32: Chapter 32 The Ancestor is Subdued; From Today Onward, Cultivation Must Also Involve Politics

One month later.

Beijing, Supreme People's Court, First Trial Room.

The national emblem hung high; the courtroom was solemn and dignified, the air itself seemingly frozen.

The public gallery was packed. Representatives from various departments, media reporters, and citizen representatives who had won lottery seats for the hearing all held their breath, their gazes fixed on the defendant's dock.

Outside the courtroom, this public trial, broadcast across the entire internet, had quietly surpassed the one-billion viewer mark.

The comment stream, like a surging tide, fell into an eerie silence the moment the trial began.

Everyone's eyes were focused on the hunched figure in the defendant's dock.

Xiao Zhantian.

The Half-step Golden Core Old Ancestor who once walked upon the Void Realm and viewed Mortals as ants.

At this moment, he wore a loose grey prison uniform. His once wild hair and beard had been shaved clean, revealing his aged scalp.

On his wrists and ankles were the Bureau of Anomalies' specially crafted Spirit-Suppressing Shackles, completely locking away the last trace of spiritual energy within his body.

He kept his head down, his cloudy eyes fixed firmly on the cold floor. He no longer possessed even a shred of the celestial aura of a master; he was merely a prisoner waiting for his sentence.

Beside him, Xiao Yuanshan and other core members of the Xiao Family looked ashen, their bodies trembling uncontrollably like chaff in the wind.

At the prosecutor's bench, the prosecutor read the hundred-page indictment in a tone devoid of any emotion.

Every charge was accompanied by ironclad factual evidence.

From the hard drive data recovered by Chen Xiaobei to the weaponry seized from the Xiao Family estate's basement; from the testimonies of bribed officials to the skeletal remains just recovered from the Miyun Reservoir.

Item by item, case by case—the list of crimes was endless.

"...Defendant Xiao Zhantian, as the supreme organizer and leader of the Xiao Family criminal syndicate, shall bear responsibility for all crimes committed by said organization..."

"Defendant Xiao Zhantian, in order to achieve personal objectives, openly attacked state organs, attempted to murder state public officials, caused extremely negative social impact, and seriously endangered national security..."

When the prosecutor displayed the high-definition footage of that night, showing Xiao Zhantian striking the Bureau of Anomalies building with a palm strike and Gu Changan counterattacking with a sniper rifle, the entire internet instantly exploded.

"Holy crap! Is this some kind of movie special effect? Can people really fly?"

"Calm down with your Divine Abilities, upstairs. Didn't you see the official announcement? This is called an 'Ancient Martial Cultivator,' and they are classified as a source of social instability that needs to be rectified!"

"What was that blue shield? That was insane! The Old Ancestor hit it with a palm strike, and it didn't budge at all!"

"The point is the sniper rifle! Shooting a god out of the sky with one shot! That is the true romance of a man!"

The presentation of evidence concluded.

The presiding judge looked toward the defendant's dock, his voice resonant and dignified.

"Defendant Xiao Zhantian, do you plead guilty to the criminal facts alleged by the prosecution?"

Xiao Zhantian's dry, cracked lips moved, and he slowly raised his head.

He did not look at the presiding judge, nor did he look at the angry families of the victims. His gaze passed through the crowd and landed on the young man in the first row of the public gallery, who was dressed in a black uniform with a detached expression.

Gu Changan.

He looked back calmly. There was no joy of victory in his eyes, nor any thrill of revenge, only a cold void.

It was as if he were looking at a total stranger who had nothing to do with him.

Xiao Zhantian suddenly gave a miserable laugh; the sound was hoarse and unpleasant.

He had accepted his fate.

It wasn't that he had lost to Gu Changan; he had lost to this era he once looked down upon, lost to that sniper rifle capable of piercing his Protective Aura, and lost to that red button known as the "Dongfeng Express."

"I... plead guilty."

He lowered the head he had held high for a hundred years.

These three words were transmitted to every corner of China via the live stream.

Countless people who had once swallowed their pride in front of the Ancient Martial families were moved to tears of excitement at this moment.

The presiding judge picked up the gavel, his expression solemn.

"All rise!"

Everyone in the courtroom stood up in response.

"We are now delivering the public verdict for the case of defendants Xiao Zhantian, Xiao Yuanshan, and 117 others, charged with organizing, leading, and participating in a criminal syndicate, intentional homicide, arms smuggling, and endangering national security!"

"Defendant Xiao Zhantian, for the crimes of organizing and leading a criminal syndicate, intentional homicide, and endangering national security... combining the sentences, you are sentenced to death, to be executed immediately!"

"Defendant Xiao Yuanshan, for the crimes of... you are sentenced to death, with a two-year reprieve!"

"Defendant..."

"Thud—!"

The gavel fell heavily.

That crisp sound was like the tolling of a funeral bell for an old era.

It not only declared the total annihilation of the Beijing Xiao Family, which had held its Legacy for hundreds of years, but also declared to everyone still immersed in the old dream of "the martial artist who uses their skills to defy the law"—

That era is over!

Before the law and the state apparatus, everyone is equal!

The trial concluded, and the bailiffs escorted away the wailing and howling members of the Xiao Family one by one.

Gu Changan stood up, straightened the collar of his uniform, and prepared to leave.

No sooner had he stepped out of the courtroom doors than he was instantly surrounded by a crowd of reporters wielding cameras and microphones.

"Team Leader Gu! Does this operation mean that the state will fully rectify the Ancient Martial world?"

"Team Leader Gu! What is the future focus of the Bureau of Anomalous Affairs?"

"Team Leader Gu! The internet is calling you the 'Light of the Rule of Law.' What are your thoughts on this?"

Camera flashes blinked frantically, and countless microphones were almost poked into his face.

Gu Changan stopped, faced the cameras, his expression remaining calm.

He reached out to gently push aside the nearest microphone and spoke slowly.

"I would like to correct one point: there is no such thing as a 'Martial World.' There are only citizens of China."

His voice was transmitted clearly through countless devices.

"Regardless of whether you can fly or not, as long as you stand on this land, you must obey the laws here. Violations will be investigated, and the law will be strictly enforced."

Gu Changan's gaze swept across all the lenses, his eyes carrying an unquestionable dignity.

"Our Bureau of Anomalous Affairs handles exactly these matters, and we will see them through to the end."

This interview video shot to the number one spot on the trending lists of every social platform within ten minutes.

"Holy crap! So cool! This is the kind of state public official we want to see!"

"I'm a fan! This appearance, this temperament—he's basically a walking national recruitment advertisement!"

" 'There is no Martial World, only citizens of China'—this quote is legendary! From now on, if anyone dares to act arrogant in front of me, I'll use this line to shut them down!"

Gu Changan's name, along with his cold, handsome profile in uniform, was turned into various memes and parody videos by netizens, becoming a massive viral hit across the internet.

Western suburbs of Beijing, secret execution ground.

Xiao Zhantian was escorted to the execution ground; he refused his final meal.

Before the execution, he looked at the setting sun, and there was actually a trace of relief in his eyes.

He suddenly turned his head to look at Gu Changan, who was standing not far away.

"Gu Changan, may I ask one last question?"

"Ask."

"If there is an afterlife, I would still want to Cultivate," Xiao Zhantian said with a self-deprecating smile. "But I would get a law degree first."

Gu Changan allowed a rare smile to touch his face.

"Remember in your next life: abiding by the law is the first step of Cultivation."

A gunshot rang out.

A legendary figure's curtain fell.