The Changing of the True Lords!

The Great Void Mirror Heaven.

On this day, the atmosphere at this sacred site of the sect was quite different from usual.

Above the sky, the ever-changing, flowing rosy clouds and mist completely disappeared, revealing the true nature of the Mirror Heaven.

It was a crystal-clear, transparent glass canopy that constantly reflected the real starry sky and endless phantoms of the outside world.

Beneath the sky, the True Person sites of the immortals appeared even more solid than ever before.

Ancient pines stand tall and straight, rare flowers and herbs exude spiritual light, waterfalls and springs cascade like jade belts, and countless pavilions, towers, palaces and Daoist temples are built against the mountain, standing silently in a solemn atmosphere.

In the center of the Mirror Heaven, a magnificent white jade altar, thousands of feet long and towering above the sea of clouds, has emerged.

On the altar, the ancient and heavy nine-aperture bronze conch shell, though unplayed, vibrated on its own, emitting a long, desolate, and Divine Soul- piercing continuous sound.

Each sound caused the boundless spiritual energy within the Mirror Heaven to rise and fall, transforming into visible ripples of seven-colored celestial light that slowly spread from the altar in all directions.

It illuminated every inch of the space and reflected on the faces of every attendee.

The celestial light fell like rain, yet did not settle on the dust.

Only solemnity and dignity are deeply imprinted here.

Below the altar, stretching to the horizon: a dense, dark mass of figures.

At the very front were all the Foundation Establishment True Person registered in the Holy Sect, regardless of whether they were in seclusion or not.

Newcomers, those transferred to other areas, and even some who usually keep to themselves are all included in this list.

They were all dressed in the formal robes of their sect, though the colors and styles may differ.

However, their auras were all deep and vast, and their Daoist charm was faintly visible. Although they tried to restrain themselves, the gathering of dozens of True Person and the intertwining of their invisible energy still caused the surrounding space to be slightly distorted and doubled.

Qi Yun stood at the front of the line of True Person, dressed in a dark blue Daoist robe, his expression calm and his eyes deep. Amidst the celestial light and the long chirping of the conch shell, he appeared exceptionally serene.

After the True Person, there are an even larger number of inner and outer disciples.

They stood in neat rows, arranged according to their lineage and cave abode.

Although they lacked the imposing presence of True Person, each of them was full of energy and had sharp eyes.

Everyone held their breath and gazed at the high altar.

His face was filled with awe for the supreme authority of the sect and excitement at the history he was about to witness.

The crowd was large, yet completely silent.

Only the resounding conch shell echoing through heaven and earth, and the subtle sounds of celestial light flowing, formed the sole background noise of this grand scene.

According to the established rules of the Holy Sect, the living True Lord take turns presiding over the sect and wielding its authority, with each term lasting five hundred years.

Today marks the perfect end of the reigning Sect-Presiding True Lord, the Desolate Halberd Heaven-Rending True Lord.

The entire sect gathered at the Great Void Mirror Heaven.

Firstly, to respectfully bid farewell to the Desolate Halberd True Lord upon his departure, in gratitude for his five hundred years of service in guarding the region;

Secondly, to respectfully welcome the next Sect-Presiding True Lord - the Wudao Extreme Dharma True Lord- to ascend to power and usher in a new era.

"Thump!"

A bell-like sound, seemingly originating from ancient times and so heavy that it caused the entire Great Void Mirror Heaven to tremble slightly, came from the depths of the Great Void Main Peak, drowning out the continuous sound of conch shells.

The bell tolls nine times, cleansing the world.

After the nine shots, all was silent.

Immediately afterwards, at the center of the altar, infinitely high up, a point of golden light suddenly shone brightly. At first, it was as small as a bean, but in an instant, it expanded and transformed into a dazzling, radiant golden Great Sun!

In the midst of the Great Sun, a majestic and imposing illusory Dharma image, towering over ten thousand feet high, slowly appeared and solidified.

