The courtyard of Tongtian Apex didn’t look like an ancient sacred trial ground.
It looked like an academic defense committee organized on twenty minutes’ notice in the parking lot of a town public works department.
On the northern flat stone slabs sat the Heavenly Dao Avatar, its eight-foot frame of linked golden firmware runes glowing with clean, steady care.
The entity rested upon a high-backed bench of crystal-hardened cloud and tightly packed lightning. It held the dragon-gold ledger open across its knees with an iron metal pen poised at the ready.
Flanking the sky running system were the supreme leaders of the Seven Grandmaster Guilds of the Jiuzhou Continent.
Saint Preceptor Kong sat with his back rigid, clutching his jade ruler like a lifeline.
Beside him sat Grandmaster Tie Ji of the Blacksmith Guild, still dusting copper soot from his beard.
Next was Array Patriarch Xuan Zhen of the Formation Guild. He was followed by Heavenly Eye Bao Zhi of the Appraisers, Grandmaster Yao Jing of the Physicians, Beast Tamer Sovereign Mo Han, and Grand Potion-maker Dan Xuan.
