As he bent his left knee to absorb the impact, his right hand pressed against the seal on his waist. The bronze square seal, taken from the Heng Law Enforcement Agency's vault, was radiating heat through his clothes, as if it were about to burn through his skin. Zhu Hanli, a half-step to his left, stood on the tips of her toes, silent, the three-bladed darts in her sleeves already within reach, their blades reflecting the eerie blue glow of the thirty-six long-burning candles in the hall. Her gaze swept across the room: twelve蟠龙 pillars stood in stark rows, the "Righteous and Benevolent" plaque hung high, its gold paint peeling, and the man sitting at the back of the long purple sandalwood table, after smoothing out a tiny wrinkle on his sleeve. "Junior Disciple Yue," the man behind the table spoke, his voice low but firm, causing all the candles in the hall to dim slightly. "According to ancestral regulations, those who break into the Grand Council Hall must have their cultivation destroyed and be expelled from the sect." Yue Tingzhou. The air in the hall was thick with the scent of sandalwood. The smell mingled with the dust stirred up by their entrance, and something else, sharper – the metallic click of a crossbow trigger being drawn, the tension in the string. The sound came from the shadows in the four corners. Yue Tingzhou didn't need to look to know that at least eight crossbows were aimed at their backs. Yue Tingzhou let out a low growl. Not at the enemy, but at himself. Sword intent rose from his dantian, like a cold stream flowing over stones, instantly permeating every part of his body. He took a step forward, shielding Zhu Hanli with half his body. This movement caused the three knife-wielding guards in the front row to instinctively draw back – their boots scraping against the stone floor with a sharp hiss. Dozens of eyes turned from the side seats. The Qingcheng Sect elder's hand paused in mid-air. Qi Zhirong of the Cao River Alliance was toying with a ship anchor pendant, his eyes dark. Rong Qiyu of the Crane Pavilion Academy lightly tapped a jade ruler, once, twice, three times. Each tap seemed to measure the cost of this intrusion. His gaze moved past the table, settling on Yue Tingzhou's face, as if examining a recovered document. "Yue Tingzhou." His voice was calm, elegant, each word carrying a chill. "For breaking into the Grand Council and entering with weapons, disrupting the representatives of the various factions. According to Article 9, Chapter 3 of the "Jianghu Alliance Agreement," you should be executed on the spot." Yue Tingzhou's breathing hitched. He felt the seal in his arms burning even more intensely – the heat was almost scorching his skin. No, this heat wasn't coming from the seal itself, but from some external force. A force drawing energy. The bronze seal broke free from the constraints of his clothing and floated three feet in front of Yue Tingzhou's chest. A blue light erupted from the cracks in the seal's inscription, intertwining and twisting in the air, eventually forming a blurry image – the side profile of a middle-aged man, wearing the dark official uniform of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency, and writing something. The image flickered, but the face was clear enough. Gasps echoed from all over the hall. Some people stood up abruptly, the legs of their chairs scraping against the floor with a piercing screech. The Qingcheng Sect elder's beard trembled. "Shen Lirong's encrypted image? How could..." He stared at the image. His master's profile, his master's writing posture, even the old scar on his master's temple – all were perfectly reproduced. But the background of the image was distorted, the ink on the paper bled in strange patterns, like something was corroding the image from within. This was not an ordinary image. It was an alarm, a warning, the last message from Shen Lirong, sealed within the seal in a moment of great danger. And Xie Wuchen's energy was steadily drawing it out. "Indeed," Xie Wuchen's voice sounded again, this time with a hint of perfectly calculated regret. "Director Shen had already suspected that someone within his department was colluding with the rebels, so he secretly hid this image in the seal, intending to reveal it publicly today." He slowly stood up, his sleeves falling like a waterfall. "Yue Tingzhou, did you consider that when you stole the seal, it would turn against its owner?" "You stole the seal, it would turn against its owner?" Yue Tingzhou clenched his teeth. But he