Chapter 412: Lin Dong's Break from the Sect, Tianxuan Sect's Retribution
"Come with me to Yuan Gate, and let Ying Xuanzi come to retrieve you himself," Ren Yuanzi's voice, resonating with a godlike authority, echoed. With a wave of his sleeve, the space around Lin Dong distorted suddenly.
A terrifying power spread through the space, pinning Lin Dong in place, making it impossible for him to move.
Boom!
An enormous surge of dark purple flames blasted down from above, colliding with the twisted space and shattering it to pieces.
"If you want to take him, you'll have to get through me first!" Xiao Diao's usually elegant face was now twisted in fury, his eyes fixed on Ren Yuanzi.
"I told you—you're not my equal," Ren Yuanzi said lightly, extending his five fingers. Five beams of light shot from his fingertips, forming a cage of energy around Xiao Diao.
Boom! Boom!
Purple-black flames raged against the bars of the light prison, but it held firm, seeming as unshakable as the mysterious forces of reincarnation in the universe.
A piercing howl erupted, and Xiao Diao's entire body began to glow as he transformed, his form swelling rapidly. In mere moments, a colossal beast nearly a thousand feet tall appeared in the sky, its body entirely dark purple and black. It spread its immense wings, each stretching hundreds of feet, with a fire burning in its enormous eyes.
"An actual Celestial Marten…"
Countless spectators stared in shock as the magnificent creature filled the sky. The Celestial Martens were one of the most dominant and powerful races in the monster realm, rarely seen in the Eastern Xuan Region.
"Your golden wings… So, you're not just any Celestial Marten. No matter, Yuan Gate has lost many powerful members to your kind. Today, you'll pay a bit of that debt," Ren Yuanzi observed with mild surprise before speaking calmly.
Roar!
As Xiao Diao took on his true form, his power surged dramatically. His enormous claws struck the prison's light bars, shattering them into pieces.
Crash!
Now free, the colossal Celestial Marten's massive wings fully stretched out, cloaked in fierce dark flames as if a god of destruction had appeared.
Roar!
With a thunderous cry, Xiao Diao gathered the flames around his wings, creating a raging storm of fire that seemed to consume the very sky.
"Heh, it's been many years since I've fought a Celestial Marten. Let's see if you can entertain me," Ren Yuanzi said with a slight smile, raising his hands as a colossal surge of energy rippled through the sky.
But this was no ordinary energy. Mixed within the raw power were strands of life force, tempered with a deadly current of death energy. These two contrasting forces merged seamlessly, exuding an aura like the endless cycle of reincarnation.
"He's reached the Reincarnation Stage…"
Murmurs rippled through the crowd in Demon City as people watched in shock.
"Realm of Life and Death!"
Hovering in the air, Ren Yuanzi gestured with his hand, and a massive energy field, fusing life and death energy, took shape. It spread out to create a vast shield, encasing Xiao Diao entirely.
Boom! Boom!
Purple-black flames crashed against the black and white energy shield, but it didn't budge. In this clash of powers, Ren Yuanzi held the upper hand.
"Stay in there for now," Ren Yuanzi chuckled, shifting his gaze back to Lin Dong.
"Come with me to Yuan Gate. Don't worry—I won't kill you. At most, I'll cripple your powers. Then, Ying Xuanzi can come to collect you," Ren Yuanzi said with a faint smile.
"Ren Yuanzi, you're going too far!" Elder Chen Zhen growled, unable to contain his anger.
Ren Yuanzi merely chuckled, extending a hand as space began to twist around Lin Dong again.
"You!"
Chen Zhen and the other three Dao Sect elders' expressions changed. They bit down hard and combined their strength, unleashing a powerful blast of energy toward Ren Yuanzi.
Ren Yuanzi, however, didn't even blink. With a flick of his finger, a rip in space opened, swallowing their attack entirely.
With a flick of his sleeve, an overwhelming wave of power struck Chen Zhen and the others.
Bam!
In an instant, their defenses shattered, and each elder was thrown back, coughing up blood. Even these four mighty Life and Death Stage elders were helpless before Ren Yuanzi's power.
Roar!
Beside Lin Dong, Xiao Yan transformed into a massive black tiger, roaring ferociously as he launched a blast of dark energy toward Ren Yuanzi.
"A Celestial Tiger?" Ren Yuanzi noted with mild surprise. With another flick of his finger, he sent a beam of energy hurtling toward Xiao Yan. The tiger staggered, letting out a pained cry that echoed through the sky.
With Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan struggling against him, Ren Yuanzi turned his cold gaze to Lin Dong once more.
"An awfully ruthless young one, aren't you?" Ren Yuanzi's smile was devoid of warmth. "Your killing intent is dangerous. Come with me to Yuan Gate, where we'll tame that fire in you. Ying Xuanzi can come pick you up later," he said.
