The High Council Summit Hall stood atop the Celestial Flame Peak—a fortress carved into crimson-gold stone, with spires piercing the heavens and walls etched with countless generations of sect law.
Liu Shen stepped from the spirit crane platform, his robe a dark cascade, a crimson sash tied at his waist.
The Black Flame Lotus Ring pulsed quietly.
Rin and Yun Rou flanked him, both dressed in ceremonial garments bearing the temporary crests of their fabricated titles.
> "This is suicide," Yun Rou murmured as the massive gates loomed ahead.
Liu Shen didn't answer.
He only looked up at the glowing gold sigil above the summit hall:
> "Justice Burns Purest."
He smiled faintly.
> "We'll see."
---
The Gathering of Elders
Inside the chamber, twelve seats of authority curved in a semicircle of floating jade thrones.
Above them, the ceiling showed a swirling array of stars—projected constellations representing ancient Sect Founders.
Liu Shen's steps echoed.
Council members murmured. Few recognized the name. Fewer recognized the face.
But one did.
Elder Fei Liansheng.
The man sat in the fourth jade throne, his eyes sharp behind a mask of serenity.
His spiritual pressure curled like mist.
> "How unexpected," Fei said. "An outer sect inspector seated among us?"
Liu Shen bowed politely. "Acting Auditor, approved by Flamekeeper."
Fei's smile twitched.
> "How efficient. I'll be sure to commend the Flamekeeper personally."
---
A Spark in the Ashes
The session began.
Topics flowed—resource distribution, internal border breaches, new appointments.
Liu Shen waited.
Patient.
Silent.
Then, as the discussion turned to the Inner Soul Palace Project—a mysterious proposal led by Elder Fei—he spoke.
> "Honored Elders," Liu Shen said calmly.
"Before we vote, I request full disclosure of the soul allocation methods involved in this project."
The room stilled.
Fei's eyes narrowed.
> "That information is sealed."
> "Only the Council Chair may—"
> "I have authorization," Liu Shen said, producing a glowing jade.
The elders turned. Murmurs rose.
The Flamekeeper's seal.
> How?
Fei clenched his fist.
> "You play a dangerous game."
Liu Shen's gaze was cold.
> "I'm just asking for transparency."
---
The Trigger
As Fei began explaining—half-truths dressed in flowery legalism—Liu Shen quietly activated the Oath Scroll beneath his robe.
He whispered a silent chant.
The scroll began pulsing.
> Bind him when truth is touched. Seal him when guilt ignites.
Fei's voice quivered for half a breath.
> "We—collected—consenting spiritual signatures for the sovereign-grade vessels—"
The scroll burned red.
Searing light erupted from Liu Shen's sleeve.
Flame-bound runes wrapped around Fei Liansheng mid-sentence—freezing his words, pulling the truth from his tongue like molten glass.
Elders stood in shock.
> "Soul-bonding!" one gasped.
"That's… forbidden!"
But the scroll was already done.
Fei Liansheng collapsed to his knees, mouth bloodied, eyes wide.
He had confessed—to soul manipulation. In front of the High Council.
And it was sealed in flame.
---
The Demon Speaks
Liu Shen stepped forward.
> "This man," he said calmly, "has used forbidden arts to bind sovereign souls. Including mine."
The chamber fell to chaos.
> "You are—"
> "A victim of his crimes," Liu Shen cut in. "A sovereign once betrayed. Now reborn."
Fei tried to speak, but the scroll's curse silenced him.
Liu Shen turned to the others.
> "I claim my right. The right of one unjustly condemned."
> "And I demand a Sovereign's Trial."
The elders froze.
Such a trial hadn't been invoked in three centuries.
And none ever ended without blood.