Timo Yang stood frozen, his mouth agape at the astonishing sight unfolding before him.

  A torrent of pure, radiant essence streamed ceaselessly from the Prophet Elder's crumbling form.

  The air shimmered with violent ripples, and in an instant, the Elder's figure vanished without a trace.

  A colossal surge of essence erupted from the spot—gentle and harmless, like a benevolent wave.

  Enveloped in it, Timo felt a soothing warmth wash over him, as if caressed by a gentle spring breeze.

  This power pierced through the thick clouds above, allowing shafts of sunlight to filter down onto the stone house.

  A sudden rainbow arched across the sky, its vibrant hues captivating even those far below on the mountainside.

  In the Iron Law compound and the regiment camp alike, soldiers and civilians paused in their duties, lifting their gazes in collective awe at the ethereal display.

  Outside the stone house, the snowfall ceased abruptly. Frost-covered spirit herbs burst into renewed vigor, thriving once more.

  Trees bowed under the weight of ripening fruits, while rice paddies swelled with abundant grains. The Elder's essence dissolved into the world, absorbed by all living things, merging seamlessly with nature.

  Witnessing this miracle, the bald enforcers of Iron Law rushed to the mountaintop. They knelt devoutly outside the stone house, eyes closed in solemn prayer.

  Timo extended his hand, gently touching the lingering wisps of essence until one drifted into a peculiar tree inside the room.

  The tree blossomed instantly, fresh buds sprouting along its branches.

  A wave of realization hit Timo: Could he and his sister Yue truly be descendants of the Elder? As wonder filled his heart, his ears twitched, detecting an unnatural vibration in the air.

  The stone door shattered with a resounding crack, and Elder Bai's ethereal projection materialized behind him.

  Moments later, Deacon Gan arrived on a magitech flyer, its platform brimming with alert ground crew warriors, poised for action.

  Deacon Lan and his team flickered into view atop a nearby peak, then leaped to the doorway in a blur of motion.

  Sensing the anomaly, Ghost Shadow emerged from the shadows in an instant, his wary eyes scanning the surroundings.

  "Father..."

  A sob echoed through the air.

  Madam Yi stumbled onto the stone bridge, barefoot and disheveled, rushing toward the house.

  She burst inside and collapsed at the sight: the Elder reduced to scattered ashes and brittle bones, his spiritual root utterly dissipated.

  Kneeling on the cold floor, she wailed in despair.

  "Timo, you're here? Come to me!"

  Elder Bai's urgent call drew him forward, but suddenly, Timo's body locked in place, immobilized.

  "You can't leave," Madam Yi snarled, her voice dripping with venom as she pointed an accusing finger. "All of this is because of you! You caused the Earth Mother's death—you let those Evil Cultivators infiltrate the regiment. You are the darkness. You are the curse. You stay!"

  Shock rippled through the gathered crowd like a chill wind.

  "Investigation reports link him to every incident," she pressed on hysterically. "He's the prophesied Child of Darkness! I saw Fan Yi's memories—the one controlling him wasn't a evil cultivator. It was this boy! He's of the Wind Taming Clan bloodline!"

  Murmurs erupted among the onlookers.

  Everyone knew the Wind Taming Clan—the legendary cannibals.

  Their ancestors had unleashed countless wars of conquest, leaving rivers of blood in their wake.

  Tales of their horrors still whispered through the ages.

  "The man-eating Wind Taming Clan? Impossible—they were wiped out in that great war."

  "They sowed the chaos that plagues the Spirit Continent today."

  "Books record how they slaughtered countless essence wielders to fuel their ascensions."

  Disbelief spread like wildfire. How could any remnant survive?

  "No way—this kid's spirit root is sealed," Elder Bai retorted, her face hardening. "Madam Yi, accusations like that carry consequences. Don't speak recklessly."

  Her reaction was precisely as Madam Yi had anticipated. The Elder's fall and her swift arrival here spoke volumes of her formidable strength—one not to be underestimated.

  Trembling with feigned grief and rage, Madam Yi pointed to the Eye of Prophecy, her voice quivering.

  "The prophecy warns: When the Child of Darkness appears, the ancient order will crumble. The Earth Mother's sacrifice, the guardian of order fallen—it all aligns! I demand to examine his memories—consult the ancestors!"

  Elder Bai knew Madam Yi inside out, down to the seduction of Yuxiang Yang by the Fire Glory princess.

  "You're not the Elder. What right do you have?"

  At the challenge, Madam Yi rose, her confidence radiating like a flame.

  She produced the Elder's token—a flawless white jade emblem of undeniable authority.

  Even Elder Bai bowed her head. To question it was to question the Iron Law itself.

  Ghost Shadow, riddled with doubts, knelt silently on one knee, awaiting orders.

