Problem?

Clang!

The blade's cry was deafening; a flash of cold light vanished in an instant.

Zhuang Chenxing shuddered all over. Like shattered porcelain, countless cracks appeared across his body, and vast amounts of starlight burst from the fine fissures.

Yet the corpse did not completely collapse, as though some force had compressed it tightly together.

Or rather,

From the very beginning of the trial, he had already been firmly suppressed by invisible gravity.

Li Qingshan sheathed his blade, lifted the corpse, raised his right foot slightly, stepped into the void, and strolled upward.

The ceremonial hall's ceiling silently turned to powder, clearing a path for him.

Tu Shen flew after him with camera after camera in tow, every lens trained upon the young man's back.

In only a few steps, they had reached beyond the atmosphere.

Li Qingshan released his grip. The corpse instantly scattered apart, endless starlight erupting as a shattered river of stars flowed from his palm and drifted toward the cosmic void.

"The Coiling Dragon has ravaged this realm for a million years, weaving its Web to shroud a stretch of starry sky. But..."

Li Qingshan withdrew his hand and gazed at the flowing starlight of the scattered galaxy.

"When the starlight of fallen gods shines upon the Web, judgment does not end at the execution ground."

"Where the blade cleaves open dawn, the torchfire of humanity shall burn all rot away!"

Clang!

The long blade left its sheath once more.

Li Qingshan faced the cameras directly, his voice piercing every livestream.

"Any who devour the flesh and blood of their fellow humans—though the sea of stars be boundless, the blade will surely arrive!"

"The Demon Subjugation Division shall never close the case!"

That solemn declaration echoed through livestream screens after livestream screens, across planet after planet, throughout the entire starry expanse.

Every viewer stared blankly at the screen, at the young man in its center, at the drifting galaxy behind him.

No one doubted the weight of that warning!

It was a prestige forged jointly by thirty-eight shattered galaxies and the fall of thirty-eight Eighth Order powerhouses!

Yama's blade was enough to awe the sea of stars!

Pairs of eyes reflected the young man's figure and the chilling blade, and their expressions gradually grew fervent.

The comments exploded in an instant.

"Director Li is mighty! Yama Li is mighty!"

"Subjugating demons and purging filth without mercy—that is the true character of the Demon Subjugation Division!"

"When Yama calls the roll, the Web is exterminated! Thirty-eight Eighth Order powerhouses fell beneath Yama's blade. Let's see who still dares show their face!"

"A single blade crossing light-years, instantly killing Eighth Order powerhouses... Could Director Li already be Eighth Order?"

"Person above, don't spout nonsense when you don't understand. Director Li isn't even a hundred years old yet. How could he possibly be Eighth Order?"

"That's right. To advance to Eighth Order, one must achieve Body as Celestial Body and endure the washing of ten thousand years. No matter how fast one is, it cannot be this fast."

"So... Director Li is still Seventh Order Divine Form, yet he can fight above his rank against Eighth Order?"

"What fighting above his rank?! Are you blind?"

"Exactly! He kills Eighth Order powerhouses like chickens, and he has killed thirty-eight of them in a row. You can still call that 'fighting above his rank'?"

"Indeed, the words 'fighting above one's rank' are not quite fitting here. A long blade crossing light-years is already a genuine Eighth Order method. Even Feng Boyong back then could not accomplish it."

"Hahahaha! I was wondering why Black Scale Auction House had started doing interstellar express deliveries these past ten years. So it was to provide Director Li with target coordinates!"

"Still, Feng Boyong fighting above his rank to kill an Eighth Order powerhouse was one thing, but Director Li is this powerful while still being Seventh Order Divine Form?"

"What mysteries does Seventh Order Divine Form even hold? How can it possibly be this strong?"

"Who cares? Either way, Director Li's name will surely be on the Epoch Paragon Ranking in the future!"

"No need to wait for the future. In my view, Director Li's blade is no weaker than Yue Zhen's fist already."

Qiongqi Auction House, headquarters.

