Sacred Forest Peak.
At this moment, the sky seemed to be coated with a faint golden glow, all teleportation arrays instantly became ineffective, and space was completely locked down.
Countless disciples looked up in alarm, bewildered as to what was happening.
Inside the Peak Master's dojo, the Immortal Lord Sacred Forest, who was meditating, suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with shock, anger, and confusion:
"Who dares to bestow titles upon my Sacred Forest Peak?!"
However, before he could react, two figures appeared silently in front of him; they were two stern-faced Golden Immortal elders.
"A senior brother from the Law Enforcement Lineage?"
Immortal Lord Sacred Forest looked at the two of them with puzzlement.
"Junior Brother Shenglin,"
Elder Tianquan's voice was solemn as he said:
"By order of the Immortal Venerable, Junior Brother is requested to travel to the Spirit Void Palace."
Immortal Lord Sacred Forest's expression changed drastically:
" Spirit Void Palace? Why?"
"Junior brother will know when he goes."
Another elder, holding a string of beads, spoke calmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing.
At the same time, a figure appeared in the sky above Sacred Forest Peak, and a clear, cold voice resounded throughout the entire peak:
"All Sacred Forest Peak, assemble at the Sacred Forest Dojo immediately! No delays!"
"Those who disobey will be treated as traitors..."
Zhao Yuan, dejected, rode his escape light back from the restaurant to Sacred Forest Peak. The jade pendant at his waist flickered, but he didn't even look at it, assuming it was just words of comfort from his fellow disciples.
The hustle and bustle of the competition seemed to still be vivid in his mind, and Su Ming's words kept echoing in his head.
"If it weren't for you, Senior Brother Han wouldn't have guided me for so long..."
When Zhao Yuan suffered such humiliation?
Those gazes, whether sympathetic, mocking, or gloating, felt like thorns in my back.
At this moment, all he wanted was to return to his cave abode and retreat into seclusion for intensive cultivation.
Even if his master might reprimand him for his failure.
The light pierced through the familiar celestial mist, and the lush, verdant mountains of Sacred Forest Peak came into view.
However, just as he was about to fall into the peak, he keenly sensed an unusual sense of oppression.
It's too quiet.
In the past, disciples should have come and gone from Sacred Forest Peak, and spirit beasts should have been calling out softly.
But at this moment, the entire mountain was eerily silent; even the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves seemed to be muffled by some invisible hand.
A chilling, desolate atmosphere hung in the air.
What happened?
Zhao Yuan felt a sudden tightness in his chest, and his escape speed involuntarily slowed down.
He vaguely saw that at the mountain gate, there seemed to be some figures dressed in black robes, exuding a cold aura. The robes were embroidered with the Xie Zhi pattern, and they were the elite of the Law Enforcement Lineage.
As Zhao Yuan landed slowly, two cultivators with cold expressions and sharp eyes suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his way.
They were dressed in the highest-level attire of the Law Enforcement Lineage, exuding powerful auras; they were all experts at the Mystic Immortal level.
"Halt! This is an investigation by the Adjudication Guards of the Law Enforcement Lineage. From this moment forward, no one is allowed to enter or leave Sacred Forest Peak. All disciples must undergo verification!"
The leader's voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion.
" The Law Enforcement Lineage and the Adjudication Guards?"
Zhao Yuan's heart sank suddenly, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
Although the Law Enforcement Lineage is not the main lineage, it wields considerable power. Its enforcement patrols are awe-inspiring even to ordinary disciples, let alone the rarely deployed Adjudication Guards.
Only those at the level of the heads of the seven major factions can be mobilized, and they handle all major cases.
"I... I am Zhao Yuan, True Disciple Sacred Forest Peak, and I have just returned from the Pill Lineage Grand Competition..."
Zhao Yuan Yuanqiang composed himself, identified himself, and tried to find out what had happened.
"May I ask you two senior brothers, what exactly happened on our peak? Why...?"
The Adjudication Guards didn't even give him a chance to finish asking the question before taking out an ancient mirror covered in mysterious runes and pointing it at Zhao Yuan.
