Chapter 1011: Trouble

Daoist Zhuang’s pupils were frozen in a horrified stare.

He knew who the person in the sky was. That face, which had flashed before his eyes countless times and terrified him to the point of being unable to achieve meditative calm—few at Changxiao Sect were more familiar with it than he was.

Li Zhouwei.

Back then, when his fellow disciples ambushed Li Zhouwei on the lake, he had not only scrutinized him carefully but also injured him with spells, coveted his treasures, and cursed him openly. By his reckoning, he had done enough to die hundreds of times over.

"Thump..."

The old man sitting below the main seat slowly knelt to the ground, unable to tear his gaze away. Even with everything unfolding before him, his mind remained a blur:

‘What... what is happening?’

From Daoist Zhuang, who was in charge of guarding this area for Changxiao Sect, to the casual members of small families and disciples' relatives at the banquet, no one had ever imagined such a scene. They never thought that the White Kirin would stand before their mountain gate. Not only had they never considered it, but even seeing it now, they found it impossible to believe!

‘The White Kirin... what is the White Kirin doing here? Visiting friends... visiting Changxiao Sect?’

It was no wonder everyone was confused—Changxiao Sect had enjoyed peace for too long, and the Kingdom of Yue's unspoken rules of limited engagement had also persisted for too long.

For centuries, they had only supported conflicts overseas. How many times had battles actually reached their mountain gate? Even if a situation did arise at their doorstep, it would only be after all Purple Mansion cultivators had fallen!

What kind of joke was this? Changxiao Sect still had a Grand True Master!

Although no one explicitly stated it, in an era where the Azure Pond was weakening and the sun had lost its luster, even if Changxiao Sect boasted of being the foremost immortal sect, there was truly no other power in the current Kingdom of Yue that could rival it!

‘Then what... what is he doing here if not visiting friends?’

"Drip..."

The night was silent, the lamplight soft. Wine slowly dripped onto the table, reflecting the shimmering colors from the sky. The dripping sound was jarringly loud. In an instant, everyone lowered their heads, looking at Daoist Zhuang, who was seated highest.

‘He must be here for revenge.’

Daoist Zhuang's gaze was blank, his body limp and slumped in the main seat. His neck was stiff, like a statue fixed in place. His pupils were dilated to their maximum, all expression gone, leaving only despair.

The divine power in the sky gave them little time to think.

Everything happened too fast to react. Daoist Zhuang's legs were still weak, but the night sky had already transformed into an endless white, majestically filling everyone's vision. One couldn't see their own hand, only boundless white.

"Boom!"

The formation at the top of the sky shattered like an eggshell, dissolving instantly before the white light. This white light continued to descend, yet it felt like a gentle breeze, brushing across everyone's faces without causing the slightest harm.

The entire pavilion beneath their feet rumbled loudly, and all its magical patterns went dark. Everyone on the platform broke into cold sweats, some losing control of their bladder, others crying, but all were frozen in place, unharmed, yet restrained by the surging bright light, unable to move.

The grand formation, touted as infinitely wondrous and one of the best among foundational structures, was like a joke before this divine power. The celestial light in the sky resembled a giant beast that shattered the earthly formation with a mere breath, yet it held back its strength, seemingly afraid of crushing the entire market town into dust.

"Hmm?"

Only then did the young man in the sky slightly shift his gaze, noticing the Daoist on the ground. Like a deity looking down, he gazed from a distant height.

The next instant, the boiling celestial light surged into Daoist Zhuang's seven orifices. He couldn't hold on for even a moment; his body, cultivated for years and imbued with the essence of 'Leaving Fire,' suddenly swelled and exploded with a resounding boom, without any warning.

"Boom!"

Boiling 'Leaving Fire' erupted, blood burned into fierce flames, splattering outwards like rain. Those nearby gasped, their robes soaked beneath. They could only tremble in place, daring not to look up.

Massive flying ships had descended from the sky. Armored soldiers rapidly landed in the market town, ruthlessly pushing into various areas. Footsteps echoed everywhere, but with the white light still shimmering above, the cultivators on the platform remained motionless, standing dumbfounded.

Yet, all the white light continued to surge upwards, leaving them rooted in place. Countless white lights that had previously descended like rain now flowed back, converging in one spot. Dragon banners and phoenix chariots appeared, traversing the sky. Rolling colorful clouds enveloped the entire Helin Commandery, wind and clouds churning, revealing glimpses of a colossal entity.

A heavenly gate, densely covered with mystic patterns, spanning the horizon.

Changxiao Sect.

The mountain loomed majestically, adorned with numerous palaces. White mist billowed, rising and swirling. Before the highest Mystic Palace, two white vases shone brilliantly, pouring out abundant spiritual energy that cascaded down the steps. However, at the Golden Palace of Changxiao Sect's mountain gate, chaos reigned.

Robes of white with golden patterns fluttered, but the colorful clouds and sky banners danced wildly in the wind. Elders and guest cultivators flew frantically among the peaks, their faces a mix of terror and rage, cries erupting from all directions.

"Sect Master!"

