The moment Magistrate Yun's execution sigils ignited, the plaza itself seemed to recoil.
The jade platform glowed a radiant, terrifying gold. Much brighter than midday sun, sharper than forged steel. Rings of ancient light spiraled outward like divine halos, wrapping the fifty bound prisoners in coils of spiritual fire. The air vibrated, humming with a deep resonance that clawed at the bones of every mortal in the square.
Li Wei moved.
He did not sprint, hardly had time to leap.
The scene erupted as a streak of emerald brilliance tore through the crowd, much too fast for mortal eyes to see, fierce enough for the trained senses of formation masters to be flustered.
His robes snapped sharply, trailing emerald flames as his qi overflowed, scorching cracks into the tiles beneath him. The young master reached the execution sigils only heartbeats after they awakened.
His palm hit the outer boundary of the formation.
BOOOOM—!!
