Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 209 - 176: Fans Will Never Make an Unfavorable Judgment

December 25, 2017

Wang Jiu's eloquent argument made the atmosphere in the arbitration room suddenly become somewhat tense. Many elders had to whisper among themselves to confirm whether there was a flaw in their logic…

Similar points had actually been made by Shen Qingming just now. But for some reason, when the same reasoning was delivered by Wang Jiu, it carried a completely different weight!

This could be seen from Shan Heqiu's reaction.

When Shen Qingming explained that she did not cheat, Shan Heqiu merely sneered disdainfully, as if scrutinizing a child babbling nonsense. But when it came to Wang Jiu speaking, just a few words made Shan Heqiu's anger rise, to the point he seemed ready to become a human bomb at any moment…

In fact, this indeed highlighted the significant gap in debating skills between Wang Jiu and Shen Qingming.

Of course, calling it debating skills isn't entirely accurate. Wang Jiu's line of reasoning might sound absurd to others, but to him, it was a deeply held belief.

He genuinely believed that the tactical support he provided to Shen Qingming did not violate the competition rules, and that a dignified Celestial Sword Spirit would disdain cheating in a low-level match. Thus, when faced with doubt, Wang Jiu could quickly give an appropriate response. But Shen Qingming, on the other hand, was merely force-fed a bunch of "perverse ideologies" by Wang Jiu, and when it came to actual combat, she naturally lacked the fluency and eloquence.

According to the prepared script, she simply insisted that she did not rely on external forces in the true sense, and only received real-time tactical guidance, while the power to defeat Shan Heqiu came from herself. So clearly, it didn't fall under the category of cheating.

As a result, Shan Heqiu led her into embarrassment with just one question.

"Only simple tactical guidance? That kind where when the other person says, you can follow?"

Naturally, Shen Qingming couldn't do it; in fact, she was practically a puppet on strings at the time, at Wang Jiu's mercy.

"Firstly, on-site tactical guidance is strictly prohibited. Secondly, since what was provided was not just 'tactical guidance', it's obviously against the competition rules. Thank you for proving your own guilt. I have nothing more to say."

At that moment, Shen Qingming was utterly at a loss and felt incredibly frustrated. Before, when listening to Wang Jiu, it all sounded so reasonable. Why, when it was her turn, couldn't she convey it clearly despite trying to imitate!?

And this was precisely why Li Wanqing and Wang Jiu didn't recommend Shen Qingming to defend herself. For someone to articulate a theory they don't even believe in so clearly and responsively, they would undoubtedly have the potential to become a politician. Shen Qingming, under any circumstance, did not possess this potential.

Perhaps she could achieve outstanding grades in the Inner Sect cultural courses, but she certainly couldn't blatantly use lies to exonerate herself.

Fortunately, Wang Jiu stepped in to control the scene just in time.

After a few sentences that threw the elders into chaos, Wang Jiu stood still, calmly meeting the scrutinizing gazes from all around.

After a long time, Shan Heqiu finally spoke: "I admit, what you said contains some twisted reasoning. Actually, strictly following the rules, since Shen Qingming could pass the participant screenings consecutively without triggering the array's alarm during the match, claiming she cheated would lack sufficient evidence. However, now you all admit to having utilized external forces during the match, yet attempt to exploit rule loopholes to exonerate yourselves. How humiliating!"

Wang Jiu said: "So-called loopholes in rules refer to effects appearing in actual application that contradict the original design ideas. But what basis do you have to determine that Shen Qingming's victory does not comply with the original intent of the competition organizers?"

Shan Heqiu said: "A girl who barely broke through the Wind Barrier half a year ago, in the Wind-Rising Realm, relying on a moment's cleverness, defeated Shan Heqiu who has cultivated arduously for more than ten years! Tell me, how does such an occurrence align with the designers' original intent?! Is the Cyan Cloud Competition about determining who is more shameless, who is more cunning?!"

Wang Jiu said: "If the Cyan Cloud Competition is to compete in whose cultivation is more arduous and diligent, then why use actual combat to determine the champion? Why not design a long-lasting tournament? No food or drink, conducting continuous secluded cultivation under extreme conditions to see who persists longer. If worried about controlling the competition time, you could stipulate specific bodily torments every hour, such as breaking fingers, gouging out eyes, etc., to test tolerance."

"Absurd!"

"Since the Cyan Cloud Competition is designed as actual combat to determine victory, it is naturally to select cultivators with more practical combat talent. Shen Qingming's actual combat talent has already been fully demonstrated through her victory."

Shan Heqiu said angrily: "That was just a shameless display! Without your extraneous factors, on what basis could she defeat Shan Heqiu!?"