couldn't deny it – in the face of Shen Lirong's image, any Then, a cold laugh. From a representative of the Caohe Alliance. Qi Zhiruo slammed the anchor weight onto the table, the sound not loud, but it made everyone turn their heads. "Interesting," he grinned, revealing teeth stained yellow from smoking, "Youngster from the Yue family, are you saying that Magistrate Xie forged the image of Shen Lirong?" The two exchanged words, fast as the clash of swords. The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense. Magistrate Xie's expression remained calm, but Yue Tingzhou saw his right index finger twitch slightly under his sleeve – that was his only sign of emotional agitation. Magistrate Xie raised his hand. The ethereal blue glow of the seal receded, and the image of Shen Lirong vanished like smoke. The bronze seal "thudded" back into Yue Tingzhou's palm, the heat gone, leaving only a chilling cold. "This is a place for public discussion, not a teahouse for江湖儿郎 to bicker," his gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Yue Tingzhou. "You have intruded, you must have a request. Speak." Yue Tingzhou clenched the seal. The chilling sensation spread from his palm to his wrist, reminding him of the coldness that permeated his bones when he dreamed of the old case. He turned his head and looked at Zhu Hanli. Then, Yue Tingzhou turned to face the representatives of all the factions present. He released his grip on the sword hilt, clasped his hands in a standard江湖礼. "Yue Tingzhou, a secret agent of the Heng律司, and Zhu Hanli, the second daughter of the Wan Mirror镖局, have intruded into this public discussion at the risk of our lives, only to report on a conspiracy that concerns the very foundations of the江湖." He paused, his voice suddenly rising. "The marriage contracts selected by the '天命书' are not arranged matches, but are used to harvest the foundations of new talent!" "Nonsense!" the elder of the Qingcheng faction stood up, his hair and beard bristling. "The '天命书' was established by the three major sects and six major factions, and has been operating for thirty years. How could it be used to harvest anything? Yue Tingzhou, are you slandering a public institution out of personal grievances!" "Is it slander?" Zhu Hanli suddenly spoke. She stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yue Tingzhou, her sleeve slipped, revealing a glimpse of her wrist. Under her skin, blue veins writhed slowly like living things. "Do you recognize this纹?" The纹 glowed with an eerie light under the candlelight, not a tattoo, not a scar, but a mark emanating from the depths of her flesh. It pulsed with Zhu Hanli's breath, and each pulsation caused the nearest蟠龙柱 to ripple slightly – like a stone thrown into a deep pool. "劫纹," a cold female voice sounded from the corner of the hall. Lu Jianwei had appeared at the edge of the shadows, holding a卷 of yellowed medical records, her eyes like needles. "The '脉象异闻录' records: '引劫气 into the body to temper the脉, a life-or-death situation. Those who succeed will have blue纹 on their wrists, which can vaguely sense fluctuations in the celestial mechanisms.'" She looked at Zhu Hanli. "But the records say that the 劫纹 should be a dead纹. Yours is alive." Zhu Hanli smiled. There was no warmth in that smile. "Because it was not formed by tempering the脉." She raised her wrist, letting the blue纹 be fully exposed to everyone's sight. "This is a mark. It was left by the '天命书' mother scroll on the '优质资粮' it selected." "Ridiculous!" Magistrate Xie finally exclaimed. This was the first time he had raised his voice, the sound echoing in the hall, sharp as a knife. "Zhu Hanli, you are fabricating such妖邪之说 to clear your name! Everyone—" he turned to the representatives. "This woman bears evil纹, and she broke into this public discussion with this traitor. Her heart should be condemned!" "Then let Magistrate Xie explain," Yue Tingzhou interrupted him, his voice cutting through the noise. "Why is the 劫纹 on Zhu Hanli's wrist glowing brightly when she is near the卷 of the '天命书·运维总纲' that you are holding?" The moment the words were spoken, the blue纹 on Zhu Hanli's wrist suddenly flared up. The light surged The faint sound of a broken tie echoed in the silent hall. Yue Tingzhou raised his badge, letting it reflect the cold light of the candle. "This badge is a credential for undercover agents of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency." His voice resonated clearly, each word striking the stone floor, "Today, I, Yue Tingzhou, using the last of my authority