Chapter Three: Anyone Can Testify for Me

Lightning split the sky, illuminating the man's face.

"It's Chu Tiange!" The patrolling disciples shouted, their tension spreading through the night.

Chu Tiange stood beside the dying man on the ground, gazing at the figure lying there, a nameless sorrow rising in his heart.

"This is... Ning Wujue! Senior Brother Ning!" The disciples' cries echoed through the darkness.

The bloodshed at the scene was intolerable. Ning Wujue, once in the limelight and about to become the cover figure for the Azure Profound Monthly, had ended up in such misery here, destined for newspaper headlines and shocking all factions.

No one could have imagined Ning Wujue would lie in such a wretched state, doomed to a future without descendants.

"Hurry, give Senior Brother Ning a pill!" Someone hastily produced medicine.

"Seize Chu Tiange!" Others began to approach him.

"I will report to the elders!" One turned and rushed off.

Never in the history of the Ascendant Immortal Sect had a disciple suffered such grave injury at another's hand. The impact of this event exceeded all expectations; severe punishment was inevitable!

The next dawn would bring an unprecedented storm to the Ascendant Immortal Sect.

____The following day

The Hall of Punishment was heavily guarded.

But today, crowds gathered outside its gates.

For word had spread: the once-prominent Ning Wujue had been beaten until he was doomed to childlessness!

"Impossible. Chu Tiange, that useless wretch, couldn't even touch Senior Brother Ning's hair, let alone harm him!"

"This must be a rumor."

"Sigh, I heard Ning Wujue suffered terribly—his roots are gone. Now he can cultivate the sect's 'Jade Man Heart Sutra.' Maybe he did it to advance his cultivation."

Most refused to believe, considering it absurd. Chu Tiange, sixteen when he entered the Ascendant Immortal Sect as Zhao Yiren's relative, had remained at the Mortal Bone stage for eight years. Even Zhao Yiren's master had predicted his inability to gather spiritual energy.

They looked up at the Hall of Punishment, eager for truth.

Inside, the hall was brilliantly lit.

On the high dais sat two elders, one in black, one in white.

To either side stood two core disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall. One held a long whip; the other wielded a black wooden staff, exuding a chilling aura.

"Chu Tiange, you have harmed your fellow disciple, deliberately attempted murder, your crimes are grave. By sect rules, you shall suffer the agony of a thousand souls devouring your heart, and your cultivation shall be abolished!" The black-robed elder declared sternly.

The white-robed elder glared at Chu Tiange, waving his hand. Instantly, the Law Enforcement disciple beside him raised the wooden staff and struck hard!

Smack!

Chu Tiange endured the blow, but instead of anger, he laughed. "Elders, when have I ever harmed my fellow disciples? Even as elders, you cannot falsely accuse. Last night, I saw Senior Brother Ning running naked in the rain. Curious, I approached to investigate."

Chu Tiange frowned, recalling the events of the previous night, describing Ning's bizarre actions in detail.

"Unexpectedly, he ran all the way to the 'House of Beauties,' knocking on doors one by one. Luckily, no one answered." Chu Tiange continued, furrowing his brow.

The female disciples looked horrified, exchanging expressions of disgust toward Ning Wujue.

"So that's why! I heard knocking last night; I thought it was the wind! It terrified me," a female disciple said, patting her chest in relief.

"I heard it too—loud and urgent. Who would have thought Senior Brother Ning would act like this, a true beast!"

"For such a beast, it's better he's ruined. Otherwise, who knows how many sisters would suffer."

Their loathing for Ning Wujue was absolute.

"What happened next?" someone pressed, eager for more.

"To stop Senior Brother Ning from committing a crime, I followed him. But he noticed me and, crazed, turned his attention on me." Chu Tiange took a deep breath, eyes full of fear.

"Unbelievable, Ning Wujue even had such tastes!"

The disciples were shocked, condemning Ning's vile behavior.

"I fought desperately to escape his hands, but worried he might assault another brother or sister, I returned."

Chu Tiange vividly described Ning Wujue's madness, leaving a powerful impression on the disciples.

They felt the tension and fear, worried for Chu Tiange's fate.

"On my way back, I saw him taking heaven as his wife, earth as his concubine, and trees as his chambermaids..."

