When Guan Heng entered the main hall, his gaze swept over Zi Ying's face, moved to Zi Xiao, then settled on Yu Ningsui.
"Clan Leader Zi, Sealbearer Yu." He inclined his head slightly, every courtesy in place, though his tone carried a businesslike chill. "I am Guan Heng. I have come today chiefly for two matters: the reallocation of Tower Ascension quotas across the Four Domains, and the renewal of the postwar Heavenly Dao Oath."
Zi Ying sat in the seat of honor. She set down the Briefing in her hand and glanced at me.
I lay motionless in my chair, my blindfold still on.
"Please speak, envoy," Zi Ying said.
Guan Heng took a yellowed jade scroll from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and gently unfurled it.
Dense Dao Patterns and writing appeared across the scroll, arranged in a way entirely different from the Four-Domain Common Dao Pattern System.
"Before the Azure Heaven Sword Domain Dao Ancestor stepped into the void, he entrusted the Heavenly Dao Laws of the Four Domains to the Upper Sect's care. Each term lasts a thousand years and is reviewed at its end. The previous agreement was signed by Yan Jueshuang of the Azure Heaven Sword Domain. Throughout this millennium, the borrowing of Heavenly Dao rules, sect taxes, and Supreme Authority in the Four Domains have all been mediated and allocated by the Upper Sect. Every domain has records of this at the supreme level. While Supreme Sword Master Yan Jueshuang was alive, she followed these rules as well."
Yu Ningsui's brow twitched, but she said nothing.
"The thousand-year term has not yet ended. However, Yan Jueshuang was nearing the end of her lifespan and about to pass away, so the Upper Sect has the right to reassess the balance of the