Li Fan had not forgotten the time the Heavenly Mechanism Hall had investigated him over the azure ox cart incident. Now he found himself once again in the central core district of Myriad Immortals Island.
He passed the Strategy Array Hall and pressed inward, coming to a stop before a building whose entrance was marked by a stone stele carved with a single word: "Martial."
The moment his eyes fell upon it, a solemn, oppressive atmosphere descended. Phantoms seemed to flicker at the edge of his vision, as though blades and swords were poised to fall upon him at any instant.
Finely written. He studied the character for a long moment, suppressing the instinctive urge to retaliate. But compared to the "Chaos" Stone I saw before, it still lacks a certain... flavor.
His expression turning serious, he strode into the Martial Hall without breaking stride.
The Strategy Array Hall, which Li Fan knew well, consisted of numerous overlapping spaces accessed through teleportation arrays.
The Martial Hall was built on an entirely different principle. Its main expanse was composed of massive stones floating in the air. Jagged and bizarre, they were scattered throughout the space like stars across the sky.
Each stone was unique in shape: some resembled humans or beasts, others mountains or flowing water.
Upon these giant stones, one could vaguely make out pavilions, vegetation, and the occasional fleeting silhouettes of people.
The floating stone on which Li Fan now stood was exceptionally peculiar. It was utterly bare, smooth as a mirror, with faint streams of light circulating beneath its surface.
The moment he stepped onto it, an array activated. He felt himself drawn uncontrollably to its very center, and an inexplicable energy surged up from beneath his feet—invisible shackles that bound him firmly in place.
At the same time, the surrounding stones underwent a mysterious transformation. Li Fan had been standing in an utterly unremarkable corner of this star-like expanse. But after his confinement, the scenery shifted as if the constellations had turned, and in an instant he found himself at the very heart of the sea of stars, the absolute focal point of the entire space.
Countless gazes hidden behind the various giant stones fell upon him all at once.
He was truly under the spotlight of a myriad eyes.
Each gaze pressed down like a mountain range. A cultivator of little experience, or one with poor mental fortitude, would likely have buckled on the spot. Li Fan remained composed, his expression unchanged.
After a moment of silent confrontation, a solemn, majestic voice boomed out from the sea of stones, its echo rolling without end.
"Cultivator Li Fan, you are hereby summoned to submit to an investigation regarding the Samantabhadra True Leaf Price Anomaly Incident.
"This investigation will be presided over by the Congyun Sea Branch's Martial Hall, with the Congyun Sea Branch's Heavenly Mechanism Hall and Administration Hall serving in an advisory capacity.
"Given the exceptionally broad scope and grave nature of this incident, the Immortal Alliance headquarters will dispatch a special envoy to supervise the proceedings in their entirety.
"In accordance with the principles of fairness, justice, and transparency, this investigation will not be conducted confidentially and will be subject to the oversight of all Immortal Alliance members..."
After this lengthy preamble, the voice arrived at the main subject.
"Cultivator Li Fan, you may defend yourself throughout the investigation.
"However, you are responsible for the veracity of every word you speak. Concealment, fraud, or similar conduct will be punished according to the severity of the circumstances, in accordance with Immortal Alliance regulations."
As the majestic voice resonated through his mind, Li Fan nodded to indicate his understanding.
"The investigation is now officially underway.
"Let the Martial Hall's Jin Chongcheng recount the sequence of events."
A flash of light, and a cultivator in the standard uniform of the Myriad Immortals Alliance's Martial Hall appeared in the air above Li Fan's floating stone. Though positioned above him, the man tilted his head back to address the sky full of stones and began to speak.
"The abnormal price fluctuation of Samantabhadra True Leaf originated sixteen days ago from a statement made by this cultivator, Li Fan.
"Using Jiao Xiuyuan as his mouthpiece, he conveyed to the world that the price of Samantabhadra True Leaf would surge. Afterward..."
Jin Chongcheng concisely laid out the cause and effect of the matter. As he spoke, a series of images materialized across the sky: a chart of the Samantabhadra True Leaf price fluctuation curve, scenes of cultivators frantically buying up the resource, and the devastated faces of the countless cultivators who suffered losses after the Tianxuan Mirror stabilized the market.
"Furthermore, we have noted that Cultivator Li Fan purchased a large stockpile of the leaf in advance, before the price increase, then sold at the peak, reaping substantial profits.
"In summary, we suspect that Cultivator Li Fan intentionally disseminated false information, exploited public herd mentality for exorbitant profit, and maliciously undermined the stability of the Alliance," Jin Chongcheng concluded.
Silence fell within the Martial Hall.
The weight of the gazes upon Li Fan intensified. An ordinary cultivator might have gone pale and confessed on the spot.
But Li Fan raised his voice boldly and cut Jin Chongcheng off.
"I object!
"Accusing me of spreading false information? On what grounds? It is true, I made a modest profit from this incident..."
Ignoring the thinly veiled killing intent emanating from many of the watching eyes, he continued. "But wealth, companions, techniques, land—for a cultivator, the pursuit of gain is the natural order of things. I possess the ability to divine the future. Using that ability to seek profit, what crime is there in that?
"And the subsequent price movement of Samantabhadra True Leaf aligned perfectly with my prediction. Does that not demonstrate the accuracy of my deduction?" Li Fan declared.
Whispers rippled through the Martial Hall.
"Silence!
"Regarding the legitimacy of using divination arts for profit, let us hear from Elder Gongsun Qixuan of the Heavenly Mechanism Hall."
Light flashed. Jin Chongcheng vanished, and in his place appeared a young scholar who looked to be in his twenties. Quite handsome, but with a sallow, weary complexion.
It's him... Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly and gave a nod of acknowledgment.
This Gongsun Qixuan was the very cultivator he had encountered during his previous investigation by the Heavenly Mechanism Hall. The mysterious aura that occasionally leaked from the man had left a deep impression on Li Fan.
Gongsun Qixuan returned a friendly nod, gave a light cough, and spoke slowly. "The stance of our Heavenly Mechanism Hall has remained unchanged.
"Results obtained through divination can absolutely serve as a guide for future action. Otherwise, what purpose would our Heavenly Mechanism Hall serve? If we ourselves are permitted to do this, then naturally there is no reason to forbid the Alliance's cultivators from doing the same."
Gongsun Qixuan's words were fair and reasonable. Li Fan found himself nodding along.
Then the man's tone shifted abruptly, his sharp gaze locking onto Li Fan.
"However, I have my doubts about whether Fellow Daoist Li Fan truly possesses the ability to divine the future.
"If the impending price surge of Samantabhadra True Leaf was genuinely derived through divination, our Heavenly Mechanism Hall maintains he is innocent.
"But if the opposite is true..." A cold glint flashed in Gongsun Qixuan's eyes. "If this was fabricated from thin air, we recommend he be sentenced to death."