Ning Wujue's actions were unfathomable, chilling to the bone. If there were other creatures in the sect, it might have been an unspeakable tragedy.

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"Afterwards, who knows what madness seized him—he began playing with his 'second brother,' then punching it repeatedly. I wanted to help, but the patrolling seniors arrived just in time."

"Enough! Your nonsense will not be tolerated. Ning Wujue!" The black-robed elder's face darkened further.

At that moment, two disciples from the Hall of Punishment carried out a stretcher from the back of the hall.

On it lay a man, pale-faced. Even after staunching the bleeding, his lower body was soaked with blood.

"It really is Ning Wujue! His manhood is destroyed."

Outside, the crowd erupted.

Some had believed the rumors false, meant to curb Ning's rising fame, but reality proved them true!

Ning Wujue was truly ruined. If word spread through the Ascendant Immortal Sect, he would be mocked for life.

"Chu Tiange!!!"

Seeing the man standing in the hall, Ning Wujue ignored his pain, sat up, eyes blazing, and pointed at Chu Tiange. "It was him! Him! Master, you must avenge me!"

"Senior Brother Ning, you mustn't wrong a good man," Chu Tiange replied, frowning and aggrieved. "You were mad in the rain last night; I only wanted to save you."

Ning Wujue trembled with fury. "My current state is all thanks to you?"

"Brother, you can eat dung, but you can't let others bear your blame. I, Chu Tiange, entered the sect at sixteen, now twenty-four, barely escaping the Mortal Bone stage by relying on my mooching skills. Apart from bullying the newest children, who else could I bully?" Chu Tiange said helplessly, turning to the crowd. "Tell me, which of you can't beat three Chu Tianges?"

Standing at the hall's center, facing the elders' doubts and accusations, Chu Tiange's gaze was steady and cold, as if he were backed by a legion of supporters.

His eyes swept every present face as he spoke calmly, "Have you forgotten my record? In last year's tournament, a thirteen-year-old novice fought me, and with a single swing, defeated me mercilessly. Who dares question my abilities?"

His words were confident, as if displaying his unmatched 'prowess.'

Behind him, Ning Wujue lay trembling and pale, tears streaming.

He regretted it all—his desire for Zhao Yiren, the spell he cast on her during the day.

The hall fell silent.

The disciples recalled Chu Tiange's 'extraordinary' performance in tournaments past, feeling a touch of awe and respect.

Throughout history, no one could match Chu Tiange's record—defeated time and again, bullied by all.

Indeed, any disciple of the Ascendant Immortal Sect could easily beat three Chu Tianges.

Ning Wujue's sobs echoed, but no one pitied a beast.

Everyone began to ponder the truth behind the events.

If Ning Wujue hadn't maimed himself, then who had? If the real culprit wasn't found, anyone could be the next victim.

His injuries were so severe that doubts grew.

Could the truth be hidden behind absurdity? Was there a deeper secret?

Was Chu Tiange's story true? He simply couldn't overpower Ning Wujue.

"Chu Tiange's mooching is enviable, but his words are not false. Which of us here couldn't defeat him?"

"I could beat ten Chu Tianges alone!"

"Me too. Chu Tiange is a waste. Someone like Senior Brother Ning, even with his hands tied, could beat twenty Chu Tianges."

"This matter is suspicious. Elders, please investigate thoroughly. Perhaps someone used demonic arts to control Ning. If we wrong the innocent and let the real villain escape, tonight's victim could be any of us."

They all believed it impossible, but if a demon was truly at work, the culprit was too vicious—until captured, the male disciples would live in fear.

"It's true! It's him!" Ning Wujue wept, yet no one believed him.

"Enough!" The black-robed elder glared at Ning Wujue.

"Senior Brother Liu..." The white-robed elder looked at the black-robed one, coughing softly.

Chu Tiange's claims were credible, and the disciples outside made sense.

Ning Wujue was at the fourth stage of Spirit Gathering—Foundation Establishment—capable of flight and artifact control. He really could beat twenty Chu Tianges.

The gap between Mortal Bone and Spirit Gathering was vast. Mortal Bone meant only slightly stronger blood than ordinary people; true cultivators were only those at Spirit Gathering.

