Bai Qi sat upright at the formation core, his eyes half-closed. Twelve black banners fluttered fiercely around him, the witch patterns on their surfaces slithering as if alive. Reliefs of twelve savage Ancient Demon Gods seemed ready to leap from the banners, lifelike enough to devour men. Sha Qi coiled around the flagpoles, demonic shadows shifting as though twelve true gods had descended upon the world. One glance alone sent chills down the spine and nearly scattered the soul.
In an instant, the sea of clouds in the Heavenly Vault exploded apart. Auspicious light blazed ten thousand zhang, immortal music lingered, and mighty Righteous Qi poured down like a tide, forcibly cleaving a patch of clear sky through the dense Sha mist.
Boom—Boom—Boom—
The heavenly drums erupted. The celestial net trembled without end as ten thousand drums thundered in unison. The cloud sea churned and scattered, and a vast fissure split open in the canopy of clouds. The figures of all gods from the Heavenly Realm appeared abruptly, their golden light frigid and their pressure rolling in like a tide.
"Which madman dares violate the realm?"
Bai Qi's sword eyebrows drew tight. His long sword lay across his front, his foot planted upon the formation core, and his voice was like cold iron as he cleaved through the air with his question.
"Great Emperor Gouchen Shang Palace Heavenly Emperor—Lei Zhenzi!"
Above the clouds, Lei Zhenzi stepped forth at the call. His wings spread slightly as he looked down like a towering mountain, his golden staff pointed diagonally. His voice shook the nine heavens, every word carrying the momentum of wind and thunder.
Bai Qi swept his gaze over him—only to see high cheekbones and a sharp chin, with sinewy wings protruding beneath his ribs. The golden staff in his hand