The numerous disciples of the Jie Sect, even a fraction of them, were enough to intimidate the Chan Sect.
The battles between the Chan and Jie Sects were incessant, with casualties on both sides, further fueling the animosity between them.
Zhao Gongming, possessing the highest cultivation among the Jie Sect disciples at the peak of Da Luo, wielded the Twenty-Four Dinghai Shenzhu. Even powerful beings found themselves unable to withstand a few blows.
In a desperate move, Randeng borrowed Lu Ya Daoist's Ding Tou Qi Jian Shu and personally cast the curse that killed Zhao Gongming.
Lu Ya Daoist was no other than the good corpse of the Demon Emperor. The current Demon Emperor had also reached the realm of Heaven and Earth Mighty Beings, having severed one of his corpses.
Lu Ya Daoist's arrival was to aid the Chan Sect, returning to fulfill his destiny.
The day Zhao Gongming's primordial spirit was lost to the River of Fate, the Petrochemical Flower bloomed with extraordinary brilliance outside the heavens, chillingly akin to Zhao Gongming's spilt blood.
On Sanxian Island, the Three Xiangs were enraged and personally descended upon Xiqi.
Fairy Caiyun and Fairy Hanzhi also joined the fray.
The grand and formidable Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation was erected before the Twelve Golden Immortals.
Yunxiao and the other immortals directly questioned Randeng, only to find that the Chan Sect immortals refused to exchange Zhao Gongming's corpse.
The Three Xiangs, unable to tolerate it any longer, finally took action.
Years later, Kong Xuan would remember that day, as he sat in the high, deep, and distant Chaoge. The dusky purple sky enveloped the entire human land. The sun god dimmed and retreated to the horizon. Only the yellow sand beneath that woman's feet was a surging river. She stood so high, as high as he was from millions of miles away.
The woman stood closest to the outer reaches of the heavens. The waters of the long river surged endlessly, washing away the mortal world's dust and grime, stripping away the vile wickedness, and dispelling the floating vanity of bustling human settlements.
The river waters, originating from the four seas and eight directions, dripped and fell, some roaring and surging, others crying out in lament, like a peerless musician playing a shocking masterpiece with the Yellow River's waters as strings.
Beneath this grand symphony lay the tragic fate of the Chan Sect's Twelve Golden Immortals, their three flowers severed and five energies dispersed, extinguishing the hopes of ten quasi-Mighty Beings. From then on, the Chan Sect would never flourish again, regardless of victory or defeat.
The Three Xiangs used a river of water to extinguish the lamp of Kunlun's Yu Xu Palace.
Yuanshi, seated on his cloud bed, silently opened his eyes. The magnificent and resplendent holy palace, adorned with golden jade and precious gems, plunged into darkness with the extinguishing of the ancient lamp of Yu Xu.
In such a grand and awe-inspiring hall, silence was the only melody.
Yuanshi slowly rose from the darkness. The sleeves of his flowing cloud brocade robe slid to the ground. From the darkness, he picked up a Ruyi scepter. Its touch was warm and smooth. Three treasures were arranged neatly at the top of the Ruyi.
Outside the palace, the White Crane Boy, witnessing the sudden darkness, was shocked. The ever-burning lamp that illuminated Yu Xu Palace had gone out. He dared not imagine what had happened, to the extent that even the Pangu Banner, the Primordial Ancestor's world-creating supreme treasure, could not suppress the Palace of Fortune's lamp.
The palace gates opened on their own. Yuanshi slowly walked out. A full moon shone down, casting Yuanshi's shadow onto the pitch-black Yu Xu Palace. Yuanshi squinted in the moonlight.
The White Crane Boy immediately bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Martial Ancestor."
"Go summon your master and have him bring the royal sedan."
The White Crane Boy dared not ask further questions and quickly replied affirmatively before departing.
That night, on Kunlun Mountain, nine dragons sang, and golden light paved a road across the sky for ten thousand miles. Golden clouds were piled up like an endless sky-road, with celestial flowers blooming one after another on both sides. Nine golden dragons soared along the celestial road, and a royal sedan, riding the dragons, traversed the clouds towards Xiqi.
As the sun rose in the east, a sliver of dawn light illuminated the uncertain Xiqi, and the nine dragons arrived on the clouds.
At that moment, a Daoist priest led a green ox, on which sat Taiqing, standing silently amidst the indistinct clouds and mist.
As the two saints met, Yuanshi rose and bowed, "Martial Brother, you have arrived."
Laozi sighed softly and walked with Yuanshi towards the outskirts of Xiqi, "How could I not come?"
