Chapter 0195

Chapter 195: A Rule-Bender Meets the Arbiter

Water and fire collided in the air, and in an instant the winner was clear. Fire Xin’er’s face changed. In an authority duel, cultivation realm did not matter as much as control did. In short, the stronger the spirit power, the more force you could draw from an authority. With elemental restraint on top, Fire Xin’er lost badly. The flaming greatsword was shredded, and a roaring flood smashed toward her.

“This isn’t right. This breaks the rules. I’m the saint here,” she cried.

“Rules exist to be broken,” Zhou Tong said with scorn.

There was a heavy boom as the torrent struck. Fire Xin’er slammed into a rock wall and stuck there, stunned.

“I see an opening,” Zhou Tong’s eyes lit up as his spirit swept forward: “Right of Dominion!”

He launched a secret art to seize the Authority of Fire. It should have been almost certain, yet something went wrong.

“Ah!” she gasped, a faint blush rising to her face. “You want the Authority of Fire?!”

She was furious now, and her killing intent boiled higher. Zhou Tong stayed silent, feeling the odd resistance. The Authority of Fire rejected him. It felt absurd, as if the authority had its own mind and was choosing its owner.

“What are you staring at? Go die!” Fire Xin’er lost patience. With a flick, a fire phoenix shot at Zhou Tong. It was a saint-level strike and could not be taken head-on.

“Roar!” Little White appeared, stopped time, and dragged Zhou Tong out of danger.

“Behave,” Zhou Tong growled as his spirit power raced along the Life and Death Bond Lock to suppress her hard.

She screamed again, clutching her head as Zhou Tong did not hold back. He drove a fist straight at her: “Myriad Phenomena Seal!”

He went all out. The thousand little worlds within him seemed to ignite, roaring like angry dragons.

The entire second layer of the secret realm trembled. His fist smashed into her face, splitting the corner of her mouth. But to his shock, no blood flowed. A flicker of fire passed, and the wound healed.

[What is this?] Zhou Tong’s heart tightened. The Fire Charm Clan was not human, but they were still flesh and blood. This was weird.

“You will lose,” Fire Xin’er said as she steadied herself, pride burning in her eyes. “At most three more exchanges and that cord will break. You still won’t kill me, and then how will you fight me?”

She spoke the truth. Without the Life and Death Bond Lock’s suppression, Zhou Tong could not pin her down. But he only smiled.

“What are you laughing at?” she snapped.

“I’ll show you something good,” he said, opening his palm.

Her face changed wildly: “The Deceive-Heaven Array Mark… when did you—!”

She panicked for real. The array mark that hid her from the realm’s screening rules was somehow in his hand. She stayed in this secret realm only because the mark helped her pass the law’s filter. If it was destroyed, she would be expelled at once and punished.

“After I send you out, I’ll wipe out the Fire Charm Clan,” Zhou Tong said with a crooked smile.

“Wait… we can talk,” she forced out, her face tight with shame. Being cornered by someone far weaker felt awful.

“Hand over the Authority of Fire,” Zhou Tong said, going straight to the point.

“That is impossible,” Fire Xin’er shot back at once, eyes blazing. “You can expel me, even kill my clansmen, but I will hound you for life.”

Zhou Tong’s heart moved. So this was her reverse scale.

“How about this,” she tried: “Give me back the Deceive-Heaven Array Mark, and I’ll leave right away. As long as I’m still inside the secret realm, I won’t trouble you.” She stressed those four words clearly. Afraid he would refuse, she added: “If needed, I will even help you once.”

“Deal,” he said.

“Then we sign a Heavenly Dao contract,” she said quickly, afraid he would go back on his word.

“Fine,” he agreed.

They moved fast, signed in duplicate, and the contract took effect at once.

“Here,” Zhou Tong said as he returned the array mark.

Fire Xin’er threw her head back and laughed: “Hahaha, you fell for it!” She swallowed the array mark and struck at Zhou Tong in the same breath.

“Come on!” Zhou Tong staggered, nearly flipping on the spot. “You dare break a Heavenly Dao vow?!”

“Do you see me being punished?” she teased, chest lifting as the binding eased; the motion was so bold it could set blood on fire.

Zhou Tong froze, then probed carefully. There was no sign of Heavenly Dao punishment. That made no sense.

“Stunned, are you?” she said, power of law flickering as mysterious runes lit her body and made Zhou Tong hold his breath. Those were not runes a fleshly being could carry. That left only one answer.

Fire Xin’er was not a normal lifeform at all. She was a spirit born from law. In other words, she was the Authority of Fire itself.

No wonder the Heavenly Dao did not punish her. She was part of the Heavenly Dao’s law, exploiting a loophole to avoid the penalty.

Zhou Tong had long known the Heavenly Dao was not perfect. It could not run with perfect precision, so loopholes appeared and some gained special rights, like Fire Xin’er. But even she likely did not know those loopholes could be sealed. If you filed for Heavenly Dao arbitration, the rule-breaker would pay a price. Cheating the Heavenly Dao carried heavy punishment. The catch: only someone with spirit power at the Great Saint level could invoke arbitration.

What a coincidence.

“Still dazed? Did I scare you stiff?” Fire Xin’er taunted, saintly might rolling as she stepped closer. “I’ll give you one last chance to honor the contract. I can pretend the last bit didn’t happen. Leave now and you still have time.”

Zhou Tong’s face cooled: “You’re sure you want me to walk away?”

She laughed louder: “Why should I listen to you? I refuse.”

“Then taste my method,” he said, eyes turning sharp.