Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 262: Temporary Safety

Although her tone was flat, the weight of her words was extremely heavy. She directly slapped him with the serious accusation of "disregarding the laws and regulations of the Imperial Family."

The Sun Family Old Ancestor was so angry his beard was shaking. His Sun Family possessed overwhelming power and was the maternal family of the Crown Prince; when had he ever suffered such indignation? However, facing a Grand Princess of the Middle Nascent Soul Stage with a prestigious status, he truly didn’t dare to openly tear faces with her, especially here at the capital’s city gate under the watchful eyes of the public.

Just as the two were at a deadlock and the atmosphere had frozen, a majestic, peaceful voice that seemed to penetrate directly into the Soul suddenly rang out in everyone’s ears—no, it echoed in the hearts of everyone in the entire city gate area:

"What is this commotion?"

The voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried an indescribable majesty and power that caused everyone’s minds to tremble, involuntarily giving rise to a sense of awe.

Following the voice, a phantom of a middle-aged man wearing bright yellow casual robes appeared out of thin air above the city gate, between Princess Mu Yijing and the Sun Family Old Ancestor. He had a majestic countenance, eyes as deep as the starry sky, and an aura as vast and boundless as the great ocean. The phantom was not solid, yet it seemed to be the center of the entire world, and everyone’s gaze was involuntarily drawn toward it.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" "Long live the Emperor!"

The guards at the city gate, nearby Cultivators, commoners, and even the Sun Family Old Ancestor and Princess Mu Yijing all bowed in unison. The newcomer was none other than the current sovereign of the Mingling Empire, a top-tier powerhouse at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul—Emperor! Although it was only a Divine Thought projection, its prestige was already enough to overawe the entire scene.

Fang Hao also hurriedly lowered his head, though stormy waves were surging in his heart. The Emperor! This strongest expert of the Mingling Empire had actually been disturbed? It seemed that today’s matter had truly blown up!

Emperor’s Divine Thought phantom swept its gaze across the area below, pausing slightly on Fang Hao for a brief instant. Fang Hao immediately felt as if he were being watched by the entire world, with all his secrets exposed; his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. Fortunately, that gaze only swept past him.

"Yijing, Minister Sun, what is the dispute?" Emperor’s voice was calm, revealing no hint of joy or anger.

Princess Mu Yijing took a step forward and gave a simple account of the events, her tone objective and without favoring either side.

The Sun Family Old Ancestor also hurried to supplement the story, his tone filled with grief and indignation as he described Fang Hao’s "crimes" once more, requesting Your Majesty to uphold justice and severely punish the murderer.

After Emperor finished listening, he remained silent for a moment. His gaze fell upon Fang Hao once again, and this time, it lingered for a slightly longer duration.

"Fang Hao," Emperor spoke slowly, his voice like a heavenly decree, "The Sun Family accuses you of murdering Sun Tianlin, heavily injuring Sun Tianqi, and seizing their treasures. Do you plead guilty?"

Everyone’s gaze instantly focused on Fang Hao, who was covered in blood and swaying on his feet.

Fang Hao took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand straight as he bowed to the phantom in the sky, his voice hoarse but clear: "Reporting to Your Majesty, this Junior does not!"

He raised his head, meeting Emperor’s deep gaze candidly (at least in appearance): "Sun Tianqi was injured by Ghost Bone Superior in the Secret Realm. As for Senior Sun Tianlin, this Junior has never even seen him, let alone murdered him! What the Sun Family Senior said is pure slander! As for seizing treasures, that is even more nonsensical! What this Junior obtained in the Secret Realm were all my own Opportunities; what does that have to do with the Sun Family?"

This statement of his was half-true and half-false. Sun Tianqi had indeed been defeated and injured by him in a direct confrontation (though it was mainly Ghost Bone Superior who delivered the finishing blow), but Sun Tianlin... had indeed been killed by him using the golden puppet. However, he absolutely could not admit to that! As for seizing treasures, he would rather die than admit it. But Fang Hao forgot that one or two people from the Sun Family had escaped at the time; they just hadn’t returned to the Heavenly Capital yet due to their speed.

