Besides Deng Yin, Divine Lord Giant Wood also sent edicts to Sword Immortals throughout the world. Every one of any renown received his talisman edict, commanding them to submit.
First came the three great sects: Emei, Kunlun, and Wudang.
The one sent to deliver the decree to the Emei Sect was Master Baiyun. Her soul had been scattered during the sword duel at Mount Jiuhua, but Divine Lord Giant Wood had resurrected her remnant soul and restored her immortal body. Now she had been sent to recruit the Emei Sect.
Li Yingqiong refused on the spot without even consulting Qi Shouming or Xun Lanyin. She declared that the Emei Sect cultivated the Nine Heavens Profound Scripture, that Qi Shouming had received the Imperial Palace Tusita True Edict, and that the entire sect honored the Haotian Register and worshipped Haotian Shangdi. They would never change their faith.
Master Baiyun tried a few more words of persuasion, warning that if they refused, the Emei Sect might face destruction.
Li Yingqiong declared that if Divine Lord Giant Wood considered the Emei Sect "defiant," he was welcome to come and see whether he could raze Emei Mountain!
Her face full of shame, Master Baiyun could only leave helplessly.
After receiving the talisman edict, Mr. Zhong of the Kunlun Sect had no such confidence. He immediately summoned all his fellow disciples to arrange what would happen after his departure.
Everyone in the Kunlun Sect capable of ascending did so on the spot. The rest followed Yu Xiao to Heaven Beyond Divine Mountain to seek refuge with Shi Feiyang.
Linglingzi of the Wudang Sect had long since ascended. Its current sect leader was his disciple Zhuge Ying. Zhuge Ying dared not delay either, immediately taking all his disciples overseas to seek refuge with Shi Feiyang.
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