Chapter 1152: Hard to Defend Oneself

“Do you have anything else to say?”

After the rebuke, Wu Shi spoke.

“Wuwu…”

Vice Hall Master Tian quickly spoke up.

“Remove his seal!”

Hall Master Xing ordered.

Palace Master Liao nodded and slapped the air with his palm.

Vice Hall Master Tian immediately felt the true energy suppressing him released, couldn’t help but sigh in relief, and his eyes reddened: “He’s lying, he made the first move against us…”

“Enough!”

Before he could finish, Hall Master Xing suddenly stood up, his gaze like lightning: “I let you speak because you are a renowned master and would be truthful! I didn’t expect you to start spouting nonsense as soon as you opened your mouth… Where is the dignity of a renowned master? He made the first move against you? With just the four of them… and inside the prince’s residence, could they defeat you? Do you think anyone would believe that if it got out?”

Hall Master Xing was about to explode with anger.

If you’re going to lie, at least make it plausible!

The two of you are full of energy, yet you claim Master Zhang made the first move…

Even if Master Zhang wanted to fight, could he defeat you?

“I…” Vice Hall Master Tian swayed.

I’m telling the truth, okay?

Look at the injuries; we have more on us…

His heart was full of frustration, but he also knew that the other party had already formed a preconception, and having personally witnessed Prince Zhongqing make a move, the more he explained, the more disgusted they became. Rather than struggle, it was better not to pursue the issue and avoid further trouble.

“That man is called Mingzhen…”

Suppressing his frustration, Vice Hall Master Tian pointed to one side: “He is the Vice Hall Master of the Poison Hall of the Hongyuan Empire. He came to report that Sun Qiang is a very powerful poison master, and personally escorted the founding ancestor of the Poison Hall back… For the safety of the capital and to prevent unnecessary incidents, Prince Zhongqing invited Master Zhang for questioning. Who knew he would try to forcibly take the person away, which led to the conflict…”

“Vice Hall Master of the Poison Hall?”

Wu Shi and the others looked over.

At this moment, Mingzhen was standing to one side, his face pale with fear at the sight of so many renowned masters and battle masters.

“Are you from the Poison Hall?”

Wu Shi’s face darkened.

As a renowned master, he had no great fondness for people from the Poison Hall.

“Yes!” Mingzhen flipped his wrist and produced the poison master’s badge and the token representing the Vice Hall Master’s identity.

After a glance to confirm they were genuine, Wu Shi frowned: “You came to report Sun Qiang?”

He wasn’t familiar with Sun Qiang, but since he was Master Zhang’s steward, how could he be a poison master?

Of course, he still needed to ask clearly first.

“This…”

His face twisted in agony, Mingzhen hesitated for a long time, then “plopped” to his knees, his eyes reddening: “I beg Wu Shi to seek justice for our Poison Hall!”

“What exactly is going on?”

Seeing his attitude, Wu Shi frowned.

“It’s like this: Prince Zhongqing captured all the people from our Poison Hall and locked them in the dungeon, using them as leverage to force me to frame Master Zhang… I was compelled! I implore Wu Shi to investigate…”

Mingzhen’s face was full of grief.

“You… nonsense!”

Hearing this, Vice Hall Master Tian Qing and Prince Zhongqing both exploded.

This guy was clearly on their side, their own witness… how could he suddenly turn against them?

Forcing you?

It was you who were rejected by the Poison Hall and fled here!

And it was you who revealed the location of the Poison Hall, leading Prince Zhongqing to send troops to surround and suppress them… how in the blink of an eye did you become the victim, with the Poison Hall people used to threaten you?

You hate them to the bone; would threatening you with these people even work?

“Shut up!”

Wu Shi flicked his sleeve and looked at the poison master: “Don’t be afraid, continue speaking!”

“Yes! If Wu Shi doesn’t believe me, you can investigate; the Poison Hall people are indeed imprisoned in the dungeon… If I’m lying, I’m willing to accept any punishment!”

Mingzhen shrank his neck, his face full of determination.

It seemed that although he was coerced, he was still fighting for justice.

Poisoned by the other party, he knew what to say and do, and he had already seen that Prince Zhongqing and Vice Hall Master Tian were no match for Master Zhang in terms of tactics.

Rather than being passive later, it was better to proactively abandon the darkness for the light now.

“You…”

Hearing this guy’s words and seeing his actions, Vice Hall Master Tian and Prince Zhongqing were furious.

They had been in the upper hand just a moment ago, but who would have thought that as soon as he opened his mouth, the other party seized the initiative!

Luo Qiqi, Sun Qiang, and the others also stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded.

Master Zhang had only exchanged a few words with this Vice Hall Master, and the latter changed his story completely… too impressive!

This way, no matter from which angle, the situation was in their favor.

Clearly, Zhang Xuan, as a six-star renowned master, had offended a seven-star, violating etiquette, but after all the talk, it turned into the other party bullying the weak and deliberately framing him…

Probably the two in front of them couldn’t wash themselves clean even if they jumped into the Yellow River.

“Go to the dungeon and check if there are Poison Hall people there!”

Ignoring the expressions of both sides, Wu Shi instructed a renowned master.

Not only had many people from the Battle Master Hall come, but many renowned masters from the Master Teacher Hall had also arrived.

When Zhang Xuan called for help, Wu Shi didn’t hesitate; the entire Master Teacher Hall had almost emptied out.

