On Jin'ao Island, the Qingping Sword pierces the Nine Heavens, traversing myriad realms.
Beneath Zizhi Cliff, the Biyou Bell tolls with immense sound, its echo reaching all directions.
From the south of the heavens to the north, across the four seas and eight desolate regions, through all the myriad worlds, streams of light ascend.
Like shooting stars streaking across the firmament, all their destinations lie at Jiepai Pass.
Thousands, nay, ten thousand stars intertwine, blooming like fireworks in the night sky, bringing a moment of surprise and awe to the world.
Perhaps their fate, like the fleeting fireworks, leads to darkness, but in this moment, they have no regrets.
Immortals and Daoists who established temples to spread the Dao in the mortal world have picked up their long-sheathed swords, straightened their robes, instructed their disciples, and ascended into the heavens.
On a bustling street, a beggar fortune-teller, clad in rags, is being chased and beaten. Suddenly, he hears the distant bell. The old Daoist fortune-teller laughs heartily, "This humble Daoist shall depart!"
As the words fall, the old Daoist ascends into broad daylight, appearing to the mortals as if he has achieved immortality. The mortals who were chasing him, startled, fall to their knees in panic.
In a humble, dilapidated, and desolate Daoist temple, inhabited by a single old Daoist nearing his end, he awakens one morning to the long, clear chime of an immortal bell from beyond the heavens. Tears stream down his face as he whispers, "Master! Your disciple is coming."
In a deep mountain, a stone gate, untouched for centuries, crumbles with a roar. A Daoist's sword intent soars into the sky, transforming into a rainbow and departing.
In an ancient forest, there is rumored to be a man-eating old demon who kills without batting an eye. On this day, the old demon quietly departs, journeying beyond the heavens.
On the World Tree, the teleportation formations, established for over a thousand primordial epochs, have never been so busy. Daoists emerge, swords on their backs, from the three thousand worlds. Even from the void beyond the heavens, massive immortal ships traverse the world barriers, and entire great sects and lineages arrive.
The disciples of the Jie Sect are innumerable. Through master-to-disciple succession, their flame of inheritance burns continuously. Their sect's legacy is unfaltering throughout the world. In the three thousand worlds, among the myriad sects, where can one not find the Jie Sect? Where can one not find their disciples?
Within Jiepai Pass, all mortals and immortals have departed, leaving behind an empty city.
But soon, Daoists, carrying swords, either alone or in small groups, fly into the pass. Thousands of stars and lights arrive incessantly, from ten thousand sects, their presence ceaseless.
The void trembles as colossal flying ships arrive across realms, and hordes of immortals soar into the pass. Golden Immortals, sect leaders, Grand Unity elders, and Great Luo ancestors from the three thousand worlds arrive one after another.
Above Jiepai Pass, the Qi is like dragons and tigers, like an abyss and a sea, unfathomably deep.
The disciples of the Chan Sect wear solemn expressions but are not entirely intimidated. Behind them, countless disciples from lesser sects across the three thousand worlds have traveled mountains and rivers, traversing heaven and earth, to lend their aid.
However, the number of Chan Sect disciples is still far outnumbered by those of the Jie Sect.
Before Jiepai Pass, the immortals of the Chan Sect possess an aloof demeanor. The disciples of Yuxu, the orthodox lineage of the Chan Sect, gather like a mountain, its peak unseen. In the distance, only snow blankets the horizon – the destiny of Kunlun, and also the destiny of the Chan Sect.
Within Jiepai Pass, countless immortals engage in lively conversation, share long farewells filled with longing, sit in quiet meditation, or debate the highest truths. Their immortal Qi is like dragons and tigers, transforming with the wind and rain into a vast ocean that stretches across heaven and earth, separating east from west, and merging with the destiny of the Great Shang Dynasty's human realm behind Jiepai Pass.
Chan and Jie face each other, one a mountain, the other a sea; a mountain and a sea that cannot be leveled, Chan and Jie that cannot be halted.
Upon Chan's mountain summit, golden light from the snow-capped peak births a sea of auspicious clouds, and bright lamps illuminate the great thousand realms.
Within Jie's sea, dragons and tigers surge with immense power, and sword intent pierces in all directions, severing the eight directions.
