It was a middle-aged man with a majestic presence. His face was sharp as if carved by a blade, even the bun atop his head carrying a stern edge. The blinding radiance that once surrounded him had fully restrained itself, yet with every breath he took, invisible pressure rolled outward like tides.
"Saint!"
"The Saint of the Immortal Dao Sect!"
"An incarnation of a Saint!"
No one knew how many people were struck dumb with horror. Those closer to Donglin Sect felt their scalps go numb. Had the Immortal Dao Sect truly sent a Saint's incarnation to personally destroy Donglin Holy Land?
"You have no choice."
The middle-aged man's eyes were icy and emotionless. He didn't even look directly at Xiao Rongyu—no, from the very beginning, he had never regarded her as someone worthy of notice.
In his eyes, she was merely a junior.
So what if she had awakened the Phoenix Body and stepped into the Eighth Realm of the Human Emperor? The distance between that and the Saint Realm was still immeasurable—like clouds compared to mud. She could not enter his sight.
"First," he said coldly, "Chu Xun will be stationed at the coastal corner of the Eastern Region."
"Second, hand over the Taihao Ding."
At this moment, the Saint of the Immortal Dao Sect did not even bother with pretense. His demands were laid bare, his gaze sweeping down with oppressive force.
Humiliation.
Shame.
Rage.
All of it surged into Xiao Rongyu's heart at once. Her delicate face flushed—not from fear, but from anger and humiliation. Just as Donglin Sect's Saint was about to take the throne, the Immortal Dao Sect could no longer sit still.
She suddenly laughed, her laughter sharp and mocking.
"So you're afraid?" she said coldly. "Afraid that Elder Chu of Donglin Sect will advance too quickly? Afraid that he'll step into the Saint Realm before your plans are complete?"
The Immortal Dao Sect Saint's expression darkened.
"I was right," Xiao Rongyu continued, her voice like ice. "Back at Snow Mountain Palace, you looked down on him, thinking he posed no threat. After the Jiang family incident, you panicked. You're afraid Elder Chu will quietly enter the Saint Realm, so you can't sit still anymore. How laughable—Saints who think themselves lofty, yet act with such fear!"
She stood alone.
Behind her was a vast sect—
tens of thousands of disciples,
thousands of princes,
hundreds of venerables,
several Human Emperors.
Yet not a single person stood beside her to bear this pressure.
In crimson robes, she faced the Saint alone—cold, proud, unyielding. Her words were blades, cutting deep.
The Saint's face grew colder still.
Because she was right.
In the beginning, he had dismissed Chu Xun entirely. No matter how fast his rise, without entering the Saint Realm, he was nothing more than grass to be cut down at will.
But after the Jiang family battle, unease crept in.
Chu Xun's progress was too fast.
When the Immortal Dao Sect first lost several Human Emperors, Chu Xun had only been in the Fifth Realm. Soon after, he erupted into the Ninth Realm. Less than a month later, he displayed power approaching that of a Half-Saint at the Jiang family.
This speed frightened him.
Even knowing that the Saint Realm was a vast chasm—one that even peerless geniuses needed years to cross—he was still uneasy. Chu Xun had only cultivated for months.
So he came.
Pressuring Donglin Sect.
Overbearing.
Unrestrained.
On the surface, he claimed righteousness. In truth, he was cornering Donglin Sect step by step, leaving Chu Xun no room at all.
"Hmph. Savage girl, ignorant and rude!" the middle-aged man said indifferently.
He raised one hand.
The world tilted.
"Enough."
A quiet sigh spread slowly.
Time froze. Space stilled.
From a cave in Donglin Sect's back mountain came an aged, weary voice:
"I have only a few months left to live… and yet you cannot even wait that long? Has Donglin Sect already become prey in your eyes?"
"Buzz!"
A massive hand reached out from the back mountain.
The Immortal Dao Sect Saint's pupils shrank violently.
Boom!
The hand closed around him.
Boom!
Before countless horrified gazes, the Saint's incarnation was crushed—along with the Saint's Dharma Paper.
Boom—!
The Human Emperor of the Immortal Dao Sect stared in disbelief. The Saint who had been so domineering just moments ago… was gone?
Whoosh!
He retreated dozens of miles in an instant.
But with the Dharma Paper destroyed, escape was impossible.
Puff!
A snap of fingers.
Separated by dozens of miles, the Human Emperor was erased on the spot.
The cultivators around Donglin Sect were utterly shaken. Not only by the Saint's death, but by how fragile a Human Emperor was before true Saintly might—no different from an ant.
"Saint!"
"Master!"
"Senior!"
Cries rang out across Donglin Sect.
From the back mountain emerged an old man, his body filled with twilight aura, as if he had crawled out of a coffin. Decay clung to him, yet his presence shook the heavens.
"Master… you've come out of seclusion?" Elder Wang He said with trembling lips. He understood something instantly.
This awakening—
did it mean his master had given up the little time he had left?
"Senior Xia!" Xiao Rongyu said, emotions surging. "There was no need for you to come out. I could have handled this."
She knew she couldn't face a Saint.
But an incarnation alone—within Donglin Sect's territory—could have been dealt with.
"You've been bullied to this extent," Xia Yang said with a faint smile, his cloudy eyes gentle, "what's the point of pretending to be dead anymore? If I don't show my face, even cats and dogs will climb over your heads. I wouldn't be able to rest in my grave."
"Where is Chu Xun?" he asked.
"He's in seclusion," Elder Wang He replied. "Practicing a secret technique."
"Good."
Xia Yang nodded and stepped forward. Elder Wang He and Elder Jiang hurried to follow, anxiety written all over their faces.
"Senior Xia… are you not going back into seclusion?" Elder Jiang asked softly.
Xia Yang smiled.
"No need. Someone has to give these people a final warning."
Elder Jiang's heart trembled.
He knew it.
This awakening—
Xia Yang had no intention of returning to seclusion.
Sadness welled up…
and with it, deep, boundless fear.
If the Saint were to fall—
where would Donglin Sect go next?