as an undercover agent, accuse Xie Wuchen, the Chief Administrator of the Tianming Order." He paused, his gaze sweeping across each face, some filled with shock, others with anger, and still others with doubt. "Under the guise of a marriage contract, he carries out the act of selection and harvesting. He uses young talents from the martial arts world as fuel, nurturing his own cultivation, and maintaining the so-called 'Tianming Order'." He flipped his wrist, the badge flew out of his hand, arcing through the air and landing heavily on the long table in front of Xie Wuchen. The sound of metal hitting the wooden table shook the candles. "This badge is returned," Yue Tingzhou said, retracting his hand. His palm was empty, yet he felt a weight he had never felt before, "From this moment on, I, Yue Tingzhou, am severed from the Heng Law Enforcement Agency." Xie Wuchen stared at the badge on the table for a long time. Then, he slowly raised his hand and clapped. The sound of the clap was crisp and jarring in the silence. The side door of the Public Hearing Hall opened, and two Frost Falcon Guards escorted a trembling clerk inside. The clerk was wearing the lowest-ranking green uniform of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, his pupils were dilated, and his legs trembled as he walked. Xie Wuchen pointed at Yue Tingzhou, his voice returning to its usual calm and elegant tone, even tinged with a hint of pity. "Please, everyone, take a look at this document, which Yue Tingzhou coerced as a false witness when he stole the seal," he slightly turned his body, exposing the clerk to everyone's view, "Ding Xueqiao, tell us what you saw - that night, in the basement of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency?" He raised his head, his eyes blankly scanning Yue Tingzhou and then the representatives of each faction present. Then, he opened his mouth, his voice flat, as if reciting a well-rehearsed play: "At the third hour of the亥 (hai) hour... Yue Tingzhou broke into the basement, coerced the subordinate with a sword... forged a false 沈总 (Shen Zong) arrest record... intending to frame Chief Administrator Xie... the subordinate refused, and he threatened to kill the subordinate's entire family..." But Yue Tingzhou saw the trembling of Ding Xueqiao's fingers in his sleeves, the cold sweat on his forehead had already formed a stream, sliding down his pale cheeks. The soul of this clerk was probably already eroded by drugs or secret techniques, leaving only an empty shell. The elder of the Qingcheng faction suddenly stood up, pointing at Yue Tingzhou, and shouted like thunder: "There is both human and physical evidence! Yue Tingzhou, what else do you have to say?!" Xie Wuchen's clap was soft, three times, but in the silence of the hall, it felt like it was hitting everyone's heart. His sleeves were neat, not a single thread out of place. His gaze swept over Yue Tingzhou, then over Zhu Hanli, and finally settled on the plaque that read "Upholding Justice" hanging on the wall, as if confirming that a certain order still existed. The side door opened again. Two gray-clad attendants escorted a person, staggering to the front of the hall. It was a young clerk of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency, wearing a faded public uniform, his face as pale as paper. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, splashing on the stone floor, creating small dark spots. "Speak," Xie Wuchen's voice was not loud, but like an ice pick piercing the eardrum, "Tell what you know, in front of these martial arts masters." The clerk trembled all over. He opened his mouth, his voice flat and strange, as if reciting a well-known text: "The subordinate... Ding Xueqiao, clerk in the archives room of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency. Last month, on the seventeenth, Adult Yue came into the basement under the pretext of 'reviewing old cases,' and during the shift change, he stole a 'Hidden Scale' seal... and secretly copied the restriction patterns of the basement..." He paused, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his fingers unconsciously dug into the cuff of his sleeve. "Afterwards, Adult Yue ordered the subordinate to forge a 'Zhu Hanli's severed meridian has no harm' medical record “Please, everyone, take a look.” Xie Wuxin raised his hand, gesturing for Ding Xueqiao to step aside. His voice remained calm and elegant. “These are the corrupt individuals exposed during the internal investigation of the Heng Law Enforcement Agency. They stole official seals, illegally copied seals, colluded with traitors, and coerced colleagues. Each charge is supported by concrete evidence.