The incident occurred during a routine inspection.
A damaged relic—salvaged from the battlefield—was being examined by multiple elders. It was ancient, fractured, and supposed to be inert.
Xu Ming was not present.
Li Chen stood far from the center.
Yet when the relic was exposed to ambient qi, something went wrong.
The formation anchoring it destabilized.
For one breath, the heavens responded.
Not with lightning.
Not with sound.
But with alignment.
Qi across the encampment synchronized unnaturally. Laws that should not resonate… did. Sword intent stirred faintly beneath layers of suppression.
The Observer's eyes sharpened.
High above, unseen:
"Irregular fluctuation detected."
"Source unclear."
"Classification pending."
The moment passed.
The relic shattered harmlessly.
Li Chen exhaled—slowly, carefully.
No one accused him.
No one noticed.
But far above, a mark was made.