"This disciple, Yanyun, acting on Nanyang Sect's decree, requests the demon's execution."

The young man in azure robes drew a golden leaf from his sleeve and carefully unfolded it, its surface listing out the charges.

He waved a hand, sending the golden leaf floating to the edge of the abyss.

The demon, its true size impossible to guess, fixed both eyes on the golden leaf — pupils already faint enough to barely make out, now shrinking to near-invisibility.

A moment later, a wail of anguish rose up from the depths of the chasm.

"..."

Perfected Master Yanyun seemed to be doing nothing more than routine business.

After silently counting off ten breaths—

"The demon confesses its guilt."

He opened his palm and worked a seal. "Purple-Empyrean True-Thunder, hear my command — destroy this beast."

Within a single breath.

Countless sword-phantoms surged across the entire sky at once, each one standing like a sheer mountain peak, blades hanging point-down, all bound together by chains, and at the center where a myriad stars circled a moon sat a single throne, into which was plunged the single sharpest purple sword of them all.

Like some vast palace built to house swords.

The young man made a sword-finger gesture and pressed down idly. "Slay it."

The moment the word left him, he turned away without another glance.

Countless sword-phantoms rained down, filling the abyss entirely.

The two bright moons went dark in an instant, then plunged down toward the chasm floor.

A thread of essence-blood drifted free, falling onto the floating golden leaf like a crimson seal being pressed into place.

Perfected Master Yanyun raised a hand; the golden leaf curled up and slipped back into his sleeve.

In the next instant, the boundless sea of white cloud rolled shut once more, obscuring Shen Yi's view, and everything settled back into stillness.

"..."

Shen Yi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, found himself looking at a trembling, terrified Ma Guangshan.

He lowered his gaze to the scroll still in his hand.

A complicated look gradually rose in his eyes.

If the…