Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Thinking like this, everyone felt a bit more contempt in their hearts. In the end, His Highness came from a plebeian background. Even if he had a revered status now, he lost all sense of dignity.

They felt pity for the Ning Family. The Ning Family had likely figured out what was happening right now, but no matter how wronged they felt or how much grief they felt, what could they do? In this world, the words of the weak never held any power to begin with. If they were to try and continue to struggle, their end result would likely be even more pitiful. They glanced at the Ning Family miss who kept her head lowered. Her appearance and demeanor were all top class.

Tsk tsk, what a pity…what a pity…

Fang Changling gnashed his teeth together, wishing he could tear Ning Rufeng's mouth apart. But after thinking about it, he changed his mind. No matter what they said, would His Highness even pay attention to them? Looking at the three Ning Family members, they were like clowns prancing about on stage. Their fates had already been determined and yet they didn't know anything about it at all.

He coldly sneered, "Ning Rufeng, no matter how clever your tongue is, everyone knows the truth in their hearts. His Highness' eyes are like a blazing torch, how could he allow you to recklessly babble nonsense!" He turned around and bowed, "Your Highness, you can see that the Ning Family still has no intention of repenting. They cannot be forgiven!"

Ning Yuntao flew into a rage. "Fang Changling, you despicable villain…" The hall was incomparably still, making his voice especially sharp. As he looked at the expressions of those around him and their regretful looks, Ning Yuntao suddenly regained his composure. Endless sorrow rose in his heart.

He looked up, his voice full of despair. "Your Highness, you are the Holy Palace's Highness, how can you…how can you not differentiate between right and wrong…my Ning Family has been loyal to the Demonic Path through all our generations, but in the end we are to fall in such a situation. I can't accept this, I won't accept this!"

Pa -

The sound of a slap echoed through the hall and Ning Yuntao crashed into the ground. Ning Rufeng's hand shook and his voice trembled as he said, "Shut up! What kind of honored status does His Highness have; how can you possibly offend him!" He fell to his knees, "I beg Your Highness to be open-minded and not lower yourself to the same level as this fool. The Ning Family…is willing to accept any ruling!"

"Grandfather!" Ning Liang looked up for the first time, her eyes flooded with disbelief. When she saw Ning Rufeng's increasingly aged face, an agonizing pain tore at her. She suddenly understood that her grandfather's decisions and submission had all been to preserve the lives of those in the Ning Family.

The cold and indifferent eyes all around caused a cold chill to pass through her. She bit her lips and looked up at the figure that stood at the highest floor of the hall, His Highness the Holy Son who looked down at them from above.

This was the person who would succeed the throne of the Holy Monarch? Was the Holy Palace blind?

What she first saw was a strange face. He couldn't be considered handsome; he was mostly ordinary with a young and naïve appearance.

But for some unknown reason, Ning Liang's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She felt something familiar, as if she had once seen this face somewhere before.

When she met his gaze, her body stiffened. Shock suddenly filled her furious eyes.

Those eyes…this appearance…

In that moment, all sorts of thoughts flew through her mind. The image that she had tried to suppress in the depths of her memories suddenly leapt out into the front.

There were two different faces, one ordinary and one handsome. No one would ever place them next to each other. But in Ning Liang's mind, that nose, those eyes, eyebrows…they were clearly different, but the two faces began to gradually overlap with each other.

Qin Yu secretly thought that this was an ill turn of events. He never expected that she would actually recognize him with his current appearance. Because he didn't want to expose his true identity, he said, "Patriarch Ning, do not worry. I will not lower punishment over a brief moment of anger. However, before this matter has been investigated, does Patriarch Ning wish to acknowledge guilt on your own initiative?"

Eh…?

Something didn't seem right about this.

Within the hall, numerous people suddenly revealed amazed expressions. What sort of game was His Highness playing at? How come they couldn't understand him?

Ning Rufeng was stunned. Suddenly, he thought of something and his heart began to vigorously beat. He hesitated for only an instant before he clenched his fists.

This was his final chance. Even if there was only a 1% chance, he still had to try it!