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the representatives of each faction present. “Yue Tingzhou, you come from a noble family, and you are a disciple of Shen Licao. You should be a pillar of our martial world. However, you have succumbed to greed and self-degradation, and you are in cahoots with this woman from the Zhu family, who has mysterious markings and an unclear origin.” With each sentence he spoke, the tension in the hall increased. “In the martial world, reputation is paramount. Noble families are not renowned for their brute force, but for upholding order, maintaining integrity, and serving as an example to the world.” Xie Wuxin’s voice suddenly rose slightly, though he did not shout, each word like a hammer blow. “If we tolerate such degenerate individuals today, using the guise of ‘investigation’ to engage in immoral acts, and using the pretense of ‘marriage arrangements’ to conceal malicious intentions—how can we maintain the principles and traditions of our martial world? How can we preserve the reputation of each faction?” He stood up, his hair disheveled, his eyes blazing with anger as he stared at Yue Tingzhou: “Yue Tingzhou! What do you have to say for yourself?” Countless gazes, like countless needles, pierced into Yue Tingzhou’s back. Some were filled with anger, some with suspicion, and some with a cold amusement. He felt the seal in his arms burning against his skin, and the hazy image of his master, Shen Licao, flickered within the seal’s imprint, seeming to struggle and silently observe. A gentle touch brushed against Yue Tingzhou’s back. It was very light, but very steady. When he opened his eyes again, he addressed the elders of the Qingshan Sect, his voice clear, steady, and even tinged with a hint of bureaucratic politeness: “According to the law, a conviction requires complete evidence, both material and testimonial. The testimony of Ding Wen书 is detailed, the time and location are consistent, and it appears to be reliable.” Yue Tingzhou continued: “However, the authenticity of testimony must be verified. Ding Wen书’s complexion is ashen, he is sweating profusely, his pupils are dilated, and his speech is flat—these are typical signs of being controlled by a ‘Mind-Clouding Pill’ or ‘Soul-Seizing Technique.’ Since General Xie has spoken of fairness, may we request that one of the esteemed elders present, who is proficient in medicine or soul investigation, examine Ding Wen书’s pulse?” The beads on Xie Wuxin’s prayer necklace paused for a moment. His expression remained unchanged, but the light in his eyes grew colder. “Yue Tingzhou, even now, you still want to quibble?” “It is not quibbling,” Yue Tingzhou said, each word carefully chosen. “It is a matter of seeking clarity. If Ding Wen书 is of sound mind and willing to testify, Yue某 will confess his guilt and accept his punishment without hesitation. However, if he has been manipulated by drugs or secret techniques and has become a tool of framing—" “Then what exactly is hidden beneath this banner of ‘maintaining order and integrity’ – true principles, or a gluttonous beast that devours everything?” “Enough!” The elder of the Qingshan Sect shouted sternly, his face flushed with anger. “General Xie is in charge of the ‘Tianming Book’ and is a person of high morals and reputation. How dare you slander him! You stole the official seal, conspired with traitors, and now you are trying to turn the tables and disrupt our deliberations?” He turned to the other neutral representatives present, his voice heavy with emotion: “Everyone! This man is a silver-tongued sophist who distorts right and wrong and is a great threat to our martial world! In my opinion, it is better to believe him when he has something, and not believe him when he has nothing. We must immediately apprehend Yue Tingzhou and Zhu Hanli, interrogate them thoroughly, and prevent further chaos!” Several of the previously hesitant neutral representatives changed their expressions. Some lowered their gazes, avoiding eye contact, while others tapped their fingers nervously on their knees. The pressure of reputation was like an invisible net, tightening relentlessly. It was always safer to stand on the side of “maintaining the reputation of the martial world.” Xie Wuxin gently smoothed out a nonexistent wrinkle on the cuff of his She paused, a faint, emotionless smile curving her lips. "Come, in front of all these esteemed martial world seniors, tell us what you think." "Or is it the 'Heavenly Decree Book's' mark for 'valuable assets'?" The waist token lay on the bluestone floor, like a glowing branding iron, its heat causing pain in everyone's eyes. 