At the side, the Fate Sovereign Orloff's pupils contracted.
As someone who had also reached Great Perfection in the Laws of Fate, he could discern some of the underlying principles behind Locke's technique.
Among all the Laws in the Coiling Dragon universe, the Laws of Fate were among the most mysterious.
Like the Laws of Death, the Laws of Fate specialized in the soul.
However, unlike the Laws of Death, the Laws of Fate carried the legacy of the Overgod of Fate's "Grand Prophecy."
The so-called "Grand Prophecy" was a method of communicating with the Laws of Fate and using them to directly influence reality.
God said, "Let there be light."
And thus, light came into existence.
This was a method of reversing cause and effect.
So long as one's strength was sufficient and one's comprehension of the Laws of Fate deep enough, one could make the world conform to one's will.
Locke himself had considerable attainments in the Laws of Space. Although his Fate divine clone could not directly wield spatial laws, by employing the "Edicts" he had developed based on the principles of Grand Prophecy, he could still accomplish feats that appeared inconceivable to other Sovereigns.
Of course, Grand Prophecy was ultimately just a method of utilizing the Laws of Fate. The stronger the target, the greater the cost.
If Snowfall Sovereign were replaced by one of the four Rule Sovereigns, then the moment that strand of spatial power derived from the Laws of Fate manifested upon them, it would be shattered by their immense willpower.
At this moment, all the Sovereigns present gained a deeper understanding of Locke's methods.
Clearly, from this single move alone, if one offended Sovereign Locke, hiding within a material plane would be useless.
Even if he could not enter, Locke could simply drag you out.
This display also gave Orloff new insights into the application of the Laws of Fate.
At the same time, he recognized the gap between himself and Locke.
It was not a difference in comprehension of the Laws, but in how they were used—and in that boundless, almost whimsical creativity.
"Th-this…"
The scene before him suddenly shifted. Snowfall Sovereign looked around at the dazzling spatial turbulence and the familiar Sovereigns surrounding him, his face turning deathly pale.
"Snowfall Sovereign, before I announce your judgment, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Snowfall Sovereign gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Sovereign Locke, I have nothing to say."
"Very well. Then, in the name of Sovereign Locke, I hereby declare—"
"Water-type Lesser Sovereign Snowfall, when the Water Divine Plane faced crisis, not only failed to fulfill your duty to stabilize it, but instead, for personal reasons, disregarded its safety entirely. Your crime is grave!"
"Therefore, in my capacity as Sovereign Locke, I strip you of your status as an Intermediate Sovereign and demote you to a Lesser Sovereign of the Water element."
"Furthermore, henceforth, every hundred million years, you must spend no less than fifty million years regulating the Laws of the Water Divine Plane to atone for the harm you caused."
"This punishment shall remain in effect for as long as I serve as acting Water Sovereign."
"Once a new Water Sovereign arises, your final judgment shall be determined by them."
"Snowfall Sovereign, do you have any objections to this ruling?"
"Thank you, Sovereign Locke. I have no objections."
Snowfall Sovereign bowed deeply. At the same time, he felt profound shame for the petty schemes he had engaged in tens of thousands of years ago.
All the Sovereigns understood that Locke's "punishment" was, in truth, more of a redemption.
Stripping Snowfall of his Intermediate Sovereign status and demoting him to a Lesser Sovereign might sound like punishment.
But everyone knew that his elevation had never been due to his own strength—it had been a form of discipline imposed by Locke.
Now, returning him to a Lesser Sovereign was, in effect, lifting that burden and freeing him from constant fear.
As for the requirement to spend fifty million years out of every hundred million regulating the plane—
While this was far greater than the two hundred thousand years required of other Lesser Sovereigns, in proportion it was negligible.
To a Sovereign, such an amount of time was insignificant.
After Snowfall Sovereign accepted the ruling, Locke turned his gaze toward the four Rule Sovereigns.
"Your Excellencies, I have finished speaking. Do you have anything to add?"
"Hmph."
Destruction Sovereign Wordred snorted.
Though prideful, he was not so arrogant as to deny Locke's proposals out of spite.
"I have nothing to add. I have no objections to this assembly's resolutions."
"Sovereigns of the Infernal Realm, determine your own schedules for regulating its Laws. If anyone fails to meet the requirements, report yourselves to Sovereign Locke for punishment."
With that, Wordred effectively handed over the authority of enforcement to Locke.
Clearly, he believed Locke was better suited for administering rewards and punishments.
"I also agree with Sovereign Locke's proposal."
Life Sovereign Wawaya smiled.
"However, the Sovereigns of the Life Divine Plane do not favor conflict. As long as the plane's stability does not decline, I will not strictly enforce time requirements."
Hearing this, Locke nodded.
He understood—Wawaya was considering Death Sovereign Lilia.
After all, Lilia's Life divine clone resided in the Underworld and could not spend time regulating the Life Divine Plane.
"Lady Wawaya, my proposal was based on the current state of the Life Divine Plane."
"The Sovereigns of the Life Divine Plane are exempt."
"After all, the requirements I set are not even one-tenth of what you already contribute."
The other Sovereigns found this entirely reasonable.
The higher the proportion of native Laws, the harder it was to increase further.
For the Life Divine Plane to have improved by one percent in less than ten million years, the contributions of its Sovereigns—including Wawaya—were immense.
"I have no objections either."
"In fact, even though Sovereign Locke's strength may still fall short, the impact of his proposal alone is enough to justify granting him a status equal to ours—at least in name."
"What do you all think?"
Fate Sovereign Orloff smiled as he addressed the others.
Life Sovereign Wawaya hesitated, glancing at Death Sovereign Lilia.
"Fate Sovereign, according to the Sovereign Pact, ranks are determined by strength."
"Even in the last Sovereign Assembly, when Sovereign Locke proposed elevating Snowfall Sovereign, Destruction Sovereign only agreed after confirming that Snowfall could reach that level within a thousand years."
"At present, Sovereign Locke's strength still falls short of ours. Elevating his status prematurely may not be wise."
"Hm?"
Orloff paused, then quickly understood.
Locke's proposal had shifted Wawaya's stance.
Orloff had intended to elevate Locke's status to restrict him.
After all, Locke had already declared that he would abide by the Sovereign Pact.
If elevated to their tier, he would no longer be able to act against other Sovereigns of equal rank.
And Locke's true target… was clearly the Water Sovereign spark.
Unless the future Water Sovereign were also a Great Perfection, they would stand no chance against him.
Thus, Orloff's plan had been to bind Locke with status.
But Wawaya had seen through it—and rejected it.
Orloff then turned to Wordred.
"I agree with the Life Sovereign."
"The hierarchy of Sovereigns has always been determined by strength alone."
Wordred crossed his arms, expression proud.
"If his strength isn't enough, then it isn't enough. Promoting him prematurely might even make him fear we'd move against him."
"Hahaha, Sovereign Wordred's words truly resonate with me."
Though blunt, Wordred's words were far more sincere than Orloff's veiled flattery.
"Thank you for your regard, Sovereign Orloff."
"But as the Life Sovereign and Destruction Sovereign have said, rank is determined by strength."
"My current strength still falls far short of yours. I have no intention of breaking the Sovereign Pact."
"So, I'm afraid I must decline. My apologies for disappointing you."
"However, rest assured—when my strength truly reaches your level, you will be the first I inform."
(End of Chapter)
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