Chapter 1648: Trouble (II)

Boom!

The mountains shook as trees rustled violently and the earth trembled. Spiritual energy surged chaotically throughout the landscape. Master Baibin slowly struggled to his feet as terror spread across the faces of every cultivator around him. The old man raised his head and looked ahead.

Looking out from within the mountain gate, nothing remained in the sky except blinding white radiance and the colossal heavenly gate standing amidst it. Endless purple flames poured down from the gate, leaving smoke and ash billowing in every direction.

There was nothing else.

"Daoist Master... Daoist Master..."

Drenched in cold sweat, Master Baibin stared at the white radiance beyond the formation while fumbling desperately inside his sleeve, yet he could find nothing.

The jade talisman Chengyan had given him had long since been crushed. He had to know by now! Even if he somehow didn't, a disturbance on this scale could never escape a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator's notice.

Master Baibin stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly into the skies. Then, all at once, the uproar around him fell silent. His pupils dilated sharply as at last, the lone heavenly gate standing within the endless white radiance changed. A young man now stood beneath it, a halberd in hand, gazing coldly down upon them.

His long brows and icy eyes gave him an entirely different bearing from before. The long hair he had once worn tied up now flowed freely behind him, gently stirred by the wind. Surging divine ability danced around him, while the towering heavenly gate behind him blazed with brilliance, making him appear every inch a sovereign.

When his eyes had once been lowered, he had seemed composed, calm, and unreadable. But the moment he raised them, he became someone else entirely. Every trace of ferocity was laid bare. His golden gaze blazed with savage brilliance, carrying an overwhelming demonic aura, as though he might devour anyone who met his eyes.

Those golden eyes seemed to pierce straight through the grand formation, gazing upon everything without the slightest obstruction. It felt as though he were looking directly into the eyes of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. The sheer reality of that terror made Master Baibin's heart skip a beat. His chest burned, and panic nearly drove him to cough up blood.

Nor was Master Baibin alone. The instant the White Qilin of the mortal world appeared in the sky, every curse and shout across the mountain ceased. It was as if this man had stripped away everyone's courage in a single moment while planting the same instinctive fear within their hearts. No matter where they hid, every cultivator felt the same strange mixture of terror and familiarity.

It feels... It feels like he's looking at me...

They stared helplessly into the sky, utterly unable to tear their eyes away.

Thud...

Amid the faint mountain breeze came the soft sound of someone dropping to their knees. It was like a single spark falling into dry tinder, triggering an unstoppable chain reaction as the sounds of kneeling echoed one after another.

Thud... Thud...

More and more disciples throughout the mountains dropped to their knees, lowering their heads in terror. Those with higher cultivation managed to resist, but the weaker ones had already begun kowtowing.

An eerie atmosphere spread through the mountains. Master Baibin forced his eyes shut, feeling as though the last line of defense in his mind could collapse at any moment.

How is this possible... Even the great void has been sealed off. How can his divine ability penetrate a Purple Mansion Realm grand formation? How can it affect them through a Purple Mansion Realm grand formation...

He had personally experienced the White Qilin's presence years ago, but the pressure he felt now was beyond comparison.

Daoist Master... Where are you?!

Under that unrelenting gaze, every moment felt like an eternity. His limbs trembled uncontrollably until, at last, brilliant brown light burst forth, enveloping the mountain gate and illuminating it with endless profound radiance.

A man clad in brown robes appeared atop the solitary peak. He stood there in silence, his expression dark as he stared at the heavenly light outside, his face shifting between gloom and irritation.

It was none other than Daoist Master Chengyan!

Master Baibin, on the other hand, let out a tremendous sigh of relief. He dropped to his knees with a thud and cried out, "Daoist Master!"

No matter what Daoist Master Chengyan was thinking, the mere fact that he had appeared meant there was still a sliver of hope for Master Baibin. What he had feared most was that Chengyan was not in the gate at all, and that the major factions had already agreed to carve up Changxiao Gate among themselves. If that were the case, he truly would have had nowhere to run!

