Chapter 488: Chapter 460: Trial of the Martial Arts Battle Hall

The scene of the last investigation by the Hall of Celestial Mysteries due to the Green Bull Cart incident was still fresh in Li Fan’s memory. This time, he once again arrived at the central core area of Ten Thousand Immortals Island.

After passing through the Array Strategy Hall and walking further in, Li Fan stopped in front of a building marked with a stone stele bearing the character “Martial”.

The moment he saw this character, Li Fan felt an aura of solemnity and oppression envelop him.

It was as if phantoms appeared in front of his eyes, ready to meet him with swords and blades in the next moment.

“It’s a good character, but compared to the ‘Chaos’ character I saw earlier, it lacks some appeal.”

Suppressing the instinctual urge to fight back deep within him, Li Fan studied the character carefully for a while before silently pondering.

With a solemn expression, he strode into the Martial Arts Battle Hall without changing his facial expression.

Li Fan was familiar with the Array Strategy Hall, which consisted of many overlapping spaces accessed through the Teleportation Array. The main feature of the Martial Arts Battle Hall, however, was a myriad of large stones floating in the air.

Bizarre rocks, like the countless stars in the night sky, were scattered throughout the space.

At first glance, each stone had a unique shape.

Some were shaped like humans or animals, while others resembled mountains or water bodies.

On the surface of the huge stones, one could vaguely make out pavilions, vegetation, and occasional silhouettes flying by.

The floating stone that Li Fan was standing on was extremely peculiar.

It was bare and as smooth as a mirror.

Subtle lines of light circulated beneath the stone’s surface, and the moment Li Fan stepped onto the stone, an array was activated, causing Li Fan to involuntarily move to the very center of the stone.

An inexplicable energy emerged from the stone beneath his feet, binding him like invisible shackles.

At the same moment, as Li Fan looked up, the surrounding rock formations, each like a star, began to change in a mysterious way.

Originally, the position occupied by Li Fan was an insignificant corner in Star Sea.

But when he was chained, the scene in the sky changed, resembling the shifting of stars.

In an instant, Li Fan seemed to have been transported to the center of Star Sea, becoming the absolute focus of the space.

Li Fan could feel that in that moment, countless gazes hidden behind the giant stones were all directed at him.

The true center of attention!

Each of those gazes weighed heavy as mountains, and any Cultivator with a lack of worldly experience or weak psychological endurance might fearfully collapse on the spot.

But Li Fan remained calm and composed, his face unchanged.

After a moment of standoff, a solemn and majestic voice echoed from within the rock sea, resounding unceasingly.

“Cultivator Li Fan, due to the ‘anomaly in the price of the Universal Leisure True Leaf’, you are summoned here for an investigation.”

“This investigation will be conducted by Misthaven Sea Martial Arts Hall and assisted by the Hall of Celestial Mysteries of the Misthaven Sea and the Governance Hall.”

“Given the vast reach of this incident and its extremely detrimental nature, the Immortal Alliance Headquarters will send a special envoy to oversee the whole process.”

“Upkeeping the principles of fairness, justice, and transparency, this investigation process will not be kept confidential and will be overseen by all members of the Immortal Alliance.”

…

After a long preamble, the grand voice finally arrived at the main point.

“Cultivator Li Fan, during the investigation, you can defend yourself.”

“However, you will be held accountable for the truthfulness of your every word. If any deception or concealment is found, you will be punished according to the severity of the offense as per the Alliance’s laws.”

Hearing the thunderous voice, Li Fan nodded to signify his understanding.

“Now, I declare the investigation officially begins.”

“Please, Martial Arts Hall, let Jin Chongchun recount the events.”

A flash of light passed by, and a Cultivator wearing the official uniform of the Fairy Alliance Martial Arts Hall appeared in the air above the stone where Li Fan was.

High above Li Fan, he overlooked the surrounding sea of stones, and began to speak.

“The unusual fluctuation in the price of the Universal Leisure True Leaf is traced back to a statement made by Cultivator Li Fan sixteen days ago.”

“He conveyed the message that ‘the price of the Universal Leisure True Leaf will skyrocket’ through Jiao Xiuyuan. After that…”

Jin Chongchun provided a brief summary of the origin and outcome of the event, and as he spoke, scenes began to emerge in the sky above.

The price fluctuation trend of the Universal Leisure True Leaf, the frenzy of the Cultivators buying it, and the aftermath of the storm caused by the Tianxuan Mirror – countless Cultivators suffering losses.

“Moreover, we have noticed that Cultivator Li Fan had already purchased a large stock of the Universal Leisure True Leaf before its price rose, and sold it at its peak, making an immense profit.”

“In summary, we suspect that Cultivator Li Fan disseminated false information, exploited public herd mentality for heavy profits, and maliciously destabilized the Immortal Alliance,” Jin Chongchun added.

As he finished, silence enveloped the Martial Arts Battle Hall.

Li Fan perceived the gazes on him growing heavier.

A less seasoned Cultivator would probably have turned pale and confessed right away.

However, Li Fan rose to his feet and interrupted Jin Chongchun: “I object!”

“They say I disseminated false information? On what grounds is this accusation based! Yes, I made a bit of profit in this event…”

Ignoring the veiled hostility in the gazes around him, Li Fan continued: “But profit is the law of nature, and it’s perfectly normal for Cultivators to pursue it. I possess the ability to deduce the future. If I profit from this talent, what’s wrong with that?”

“Moreover, the price trend of the Universal Leisure True Leaf confirmed my prediction. Doesn’t that just prove the accuracy of my deduction!” Li Fan argued passionately.

Whispers began to fill the Martial Arts Battle Hall.

“Silence!”

“Regarding the legitimacy of using the Art of Deduction for profit, let Elder Gongsun Qixuan from the Hall of Celestial Mysteries speak.”

A flash of light replaced Jin Chongchun’s figure.

In his place stood a young man in his twenties, dressed as a scholar.

Despite his rather handsome appearance, he looked somewhat pale.

“It’s him…” Li Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he nodded in acknowledgment to the newcomer.

This Gongsun Qixuan was the same Cultivator whom Li Fan had encountered during his previous investigation with the Hall of Celestial Mysteries. The subtle aura of mystery emanating from him had left a deep impression on Li Fan.

After giving Li Fan a cordial greeting, Gongsun Qixuan cleared his throat and began to speak slowly: “Our stance from the Hall of Celestial Mysteries hasn’t changed.”

“The results of deductions can indeed serve as a reference for future actions. Otherwise, what would be the point of establishing the Hall of Celestial Mysteries?”

“If we can do so, naturally, there is no reason to forbid Alliance Cultivators from doing the same.”

What Gongsun Qixuan said was very reasonable, which elicited continuous nods from Li Fan.

Just then, however, Gongsun Qixuan changed his tone, his sharp gaze fixed on Li Fan.

“But, I do doubt whether our friend, Li Fan, truly possesses the ability to predict the future!”

“If the event of the ‘Universal Leisure True Leaf price surge’ was truly predicted by him, then our Hall of Celestial Mysteries advocates for his acquittal.”

“On the contrary…”

Coldness flashed in Gongsun Qixuan’s eyes.

“If this event was fabricated out of thin air by him.”

“We suggest administering the most severe punishment.”