“Lord Sauron, please come with me to the Divine Dragon Temple.” Fang Qingshu spoke.
“Why?” Sauron asked, “First, I must guarantee that I absolutely will not donate the Dragon Seal relic.”
Fang Qingshu said indifferently, “You overthink matters. The Dragon Seal relic is the Divine Dragon’s gift to humanity. Whether to donate it is entirely voluntary.”
Sauron said, “Then I truly find it difficult to imagine why the Tribunal has come for me? The Three Principles, which one have I violated?”
The Three Principles of the Divine Dragon Temple: anti-Divine Dragon faith, anti-dragon power cultivation, anti-human order.
Unless one violates one of these three, otherwise the Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal has no authority to arrest any person.
Fang Qingshu said, “We suspect you are involved in anti-human order, colluding with barbarians, colluding with anti-Divine Dragon elements. Will you submit to arrest, or resist?”
Once one resists arrest, the consequences become extremely severe. Even if one escapes, the Divine Dragon Temple will issue an arrest holy decree and proclaim it throughout the world. Then there would be no place in all the world to hide.
And if Sauron were to order his army to attack Fang Qingshu’s three men, then the Divine Dragon Temple would dispatch holy church troops to directly annihilate Sauron’s army. Or even without the Divine Dragon Temple troops moving out, the Nu Lang Kingdom’s army would directly move to destroy Sauron’s forces.
On this point, there was absolutely no room for negotiation.
Sauron said, “Then may I ask, to which Divine Dragon Temple must I go?”
“Magma City.” Fang Qingshu said.
Magma City, three hundred li from here, a famous southern city of the Nu Lang Kingdom.
“Can the inquiry be conducted here?” Sauron asked.
“No.” Fang Qingshu said, “There is no spirit master here, unable to discern the truth of your words.”
Fang Qingshu suspected him of colluding with barbarians, colluding with anti-Divine Dragon Temple elements.
Undoubtedly, this referred to Meng Tuoluo. And to speak truthfully, Fang Qingshu was not wronging him.
Regarding this scene, Sauron had already prepared himself mentally to a certain degree.
Because the other party would stop at nothing. Since they could use the Divine Dragon Temple against Yan Nai’er, they could naturally use it against Sauron as well. And Sauron’s journey into barbarian territory, as well as his collusion with Meng Tuoluo, had all been seen by Tu Lingduo.
However, the Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal was a complete weapon of mass destruction. Once deployed, there was almost no chance of survival.
Moreover, facing a summons from the Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal, no person could refuse, regardless of how high their status or how strong their martial arts.
The reason Yan Nai’er was not taken away last time was because she had produced the Dragon Seal stone tablet, that weapon of mass destruction, and directly cleared herself of suspicion regarding anti-dragon power cultivation.
And today, Sauron was unwilling to hand over the Dragon Flame relic, and even if he handed it over it would be useless.
The severity of this situation, Sauron possessed the highest estimation of it.
He exchanged a glance with Yan Nai’er and Yan Yan, saying, “Lord Yan Yan, you lead the army onwards to Tian Shui City. I will catch up very quickly.”
Yan Yan nodded, then raised his hand, saying, “Continue advancing.”
Immediately, the fifteen thousand strong army, under Yan Yan’s command, continued advancing towards Tian Shui City.
“Let’s go.” Sauron said to Fang Qingshu.
Then Fang Qingshu and the two adjudicators, one before and one behind flanking Sauron, separated from the main force and headed towards Magma City in the north.
Yan Nai’er, several hundred metres behind, followed closely.
…
Several hours later, Fang Qingshu and the two adjudicators brought Sauron to Magma City.
This city’s geology was extremely special, with magma everywhere, and the entire city was almost entirely built from rock, hence its name.
This city was not large, merely twenty to thirty thousand people. The reason it was a famous southern city was because it counted as an important stronghold of the Divine Dragon Temple. In Magma City, there was a Temple Academy, specifically cultivating disciples of the various branches of the Divine Dragon Temple.
The entire Temple Academy occupied approximately a thousand mu, and the Tribunal was located within the Temple Academy.
When Fang Qingshu brought Sauron inside, they happened to encounter the Temple Academy’s class dismissal. Many youths and maidens emerged from the classrooms, chatting happily and joyfully. Upon suddenly seeing two handsome men like Fang Qingshu and Sauron, many maidens kept stealing glances, even teasing and frolicking with each other.
The Temple Academy’s learning atmosphere was somewhat better than the royal city academy, more inclined towards academia, more resembling higher education institutions on Earth.
However, within this sacred place, there hid a terrifying area.
The Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal, almost counted as the most mysterious and terrifying place. Everyone had only heard of it, but never seen it.
It was almost the highest law enforcement institution of the Divine Dragon Temple. It could bypass any nation or organisation, arrest and execute any person.
After entering the Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal, no person could emerge intact. Either they died, or they emerged as madmen.
Without exception!
Now Sauron finally saw what this Tribunal looked like.
Merely a triangular building. After entering, the interior was completely dim, because there were no windows whatsoever.
Moreover, the area was very small, approximately a dozen or so square metres. Inside there was only one table, two chairs.
