"Ah?"
The immortals' hearts trembled. Then, as if granted a great pardon, they could barely contain their excitement and fell to their knees one after another.
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor!"
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for sparing our lives!!"
Immortal voices surged like a tide, wave after wave, blanketing heaven and earth.
They did not dare linger for even a moment. Almost amid their cries of gratitude, they shot to their feet and fled like ten thousand birds leaving their nests, streaking across the sky like startled swans, turning into streams of light as they scattered.
Divine Feather rose beneath some feet; others turned into Flowing Haze; some leaped through the clouds and vanished into the void.
For a time, immortal light soared into the skies above Ancient Dao Tianyuan and spiritual energy churned, yet not a single person dared turn back to look at the White-Clothed Figure standing there with his hands behind his back.
It was not that they were disrespectful. They simply did not dare—
If they looked one moment longer, their minds would likely sink into it forever, unable to break free.
Even along the way, they did not dare think too much, much less discuss anything that had happened at Ancient Dao Tianyuan. They kept it as secret as a taboo.
Within the Immortal Palace, the immortal light gradually faded, returning to silence, as though heaven and earth had sealed every path of escape.
Only the Grand Origin Kui Vulture remained, prostrated alone outside the main hall. At this moment, he was like a solitary beast separated from its pack upon the desolate plains. His immortal body trembled faintly, yet there was no longer rage, fear, or struggle in his eyes—only an ash-gray stillness.
He said nothing, merely stared fixedly at the lamp flame before the