Above the heavens, two supreme wills continued to clash madly.
On one side was the Jade Pure Immortal Light, manifesting the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Clouds, vast and majestic.
On the other was the Immortal Slaying Sword Intent, tearing through the cosmos and void, incomparably domineering.
Under the wrath of these two Heavenly Dao Sages, the entire Primordial World was like a small boat tossed amid wind and rain, liable to capsize at any moment.
The divine senses of countless Great Beings lingered around the edge of the East Sea, yet none dared cross that line, afraid of being ground to ash by even a trace of the Dao's lingering aura.
Everyone understood that if these two Saints truly fought, sinking half the Primordial Continent would be no joke.
Yet amid this confrontation, enough to make even Quasi-Saints quake in terror, Yuanshi Tianzun's cold, emotionless will showed the faintest, almost imperceptible fluctuation.
He discovered that Tongtian's attitude was firmer than ever before.
That sword intent soaring into the heavens showed no hint of retreat. Instead, it grew ever more condensed, as though it would transform into the true Immortal Slaying Sword Formation the next moment and completely shroud this world.
Were they really going to fight?
Yuanshi Tianzun's will weighed the matter rapidly within the void.
For the sake of one dead disciple and one useless Deputy Sect Leader, was he going to fight his own brother, Sect Master Tongtian, another Heavenly Dao Sage, to the death here?
Even if he ultimately defeated Tongtian, it would certainly be a pyrrhic victory.
What face would the Sect of Elucidation have left then? Where would Yuanshi Tianzun's prestige be?
If two Saints fought like street thugs, they would only become a laughingstock for those two in the west and the one at Nuwa Palace.
More importantly, that young man in green below had remained calm and detached throughout, watching the spectacle as though the confrontation between Saints before him were merely a boring play.
That made the nameless fire in Yuanshi Tianzun's heart burn even hotter, but it also made him warier.
This boy definitely had a trump card Yuanshi Tianzun did not know about!
If this continued, there would be too many variables. The losses would outweigh the gains.
"Hmph!"
A cold snort filled with endless rage and unwillingness descended from Above the Nine Heavens, like hundreds of millions of bolts of lightning exploding at once, shaking countless living beings until their primordial spirits nearly shattered.
Immediately afterward, the Jade Pure Immortal Light shrouding the East Sea slowly withdrew toward Kunlun Mountain like the receding tide.
The Terrifying Pressure capable of freezing space and time also vanished with it.
But just as the immortals of the Sect of Elucidation believed the matter had ended and endless humiliation and resentment surged within them, a cold and majestic decree that no living being could question spread from Kunlun Mountain across the four seas of the Primordial World.
"Disciples of the Sect of Elucidation shall not set foot in the East Sea for ten thousand years!"
The voice was like the heavenly decree of the Dao. Every word contained the Supreme Power of Words Manifest as Law, transforming into golden Law Runes that branded themselves upon the boundary between the East Sea and the Primordial Continent.
Daoist Burning Lamp's expression instantly froze.
True Lord Yu Ding, Taiyi Zhenren, and all the remaining Chan Sect Golden Immortals were dumbfounded.
Their minds went blank, and they could scarcely believe what they had heard.
What?
Master... was not going to pursue this?
Not only would he not pursue the murderer who had killed Senior Brother Chi Jingzi, he had even ordered that the Sect of Elucidation could not return to the East Sea for ten thousand years?
This... was this punishing them?
A sense of absurdity and humiliation even greater than the death of their senior brother erupted in their chests like a volcano.
Why?!
We were the victims!
Daoist Burning Lamp's aged face turned purple-red, his chest heaving violently as he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.
Of course, he understood that this decree was not meant to punish them at all.
This was Master finding himself a way to save face!
He could not win—or rather, did not wish to fight—but could not bring himself to retreat directly. Thus, he could only use this method to announce that the matter would be dropped for the time being.
It seemed to restrain the disciples of his sect, but in truth, it was a declaration to Tongtian and the entire Primordial World that Yuanshi Tianzun had admitted defeat today!
Utter humiliation!
This was an unprecedented humiliation since the Sect of Elucidation had been founded!
"Pfft!"
At last, one Golden Immortal lost control of his Dao heart. Unable to suppress his surging blood and qi any longer, he spat out a large mouthful of blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale.
Under these successive blows, cracks had already appeared in his Dao heart.
"Leave!"
Daoist Burning Lamp practically squeezed the word out through clenched teeth.
His gaze was incomparably venomous as he stared fixedly at Lin Feng, his eyes brimming with towering hatred, endless stifled resentment, and a trace of bone-deep fear that even he himself refused to admit.
If he did not leave now, he feared that his Dao heart would collapse and he would go mad on the spot.
Before his words had even faded, Daoist Burning Lamp was the first to transform into a miserable streak of light, fleeing madly toward Kunlun Mountain without looking back. He was more than ten times faster than when he had arrived.
The remaining Golden Immortals followed like homeless dogs, their faces filled with grief, indignation, resentment, humiliation, unwillingness... every expression imaginable. With their tails between their legs, they fled in disgrace.
It was an utterly wretched sight. Where was the majesty and dignity of Saint's disciples?
As the immortals of the Sect of Elucidation fled in humiliation, a brief silence fell over the East Sea.
Then, the divine senses of the Primordial World Great Powers watching from afar erupted into uproar.
"What did I just see? Yuanshi Tianzun... retreated?"
"Not only did he retreat, he even issued a decree barring his sect from the East Sea for ten thousand years! That is practically declaring the entire East Sea to be that man in green's territory!"
"Hiss! With his strength alone, he forced back a Saint and suppressed the Sect of Elucidation for ten thousand years! What kind of feat is this?!"
"Too fierce! This is practically pressing Yuanshi Tianzun's face to the ground and rubbing it over and over!"
"After today, the skies of the Primordial World may truly change..."
Just as the entire Primordial World was shaken by Yuanshi Tianzun's retreat, the incomparably domineering sword intent shrouding the skies above the East Sea slowly withdrew as well.
Sect Master Tongtian's sharp and imposing Saintly will became calm once more.
Then, a friendly divine sense carrying three parts appreciation and seven parts curiosity crossed the Endless Void and landed precisely upon Lin Feng.
"Fellow Daoist, what impressive methods! Might I ask which exalted expert you are?"
"If you have the time, come to Biyou Palace on Golden Ao Island for a talk."
This divine sense contained not the slightest arrogance. Instead, it carried the meaning of associating as equals.
Sect Master Tongtian had developed an appreciation for talent.
He even wished to recruit him!
A formidable man who could single-handedly turn the Sect of Elucidation upside down and force even Yuanshi Tianzun to yield—if he could be drawn into the Interception Sect, why would the Interception Sect fear not flourishing?
Feeling the goodwill within this divine sense, Lin Feng merely smiled faintly and did not respond.
Behind him, however, Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao were completely stunned.
Their beautiful eyes widened round, their small mouths slightly open as they stared at Lin Feng's back, waves crashing through their hearts.
Their master, the Interception Sect Leader who looked down upon the world with lofty pride, had actually... taken the initiative to invite their young master?
And he had even addressed him as "Fellow Daoist"!
What honor! What esteem!
At that moment, they finally understood just how wise and brilliant their decision to follow their young master had been.
This was not merely finding themselves a powerful backer.
They had clearly latched onto a towering jade pillar that even a Heavenly Dao Sage wanted to cling to!
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