The branch leader, a gaunt old man with eyes like ice, looked at Vong Tran and said, his voice stiff and emotionless: "Do you confess your sin? You and your comrades have betrayed faith in the Black Heaven, the eternal, omniscient, omnipotent Heavenly Dao, the Being who is never mistaken. And they have paid for their sins. As for you, do you confess? Do you wish for an honorable death or a shameful one?"
Vong Tran immediately shouted, his voice cracking yet resolute: "I am wronged! I have never, not once, betrayed the will of the Black Heavenly Dao! I absolutely believe in his ultimate fairness and reason! Look at me!"
Vong Tran took off his shirt, exposing his body covered in scars, and said, his voice containing pain but also strong faith: "See each scar as a time I reminded myself that He is the truth, He is the wise God, He is the God of truth, He is never wrong!" Other Black Heaven Sect soldiers also tore open their shirts, revealing similar scars, and said in unison: "Us too! But you are guilty!"
Noe ?? watched from outside, his heart heavy at the sight. He asked Fire Ming, his voice carrying a hint of hidden outrage: "Such a fast trial? Four people killed during the public punishment within one morning?"
Fire Ming ??, standing nearby, shook his head, his voice ringing with distaste: "They are more impatient and hasty than fire itself. Most of their laws are instant execution, especially for words of doubt or disbelief in their doctrines."
Noe asked, his eyes thoughtful: "Are they a cult?"
Fire Ming shook his head, replying seriously: "Not a cult, but more than an orthodox religion. The laws are extremely strict; the believers are no different from slaves to the law, with thousands of rules and taboos. They consider emotion or feelings to be flawed and redundant; the world doesn't need them, only pure reason is enough. Therefore, the cultivation methods deemed evil or unorthodox are those decided by emotion, like love, hate, good, or bad. But for them, having discarded emotion, any method that works is acceptable, as long as it is effective."
While the two were talking, Vong Tran had been judged guilty and was about to be beheaded on the spot. The sharp blade flashed silver in the air, carrying the coldness of death. Noe could not just stand by. He stood up, raised his hand, and spoke, his voice resounding, stronger than ever: "I stand as a witness for Vong Tran; he is extremely loyal!"
The branch leader ruled, his voice devoid of feeling: "Too late! Execute him!"
Noe raised his hand high, his words etched into the air, filled with determination and resolve: "I swear before the Heavenly Dao that my words are the truth! If I lie, may the Heavenly Dao punish me!" The moment the words left his mouth, dark clouds rapidly gathered from the void, like a gigantic curtain covering the bright sky, instantly turning the entire space pitch black ??.
A blinding, white bolt of lightning ? tore through the air, striking through the roof, a world-shaking "CRASH!" resounding right next to Noe. Immediately after, the dark clouds vanished as quickly as if they had never appeared. A part of Noe's Divine Virtue (Th?n ??c) was instantly deducted.
The entire Black Heaven Sect immediately knelt, repeatedly kowtowing, and shouted, their voices shaking the ground: "The Black Heaven descends! Long live! Long, long live!" Afterward, they released Vong Tran, his body free, but his mind shackled to the idea that the Heavenly Dao had emotions, cared for him, and had appeared to save him. His belief in the purely rational Heavenly Dao began to waver.
As the sharp blade flashed silver against his neck, Vong Tran felt a chill of death just a breath away, the feeling of a knife against his neck and about to lose his life was the ultimate terror ??. But in just a split second, a blinding, white lightning bolt ? tore through the pitch-black sky ??, its heat and pressure brushed past his face. The moment Vong Tran was released, he felt his whole body go limp, but it was not just a physical release; it was a feeling of complete freedom, narrowly escaping death.
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The citizens who witnessed the extraordinary sight gathered and murmured, the whispers and chatter continuing for days afterward. "Who is this person?" "Some say he's the city lord's master?" "Some say he's an Immortal!" "Some say he's a Seer of the Heavenly Dao!" The special agents of the Jade Chau Kingdom (Chau Ng?c), who witnessed the entire event, immediately transmitted this news to the King, along with all relevant information about Noe, confirming that he was definitely the Seer who had appeared in Wolf King City (Lang V??ng Thành) before.
- The Royal Gaze and the New Mole ???
The King had not previously known who this Seer was, as the Grand Imperial Tutor had deliberately concealed the information. The King only had a list of the Seer's acquaintances, but no other information. As soon as the full information arrived, the King immediately dispatched the best secret service team in the Jade Chau Royal Family to follow, monitor, and infiltrate the Seer's close companions. The commander of that secret service team, who took the name Phong Tran ???, successfully befriended Noe and became a member of his group.
Phong Tran assessed Han Thuong ?? as the most innocent of the group and actively approached him. Through many conversations and shared meals, the stories Han Thuong told genuinely made Phong Tran like and admire him. As someone who lived in a world full of royal conspiracies and secrets, where everything revolved around power and someone's benefit, there was no such selfless helping of others as Noe provided. Gradually, Phong Tran grew fond of Noe without realizing it. Because he treated everyone with sincerity, he quickly befriended the whole group. He felt terrible because everyone was so honest and cheerful, while he constantly lied to fit his role.
The Tome of Heaven's Record (Thiên Th? Ghi Nh?n)
Date Log: [Current Date]
- Event: Noe intervened in a Black Heaven Sect judgment, unintentionally creating a major shift in their beliefs. A Royal spy successfully infiltrated Noe's group.
- Impact: Noe reasserted his position as a Seer, but also inadvertently placed himself in a more complicated position between major powers. The relationship between Noe and the ruling authority has begun informally.
- Merit Update (C?p Nh?t C?ng ??c)
The Tome of Heaven has collected and analyzed the notable flows of Merit (C?ng ??c) this time. Noe can use the "Merit Eye" (C?ng ??c chi nh?n) to view the Merit of others and himself.
- Devotion and Sacrifice (Positive): Vong Tran self-punished with a knife to atone, demonstrating intense faith in his doctrine.
- [Yang Merit Resonance (D??ng ??c c?ng h??ng)]: +150
- Sadness and Disappointment (Negative): Noe was saddened to see the cruelty and harshness within the Black Heaven Sect.
- [Yang Merit Resonance]: -100
- Courage and Integrity (Positive): Noe bravely stood as a witness before the Black Heaven Sect, despite the risk to his life.
- [Yang Merit Resonance]: +250
- Trust and Admiration (Positive): Phong Tran transitioned from a surveillance agent to a true friend of Noe.
- [Yang Merit Resonance]: +120
- Compassion (Positive): Noe defended Vong Tran , a person with an outwardly demonic aura, showing his compassion.
- [Yang Merit Resonance]: +100
- Character File Update (C?p Nh?t H? S? Nhan V?t)
The Tome of Heaven has gathered new data and updated the character files.
- Analysis of Demonic and Ghostly Power (Phan tích s?c m?nh c?a Ma và Qu?)
- Demonic Qi (Ma khí): In this chapter, Demonic Qi was mentioned multiple times, especially Vong Tran ’s Purple Demon Short Blade and the enemies' Demonic Qi. Demonic Qi is a type of evil energy that can enhance the user's power and physical strength, but can also corrode spiritual energy.