Chapter 218 (217) Statue
The authority of justice and the judiciary weighed heavily on them. The people in black robes had no choice but to either agree or spend the rest of their lives in the void.
Both resulted in imprisonment.
At the Novano Port Authority branch, people are only restricted from leaving the city; they still have basic personal freedoms.
Anyway, it's much better than the void realm.
Within the realm of nothingness lies an endless cycle of loss, continuing until the very end of life.
As Yan Shi had expected, no one refused.
“In that case,” Yan Shi said, “the trial is complete.”
As soon as the words were spoken, the complex runes on the dome of the main hall lit up one by one, and the stone statues standing on both sides raised their heads at the same time, their blank faces staring at the defendant's seat.
The law and contract fell silently, irresistible.
Yan Shi could sense that with such a large-scale law contract established, the laws, unseen in the high sky, were awakening from their slumber and opening their eyes to look at this place.
Time is running out.
Yan Shi raised his hand, and after confirming that all the law contracts had been signed, he quickly threw the black-robed people out of the floating church, removed the barrier, and looked at the seven powerful beings, including Ao Le.
They sat in the dock, their faces stern. The moment the barrier was removed, they looked up sharply. Even under the weight of authority, a few restless spirits still lingered within them.
Yan Shi narrowed his eyes.
Unsurprisingly, these people must all be the "ancestors" of their respective ethnic groups.
Those powerful beings in the inner world who can cultivate a certain spiritual power to its extreme and pass it down from generation to generation are the true "old monsters".
"Gentlemen," Yan Shi began, having already decided during the Spirit Search Trial process, "to remain loyal to me and the General Bureau during my tenure."
The situation in the inner world is in complete chaos, and Yan Shi is worried about how to proceed.
No matter where they are, large families are all related by marriage, and their power structures are intricate and complex.
As an outsider, Yan Shi would find it difficult to integrate, even if she could bring benefits. People's hearts are unpredictable; ultimately, they are unreliable.
A law or contract directly engraved on the soul is more worthy of belief.
Because there is no way to betray.
Yan Shi admits that betrayal is a compulsory course in a person's life.
But she still hates betrayal.
These seven people below are considered the best of Linzizui, and they are all very strong.
Although they were involved in the altar, they did not participate in any preparatory arrangements; they were only responsible for providing spirits during the ritual.
That's how old people are; they plan everything they do meticulously.
Yan Shi's authority, fairness, and justice—this "fairness" applies equally to both the defendant and the judge.
Therefore, her verdict must be based on various regulations and cannot be fabricated.
Yan Shi didn't believe that powerful beings who had cultivated to this level didn't have a seemingly legitimate way to circumvent the rules.
Otherwise, they would have been unable to sit still in the main hall long ago.
After all, Ao Le had mentioned before the sacrifice that she had violated the rules and regulations by interfering, and her tone was nonchalant.
Therefore, the conditions proposed by Yan Shi were not harsh.
He remained loyal to her only during her reign.
As for the future situation of the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs after her departure, it will naturally be left to her successors to handle.
If he can't even control the situation, then this descendant shouldn't be the director of the General Administration.
If you're incompetent, Yan Shi suggests you get out of here as soon as possible.
"Loyal to you?" Ao Le spoke first, looking up at Yan Shi. "Director Yan, this doesn't comply with any of the treaties, does it?"
The others only showed slight changes in their expressions.
Beside Ao Le stood a refined woman. She smiled slightly and said, "Director Yan, I think my sins don't warrant being a lackey for the General Administration."
Beside her, a woman draped in a green robe spoke slowly, her tone calm: "The duty of the Bureau of Abnormal Affairs is to govern abnormalities. It is not to use the name of 'fairness' to turn everything into personal gain."
Yan Shi sat high in his chair, leaning back and propping his head up with one hand: "According to Article 73 of the Underworld Peace Protection Regulations: Anyone who assists, participates in, or condones large-scale acts of harming innocent lives shall be considered guilty of the same crime. According to the Peace Protection Regulations, he should be punished with 'eternal exile to nothingness'."
