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Chapter 260 - 259: The Celebration Ends
Chapter 260 - 259: The Celebration Ends
Chapter 260: Chapter 259: The Celebration Ends
Translator: 549690339
At this point, a voiceover intones: “Li Nezha is a citizen of Great Wei. According to jurisdiction of citizenship, Great Wei has jurisdiction. The act of Li Nezha injuring the Third Son of the Dragon King took place in the nearby sea, which is under the jurisdiction of Great Wei. Hence, according to territorial jurisdiction, Great Wei also has jurisdiction.”
“As per litigation law, Chen Tang Pass holds jurisdiction rights. However, considering Li Nezha’s status, as per the ‘recusal system’, the jurisdiction has to be transferred to another city.”
“The Third Son of the Dragon King belongs to a foreign nationality. Foreign-related criminal cases require higher level jurisdiction, hence they can only be under the jurisdiction of a ‘prefecture’.”
After probing, the magistrate began the trial: “The Third Son of the Dragon King intentionally hurt a child. Li Nezha acted in defense to protect the child and injured the dragon. His actions are considered legitimate self-defense and do not constitute intentional harm.”
The East Sea Dragon King objected and continued: “I’ll sue Li Nezha for deliberately injuring precious animals!”
The magistrate calmly replied: “According to the laws of Great Wei, offenses of intentionally harming precious animals apply to creatures without intelligence. Dragons are intelligent beings, hence, they are not under the purview of this offense.”
“Moreover, Li Nezha was only eleven years old when the incident happened, failing to meet the twelve-year-old age requirement for criminal responsibility under Wei law. Therefore, he does not bear criminal responsibility.”
Hence, the magistrate made the ruling: “In conclusion, Li Nezha is innocent.
However, since Li Nezha caused the injury, he should make civil compensation. If there are any objections, an appeal can be made to the higher authority within ten days.”
The East Sea Dragon King protested, appealing the case all the way to the highest levels of authority, right up to Ji Zhi.”
Ji Zhi announced his final verdict: “Dismiss the litigation request, uphold the original judgment.”
The East Sea Dragon King was disheartened, but still accepted the final judgment.
The performance ended, leaving Jiang Li rooted in place, his mind a whirl of thoughts.
“So, how was it? Was the performance okay?” Ji Zhi boasted to Jiang Li. He’d slightly tweaked the story of Nezha causing an uproar in the sea, to make it fit the circumstances of Great Wei.
“You’re quite something.”
“I remember you telling the story of Chenxiang splitting a mountain to save his mother. I’ve tweaked it into ‘Chenxiang’s Jailbreak’. What do you think?”
Ji Zhi thought he’d done well. Based on ‘Chenxiang splitting a mountain to save his mother’, he could introduce the law of “immortals not engaging with mortals” and then go into a detailed discussion about “bad laws not being legal” It should be quite an interesting watch.
Jiang Li tightened his grip on Ji Zhi’s shoulder: “As I’ve helped you seize the throne once, I’m practically begging you, leave me some fond childhood memories.”
This was the first time Ji Zhi had seen Jiang Li like this, so he abandoned his idea of modifying the story of Chenxiang splitting the mountain to save his mother.
After the end of Li Nezha’s stirring up the sea, it was the turn of the Corpse-Driving Sect to perform.
Seeing a banner rising from the crowd, Jiang Li thought the Corpse-Driving Sect was quite popular and that they were being welcomed. To his surprise, the banner read:
“Corpse-Driving Sect, No Middlemen, Best afterlife for the departed, Contact Corpse-Driving Sect for the sale of the deceased remains, bulk discounts available. ”
“The damn Corpse-Driving Sect is causing trouble again.”
Liu, the commander, had also seen the banner and promptly ordered the guards to take down the banner.
The Corpse-Driving Sect’s performance was a skit. It was as boring as the Duo Chi Kingdom’s skit and was more of an extended ad for the Corpse-Driving Sect rather than a real skit.
On stage, the son was holding his dying father and sobbed, “Father, please don’t die.”
