Chapter 3
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Chapter 3: The Cycle of Fire
Seeing Fang Lie’s wretched condition, the crowd showed pity. Those he’d helped wept openly, their faces twisted with rage.
"How cruel! Wasn’t refusing to sell ancestral lands enough reason?"
"The Fang Family gave warriors to defend our sect! This treatment chills the blood!"
"Fang Lie couldn’t have done this! Destroying someone over false charges goes too far!"
The finely dressed youths lost their earlier arrogance under the crowd’s murmurs. Law Enforcer Li Feng cursed inwardly: *Stubborn fool! Should’ve confessed and spared us this mess. Like father, like idiot son!*
Yet even as others recoiled from his injuries, Fang Lie lifted his bloodied face. "Law Enforcer! Have I endured the three unyielding tortures?"
"You win," Li Feng spat. "Innocent. But was losing your cultivation worth a verdict you already deserved?"
Fang Lie wiped his bleeding mouth. "Proving innocence? No. But crushing scum like you? Worth every drop."
"Crush us?" Li Feng’s eyes widened. "You’d enter the Cycle of Fire? You’re signing your death warrant!"
This secret trial within Mo Sect’s Ancestral Hall awaited those surviving three tortures. Tradition claimed survivors could seek the Mo Sect Ancestor’s Token – specifically the Benevolence Token, highest of five. Its holder outranked even the sect leader.
Yet for centuries, entrants became ash. The Fang ancestor’s records told otherwise – of supreme techniques awaiting those without cultivation but iron willpower. The tortures weren’t just punishment, but preparation.
The Yuan Family’s plot left Fang Lie no choice. Confessing meant losing ancestral homes, abandoning adopted siblings to starvation. Better to risk fiery death than yield.
"Mo Sect disciple Fang Lie!" His shout shook the hall. "Wrongfully accused! Having endured three tortures, I demand trial by Cycle of Fire to cleanse this sect’s honor!"
The hall trembled. Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers abandoned Li Feng to surround Fang Lie. An unseen force slammed the enforcer to his knees as the rear wall split open, revealing a three-zhang tunnel blazing with seven-colored flames.
"Enjoy kneeling, Li Feng!" Fang Lie laughed hoarsely. "When I return, your head rolls!"
Yuan Hua sneered: "You’ll be cinders! But I’ll sell your brat siblings to brothels. My consolation prize."
"Fang Family motto!" Fang Lie roared, taking a shuddering step. Golden light bridged the flames. "SMASH SOUTHERN WALLS BUT NEVER TURN!"
The crowd watched, awed, as spiritual pressure erupted across Mo Sect’s 100,000-li territory. Cultivators swarmed the Ancestral Hall, gawking at the kneeling enforcer. Cycle of Fire activations meant overturned cases – Li Feng’s career was ash whether Fang Lie survived or not.
In a hidden pavilion, four figures materialized:
– Sect Leader Mo Qianxun (‘Wisdom’ Token Lord), fan trailing violet mist
– External Affairs Elder Huo Wufang (‘Righteousness’), beard like frozen flame
– Battle Hall’s Lei Zhengfeng (‘Courage’), iron fists clenched
– Law Hall’s Zhou Zhenqing (‘Faith’), eyelids drooping in feigned sleep
The Four Token Lords exchanged grim looks. Another Cycle awakening meant political headaches. Yet none noticed the golden spark traveling through flames toward Fang Lie’s heart…
