Fan Yong and the others had not even had the chance to speak before they were swallowed up beneath the divine punishment, along with the extraordinary treasures and divine weapons they had unleashed, all reduced to drifting smoke.
Shi Lan did not recognize this Orthodox God who had arrived in a fury of thunder. She silently stepped aside without saying a word.
"You are the Void Primordial Lord." A massive black dragon head emerged from the thunderclouds. Its horns thrust into the heavens like reversed blades, while violent thunder-law sigils flickered within its star-like crimson-gold vertical pupils.
"This god has heard your name. Some time ago, you slew Heavenly Crane."
"Greetings, Orthodox God." Shi Lan bowed slightly and saluted.
"Heavenly Crane was my subordinate god."
The low voice came from within the dragon's head, dull and heavy as a war drum.
"I have investigated the entire matter. You were not at fault. During the divine court's collection of prayer power, Heavenly Crane harmed an Orthodox God. His thoughts had already fallen into the evil path, and he deserved death."
At that, Shi Lan silently suppressed the several supreme artifacts that had only just begun to recover within her sea of consciousness. The fairness of this Orthodox God was somewhat beyond her expectations. Even though the one who had been killed was his own subordinate god, he had shown not the slightest favoritism.
"The means by which you killed Heavenly Crane were quite extraordinary. You shattered the very origin of his divine soul. It resembles the divine curse art of the Moon-Sundering Orthodox God, but I sensed the aura of immortal-law principles within it."
The enormous dragon head slowly lowered, fixing its gaze on Shi Lan. Sigils flickered in its pupils as it slowly spoke:
"Have you received an invitation from