The white-robed elder was a hundred times unwilling to believe a mooching waste could destroy Ning Wujue's manhood.

The black-robed elder stared intently at Chu Tiange, then at the devastated Ning Wujue, wavering, but said, "Wujue is a child I've watched grow. I know his character—kind and upright. I trust him. Chu Tiange must be the culprit! His cultivation must be abolished, his meridians severed, and he expelled!"

"So you're Ning Wujue's master? That doesn't mean you can bully others. How can you prove it was me who ruined him?" Chu Tiange protested. "Our Ascendant Immortal Sect has never acted unjustly. If you do this, aren't you afraid the headmaster will find out, and other sects will hear? Who would want to join in the future?"

"That's right, Elder Liu, this is unfair! How can you collude with disciples!"

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"I believe there's a deeper reason. Why would Ning Wujue go to such lengths to target this waste but one thing—he failed to sleep with Chu Tiange," someone suddenly realized.

Many more caught on.

The reason was clear: he hadn't succeeded with Chu Tiange.

"Then why self-destruct his 'second brother'?" someone wondered.

"Perhaps he wanted to break and rebuild, knowing Chu Tiange likes women, so he wanted to become one!" someone else deduced.

"To win Chu Tiange, he went to such extremes, even degrading himself. What charm does Chu Tiange possess?"

"Such ruthlessness! Aren't our girls desirable enough?" a female disciple spat in disgust.

"To turn love into hatred and stoop so low—disgusting!"

Everyone looked at Ning Wujue with contempt.

Hearing the overwhelming curses, Ning Wujue coughed up blood. A nearby disciple quickly pressed his philtrum to keep him conscious.

The white-robed elder nodded, saying, "Chu Tiange, no need to panic. The Hall of Punishment is always just; no unjust cases occur."

"Tell me, why were you near Ning Wujue last night?"

His gaze seemed to pierce through Chu Tiange, seeking the truth.

In his previous life, Chu Tiange had ascended to the Crossing God stage, one of the strongest in the Azure Profound Continent. How could he be cowed by such a gaze?

He was about to speak when he saw two women enter the hall.

"Yiren!"

The crowd stirred again—Zhao Yiren had arrived.

"Brother Tiange could never be the culprit!" Zhao Yiren stood before him, unafraid, looking up at the two elders on the dais. "My master is here. I hope you will not wrong the innocent!"

"Elder Liu!" The black-robed elder's eyes narrowed as he looked at the other woman.

She was a beautiful matron, dignified and graceful, simply dressed, with an elegant figure.

One of the four peak leaders of the sect, her status surpassed the elders on the dais.

"I can testify. Last night, I asked Brother Tiange to visit my chamber at midnight," Zhao Yiren said. "So his presence near Ning Wujue's quarters was perfectly normal."

"That's right!" Many female disciples nodded.

It was known that Zhao Yiren's and Ning Wujue's rooms faced the same direction.

"Wait! Zhao Yiren, why did you invite Chu Tiange to your chamber?"

"A man and woman alone at night—did I hear that right?" The male disciples grew restless.

"Yiren! Stop this nonsense!" The beautiful matron frowned, scolding. "You are pure and chaste. How can you utter such wild words?"

"Who says purity means you can't meet Brother Tiange at midnight?" Zhao Yiren asked, suspicious.

Her words drew widespread outrage.

The matron stared at Chu Tiange, her gaze deep and consuming.

The male disciples looked at him, their eyes aflame.

"I don't care anymore. Whether or not Chu Tiange is innocent, the elders must abolish his cultivation!"

"That's right! If Chu Tiange isn't expelled, we can't focus on cultivation!"

"Zhao Yiren! How could you betray us? How could you break our hearts?"

"We all petition for Chu Tiange's death!"

"..."

At that moment, Chu Tiange sensed the murderous tension in the hall.

Zhao Yiren looked at him, comforting, "Don't be afraid, Brother Tiange. I've asked my master to borrow the Azure Sky Mirror from the headmaster. The truth will be revealed."

The atmosphere in the hall grew ever more grave. Everyone awaited the truth behind Ning Wujue's injuries, and confirmation of his disgrace.

Chu Tiange's heart raced wildly.

The Azure Sky Mirror, one of the sect's treasured artifacts, could discern all truths.

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