Grand Elder Meng knelt upon the cold marble of the summit terrace. His hands shook as he presented a carved tray of black star-iron.
On the tray rested the official emblems of victory. The Sovereign Seal of the Demon Pagoda, a heavy medallion of carved purple green jade. A sealed silk pouch containing ten thousand high-grade spirit stones—the decennial tribute of the southern training sects.
“The Azure Cloud Sect... Acknowledges the Sovereign Victor,” Elder Meng rasped, his voice hollow with forced submission. “The old family laws of the mountain have spoken. We bow before your... Miraculous attainment.”
Lin Tao stepped forward and casually swept the spirit stones and the purple green jade seal into his sky spatial ring.
“Your rule-following is recorded in the ledger,” Lin Tao said. His tone was cold and exact and dispassionate. “The trial was audited. The settings were satisfied.”
Tie Shan stood three paces behind him, his twelve-pound iron pry-bar slung securely across his broad shoulders. His dark eyes watched the five armed guards who remained frozen in scared silence near their giant spirit cranes.
Before Elder Meng could rise from his knees, a sharp, piercing shriek ripped through the upper air.
A streak of dark crimson fire plummeted from the gray storm clouds above, tumbling out of control toward the summit terrace.