It is none other than the Desolate Halberd Heaven-Rending True Lord!

At this moment, he was not dressed in his usual leisurely attire amidst the red mountain forest leaves, nor was he in his scholar's and warrior's robes when he met with Wudao.

Instead, it revealed the most formal and true form of the Sect-Presiding True Lord!

He wore a nine-tasseled crown, the tassels not made of jade, but rather of slowly rotating, supremely precious pearls; he wore a black robe with gold patterns, on which the patterns of the Great Dao outlined a vast and terrifying scene of stars collapsing, void rifts spreading, and chaotic energy surging.

Its face was shrouded in a hazy, fragmented golden halo, making it difficult to see clearly.

Only a pair of eyes, shimmering with golden light and burning with eternal fighting spirit and boundless majesty, looked down upon the millions of disciples below, like two shrunken suns.

He sat enthroned on a massive, dark golden throne that appeared out of thin air.

The iconic Heaven-Rending Great Halberd transformed into a towering, jet-black pillar of light, standing beside the throne.

The halberd blade points to the sky, radiating an unparalleled domineering intent that could tear apart eternity and pacify the eight wastelands.

The True Lord's Dharma form manifests, and the Great Dao's majestic presence descends.

Without needing any command, all the True Person and disciples bowed in unison, their shouts forming a torrent that shook the Mirror Heaven: "Greetings to the True Lord's dignified presence!"

The shouts were filled with heartfelt reverence and gratitude.

The five hundred years that Desolate Halberd True Lord has reigned have not been peaceful times.

The Northwest is a complex and intertwined region of demonic forces, with three major demonic sects eyeing it covetously, while the Righteous Path Alliance and overseas powers have never ceased their suppression and infiltration of the Northwest.

However, during these five hundred years, Desolate Halberd True Lord made his move many times with his unparalleled personal combat power.

Whether through intimidation or conquest, they forcefully suppressed the three major demonic sects, who were itching to make a move, until they could no longer raise their heads.

Externally, he repeatedly repelled probing invasions, consolidating the Holy Sect's sphere of influence and even subtly expanding it.

Under his leadership, the Wuji Sacred Sect Sect's prestige has grown daily, showing signs of surpassing the other three major demonic sects and becoming the number one demonic sect in the Northwest!

Hearing the respectful shouts of a disciple, Desolate Halberd True Lord's gaze pierced through the layers of people below and landed steadily on the tall, upright young figure with a refined and restrained aura.

Qi Yun.

This child was the biggest "unexpected event" in the final stages of his reign as sect leader.

"Add another monarch to the throne—" Desolate Halberd True Lord silently recited what he had said to Wudao that day.

This is not an empty statement, but a judgment based on his own perspective as True Lord.

Unfortunately, his term as the head of the sect had come to an end.

On the altar, the enormous Dharma image of Desolate Halberd True Lord slowly rose.

As he moved, the spiritual energy of the entire Great Void Mirror Heaven rose accordingly, and the pillar of light transformed from the Heaven-Rending Great Halberd shone even brighter, as if it were about to pierce through the crystal curtain of the sky.

He didn't deliver a long farewell speech; instead, his majestic, resounding voice, with its metallic clang, echoed like divine pronouncements, deep within the Divine Soul of every disciple. "For five hundred years, I have ruled this sect, and thanks to your unity and shared purpose, the sect's fortunes have flourished day by day."

"This period has come to a successful conclusion; time to return home and rest."

"May you all diligently uphold the clan rules and cultivate the Great Way, so that our Holy Sect Clan may prosper forever!"

As he finished speaking, his last glance inadvertently swept over the direction where Qi Yun was.

In that gaze, there was expectation, admonition, and an indescribable complexity.

I hope that when I return to the Xuanhuang one day, you will still be standing here.

That one glance seemed to transcend time.

Immediately, the Dharma Image of Desolate Halberd True Lord looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, his voice shaking the nine heavens!

