Post-Mythical Era: I don't want to die in the third reincarnation-Chapter 450 - 443: The Scoundrel’s Pass

Bu Yingyin watched Ding Huan with infatuated eyes, her cheeks flushed, her body tense without her control.

She liked this kind of man, and only such a man was worthy of sharing a bed with her, Bu Yingyin.

Her attitude of superiority had always been so ingrained that she was completely oblivious to her current predicament.

She hadn't considered what the outcome would be if Ding Huan took over her case.

Bu Yue, however, did not share Bu Yingyin's relaxed mindset; his expression was grim.

Clearly, this Ding Huan was not an easy person to deal with.

Fortunately, Ding Huan had just joined the case, while Ying Fang had already recorded the Dao Rhythm Law Crystal Ball. Even if Ding Huan could strike a blow to Ying Fang's pride, Lu Chongdao's guilt wouldn't be absolved.

He glanced at Emperor Ping Wei. If not for Emperor Ping Wei's protection of Ding Huan, once they left the Immortal Court Palace, he would find a way to kill Ding Huan or capture him and bring him to the Immortal Prime Minister's Mansion.

Now, he only hoped that Ding Huan wouldn't take Xiu Lun's case.

At this moment, the Powerful Warrior had pressed Ying Fang onto the Court Punishment Stone, his Immortal Essence sealed.

The flogging in court was graded; greater criminals would be flogged bare-skinned, an act of inflicted humiliation, as well as pain.

Ying Fang wasn't considered a major criminal, so sealing his Immortal Essence was sufficient, no need to remove his clothes.

Whack, whack!

Each strike of the plank was brutal, leaving the flesh mangled.

After a hundred strikes, Ying Fang's seal on his Immortal Essence was lifted.

For a Luo Tian Immortal like Ying Fang, the flogging was more of an insult than anything.

After standing up once again, Ying Fang was enveloped in a murderous aura. He swore that if he did not kill this insignificant Ding Huan today, he would have lived in vain as the Flag Leader at the Immortal Law Department for so many years.

"Law Officer Ding, may I now announce the Nine Court Immortal Law charges that I have set against Lu Chongdao?" Ying Fang asked slowly.

Everyone could feel the formidable intent to kill emanating from Ying Fang.

He stated each of the charges against Lu Chongdao clearly, all derived from the Nine Court Immortal Law, both rational and well-founded.

Everyone here had already heard them, except for Ding Huan.

Since Ding Huan was Lu Chongdao's Law Officer, Ying Fang had to repeat them for Ding Huan.

"Please do," said Ding Huan with a smile, completely unconcerned with what Ying Fang might say.

Through his studies of the Great Universe Technique and the Nine Court Immortal Law, Ding Huan had come to a conclusion.

It was not a law at all, but rather a despicable tactic.

The reason it was termed despicable was that Ding Huan had once heard a saying: Despicableness is the pass of the despicable.

Perhaps the despicableness referred to here might simply be a matter of character. But for Ding Huan at that moment, it embodied the Nine Court Immortal Law.

Within this law, there was no issue that couldn't be argued from two opposing perspectives. It all depended on one's interpretation and how the law was applied.

Ying Fang took a deep breath, "For Lu Chongdao's insults to the Immortal Prime Minister,

according to the Nine Court Immortal Law, Section 736, those who offend their superiors and directly insult the eighteen Immortal Officials shall have eleven meridians destroyed and be imprisoned for nineteen thousand years.

As the head of the eighteen offices, the Immortal Prime Minister would see this punishment doubled, resulting in twenty-two meridians destroyed and imprisonment for thirty-eight thousand years.

Due to Lu Chongdao's insults at the time, the Immortal Prime Minister's blood and energy were disrupted, his Daoist Skill affected, and he found progress difficult for several years. According to Section 70021 of the Nine Court Immortal Law, the penalty is increased by thirty thousand years of imprisonment and the tearing apart of the Purple Mansion..."

Having finished, Ying Fang activated the Dao Rhythm Crystal Ball.

The imagery inside the crystal ball was clear, showing only the scenes of Lu Chongdao insulting Immortal Prime Minister Bu Yue and the latter's ashen face, even spitting blood.

Ding Huan glanced towards Bu Yue and scoffed inwardly.

With the limited extent of Lu Chongdao's verbal assault, he could hardly believe that such a wily old fox as Bu Yue could be provoked into spitting blood. It was laughable.

