Chapter 345: Redclaw Tribunal

Chapter 345: Redclaw Tribunal

"Soit has come to this, huh?" Diana leaned forward, interlacing her fingers below her chin with a serious expression. "An all-out war between regional titans. The land isn't big enough for two rulers, a fact Vincent Nightrose has known all too well. Hence, he made efforts to curb any possibilities of resistance."

"I actually don't mind if other powers are nearby," Ashlock corrected her.

As his roots expanded in all directions, there was a possible future where his roots covered the entire realm. If he couldn't stand sharing his land with others, would he turn into the next Vincent Nightrose and slaughter anyone who got too close to his cultivation stage? That seemed tiresome.

"This is personal. Vincent Nightrose wants Stella dead, so he has to die. It's as simple as that."

Not to mention the credits and control he would get for killing such a foe. Vincent was now less of a threat and more of an opportunity to further his personal growth and political influence in the region. All the while removing a threat to Stella and the weaker ones in the sect.

"Still, it is amazing to think that the tyrant who has ruled the Blood Lotus Sect with an iron fist since before my father's time could actually die. To a tree, no less," Diana leaned back in her chair and smirked, "All because he happened to pick on Stella. I wonder if he will curse his luck in the afterlife."

"Afterlife? Such scum doesn't deserve to venture to such a place," Ashlock would devour his soul and turn him into thousands of sacrificial credits. Nothing would be left to even reincarnate as a mere blade of grass in his next life, let alone curse him in death. Vincent Nightrose would be reduced to nothing but a memory in the minds of those who knew and feared him. Such was the fate of a cultivator who believed he was invincible and above everyone else.

Stella jumped up, suddenly full of energy. "I'm all for this plan! Let's kill him right now. He has been a shadow looming over me and this sect for too long, like a reaper. We can't move forward with confidence until he is gone and Ashfallen takes over the Blood Lotus Sect."

"Well said," Ashlock agreed, "Any objections?"

"Do we know Vincent's cultivation stage for sure?" Elaine asked the room. "My father was always vague regarding Vincent. Maybe your family knew more than we did?"

"You think we would have known more than the Voidmind family? Nobody knows Vincent's true cultivation as far as I know. It's a well-guarded secret." Diana said. "Estimates range from the middle of the Nascent Soul Realm to the first step into the Monarch Realm."

"Has nobody seen him fight?" Stella asked.

Diana shrugged, "The Disciplinary Committee disposed of anyone who stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, such as my father. Also, the well-designed laws of the sect prevented any one family from gaining enough influence by having any winnings from wars shared with the Nightrose family. Since no family rose above the rest, the Nightrose family could use other families to deal with infighting."

"Yeah, it's as Diana said," Elaine nodded. "He has so many layers of people below him that he rarely has to intervene directly. The few times he's had to fight, his enemies have been crushed one-sidedly—or so the stories go.

"Those stories have some legitimacy behind them, with Vincent Nightrose having the highest bounty in the Eternal Pursuit Pavilion at 100,000 and his ability to single-handedly defend the Blood Lotus Sect all this time from other demonic sects," Ashlock pointed out.

"Phew, this is a lot to take in," Douglas jokingly pulled at the collar of his beige suit. "Forget the Nightrose family; when I was a rogue struggling in Darklight City, you noble families seemed like untouchable gods. Now, you tell me the collective strength of all these noble families put together couldn't stand up to this one guy? And we are going to be the ones to put an end to his rule?"

"Don't worry. I won't take action until I have verified Vincent Nightrose's strength by analyzing his soul with my eye in a few days," Ashlock reassured Douglas. He understood that many lives depended on him and his leadership to survive. If he decided to poke the hornet's nest, it wouldn't just be him who had to deal with it. Everyone under the Ashfallen banner would suffer if he tried and failed to punch above his weight.

"It would be like the fight with the Lunarshade Grand Elder but on a far larger scale," Ashlock mused. He knew he had a chance of victory, especially if he could bait Vincent Nightrose to fight near Red Vine Peak. The problem is that it brought the fight toward vulnerable cities like Darklight and Ashfallen City.

"That's a relief," Douglas let out a sigh, "I only just reached the Star Core Realm at the end of the Mystic Realm and haven't had time to get used to my new strength. So heading straight into a war wouldn't have been ideal."

"That's a good point, and I should congratulate you and Elaine on your successful ascensions. Now, all of Ashfallen's Grand Elders are in the Star Core Realm, which is much more fitting."

When Ashlock first discovered the Redclaw family, only the Grand Elder was in the Star Core Realm. Elder Brent, Margret, and Mo were stuck in the Soul Fire Realm due to heart demons creating bottlenecks. So it hadn't been weird to have Douglas and Elaine as Elders despite being in the Soul Fire Realm, but now that the Ashfallen Sect rivaled the top-tier families like the Silverspires who had Star Core Realm butlers for their scions, it had been a little embarrassing.

Elaine and Douglas gave a bow of appreciation at his words.

"Now, Douglas..."

Douglas straightened up, and a worrisome expression bloomed on his face. "Yes, boss?"

"While we wait to see if Vincent Nightrose is defeatable, don't you agree we hold the tournament here in my Inner World so as not to repeat the alchemy tournament incident?"

"Right..." Douglas nodded slowly. His worsening expression clearly indicated that the conversation was heading in an unfavorable direction.

