From afar, Lu Jun silently observed, his eyes fixed upon the sight of Mo Fan charging alone into the Parthenon Temple.
When he saw the first trial—the Greek Bronze Statue Beast—he couldn't help but ponder. Within his spiritual world, the Metal Elemental Star Galaxy trembled; that creature resembled a Metallic Element Spirit, something that his Tai Bai Domain could utterly suppress.
He wondered whether there were other creatures of similar kind. Perhaps, among this race, a Metal Elemental Holy Spirit might one day be born.
The four stages of the Star River Path held little suspense—each one was forcefully overcome by Mo Fan's overwhelming might. The only thing slightly unexpected was the third trial: the Millennial Blood Clan, Bora.
Once, Bora had become a ruler by inheriting the power of demonic blood. Yet now, upon sensing the same demonic blood flowing within Mo Fan, he willingly submitted and chose to follow him.
Indeed, even though Mo Fan had yet to awaken his Demon Element, the demonic factors within his bloodline had already taken root deep within his soul, recognized instinctively by Bora.
"Salan is dead. I was there to witness it myself. And yet, Great Sage Merola, Grand Judge Dulank—you dare to slander an innocent girl for your selfish desires?"
"Can you face the judgment of the world with a clear conscience?"
"Do you take the righteousness of this world as nothing more than toilet paper in your hands?"
"Can you even look into the eyes of the Saintess's grieving kin and feel no shame?!"
Lu Jun stood at the base of the mountain, listening to Mo Fan's righteous voice echo one after another before the temple. He clapped his hands together and sighed in admiration.
"Magnificent!"
At this very moment, atop the mountain peak, a vast marble-paved plaza stretched wide and solemn. In its center, Xin Xia was suspended upon a silver cross, bound tightly by glimmering chains. Around the raised steps stood rows upon rows of female knight attendants, silent and cold.
At the front stood Dulank, his face dark as iron as he glared at Mo Fan. He had never imagined that the insignificant insect he once ignored could one day stand before him like this.
Mo Fan's aura surged violently as he roared,
"Move aside! According to your Parthenon's own rules, anyone who passes the Star River Path is qualified to meet anyone atop the Goddess Peak! Today, I will take Xin Xia with me—let's see who dares to stop me!"
"Hehehe… No one will take this sinner away."
Dulank laughed out of fury.
"Everyone saw it with their own eyes—Xin Xia killed a man. The evidence is irrefutable! She herself admitted to having foreign memories implanted into her mind!"
"We even invoked the Red Cardinal's Blood Stone. When she touched it, it reacted—the blood-colored radiance dyed half the sky! Tell me, can that be faked?!"
Mo Fan spat back without hesitation,
"Nonsense! Since when has 'seeing with your own eyes' ever been the truth? The Blood Stone? It's just a rock! What proof can a stone give?!"
"Hmph!" Dulank growled viciously.
"It's already too late. The Sin Stones have been cast, the Judgement has been decided. Xin Xia will be executed."
"How can it be so soon?!"
The old man Song by Mo Fan's side shouted furiously, his face pale with disbelief.
"How dare you bypass the Inquisitor and call for an immediate vote?!"
Dulank sneered and gave no reply. A month ago, when he learned that the Nine Continents were beginning to exert pressure upon the Holy Court, he secretly accelerated his plan—pulling in alliances among the Grand Judges and hastening the preparations for the resurrection of their Lord, Izisha.
Now, everything was ready. All that remained was the final spark.
Buzz… Buzz… Buzz!
The next moment, a black stone in Dulank's hand broke free from his grasp, floating upward before suddenly shooting into the sky behind him.
Then, from all directions, one black stone after another erupted from unknown corners of the Holy Mountain, piercing through the air and converging upon the plaza. Together with the first Sin Stone, they all plunged into Xin Xia's body bound upon the cross.
There were thirteen Sin Stones in total—each held by one of the thirteen Grand Judges of the Holy City.
They hailed from different factions—the Magic Association, the Parthenon Temple, national representatives, and others—all meant to ensure fairness and impartiality in the Holy City's Judgement of Sin.
If seven or more Sin Stones were cast, the accused would be executed immediately.
If fewer than seven, the accused would be declared innocent.
At this moment, Dulank had already gathered seven Sin Stones—meaning that seven Grand Judges had voted Xin Xia guilty. Everything was now irreversible.
In truth, this was already better than the original timeline, where ten had voted against her.
But now, though there were only seven, it merely revealed Dulank's haste—something that ultimately meant little.
Rumble!
As the seven black stones converged, they began to orbit around Xin Xia's frail body in a strange pattern. The stones radiated streams of pure darkness, forming the symbol of a Dark Judgement Seal, which burned itself deeply into Xin Xia's forehead.
An overwhelming darkness erupted outward, causing the air itself to quake and shatter. Seven columns of black light soared skyward as a dark membrane expanded, cutting the plaza off from the outside world—isolating it as if into another dimension.
"Brother Mo Fan!!"
Xin Xia's voice was weak. At first she had been overjoyed to see Mo Fan, but that joy slowly sank into a valley of despair.
"What are you doing?!"
Seeing this, Mo Fan's rage erupted uncontrollably; his mind hammered and his eyes turned blood-red.
The black, void-like world had a strangely familiar feel — somewhat like the Dark Sword Lord's arena of darkness, and eerily identical to the footage of the execution of the Dark Sovereign Essendale —a bad premonition rose in him.
Old Man Song sighed mournfully: "It's over — the power of the Dark Judgement. It imprisons its victim, summons Haida, and forbids others from entering. Wentai died in it back then."
Hearing that, Mo Fan breathed raggedly, his murderous intent threatening to rip his chest open: "Fine. Fine then. I thought you great powers still had any scruples. Now you're all talk and lies — I should have just acted sooner."
If the Black Church's evil made one want to tear them all down and send them to hell, then today the Parthenon and the Holy Court's joint fabrication — this monstrous lie left him completely disillusioned. A world already shaken by demons is being controlled by people of this face!
At this point there was only one response left: fight violence with violence. If they raised a power struggle drenched in blood, then he would give them a blood-soaked return — corpses scattered across the ground!
Mo Fan pulled a murky, crystalline bead from his bosom. The Condensed Evil Pearl seemed to sense his resolve and roared with delight.
He looked indifferent — whether becoming a demon, a Crimson Demon, or a monster — even if he turned into a fiend, he would take Xin Xia away!
Suddenly, Mo Fan crushed the energy-laden Condensed Evil Pearl in his hand. A massive tide of malevolence surged into his body.
Crack—crack—crack. A series of sounds ran through Mo Fan's body as jagged bone spines burst out, his flesh swelling. His mind rapidly slipped toward corruption; his eyes filled with hatred as if about to become a Red Demon.
At that moment in the spiritual world, a distinct blood-ink hue appeared and spread, covering every corner of his spiritual form, forcibly converting that evil force into a controllable demonic power.
Rumble!
In an instant, a supreme figure of flame rose, towering to the heavens. Endless crushing pressure radiated outward as a boundless wave of power swept across.
Then the vast corona of light scattered, painting the sky over the Parthenon in an uncanny blood-ink color — like a sea of blood blotting out the sun.
The mountains shook uneasily. The knights standing on the jade platform nearly lost their footing as countless spatial fissures began to appear around Mo Fan's position.
Dulank's faction stood dumbfounded, exclaiming, "This is…"
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
Fairy Tail{30 Chapters}
Patreon. Com/ALLISWELL123