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Still, Bu Yue clearly possessed cunning and guile. His expression of fluctuations in Dao Rhythm and anger displayed on the crystal ball indeed appeared genuine.

No wonder Helian Audong had lost confidence; the presence of such a Dao Rhythm Law Crystal Ball left almost no room for dispute.

Nevertheless, Ding Huan really hadn't taken this to heart. His attention was on someone standing behind Bu Yue.

This individual was the same person who had drained the life from the Immortal Spirit Rice in the Immortal Agriculture Department, now revealed to be a man of Bu Yue's. Clearly, the destruction of the Immortal Agriculture Department's Immortal Spirit Rice was all part of Bu Yue's scheme.

Subsequently, Ding Huan's gaze shifted to a man farther away, with an honest-looking face.

If one were to judge based on appearance alone, this man was far more simple and honest-looking than Lu Chongdao, who seemed a malevolent ghost by comparison.

Ding Huan was sure that no one within the Immortal Court Palace could imagine this seemingly kind-hearted, overly cautious guy was the one behind the destruction of the Qianyuan Immortal Manor.

What did a change of appearance matter? Ding Huan could discern the fluctuations of Great Dao Rhythm from the man immediately.

If it had been before, with Ding Huan not responding directly and looking all around, Ying Fang would have taken the opportunity to strike and use the Nine Court Immortal Law against Ding Huan.

But now Ying Fang knew that petty skirmishes would not take down Ding Huan. He must win this case first, then slowly craft Ding Huan's downfall.

So even as Ding Huan surveyed the scene, Ying Fang remained calm and patient.

He did not take advantage of the situation to cause trouble and his expression did not change, but in his heart, he was pondering how to use the Nine Court Immortal Law to beat Ding Huan into a state of irrecoverable defeat.

The rest were all focused on Ding Huan, many estimating that Ding Huan would not be able to refute the charges. If he could have refuted them, would not have Mu Jiuting been left speechless before? At the very least, he would have had something to say.

Just like when Ding Huan took out the Law Crystal Ball earlier, Ying Fang immediately caved.

Now, Ying Fang had produced the Dao Rhythm Law Crystal Ball used to convict Lu Chongdao, leaving Ding Huan speechless.

The most formidable evidence in the Nine Court Immortal Law was the Dao Rhythm Law Crystal Ball.

To refute such evidence, one needed an even more powerful Law Crystal Ball, or they had to bring out a combination of numerous unrelated laws from the Nine Court Immortal Law.

Mere combination wouldn't suffice; one had to explain the status the person in question would find themselves in after the combination of these laws and provide the corresponding Law Crystal Ball.

What he had not anticipated was that Ding Huan ignored him and instead looked toward Lu Chongdao:

"Lu Chongdao, why did you take over the cases of Xiu Xu and Bu Yingyin?"

Regret flashed in Lu Chongdao's eyes:

"As a scattered official of the Immortal Court, I felt I had made no significant contributions to the court. When I received the Great Emperor's decree, I was ready to put forth some effort for the Immortal Court."

Ding Huan bowed to the emperor, "Great Emperor Wankang, Lu Chongdao said he received the Great Emperor's decree. Could it be possible that he is fabricating a story to evade punishment?"

Everyone exchanged glances. Even Jimi was about to prompt Ding Huan, reminding him that he was there to aid Lu Chongdao, that he himself was Lu Chongdao's Law Officer. What did he mean by these words? Was he thinking of betraying them?

Invoking the Great Emperor's decree falsely would constitute crimes far greater than insubordination and corruption.

Bu Yue thought it impossible for Ding Huan to be so trivial. After all, he had just given Ying Fang a hundred strokes upon arrival.

Before Emperor Wushang could speak, Bu Yue slowly stated:

"Since the Great Emperor was in seclusion, I was the one who issued the Immortal Decree appointing Lu Chongdao as the Chief Judge for this case. There's no absence of witnesses to this decree."

Emperor Wushang also said, "Indeed, while I was in seclusion, the Immortal Prime Minister had the authority to issue the decree appointing the Chief Judge in my stead."

"So that's how it is."

After remarking with a touch of emotion, Ding Huan finally turned towards Ying Fang:

"Before I point out your mistakes, Ying Fang Law Officer, I would like to ask you a few questions."

Ying Fang was about to refuse to teach, but then suddenly remembered a rule within the Nine Court Immortal Law: before two Law Officers debate a case, if one poses questions related to the case, the other must answer, or it would be a breach of law.