Ning Rufeng fell to his knees and bowed deep to the floor. "This old man was confused, I thank Your Highness for being benevolent and not blaming us! With my life on the line, I vow that nothing I said before was a lie. Everything has been caused by the evil intentions of the Fang Family! I ask Your Highness to investigate!"

Fang Changling was immediately enraged. He thought that the curtain was finally going to lower on this great play, but the plotline suddenly changed out of nowhere. As he heard Ning Rufeng's words, his heart shrank. Before he could say anything, the person atop the throne said, "Patriarch Fang, do you dare guarantee your own words?"

Something was wrong! Something was wrong!

Even if his reaction was slow before, he still sensed something wrong with the situation. A cold sweat formed on his forehead. He raised his heat and looked up at Qin Yu's icy cold gaze, his heart shivering. If he continued to stubbornly insist on the veracity of his words, then he might lose his life. But if he were to change his testimony…as an intense struggle was going through his mind, he heard Qin Yu open his mouth and say, "It seems that Patriarch Fang agrees. I knew that Patriarch Fang is someone of absolute sincerity. How can you possibly be the evil and dastardly type?"

Fang Changling looked at Qin Yu's gentle expression and was lost for a moment. Could everything he felt before have been an illusion, and His Highness was actually standing on his side?

In an absent-minded haze, he subconsciously nodded.

Done!

Qin Yu sneered in his heart. He stood up and looked around the hall. Although there was no change in his expression, a formidable oppression emanated from his body. "Everyone, I have suddenly come into my current position, and what I worry about the most is that others will deceive me and commit crimes in my name. I hope that you can all answer my questions truthfully." After a short pause, he continued, "The situation between the Ning and Fang Families shouldn't be a secret. Can anyone tell me the truth about what has happened between them?"

The hall instantly turned deathly silent, without a single extra sound. Everyone's eyes widened, feeling as if their brains weren't enough to comprehend what had happened.

Did this mean that His Highness wanted to deal with the Fang Family?

But that didn't seem right. His Highness needed useful people on his side. Was this all worth it for a declining Ning Family?

There was no need to mention justice or anything like that. For those that were able to climb to the top of this world, which one of them didn't have a heart of stone? Those with good hearts had all died long ago!

Since no one could guess Qin Yu's intentions, no one dared to speak. Time slowly passed, the hall still silent as before.

Qin Yu lightly said, "What? Doesn't everyone know?"

There was a bit of ridicule on his face.

On Qin Yu's left, a young man suddenly flushed red. He hadn't been very satisfied with this new Holy Son to begin with, and had been extremely unhappy with being forced to attend this worship ceremony. How could he withstand this taunting?

"Humph! This isn't a secret at all. It's just that everyone is taking Your Highness' face into consideration so no one is willing to say anything!"

At the same table, the complexion of another guest cultivator from the Blue Skies Yellow Springs suddenly changed. He pulled on the youth's sleeves, his face stiff with a bit of regret.

Qin Yu's gaze was faint. "I am willing to hear the truth."

The thing the youth was most unable to withstand was this sort of indifferent expression. Looking at Qin Yu, all he had was good talent - or it could even be called plain luck!

The youth's face darkened. He said, "The truth is simple. A single sentence is enough." He lifted a finger and pointed out, "Not a single word that person says can be believed!"

Fang Changling immediately paled.

Qin Yu shook his head. "A single opinion is not sufficient proof. Everyone, you may also speak out. Tell me who is lying between the Fang Family and Ning Family."

The youth immediately turned pale with anger upon being told that his words weren't credible enough. He glared at Qin Yu and stood up, "Mister Wei, the matter that we spoke about the other day, have you already forgotten?"

The man called Mister Wei immediately had an awkward expression. But because the youth had a high status, he could only complain in his heart. He coughed and said, "According to what I know, what young master Langya says is the truth."

If he didn't step on the Fang Family, that would be offending the Langya lineage. Was there even a need to ask which side he would choose?

Qin Yu furrowed his eyebrows. "The words of only two still isn't enough."