岳停舟's breathing was shallow. The lingering scent of sandalwood mixed with the smell of blood, and the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil, all rushed into his senses. He heard the sound of his own heartbeat, pounding in his ears like a drum, but his limbs felt cold, as if immersed in ice water. The weight around his waist had disappeared, replaced by a feeling of lightness that was almost dizzying—for the first time in twenty-seven years, the token was no longer there. 谢无尘's fingers, hidden beneath his sleeve, curled slightly. His expression was impassive, even with the familiar, almost pitying curve on his lips. But 岳停舟 saw the throbbing of the veins in his neck, bulging slightly beneath his skin, like a dormant worm. The Grand Secretary was suppressing his breathing, each inhalation longer than usual. The Qingcheng Sect elder slammed his hand on the table, his white beard trembling. "A衡律司 undercover agent? You admit you're an undercover agent, and you should know the 'Hidden Scale' iron law—exposure of identity is equivalent to treason! Are you trying to die quickly, and dragging the reputation of your sect down with you?" His voice was loud and sharp, causing a buzzing echo in the hall. Several neutral representatives who had been hesitant were startled by the word "treason," and they averted their gazes. His gaze was fixed on 谢无尘's face, like two cold nails. "According to the evidence," he began, his voice low but overriding all the noise, "three years ago, Chen松, a disciple of the inner sect of the Qingcheng Sect, nineteen years old, at the peak of the叠纹境 realm, died suddenly three days after the 'Heavenly Decree Book' updated the ranking list, while practicing sword techniques on the back mountain. The cause of death was recorded as 'sudden anger, demonic possession'." "Two years ago, Zhao奔, a promising candidate for the new executive of the漕河盟, and a trusted subordinate of 祁照夜, who was in the early stages of the境 realm, disappeared with a boat carrying a shipment of 'sect gifts' while en route to the鹤汀Academy. The boat was later recovered, intact and with its cargo undamaged, but the person was missing. The file was recorded as 'killed by bandits, no remains found'." 祁照夜 stopped toying with the anchor and his expression darkened. "One year ago, Lin晚照, a student of the current class at the鹤汀Academy who was most likely to achieve a perfect 'listening comprehension' score, suffered a psychotic episode after contemplating the 'Tranquility Chapter' given by the 'Heavenly Decree Book,' and destroyed her own eyes. She is now in the forbidden area of the academy, her mind unclear." 岳停舟 paused, each word like an ice cube hitting the ground. "容山长, there should be a record of this in your sect's medical records." 容栖梧's fingers, holding the ruler, turned white. She didn't speak, but her lips were pressed into a tight line. Only the sound of rain, growing louder and louder, drumming on the tiles, like countless hands drumming urgently. He slowly raised his right hand, smoothing out a nonexistent wrinkle on his cuff, his movements elegant, as if wiping an ancient zither. "岳停舟," his voice was still calm, even with a hint of regret, "you've gone to great lengths to collect these old cases from the martial world to clear your name. Unfortunately, they are all forced and full of loopholes. 陈松's death had witnesses who testified that it was a backlash from forbidden techniques; 赵奔's disappearance, the White Dragon Beach was known for bandits; and 林晚照's psychosis was due to her deep-seated mental demons, what does that have to do with the 'Tranquility Chapter'?" He leaned forward slightly, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "You abuse your position as an undercover agent to pry into the secrets of various sects, and now you use this to blackmail and disrupt public opinion. This is no different from the demonic path." The word "demonic" caused the hesitant representatives to immediately show signs of vigilance and disgust. The pressure reassembled, like invisible walls closing in on the two people in the center. The air was heavy, and each breath felt like swallowing iron sand. 