"Hahahaha----I'm off!"

Amidst the laughter, the enormous golden magic chain, along with the dark golden throne beneath it and the pillar of light formed by the Sky -Heaven-Rending Great Halberd, suddenly transformed into a golden crack that stretched across the heavens and earth, tearing a hole in the crystal curtain of the Great Void Mirror Heaven!

The crack vanished in a flash, carrying with it the last trace of the domineering aura of the Desolate Halberd True Lord, disappearing without a trace.

As the golden light dissipated, only the nine-aperture bronze conch shell above the altar continued its low hum, and the ripples of celestial light gradually subsided.

The era of a True Lord has come to an end.

A few breaths of silence fell over the room.

Immediately, the sound of the nine-aperture conch shell changed abruptly!

No longer is it the desolate and lingering farewell, but it becomes sharp, urgent, as if carrying a kind of cold order and an irresistible summoning power!

At the same time, boundless, pitch-black clouds suddenly appeared above the clear, crystal-clear sky of the Great Void Mirror Heaven!

The churning clouds were not water vapor, but rather an intense, impenetrable shadow and deathly silence that instantly swallowed the celestial light. The light within the Mirror Heaven sky suddenly dimmed, as if plunging from daylight into eternal night!

"Welcome— Wudao Extreme Dharma True Lord!"

The True Person's voice rang out, tinged with a barely perceptible tension.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

In the center of the churning, dark sea of clouds, a pure black, slender beam of light, seemingly capable of absorbing all light, silently descended, piercing through the clouds and landing straight in the center of the altar.

Within the pillar of light, a figure slowly descended.

It lacked the domineering and unparalleled Dharma form of the Desolate Halberd True Lord, and did not display any earth-shaking pressure.

It was just an ordinary-looking figure in a black robe.

The Wudao Extreme Dharma True Lord was still dressed in the simplest pure black robe, with long, black hair flowing freely, and a pale, indifferent face.

He stood barefoot on the cold white jade altar, his body devoid of any spiritual light or other phenomena, and even his aura was so faint as to be almost nonexistent, as if he were just a mortal who had mistakenly wandered into this place.

However, it is precisely this extreme "nothingness" and "stillness" that brings an even heavier and more heart-pounding sense of oppression than when the Desolate Halberd True Lord made his domineering appearance!

Where he stood, even the light became dim and distorted, and even the sound of the conch shell seemed to be partially swallowed up, becoming intermittent.

All the True Person below felt a chill and a sense of stagnation originating from the depths of their Divine Soul.

Their own Law Power power and mental agility became slow and sluggish under the oppressive aura of the black-robed figure.

He slowly raised one hand, his five fingers pale and slender, and gently clenched it towards the void.

"Buzz----"

The deafening sound of the conch shell vanished instantly.

The churning, dark clouds seemed to be smoothed out by an invisible hand, transforming into a solidified, completely dark sky.

The entire Great Void Mirror Heaven fell silent in an instant.

Only on the altar, the figure in black robes stood silently, becoming the sole center in this desolate and dark world.

Then, a cold, flat, and emotionless voice, in this absolute silence, clearly resounded in the perception of every living being, as if acting directly on their soul. "I am the One Wudao."

"From this day forward, may the sect reign for five hundred years."

Everything remains the same.

"Disperse."

still?

What remains unchanged?

Clan rules?

Old practice?

As the words fell, the frozen darkness and absolute silence receded like the tide. Celestial light reappeared, the conch shell's sound ceased, and the Great Void Mirror Heaven returned to its former glory.

However, everyone knows that the Holy Sect Sect's rule has already changed.

The newly Sect-Presiding True Lord, the Wudao Extreme Dharma True Lord, heralded the beginning of a new era with his iconic and chilling entrance.

Qi Yun at the front of the crowd, his expression calm throughout.

Only in the deepest recesses of those profound eyes did a trace of extreme solemnity and vigilance quietly pass by.

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