The youth thought that Qin Yu wanted to establish his authority here and was trying to preserve the Fang Family. Suddenly angered, he said, "Everyone, Mister Wei and I have already spoken. Do you all plan on remaining silent? Or do you think that me and Mister Wei are both speaking lies?"

These last words were full of killing intent. No one was able to sit still.

"Cough cough…the truth is that I also heard some rumors. It seems that the Fang Family has committed some wrongs…"

"That is indeed true."

"The Fang Family is not in the right."

"There is likely a problem with the Fang Family…"

Fang Changling started to stream sweat.

The youth turned around, "Your Highness, the facts are presented before you. Since you know everything, please make your judgment!" He wanted to see just how His Highness the Holy Son would clean up this mess.

Qin Yu was silent for a moment. "Fang Changling, do you have any explanation for this?"

Fang Changling fell to his knees. "Your Highness, the Fang Family has been wronged…" Although he said this, he couldn't finish his sentence.

If it was the Fang Family who had been wronged, didn't that mean everyone in this hall today was slandering them?

If he were to offend those in this hall, how would the Fang Family pass their future days?

His face was red from suppressing his words. He could only mash his head into the floor again and again, shouting for His Highness to see the truth.

"See the truth…I can indeed see the truth. Just who gave you the courage to openly persecute a noble family of the Demonic Path within the Demonic Path's own Holy Land!" Qin Yu's eyes were like knives, cold and sharp. "Although I have only recently ascended the throne of the Holy Son, I still understand how difficult it is to become a noble family of the Demonic Path."

He lifted a hand and pointed a finger. "Cave Lake's Zhang Family, 47 of their ancestors died, not retreating a single step in defending the Demonic Path's territory. Only their women and children remain, and they were given the title of a noble family because of their sacrifice."

He pointed again, "East Flower's Chen Family. Their family has tamed demon beasts throughout the generations. Because of the dangerous risks, both men and women in their family often do not live long lives. Through six generations they shed an untold amount of blood and tears, finally obtaining the rank of a noble family.

"Harmony Tower's Zhao Family, their family travelled through the Land of Divinity and Demons, searching for relics from ancient times…

"Cloud Pillar's Nangong bloodline…"

Seven families were mentioned, each one of them standing in the hall. As they thought about the deeds of their ancestors, all of them were choked with emotions and their eyes turned red. When they looked at the Fang Family, their eyes were especially cold.

Thanks to Hai Lanlan, Qin Yu had memorized the information of all the important figures that came today. In particular, he had a detailed summary of the background information for the various large noble families that would be here today, leading to the current situation.

Qin Yu's eyes were sharp. "So, I really am curious. Just who gave you the courage to persecute and harm the Ning Family!

"Men! Come and take out Fang Changling. Immediately execute him!"

Fang Changling was filled with despair. As he looked at the Holy Nether Guards rushing towards him, his mind was still ringing. Even now, he still didn't know that the situation would be so bad. When he was grabbed, he tensed for a moment, but then he immediately slumped over. If he dared to resist, the entire Fang Family would be done for.

Qin Yu sneered inwardly. This Fang Changling was smart enough. Otherwise, he didn't mind cutting down the entire Fang Family while he was at it. He looked over the hall and his voice sounded out, "Everyone in the Demonic Path must remember that the dignity of the noble families cannot be blasphemed. If a similar situation like this occurs in the future, I will not be lenient!"

At this moment, all the cultivators of noble families within the hall were filled with emotions, their hearts and minds tumbling like a stormy sea. Some were so excited that hot tears dripped from their eyes. Without any guidance, they fell to their knees, shouting about the wise judgment of His Highness. None of them hesitated about pledging themselves to him anymore.

Today, Qin Yu had won over the hearts of these people!

To the left at a VIP table, the Blue Skies Yellow Springs cultivator looked at the still dazed young master. He sighed inwardly. The disparity was simply far too great. When he looked at Qin Yu, there was a bit more wariness in his eyes. When he returned, he needed to inform the various great figures that they couldn't underestimate His Highness.

To summon wind and rain with a turn of the hand, to overturn the current situation, this was nothing more than that!