The banners of the Heavenly Spear Alliance fluttered proudly over the newly crowned Tianzhen City, yet beneath the proud sky of unity, tension simmered like an unextinguished ember. A realm forged in war, now confronted by the truer battle—governance, ambition, and the balancing of a hundred wills within a single dream.
Barely a fortnight had passed since the official formalization of territories and the unveiling of the Realm of the Heavenly Spear Alliance. With the Twin Guardian Mountain Gate anchored atop Kun Island and the realm's spatial core now opened—the expansive tri-zoned secret realm serving as the Alliance's heart—dreams had taken shape in stone, steel, and sigil. But unity written on paper was not unity lived.
That truth surfaced when the first full-scale Council of Ten Halls, One State, and Eight Departments convened in the Grand Council Hall of the State of Records.
The chamber, built with precision and reverence, mirrored both majesty and severity—an expansive circular hall with crystalline lanterns floating above etched obsidian stone. Ten banners of the Halls hung behind their representatives, with Su Mengtian's seat raised atop a marble staircase, set beneath the great seal of the Heavenly Spear Alliance.
Forty-three seats were filled by the most powerful leaders in the realm. Tension leaked between glances.
The first voice to challenge silence came from Ji Yeyan, calm and sharp as ever. His tone betrayed no aggression, only clinical concern.
"The Whispersteel Regiment has intercepted covert movement along Nyxenhold's northeastern boundaries," Ji said evenly. "Our records and patrols confirm they belong to Wrathclaw scouts from Bastion City. Hall of Wyrmcallers has breached the mutual non-interference edict."
Murmurs followed.
Xiaoyun leaned forward, emerald beast eyes flickering. "They were no scouts. Beastkin from our outer tribes wander those hills freely. You assume espionage when perhaps you should consider curiosity."
Kai Chan of the Hall of Echoes folded his arms next. "The Sheildborne Regiment of Aegis continues to stall access to echo convergence points. Our illusions suffer as a result. I've submitted three requests for border calibration. All ignored."
Baojin of Aegis narrowed his gaze. "Because your agents cross into our cities unscheduled and without escort. Calibration or not, security is not a courtesy. It's law."
Rao Lin of Valor thumped his armrest. "So this is what we've become? Petty guardians of imaginary fences? We did not fight beside each other to cower behind borders."
Inara of Ironblood grunted. "Don't pretend discipline is an enemy of valor, Rao. Fractures deepen when words are louder than agreements."
The room fumed, the atmosphere dense with unspoken pasts, differing philosophies, and wounded pride. Su Mengtian observed it all—not with surprise, but with a seasoned eye.
He let the debate rise and crash. Then, when silence arrived like a strained breath, he rose.
His gaze, measured and immense, swept over every face.
"I have lived through the fall of kingdoms," he said. "In my past life, I served an empire of five thousand regiments and a command that stretched over continents. That empire collapsed—not from foreign invasion—but from the weight of its own ego, distrust, and fractured loyalty."
He descended the staircase slowly, walking to the heart of the council ring.
"I have walked through ruins of trust. I have seen generals become tyrants, and brothers fall upon each other over lines drawn in dust. That will not happen here."
His voice dropped, intimate yet resolute.
"We will not be another failed experiment of ambition. We will be different. And to ensure that, reforms begin now."
"Each Hallmaster shall present themselves at the Shrine of Echoing Souls to take the Oath of Sovereign Non-Interference," Mengtian declared. "No Hall shall send troops, scouts, agents, or covert resources into another Hall's territory without approval from both the State of Records and the Tribunal Court."
Xiaoyun raised a brow. "A binding oath? Blood-forged?"
Mengtian nodded. "A memory-seared blood oath. Betrayal will imprint permanently on the soul. If trust must be watched, then let it be watched with weight."
Reluctantly, she bowed.
In the future this day was know for the Establishment of the Unified Tribunal Court.