Lei Yao's eyes widened as he stared blankly at the rapidly refreshing comments on the light screen, at the young man in the center of the image.

"God Phase? This is a fucking God Phase?!"

The curse burst out, his face swiftly reddening. His gaze flicked to the "Black Scale" mark in the corner of the page, and his expression became even uglier than if he had eaten shit.

"I lost out. I lost out big-time!"

"That brat Shi Yan has really struck it rich this time!"

Knock, knock!

A knock sounded at the door.

The secretary pushed it open and entered, speaking softly.

"President Lei, over at the Palace of Insatiable Greed..."

Lei Yao cut him off roughly, waving a hand.

"Tell Cao Wuyan to go to hell!"

The secretary froze, then hurriedly withdrew.

"Good thing I was smart back then!"

Still shaken, Lei Yao patted his chest lightly. His expression gradually improved, even gaining a faint trace of a smile.

"A loss is a loss, but at least I didn't lose my fortune and my life."

"Hehe, I wonder what expression Cao Wuyan will have once he receives the news?"

White Marsh Auction House, headquarters.

Ying Shilan sat upright at her desk, while her secretary Huo Wei stood respectfully behind her.

A light screen stood upon the desk.

The two women stared together at the screen, at the young man in the center of the image, lost in a daze.

After a long while,

"Phew!"

Ying Shilan let out a long breath. Her gaze swept over the wildly scrolling comments, and she gently shook her head.

"Netizens truly are forgetful."

Last time, the comments had still been filled with praises for "Director Zhuang."

But now, there was nothing left but flattery for "Director Li."

"Miss, that isn't the point!"

Huo Wei swallowed and reminded her.

"Director Li's feat has shaken heaven and earth, his blade has stunned the starry sky, and he has slain thirty-eight Eighth Order Myriad Manifestations in succession. The 'opportunity' we have been waiting for..."

Her voice gradually fell quieter, and the more she spoke, the less confidence she had.

They had originally planned to wait until Li Qingshan was trapped in a mire before stepping forward with an invitation, but now...

Mire, my ass!

Li Qingshan's long blade had crossed light-years and wiped out the Web. The entire process had taken barely more than a dozen breaths, yet he had completely trampled flat the mire they had imagined.

"Hehe, do you think the mire I spoke of referred only to Zhuang Chenxing and the rest?"

Ying Shilan smiled and shook her head, tapping the tabletop with her fingers.

"Wrong. The real mire is the Azure Dragon Council!"

"Huh?!"

Huo Wei froze, then hurriedly reminded her.

"Miss, Li Qingshan presented evidence and held a public trial..."

"The problem lies precisely with the trial!"

Ying Shilan interrupted her and sighed softly.

"Li Qingshan indeed made an earth-shattering move this time, cutting through tangled hemp with a swift blade, beyond everyone's expectations."

"But within the Azure Dragon Star System, even a deputy director is a regional titan. Their appointment and dismissal must be decided by the Azure Dragon Council."

"Yet Li Qingshan killed Zhuang Chenxing and Zou Bai in succession, not to mention the other thirty-six Eighth Order Myriad Manifestations!"

"The Demon Subjugation Division may let it go, but will the News Department let this rest? Will the forces behind those other thirty-six Eighth Order powerhouses let this rest?"

"Besides..."

Ying Shilan paused, her gaze fixed on the screen as she gestured toward it.

"The trial has ended. Why do you think Li Qingshan still hasn't shut down the livestream?"

Huo Wei's eyes shifted as she swiftly realized what she meant, saying in surprise,

"Miss, you mean Li Qingshan anticipated this long ago and wants to make use of public opinion..."

Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!

Successive vibrations came from the image.

Huo Wei's words caught in her throat as she stared blankly at the screen.

There, the void rippled, figures appeared out of thin air one after another, and rifts tore through space...

A faint smile curled Ying Shilan's lips as she said with certainty,

"Watch closely. The 'opportunity' we have been waiting for is about to arrive."