Grand Sky Hall, where everyone above the rank of Elder in the entire Grand Sky Sect had gathered.
At the very center of the Grand Sky Hall stood Chu Xinghe and Ma Liang.
It was Ma Liang's first time witnessing such a grand scene, and he was even more nervous than when facing Ling Su, trembling with fear.
Although Chu Xinghe had seen such scenes before, he was more excited than during the New Year, his whole body shaking with excitement!
The Great Sage stood to the side, wanting to speak but was stopped by his friend, Elder He.
No one knew what Elder He whispered into the Great Sage's ear, but after a smile, the Great Sage remained silent.
Sect Master Gu Mingchao sat high on the throne, while the Great Elder stood in the hall, glaring at the two of them...
"Ma Liang!" The Sect Master's voice was so authoritative that it startled Ma Liang, nearly making him fall to the ground.
"Disciple is here..."
"I have learned the ins and outs of the Great Moon Nation incident. You avenged your sister, which is not wrong, but leaving the sect without permission and disregarding the rules, do you realize your crime?"Ma Liang lowered his head, admitting his mistake.
"Using the Feng City Formation without authorization... and the Grand Sky Token, do you know how serious these crimes are?"
As Gu Mingchao's words fell, Chu Xinghe quickly spoke up: "Sect Master, please see clearly, this time it was I who privately granted Ma Liang the Grand Sky Token and the Feng City Order. Ma Liang was completely unaware!"
Goodness... As soon as Chu Xinghe spoke, the scene turned chaotic, but all the elders knew that it would be strange if Xinghe didn't speak up now.
Using the Feng City Formation and the Grand Sky Token without authorization were both capital offenses in the Grand Sky Sect.
Although Chu Xinghe had also used the Grand Sky Token without permission before, the nature of the two incidents was different. The impact Ma Liang caused this time was too great. If he wasn't punished, where would the sect's authority be? What would be the meaning of the rules?
If these two charges were really pinned on Ma Liang, it wouldn't be as simple as being demoted to the outer sect; Ma Liang couldn't bear such a charge.
"Silence! Do you think you can escape? Since you confessed, Ma Liang will be punished as before, demoted to the outer sect, never to be promoted to the inner sect!"
Gu Mingchao glared fiercely at Chu Xinghe but quickly took the opportunity to ease the situation.
The charges of using the Grand Sky Token and Feng City Formation without permission were enough to take Ma Liang's life. The sect never intended to actually kill Ma Liang. Gu Mingchao's initial words were calculated, knowing Xinghe would never stand by.
Now that Xinghe confessed, Ma Liang's charges naturally became lighter.
The punishment of being demoted to the outer sect and never being promoted to the inner sect was enough for Ma Liang.
Hearing his punishment, Ma Liang wasn't worried at all... Joking, I, Ma Liang, am Senior Brother Xinghe's number one confidant.
Isn't the identity of an outer sect disciple and an inner sect disciple just a title?
Do I, Ma Liang, care about these titles?
As long as the sect doesn't take away the Feng City Formation from me, I, Ma Liang, am still Ma Liang... I, Ma Liang, am the man destined to become the Grand Elder of the Grand Sky Sect.
Becoming the Grand Elder of the Grand Sky Sect as an outer sect disciple, isn't that even more inspiring?
After dealing with Ma Liang, everyone's eyes turned to Chu Xinghe.
"Chu Xinghe!"
"Disciple is here..."
"Using the Grand Sky Token without authorization, using the Feng City Formation without authorization, do you know what crimes these are? Great Elder, tell him what punishment these two charges entail!"
Gu Mingchao gestured to the Great Elder beside him, who immediately stepped out from the crowd.
"Using the Grand Sky Token without authorization is a capital offense. Acting recklessly with the sect's treasure without permission is also a capital offense! Chu Xinghe, with both crimes combined, according to the rules, should be executed!"
As the Great Elder's words fell, the scene was in an uproar, but at this moment, Elder He parted the crowd and walked to the center of the Grand Sky Hall.
"Great Elder, your words are incorrect. Old He has something to say!"
"Sect Master, Great Elder... According to the rules, these two charges should indeed be handled this way, but first, the Feng City Formation is not the sect's treasure. The Feng City Formation was obtained by Xinghe, and it should belong to Xinghe. How can it be said that he acted recklessly with the sect's treasure?"
As soon as Elder He spoke, all the elders chimed in.
"Elder He is right... Hasn't the Feng City Formation always belonged to Xinghe?"
"Exactly, Xinghe only entrusted the Feng City Formation to Ma Liang for management. When was it ever said to be handed over to the sect?"
"That's right, Xinghe only used his own treasure. It doesn't count as using the sect's treasure. Besides, even if there was recklessness, it was Ma Liang's recklessness... One crime cannot be punished twice, Elder He makes a good point!"
Elder He, seeing the support from the other elders, first cupped his fists in gratitude, then continued: "Sect Master, Great Elder... As for the unauthorized use of the Grand Sky Token, Old He has something to say!"
"This time, the Grand Sky Token used by Xinghe was bestowed by the Sect Master, so it wasn't unauthorized..."
As soon as Elder He spoke, many elders nodded in agreement.
"Elder He's words are correct, Sect Master, you personally gave the Grand Sky Token to Xinghe... so it doesn't count as unauthorized use!"
"Exactly... Even if Xinghe used the Grand Sky Token this time without reporting to the sect, at most it counts as abuse, not unauthorized use!"
"That's right... just abuse... only abuse... how is it unauthorized?"
