A sky full of auspicious clouds seemed to sense a certain majesty and retreated to either side of their own accord, revealing a sky as clear as if freshly washed.
Suddenly, a phoenix cry that shook heaven and earth rang out from afar. Golden flames swept in from the east, dyeing half the sky into a sea of fire.
"It's here!"
Someone cried out softly, instinctively holding their breath.
Within the flames, a hundred-zhang chariot slowly approached. Its body was carved with intricate flame runes, each one coursing with scorching spiritual power, as though capable of burning the heavens and destroying the earth.
Massive bronze bells hung from the chariot's four corners. Their toll bore none of a bell's crispness, instead carrying the weighty clash of metal and stone, making even one's soul tremble at the sound.
This was the improved great killing weapon of the Dongting Immortal Sect—the Abyss-Cleansing Mountain Chariot.
Above the chariot, a Fire Phoenix with a wingspan exceeding a hundred zhang circled as it beat its wings. Wherever its feathers swept, the air was scorched into distortion, leaving behind trails of flame that lingered long in midair.
The Fire Phoenix's eyes were like two crimson jeweled pupils, radiating the pride of one who looked down upon all beneath heaven.
The flames surrounding it were not Mortal Fire, but Spirit Fire imbued with the power of laws.
An ordinary cultivator would perish in body and soul from the slightest touch, their Primordial Spirit utterly extinguished.
At that moment, the doors of the Abyss-Cleansing Mountain Chariot slowly opened. A figure then stepped out at an unhurried pace and stood at the front of the chariot.
This person was Chao Jin.
He stood one point nine meters tall, straight as a pine, clad in a crimson-gold dharma robe that