When Qi Ritian returned, he was stunned to see all the Elders restrained on the ground.
Signs of battle were still fresh.
"Master, what happened here?"
Everything had seemed fine just a moment ago.
Cangsong didn't bother to explain. He simply turned and said coldly,
"I just persuaded them. Now go with Zhang Fan and bring Xueqi here."
Qi Ritian's heart trembled.
He understood immediately—his master planned to sacrifice everyone.
No wonder the Sect Leader had vanished.
Qi Ritian hesitated, his face pale, but when he didn't respond right away, Cangsong's gaze turned icy.
"Why are you still standing there? Do you intend to betray me too?"
That cold, merciless voice snapped Qi Ritian out of it.
He quickly nodded and followed Zhang Fan toward Xiaozhufeng.
Knowing things had passed the point of no return, Shuiyue cursed in fury.
"Cangsong! Are you insane?! Xueqi is like a daughter to me—how can you do this?!"
Cangsong's voice remained calm, detached:
"And how does one girl compare to the fate of the world?
Foolish woman. Once you've seen the majesty of the gods, you'll realize how petty your attachments are."
Cangsong had seen the god's form with his own eyes.
From that moment on, he had been utterly devoted.
Yes, there was danger…
But what did that matter, compared to divine favor?
Before long, Xueqi was escorted over by a female disciple.
To avoid suspicion, neither Qi Ritian nor Zhang Fan dared to touch her directly.
She was meant for the gods. Even brushing against her would be considered blasphemy.
The female disciple paled when she saw the Elders collapsed on the ground.
"Elder Cangsong, everything is ready. Should we begin the sacrifice now?"
Cangsong waved his hand.
"No... not yet. I've invited some guests.
Order all the disciples to gather in the plaza in front of the altar."
"Yes, Elder!"
With a flick of his hand, Cangsong lifted Xueqi into the air and flew toward the Mountain and River Altar.
Those still imprisoned on the cliffs looked on in confusion.
Guests?
What guests?
Could it be… Cangsong had reached out to other sects for help?
Everyone exchanged glances, tension building.
At the altar's front plaza, all the disciples of Qingyun Sect gathered, unaware of what was truly unfolding.
Many believed the massive Mountain and River Formation was for purification, to strengthen their own cultivation.
None realized it was a sacrificial altar.
Meanwhile, outside Qingyun Sect, other righteous sects like Fenxiang Valley had arrived, responding to invitations.
Cangsong had told them this was a ceremonial ritual that would bestow strength upon attending disciples.
Who wouldn't come to benefit?
Even Tianyin Temple had sent a delegation.
Upon seeing the five mountains shimmering with divine sunlight, they were stunned.
"Since when did Qingyun have such strength?"
A brilliant five-colored glow radiated from the mountain range.
Even from a distance, the aura was palpable.
"Looks like Qingyun has found a stroke of great fortune. But to not hoard it and invite us? That's rare."
"Yes, it's rather generous of them."
"Haha, after this, even the Elders in our sects won't be able to sit still!"
Talking and laughing, the two righteous sects led their disciples toward the altar.
Oddly, they were only greeted by some junior disciples—no Elders.
They found it strange, but not suspicious.
Perhaps the Elders were busy maintaining the massive formation.
After all, something so grand couldn't be handled lightly.
Zhang Fan, recalling the list Cangsong had given him, greeted the guests with a polite smile.
"Please wait here for now. Everything will begin shortly."
"Of course."
They were here to enjoy fortune—no need to rush.
Elsewhere…
Thousands from the Ghost King Sect approached Qingyun's border.
Strangely, all the defensive formations were down.
There were no guards. No scouts.
Just as the spy's letter described.
Standing atop a ridge, the Ghost King stared at the dazzling Mountain and River Altar in the distance.
"What fortune this is… No wonder they dream of becoming immortals."
"With an array that gathers spiritual energy like this, and the blood of divine beasts…
If we hadn't come ourselves, I wouldn't have believed it."
Beside him stood a young woman in black—Bai Yao.
She frowned.
"Father, be careful. Something feels off."
What if the righteous sects had set this up to ambush the Ghost King Sect?
They hadn't brought their full forces—only three of the Four Great Envoys were present: White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and Vermilion Bird.
With only four thousand disciples, they'd be at a disadvantage in a true battle.
But the Ghost King shook his head.
"No, Baguio. Everything in life has risk.
If I can obtain even one drop of that divine elixir… my power will skyrocket. Immortality will no longer be a dream.
But if we let Qingyun claim it alone, where will that leave the demonic sects?"
Baguio fell silent.
He had a point.
While they were speaking, a jade talisman shot from a distant peak.
The Ghost King caught it and read the glowing inscription:
"The heavens descend. The elixir awakens."
"Hahaha… so it's true. The time hasn't come yet.
Let's make our preparations."
The Ghost King led his forces underground, tunneling toward the altar's location.
After advancing ten miles, they finally stopped.
Meanwhile, White Tiger returned from his reconnaissance.
"Report!"