"Nonsense! The little thief still dares to quibble!" The Sun Family Old Ancestor was beyond furious.

The Emperor phantom raised a hand, and the Sun Family Old Ancestor immediately fell silent.

"Words alone are no proof," Emperor’s voice remained emotionless. "The Sun Family’s accusation requires witnesses and physical evidence. Fang Hao’s defense also requires evidence. This matter involves a great deal and occurred within a Secret Realm, making it difficult to investigate immediately."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Princess Mu Yijing and the Sun Family Old Ancestor. "Since Yijing has stepped forward and stated that this boy holds a token bestowed by the Imperial Family, he shall receive the protection of the Imperial Family until the truth is clarified. The Sun Family’s urgency for revenge is something I can also empathize with."

"Let it be this way," the Emperor phantom said slowly. "Fang Hao, I order you to return to the Qingyun Courtyard immediately. Without my decree, you are not permitted to leave. This case shall be handed over to the Imperial Clan Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court for a joint trial. The Sun Family may provide witnesses and evidence. Before the truth is uncovered, no one is allowed to take action against Fang Hao again. Otherwise, it shall be treated as defying a dynamic imperial decree!"

"Minister Sun, what do you think?"

The Sun Family Old Ancestor’s face turned shades of blue and white. The Emperor was clearly being even-handed, temporarily protecting Fang Hao but also giving the Sun Family a chance to seek revenge through "official channels." A joint trial? The Sun Family’s influence was vast; they had their own people in the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, so it wasn’t without Opportunity to manipulate things. It was just that, this way, he couldn’t immediately kill Fang Hao to vent his anger, and with the Imperial Family watching, many methods would be difficult to use.

But he didn’t dare to violate the imperial will, especially since the Emperor himself had personally set the tone. He could only grit his teeth and bow: "This old servant... obeys the decree! I will certainly gather evidence and submit it to the Three Departments, requesting Your Majesty to return justice to my Sun Family!"

The Emperor phantom nodded and looked at Fang Hao again: "Fang Hao, do you understand?"

Thoughts raced through Fang Hao’s mind. The Emperor seemed fair, but in reality, he was still leaning toward Imperial Family rules and stability. He had temporarily saved his life but also trapped him in the Heavenly Capital, making him a target for the Sun Family. However, this was already the best possible outcome; at least he didn’t have to face the pursuit of the Sun Family Old Ancestor immediately.

"Junior understands. Thank you for Your Majesty’s great grace!" Fang Hao hurried to bow and accept.

"Mhm." The Emperor phantom said no more and slowly dissipated into the air as if he had never appeared.

At the city gate, the oppressive atmosphere eased. But everyone knew that this matter was far from over. Fang Hao was "protected" in the Qingyun Courtyard, becoming a turtle in a jar, and the Sun Family would never let it go. Moreover, the Imperial Family’s attitude was also quite subtle.

Princess Mu Yijing glanced at Fang Hao, her tone still flat: "Since His Majesty has decreed, go back to the Qingyun Courtyard and stay there properly, waiting for the summons from the Three Departments. Do not cause any more trouble." After speaking, her figure flickered and turned into a streak of green light, vanishing into the horizon.

The Sun Family Old Ancestor stared fixedly at Fang Hao, the killing intent in his eyes almost solidifying into substance. However, he ultimately didn’t dare to make another move, only squeezing a sentence through his teeth: "Little thief, you’d better pray that the Three Departments can return your ’innocence’! Let’s go!"

After speaking, he led the Sun Family members away indignantly. But the venomous look he gave before leaving let Fang Hao know that the Sun Family would definitely not let things end like this.

Fang Hao stood where he was, watching the retreating backs of the Sun Family members, then looked at the towering city gate and exhaled a long breath of turbid air tinged with the scent of blood. Temporarily... safe? No, he had fallen into another, more complex and dangerous vortex.

He dragged his exhausted body, step by step, toward the direction of the Qingyun Courtyard in his memory. With every step, he felt as if countless pairs of eyes were watching him from the shadows.

The days to come would probably not be easy.