The Circle of Trial trembled.
Divine law resisted. Karmic flame sparked between conflicting decrees. Two truths now stood in opposition:
> —Heaven's accusation.
—The Sovereign's rebuttal.
And the world was watching.
Inside the glowing dome, silence reigned.
Judge Tianzhao stood unmoving—his blindfolded gaze fixed not on Liu Shen, but on the crumbling faith around him.
> "Your words twist the truth," he said coldly.
"You are still a criminal."
Liu Shen smiled.
> "Then prove it. Or… strike me down now."
---
The Crack of Chains
A pause.
Then—CLINK.
One of the chains on Tianzhao's arms snapped.
A karmic backlash ignited the ground beneath him, forming a glyph of judgment warped by contradiction.
The heavens were watching him now.
> "You broke Law Number 2," Liu Shen said with amusement.
"Neutrality in all celestial trials."
> "You just passed judgment before the ruling was complete."
Tianzhao flinched. The divine sigils circling his body flickered—authority weakening.
Yu Meixing muttered, "He's falling into Liu Shen's trap…"
Lei Qing smirked. "Good."
---
Forced Into Mortal Realm
To preserve dignity, Tianzhao had only one option: invoke heaven's override.
He raised his hand—and the Circle of Trial collapsed.
> "Then let the trial end," he said through clenched teeth.
"Let it become duel."
Lightning crashed across the sky. The heavens screamed in silent protest.
A celestial judge could not invoke violence unless proven corrupted.
But Tianzhao had already snapped one law. Now he reached for his blade—a sword of divine judgment forged from the breath of law itself.
Liu Shen unsheathed his own weapon:
> The Demonbane Fang, reborn from his last life's soul flame.
> "Let's test if heavenly steel bleeds."
---
The Duel Begins
The sky split as they clashed.
Flame met order. Shadows collided with judgment. Each strike shattered clouds, each movement altered the currents of qi for miles.
Disciples trembled. Mountains cracked.
And the world watched in awe.
Liu Shen parried a divine slash and whispered—
> "This is your downfall, Tianzhao. Not because you're weak... but because you're still bound."
The Judge gritted his teeth as he bled golden ichor.
> "And you are… unchained."
---
A Rift in the Heavens
With one final clash, Liu Shen's blade grazed Tianzhao's shoulder—cutting through divine law.
He didn't kill him.
He let the world see the invincible Judge bleed.
The dome vanished.
Tianzhao knelt, wounded and ashamed, as Liu Shen raised his hand and declared:
> "I have been judged… and still I stand."
> "Tell your gods: The Sovereign walks again."