To arbitrate future disputes, the Tribunal Court was formed. Composed of:
- Three rotating Hallmasters voted in every moon cycle
- One Departmental judge from the Tower of Order and Judgement
- One neutral overseer from the State of Records
All border, military, and trade disputes between Halls would pass through this Tribunal. Justice was now institutional, not personal.
Baojin was appointed High Warden. "Justice shall walk in light, not shadow," he swore.
From his past life, Su Mengtian knew that mutual exposure bred trust.
"Each Hall will send a thirty-member cadre to another Hall's city every three moons. These soldiers will train, learn, and live within the host Regiment. Bonds forged in arms break barriers faster than treaties."
Rao Lin chuckled. "Let's hope your Echoes can withstand Ironvow drills."
Kai Chan smirked. "Only if your warriors can march without shouting battle cries in their sleep."
Laughter cracked the tension.
Regulation for Outer Zone Treatment were declared.
The outer towns had grown anxious. Refugees—especially beastkin—reported prejudice, unjust denial, and biased enforcement.
Su Mengtian personally walked through Tharnholt, Mistvale, Elorome, and Ashveil in disguise. He witnessed cruelty, fear, and lack of leadership.
He summoned the Captain of SkyRangers.
"You are the face of our justice," he said coldly. "If your hand slaps before it shields, then you betray me."
He enacted the SkyRanger Harmonium Codex, a revised ethical doctrine all battalion members must memorize and vow to.
Regular audits, surprise inspections, and a new mediation chamber in each town were instituted.
"Trust," Mengtian declared, "begins where protection walks unarmed."
Kaisen, fiery and independent, felt stifled under the council's structured law. Once a rogue of the Forgotten Hall, his instincts clashed with the diplomatic machinery.
One night, atop Solara's Edge, he and Mengtian walked in silence.
"This isn't what I thought freedom would feel like," Kaisen muttered. "Feels like chains with prettier names."
Mengtian clasped his shoulder.
"You were once forgotten. You have not forgotten that pain. That's why you must stay. To ensure no one else ever is."
He continued.
"Freedom without responsibility is chaos. But discipline without compassion is tyranny. We need you because you carry both scars and swords."
Kaisen didn't respond then, but the next moon, Emberlance Phalanx requested joint exercises with Sheildborne and Crimson Anvils. Voluntarily.
A silent accord forged in brotherhood.
Confusion remained regarding inter-city commerce. The ban on external trade meant inner tensions over resource allocations were rising.
The Truehold Financial Bastion, under pressure, petitioned to regulate controlled exchanges between cities.
To solve this problem, Su Mengtian proposed the Sovereign Trade Accord to the council:
- Cities may establish internal trade relations under strict State of Records oversight
- Monthly resource reports must be submitted
- Trade with external forces remains banned unless unanimously approved by the Council
Integration of Mixed-Bloodline Units were also taking place.
To foster unity, Mengtian initiated integration units:
New specialized teams composed of beastkin, rogue cultivators, and native-born Alliance members were trained under elite instructors.
Each Hall had to support one mixed-unit battalion, overseen by the Pavilion of Missions.
This created a new legend: the Unity Vanguard, praised across the realm for their synergy and unpredictable combat methods.
After two months of turmoil, reformation, and rebuilding, Su Mengtian once again stood before the council.
"War teaches us survival. But leadership… that teaches us restraint."
He gestured around the Grand Council Hall.
"This chamber was once a dream. You—each of you—made it real. Now, make it enduring."
Yueying, silent observer throughout every session, nodded in quiet pride.
By the end of the third moon cycle, the once-fractured Realm had transformed.
Friction turned to policy.
Suspicion turned to oaths.
Pride turned to camaraderie.
The Heavenly Spear Alliance no longer stood on trembling foundations.
It stood firm.
And Su Mengtian, forged through the agony of two lifetimes, stood not as conqueror—but as the shepherd of a realm that chose unity.