"If you must exclude external factors, then suppose Sans Heqiu didn't have the support of Unmoving Manor. Could he, solely based on his talent, insight, and physical qualifications, even enter the main competition?"

"Nonsense! He is my son, and the support of Unmoving Manor is his due fate!"

"Then my external guidance is also Shen Qingming's due fate."

"You!" As Shan Heqiu spoke, he felt as if the five internal organs were burning, seemingly about to explode from anger at the young man in white before him, his True Essence rumbling inside, ready to erupt at any moment.

Finally, an elder from the Lu Family, serving as the host, intervened.

"Enough, there is no need to further discuss this topic. I admit, on a theoretical level, we cannot refute you, Mr. Wang Jiu. However, unfortunately, some matters cannot be decided by mere verbal argument."

Speaking, the Lu Family elder took out the Cyan Cloud Competition regulations and pointed at the final line.

The interpretation rights of this regulation belong to the organizing committee.

"So, whether Shen Qingming violated the rules by cheating cannot be determined solely by your rhetorical ability." Finished speaking, the Lu Family elder looked around, "I propose a vote for judgment, as this is a necessary procedure."

The other elders hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Let's vote."

But Shan Heqiu protested: "Vote?! Does this matter still need a vote? The other party confessed cheating blatantly, so why vote? Because she is Li Fengyun's daughter, you intend to use a vote to cover for her!? Fine, you grand families collude, but ultimately, the Cyan Cloud Competition is not dictated by just a few of your families! If you don't give me fairness, I can go to the Immortal Envoy for fairness!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The Lu Family elder, enraged, slammed the table and said: "Shan Heqiu! Have you even figured out the situation yet!? How could you think I am covering for Shen Qingming?!"

In reality, this Lu Family elder was genuinely trying to help Shan Heqiu.

Wang Jiu's eloquence was so powerful that it was visibly demonstrated by Shan Heqiu's throbbing black veins on his temples. Logically speaking, the organizing committee couldn't adjudicate Shen Qingming's violation of cheating. So, he resorted to the ultimate right of interpretation and called for a vote to resolve the issue.

The elders present, from the Lu, Qian, and several other sects, did not include Li Family members. Such a vote was already the most disadvantageous for the Li Family… For the daughter of the first family in Cyan Cloud, what more could be done? Could a single complaint directly disqualify her? But Shan Heqiu's foolish old man, due to being from a small to medium family, inherently mistrusted the grand families, wasting a favorable situation!

Does he really think that appealing to the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy would fulfill his wish? Does he think the Holy Sect is run by the Shan Family!? Indeed, Holy Sect envoys often disregard the so-called political landscape, only considering correctness and fairness, making judgments unfavorable to grand families and organizing committees.

But that is only one aspect. On the other hand, Holy Sect envoys often disregard so-called public opinion, making judgments favorable to grand families.

Holy Sect envoys are fair and impartial, but anticipating the Holy Sect's fairness is not that straightforward. Concerning the matter of Shen Qingming possibly cheating, even in the most optimistic estimation, the likelihood of the Holy Sect envoy ruling in favor of cheating doesn't exceed fifty percent… It's far better to conduct an anonymous vote and settle everything once and for all here!

Just as the Lu Family elder was gritting his teeth, suddenly there came a distant yet nearby, neither male nor female ethereal voice from the door.

"I have arrived."

In the next moment, the Ancient Bronze door opened, and the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy, wearing an ivory mask, walked in slowly.

"I have understood the matter; Shan Heqiu has accused Shen Qingming of cheating in the second round against Shan Heqiu. Also, he does not agree with using the organizing committee's rules for adjudication. Regarding this, what does the organizing committee have to say?"

The Lu Family elder sighed and said: "This matter is complex, indeed beyond our judgment. So-called voting for judgment does indeed carry a sense of evading duties. Therefore, ultimately, we request the envoy to decide."

The envoy nodded and looked at Wang Jiu, with a hint of amusement in his voice, "And you? What do you have to say?"

Wang Jiu said: "Nothing really, now that you are here, I am reassured."

"What?" As soon as the envoy began to speak, he sensed something amiss, and in the next moment, his voice directly transmitted to Wang Jiu through a secret language.

"What do you want to say?"

Wang Jiu responded with the same secret language, something which surprised the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy. The Holy Sect's Secret Language Technique, although a mere trick, is not widely spread, let alone commonly usable by ordinary cultivators—the contents of which left the envoy instantly feeling a chill.

"I want to say that you will definitely rule that Qingming acted lawfully, after all, you are her loyal fan, Mr. Yu Zishen."