Qi Shouming opened the gates of the Immortal Mansion, releasing a thousand streams of auspicious mist and ten thousand shafts of radiant light. Every tiny droplet in the clouds over Emei Mountain shone crystalline and brilliant, aglow with Gods' light and wondrous colors.
Everyone practicing martial arts, meditating, or worshiping the Gods in the various corners of Emei Mountain was stunned by this extraordinary sight.
At first, they thought Chan Master Xiaoyue had revealed another "miracle" and hurried toward the summit. Upon discovering otherwise, they began running toward the mountainside instead.
In the end, they all arrived at the cave entrance connecting the Qianyuan Immortal Mansion to the outside world. It had opened in a sheer cliff face, and immortal mist swirled within, radiant with dazzling light.
More and more people gathered, talking among themselves. Some of the bolder, more skilled martial artists wanted to use their lightness skills to climb up and explore the cave.
In fact, Xuanzhenzi and Xun Lanyin had already left using Grand Purity Invisible Sword Escape, taking with them the Emei Sect disciples who were to be sent away.
Every one of these disciples had refused to leave, insisting on living or dying with the Emei Sect. They knelt and repeatedly begged to stay, but Qi Shouming exercised his authority without allowing any dissent and forced them all to leave.
The disciples all realized that this departure might be their final farewell. Tears streamed down their faces as they kowtowed to their masters. Li Yingqiong and Zhou Qingyun even wanted to leave the Purple and Azure Swords behind, but that, too, was refused.
Elders and younger disciples alike pleaded on Golden Cicada's behalf. Even Xuanzhenzi spoke up, saying that Golden Cicada had been so devoted to pursuing the Dao in his previous life that he