1 Prologue

Heavens, South Empire, Kun Pi the capital city of the empire.

It was a famous city that remained standing since the south empire was founded, countless extraordinary people with peculiar status were roaming the capital. The capital was in full alert as today was a very important day.

Today was the first day of the heavenly Ku month, A very blissful day with a rich blessing from the heavenly Dao, However, this day was not as blissful, At least for the current Empress and her son, The crown prince Arucane.

Today was supposed to be a day of joy for the Empress and the Crown prince, as they were preparing to announce his engagement to the Lu clan's daughter, the one known for her once in a millennia talent as well as her heavenly bloodline.

Before sunrise, on a golden road among leads to the Imperial Palace, A small carriage held by four servants and protected by seven guards was on its way to the palace, travelling slowly through the road.

The guards weren't touching the ground as their bodies floated a little above the ground, their faces all held stern looks and A hint of pride. they weren't armoured nor armed with any weapons. However, their bodies emitted a fearsome aura which could instil fear in their enemies bodies, Their clothes were tailored with golden patterns which looked like a lion with three heads. A mark which belongs to the Lu clan.

Before dawn, the palace's outer court was filled with important guests from all over the empire and even from other domains out the empire, There was also a large group of young masters among them, with guards in front of them holding different banners which belonged to their household's mark.

At the forefront of these guests, right at the inner court's gate stood seven guards fully equipped with golden attire as well as divine weapons, their eyes sharp as their attention was focused. In front of these guards stood a steward with three dragon mark over his chest. This mark only belonged to the south empire's Royal clan.

"His Majesty! The great south Emperor of heaven. ordered that every honoured guest who arrived today to witness the punishment trial, to enter the Inner court..."The steward held the Divine decree of the South Emperor."Please announce your family's name."

"My young master, Ju Tian arrived today to witness the trial." A guard shouted his family's young master name as he said politely.

"My young master, Ru Cae arrived..."

"My young master,..."

"My young miss..."

Every guard introduced his family's name as they proceeded to enter the inner court. It went on for an hour, and finally, the introduction and permissions to enter were done as they all were invited to the inner court to wait for the trial to begin.

This important event was related to the Crown prince as well as his mother the Heavenly Empress, They were locked to wait for the punishment court to investigate before finally giving their punishment.

Three days from now was a shocking day as the whole empire shooked and the heavenly army was surrounding the whole capital!, even his Majesty, The South Emperor personally moved. this event started because of the Only Heavenly True treasure of the Royal Clan. The Heavenly Lotus Scroll disappeared all of a sudden from the treasury.

What has this got to do with the Empress or her son.? Somehow the elders protecting the Treasury said they witnessed the Empress and her son enter the Treasury in the same day the Heavenly treasure disappeared from the treasury.

The Emperor at first was furious as he wanted to kill the elders for their lies, however, what made this event go bigger was that his uncle. The Left Heavenly protector arrived personally to investigate this, The investigation went on for three days, And while all of this was taking a hand, The Empress and her entire clan were locked by the imperial army. Her son! the Crown prince was in no way better. as he was locked in the Imperial prison. Just like any normal criminal.

His brothers were keeping coming in to mock him, while others like the Heavenly first concubine and the ninth princess told him that his mother was locked like a slut who did something wrong in her room.

All of this did indeed made him enraged, However!. he wasn't reckless enough to take a wrong step. He knew for sure that this is a big scheme. and the schemer behind this scheme will surely show himself at the end. all he can do was to wait!. wait for his Royal father to save him and his mother.

...

The Punishment Court was responsible for punishment and sentences. it always judged criminals of the empire and even fallen cultivators with high ranks would only be like meek rats in front of the judges, however! this was the first time A prince would be standing in this court. and wait to be judged at that.

Within the main hall of the Punishment Court laid three silver chairs lined up in a straight line. The Punishment court's Main judge, Left, and right Guardians of the empire. On the left side of the hall, More than thirty seats were placed for guests. All kinds of appearances were here. Some of them wore purple clothes, some were females.

The Emperor was the first to talk as he stood up from his chair: "Elders!, Please start the court." He sat down again with a heavy look on his face, he loved his son and his wife however his uncles and even the Ancestors ordered to not intervene in the investigations.

"Bring Him in!." The left protector ordered.

The court door was opened as Arucane came inside with the company of few guards who were locking his hands and his whole body shackled with golden chains as a beast. this scene caused the Emperor's fists to cackle as he destroyed the throne handle and his eyes held a hint of killing intent.

But all he can do is to wait, He can't just fight his own clan and even his uncles for this trivial reason.

"Mhm..." The main judge looked at Arucane as he asked: " I will ask you three questions, you only need to answer with yes or no, do you understand?"

Arucane nodded his head as he waited patiently to see how it ends.

"First question, did you visit the Heavenly empress three days ago?" The judge asked.

"Yes!." Arucane answered without hesitation.

"Good!, The second question did you or did you not talk with your third brother about information related to the Lotus scroll!.?"

Arcane's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at his third brother with a hint of killing intent, was his third brother the schemer behind the veil? did he scheme all of this.? but why?

"Answer the question!" The right protector said while releasing his cultivation domain to wake everyone's mind

"I didn't" Arucane answered with displeasure, this situation seems a little weird...

"Brother! why lie about this.? even your fiance was with us when you asked this! I hope the judges to ask miss Lu" His third brother yelled all of a sudden as he pointed his finger at Lu clan's seats.

"The third prince is telling the truth!, Arucane did ask about the heavenly treasure!" A young voice is heard from Lu's clan seats as a young girl stood up and said.

"You!.."Arucane was shocked at first by his brother claim, however, when he heard his fiance's words he was left raging as his heart turned cold. it seems the scheme is quite big.

"The third question, did you or did you not steal the Lotus scroll with the help of your mother?" The main judge asked coldly.

"I.." Just when Arucane wanted to say no, he received a voice transmission from the left protector ' you better confess your crime or else don't blame me for being ruthless and killing your slutty mother!'

Arcane's face paled instantly as his legs trembled, His eyes were unwilling as his whole body shivered from the thought of his mother being killed. He made up his mind finally as he said:" I did steal the lotus scroll, However mother doesn't have any taking in this crime..."

He doesn't mind being locked or even jailed, worse case they would strip him of his title, but nothing will happen to his mother.

"I, The left protector of the Empire, by the orders of the Ancestors. investigated clearly and found Arucnae, Known as the Crown prince, His mother the Heavenly Empress and her entire clan guilty! And I hereby declare my judgement, they should be killed for their crime." The left protector smirked at Arucane words as he declared his real intentions.

Hearing his words, The right protector declared: "guilty! I will leave the judgement for the main judge! Please declare your judgment"

The main judge nodded as he looked at Arucane with sympathy and some disdain: " I declare! by the heavenly laws and the Dao source. I declare Arucane guilty for stealing a heavenly treasure! And I declare his punishment to be stripped of his position before killing him by the worst method. I hereby declare her guilty as she aided a criminal to steal a treasure only belongs to the Royal clan. I judge her and her entire Ru clan to be destroyed with the cruellest methods."

Arucane face turned green from anger as he circulated his inner power and he readied himself to attack the judges with all his power. it was a stupid idea but a cornered cat would bite.