The magnificent sect master's robes looked even more noble amidst the colored light, yet the old man's face was etched with terror, his body trembling. He stood dumbfounded on the mountain peak, surrounded by kneeling cultivators, all looking at him.

"Sect Master!"

This group of cultivators, their faces filled with anger, surrounded him. Their voices were a clamor:

"The Li clan... they were originally a demonic household, yet they became a Purple Mansion power... and now they dare provoke our glorious righteous path!"

"What audacity! What kind of place is our Changxiao Sect? The lineage of a Grand True Master! How dare he act so presumptuously!"

"We urge the Sect Master to invite the True Master out to subdue this fiend!"

Everyone's face showed anger, except for the white-haired Sect Master, who was utterly distraught. His pupils were dilated, and his attention seemed not on the words of the crowd at all. Instead, his hands and feet were cold, and he trembled uncontrollably.

‘The Li family brought an army here... it can't possibly be just to destroy one market town!’

His gaze rested on the dense array of escape lights in the sky. He had a deeply ominous premonition, vaguely sensing that all the colored clouds were rising higher.

This immense divine power had been unleashed to its limit. The entire plain was clearly visible. Wherever the colored clouds enveloped, cultivators and mortals alike all raised their heads in terror. Millions of eyes were fixed, filled with endless unease and dread.

"What is he going to do?"

Under the gaze of millions, the heavenly gate descended with a resounding crash, bringing with it rolling purple flames and celestial light, plummeting towards the majestic, immortal-tower-filled mountain gate of Changxiao Sect!

As the divine power descended, an overwhelming suppressive force rushed towards them. Instantly, the escape lights that had been timidly observing near the mountain gate lost their footing and fell simultaneously, like countless shooting stars plummeting, white light raining down.

The entire Changxiao mountain gate was enveloped in colored light, and brilliant silver light had already appeared across the sky. Changxiao Sect's mountain-protecting grand formation activated spontaneously!

The Heavenly Instrument Exquisite Spirit Array!

This array, densely covered with mystic patterns, emerged from the void, enveloping the entire Changxiao mountain gate. Before its light could reach its brightest, the heavenly gate crashed down:

"Boom..."

A deafening crash echoed throughout the entire mountain range. Disciples stumbled and fell down the mountain, finally becoming terrified, flying like headless flies. Amidst the endless clamor, an intense white light continuously spread across the grand formation...

The white-haired Sect Master sank to the ground, his heart ice-cold. The clamor of shouts and curses in his ears abruptly ceased, replaced by incredulous murmurs:

"This... this is to destroy our Changxiao Sect! How is this possible..."

"Where is the Grand True Master?!"

The white-haired Sect Master's mind went blank. As the Sect Master, he knew the attitude of True Master Changxiao, and his terror intensified:

‘Forget the Grand True Master, even the True Master's whereabouts are unknown... Even if the True Master is indeed within the sect... could he possibly contend with the combined might of White Kirin and Zhaojing?!’

"Boom!"

The mountains and forests shook violently, and spiritual energy surged and transformed. The white-haired Sect Master slowly picked himself up from the ground. The cultivators around him all showed signs of terror. The old man raised an eyebrow and glanced around.

Looking out from the mountain gate, only an intense, blinding white light filled the sky, along with the towering heavenly gate standing majestically within that light. Endless purple flames descended from the gate, burning, and spreading gray smoke everywhere.

Besides this, there was nothing else.

"True Master... True Master..."

With cold sweat streaming down his face, the white-haired Sect Master stared at the white light beyond the formation, fumbling in his sleeve but unable to retrieve anything.

The jade talisman given to him by Chengyan had long been crushed by him; Chengyan must surely know! Even if he didn't, with such an earth-shattering tremor, how could it escape the True Master's notice?

The white-haired Sect Master stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the sky. But then, the surrounding clamor suddenly ceased, and the old man's pupils simultaneously dilated.

The sole heavenly gate standing within the endless white light finally changed. A young man, holding a halberd, stood beneath the gate, gazing coldly at them.

This man had long eyebrows and cold eyes, his aura distinct. His long hair, once tied up, now flowed loose, gently swaying. Rolling divine power surrounded him, and the tall, radiant heavenly gate behind him made him appear like a monarch.

In the past, when he lowered his gaze, he was composed, calm, and impassive. But when he raised his eyebrows, it was entirely different: a fierce, demonic glint of golden light shone brightly, as if he intended to devour someone.

Those golden eyes seemed to pierce through the formation's concealment, unhindered, looking down on everything. This palpable fear, as if staring directly into a Purple Mansion, made the white-haired Sect Master's heart skip a beat, his chest burn, and he frantically felt like vomiting blood.

It wasn't just the white-haired Sect Master; when this earthly White Kirin appeared in the sky, all the curses on the mountain fell silent. The man seemed to instantly drain everyone's courage, filling their hearts with panic. Regardless of which corner a cultivator hid in, the same blend of fear and strange familiarity arose within them:

‘It's like... like he's looking at me...’ They stared blankly at the sky, unable to resist.

"Thump..."

Amidst the faint mountain wind, a soft thud of kneeling suddenly broke the silence. This sound was like a spark falling into kindling, as if triggering a transformation, and the sounds of kneeling rose one after another:

"Thump... thump..."

