Yuanshi Tianzun stopped three feet before the temple. For a full hundred breaths, he dared not take another step forward.
The Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage hovered above Guanjiangkou.
Chaos qi streamed down from the Pangu Banner.
Yet the karmic fissure cleaved open by that purple-gray sword light still stretched across the banner, refusing to fade.
Heaven and earth fell silent.
The mountain wind stilled.
Grass and trees bowed low.
Even Xiaotian Dog no longer bared his teeth. He merely lay beside the temple door, his tail sweeping back and forth across the cyan stone slabs.
He looked as though he were waiting for Yuanshi Tianzun to make his own choice.
Advance, or retreat.
Inside Yuanshi Tianzun's sleeve, Yuqing Saint Light flickered uncertainly.
He did not look at the severed lock of silver-white hair that had fallen into the Ruined Temple.
Yet the path of that sword strike kept replaying within the sea of Dao in his sage heart.
Purple-gray sword light swept past.
The life-bound karma between him and the Pangu Banner split open.
The Sage's imprint on the Nine Dragon Agarwood Carriage dimmed.
The river of the Jade Void Palace's fortune ceased flowing for an instant.
Finally, that sword light slashed down past his temple.
Only half an inch away.
Beyond that half inch lay the foundation of his Sage status.
For the first time since becoming a Sage, Yuanshi Tianzun had clearly brushed against the word "death."
Sages endured ten thousand tribulations unscathed.
Sages existed alongside the Heavenly Dao.
This had once been an iron law of the Primordial World.
Yet before the doors of the Ruined Temple in Guanjiangkou, a crack had been cut into that iron law.
"Another half step forward."
"And you fall."
Gu Changqing's voice still echoed deep within his saint soul.
Calm.
Cold.