous offenses against our sacred sect. Not only did you brazenly force your way into the Official Disciples' sparring grounds," his voice rose with grave emphasis, "but you also deliberately wounded disciples from both the esteemed Emei and Wudang sects - our honored allies. And the wanton destruction you wreaked upon the Central Courtyard drove innocent common folk into panic and flight."
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Word by damning word, accusation by accusation, the atmosphere in the grand hall became increasingly stifling, the weight of judgment pressing down from every angle.
The expressions of those gathered ranged from stern condemnation to furrowed contemplation as they mulled over the seemingly absurd notion - how could a mere Outer Disciple have managed to not only injure, but outright defeat someone as formidably gifted as Xing Shufen, a recognized genius rumored to have already reached the 7th martial realm?
Not only that... they were also pondering... How could Ji Wuye have possibly maintained such astonishing stamina after fighting against so many of them?
The Grand Elder's next words sliced through the heavy tension like a razor-sharp blade. "And finally, the gravest offense of all - the unprovoked assault upon Elder Xia, who sought nothing but to put an end to your senseless rampage."
Those last damning words sent the entire grand hall into a stunned silence so profound, one could've heard a feather drop. Injuring an esteemed Elder of the 8th martial realm was no trivial transgression - it bordered on the unthinkable.
And this was no mere ambush - every disciple, guest and elder present had felt the aftermath of this supposedly lowly Outer Disciple's incomprehensible attack ripple through the very foundations.
It defied logic. It shattered the boundaries of what should've been possible. The immense power Ji Wuye had exhibited - at his age - simply didn't align with reason, unless there were only two staggering possibilities...
"The accused will now be granted an opportunity to speak and confess to these grave charges," the Grand Elder's steady voice finally broke the heavy silence.
He alone maintained an inscrutable expression, seemingly neither impressed nor shocked by Ji Wuye's unfathomable feats. Beside him, the Kunlun Patriarch sat shrouded in enigmatic shadows, radiating an aura of quiet yet unassailable authority.
This was the sacred Hall of Insight. No one dared to so much as breathe out of turn, let alone release the slightest fluctuation of their Qi or using their Zone or Sword Zone. Yet the weight of countless judging eyes bore down mercilessly upon Ji Wuye as he stood alone at the center of the marble floor.
Ji Wuye slowly scanned the assembled crowd, observing the myriad of reactions - disbelief, outrage, confusion.
A sense of dark amusement flickered momentarily in the depths of his crimson eyes. 'So this is Kunlun… Or rather, the Orthodox Faction,' he mused inwardly with an almost mocking realization. 'No wonder we were defeated so utterly on the 50th floor.'
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Ji Wuye straightened his posture, the tattered remains of his once pristine long white martial robe with aqua stripes hanging loosely from his frame . Yet despite his haggard appearance, he remained unbound and unfettered.
He raised his head defiantly, meeting the piercing glares and scrutinizing expressions of those assembled with an unwavering crimson stare.
"The words of people can be frightening," Ji Wuye began, a faint, almost taunting smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yet a lone hand cannot clap."
As he spoke those words, he took a slow, deliberate step forward, his gaze sweeping across the gathered crowd. His cryptic statement stirred a ripple of reactions - anger flickered openly on several faces, yet all present exercised rigid restraint, hiding their emotions behind carefully controlled masks of indifference.
"Regarding the attack on the Wudang, Murong and others..." Ji Wuye's voice trailed off, his piercing crimson eyes fixing squarely on the bandaged form of Murong Yu, who returned his stare with unveiled hatred.
Shifting his gaze, he turned to meet the averted looks of the injured Wudang disciples, their eyes instinctively averting beneath the intensity of his stare.
The stark difference in their reactions was telling. Murong Yu still stood defiant, propped up by the reputation and prestige of his esteemed clan, confident that the weight of his family's influence would allow him to exact due revenge. The Wudang disciples, in contrast - renowned as some of the strongest martial artists - wore the shame of their defeat like an invisible, suffocating burden.
"It was merely self-defense, and I believe all of my actions were witnessed by Elder Ma and several other honored guests," Ji Wuye continued, his voice steady and matter-of-fact as his crimson eyes calmly scanned the assembled crowd.
None among those present openly refuted his words; the grand hall remained engulfed in a heavy, judgemental silence. His sharp gaze wandered over the clusters of youth - Mei Ling, Xiao Feng, and the representatives from the Huashan School and the Xiao Yao Sect.
As for the adult and elders present...their conspicuous silence was not borne of mature restraint as one might expect, but of prudent caution.
They dared not intervene or speak out, for the Grand Elder's indifferent, yet chillingly authoritative stare loomed over the proceedings.
This very trial was being held within the hallowed Hall of Insight - a place of sacred judgment under Kunlun's direct purview.
To openly disrespect Kunlun or any of its revered Elders during such a solemn proceeding, even as an esteemed guest, would undoubtedly invite disgrace and contempt.
"And regarding my actions - specifically why I was forced to injure Miss Xing..." Ji Wuye trailed off, shifting his piercing crimson gaze towards the cluster of Emei representatives, who returned his stare with unfiltered, scorching hatred.
Their eyes burned with barely restrained resentment, yet they made no overtly aggressive move against him.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, the tall, imposing wooden doors behind him creaked open. All eyes instinctively turned as a small group of figures stepped through the threshold into the grand hall.
His Senior Sisters stepped into the hall.