Yan Shi paused, his gaze sweeping over the people below, his tone sincere: "Now, I have given you a second way."
“Work for me, replace nothingness. I am saving you,” she concluded.
As soon as Yan Shi finished speaking, the air suddenly became tense.
At Yan Shi's papacy, all the intricate runes went dark. The papacy began to teeter on the brink of collapse.
In theory, this is a floating papacy. A papacy that belongs to the gods will not sway just because it is high in the sky.
It's just that the laws have fully awakened.
He found his authority challenged, and in anger opened his eyes to look in this direction.
The ground was shaking violently.
“Look,” Yan Shi shrugged, his tone languid, “the law has arrived. So, will you agree to my judgment, or wait for the law itself to throw you into the void?”
"I'll count to three." Yan Shi sat up straight from the back of his chair, raised his hand, and his eyes turned cold in an instant: "Agree or nod, disagree or wait for the law to decide."
"Three." She said impatiently.
The dome of the Vatican began to crack, and small stones fell down in fragments.
"two."
"I agree, I agree." The moment the gaze of the law pressed down completely, Ao Le was the fastest to react.
She was about to stand up when she was immediately pressed back down into her seat by the chains of power.
At this moment, her eyes were filled with panic, but she forced a smile and shouted loudly, "I will go back and become the head of the Jinzhou branch of the Bureau of Disorder!"
As Ao Le spoke, the others beside him quickly followed suit, their voices either low or hurried:
"I agree."
"no problem."
...
Yan Shi nodded, his voice indifferent: "Trial complete."
Although the Floating Church is teetering under the gaze of the laws, its basic powers remain intact.
After signing the contract, because it was related to Yan Shi, she could clearly sense that seven different colored symbols had appeared in her mind.
Each one symbolizes a contract.
The objective has been achieved.
Yan Shi lightly tapped the armrest of the stone chair with his fingertips.
The law certainly doesn't come looking for these people.
He came to send Yan Shi to see the Mother Goddess.
Without further hesitation, Yan Shi quickly raised her hand and threw the men out.
In an instant, just like the black-robed figures in front of them, they vanished from the main hall.
Yan Shi stood up.
At some point, Lin Zizui emerged from the small room behind the main hall of the Holy See and stood by the side door, looking at Yan Shi with a complicated expression.
She remained silent.
Yan Shi's gaze fell over and briefly met Lin Zizui's gaze in the air.
Yan Shi looked away.
The floating church was shaken even more violently.
Yan Shi spoke, his voice calm: "Lin Zizui will not be able to leave Novano Port."
The moment the words were spoken, the law was established.
Yan Shi raised his hand and threw Lin Zizui out of the Vatican as well.
There's absolutely no one left.
The magnificent main hall of the Floating Church now only had Yan Shi left.
The dome completely collapsed, and architectural fragments fell from the top, turning into dazzling dust in mid-air.
Darkness then engulfed them.
The rift in the void suddenly opened, and an enormous, indescribable "eye" fully opened, its light and darkness intertwining to form an abyss, coldly staring at Yan Shi.
For the first time, Yan Shi felt a stiff, staring sensation.
My mind was completely cleared, and my limbs no longer obeyed my commands.
This is a direct view of the law.
All possibilities of escape have been sealed off.
“It looks like,” Yan Shi muttered to himself, “that it’s finally my turn.”
She didn't flinch, but stood still, looking at the law in the same way.
Law glanced at her.
Light and darkness intertwine to form an invisible hand, so vast that it obscures the sky.
The hand slowly rose, the movement extremely slow, yet the space resonated with a creaking rumble.
A moment later, it pressed down.
Press towards the floating papacy.
After the fall of the previous god, the floating papacy suddenly shattered.
After the dome shattered into dust, came the stone statues on the walls, then the judgment seat and steps... everything turned to dust.