"How is it?" the Ghost King asked.
"Sect Master, all Qingyun disciples are gathered in the plaza. Two other sects are present nearby. There's no ambush."
"Good." The Ghost King's eyes narrowed. "Then we wait.
As soon as the sky lights up… strike with everything we've got."
"Understood!"
Outside the massive Mountain and River Array, Cangsong descended from the sky and gave Zhang Fan a subtle gesture — it was time.
Zhang Fan stepped forward before the assembled disciples and guests and began chanting loudly:
"Today, our sect holds a grand sacrificial ceremony. To honor the Eternal God's divine grace, we offer two sacred tributes: the Spirit Beast — the Water Qilin — and Xiaozhufeng's disciple, Xueqi..."
"Wait—what?! A sacrifice? I thought this was about cultivation?! What's this about an 'Eternal God'?"
"I don't know! I've never heard of this!"
"Are we... are we here to witness a religious offering?"
Murmurs of confusion spread through the crowd like wildfire.
Even the guests from Tianyin Temple and Fenxiang Valley were stunned.
Wasn't this event supposed to enhance disciples' strength?
What was this talk of an Eternal God?
Something felt deeply, terribly wrong.
A wave of unease rolled over everyone.
Suddenly, Cangsong's voice boomed like thunder:
"Silence! There will be no whispering during the sacrificial rite!"
Instantly, the entire square fell into a tense, fearful quiet.
Zhang Fan knelt before the altar and began chanting the sacred invocation from the ritual scriptures.
With each phrase he spoke, the Mountain and River Altar pulsed with divine energy.
Golden clouds that once hovered peacefully atop the mountains surged into the sky, blanketing everything in oppressive, radiant light.
A suffocating pressure weighed down on everyone's hearts.
Even Cangsong, fanatical as he was, felt a moment of unease.
This is divine power… but I have nothing to fear. I, too, am a believer!
Rumble.
Low thunder echoed through the sky.
Five-colored lightning crackled above, drawing countless eyes upward.
A shape began to form in the clouds — something vast, something divine.
Inside the altar, the Water Qilin sensed danger.
It tried to rise and flee, but its body wouldn't budge — as if an invisible mountain had been placed on its back.
The truth dawned.
This is a trap.
Fury erupted from the Qilin's core.
It let out a thunderous roar.
"ROARRRRRR!"
Waves of energy shook the river and splashed over the altar.
But it couldn't break free.
The sacred river glowed brightly as it connected to the five mountains through glowing runes etched into the stone.
God's Domain – Divine Plane
In the divine realm, Liu Che sat in the void, cultivating his Supreme Divine Arts.
Nine colors of radiant energy spun around him.
Suddenly, a new force pierced through space — immense, pure, and filled with reverence.
A sacrificial channel had formed — the strongest yet since he'd begun accepting followers.
Before, even completed altars weren't enough for his divine consciousness to pass through easily. He had to descend manually, wasting time and energy.
But now, the Mountain and River Altar had created a perfect conduit.
"Not bad. Let's see... was this done by Fahai or Zhang Fan?"
Liu Che looked up at the colorful rift in space and flew into it without hesitation.
The next moment, he arrived in a new world.
Green mountains, misty rivers, and a rich immortal aura filled the land.
Below the altar, thousands of people had gathered.
The leading priest was none other than Zhang Fan.
"So it's this world again. Hmm… wait — where's Dao Xuan?
Why is Cangsong leading the ritual?"
Liu Che scanned the area and quickly noticed something was off.
Ah… so Cangsong usurped the throne and subdued the first-seat Elders.
Goodness, this man really is the ultimate turncoat. For a 'friend,' he'll betray anyone.
Still, Liu Che felt no need to intervene. If not for Cangsong, he would have had to apply pressure to Zhang Fan to get here this early.
As Liu Che concealed his presence, no one below sensed his arrival.
Cangsong anxiously watched the churning clouds overhead.
Why hasn't the god appeared yet? Are the sacrifices insufficient?
The Water Qilin's roars echoed nonstop, but Cangsong ignored them.
A trace of malice flickered across his face.
He turned his eyes toward the "guests" he had invited.
Without hesitation, he struck.
Before anyone could react, he beheaded the lead swordsman from Tianyin Temple.
Within three breaths, the entire squad of a hundred was subdued.
"C-Cangsong's gone insane! He's slaughtering the righteous alliance!!"
"Send a message! This is a trap—he's trying to kill us all!"
"Get word out—hurry—!"
Panic broke out.
Chaos engulfed the square.
Even the disciples of Qingyun Sect were frozen with shock.
No one had imagined Elder Cangsong would dare to attack Tianyin Temple's delegation.
When the delegation from Fenxiang Valley voiced their outrage, Cangsong sneered coldly:
"What did you think I invited you here for?
To share blessings?
You really thought fortune would just fall from the sky? Fools."
"If we don't have enough sacrifices… then you will fill the gap."
His voice was as merciless as a god's decree.
And with it, every sliver of hope shattered.