The father extended his trembling arm and clutched his son’s hand, “My child, death is like snuffing out a lamp. There is nothing worth mourning. Your father is a god-transformation stage cultivator. You can sell my body to the Corpse-Driving Sect, they buy at high prices…”
Then, the father took his last breath.
The son, following his father’s last wishes and, tearfully, handed over his father to the Corpse-Driving Sect.
The Corpse-Driving Sect was shocked, “Your father clearly isn’t dead, why did you bring him to us?”
“His life signs ceased, it’s a case of apparent death. Your father can still be saved.”
The Corpse-Driving Sect sent a mortician who successfully revived the father. The son thanked the Corpse-Driving Sect for their life-saving grace but was puzzled, “Don’t you love dead bodies the most? Why didn’t you pretend to be ignorant, accept my father, and instead revived him?”
‘Why do we drive corpses? Our philosophy at the Corpse-Driving Sect is that the dead cannot be revived. But death doesn’t imply the extinguishing of the lamp. We hope to use our hands to restore the brilliance of the deceased, so they may shine from life to death.”
“It’s for this reason that we strictly differentiate between the living and the dead, guaranteeing that the living are living, and the dead are dead!”
Moved, the son presented a banner to the Corpse-Driving Sect: The
Corpse-Driving Sect, miraculous life-saving.”
The performance ended amidst polite applause.
Jiang Li pondered for a moment, then said to the head of the Corpse-Driving
Sect, “Next time you perform like this, charge for advertisement.”
Union Sect was much better behaved this time. They simply organised a fashion show in comparatively conservative attire, exhibiting various styles highlighting feminine charm to the audience.
At the very least, they dressed more conservatively than the people from the White Marsh Empire and the Worm Race.
Jiang Li suspected the Union Sect was aiming to diversify and start selling clothes.
The performance by the Body-incorporating Sect, the Beast-controlling Sect, and the White Marsh Empire revolved around the theme of harmony between humans and demons.
“Why would the Body-incorporating Sect participate in such a theme?”
Someone in the audience was wondering. It made sense for the
Beast-controlling Sect and the White Marsh Empire, but they failed to see how this theme was related to the Body-incorporating Sect.
“I’m not sure. Perhaps because the Body-incorporating Sect admires demon forms to comprehend their own laws hence maintaining good relations with the demons?” Someone conjectured.
Penglai Fairy Island, the Wei Dynasty, the Dream River Dynasty, and other
major forces took turns performing from dawn till dusk, successfully rounding up all the performances.
None of the performances were similar, each had its unique appeal, and left the audience spellbound. Ming Zhong watched it all and was amazed by Jiuzhou’s open-mindedness.
The cultivators watching did not feel any fatigue and enjoyed every bit, constantly applauding.
For them, the journey to the Imperial Palace seemed quite worthwhile.
Being able to witness how a performance can result in transcendence must have substantial benefits towards their state of mind, although it wouldn’t improve their cultivation. Still, improving one’s state of mind is also a crucial part of cultivation.
None of the major forces were willing to play by the rules, and each could conjure a magic trick. Jiang Li watched, weary at heart. As the person in charge, Liu also felt the same.
Both thought it would have been better to fight the Heavenly Demons instead.
“Next time let’s have a rehearsal beforehand. If nothing else, we should at least know what these monsters and ghouls are planning to perform. It will help us to be mentally prepared.”
Liu nodded in agreement. He felt the Emperor was quite right. Ten years ago, the Union Sect was the only one causing trouble. Now, after ten years, everyone was causing trouble.
While their cultivation had not improved, their ability to cause trouble had. Straight off, it was too overwhelming even for a Transcendence Tribulation stage.
On the outcome, the festival was a huge success. Everyone was joyful and satisfied with the celebrations.
The festival concluded successfully.
But for some people, this was just the beginning.
After all, there was a ten-day holiday, and it would be a shame to not take the opportunity to have some fun, especially when it marked 300 years of Jiang Li’s reign.
Jiang Li felt that cultivators’ joy was built on top of his suffering. As the Human Emperor, he had sacrificed too much.
Jiang Li decided to go for a walk, anywhere would do, as long as it was away from the Imperial Palace.
The silent system then issued a new mission.
[Special mission posted: “Find the fragments of the Stairway to Immortality”]