As the mirror's light swept over him, Zhao Yuan felt a slight chill run through his soul, as if he had been seen through completely.
" Zhao Yuan, True Disciple Sacred Forest Peak, is indeed the right person."
The Adjudication Guards put away the ancient mirror, his face remaining expressionless.
" Zhao Yuan, proceed to the assembly point immediately. No delays or resistance are permitted! Anyone who disobeys will be considered a traitor!"
The last five words pierced Zhao Yuan's heart like an ice pick, sending a shiver down his spine.
Treason?
What on earth happened?
He dared not ask another question and walked towards the dojo under the cold gaze of the two Adjudication Guards.
The further you go in, the more oppressive the atmosphere becomes.
Along the way, there were guards every ten steps and sentries every five steps, all of them powerful and stern-faced law enforcement cultivators.
Those familiar fellow disciples all lowered their heads, their faces filled with fear, and hurried about, not daring to even exchange glances with each other, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow.
The training ground was packed with disciples from almost the entire peak, yet it was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop.
A suffocating sense of dread hung over everyone.
Several Golden Immortal elders from the Law Enforcement Lineage hovered in the air, their gazes sharp as lightning as they scanned the area below.
Some disciples even held ancient mirrors, verifying and testing each person's identity, creating a solemn atmosphere.
Zhao Yuan stood blankly in the crowd, feeling a chill run through her body.
He subconsciously looked towards the direction of the Peak Master hall, where his master cultivated in seclusion. In the past, it was the core of the entire Sacred Forest Peak, the place with the most abundant Spiritual Qi.
However, at this moment, the main hall of the Peak Master was wide open, and it should have been empty.
Master!
Zhao Yuan's heart clenched suddenly, and a terrible thought uncontrollably popped into his head: Such a commotion, sealing off the entire peak... Could it be, could the problem lie with... Master?
The moment that thought crossed his mind, it drained all his strength.
The sense of defeat from the Dao of Alchemy Grand Competition competition seemed insignificant at this moment; instead, boundless fear replaced it.
If even Master is against it... then what will become of Sacred Forest Peak?
What will happen to their disciples?
If something were to really happen to his master, would they, his disciples, be implicated? The thought sent chills down his spine, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
He stood frozen in the crowd, watching his once spirited fellow disciples now turn ashen-faced and tremble with fear.
The once ethereal and otherworldly Sacred Forest Peak now resembles a massive and cold prison.
Purple Firmament Peak, within the Myriad Phenomena Garden.
"These are truly turbulent times."
Su Ming sat to the side, his expression still showing a hint of lingering fear and emotion. "Senior Brother Han, it's truly unimaginable that Immortal Lord Sacred Forest was influenced by demonic thoughts and committed such a grave mistake."
Although he had a general idea, he still couldn't know all the details.
"Now even Sacred Forest Peak is in trouble. All disciples have to undergo the sect's testing. Tsk tsk... In any case, Sacred Forest Peak is finished. It's said that the Jiang Household, after learning about this, is demanding an explanation."
Sacred Forest Peak was once a top-ranked Dao Peak in the Pill Lineage, but now it has completely declined.
"What will become of the Immortal Lord Sacred Forest?"
Han Xuanji poured him a cup of tea, the steam rising gently.
Su Ming took the teacup and said:
"I don't know. It's said that he has to atone for his sins. Even if Undying, he will have to pay a terrible price. This is the punishment he deserves."
Su Ming showed no sympathy whatsoever.
Because of the other party, many secrets of the Spirit Void Heavenly Palace have been leaked, and the sect's geniuses are all in a state of panic.
The causes and effects of the world are mysterious and difficult to explain.
Han Xuanji felt a pang of emotion.
Immortal Lord Sacred Forest's current predicament is entirely his own fault.
His timely revelation of the matter may have saved his life.
Otherwise, if you make a serious mistake later, you might not even be able to save your life.
Han Xuanji's gaze seemed to pierce through the rising steam of the tea, as if he could see something deeper within it.
Cause and effect are a cycle, like an endless loop.