101: Let them get lost

He explained truthfully, "It was Ye Chen who ambushed me first when I was picking the sun sacred fruit!"

"Because of this, I was hunted by a God Realm Nether Ghost Catfish, intending to put me to death!"

"Everything I did was merely self-defense and counterattack; he brought it upon himself!"

"If you don't believe me, the Elders can ask Lu Zhiyin; she knows the whole story."

Killing Ye Chen, he was never afraid!

Chu Yuehua would protect him!

In the entire Great Chu, he feared no one of the younger generation!

This was his background!

"You're lying!"

Ye Jingfeng hurriedly interrupted, saying sternly, "You must have coveted the ancient mighty one's skeleton that Junior Brother Ye obtained, and deliberately made up an excuse!"

"Junior Brother Ye is pure of Heart-Nature and noble in character; how could he possibly ambush you!"

Fifth Elder also said coldly, "Although I, this Elder, have only taken Ye Chen as a Disciple for a short time, it is precisely because I value his unyielding and upright Heart-Nature!"

"He would never commit such a despicable act as an ambush. The Lu Zhiyin you mentioned is not a Disciple of our Academy, so it's hard to confirm the truth of her words!"

At this moment, a middle-aged man with a refined countenance also stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "My wife places the utmost importance on character when taking Disciples."

"Ye Chen ranked first in the Core Disciple assessment and possesses the Divine King Body; there's absolutely no problem with his character!"

"It must be you, Qin Wushang, who coveted others' treasures, maliciously killed someone, and are now here to cleverly twist the facts and distort black and white!"

He was the Third Elder of the Academy, and also the Dao Companion of the Fifth Elder, so naturally, he had to help the Fifth Elder.

After the Third Elder finished speaking, he turned and bowed to Chu Yuehua.

"Her Majesty the Empress! Qin Wushang, this person, has an improper character and harms fellow Disciples. He is truly unworthy to be a True Disciple of our Academy. Please, Your Majesty, revoke his status!"

Fifth Elder followed closely, saying coldly.

"Please, Your Majesty, administer justice impartially, revoke Qin Wushang's True Disciple status, and rectify the Academy's rules!"

At this point, the Fourth Elder of the Academy also stepped forward, speaking righteously and sternly: "Qin Wushang disregarded the Academy rules, cruelly murdered a fellow Disciple, and the evidence is conclusive. He should have his cultivation abolished and be expelled from the Academy!"

"Please, Her Majesty the Empress, do not shield him!"

"Please, Your Majesty, severely punish the culprit to serve as a warning to others!"

"If such an act of harming fellow Disciples is not severely punished, where are the Academy's rules? If word gets out, it will also damage the Academy's reputation. Please, Her Majesty the Empress, punish him without leniency!"

Several other Elders who were on good terms with the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Elders echoed their sentiments.

This was a world that valued interests!

Qin Wushang's talent was excellent, but it had no bearing on them, and his growth would not benefit them.

Their actions could not only seize Qin Wushang's position but also promote their own Disciples.

"Enough!"

Chu Yuehua's cold shout, like the Nine Heavens Profound Ice, instantly suppressed all the clamor.

Her gaze, like lightning, swept over the group of Elders who were pressuring her, and her voice carried an undeniable authority.

"Qin Wushang is this Emperor's Personal Disciple. This Emperor is perfectly clear about his character."

"Are you endlessly chattering here to question this Emperor's judgment?"

The Elders' faces paled, and they quickly bowed: "Your subordinates dare not!"

But the Third Elder still bit the bullet and said, "Your Majesty! It's not that we question, but the Academy rules are like mountains!"

"Harming fellow Disciples, according to the law, should result in the abolition of cultivation and expulsion from the Academy. This is the foundation of the Academy's existence!"

"Please, Your Majesty, prioritize the bigger picture and do not let personal feelings override public duty, inviting criticism from others!"

The Fourth Elder's eyes darted around, and he quickly interjected.

"Without rules, there is no order!"

"If Her Majesty the Empress insists on shielding Qin Wushang and ignoring the Academy rules, then I, your subordinate, might as well not serve as an Elder!"

He gave a look to the Fifth Elder, Third Elder, and others, who immediately understood and stepped forward in unison, saying:

"If Your Majesty insists on this, we have no face to manage other Disciples and request to resign from our Elder positions!"

"Please, Her Majesty the Empress, reconsider!"

Seeing this, Dean cried out inwardly that something was amiss and quickly stepped forward to mediate: "Your Majesty, Elders, there might be hidden circumstances in this matter."

"Even if Qin Wushang killed Ye Chen, perhaps it was truly Ye Chen who acted improperly first."

"How about letting Qin Wushang return to face the wall and reflect for a year as a punishment?"

"Dean Meng! You are shielding him!"

