Gideon Xuanchen lay prostrate on the ground, not uttering a single word.
"Was it just because I called you 'Grandfather' that you all dared to act so boldly?" the Celestial Emperor asked. "Even if you're not afraid of me pursuing this, are you not afraid that Heaven itself will destroy you sooner or later?"
"I am guilty," Gideon Xuanchen replied. "Please, Your Majesty, pass judgment."
"As the patriarch of the Xuanchen Clan, you let your descendants act this way. You are certainly not innocent!" said the Celestial Emperor. "Guardian Drake Lord, what do you say? How should he be sentenced?"
The Guardian Drake Lord stepped forward and said, "This case is extremely serious and has widespread impact. According to the law, the principal offender should be punished with Ninefold Retribution Lightning and imprisoned in the undersea Divine Prison for five thousand years. The others will have their sentences determined once their roles are verified."
"Sentence them however the law requires," the Celestial Emperor said coldly, turning to sit on his throne.
"Your Majesty!" The Celestial Empress knelt and pleaded, "I too am guilty of negligence in this matter. Please, for the sake of my grandfather's old age, spare him from the lightning punishment and let me take it in his place!"
"Negligence?" The Celestial Emperor looked at her coolly. "If you say that, does it mean I too am guilty of negligence and should take the punishment myself?"
Celestial Empress: "No..."
"Everyone here has lived thousands, even tens of thousands of years. You should know right from wrong by now. If you commit a crime, don't expect someone else to take your punishment." The Celestial Emperor waved his hand decisively. "Take them away."
The Divine Guards escorted the Xuanchen Clan members away.
A flash of hatred appeared in the Celestial Empress's eyes as she slowly stood up.
Just then, a Divine Guard reported that Darren Xuan was no longer in Drake Abyss—his whereabouts unknown.
The Celestial Emperor grew even angrier and ordered his men to hunt Darren down and bring him back to stand trial.
Princess Quinn Xiao turned deathly pale, looking as if she might collapse, her face filled with disbelief.
At that moment, Sean Shaw stepped forward. "Father Emperor, Baxa and his men are all in custody, currently being held in the Divine Prison."
"Bring him up," said the Celestial Emperor.
The Divine Guards brought Baxa into the side hall.
He was tall and powerfully built, with a dignified face—clearly a heroic man through and through.
The Celestial Emperor looked at him expressionlessly. "Baxa, do you think you are guilty?"
Baxa replied, "Your Majesty, I am guilty."
"What crime are you guilty of?"
"My crime is not trusting the Divine Race, not trusting Your Majesty." Baxa knelt down calmly. "Please pass judgment, Your Majesty. I have no regrets, even if I die."
The Celestial Emperor paused for a moment and asked, "No matter how I sentence you, you have no objections?"
"None."
"Then I order that your妖 soldiers join the Divine Guard Barracks."
Baxa: "...Huh?"
Lucia Lu's jaw dropped in shock.
"Do you accept?" the Celestial Emperor asked.
Baxa was overjoyed. "Thank you, Your Majesty! Of course I accept!"
"Go on! Take your soldiers and report to the Divine Guard Barracks," said the Celestial Emperor. "Sean, make sure you train them well."
For once, Sean Shaw actually smiled at his father. "Yes, sir!"
"You all did a great job on this mission," said the Celestial Emperor. "Anything else to report?"
Sean Shaw suddenly looked at Henry Xiao.
Henry Xiao's mind had already gone blank.
As soon as Sean looked at him, Henry snapped back to reality, his heart pounding.
"Father Emperor, there's one more thing," Sean said.
"What is it?"
"It's about Fourth Brother."
Henry Xiao closed his eyes, his face ashen.
"What happened to him?" The Celestial Emperor looked at Henry Xiao.
"He has a very special talisman," Sean said. "This talisman is truly remarkable—it combines a Taiching Clarity Charm, an Invisibility Talisman, and a Tracking Talisman into one. It can be silently embedded in someone's body to track and record them without their knowledge. I think it's quite a useful tool—maybe our Divine Guard Barracks should study it closely."