Ying Fang thought to himself that he truly couldn't let his guard down; this fellow was trying to trip him up at every turn.

No one thought to record a Dao Rhythm Law Crystal Ball when he first spoke, yet that's exactly what this fellow did. He had to be careful with his responses.

"Law Officer Ding may ask," Ying Fang said indifferently.

"Ying Fang Law Officer, when you lay down the law and convict, do you not consult the Nine Court Immortal Law and the Emperor's Law?" Ding Huan said coldly.

Ying Fang scoffed: "The Nine Court Immortal Emperor's Law is the preface to the Nine Court Immortal Law; it must be consulted. How do you know I don't consult the Emperor's Law? The Emperor's Law is for my Immortal Court Great Emperor alone.

My Immortal Court Great Emperor has everything in his heart. How could he violate the law? Moreover, the cases we are dealing with concern the people below; what does it have to do with the Emperor's Law?"

His tone was harsh, yet careful in his response; he would not give Ding Huan any opportunity to catch him in a fault.

"Then may I ask Ying Fang Law Officer, what is the first article of the Emperor's Law?" Ding Huan didn't give Ying Fang a moment to breathe.

"The first article of the Emperor's Law is that the Great Emperor represents the Immortal Court, supreme above all, wielding the power of life and death," Ying Fang answered promptly.

To catch him off guard with the first article of the Nine Court Immortal Law? Hmph, did Ding Huan think wrong? Was he trying to 'hide in plain sight'?

The first article of the Emperor's Law was as clear as day, visible for all but the blind to see.

"What is an Imperial Decree?"

"It is naturally the will of the Great Emperor, as if the Great Emperor were present in person."

"Very well, it seems you've done your homework these past few days."

After commending Ying Fang, Ding Huan turned to the visibly anxious Lu Chongdao and bowed:

"Lu Chongdao, the admiration I have for you is truly beyond words... You had the power to execute the Immortal Prime Minister, but you merely scolded him.

Such broad-minded officers are rare in the Immortal Court. Regrettably, someone has thrown you into the dungeon."

"Ding Law Officer, what nonsensical accusations are you making?" Ying Fang erupted in anger. Could it be he was unable to outargue him and was resorting to senseless tactics now?

With so many Immortal Officials and the Great Emperor present, stirring up trouble would be tantamount to seeking death.

Ding Huan's expression grew cold as he stared at Ying Fang and said, "When Lu Chongdao took over the cases of Xiu Lun and Bu Yingyin, he received an Immortal Decree from the Immortal Court.

At that moment, Lu Chongdao was not representing Qianyuan Immortal Manor, nor just a scattered official. He represented the dignity of the Immortal Court, the will of the Great Emperor.

The sixth article of the Immortal Law's Emperor's Law: the intention of the Immortal Decree is as if the Great Emperor were personally present. Ying Fang Law Officer, you just repeated that a moment ago; you couldn't have forgotten, could you?"

Cold sweat broke out on Ying Fang's back. Could it really work this way?

Ding Huan had no intention of letting him off:

"When Master Lu went to the Immortal Prime Minister's Mansion, he represented not merely Lu Chongdao the person, but the will of the Great Emperor and the authority and dignity of the Immortal Court.

At that moment, facing the Imperial Decree acting on the Great Emperor's behest, the Immortal Prime Minister was but a courtier of the Immortal Court. As for Master Lu's identity at that time, executing a courtier would have been permissible, let alone merely scolding him.

Yet, a child of the Immortal Court could not endure a few harsh words from the Chief Judge representing the dignity of the Immortal Court and the will of the Great Emperor, and in retaliation, joined forces with the Flag Leader of the Immortal Law Department to trample the authority of the Immortal Court underfoot and imprison that dignity in the dungeon.

This coincided with the Great Emperor's seclusion, such a coincidence breeds suspicion, and upon closer thought, it is terrifying to ponder...could it be...

Ding Huan paused, then as if realizing something, he pointed at Ying Fang's nose, "Ying Fang, Bu Yue! Are you two planning a rebellion? Otherwise, how could you have the audacity to trample upon the Imperial Decree?

According to the third article of the general laws of the Nine Court Immortal Law, what is the punishment for conspiring to rebel? Speak, Ying Fang Law Officer!"

Ding Huan's voice grew louder, his finger nearly touching Ying Fang's nose, sending chills down the spine of everyone in the Immortal Court Palace.

How ruthless; this was beyond merely being ruthless, this was annihilation to the core.