Just then, a melodious bell rang in the sky, followed by a golden light that streaked across the heavens and landed atop Heavenly Pillar Peak. As the golden light dissipated, the figure of the Snow Empress was revealed. She wore a purple imperial robe, a Ziwei Emperor Crown, and held a golden token. A faint golden light emanated from her, making her appear like Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens descending to earth, sacred and inviolable.
"Junior Snow Empress greets Senior Tianjizi and all the sect leaders." Snow Empress bowed slightly and paid her respects to everyone.
Tianjizi looked at Snow Empress with admiration in his eyes, "Girl, have you made up your mind?"
Snow Empress nodded, her tone firm, "This junior has made her decision. Once the Gate of the Demon Realm are opened, the mortal world will be plunged into chaos, and countless innocent lives will be slaughtered. As a member of the righteous path and the Holy Maiden of the Ziwei Sect, this junior has an inescapable responsibility."
"Good! Good!" Tianjizi said twice, tears welling up in his eyes. "The righteous path is blessed to have a junior like you. Although I am old, I cannot stand idly by. Girl, go ahead. I will gather all the righteous disciples and set up the Heavenly Dipper Big Dipper Great Formation to protect you and ensure that you will not be disturbed during the sealing process."
"Thank you very much, senior," Snow Empress said gratefully.
Other sect leaders also expressed their willingness to provide full assistance.
Snow Empress looked around at these familiar faces, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She knew that with them there, the sealing would definitely be completed smoothly.
"Let's get started without delay." Snow Empress took a deep breath and walked towards the depths of Heavenly Pillar Peak.
Following behind Snow Empress, the group passed through layers of clouds and mist, traversed rugged mountain paths, and finally arrived at the deepest part of Heavenly Pillar Peak —the sealed land.
This is a huge cave, and inside the cave stands an ancient altar. The altar is covered with intricate runes, emitting a faint glow. In the center of the altar is a three-foot square recess, within which lie three supreme treasures— the Ziwei Emperor Bell, the White Tiger Token, and the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant —quietly emitting a faint light.
But at this moment, the runes had become dim and lifeless, and the sealing power was constantly weakening. In the air around the altar, one could even feel a Sisi of evil aura from the Demon Realm.
"The seal is indeed nearing its breaking point," Tianjizi said, frowning. "At this rate, the Gate of the Demon Realm will be fully open in three months at most. Then, the demon army will sweep in unimpeded, and the mortal realm will be doomed."
The Snow Empress walked to the altar and placed the golden token in her hand into the groove. As soon as the golden token touched the three treasures, it immediately burst out with dazzling light. The three treasures seemed to be summoned and began to slowly rotate, emitting even more powerful energy.
"Esteemed seniors, please step back," the Snow Empress said in a deep voice. "I am about to activate the sealing formation."
Everyone retreated, and under Tianjizi's guidance, they set up the Heavenly Dipper Big Dipper Great Formation to protect the Snow Empress.
Snow Empress sat cross-legged before the altar, closed her eyes, and circulated the Power of the Heavenly Dao within her body. Golden light surged from her body, enveloping her entire being. Her consciousness slowly sank into the depths of the altar, resonating with the sealing array.
At the core of the sealing array is a vast space. The space is pitch black, except for a huge stone gate in the center. The stone gate is covered with sealing runes, but at this moment, those runes are badly damaged, and cracks have appeared on the stone gate, from which black Demonic Qi constantly pours out.
"Is this the Gate of the Demon Realm?" Snow Empress stared at the stone gate, utterly shocked. She could sense that behind the stone gate were countless powerful demons, desperately pounding on it, trying to break the seal and invade the human world.
The Snow Empress took a deep breath and slowly poured her Power of the Heavenly Dao into the sealing array. Golden light, like flowing water, surged into the array, repairing the damaged runes and reinforcing the seal on the stone gate.
However, this process is extremely taxing on life force and cultivation. Snow Empress could clearly feel her life force rapidly draining away; her hair began to turn white strand by strand, and her facial structure began to loosen.
"Holy Maiden!" Outside, Qingyunzi exclaimed upon seeing the Snow Empress's transformation and tried to rush over, but was stopped by Tianjizi.
"Don't go over there!" Tianjizi said in a deep voice, "She is at the most critical moment right now. Any disturbance will cause her to suffer a qi deviation and all her previous efforts will be in vain!"
"But... the Holy Maiden..." Qingyunzi's eyes were filled with tears. He watched as Snow Empress's hair turned from jet black to gray, and then from gray to snow white, his heart aching as if being torn apart.
The other sect leaders also turned their heads away, unable to bear watching any longer.
Although Snow Empress could not hear the sounds of the outside world, she could feel the changes in her own body. She knew that her time was running out, and she had to complete the reinforcement of the seal before her life force was completely exhausted.
" Power of the Heavenly Dao, suppress it!" Snow Empress roared, pouring all the Power of the Heavenly Dao within her into the sealing formation.
Golden light, like the sun, illuminated the entire space. The cracks on the Gate of the Demon Realm began to heal rapidly, and the sealing runes lit up again, radiating a powerful light. The demons behind the stone gate roared in unwilling anger, but the power of the seal grew stronger and stronger, and they were unable to break through it.
Finally, at the last moment before Snow Empress's life force was about to run out, the Gate of the Demon Realm closed completely, and the sealing array was reactivated, emitting a dazzling light.
"Success..." A slight smile appeared on Snow Empress's lips as her consciousness began to fade and her body slowly collapsed.
"Holy Maiden!" This time, Qingyunzi could no longer hold back. He rushed over and hugged Snow Empress tightly.
Snow Empress lay in his arms, her face as pale as paper, her breath so weak it was almost imperceptible. Her hair had turned completely white, and her face was covered with wrinkles, making her look like an old woman on her deathbed.
" Qingyunzi... the seal... the seal has been reinforced... the Demon Realm... the Demon Realm will not... will not invade for the time being..." Snow Empress said intermittently, her voice so weak that it was almost inaudible.
"Holy Maiden, please stop talking and rest!" Qingyunzi was in tears, not knowing what to do.
Tianjizi walked over, examined Snow Empress's condition, and sighed, "Her life force is almost exhausted. It's a miracle she's still alive. But... I'm afraid she won't last much longer."
"No! Impossible!" Qingyunzi shouted, "The Holy Maiden cannot die! She cannot die!"
The other sect leaders also gathered around, their faces filled with grief.
Just then, the golden token in Snow Empress's hand suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, and a powerful life force surged from the token into Snow Empress's body. Snow Empress's complexion began to regain its rosy hue, and her hair began to turn from white back to black.