Launching the Strike

Meanwhile, in the Oracle Hall of the Heaven Punishing Bureau.

A huge black mirror floated in the center of the hall. Its surface was pitch-black, with what seemed to be black mist swirling within.

At first glance, it looked less like a mirror than an abyss, or perhaps a black hole.

Around its edges were five Rune Arrays of different colors, flickering with strange light.

This was the Heaven Punishing Divine Mirror, which the Heaven Punishing Bureau had spent two months bringing back from the Gate of the Divine Realm.

The divine mirror was exceedingly thin, a mere layer like a bamboo sheath that might split at the slightest poke. Yet the fluctuations and aura it radiated filled those around it with dread.

Three Bureau Lords and two divine priests stood beside the Rune Arrays, their expressions solemn, while several divine generals stood guard.

"My lord, the appointed hour has arrived. We may begin," a divine priest reminded him after calculating the time.

"Begin." The Bureau Lord fell silent for a moment, then waved his hand.

"Yes, my lord." The divine priest nodded respectfully, then turned to the divine generals standing guard. "Bring them in."

A moment later, several divine generals escorted a group of young men and women into the hall.

These were Green Ox Disciples whom the Heaven Punishing Bureau had captured in Lin'an City, all possessed of pure thought power. They now stared in terror at everything inside.

Some tried to cry out, but their mouths were gagged, leaving them able to make only muffled whimpers.

"Offer sacrifices to the mirror god, capture the False God's thought power, and lock onto the beacon," the other divine priest declared.

The divine generals obeyed. Each seized a young man or woman and hurled them toward the divine mirror's surface.