The storm on the arena extinguished, and fierce flames suddenly erupted.

The [Inferno] domain descended and enveloped. Although Qi He didn’t exert his full strength, the temperature of the entire arena rose by nearly twenty degrees within seconds.

Liu Quan, who had his wrist clenched, let out a muffled groan of pain.

But he didn’t let go. Instead, he continued to hold tightly onto that black folding knife.

From beginning to end, Liu Quan didn’t say much.

Even up until this moment, he stubbornly maintained his silence.

"Taboo Seal... How could Liu Quan have such an artifact!"

Old Yu and Xu Fang became tense upon seeing this scene. During daily training, Liu Quan had always performed mediocrely, completely failing to catch their attention.

So, they never noticed the so-called taboo seal!

One should know.

The most frequent tasks executed by the Judgement Institute daily are the containment of out-of-control individuals as well as "Taboo Seals".

Transcendents can lose control, and so can seal artifacts.

A seal that is no longer balanced will demand a hefty price from its host... Of course, due to the imbalance, they often exhibit even greater power.

The Judgement Institute’s reason for containing such artifacts,

is precisely because "Taboo Seals" can greatly lead to loss of control!

On the other side, Gu Shen silently watched this scene.

The quality of the taboo seal in Liu Quan’s hand was rather ordinary, but the calamity it emitted... was unusual.

Gu Shen watched the folding knife, faintly sensing a long-missed "ominous presence".

That extremely fine and subtle wisp of Netherworld Fire trembled.

Interesting, very interesting.

The Qinghe District not only has that lost portion of the [Goddess of Destiny’s Sanctuary], but also a Taboo Seal tainted with the Netherworld Fire Calamity...

These two occurrences today made Gu Shen have to wonder, could this be a kind of arrangement by "destiny"?

Qinghe is the most inconspicuous of the East Continent Nine Districts.

But perhaps that is not the case.

...

...

The silence on the arena did not last long.

Liu Quan did not speak.

But Xie Zheng did.

He squinted his eyes slightly and raised his head to speak seriously: "I say, Brother Qi, that’s enough... these two youngsters together are not even your age, is it necessary to use the ’domain’?"

"Xie Zheng junior brother, this matter has nothing to do with you."

Qi He said expressionlessly: "The ’folding knife’ in this boy’s hand is a Taboo Seal. According to the laws of Changye, such prohibited taboo items fall under the jurisdiction and handling of the Judgement Institute."

"Nothing to do with me..."

Xie Zheng slowly stood up and posed a question: "Brother Qi, am I not a member of the Judgement Institute? Since you have the authority to intervene, do I not also have the authority to intervene?"

These words cast the dojo into silence.

The other match of the top four had already finished, and the two youngsters in the adjacent arena exchanged glances, at a loss for words.

Did two Judges come into conflict?

The audience was dead silent.

"Xie Zheng junior brother... I call you junior brother out of respect for your face."

Qi He took a light breath, the veins on his forehead bulging.

He coldly stared at the unkempt man below the stage and said, "My intervention is in accordance with Changye law. This boy carrying a ’Taboo Seal’ should be investigated and dealt with by the Security Committee to confirm his mental state is correct before being released... This matter can be handed over to you to investigate, but how do you intend to investigate it?"

"No need for those useless words."

The next moment, Xie Zheng appeared on the arena. His presence caused the [Inferno] domain to dissipate instantly.

Liu Quan, his back drenched in sweat, stared blankly at Xie Zheng.

"Let me ask you, are you willing to become my disciple?"

Xie Zheng looked down at the boy and simply asked this one question.

With just one sentence.

The boy’s heart felt like it had been struck by an arrow.

Liu Quan, without a moment of hesitation, nodded vigorously, his voice hoarse as he spoke: "...Teacher!"

"Good! Since you call me teacher, I shall stand in front of you, and today no one shall harm you!"

Xie Zheng waved his sleeve.

With a crack!

A jet-black arc of lightning exploded on the arena. Qi He’s pupils contracted, and the hand he was tightly clutching Liu Quan with suddenly felt a burning pain, causing him to loosen his grip. Countless jet-black arcs shot out, shattering the [Inferno] domain covering all corners of the arena at that moment—

Although Qi He had only used twenty percent of the strength to set the domain, Xie Zheng’s might with just a flick of his sleeve still shocked him.

Qi He protected Huyan Yu and took two steps back.

This moment’s Xie Zheng felt unfamiliar to him... The most looked down upon member of the Judgement Institute, who always ranked last, now had a robe entwined with black winds and thunder, and his dim eyes seemed to contain the stars.

Is this still the Xie Zheng he knew?

"Xie Zheng! How dare you!"

Qi He’s expression darkened, and he scolded in a low voice: "I am acting according to Changye law! As a Judge, do you intend to obstruct the Judgement Institute’s actions?"

"Changye law..."

Xie Zheng chuckled softly: "You know better than anyone the mental state of this child, and because of a single seal, you want to send him to the ’Security Committee’? This folding knife is his chance, if he couldn’t handle it, he wouldn’t be in this situation... Can you see any slight disturbance in his spirit, any sign of losing control now?"

These continuous questions left Qi He momentarily speechless.

Indeed.

Taboo Seals should indeed be banned...

But the so-called "Taboo Seals" are a definition given by the Judgement Institute itself. Truly powerful Transcendents, or in other words, large clans, who doesn’t have a few Taboo Seals?