Chapter 23 — From Ruins to the Dharma Lord's Throne

During the interrogation of Black Flame and the high-ranking subordinates arrested at the Blood Moon Tower, the White-winged Alliance collected a large amount of documents and detailed testimony about the insider network that the Dark Alliance installed in many large organizations across the continent, including the Starlight Magic Academy.

One of the low-ranking subordinates, hoping to gain leniency, revealed the entire relationship between Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên and Hắc Diễm, along with specific evidence of secret communications, including the communication talisman he used the night before the finals of the academy tournament.

When the group returned to the academy, Director Hầu Đạt Sơn convened an emergency meeting of the entire academy council, with a representative of the White Wing Alliance carrying all the evidence they had collected.

"Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên," Hầu Đạt Sơn spoke, his voice heavy but determined, placing the evidence file on the table in front of the elder who was trying to keep a calm expression. "We have enough evidence to show that he colluded with the Dark Alliance, changed the formation in the academy tournament to harm student Tần Dịch Phàm, and at the same time provided intelligence information about the student group's journey to Borderline Tàn Dạ."

Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên was silent for a long time, his thin face gradually lost its fake calmness, revealing the bitterness and despair stored inside for many years. "You don't understand," he finally spoke, his voice trembling but full of anger. "I have devoted my entire life to this academy, but have always been excluded from important positions of power simply because my background is not prestigious enough. The Black Flame promised me strength, immortality, things that I have longed for all my life but have never had."

"So you chose to betray the very place that gave you a position, a home, in exchange for false promises from someone who was plotting to cause war and massacre millions of innocent lives?" Hầu Đạt Sơn spoke harshly, disappointment clearly visible on his face. "You almost caused an innocent student to die because of your personal ambitions."

Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên bowed his head, there were no words left to justify. "I know I was wrong. But the bitterness of being overlooked over the years has eroded my reason without realizing it."

Dịch Phàm, present at the meeting at the request of the dean to testify, stood silently listening to the entire confession. He felt a vague sympathy for the pain of being overlooked that Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên had experienced, no different from what he himself had endured at Te Ban Hospital. But empathy did not mean forgiveness for actions that had caused serious consequences.

"He had another choice," Dịch Phàm spoke up, his voice calm but determined. "I was also looked down upon and marginalized just because of my background. But I chose to prove my worth through honest effort, not by betraying those who trusted me."

Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên looked up at him, his eyes were complicated, mixed with shame and something almost awe at the maturity beyond his years of the teenager standing in front of him. "You're right. Perhaps, from the beginning, I chose the wrong path."

The academy council, after considering all evidence and testimony, decided to depose Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên from all positions, strip him of all elder titles, and hand him over to the Bạch Dực Alliance to bear criminal responsibility according to the alliance's laws for colluding with hostile forces.

Before being escorted out of the academy, Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên asked to speak privately with Dịch Phàm one last time. In the temporary prison cell, he looked at him, his eyes no longer had any arrogance or resentment, only the fatigue of a person who had lived too long in bitterness. "I don't expect you to forgive me. But I want you to know, even though I was wrong, I never really wanted to see you die. I simply lost myself in my thirst for recognition."

"I get it," Dịch Phàm replied, his voice was not harsh at all. "I hope, in the rest of your life, you will find a way to atone for what you have done, not for anyone else, but for yourself." Nhạc Vĩnh Tuyên nodded, without saying another word, letting the guards escort him out of the academy, closing a treacherous chapter in the history of Tinh Quang Magic Academy.

News of the incident, although handled discreetly to avoid causing panic in the academy, gradually spread, and most reactions from students and professors were relief to know that the traitor had finally been brought to light, and even more admiration for what Dịch Phàm and his teammates had done to protect the academy and the continent.

Two weeks later, Tinh Quang Magic Academy held a grand ceremony at Tinh Quang Square - the same place where Dịch Phàm had stood on the spiritual awakening stage more than a year ago, considered a useless person. Now, that square was filled with people, not only the students and professors of the academy, but also representatives of most of the major families and alliances across the Shangyuan continent, all gathered to witness the historic honoring ceremony.

Principal Hầu Đạt Sơn stood on a high platform, his voice echoing throughout the square through the sound amplification array. "Today, we gather here not just to honor a military victory, but to honor a spirit — the spirit of not giving up in the face of adversity, of not giving up hope no matter how humble his background. Tần Dịch Phàm, the son of two heroic border magicians Tần Hạo Nguyên and Liễu Thanh Hà, once considered useless by this very academy, has now proven himself to be the most outstanding magician of this generation, the one who single-handedly stopped a war that could have engulfed the entire Thương Nguyên continent in a sea of fire and misery."

Cheers echoed throughout the square when Dịch Phàm stepped onto the podium of honor, wearing the high-class magician's uniform that was awarded to a student for the first time by the academy. He stood there, looking down at the sea of people cheering his name, filled with a feeling that couldn't be expressed in words — from an orphan no one paid attention to, now he stood here, honored by the entire continent.

"I accept this honor," Dịch Phàm said, his voice echoing throughout the square, "not for myself, but on behalf of all those who have been looked down upon and marginalized simply because of their background. I hope my story will prove that true strength does not come from bloodline or fame, but from the will to never give up."

His entire group of teammates — Bạt Sơn, Nhược Đông, Tịch Dao, Vũ Khanh — were also honored with him on the podium of honor, each receiving a special medal from the hands of Director Hou Đạt Sơn, recognizing their contributions in the recent historic journey. Tuyết Nhi stood next to Dịch Phàm, her hand holding his hand tightly, her eyes filled with undisguised pride in front of the entire continent.

From the rows of honor, Tần Hạo Nguyên and Liễu Thanh Hà looked at their son standing there, amidst the radiance of honor that neither of them dared to dream of during their seventeen years of dark imprisonment, tears of happiness rolling down both of their faces.

After the ceremony, representatives of many famous families and alliances across the continent came to congratulate and express their desire to associate with Dịch Phàm, some even offered to invite him to join their advisory ranks as soon as he graduated from the academy. But Dịch Phàm, despite politely accepting all invitations, still maintained his stance.

"I thank you for your kindness," he answered in front of one of the powerful family heads. "But right now, I just want to focus on completing my studies at Tinh Quang Academy, and spend time with my family and friends who have been with me throughout my journey."

That humble answer made many people even more respectful, because amidst countless opportunities and attractive invitations, the teenager who had just accomplished the feat still maintained his sanity and the core values that brought him to success today.