The Three Xiangs stood outside the formation. Yunxiao bowed respectfully, "Greetings, First Martial Uncle, Second Martial Uncle."
Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao merely offered a bow, remaining silent.
Yuanshi ignored them and said to Laozi, "Martial Brother, let us enter the formation first and rescue them."
Laozi sighed again, "Very well."
The two saints entered the formation and broke the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation. Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao perished, and Fairy Hanzhi and Fairy Caiyun also met their demise.
Laozi took twelve Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs to replenish the mana of the Twelve Golden Immortals.
However, the great Dao foundation they had cultivated for countless years could not be restored.
Perhaps it could be restored, but each individual had their own destiny and karmic connections; no one could make a definitive judgment.
But for the next thousand Yuan Hui, and another thousand Yuan Hui, no disciple of the Chan Sect would become a Mighty Being, unless by personal destiny or immense fortune.
Laozi ordered the Yellow Turbaned Strongman to capture Yunxiao and imprison her beneath Qilin Cliff.
On Jin'ao Island, Tongtian remained still. Instead, he summoned disciples who were in Xiqi back to Biyou Palace.
Although Bi Xiao and Qiong Xiao had died, their primordial spirits were still within the Investiture of the Gods. With him as their Saintly Master, they might return to the path of immortality in the future, and their divine merit might even help them create new opportunities.
However, because of his disciples, the Chan Sect would be in decline for three thousand Yuan Hui.
It was precisely because of this, and the last shred of guilt, that Tongtian did not intervene.
As soon as the Grand Master of Heaven's order was issued, the Jie Sect in the Great Shang divided. Some chose to obey the command, while others chose to remain.
They chose to remain with the Great Shang, with whom they had shared hundreds of years, sharing life and death together.
Whether they stayed or left was their own choice.
But, regardless of their choice, every Jie Sect disciple harbored resentment and hatred towards the Chan Sect.
Innumerable outer disciples rushed from all realms, one after another, group after group. A thousand immortals and ten thousand cultivators, like an endless river, knelt at the foot of Zizhi Cliff, their numbers stretching from south to north, reaching the shores of the East Sea.
There were countless outer disciples, yet none ascended Jin'ao Island.
They did not disrespect the Sect Leader, nor did they have any intention of rebelling. They only possessed a heart that sought to sever heaven's will.
Outside Jin'ao Island, ten thousand immortals paid homage, all kneeling towards the south, remaining prostrate.
Calls echoed across the vast expanse of the East Sea, shaking the four seas, astonishing the myriad realms, and impressing the mighty beings.
"We respectfully request the Sect Leader to emerge!"
It was the Jie Sect's senior disciple, who had always obeyed his command, kneeling before Biyou Palace.
"We respectfully request the Sect Leader to emerge!"
It was Turtle Spirit Holy Mother, a disciple known for her compassion, kneeling before Biyou Palace and pleading.
"We respectfully request the Sect Leader to emerge!"
It was the Jie Sect's eldest disciple, the most majestic Golden Spirit Holy Mother, kneeling and calling out.
"We respectfully request the Sect Leader to emerge!" It was the seven attendant immortals kneeling outside Biyou Palace, the Nine Luminaries, the Twelve Earthly Branches, the Twenty-Eight Constellations, the one hundred and eight Heavenly and Earthly Fiends star lords, all inner and direct disciples of the Jie Sect.
Dingguang Xian, seeing all the disciples kneeling, could only follow suit, not daring to stand out.
Before Biyou Palace on Jin'ao Island, the three core disciples, the seven true disciples, the core disciples of the Nine Luminaries, Twelve Earthly Branches, and Twenty-Eight Constellations, the inner disciples who were the one hundred and eight Heavenly and Earthly Fiends star lords, were all kneeling.
Inside and outside the mountain gates, a million immortals knelt for a long time before Biyou, begging their master to appear.
Inside Biyou Palace, specks of starlight had never shone so brightly. The starlight gathered into brilliance, like countless jewels inlaid on the palace walls, illuminating the great hall as if it were an eternally shining night sky.
Tongtian sighed and looked at the indifferent woman standing beside him, "Why do you not petition me?"
The woman slowly replied, "Wudang is protecting the Jie Sect at all times. Therefore, this disciple cannot and will not die. My duty is the perpetuation of the Jie Sect."
Tongtian nodded and gazed into the distance, "You are right. That is your duty. You have your duty, the outer disciples have their duty, the inner disciples have their duty, and I, your master, have my duty.
I am currently acting out of the last shred of goodwill between the three religions. Three years from now, if the Great Shang still stands, I, Tongtian, will contend with the world!"