His cries were filled with immeasurable relief, but Chengyan had no mood to pay him any attention. Forget the elders and disciples scattered across the mountains, even Chengyan himself was utterly bewildered!

What... Is this?

Out of nowhere, they've suddenly come with such murderous intent... Are the other gates just going to stand by and do nothing?! Changxiao said our Dao stands in glory. We only needed to wait for the Yang Family to come recruiting... That Lord Yang has always been impeccably restrained. Has the Li Family gone completely mad?!

His heart churned with both anger and confusion. Yet he knew the Li Family possessed genuine strength. Without Changxiao's help, he doubted he could even defeat Li Zhouwei, let alone Li Ximing as well. Most importantly, the Li Family had marched here with such confidence that they clearly had something to rely on!

Daoist Master Chengyan swept his gaze across the mountain, his face as dark as the bottom of a scorched pot. With a heavy sweep of his sleeve, brilliant Majestic Earth radiance erupted throughout the mountains. The elders and disciples sprawled across the ground were immediately jolted awake.

The eerie atmosphere blanketing the mountains eased at once, yet no one dared utter a word. One after another, they silently rose to their feet. Chengyan quietly extended his senses, and his expression became increasingly grim.

Heaven-Venerating Gate is right outside the formation... That suppressive divine ability has always been a nightmare. There's no slipping away without anyone noticing...

Chengyan's expression grew darker by the moment as the grand formation beneath his feet continued to tremble. He raised his head, only to see the man standing beneath the heavenly gate lift his eyes slightly.

Li Zhouwei spoke, "Chengyan."

The single utterance was calm and unhurried, yet it resonated with the divine ability itself, echoing through the formation. Daoist Master Chengyan's expression shifted slightly. For a moment, he did not even dare meet the other's gaze and slowly looked away.

But that one word shattered the last thread holding Master Baibin together. Staggering backward several steps as though possessed, the old man collapsed onto the ground, his lips trembling.

He cried out in horror, "He can see us! He can see us!"

His shrill cry echoed through the mountains, sending panic rippling through the crowd. The low-level cultivators who had only just managed to stand were struck down like a field of harvested wheat, collapsing one after another. Those with weaker resolve even fell to their knees once more in worship.

If anyone truly understood how terrifying the man above, blessed by Bright Yang, had become, it was Daoist Master Chengyan. Even Shilou Yingge had failed to bring him down! Hearing Baibin's cry, a chill ran through Chengyan's heart.

Forcing himself to remain calm, he lifted his gaze. He saw the halberd rise within the blazing brilliance, its dazzling blade pointing directly at the mountain range below.

The young man gave his command, "Step out of the formation and face your execution. Your disciples will be spared."

Chengyan had never expected such an outright humiliation. Though inwardly shaken, his expression remained unreadable, his face grim and severe. Before he could reply, however, the light in Li Zhouwei's palm grew ever brighter, and a streak of silver-white radiance leaped forth.

The silver-white radiance was astonishingly dense. It scattered and gathered in turns, darting playfully through his palm like a carp weaving through water. Yet wherever it moved, brilliant lightning unfurled in its wake, carrying an overwhelming aura of destruction.

At that moment, Chengyan finally understood, and the color drained from his face. With the eyesight of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator, he could naturally discern exactly what that silver radiance was!

What appeared to be a single streak was in fact an immeasurable swarm of silver-white lightning, each no larger than a sesame seed. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of them. Every tiny spark manifested as a silver-white lightning spike shaped like a slender sword!

"As for breaking the formation and killing you... I don't mind the trouble. The only inconvenience is that you'll end up dead and returned to dust."

The young man's voice echoed in every direction. It carried a thoughtful tone, even a faint trace of amusement, as it reached Chengyan's ears.

"When your Majestic Earth falls onto the mountain gate, the casualties will be beyond counting. It would also taint the spirit vein, which would be rather unfortunate."

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