Outside the battlefield between Chan and Jie, in the imperial capital of Great Shang, Kong Xuan sits in meditation above the city. Dragons and tigers gather with wind and clouds, mountains and seas converge as if one, and the opportune moment of heaven and earth is gathered within him. Immortality, humanity, heaven, and the Dao – all paths unite. His three flowers and five breaths gather at the Yuan, and his five-colored divine light refines all things.
On Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi emerges, his Nine Dragon Immortal Carriage soaring through the air, auspicious clouds filling the sky, and a fragrant aroma and myriad rays of light pervading the heavens and earth.
On Jin'ao Island, Tongtian departs, the Qingping Sword strapped to his back. His four great disciples, Duobao, Jinling, Guiling, and Wudang, each carry a sword, their black scabbards concealing their true nature. The seven accompanying immortals, each holding an object, follow Tongtian in silent procession.
All eyes in heaven and earth converge on the Eastern Continent, before the small Jiepai Pass.
Within Fuyu Mountain, the disciples watch expectantly, but none participate in the conflict.
In Wa Huang Palace, Nuwa reclines on a cloud bed, awaiting the unfolding of the grand spectacle.
On Shouyang Mountain, Laozi is restless.
In the West, the Two Sages, with a hint of anticipation, also sigh at the impending bloodshed.
At the apex of the world, Dugong appears, his hunched form making it difficult to stand upright.
Qingling flicks his sleeve, and with the support of a green light, Dugong's posture finally straightens. "Thank you, Dao Lord, for your understanding."
Qingling smiles faintly, "You have followed me all this way. This world will always have new people, and it is time for us old ones to step aside. However, do you not wish to contend for it again?"
Dugong shakes his head, strokes his staff, and smiles faintly, "Dao Lord, I have never held any grand aspirations. It is only through your support that I have reached this state of eternal life with the heavens. I am already content."
Qingling smiles with satisfaction upon hearing this, "Indeed. To hold such a thought is to last long. Henceforth, this world will no longer be the world of Saints. The future of Fuyu Mountain will depend on these young ones to contend for it."
Dugong hears this and expresses a hint of worry, "But they are merely new calves, how can they contend with those Plane Lords? And those ancient elders?"
Qingling spreads his palms, lowers his head, and says, "Is there not Elder Brother Qinglong? In the future, Kong Xuan can also bear great responsibility. If even Kong Xuan cannot protect them, then it is fate. The Hall of All Beings will reserve a place for the disciples of Fuyu Mountain to eke out an existence. There is no need to contend further."
Dugong feels a pang of reluctance, "Dao Lord, are you not one of the Seven Saints?"
"Seven Saints?" Qingling shakes his head, "Even the lineages of the Six Saints may not remain stable in the future. My lineage has no sect destiny, so a decline is natural."
Dugong's expression turns solemn, "Dao Lord, must you do this?"
Qingling smiles without speaking. He slowly rises and stands at the peak of the world, one hand behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the four seas and eight desolate regions, and then beyond to the three thousand worlds. He stands higher than all, with only the Dao Ancestor not within his sight.
"Let us go, Dugong, accompany me into the Primordial World. Otherwise, the world may forget that I am the Saint of All Beings."
Before Jiepai Pass, two Saints, one from the east and one from the west, meet in the air.
One sits upon the Nine Dragon Immortal Carriage, the other floats in the air, sword on his back. They exchange a glance; once brothers, but now without affection.
"Yuanshi, are you so heartless?"
"Such words should not be spoken by a Saint," Yuanshi rises leisurely from his carriage.
"Therefore, before you today stands not Saint Shangqing, but Daoist Tongtian," Tongtian's gaze is resolute as he looks directly at Yuanshi.
"Do you truly wish to sever our fraternal bond?" Yuanshi's heart aches, but no trace of it shows on his face.
Tongtian does not reply. With a wave of his hand, he says, "Form the array!"
"Yes!" countless disciples of the Jie Sect respond in unison.
The four great disciples, Duobao, Wudang, Jinling, and Guiling, remove the scabbards from their backs. As the four swords are unsheathed, the heavens and earth instantly darken, and myriad killing intents engulf all beings.