Inside the towering halls of Blackstone Keep, Shao Xian stood before an ancient mural, his golden eyes scanning the faded carvings. The massive stone wall depicted celestial battles, divine beings locked in combat, and realms collapsing under their might. This was not mere art—it was history, a record of forgotten ages.
Zhou Fan approached from behind, his expression dark. "My Lord, the sect leaders have been subdued. Their oaths have been sealed. None will dare betray you."
Shao Xian did not turn. "Good. But they are merely pawns, Zhou Fan. Easily replaced."
Zhou Fan hesitated. "Then… do you wish to eradicate them?"
Shao Xian chuckled, though there was no warmth in the sound. "Not yet. Let them prove their worth first. If they fail, their lives are forfeit."
Zhou Fan bowed. "As you command."
Shao Xian finally turned from the mural, his gaze distant. "Tell me, Zhou Fan, what do you know of the Heavenly Council?"
Zhou Fan's expression stiffened. "The rulers of the divine realms… those who stand above even the greatest sects. They have not interfered in mortal affairs for centuries."
Shao Xian smirked. "That is what they want you to believe."
He stepped forward, his presence filling the chamber with an overwhelming force. "The Council has always moved in shadows, shaping the rise and fall of empires. They let sects wage war, let monarchs rise and fall, but the moment one grows too powerful, they intervene."
Zhou Fan clenched his fists. "Then… you believe they will come for you?"
A low chuckle escaped Shao Xian's lips. "They are already watching."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Zhou Fan took a step forward. "What must we do?"
Shao Xian's golden eyes gleamed. "We will not wait for them to strike first."
He turned away, his long robes flowing like the tides of darkness. "Gather my forces. It is time to send a message."
The night sky above the Blackstone Keep trembled. A deep hum resonated through the heavens, a pulse of energy that sent shivers through even the most battle-hardened cultivators.
A messenger stumbled into the great hall, his face pale with terror. "M-My Lord! A divine decree has descended!"
Shao Xian did not look surprised. He merely raised a hand, and a golden scroll materialized before him, floating gently in the air. The decree pulsed with celestial energy, its surface adorned with sacred runes that only the strongest beings could comprehend.
Zhou Fan tensed. "It's from the Heavenly Council…"
Shao Xian unfolded the scroll, scanning its contents.
"Shao Xian, Sovereign of the Reborn Dao, your rise disturbs the balance. Cease your conquests, submit to the divine law, or face the judgment of the heavens."
A cold smile curved Shao Xian's lips. "So predictable."
He clenched his fingers, and the golden scroll burned away in an instant.
Zhou Fan's eyes widened. "You—"
Shao Xian's voice was calm, yet it carried the weight of a decree. "The heavens do not dictate my fate. If they wish to test me, let them come."
At that moment, the heavens roared. Thunder crackled across the sky, and an ominous presence descended upon the land. A single figure materialized above Blackstone Keep—a celestial envoy, clad in flowing white robes, his aura radiating divine power.
"I am Envoy Lu Tian," the figure intoned, his voice reverberating like the chime of ancient bells. "By the decree of the Heavenly Council, you are to be judged."
Shao Xian merely chuckled. "Judged? How amusing."
He raised a single hand, and in the next instant, the skies cracked apart.