One chair was very low, below the steps. One chair was very high, above the steps. The table was on the middle step.
“Creak…” The Tribunal door slowly closed, a candle flame ignited.
“Please sit.” Fang Qingshu said, then sat in the chair above the steps, while Sauron sat in the chair below the steps.
Simultaneously, three powerful spiritual forces appeared. In the three corners of the Tribunal, three spirit masters sat cross-legged high above.
“From now on, the inquiry of you begins.” Fang Qingshu said, “Once it is proven you have violated the Three Principles, you will be executed.”
Sauron said, “Please proceed.”
“First question, what Dragon Seal relic did you obtain?” Fang Qingshu asked.
At this time the three spiritual forces completely locked onto Sauron’s spiritual aura. The slightest fluctuation would be captured.
“Dragon Flame crystal.” Sauron said. He was not lying, so his spiritual fluctuations were completely normal.
“Second question, where did you obtain the Dragon Flame crystal?” Fang Qingshu asked.
“Blood Shore Lost City.” Sauron said.
“Third question, Blood Shore Lost City is deep within barbarian territory. Once humans enter, death is certain. Your martial arts are not high, why were you able to enter and exit safely?” Fang Qingshu asked.
The third question was the crucial one. Only if Sauron colluded with barbarians could he safely enter and exit. And once this was so, he would be colluding with barbarians, violating anti-human order, and would be executed.
“I travelled in and out on Jiang Xue’s griffin.” Sauron said. This sentence he lied about.
But, in the previous spiritual battle at the Heavenly Tomb, Sauron had completely mastered various brainwave frequencies. Excited, lying, truthful, and other spiritual fluctuation frequencies, he knew them all thoroughly.
Therefore, although he lied, his spiritual fluctuations followed completely normal patterns, utterly impossible to capture any flaw.
Hearing the two words Jiang Xue, Fang Qingshu was slightly startled. This answer he truly had not expected.
“Evidence.” Fang Qingshu said indifferently.
Sauron placed his sword on the table, saying, “This Dragon Gold sword is Jiang Xue’s personal sword. After being corroded by the blood sea, he gifted this sword to me.”
Fang Qingshu took it and examined it, saying, “Insufficient evidence. Unable to prove this sword is Jiang Xue’s possession, even more unable to prove he gifted the sword to you. However, we will send people to find Jiang Xue and verify this matter.”
Following this, Fang Qingshu’s questions ended.
Sauron was slightly startled. That simple? The Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal was not as terrifying as imagined?
However, in the very next second, the spiritual forces emanating from the three corners suddenly doubled.
Fang Qingshu asked, “First question, what Dragon Seal relic did you obtain?”
Sauron said, “Dragon Flame crystal.”
Fang Qingshu asked again, “Second question, where did you obtain the Dragon Flame crystal.”
Sauron said, “Blood Shore Lost City.”
Fang Qingshu said, “Third question, Blood Shore Lost City is deep within barbarian territory. Once humans enter, death is certain. Your martial arts are not high, why were you able to enter and exit safely?”
Sauron said, “I travelled in and out on Jiang Xue’s griffin.”
The three questions were exactly the same.
Only, the second time they were asked, the spiritual pressure within the Tribunal instantly increased.
Sauron’s heart chilled. He completely understood. Next Fang Qingshu would repeat these three questions, ten times, twenty times, thirty times.
Moreover, the spiritual pressure would grow greater and greater, greater and greater, until it destroyed Sauron’s spiritual defences.
The final result had only two possibilities.
First, Sauron’s spiritual defences completely collapsed, revealing a flaw, and he spoke the truth.
Second, the Demon Star exhausted all spiritual power, Sauron could not withstand the three spirit masters’ powerful pressure, his brain domain was instantly destroyed, and he became a walking corpse.
Although he had already imagined the darkness of the Divine Dragon Temple, it still far exceeded his imagination.
Fang Qingshu did not care about his answers at all, nor did he care whether he truly colluded with barbarians.
His purpose was only one: to legally execute Sauron, or destroy his brain domain and turn him into a walking corpse.
In short, he simply did not want Sauron to leave alive.
Third time, fourth time, fifth time…
Fang Qingshu continuously repeated these three questions, and the spiritual power released by the three spirit masters within the Tribunal continuously multiplied.
“Master, continuing like this, at most two days, our spiritual power will be completely exhausted, your spiritual defences will be thoroughly destroyed. Then you will either be executed, or become a walking corpse.” The Demon Star’s voice rang in Sauron’s heart, “This result, cannot be changed.”
Sixth time, seventh time, eighth time, ninth time…
Fang Qingshu did not pause in the slightest, continuously asking repeatedly.
The expression on his face showed not the slightest coldness or oppression, even always maintaining a smile.
But in Sauron’s heart, his handsome and elegant face was nearly that of a devil.
His spiritual power, increasingly unable to bear the burden.
It was like a reservoir dam, always at this height. While the water level inside the reservoir kept rising, rising.
Once the water level exceeded the dam, collapse and disintegration were certain.
The Fang Qingshu before his eyes simply wanted him dead.