"Moreover, Sect Master, when you gave the Grand Sky Token to Xinghe, you didn't say it couldn't be used this way..."
"Elder Yu is wise! The Sect Master indeed didn't say Xinghe couldn't give the Grand Sky Token to Ma Liang and let Ma Liang leave the sect, so at most it counts as abuse of the Grand Sky Token!"
The elders were speaking one after another, making the Great Elder anxious.
Well... it was true that today's gathering was for a show, but at least make it look convincing, okay?
We agreed to give Xinghe a good scare, right? I just said he should be executed, and then according to the plan, Elder He was supposed to plead, Elder Yu, what's your situation?
In our plan, Elder Yu, you were supposed to play the bad guy...
You should have jumped out to refute Elder He and demanded Xinghe's execution!
Then, after persuasion from the other elders, it would end. Didn't we go over this script yesterday?
Elder Yu, are you not following the script? What are you trying to do?
But no matter how the script was arranged, abuse and unauthorized use are completely different matters.
Abuse of the Grand Sky Token at most results in expulsion from the sect, unauthorized use is a capital offense. For example, last time when Chu Xinghe used the Grand Sky Token to buy Shenling Grass, it was considered abuse, as it didn't cause much impact.
But this time, giving it to Ma Liang to use and taking the Feng City Order out, that counts as unauthorized use.
But a group of elders completely ignored the script, and now the play couldn't continue...
However, the Great Elder knew... Xinghe was extremely virtuous in the sect, and who among the palaces hadn't benefited from Xinghe's kindness, who hadn't received Xinghe's help?
Although Xinghe was his personal disciple, look at the elders of each palace, who didn't treat Xinghe like their own child?
So, even though the script was well written, the elders couldn't bear to play the bad guy...
Besides... why scare Xinghe... Xinghe is such an understanding child...
Though the Great Elder was annoyed that these old folks weren't following the script, he felt it was necessary to give Xinghe a scare; it was so dangerous when he went out!
If you had taken me with you, could I not have slapped Tian Qingquan to death, or was I unable to beat Ling Su?
Looking at Chu Xinghe beside him, the Great Elder spoke again.
"Elder He, how should the abuse of the Grand Sky Token be punished?"
Hearing the Great Elder's words, Elder He was also frustrated... Well... Great Elder, isn't the script wrong...
According to the script, today I'm supposed to clear Xinghe's name, and Elder Yu is supposed to be the one against Xinghe... You suddenly ask me how to punish, it's too difficult for me!
But at this moment, Elder He couldn't play dumb, so he spoke: "Reporting to the Great Elder, abuse of the Grand Sky Token should result in expulsion from the sect!"
Hearing the words "expulsion from the sect," Chu Xinghe almost jumped up in excitement.
Whoa! Is this going straight to the point?
But Chu Xinghe's excitement lasted less than a second before Elder He spoke again: "Although according to the sect rules, it should result in expulsion, if there is significant contribution to the sect, the previous sect rewards can be revoked, and the punishment can be lightened."
After saying this, Elder He winked at Chu Xinghe.
But that wink almost made Chu Xinghe furious...
Well... Elder He, you're not helping me, you're setting me up...
First expel me from the sect, then we can talk about taking me back, how about that?
Do you know how attractive expulsion from the sect is to me? Chu Xinghe was so anxious he wanted to jump out and say if you expel me from the sect, I'll show you what it means to soar to Martial Emperor in a second.
But he couldn't say that, the Compass of Misfortune had no good temper, if he dared to say it, the Compass of Misfortune might take off on the spot, and if a meteorite fell and blew up the Grand Sky Sect the next second, Chu Xinghe would believe it.
So Chu Xinghe could only remain silent.
"Elder He is right, if someone has made significant contributions to the sect, revoking previous sect rewards can result in a lighter punishment."
"Xinghe has made great contributions to the sect, so the punishment should be lightened!"
"Indeed, indeed, it should be lightened..."
The elders were speaking one after another, but as they spoke, they realized a problem.
It seems that Xinghe has made so many contributions to the sect... yet the sect hasn't rewarded Xinghe with anything?
For a moment, even Elder He, who just mentioned revoking rewards, felt somewhat awkward.
Seeing the awkward Elder He, Chu Xinghe looked at them with teary eyes... you noticed this problem too?
But the awkwardness of everyone lasted less than a second before it dissipated.
Is Xinghe the kind of person who cares about rewards?
Xinghe is selfless for the sect, such a good child cannot be treated with vulgar rewards.
Besides... Xinghe will lead the Grand Sky Sect in the future, the entire sect will be Xinghe's, what reward is needed?
Listening to the speeches of many elders below, Gu Mingchao finally spoke: "Significant contributions to the sect, revoking rewards for lighter punishment? I don't remember such a rule."
Hearing this, Chu Xinghe trembled with excitement!
Yes! I, Chu Xinghe, have studied the sect rules thoroughly, trying to make mistakes every day, and I remember there is no such rule... so today you must expel me from the sect.
But before Chu Xinghe could be happy for another second, Elder He spoke.
"Sect Master, you have forgotten, I proposed this rule yesterday... it just hasn't been voted on by the sect yet, but since all the elders are here today, we can vote on it now... I support this rule!"
"I support it too!"
"I, old man, support it!"
Soon, all the elders present voted, and the rule was passed on the spot...
Chu Xinghe watched as the Sect Master and the Great Elder raised their hands in agreement, tears of anger streaming down...
Well... is today really my trial assembly? Not my acquittal assembly?
You changed the rules on the spot, isn't that too outrageous?