"They need to be punished."

This calm voice was the first thing in my entire experience in this world to terrify me. Devoid of any hate, anger or enmity, it seemed to encompass the entire room, while holding immense authority over everyone who heard it. I think that if not for my recent breakthrough, I would simply get off my seat, kneel on the floor and accept any kind of punishment that this old man meant!

It's not like I didn't know about the existence of various monster-level cultivators behind most of the powerhouses, but meeting them in reality for the first time only served to steel my resolve to avoid any potential conflict with them! While I could be sure that they wouldn't make a move for as long I didn't tease their bottom line, I realised that I would've to rethink some of the plans that I intended to implement in the future!

"While it's obvious that you would want to punish them, this city trial is impartial, and won't budge only because of your whims, no matter how powerful you are!"

Before this elder's voice managed to break my mental defences, it was swiftly dissipated by a younger-looking man, sitting on the opposite end of the room. Looking how both figures were seated at the very top row of the small tribune, it wasn't hard to realise who they really were, but I still required Venna's hint to connect local powers to each of them.

"Silence, both of you!"

Oh? The second he spoke, I recognised the city mayor's voice. Despite having his cultivation just a bit higher than me, he dared to silence people who were at least at the very top of the spiritual realm? While I couldn't know what were the differences in power, but considering the disparity between spirit attainment and soul hazard level from mortal realm, he really was either a dumb or a courageous man to act like that!

"We didn't gather everyone here to see your bickering, but to decide how will both sides be punished not only for stirring the unnecessary trouble in the midst of the tournament, but also for endangering my citizens with their foolish actions!"

Woah, those words were actually harsh! While it was impossible to judge which side did the city mayor lean towards just from this single sentence, I guess this ruse won't end with just some silly excuse of penalty! No matter what, I need to secure my own position in this trial!

"Exc.."

The same second I attempted to stand up and put my few words into the discussion, something instantly blocked my mouth, while Venna pulled me back on my ass.

"Don't you dare to speak up unless you are asked. Interrupting them is the shortest way to lose the trail!"

Wait, what? I was one of the accused, yet I was unable to speak up? How was this going to be a just and impartial trial?

"Let's begin then. We have one of the tournament contestants here, who has two duels scheduled in just an hour from now, so we need to get this over with as soon as possible! I believe everyone knows what would happen if any more changes to the ledger would happen!"

Strangely enough, those words were enough to silence the entire hall. With the look of slight fear on the faces of everyone gathered, I could only wonder what would happen if this trial took long enough to prevent Eve from joining her duels!

"On one side, we have Eve Katenari with her unofficial fiancee, who claims to belong to the Katenari family but unwilling to follow their traditions. On the other side, we have the Katenari family, trying to enforce the inner rules of their clan rules on her. For the sake of keeping this short, let's forget about all the commotion and fighting that aroused back then since both sides can be considered to be responsible for the unrest erupting back then. Any objections?"

I have to admit, I didn't expect such a situation to occur! If this trial wasn't rigged then I was a damn female! How could they ignore the attempts at my life and focus on Eve's topic alone?

"I object! How dare you ignore the fact that they attempted to murder my fiancee? If this is what you call an impartial trial, then I won't take part in this ruse!"

Before anyone could stop her, Eve burst up and shouted with her face drowning in anger. Damn, while I loved the fact that she would always stand up for me, she shouldn't expose herself just like that! So far, Katenaris here could even a thing that we didn't bring her at all, but now they could take a close look at her and potentially confirm some family trains in her looks!

"To actually reach expanding sense realm at such a young age, without any help from the clan…"

Despite my beloved flaring up, the only reaction that anyone here had, was this same, thrilling voice of the elder commenting on her cultivation! Not only that, he even managed to see through my spirit concealment ability! This is bad!

"I don't care who you are, but don't you even think about laying your dirty hands on her."

Readying all the abilities that I have in my arsenal so far, I stood up while ignoring Venna's attempts to hold me back, pushed Eve aside and blocked the Katenari Elder's line of sight. Not even raising my voice, I made sure to infuse it with as much energy as a normal development core cultivator would possess. Even if I had no hopes to bother anyone with this relatively small tease, I at least managed to force them to look at me seriously. After all, if someone was able to infuse so much energy just into his voice, his fists would carry a lot more with them!

"Calm down."

Before the Elder could use his turn to say something in this exchange, the city mayor stood up and said while smashing his fist on a strange pedestal near his chair. In an instant, I could feel powerful energy sweeping through the hall.

"As far as I understand, she really does belong to the Katenaris, yet is unwilling to follow her own clan regulations. While I suggested her before to get rid of her second name, she told me some reasons that made me believe that it would be unjust to demand this from her. Tell me then, Eve, do you wish to cut the ties with your clan?"