"Unfortunately, we lack a suitable venue for such an event here," Ashlock said. "Could you build a floating arena surrounded by a town to host our events for the foreseeable future? My Inner World has expanded in size, so there should be plenty of room."

"It would be my pleasure," Douglas said with a strained smile, "How long do I have?"

"Would a week be long enough?" Ashlock suggested. The tournament had been scheduled to occur straight after the Mystic Realm, but sometimes plans had to be changed.

Douglas's eye twitched, "A week?"

Neither of the boys answered her. They kept their gazes firmly on the ground.

"I separated you three and compared your recollection of events," Elder Margret tapped the clipboard, "Your story does not match Nathan and Terrances, Isabella."

Her eyes widened, and she looked between the two in panic. "W-What? How did they differ?"

"Almost every detail matches; however, it's said that Harris died earlier due to unforeseen circumstances, but in your report, you say he was alive until the Fire Drake attacked." Elder Margret's gaze hardened. "Nathan and Terrance were very vague about how Harris died, even though the death of a family member would have been a very polarizing and notable event. The only thing they both agreed on was that Harris died at the end of the first week."

Isabella's shock turned to anger, "You two!"

"Silence." Elder Margret snapped, "The appearance of the Fire Drake is also strange. You all described the location with the high-elevation flowers and that after a few days, a single Fire Drake egg was discovered in a hole. This is odd since Fire Drakes prefer to lay their eggs in low-elevation areas and always in groups of three. This means someone put the egg there to bait the Fire Drake to attack."

Elder Margret stepped toward Isabella, "You were the only one out of the three able to mention details about the egg. So, in conclusion, I have reason to suspect after killing Harris, for whatever reason, you wanted to wipe out the witnesses by baiting a Fire Drake to attack. Is that correct?"

"No—"

"Yes, Elder Margret," Terrance stood up. He was an older boy in his twenties with messy red hair that fell over his face. "It was also partially mine and Nathan's fault that Harris died. The three of us and Harris went exploring and—"

"Terrance, shut up." Isabella hit him in the shoulder, sending him staggering to the side. "You're just sprouting lies."

"Samatha deserves to know the truth," Terrance retorted, "Despite being stronger, we used him as a scout! He died because we were too cowardly to go first."

Magnus closed his eyes as he imagined the terrible scene and heard a thump followed by a howl as Samatha dropped to her knees. Somehow, the story was even more horrific than he had imagined it. To use the youngest and weakest in the group as a scout? They were a family of war heroes, not savages. The thought of doing such a thing made him almost spit out with disgust.

Nathan stood up last and looked at his father, a usually cheerful, round-faced man with a bushy red beard, in the crowd with shame. His father returned a wrathful glare.

"It's as Terrance says." Nathan looked between the two youths, "When we returned, the others said they would tell the Elders about what we had done. When the Fire Drake attacked and killed everyone, we all agreed to keep how Harris died a secret... but now I see the Fire Drake attack wasn't by chance."

Magnus opened his eyes, and his voice carried a fiery rage he had long kept restrained. "You three had committed an unforgivable sin by leading a fellow Redclaw to their untimely demise. However, Isabella took it further by committing an act reminiscent of a cold-hearted demon. You slaughtered your family and planned to hide it. You even looted the dead in hopes it would fuel your own selfish growth."

Isabella stepped back, her lip quivering as she looked between the Elders facing her down. "No... how did it turn out like this!"

A sudden pressure descended on White Stone Peak, and divine energy crackled through the air. The immortal had arrived to witness the judgment on those who had defiled the Mystic Realm.

Magnus slowly raised his hand to give judgment while under the immortal's gaze, "For these crimes, Nathan and Terrance will have their cultivation stripped, and they will be reduced to cripples. Meanwhile, Isabella, you will be sentenced to death—"

"Hold on, Grand Elder."

Magnus glanced to the side and was surprised to see Elder Brent, of all people, gripping his arm.

"I have a more fitting punishment for these evildoers."

Magnus raised a brow, "What is it?"

"These three took talented youths and loved ones from us with their actions. Crippling them and executing another just creates more death and suffering."

"Are you suggesting we spare them?" Magnus couldn't understand his brother's line of thinking.

Elder Brent shook his head, "I suggest we have the immortal turn them into trees right here in the courtyard so they may benefit our family forever by bathing the courtyard in their Qi while serving as a constant reminder to the others."

Magnus looked at Elder Mo and saw his old war buddy nodding profoundly at the suggestion. Elder Margret also seemed to agree. Magnus lowered his arm and looked up at the sky. "Immortal, would such a punishment be acceptable?"

The immortal answered his question through action. The ground below split open, and three-person thick, ethereal black roots covered in thorns and ending in spikes emerged like coiling snakes and wrapped around the youths. They howled in pain as their flesh was torn to shreds and their bones crushed.

Everyone watched on with mixed expressions. It was gruesome and brutal but also deserved.

After a while, the three crushed and bloodied bodies were thrown to the floor a few meters from one another. Immediately, their unconscious bodies began to twist upwards as if they were trying to stand and solidify into black wood. After a while, they took on the general shape of a tree, and blood-red leaves sprouted from their branches that resembled arms ending in gnarled fingers.

Most stayed deathly silent during the transformation, though sobbing could be heard from the crowd. Today was a dark day for the Redclaw family, but also the start of a new beginning, Magnus thought as he saw the three trees rise in the courtyard.