The entire floating island vanished in an instant, ceasing to exist.
Yan Shi did not struggle.
She simply closed her eyes peacefully.
The next moment, she felt her power being stripped away from her body bit by bit.
It wasn't pain, but a feeling of utter emptiness.
The power was pried open from the depths of the soul, like flesh and blood being forcibly torn away.
His mind became blurred, gradually worn away inch by inch.
She fell downwards along with the floating papacy.
Yan Shi held the Scepter of Life tightly in his palm. In the blink of an eye, the wooden hairpin transformed back into a real scepter.
The lush greenery grew, striving to create a barrier. At the same time, countless vines extended from the top of the scepter, tightly wrapping Yan Shi up.
Layers of branches and leaves overlapped, concealing her presence.
The barrier didn't hold for long. The next moment, the greenery vanished, exploding into points of light.
The blazing sun whispered in her ear: 'Yan Shi, go see this world.'
'To acquire authority that exists because of faith, authority that laws cannot control.'
'A power that is entirely yours.'
After the recitation, the blazing sun crown also burst into flames, which expanded dramatically, transforming into a sky full of intense light. Outside the "cocoon" formed by the vines, a light screen was gathered, blocking the view of the laws.
The greenery and flames intertwined and surrounded each other, only to be blasted apart in an instant, turning into a shower of light fragments that fell from the sky.
The fragments of light, mixed with the remains of the floating papacy, fell into the depths of the Dono Sea.
The authority has been reclaimed, and the person should be dead.
The law coldly withdrew its gaze.
Amidst the scattering of light, Yan Shi's figure was gently revealed by a touch of green.
She passed through the sea fog, lifted by the flames as she fell.
The water spirits gathered, and the waves surged, completely enveloping her.
Yan Shi fell into the Dono Sea.
...
When Yan Shi opened his eyes again, he was greeted by a sky full of stars.
She was lying on the beach.
The seawater gently caressed her calves.
Yan Shi sat up from the beach, somewhat bewildered.
She looked down and checked herself.
Very complete.
There are no missing arms or legs.
He was wearing a suit that looked very expensive.
Beside her hand, the wooden hairpin she had used since childhood to fasten her hair had somehow broken into two pieces.
Yan Shi picked up the wooden hairpin and put it in his coat pocket.
In her memory, she had just finished offering incense at Yanqing Temple that afternoon. What happened in between?
Yan Shi suddenly couldn't remember.
So, she didn't time travel, right?
Yan Shi stood up abruptly, walked to the seaside, and tried to see himself clearly in the reflection of the seawater.
Good, there was no time travel. She is still herself.
But as soon as he stood up, Yan Shi realized that something was different.
It's not that she's different, it's just that this world is so strange.
For example, not far from the beach, a shadow peeks out.
A long, slender fish tail reflected a silvery light under the moonlight.
Its eyes were a clear, bright green, and it was staring at her timidly.
Yan Shi: ...?
She took another serious look.
"A mermaid?!" Yan Shi was stunned.
She's probably still dreaming.
Yan Shi remained still, but after seeing Yan Shi clearly, the mermaid swam straight towards her and, upon reaching the shore, began to splash and struggle to get ashore.
It doesn't seem like its limbs are very well tamed.
No, it's two limbs.
Yan Shi hesitated for a moment, then walked closer and squatted down at a distance: "Are you looking for me?"
Up close, the mermaid's eyes are truly beautiful.
Clean and clear. Like a fine gemstone.
The mermaid nodded, glancing cautiously at Yan Shi.
"Is there something you need?" Yan Shi continued to ask.
“You are very beautiful,” the mermaid said, her voice as clear as her eyes, “just like the statues in the harbor.”
Yan Shi: ?
She pointed to herself: "The statue in the harbor???"
Author's Note: It's a bit late because this chapter marks a major climax and turning point, and I've been revising it for a long time. This story is nearing its end. The rest will involve wrapping up the events and completely resolving the foreshadowing.
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