Just as the atmosphere within the cave dwelling turned suggestive, on the verge of sparking into flames.
Above Skeleton Mountain, the winds and clouds changed color.
The sea of clouds stretching ten thousand miles, previously scattered by Qin Feng's aura, now surged back in an even more violent fashion. Layer upon layer of leaden clouds roiled madly across the heavens like boiling ink, hanging so low that it seemed the sky itself was about to collapse.
Rumble!
Dull thunder rolled out from the depths of the clouds, making the entire Skeleton Mountain hum and tremble.
The birds and beasts in the mountain had long since fallen silent. Countless grass and tree spirit monsters shivered and prostrated themselves upon the ground, their very souls trembling beneath this terrifying Heavenly Might.
The next moment, twelve dazzling golden divine lights that pierced heaven and earth tore through the heavy clouds, descending with a thunderous roar like twelve jade pillars holding up the sky!
A figure stood at the peak of every divine light.
They stood upon Auspicious Clouds, draped in Daoist robes, immortal radiance swirling around them. Golden wheels of merit turned slowly behind their heads, exuding a terrifying pressure as deep as the sea and powerful enough to drive one into despair!
Twelve Grand Unity Golden Immortals!
And they were twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, all from the same lineage, their auras linked together as they vaguely formed a profound immortal formation!
The leader had a face as refined as carved jade and an elegant bearing, yet his eyes held an arrogance and coldness that brooked no defiance.
He held a seal in his hand. He was Guang Chengzi, Yuanshi Tianzun's foremost disciple of Jade Void Palace, the one who struck the Golden Bell!
Behind him stood Chi Jingzi, Huang Long Zhenren, Ju Liusun, Taiyi Zhenren, Lingbao Da Shifu, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, Cihang Daoren, Yu Ding Zhenren, Heavenly Venerate Daoxing, Qingxu Daode Zhenjun...
The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, aside from Taiyi Zhenren, who had previously been slapped into the ground by Qin Feng, had all gathered here!
No, even the bedraggled Taiyi Zhenren was among them.
No one knew what miraculous pill he had taken, but the distinct slap mark on his face had already faded. His aura remained somewhat unstable, however, and his complexion was as pale as paper.
At that moment, he stared viciously at the White Bone Cave dwelling below, his gaze so venomous that he wished he could devour Qin Feng alive.
The Twelve Golden Immortals formed a majestic immortal formation, their terrifying pressure joining into one like an invisible firmament that came crashing down.
Crack! Crack!
The entire body of Skeleton Mountain groaned under the unbearable pressure, massive fissures spreading from its foot all the way to its summit.
Even the spiritual energy within the mountain was frozen solid by that tyrannical pressure, unable to flow in the slightest!
The unique Mystic Sect Dao chant of the Chan Sect echoed between heaven and earth—solemn, majestic, sacred, and vast, yet concealing endless chilling Killing Intent. It proclaimed to the entire Primordial Three Realms the towering wrath of a Saint's Orthodox Lineage!
Guang Chengzi stepped forth from the formation, the Fan Tian Seal in his hand radiating a terrifying aura capable of suppressing the heavens.
He looked arrogant, his gaze that of a divine king looking down upon ants. His voice became rolling heavenly thunder, resounding throughout the lands in every direction.
"Demonic Evil in the cave, listen well!"
"You dared to injure my junior brother and humiliate the Chan Sect. This is an unforgivable crime, a sin deserving execution!"
"I am Guang Chengzi, foremost disciple beneath Yuanshi Tianzun of Jade Void Palace!"
"I now command you to crawl out of the cave dwelling at once, bind your own hands, cripple your cultivation, and follow me back to Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain to receive your punishment! Perhaps, in consideration of the difficulty of your cultivation, I may leave you a wisp of true spirit to enter the Investiture of the Gods!"
His voice was filled with the air of passing judgment as a matter of course.
There was no questioning, no confrontation. He simply declared Qin Feng guilty and pronounced sentence.
It was as if he were heaven itself, as if he were reason itself, and his words were an imperial decree that could not be defied.
In the eyes of this senior brother of the Chan Sect, the being within Skeleton Mountain was already dead.
The only difference was whether Qin Feng chose to die with dignity or be beaten until both body and soul were destroyed, without even the qualification to enter the Investiture of the Gods.
Such a massive display from the Chan Sect alarmed the entire Primordial World almost the instant it descended.