  A triumphant smirk flickered across Madam Yi's lips.

  Under the watchful eyes of all, she approached the orb.

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  Infusing it with essence, the black sphere merely flickered, its interior remaining inert.

  With the crowd standing in reverent silence, she extended her hand, unleashing a powerful suction that yanked Timo toward her.

  Forcing his palm against the Eye of Prophecy, she feigned a trance, tears streaming down her face as she "relived" his memories.

  "I see it—a dark aura within him. He bargained with a ghost spirit, forged an alliance... He... he's a man-eating demon!"

  Her expression twisted in agony, and soon, a repelling force from the orb hurled her backward.

  She collapsed dramatically, gasping.

  "Darkness—he is darkness!"

  Facing her hysterical accusations, Timo glared back, fury surging through him.

  "I'm not! I'm not!"

  His roar thundered, sending powerful waves rippling through the air.

  The onlookers staggered back, unnerved.

  It matched the prophecy perfectly: the awakening of darkness.

  Fingers pointed accusingly; whispers branded him as possessed.

  "Grandma Bai... Aunt Li—I'm not the Child of Darkness! You watched me grow up..."

  Elder Bai and Physician Li, who had arrived moments later, remained silent.

  They bore responsibility for the lives in the medical division. They couldn't openly defy the new Elder.

  "The prophecy cannot lie..."

  "Murdering monster—silence!"

  As Madam Yi opened her mouth to speak again, Timo roared once more.

  She choked, her voice stolen away.

  Panic flashed in her eyes. She gestured wildly at her throat, then at him.

  Before Timo could react, a sharp whistle cut the air.

  Essence-sealing shackles hurtled toward him, clamping around his ankles.

  He crashed to the ground.

  "The prophecy is no jest. Judgment must be rendered."

  Deacon Gan, merciless, had unleashed the restraints. In a flash, he appeared beside Madam Yi.

  He'd never imagined this frail boy as the embodiment of darkness.

  Yet, reflecting on recent events... they all tied back to him.

  With Timo's spirit root bound, Madam Yi feigned terror, her voice returning in a shriek.

  "Take him to the judgment platform—now!"

  The words sent ice through Timo's veins.

  He gazed desperately at the familiar faces around him.

  No one spoke in his defense.

  A black hood was pulled over his head.

  Two bald enforcers dragged him toward the platform.

  Meanwhile, at the base of the Spirit Spring Cave, Lulu Gan bounded from rock to rock, scouring for clues.

  Suddenly, she spotted a mutated sprout emerging from the stone.

  Nearby, the moss was veined with black. When she stomped on it, dark fluid oozed out.

  Fei received the message and rushed back to the Spirit Spring Cave at once. Just as he and Lulu were about to gather evidence for their investigation, the air behind them rippled violently.

  It was as if a monstrous beast's maw had opened, spitting out a figure.

  Upon closer look, it was none other than Yue Yang.

  Whatever trial she had endured, it left her parched beyond endurance.

  Spotting the spirit spring, she plunged her face in and gulped down the water desperately.

  Deputy Deacon Zhang was about to warn her to take it easy, pained at the sight.

  But glancing back, he saw a rainbow aurora blooming across the sky.

  For him, nurturing the herbs was paramount. He sighed deeply. "The Prophet Elder... has dispersed his essence!"

  "Congratulations on your successful breakthrough!"

  Yue Yang lifted her head after drinking, only to see Fei extending a hand with enthusiasm. She ignored it.

  Now, her gaze toward him held no trace of the affection from before—only resolute determination.

  She clutched her chest, a pang of pain striking her as her brother's wail echoed in her ears.

  Yue Yang looked skyward without a word, channeling her spirit essence.

  With a lift of her hand, azure wind essence coiled around her. She hovered in place before accelerating toward the Iron Law grounds.

  Seeing this, Fei summoned earth essence and followed closely.

  "Uncle Zhang, we found tainted spirit roots—too much for Fei and me to handle. We're leaving it to you!"

  Lulu called out the warning before streaking after them like a bolt of lightning.

  When Yue Yang arrived at the Iron Law grounds, she spotted from afar a boy hooded in black.

  His ankles were locked in essence-sealing shackles.

  Timo Yang was being dragged along like a cripple.

  Leading the way, Madam Yi and the adjudicator showed no mercy.

  Trailing behind were Deacon Bai, Deacon Gan, Deacon Lan, and others, all silent and grim.

  The soldiers following whispered among themselves.

  The group wore solemn expressions, pointing and staring at him as if he were a monster.

  Seeing they were heading for the judgment platform, Yue Yang poured every ounce of speed into intercepting them.

  "What are you doing?" Yue Yang demanded sharply.