He knew very well that these Elders were seizing the opportunity to cause trouble!

Speaking up for Ye Chen was just a pretense!

What they truly wanted was Qin Wushang's position, to promote their own Disciples.

Of course, as Ye Jingfeng's Master, the Fourth Elder's words also stemmed from personal grudges.

After all, Qin Wushang had humiliated Ye Jingfeng!

"How can such a vicious culprit atone for his crime by facing the wall for a year? What right do you have to continue being Dean!"

The several Elders who were pressuring immediately turned their spearhead on Dean, shouting loudly.

Chu Yuehua watched this scene indifferently!

Finally, her gaze fell upon the Third Elder, Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder, and several other instigators.

They trembled all over and quickly lowered their heads.

Chu Yuehua spoke faintly to Dean, "Since these few no longer wish to be Elders, Dean Meng, after you return, remove their names from the Elder roster."

"Let them get out."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces changed dramatically!

"Her Majesty the Empress! You..."

They still wanted to say something, but Chu Yuehua impatiently flicked her sleeve!

An irresistible, gentle yet immense force surged forth, sending those Elders, along with Ye Jingfeng and others, flying.

"The rest of you, lead your Disciples and return to the Academy."

Chu Yuehua's voice spread in all directions as she continued.

"Ye Jingfeng spoke nonsense and slandered his Junior Brother; he is demoted to Core Disciple to observe his future conduct."

The remaining Elders and Disciples were silent as cicadas in winter, bowing in obedience, daring not to utter another word. They quickly organized their people, tore open the Void Realm, and departed.

After they left, Dean, filled with worry, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, is this action... too drastic?"

"I fear it will cause panic within the Academy..."

Chu Yuehua's expression was calm: "They are merely a few Saint King Realm Elders, of no consequence."

"If anyone tries to stir up trouble because of this, just kill them."

"The Academy does not lack a few of them."

"What Great Chu lacks are Saint Venerables, those who can get things done, not useless people who use their positions for personal gain."

She possessed absolute power and was not afraid of their dissatisfaction!

If they blocked her path, she could simply kill them!

Chu Yuehua looked at Dean and continued to instruct, "Dean Meng, go down."

"For the subsequent matters, comfort those who need comforting, deal with what needs dealing with. You don't need this Emperor to teach you how to do it, do you?"

Dean's heart trembled, he glanced at Qin Wushang, and respectfully said, "This subordinate understands, and will surely give Your Majesty a satisfactory answer."

As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately tore open the Void Realm and departed.

Only Chu Yuehua and her Disciple, Qin Wushang, remained at the scene.

Qin Wushang then spoke, "Revered Master, everything your Disciple said just now is true; it was indeed Ye Chen who ambushed me first..."

Chu Yuehua waved her hand, interrupting him: "Truth or falsehood, to this Emperor, is not important."

She looked at Qin Wushang, her tone even.

"Although the Academy has rules that Disciples are not allowed to kill fellow Disciples for treasure during training."

"But a Cultivator's life is inherently a struggle against heaven, against earth, and against people."

"Wealth, Dao Companion, methods, and land—where is there no struggle?"

"How many fellow Disciples have secretly died because of this throughout history? Not to mention fellow Disciples, even brothers will kill each other."

"You killed in self-defense and counterattack; in this Emperor's view, there is no great fault."

She then changed the subject, with a hint of imperial coldness: "Those Elders, their mistake was not in standing up for their Disciples, but in daring to use this matter to threaten this Emperor."

"This Emperor is the Emperor of Great Chu."

"No one has the right to threaten this Emperor."

Not to mention just the Elders of the Academy, even the Great Chu court was her personal domain!

For a few Saint Kings to coerce her like this, not killing them was already her benevolence.

Upon hearing this, Qin Wushang immediately bowed dramatically, exclaiming, "Revered Master is sagacious!"

"Your Disciple's admiration for Revered Master is like the surging river, unending, and like the overflowing Yellow River..."

"Stop flattering me."

Chu Yuehua glanced at him, her gaze fixed on the North Darkness Sea, which was gradually returning to calm.

"Since the emperor medicine has been obtained and the matter here is concluded, then come back with this Emperor."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Qin Wushang quickly said, "Revered Master, your Disciple wishes to stay a little longer."

Chu Yuehua frowned slightly: "Why?"

"Senior Sister Ye Hongfu hasn't come out yet; your Disciple wants to wait for her."

Qin Wushang explained.

Chu Yuehua's eyes flickered slightly, and she said indifferently, "Those who are irrelevant do not need your concern."

With that, regardless of whether Qin Wushang agreed, she waved her jade hand, and an irresistible force enveloped him, directly tearing open the Void Realm in front of her. She stepped in, disappearing from the chaotic sky above the North Darkness Sea.