“Yes!” A renowned master turned and walked out.

After a short while, he returned, approached the crowd, and cupped his fists.

“Reporting to Wu Shi, Hall Master Xing, the dungeon of Prince Zhongqing’s residence indeed holds a large number of Poison Hall people, all seriously injured…”

“Indeed!”

After hearing the report, Wu Shi’s face turned extremely ugly. He turned to Vice Hall Master Tian: “Using Poison Hall people to frame Master Zhang, Vice Hall Master Tian, I will report this truthfully!”

Everything matched perfectly, logically consistent; there was no need to listen to explanations.

Since returning from Qiuwu Palace, his strength had advanced to the半步出窍境 (half-out-of-body realm), automatically making him a Vice Hall Master, equal in status to the one before him. Although he had less actual power, he was still qualified to interrogate someone who had committed such a heinous act.

“I…”

Glaring hatefully at Zhang Xuan, Vice Hall Master Tian knew that nothing he said now would make a difference.

He had thought he could add a charge to the other party, deal with him smoothly, and eliminate the threat, but he hadn’t expected to fall into the other’s trap from the start.

He had to admit that this Zhang Xuan was top-notch in both reaction and adaptability; even they had been caught off guard.

“I hope the Hall Master will handle this personally. If the investigation results are as you see, I will have nothing to say even if reported to headquarters!”

He gritted his teeth and said.

He could tell that Wu Shi and Hall Master Xing had a close relationship with this Zhang Xuan. If they continued, he would never be able to clear his name.

Framing a renowned master—this single charge could cost him his current position, and possibly even his status as a renowned master.

The only way now was to let Hall Master Gou handle it personally; perhaps there would be a turnaround.

“I have already reported to Hall Master Gou since returning from the ruins, asking him to investigate specifically! Your personal disciple’s act of stealing the news about Zhang Yinqiu and leaking it to the alien tribesmen is an established fact. Now you deliberately frame Master Zhang; even if the Hall Master interrogates you personally, the outcome will be the same!”

Wu Shi snorted coldly.

Vice Hall Master Tian Qing’s face turned pale.

Back then, Zhang Yinqiu and the others didn’t want to say more because the person who stole the information was of high status!

It was precisely this Vice Hall Master Tian’s personal disciple.

After Wu Shi returned and investigated thoroughly, the evidence was now conclusive and undeniable.

Zhang Xuan only dared to act so boldly after hearing the other party reveal the name.

He was already under investigation, yet he still dared to cause trouble for him. Since that was the case… he didn’t mind adding an even bigger stain to the other’s head.

“Guards, escort Vice Hall Master Tian and Prince Zhongqing back to the Master Teacher Hall, pending punishment!”

With a snort, Wu Shi turned and ordered.

The Master Teacher Hall governs a region; normally, it wouldn’t easily handle local officials, as it could easily cause various conflicts. But framing a renowned master was a grave crime that violated the identity and status of the foremost profession, so it had to be dealt with.

Otherwise, everyone would think renowned masters were easy to bully; what face would they have to govern the four directions?

‘Renowned masters are not to be insulted’ is not just empty talk; if you bully them, you must pay the price.

“Yes!”

Many renowned masters surged forward, took the two from Palace Master Liao and the others, and led them out of the hall.

“Master Zhang, how are you now?”

Seeing the two taken away, Wu Shi looked over with concern.

“I’m fine…”

Zhang Xuan shook his head, stood up with the help of Luo Qiqi and the others, and said apologetically: “Vice Hall Master Tian Qing made a move against me, and I retaliated, which violates the way of a teacher… To atone for my fault, I have decided to challenge the Master Teacher Hall after I recover. I hope you will permit it.”

“Challenge the hall?”

Wu Shi’s forehead twitched: “Better forget it. I will report this matter in detail. Being wronged and attacked, fighting back in self-defense is not considered excessive…”

If a renowned master truly violates the rules in a place, there is only one way to clear the guilt: challenge the hall!

Back then, for Lu Chong, he single-handedly challenged the轩辕 Kingdom, defeating the hall master of the轩辕 branch, which violated the rules. Afterwards, he underwent a hall challenge to be spared.

A hall challenge means one person, alone, takes on all the levels set by the entire Master Teacher Hall.

It’s equivalent to pitting one person’s wisdom and strength against a branch of the Master Teacher Hall… almost an impossible task.

Because of this, in history, very few have succeeded; it’s rarely heard of.

However, although others might not succeed, thinking of the identity and various means of the person before him, Wu Shi still dared not agree.

In Qiuwu Palace, even he had to willingly follow the other’s arrangements… No matter from which angle, the person before him was extremely powerful… If he really came to challenge the hall, the Qingyuan Empire Master Teacher Hall, though formidable, might not be able to withstand it.

Once he passed, he would have to unconditionally obey the other’s orders… that would truly be embarrassing.

“Since Wu Shi says so, I am relieved…”

Zhang Xuan sighed in relief and looked over again: “The Poison Hall people were implicated because of me. Could I trouble Hall Master Xing to take them back to the Battle Master Hall?”

“Take them to the Battle Master Hall?”

Hall Master Xing was startled.

“Yes. Although poison masters have a bad reputation… if used well, they can greatly increase combat power and be of great help in fighting the alien tribesmen. So… I want them to join the Battle Master Hall and become one of its sub-halls.”

Zhang Xuan said.