Chen Yan couldn’t believe his eyes, ears, and even his own mind. In fact, there were quite a few people in a similar state.

First of all, how dare he? How dare Han Xuhan use a situation like this for publicity?

Even if one overlooked the aspect of utter shamelessness, his actions would still be ridiculous enough to make anyone feel indignant.

Challenging a senior disciple, fighting a deadly duel, risking permanent injuries and even perhaps death... yet he still had the nerve to think about making money? In fact, it’s all he seemed to care about!

Wasn’t the very source of this conflict the legacy of the legalist path?

But he was still trying to lure more people into that path so boldly in the open, right on the face of those opposing him!

In the gallery, those privy to the situation behind the curtains could deduce the implications behind this move.

That shameless advertisement plan was Han Xuhan’s own declaration of war. His challenge was no longer targeting just Chen Yan, but also the Elders judging the contest in his favor!

Worse still was his treatment of Chen Yan. This senior disciple had started the day on top, shocking everyone with his cultivation and constantly twisting the situation in his favor, only to lose all that momentum under Han Xuhan’s surgically precise strategies.

At this point, the number of times Han Xuhan had turned the tables on him gave off the impression that he hadn’t even taken Chen Yan seriously as a threat from the beginning! His true goal was something else!

Of course, few people in the gallery were calm enough to analyze the situation this deeply. Either the information gap kept their thoughts at bay, or Han Xuhan’s ridiculous stunts did.

In their perspective, something befitting a legendary tale was unfolding on the dueling arena, enough to distract any critical mind.

Who would not be moved after seeing an ant take down a behemoth?

Not only did the ant defeat the behemoth, but it also announced that this feat was replicable!

All they had to do was buy a cheap manual and attend some free classes! 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Who among them could resist its allure? Which youthful heart wouldn’t dare to dream?

At this moment, as Han Xuhan basked in the glory of the chaos his speech had unleashed, Elder Shen quietly stepped down from his seat. The other Elders, who were still staring at Han Xuhan in fury and disbelief, snapped back to their senses upon noticing him entering the arena.

With his hands held behind him, he strolled into the dueling field and stopped in front of Han Xuhan.

A tight smile played on his lips as he stared down at this junior disciple who was, at this very moment, singlehandedly blocking the inevitable rebellion against sect master Xuan Zi.

Very calmly, he asked, "Can I see that tool, young man?"

Han Xuhan hesitantly handed it over. Elder Shen held it between his fingers and scrutinized the emerald light inside the glassy exterior.

"You said you used this as fuel to activate a law that suppressed your opponent’s vital energy, is that right?"

Han Xuhan nodded.

Elder Shen’s tight smile suddenly transformed into a disdainful sneer. "Do you realize that you’ve just dug your own grave? But I suppose a junior disciple is bound to make such mistakes, not understanding the rules..."

Leaving Han Xuhan open-mouthed, Elder Shen turned to face the chaotic gallery, raising his hand and voice. His words fell on the audience like booming thunder.

"Before this contest started, the arena official read out to all of you a series of rules. Among them, some were set by the contesting parties, and some are the foundational rules of the arena, applicable to all public duels and irrevocable in nature.

I noticed at the time that most of you youngsters were not truly paying attention, and look how that has fooled you all, hmph!"

The noisy arena fell silent, gripped by the premonition that the situation was about to take another drastic turn!

"If you open the rulebook for public duels right now, you’ll see on page six, rule number thirty-nine stating—whoever uses any tool capable of invoking the power of a superior realm of cultivation, will not be excused from the privilege to hide that information if that power crosses the threshold of the Soul Reformation realm!

In this case, disciple Han Xuhan has used a tool containing an unusual fuel.

But anyone with discerning eyes can tell that this fuel is a refined version of Mystic qi, harvested directly from the meridians of a Soul Reformation realm cultivator who has already stepped into the tribulation phase for the Dao Genesis realm!"

Dao Genesis realm!

Those three words were enough to leave the thousands listening dazed. The senior disciples and the Elders recoiled in horror as soon as they tried to rationalize this revelation.