岳停舟 clenched The lines resembled tattoos, but more like light emanating from beneath the skin, complex, eerie, and pulsing with a rhythm that sent a shiver down the spine. They wrapped around her slender wrist, like a cold chain, or perhaps an ancient and sinister brand. "This mark," Zhu Hanli spoke, her voice cool and with a slight rasp characteristic of the southern dialect, yet each word was clear, "is known in the Jianghu as the 'Curse Mark.' It is said to be a result of my, Zhu Hanli, being afflicted by a fatal flaw and a heavenly curse." She paused, her gaze suddenly rising, like an icy dart, piercing Xie Wuchen. "Master Xie, you are learned and well-versed in both ancient and modern knowledge. Can you tell the distinguished guests present—" she turned her wrist, revealing the eerie blue mark fully to the faint light streaming in diagonally from the main door, "why this 'Curse Mark' intensifies and pulsates when it is near that volume of the 'Tenet of Heavenly Mandate: Operational Manual' in your embrace?" Before her words could fall, she had taken another step towards the high seat where Xie Wuchen was seated! Almost simultaneously, the eerie blue mark on her wrist seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, suddenly brightening! The light was no longer a faint flicker, but a violent flashing and expansion, like a suppressed flame finally finding an outlet, even illuminating half of her face with a strange blue glow. The patterns of the mark twisted wildly, emitting a very subtle yet unsettling buzzing sound, as if resonating with something unseen. The volume of the 'Tenet of Heavenly Mandate: Operational Manual,' sealed with gold thread in Xie Wuchen's embrace, also emitted a low hum! The faint golden runes flowing on the surface of the book suddenly faltered, and then began to flicker erratically, seemingly in sync with the flashing frequency of the curse mark on Zhu Hanli's wrist! "What... what is happening?!" "Is that mark truly responding to the Tenet of Heavenly Mandate?!" "Demonic arts! It must be demonic arts!" Cries of surprise, doubts, and accusations erupted. The Frost Falcon Guards behind Xie Wuchen stepped forward, their hands on their hilts, their expressions grim. However, Xie Wuchen himself showed a noticeable hesitation for the first time. A fleeting, almost imperceptible crack, similar to a malfunction in a precision instrument, flashed in those eyes that were usually as calm as a still well. His breathing, the carefully controlled rhythm, experienced a brief disruption—though it was only for a moment, Yue Tingzhou caught it. Yue Tingzhou took a deep breath, the air passing through his burning throat, carrying the taste of iron and determination. He no longer looked at Xie Wuchen, but turned to the representatives of various factions who were looking at him with suspicion, his voice clear and loud, drowning out all the noise: He pointed to the brightly glowing mark on Zhu Hanli's wrist, each word like a hammer blow: "It's a mark from the 'Tenet of Heavenly Mandate' main volume, identifying the most 'valuable resources' it has selected! Those marked with this mark, regardless of gender or background, have had their meridians, cultivation potential, and even their fate and fortune analyzed and archived by the 'book,' and classified as resources to be 'harvested' as a priority!" He suddenly turned his head and stared intently at Xie Wuchen, his gaze like lightning: "Master Xie! Have you been maintaining this book for many years? Do you not know? Or do you know and are deliberately using the name of the Jianghu order to engage in the practice of hoarding resources?!" The crisp sound of a badge striking the stone floor echoed in the tense air. "This badge," Yue Tingzhou's voice cut through the noise, each word clear, "is a credential for an undercover agent of the Heng Law Division. The serial number is 'Hidden Scale B7,' recorded in the 'Abyssal Register' of the division, issued by Shen Lirui." He paused, his gaze sweeping across every doubtful face in the room. "Everything I have done has always been to uncover the truth about the 'Tenet of Heavenly Mandate,'" his voice lost the formal tone of an official document, replaced by a stark statement, "to prevent more people from becoming 'resources' to be screened and harvested." Xie Wuchen's fingers, hidden in the cuff of his sleeve, twitched slightly, then slowly smoothed out. He spoke, his voice still elegant and calm, but with a blade-like sharpness: "A clever 'sacrifice of a pawn to save the general.' Yue Tingzhou, since you claim to be an undercover agent, are you admitting that you infiltrated the vault, stole