Chapter 82: ELDER SHEN’S DOOM (3)

Elder Shen stood in the center of the council hall with his hands clenched tightly at his sides, struggling to accept the situation he had found himself in.

He had always known Fu Hanzheng held considerable authority within the sect, but he never imagined the young elder he had repeatedly underestimated was actually the sect master. The discovery left him with a growing sense of dread as he remembered every time he had disrespected Fu Hanzheng.

Fu Hanzheng sat at the head of the hall while the other elders remained seated around him.

Nobody spoke as they waited for the trial to proceed; everyone understood that the matter before them involved more than a personal dispute between two elders.

H A forbidden Gu insect had been used against a disciple, and the person responsible had apparently been an elder of their own sect.

Fu Hanzheng looked directly at Elder Shen before speaking in a measured voice.

"The trial will begin now. The Gu recovered from Li Yan’s residence has been examined, and its aura leads directly to you. You cultivated it, controlled it, and sent it to his residence, so I want you to explain why you chose to use such a method against a disciple."

Elder Shen’s expression tightened as he struggled to maintain his composure under the attention of the entire council.

"I did not send the Gu, Sect Master. I have already told you that I had nothing to do with it."

Fu Hanzheng remained seated as he studied Elder Shen’s reaction. He had expected the denial, but hearing it still made his anger rise because he could not understand how an experienced elder could deliberately target someone so young with a method that could have easily killed him.

"You are aware of Li Yan’s cultivation level, yet you still allowed the Nightmare Gu to remain attached to him. If he had not come to me that night, the creature would have continued draining his vitality while tormenting his mind through those dreams. He would have grown weaker until his body could no longer withstand the damage, and eventually he would have died."

Elder Shen lowered his gaze slightly, although he quickly recovered and shook his head.

"I did not do anything to him."

Fu Hanzheng’s expression became colder as he heard the same denial again. His concern for Li Yan made the matter far more personal than an ordinary violation of sect rules, because he knew exactly how vulnerable his disciple had been when he arrived at the manor that night.

"How many other disciples have you targeted with Gu insects?"

Elder Shen immediately looked up. "I have never targeted anyone."

The answer caused several elders to exchange uneasy glances. The possibility that Elder Shen might have used Gu insects against other disciples had already become a serious concern, because nobody knew whether Li Yan was his only victim.

Fu Hanzheng turned toward the other elders and spoke with a grave expression.

"We will need to determine whether there are other Gu insects hidden within the sect. If Elder Shen has used them against anyone else, those victims may already be suffering without understanding what is happening to them."

Several elders nodded in agreement, while Elder Shen’s expression became more strained. The matter was expanding beyond the attack on Li Yan, and every additional question made it harder for him to protect himself.

Fu Hanzheng returned his attention to him.

"You still have an opportunity to tell the truth. If there are other victims, you should reveal that information before they are discovered through another investigation."

Elder Shen shook his head firmly.

"There are no other victims because I did not cultivate any Gu to harm anyone."

Fu Hanzheng slowly rose from his seat after hearing the response. The spiritual pressure surrounding him immediately spread through the hall, and Elder Shen felt his body tense beneath the oppressive force. Several elders remained completely still as they watched their sect master descend from the elevated platform.

Fu Hanzheng stopped a short distance from Elder Shen and looked at him with an expression that revealed how little patience remained.

"You continue to deny something that has already been traced to you. I have given you several opportunities to explain yourself, but you have chosen to repeat the same lie each time."

Elder Shen swallowed, trying to withstand the pressure.

"Sect Master, I have served this sect for many years. You cannot condemn me merely because a Gu carries an aura that resembles mine."

Fu Hanzheng’s eyes narrowed. "The aura does not resemble yours. It is yours, and the Gu itself is enough to establish the connection."

Elder Shen’s face became pale as he realized that the sect master had already reached his conclusion. His only hope had been to sow enough doubt about the evidence that the other elders would hesitate to support the accusation. Still, Fu Hanzheng clearly had no intention of letting him manipulate the situation.

"You violated the sect’s rules by using a forbidden art against another cultivator," Fu Hanzheng said. "You then used that art against a young disciple whose cultivation could not withstand its effects. Even if you were angry with him, there was no justification for what you did."

Elder Shen remained silent as the weight of the accusation settled over him.

Fu Hanzheng’s anger deepened when he remembered Li Yan arriving at his residence in the middle of the night. His disciple had been exhausted, frightened, and desperate for relief after suffering through repeated nightmares. The thought that Elder Shen had deliberately caused that suffering made Fu Hanzheng’s patience disappear.

"If Li Yan had not come to me for help, he might already be dead. You were willing to gamble with his life simply because you were dissatisfied with him. I will not tolerate that."

Elder Shen’s expression shifted, but he still refused to confess. "I did not send the Gu. I swear, you are a sect master you should not jump to conclusions."

Fu Hanzheng looked at him for several seconds before speaking again.

"Your punishment will be severe, Shen Hebai."

The elders in the hall remained solemn. They understood that using Gu insects was not treated as an ordinary offense within the sect. Such cultivation belonged to the dark arts, and allowing an elder to use it against other cultivators would undermine the rules protecting everyone in the sect.

Elder Shen finally raised his voice. "Sect Master, I have already told you that I did not do it. You cannot sentence me for a crime I did not commit."

Fu Hanzheng’s expression remained unchanged. "I am not asking whether you deserve punishment. I am telling you that your crime has already been established."

Elder Shen’s breathing became heavier as fear began to overcome his earlier defiance. He had hoped that his position as an elder would give him some protection, but the person standing before him possessed authority far beyond his own.

Fu Hanzheng stepped closer as the spiritual pressure around him became even more oppressive.

"You will die for this crime if the evidence remains as it is. That outcome is unavoidable, but you still have a choice regarding what happens before your death."

Elder Shen stared at him, fear growing in his eyes.

"If you tell the truth, the sect will determine the appropriate punishment according to everything you have done. If you continue denying that you harmed my disciple, I will personally decide how you die."

Elder Shen’s hands began trembling despite his efforts to control them. He had expected severe punishment when the Gu was discovered, but he had not expected Fu Hanzheng to become personally involved to this extent.

Fu Hanzheng’s voice became colder as he continued.

"You seem to believe that death will allow you to escape the consequences of your actions. I can make certain that it does not."

Elder Shen’s expression changed as he listened.

"If you continue lying, I will destroy your soul before your body dies. I will tear apart everything that makes you who you are until nothing remains for reincarnation to receive."

The color drained from Elder Shen’s face.

"You will not be given another life after that. There will be no soul left to reincarnate, no memories to carry forward, and nothing that can be called you. If anything somehow survives after I am finished, you can consider yourself fortunate if the heavens allow you to return as a worm."

The entire council hall remained silent as Elder Shen stood frozen beneath Fu Hanzheng’s gaze. Nobody doubted that the sect master was capable of carrying out the threat, and nobody was willing to speak on Elder Shen’s behalf.

Fu Hanzheng gave him one final opportunity to answer honestly.

"Now tell me the truth. Did you send the Nightmare Gu to Li Yan, and have you used Gu insects against anyone else?"