More and more disciples knelt and bowed their heads in fear throughout the mountain. Those with higher cultivation were somewhat better, but those with lower cultivation had already begun kowtowing. A strange atmosphere was spreading. The white-haired Sect Master forcefully closed his eyes, his mental defenses feeling as if they might break at any moment:

‘How is this possible... even the Void has been severed, how could his divine power penetrate the Purple Mansion Grand Formation... how could it influence them through the Purple Mansion Grand Formation?’

He had personally experienced what the White Kirin was like back then, but how could the current pressure compare to that of the past?

‘True Master... where is the True Master?!’

Under that gaze, he felt each moment stretch into a year, his hands and feet trembling. Then, a shimmering brown light finally illuminated, enveloping the mountain gate, revealing endless mystic radiance.

A man in brown robes had appeared, standing quietly on the isolated peak. His face was grim and uncertain as he watched the celestial light outside, appearing extremely agitated.

It was True Master Chengyan!

In contrast, the white-haired Sect Master let out a relieved breath, falling to his knees with a thud and weeping:

"True Master!"

Regardless of Chengyan's thoughts at that moment, as long as he appeared, the white-haired Sect Master would have a glimmer of hope. His fear was that the True Master wasn't in the sect at all, and that a few families had agreed to sell the mountain gate to some other party. In that case, he would truly have no escape, nowhere to turn!

His weeping contained an immeasurable sense of relief, but Chengyan had no time for him. Let alone the disciples and elders on the mountain, even Chengyan himself was filled with shock and suspicion at this moment!

‘No... ah...’

‘For no reason... suddenly unleashing such murderous intent... are all the sects ignoring this?! Changxiao said our Dao is glorious, we just need to wait for the Yang clan to come and recruit us... That Lord Yang also commits no offenses. What madness has seized the Li family?!’

He was both angry and suspicious in his heart. But the Li family possessed power. Without Changxiao's help, he estimated it would be difficult to even contend with Li Zhouwei alone, let alone with Li Ximing added to the mix. The most crucial point was that the Li family had marched here with such confidence, likely holding some certainty of victory!

The True Master scanned his surroundings, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. With a heavy flick of his sleeve, a burst of 'Wutu' (Earth) radiance exploded across the mountain, knocking down elders and disciples everywhere.

The strange atmosphere pervading the mountain immediately eased, but no one dared to speak. One by one, they silently stood up. Chengyan, meanwhile, subtly sensed something, feeling a pang of humiliation:

‘The Gate of Heaven's Audience is just outside the formation... This suppressive divine power is always troublesome, it's impossible to escape quietly...’

His face grew increasingly grim. The grand formation beneath his feet continued to shake. Chengyan raised his eyebrows, only to find that the person beneath the heavenly gate had slightly raised his eyes and spoken:

"Chengyan."

The voice sounded very flat, resonating with the divine power as it entered the formation. True Master Chengyan's expression subtly changed; for a moment, he dared not meet the gaze, slowly averting his eyes.

But these words snapped the last taut nerve in the white-haired Sect Master. The old man morbidly retreated several steps, collapsing to the ground, his lips trembling as he cried out in horror:

"He can see! He can see!"

His voice was shrill, echoing through the mountain and inciting widespread panic. The lower-cultivation disciples, who had just managed to stand straight, were struck by his cry and collapsed like reaped wheat, bending over and falling limply to the ground. Those with weak wills even resumed kowtowing.

To be truly accurate, True Master Chengyan knew better than anyone in the sect how terrifying the person imbued with the power of the Bright Sun was; that was someone even Louying Pavilion couldn't defeat! Now, with that single cry, his heart turned cold.

He forced himself to remain calm, raising his eyebrows. In the radiant light, he could see the long halberd lift, pointing towards the mountains below, sharp and dazzling. The young man commanded:

"Come out of the formation and be executed; your disciples will be spared."

Chengyan hadn't expected him to speak such words, causing him to lose immense face. Although he felt a chill in his heart, his expression remained as placid as an ancient well, grim and severe. Before he could speak, he saw Li Zhouwei's palm grow increasingly bright, from which a flash of silvery-white light emerged.

This gleam of light was incredibly dense, at times dispersing, at times gathering, like carp playing, swimming gracefully up and down his palm. Yet, with each movement, it stirred dazzling lightning, imbued with an aura of destruction.

Chengyan finally realized with a jolt, his face rapidly turning pale. With his Purple Mansion-level vision, he naturally understood what that silvery gleam was!

What appeared to be a single gleam was actually hundreds upon thousands of tiny, sesame-sized silvery-white lightning bolts, their number impossible to estimate. Each tiny silvery-white lightning bolt that manifested was a silvery-white lightning wedge, like a long sword!

"As for breaking the formation and executing a fellow Daoist... Minghuang wouldn't mind the trouble; the only trouble is if a fellow Daoist perishes and turns to dust."

The young man's thoughtful, even slightly amused voice echoed all around, reaching his ears:

"Should the Wutu fall upon the mountain gate then, countless will be harmed, and the spiritual veins would be defiled, which would be undesirable."