the seal, and colluded with the In the depths of the plaque, an extremely subtle, yet unsettling hum resonated, causing the ears of everyone present with a cultivation level above the Listening Realm to prick up. The sound was unlike that of metal or stone; it resembled the tremor of a living organ being touched. "Master Xie," Yue Tingzhou said, her voice carrying the characteristic slight rasp of the southern dialect, but now sounding like needles dipped in ice, "Is that volume of the 'General Principles of Operations' you hold a three-part transcription of the original 'Mirror Pivot' manuscript?" "This mark," Yue Tingzhou raised her wrist, allowing the faint blue light to slowly swirl before everyone's eyes, "is known as the 'Affliction Mark' in the martial world, said to be left by me after drawing in the energy of calamity. Half true, half false." She paused, her gaze like a knife, fixed on Xie Wuchen. "Indeed, it was born from 'calamity.' Seven years ago, when the Wan Jing鏢局 (Wan Jing鏢局 - Wan Jing鏢局, a鏢局, or escort agency) was transporting those 'Mirror Pivot' manuscripts to the Crane Ting Academy, my late father, Yue Cheng Ying, died suddenly at Lu Yanpo. His body showed no injuries, only a small burn mark on his forehead, and his meridians were completely withered, as if drained." Her voice was steady, so steady that it chilled the heart. "The falsehood is that it was not drawn in by me intentionally," Yue Tingzhou stated, each word deliberate, "but rather, in the moment of my father's death, the 'mother scroll imprint' sealed within the manuscript sensed the 'Nine Yin Cold Essence' aptitude within my body and broke free, invading my body and leaving this mark!" "Nonsense!" The elderly elder of the Qingcheng Sect slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups to jump and splash hot tea. "The 'Heavenly Mandate Book' is a public artifact of the martial world, used to maintain marital harmony. How could it use such a nefarious technique?!" "Nefarious technique?" Yue Tingzhou took over the conversation, her voice low but firm, silencing the commotion, "Then, may I ask, Elder, in the past ten years, how many cases have there been in the martial world where couples who entered into 'high-match' marital contracts have inexplicably died, lost their cultivation, or even caused entire small sects to vanish overnight? These are recorded in the records of the Heng律司 (Heng律司 - Heng律司, a law enforcement agency), and are also mentioned sporadically in the chronicles of various prefectures and counties. What are these?" Her gaze turned to Xie Wuchen, her tone suddenly becoming extremely polite, almost provocative: "Master Xie has been overseeing the 'Heavenly Mandate Book' for ten years. You must have statistics on these 'coincidences.' Perhaps you could open that volume of the 'General Principles of Operations' to the seventh page, 'Provisions for Resource Consumption and Replenishment,' and read it aloud to everyone?" It wasn't anger, but a cold assessment of a precision instrument encountering unexpected variables. The jade finger ring in her sleeve stopped spinning. "Yue Tingzhou, Yue Tingzhou," he spoke slowly, each word like it was pulled from an ice cellar, "You two are working together, fabricating these sensational lies, defaming the reputation of the 'Heavenly Mandate Book,' and undermining the foundation of the martial world. Your intentions are reprehensible." "Since you claim to have evidence, let the evidence speak for itself," Xie Wuchen said, turning his gaze to the Heng律司文书 (Heng律司文书 - Heng律司文书, a Heng律司 clerk) Ding Xueqiao, who had been trembling. "Clerk Ding, you just accused Yue Tingzhou of theft and treason. Now, in front of these senior figures, do you dare to use the 'Mirror of Truth' to reflect your soul, to prove that your words are true, that your soul is clear, and that you have not been subjected to any coercion or control?" Ding Xueqiao shuddered, his face as pale as paper, sweat beading on his forehead. His lips trembled, his eyes unfocused as he looked at Xie Wuchen, then with terror, he glanced at Yue Tingzhou, and finally at the many stern and inquisitive gazes in the hall. "I... I..." He made a clicking sound in his throat, his fingers twitching unconsciously, reaching for the collar of his clothes. "The Mirror of Truth?" A calm female voice came from a corner of the audience. Lu Jianwei slowly rose, dressed in simple blue robes, with a pale face. She held a palm-sized bronze mirror, its surface dull, with intricate patterns of medical