The First-Level Judgment Hall is rarely opened in the Divine Academy; it hasn't been opened for decades.
Because the First-Level Judgment Hall only opens during important trials, and when it opens, the head of the Discipline Institute and the other two chief judges must all be present.
Moreover, the First-Level Judgment Hall is not only for the Divine Academy; people from other academies of Lingxiao Academy can also attend as observers, to ensure fairness.
Luo Bing, Luo Ning, Mu Qingyun, and the others arrived with Long Chen at the First-Level Judgment Hall, and immediately felt a chilling aura swept over them.
From the outside, the hall looked only a few hundred zhang in diameter, but upon entering, the space was vast. As soon as they entered the gate, they saw two sacred statues.
The statues stood a thousand zhang tall, depicting two elders with dignified faces—one holding a book, the other an iron ruler. The iron ruler was marked with markings, radiating a sharp aura that sent chills down one's spine.
On the iron ruler and books, countless runes were carved. Each rune was like a mirror, reflecting the evil within a person's heart. Upon entering the grand hall, the disciples of the Xiaoyao Alliance immediately felt struggling to breathe and their faces turned pale.
Luo Bing, Luo Ning, and Mu Qingyun were a bit better, though they felt a bit oppressed. Zhong Ling and Zhong Xiu seemed to have no feelings at all.
Long Chen looked at Li Cai and the others, sweating profusely, and couldn't help but curse, "Look at you all—clearly you've done plenty of shady things." Those
two statues possess the power to interrogate one's true heart. Even before the statues' runes were activated, they were already terrifying. If they were, no one would be able to lie in front of the statues.
"Third Master, have you never done anything bad?" Li Cai looked at Long Chen's relaxed expression and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"I've done plenty of bad things." Long Chen said calmly.
"Third Master, how do you resist the statue's power? Can you teach us? Otherwise, I'm afraid ...," Li Cai and the others felt uneasy. The statue resembled a celestial judge. If the interrogation began, he feared that all the misdeeds he had done as a child would be exposed.
"I've told you before, if you do something foolish, just do it. Just don't do anything unethical."
Doing bad things doesn't matter, as long as you don't do it to good people. So, I've done countless bad things, but I still feel at ease with my conscience. Long Chen said as he walked.
"Good grief!"
Suddenly, Long Chen exclaimed in his heart. When he reached the center of the hall, the space suddenly changed, and tens of thousands of seats appeared around him, each seat packed with people.
The entire venue looked packed with people, and everyone who could come here was distinguished and prominent figures in the academy; otherwise, they wouldn't have the right to audit.
But with tens of thousands present, there was not a single sound in the venue—only the footsteps of Long Chen and the others entering the hall.
When had Li Cai and the others ever witnessed such a grand scene? Those seated in those seats were all important figures. Some disciples had been in the academy for many years without ever getting to see one of them, but today, so many people had come, all their eyes fixed on them.
Li Cai felt like his legs weren't his, and he had even forgotten how to walk, his legs trembling.
"Smack!"
Long Chen slapped Li Cai on the back of the head and cursed in frustration:
"Are you having a seizure or something?" Why are you shivering? If the sky falls, I'll hold it up—why are you all so nervous? From now on, when you go out and hang out, don't say I taught you—I can't afford to lose face in that person. Long
Chen's curse didn't matter. After finishing, he realized the hall had a special barrier that amplified his voice. Long Chen's low curse suddenly echoed throughout the room, and everyone heard it.
The experts present were stunned by Long Chen's words. In such a serious setting, Long Chen still acted recklessly. As the rumors said, he really was a lawless man.
However, Long Chen's action made many people see him in a new light. On the judgment bench, the statue itself had the ability to interrogate the true heart, and with so many powerful figures watching them, Long Chen's ease was far beyond what ordinary people could do.
A large number of seats appeared in front of Long Chen. Only then did Li Cai and the others breathe a sigh of relief. They could actually sit down, feeling as if they'd found a savior.
As the protagonist, Long Chen kept walking forward, reaching the end of the seat, where he saw three very prominent spots.
Long Chen found the middle seat the largest and most imposing, and plopped down on it. But once he sat down, the previously silent venue was filled with boos.
"Long Chen... That's not our place. Luo
Bing anxiously waved to Long Chen. She had waved to Long Chen before, but Long Chen hadn't noticed her. When Long Chen sat down, Luo Ning finally couldn't help but call out.
"Hmm?"
Long Chen was stunned. Before he could stand up, three beams of light suddenly descended from the void, and on the chairs on either side of Long Chen, an elderly man in white appeared.
In front of Long Chen appeared the head of the Discipline Institute, already dressed in a white robe. As soon as he appeared, he was stunned for a moment by Long Chen, a strange expression appearing on his face.
"Oh, sorry."
Only then did Long Chen realize he might have sat in the wrong seat, hurriedly stepped aside, and ran over to sit beside Luo Bing.
"You're really stupid. Are you trying to compete with the head of the Discipline Institute for a seat?" Luo Ning said speechlessly. This guy was too unreliable. If he offended the head of the Discipline Institute, he'd be completely finished.
"Can you blame me?" They didn't even make it clear? Long Chen muttered, thinking that as the plaintiff, his position must be different.
"Are you a pig?" The front is so high and wide, is your butt really that big? Just thinking about it with your heel, you know—that can't be our position, right? "Seeing Long Chen still arguing, Luo Ning said angrily.
"You mean that whoever has the bigger seat in the academy will just let it go. By your logic, the dean's main door should be wider than others', otherwise wouldn't even the door be in..." Long Chen scoffed.
Before Long Chen could finish, Luo Ning covered his mouth with one hand. Luo Ning was a gentle and quiet woman, but at this moment, she felt the urge to sew Long Chen's mouth shut.
While Long Chen and Luo Ning were bickering, they suddenly forgot that this was the Judgment Hall. Their words weren't loud, but their voices were clear enough for everyone.
And yet Long Chen even dragged the dean into this. This was a blatant disrespect to the dean. How could someone say such a rebellious thing?
The experts in the audience were stunned by Long Chen's words. Kid, you've got guts—how dare you even bring up the dean and talk nonsense?
Even the head of the Discipline Institute looked strange, intentionally or unintentionally glancing at an inconspicuous seat in the gallery. After a brief glance, his expression suddenly turned serious as he shouted sternly,
"Judgment Hall, if you dare to speak nonsense again, you will be expelled from the academy."
After hearing the head of the Discipline Institute, Long Chen immediately felt relieved and secretly grateful. The head of the Discipline Institute quietly let the matter go.
"Wait, Long Chen insulted the dean, damaging the reputation of Lingxiao Academy and causing a very bad impact. According to the academy's rules, fifty fire whips are required. Sir, are you showing favoritism toward him?" Suddenly, next to the head of the Discipline Institute, a face appearedThe old man with the scar stood up and said coldly.
Long Chen narrowed his eyes. He understood now. This old man was probably from the Chu family, and he also understood why the head of the Discipline Institute was making such a big scene. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Long Chen's face, as if something interesting was about to happen.