  The crowd was stunned—first by the once-mute girl speaking, then by her concern.

  "The sealed mute speaks now. It seems the essence explosion brought you great changes! Pity your brother Timo Yang is the Child of Darkness. He must face judgment!"

  Madam Yi sneered, her eyes cold as jealousy flared at Yue Yang's transcendent beauty.

  "So, you're making my brother the scapegoat! This must be a scheme you set up ten years ago—to root us out completely!"

  Yue Yang's worst fear had come true, her words laced with bitterness and rage.

  "Physician Yang, we saw it with our own eyes. Your brother is the prophesied Child of Darkness! Do not interfere with the Prophet Elder's decree!"

  Before Yue Yang could react, Elder Gan's voice came from behind.

  His speed was so swift she hadn't sensed him at all.

  Turning, she saw Deacon Lan and Ghost Shadow appearing beside her as well.

  Questioning the Prophet Elder meant challenging the regiment itself. Yue Yang knew that even dying here wouldn't save her brother.

  "Yue, the entire medical division stands with you. I believe Iron Law will deliver a fair judgment!"

  A familiar voice rang out as Ge Bai stepped forward, shielding her from Gan and the others.

  Then, cracks tore through the air, and combat physicians emerged one after another, arraying behind Yue Yang.

  Seeing this, Madam Yi ascended to the high point of the judgment platform, raising her voice.

  "Ge Bai, do you intend to lead the medical division in open rebellion against the Watch Regiment for the sake of the Child of Darkness?"

  At her words, and upon seeing the Elder's token, the physicians bowed reverently. Even Ge Bai fell silent.

  Yue Yang knew she couldn't drag innocents into this for her brother's sake. She bit her lip, steeling her resolve.

  "This matter concerns no one else. I'll take my brother's place in judgment!"

  The spirit lord within her objected immediately, urging her in her mind.

  "You value yourself so little? With me here, as long as your brother has a breath left, I can save him! I'll honor my promise!"

  Yue Yang resisted fiercely at the voice in her head.

  "Become your puppet? I've seen your memories—you want to devour him. I won't let you succeed!"

  "Fine, then witness the true face of humanity!"

  The spirit lord left those words before falling silent in her mind.

  "Have you thought this through? By law, as his guardian, you're responsible for not reporting it—but it doesn't warrant the platform!"

  "I've thought it through!"

  Madam Yi's lips curved into a faint smile at the resolute reply.

  She knew well that no one survived heavenly thunder judgment—least of all a newly ascended single-essence physician.

  "Don't say I didn't warn you. The platform's judgment shows no mercy, even to physicians!"

  Seeing Yue Yang's determination, Madam Yi nodded with glee. Several bald enforcers from Iron Law surrounded her.

  Hearing this, Timo Yang broke free from the enforcers beside him and yanked off the black hood.

  "Sister—no! I... I admit it. For some reason, I did control Regiment Leader Yi, but I absolutely didn't kill the Earth Mother! It was purely self-defense..."

  Madam Yi's arrogance swelled at his words. "Everyone saw his power earlier, and now he confesses! Deacon Gan, Deacon Lan—you both witnessed it last night, didn't you?"

  Deacon Gan and Deacon Lan could only nod helplessly.

  Fei, arriving just in time to hear the verdict and see Madam Yi's Elder token, stood helplessly at the rear, unable to intervene.

  "Brother Fei—it wasn't like that! I saw it with my own—"

  Lulu rushed in, ready to defend Timo, but Fei grabbed her arm.

  Fei knew this wasn't a judgment of the Child of Darkness—it was a declaration of authority.

  "Sister, I didn't kill anyone... I... I can't explain it all! None of this involves you!"

  Timo, terrified, roared and lunged forward.

  But the black chains at his feet tripped him.

  Ignoring the scrapes on his hands, Timo crawled up the steps on his knees, desperate to stop his sister from ascending the platform.

  Before he could reach her, the adjudicator and two Iron Law enforcers manipulated the essence-sealing chains on the stone pillars, making them slither like serpents.

  Soon, the thick black chains whipped through the air, binding Yue Yang. As they tightened, she dangled in mid-air like a puppet.

  Thunder churned in the clouds before a deafening crack split the sky, lightning spearing toward the chains.

  An agonized "Ah!" escaped her, followed by a harrowing scream. Her skin blistered and split, blood steaming in the drizzle, filling the air with the reek of scorched flesh.

  "Sister!"

  Timo's tears streamed down his face.

  A roar erupted from him, unleashing deafening sonic waves that swept outward.

  The nearest Iron Law enforcers bled from their ears.

  The essence-sealing shackles at Timo's feet—meant to suppress him—proved utterly ineffective, even cracking under the force.

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