A blinding flash erupted atop the mountain, its sudden brilliance dimming even the sun for an instant. The people watching below cried out in pain and clapped their hands over their eyes.
Even then, they felt enveloped in white light, tears streaming uncontrollably down their faces.
Moments later, the tremendous blast that followed made their eardrums ache and their chests resonate. Nearly every window in the cars parked in the distance shattered, sending people screaming and ducking for cover.
At the center of the explosion, the cultists naturally bore the brunt of it. The fierce light and sound all but robbed them of their senses, before a powerful gust shoved them off their feet and sent them tumbling to the ground.
On the International Investigation Group's side, Du Luye Qi reacted the instant the light struck him. His domain field expanded rapidly, enveloping himself and the group's members and shielding their area from the ensuing shock wave.
Then he heard a faint rustling. Looking up, he saw fine cracks appearing in the air above, with light of various colors seeping through them.
The surrounding ritual's domain field had suffered a violent impact, breaking for an instant before rapidly knitting itself back together, producing this phenomenon.
The disordered domain field also caused extreme discomfort among the surrounding crowd. The cultists sprawled on the ground could not help letting out agonized screams.
Du Luye Qi was the only person present who could ignore these changes. He looked toward where the two men had collided, and the sight made his heart leap.
Chen Chuan held the Snow Monarch Blade in one hand, his other hand still extended in a forward press. The lingering light was slowly fading, while the fierce wind sent his outer robe and the red scarf on his sword hilt