The figure spoke, its voice processed through the armor, devoid of any emotion, yet containing an unquestionable authority.
"Live sample, Xiao Han. You will be taken back to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion for the highest-level 'disassembly research'."
He called himself the "Arbitrator" of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
As soon as the adjudicator finished speaking, the space behind him rippled slightly, like water. Then, a scene appeared that made Xiao Han, Lin Qingxia, and Su Linglong's souls tremble.
A pulsating, blood-red heart, exactly the same as the one from before, slowly emerged.
However, this heart is perfectly imprisoned within an "Absolute Order Cage" constructed from billions of silver divine chains.
The Asura Ancestor — Yang Heart!
The adjudicator, seeing the horrified expressions on Xiao Han's and the other two's faces, remained calm in his tone, yet revealed a Shi Potian secret.
"We have already retrieved the 'Yang Heart' guarded by the Divine Court. We are here only to retrieve the lost 'Yin Heart'."
"Everything that just happened was merely a test of 'Yin Heart's' activity. And you..."
The adjudicator's gaze fell coldly on Xiao Han.
"... It was the perfect catalyst, unplanned."
"We have already retrieved the 'Yang Heart' guarded by the Divine Court. We are here only to retrieve the lost 'Yin Heart'."
The arbiter's words were colder than the vacuum of the Shattered Star Sea; each word was like an ice pick, piercing Xiao Han's very marrow.
"Everything that just happened was merely a test of 'Yin Heart's' activity. And you..." The Arbiter's gaze, that inorganic, all-seeing look, was fixed firmly on Xiao Han, "... the perfect catalyst, beyond the plan."
In an instant, all the clues connected.
The "purification" of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the jailer's inducement, the rampage of the Shura Heart, and even his desperate gamble of losing his arm... it turns out that they were all just calculated steps in this game of chess. He thought he was fighting against fate, but little did he know that he was just performing a farce called "coincidence" on a puppet show stage.
A deep chill suddenly shot from Xiao Han's tailbone to the top of his head, making him feel cold all over.
"Take him away." The adjudicator issued the order, his tone as calm as stating a given fact.
He gently raised his hand.
Buzz--
An indescribable force field descended instantly.
This was neither the suppression of energy nor the confinement of laws. Xiao Han felt that the space and time around him, and even every basic particle that constituted his existence, were forcibly "defined" by a higher-dimensional physical rule. He was like a flying insect instantly cast into transparent amber, remaining in a terrified state, his mind able to move, but his body unable to move even the slightest bit.
The Eternal Night Emperor Power, the Chaos Nether Lotus, the World Tree Runes —all the powers he was so proud of—fell silent as if they had never existed.
"Absolute Domain".
The Arbiter slowly walked towards him, his silver-white combat boots stepping silently through the air, yet each step felt like it was treading on Xiao Han's heart.
[WARNING! Irresistible "Logic Erasure" protocol detected! Once captured by the target, the host's personality will be completely formatted, turning them into experimental material! The mission will be judged as... ultimate failure!]
The system's red alert was sharper than ever before, like a red-hot steel needle piercing Xiao Han's consciousness.
Ultimate failure!
These two words terrified him more than death itself.
No! I am not anyone's experiment!
Xiao Han roared madly within the prison of his consciousness, desperately trying to connect with any trace of power within his body that could respond to him.
The power of eternal night has fallen silent.
The Chaos Green Lotus, devoid of light.
In this boundless despair, deep within his bones and blood, the [True Demon Origin Imprint], which he had always suppressed and regarded as the greatest hidden danger, suddenly trembled slightly.
Like a forgotten devil, smiling at him in the darkness.
[Be careful! Using its power will attract a 'gaze' even more terrifying than the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion!] Mei'er's voice exploded in his mind, filled with unprecedented terror.
However, Xiao Han had no other choice.
Should it be erased now, or... a desperate measure to quench thirst, gambling on an unknown tomorrow?
"Come!"
Xiao Han's divine sense transformed into the most resolute roar. Without hesitation, he tore off a strand from his golden soul essence and offered it as a sacrifice to the pitch-black mark!
Boom!
It's like throwing a drop of water into a pot of boiling oil!
The [True Demon Origin Imprint] was fully activated the moment it was sacrificed! A pure and extreme power of "chaos" and "disorder," completely opposite to the Order " of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, erupted within him like the most violent cosmic virus!
Click!
That seemingly indestructible "Absolute Domain," like a mirror struck by a heavy hammer, was actually torn open with a hideous crack by this unreasonable force!
"Um?"
For the first time, a hint of surprise flickered in the arbiter's unchanging electronic voice.
Now!
As the restraints loosened, Xiao Han unleashed his full potential. With a backhand push, a gentle yet irresistible force sent Lin Qingxia and Su Linglong flying far away. He himself, like a cannonball, charged headlong into the godlike arbiter!
"Roar!"
The power of true demons frantically invaded his body, and his remaining left half of his body rapidly transformed into flowing Chaos Shadows, with countless twisted runes appearing and disappearing on his skin. In that instant, his aura was forcibly elevated to a level that even he himself felt a chill run down his spine— the Pseudo-Martial Venerable Realm!
He unleashed a punch—simple, direct, yet containing a chaotic law that could overturn everything!
The adjudicator raised his arm and threw a punch in return.
Bang--!
The two fists collided, but there was no earth-shattering explosion. Instead, a visible, distinct black-and-white ripple of law spread out silently.
Xiao Han's body trembled violently, and he staggered back several steps, while the Arbiter also took a step back!
A perfect match!
"Data updated. High-dimensional chaotic factors exist within the target; threat level revised to 'Protocol: Heavenly Retribution'."
The Arbiter's cold, analytical voice rang out. He abandoned his plan to capture him alive. At the chest of his silver-white armor, a miniature energy core began to operate wildly at a frequency exceeding its limits, releasing terrifying energy capable of destroying himself and everything around him.
He wants to die together with them!
At that very moment, countless billions of light-years away from this sea of stars, in the depths of an unknown void undetectable by any living being.
A pair of terrifying eyes, beyond description, slowly opened as a wisp of pure demonic aura leaked out.