Sauron deeply suspected, just what was this person’s identity? Why must he place him in a death situation? Merely Zhi Li’s will?
Although Zhi Li’s power was formidable, it had not reached the degree where he could control the Divine Dragon Temple.
Just who was this Fang Qingshu before him?
The legend said that anyone who entered the Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal could never emerge again. These words, indeed they were true.
Two days. He only had two days.
…
After Yan Nai’er escorted Sauron into Magma City, she rode her lion tiger beast northward at the fastest speed. Her destination was the royal city, Zhi Du.
All the way galloping madly, galloping, galloping, nearly two hundred li almost every hour.
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh…”
Suddenly, from all directions dozens of arrows shot out, some towards her, some towards her lion tiger beast.
“Swish…” Yan Nai’er’s sword in hand flashed like lightning.
Instantly, all arrows shattered. She did not pause in the slightest, still rapidly charging forward.
Immediately after, more than a dozen figures suddenly appeared ahead, all highly skilled assassins.
Yan Nai’er still did not pause, the lion tiger beast charging madly forward.
Immediately, more than a dozen black shadows like lightning threw themselves forward one after another, brandishing weapons, stabbing towards her.
Nai’er’s spiritual power instantly released, and suddenly all images in the surroundings began to slow.
Slowing two times, four times, eight times!
The originally lightning fast speed of the dozen or so assassins instantly became incomparably slow.
“Swish swish swish swish swish…” Yan Nai’er, one person one sword, whether in speed or dragon power, far surpassed them.
In Nai’er’s perception, everything moved as if in slow motion. Heads flew into the sky one by one, blood spurting.
While in the real world, everything was as fast as lightning.
“Swish…” Almost simultaneously, more than a dozen heads abruptly flew up.
The two people ahead were the strongest. Their swords were almost only a foot from Yan Nai’er’s face.
Nai’er’s jade hand moved like lightning, separately grabbing the two thrusting swords, forcefully shaking them.
“Boom…” A tremendous dragon power surged out, instantly shredding the two assassins into meaty pulp.
In less than two seconds, more than a dozen assassins were killed completely clean.
But, Yan Nai’er stopped at this time, because a thin figure appeared on the road ahead.
This was a middle-aged eunuch, pale faced and beardless, thin and pallid.
He was that eunuch Li Zhu beside Princess Zhi Ning. This person had killed countless people in the royal city, never using a second move.
At this time, Li Zhu gazed at Yan Nai’er with eyes full of amazement, clicking his tongue, “Since graduating from my adoptive father’s tutelage, I have never again encountered a match. This lady’s martial arts truly make me sigh in admiration.”
Yan Nai’er descended from her lion tiger beast, facing Li Zhu as if facing a great enemy.
If expectations were not wrong, this would be the first strongest enemy she encountered after becoming powerful.
Taking a deep breath, concentrating all spiritual power and dragon power. At this time she could hold nothing back.
“Please!” Li Zhu said.
Speaking thus, his body instantly transformed into a ghostly shadow, his sword in hand concealed within the ghostly shadow, arriving in an instant.
Nai’er’s delicate body was even faster, moving directly forward, like lightning.
“Swish…” The two figures crossed past each other.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolled, twin swords clashing.
“Rip…” From Nai’er’s fragrant shoulder to her neck, a sword slash opened, blood overflowing.
While Li Zhu’s left chest was directly pierced through. He suddenly coughed violently, blood gushing out.
Immediately after, more than a dozen black shadows wrapped around him at the fastest speed, fearing Yan Nai’er would thrust out a second sword.
Nai’er coldly stared at him, gave a whistle, the lion tiger beast charged over, she flipped onto its back, and continued madly galloping towards the royal city.
“This lady’s martial arts are so high, truly inconceivable.” Li Zhu covered the wound on his left chest, another mouthful of blood spurting out.
Nai’er galloped madly on one side, on the other side lowering her head to look at the wound on her fragrant shoulder. In less than a quarter hour, the wound had vanished without a trace, not even a scar remaining.
She wiped away the bloodstains on it. After arriving at the royal city she must change clothes, must not let Sauron see it, otherwise he would go mad.
Because he had repeatedly said, Nai’er could not be injured again. Once injured, it would overdraw her life.
All the way madly galloping, exactly one day’s time, Yan Nai’er charged into the Nu Lang royal city. She did not go to Duke Zhi Ting’s residence, but went to the Divine Dragon Temple.
“I seek Princess Zhi Yan.” Yan Nai’er said.
At this time, Zhi Yan was personally crafting a harpsichord with tutor Byron, because Byron felt it necessary to specifically craft a new instrument for the piece “Fate”, so that this piece could be performed to full effect.
Hearing someone sought her, Zhi Yan was slightly startled, then walked out, and immediately saw the woman in full armour.
“Sauron was taken by Fang Qingshu to the Divine Dragon Temple Tribunal in Magma City.” Yan Nai’er said directly.
Zhi Yan said, “Please wait a moment.”
A quarter hour later, she emerged, holding a sword, similarly riding a lion tiger beast. The two did not pause, directly heading towards Magma City.