"Now, a question naturally arises. Why would a cultivator so powerful subject themselves to such a horrific treatment?" Elder Shen continued, his countenance turning grave.

"To produce the fuel inside the tool, they’d have to be transformed into a living corpse, with a body and mind that operate on their own like cogs inside a machine, fully suppressed and controlled by forbidden array formations!

This process is not only painful beyond description, but it also lasts a long, long time, no less than decades! It’s akin to living through hell on earth!"

The description made the entire outer court shudder in fright.

"Isn’t the answer obvious? Such an arrangement cannot be built by one person, or any small group. Nor can it be some obscure, secretive deed.

That powerful cultivator is very likely to be a heinous criminal, imprisoned by some grand designs constructed by even more powerful cultivators!

Considering that this fuel is used to activate techniques of the legalist path, anyone can deduce the rest. It is highly likely that this tool comes from the long-lost Holy Land of Laws; more specifically, a very sophisticated prison in some restricted corner of that sect.

On page eight of the rulebook, rule number fifty-two states: Tools belonging to any cultivator involved in criminal acts must never be used without prior vetting and open acknowledgement.

So, disciple Han Xuhan has violated this rule as well by using this tool!"

Two consecutive blows, each one a masterstroke! Elder Shen’s move were proving to be far deadlier than Chen Yan’s most sinister schemes.

Han Xuhan couldn’t sit still and just listen. He desperately shouted, "But Elder, these rules weren’t read out before the start of the duel! Arena Official Yu only said-"

"Wrong," Elder Shen cut in. "Firstly, you’ve already violated a rule you proposed yourself.

According to your terms, neither side would use Mystic qi in the second round of the duel. So why would you be allowed to use a third party’s Mystic qi?

Would that not defeat the actual intent of that rule? Do you think you can exploit a loophole just because there is no explicit statement against a specific trick?

The judges can all cast votes to call such exploitation unlawful! One or two dissenting opinions won’t overturn that judgment!"

Elder Shen cast a look of derision at Kong Ye in the gallery, conveying an unspoken message.

"Secondly, Arena Official Yu isn’t duty-bound to reiterate each and every rule of these duels. He made a reference to the rules generally, and that’s enough.

It’s the duty of the contestants to familiarize themselves with those rules beforehand. Didn’t you read them all while signing the agreement to apply for a scheduled public duel?"

Han Xuhan still wanted to protest, but Elder Shen didn’t give him the opportunity, dropping another bomb as he turned back to face the frozen crowd in the gallery.

"And that’s not all! He has violated a fourth rule, which is also the most severe of them all!

The mystic qi inside the orb is tinged with the aura of soul corruption. Whoever it is that produced it, they must have lost control of their spiritual development at the Soul Reformation realm, suffering a major deviation that degenerated every aspect of their spirituality.

In the world of cultivation, such deviants are known as Abominations. Without quick recovery and external assistance, most of them lose their humanity and gradually transform into a monster that feeds on human souls. Their ultimate form is a rabid beast shrouded in chaotic spirituality, a growing scourge on earth.

So, like every orthodox sect in the world, our Crimson Snow Sect has ordained some rules on dealing with such Abominations. These rules can all be found in the booklet given to you the day you entered the outer court of this sect as a new disciple.

Among these rules, one states that none of you is allowed to use any object, possession, or technique directly connected to an Abomination, lest it should lead to the spreading of spiritual corruption.

Using the mystic qi of an Abomination certainly violated this cardinal rule!

With so many violations added together, it is impossible for us to judge disciple Han Xuhan as the legitimate victor of this round.

In fact, each and every rule he violated calls for punishment no less than direct disqualification from the duel. The final violation is severe enough to even warrant expulsion from the sect!"

Turning to cast an indifferent look at Han Xuhan, Elder Shen said, "Young man, there’s no need to worry about winning or losing this duel anymore. Your opponent wins by default.

I heard you entered the outer court of this sect as a servant. I hope you can adjust to your return to that status once more."