Countless Great Powers hidden within famous mountains, great rivers, Cave Heavens, and blessed lands awoke from seclusion, instantly sending Spiritual Sense filled with suspicion, amusement, or schadenfreude toward this ordinarily desolate little Skeleton Mountain.
Within Fire Cloud Cave.
The Three Sovereigns of humanity—Heavenly Emperor Fuxi, Earth Emperor Shennong, and Human Emperor Xuanyuan—opened their eyes together.
The Eight Trigrams revolved at Fuxi's fingertips, the heavenly secrets in chaos. He frowned slightly. "What a grand display. The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect have all come out in force. Who are they trying to kill?"
Emperor Xuanyuan rested a hand on the Xuanyuan Sword, a flash of battle intent passing through his eyes. "Hmph. The Chan Sect has always been protective of its own and overbearing. Taiyi must have caused trouble outside again, only to kick an iron plate."
Shennong sighed, concern showing in his expression. "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is approaching. Such immense karma may cause this killing calamity to arrive even more fiercely."
Wuzhuang Temple, Longevity Mountain.
Zhen Yuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, was seated across from his friend Ancestor Hong Yun, drinking tea.
He suddenly paused and looked eastward, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
"Dao Brother, look at this..." Ancestor Hong Yun wore an equally astonished expression.
Zhen Yuanzi calculated with his fingers, then stroked his beard and smiled. "Interesting, truly interesting. An obscure cave dwelling has actually drawn out all the disciples beneath Primal Beginning Saint. I wonder who this Dao friend is—and how many exchanges he can endure?"
Northern Darkness Sea, Demon Master Palace.
Demon Master Kunpeng let out a shrill, wild laugh that stirred up waves ten thousand zhang high.
"Fight! Fight! Dogs biting dogs, leaving a mouthful of fur!"
"Those hypocrites of the Chan Sect have finally met someone tough! Hahaha! I want to see which blind hero has avenged this grievance for my demon race! It would be best if he left all Twelve Golden Immortals on Skeleton Mountain!"
His Spiritual Sense was filled with undisguised malice and schadenfreude.
Beyond those Quasi-Saint Great Powers, even the Saint's Dojos high above the Thirty-three Heavens, looking down upon all living beings, cast their attention toward the scene.
Western Teachings, Mount Sumeru.
The suffering on Jieyin Daoren's face deepened, while Zhunti Daoren's eyes gleamed as he chuckled.
"Senior Brother, what an opportunity!" Zhunti rubbed his hands excitedly. "The Chan Sect is fighting someone. No matter who wins or loses, it will benefit our Western Teachings greatly! If a few Chan Sect disciples are killed or wounded, we can go weep before Dao Brother Yuanshi and demand some compensation. If that Dao friend from Skeleton Mountain falls, we can convert his essence and energy to the West and add another Vajra guardian!"
Within Wa Palace.
Saint Nuwa merely cast a faint glance in that direction before withdrawing her gaze. Her eyes were as still as an ancient well, and no one knew what she was thinking.
For a time, tiny Skeleton Mountain became the center of a storm across the entire Primordial World, drawing everyone's attention.
The Spiritual Sense of countless Great Powers intertwined there, all curious about the same thing.
Just who was the mysterious powerhouse who had dared to provoke a Saint's Orthodox Lineage?
Faced with such a seemingly certain death, how would he respond?
Would he choose to submit, or would he choose to... fight to the death?
In everyone's expectations, the best possible outcome for the being within that cave dwelling was to be ground to ashes.
After all, those were the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect!
They represented a Saint's dignity!
Yet just as everyone believed the White Bone Cave dwelling would remain silent until Guang Chengzi and the others blasted open its gates.
A clear, steady, even somewhat languid sound of footsteps slowly emerged from the depths of the dark cave entrance.
One step, then another.
Neither hurried nor slow, calm and unruffled.
Beneath that terrifying pressure capable of crushing mountains and rivers and freezing space itself, those footsteps sounded as though their owner were taking a leisurely stroll, completely unaffected.
The next moment, a tall, straight figure appeared at the cave entrance.
The newcomer wore black, his features so handsome they seemed beyond mortal. A faint smile lingered at the corners of his lips.
Qin Feng walked out just like that. He looked up at the Twelve Golden Immortals' formation in the sky, blazing with golden light and Killing Intent, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
That gaze did not seem to be looking at mortal enemies.
It was more like he was watching a performance... one that was a little too noisy and ostentatious.
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