Lin Dong's gaze turned steely. "What? Are you going to ignore the rules the eight great sects agreed upon?"
"Rules?" Ren Yuanzi let out a soft chuckle. "Rules are only binding if you lack the strength to break them. For me, rules mean nothing."
"Today, you're coming with me. Ying Xuanzi can come to Yuan Gate if he wants you back…"
"Today, no one can save you."
Ren Yuanzi watched Lin Dong, who was trapped in the warped space, with a smile. His hand clenched, and the warped space around Lin Dong started to collapse, threatening to crush him.
But in the next moment, Ren Yuanzi's expression changed. From behind Lin Dong, space suddenly began to twist. Then, a man in a gray-and-white robe stepped out, his dissatisfied voice booming through the sky.
"Ren Yuanzi, don't go too far."
High above, the space tore open as the gray-robed figure walked out, his presence causing Ren Yuanzi's oppressive aura over the city to recede.
"Ying Xuanzi, the Dao Sect Master himself has appeared..."
Within the city, countless eyes locked onto this figure, and the murmurs began, accompanied by a surge of excitement. It was rare to witness figures of such stature confronting each other.
"Greetings, Sect Master!" Elder Chen Zhen and the Dao Sect disciples cheered with relief and respect.
A calm laugh echoed across the sky. A new tear opened in the fabric of space, and two more figures slowly emerged.
The first figure wore a black robe, with long dark hair flowing down his back. His hands, visible from his sleeves, were pale, but his face was smooth and jade-like, his eyes as piercing as stars, exuding an aura that seemed to transcend life and death. In front of him stood a man dressed in white robes, with skin as pale as porcelain, and his eyes, shockingly, were black and white, like the blending of yin and yang—a profound and mysterious presence.
With their arrival, the space around them seemed to bend, as if unable to contain their power.
"Heaven Yuanzi, Earth Yuanzi—the Yuan Gate's three Headmasters have all appeared…"
Throughout the city, the crowd gasped. These powerful figures, seldom seen, had all arrived one after another.
Ying Xuanzi glanced at the two newcomers with a trace of unease. Even he felt pressured by the presence of the three Yuan Gate Headmasters.
"It seems the three Headmasters of Yuan Gate have all come. But this is a conflict among the younger generation, is it not? Getting involved might harm our dignity," a cheerful voice rang out as the space behind Ying Xuanzi twisted, and an elderly man with a white beard and blue robe stepped forward.
"That's our Grand Elder!" Chen Zhen and the Dao Sect disciples recognized him instantly, excitement lighting up their faces.
"Qian, old ghost—you're still alive?" Ren Yuanzi's face showed shock. "You've crossed the Life and Death Tribulation and entered the Samsara Stage?"
"Nearly died, but managed to survive by pure luck," the blue-robed elder chuckled.
"Well then, it seems Dao Sect has gained another Samsara Stage master," remarked Heaven Yuanzi, the white-robed headmaster of Yuan Gate, his voice polite as he inclined his head respectfully.
"Now then, Ren Yuanzi, let's drop the issue of Lin Dong. The rules are clear, and we wouldn't want people thinking Yuan Gate cannot accept defeat," Heaven Yuanzi advised Ren Yuanzi.
Ren Yuanzi frowned but finally nodded.
Heaven Yuanzi's gaze shifted to Lin Dong, a knowing smile crossing his face. He then turned his eyes toward the cage of black-and-white energy surrounding Xiao Diao. "However, regarding the matter between Yuan Gate and the Celestial Marten Clan," Heaven Yuanzi continued, "I believe Master Ying understands that Dao Sect has no grounds to intervene."
Lin Dong's expression shifted as he realized that Yuan Gate was using Xiao Diao to bait him, a trap that Dao Sect had no grounds to stop.
Knowing this was an obvious trap didn't change the fact that Xiao Diao was his sworn brother, and Lin Dong could not simply walk away. His fists clenched as Ying Huanhuan watched, deeply worried.
"Today, I take full responsibility. This has nothing to do with Dao Sect," Lin Dong turned to face Ren Yuanzi and the others.
"So naïve. As a disciple of Dao Sect, your actions are inseparably tied to the sect," Ren Yuanzi smiled coldly. "Save your heroic gestures, boy."
Lin Dong's gaze turned icy. Then, under everyone's eyes, he turned to Ying Xuanzi and kneeled, giving a formal disciple's bow.
"Thank you, Sect Master and all the Palace Masters, for all your teaching and care. From this day forth, I, Lin Dong, voluntarily leave Dao Sect. My actions are my own and have no connection to Dao Sect!"
Lin Dong's low voice rang across the sky, silencing the entire city. The crowd was stunned, and a powerful, almost reverent energy seemed to surge through the air.
Ying Xiaoxiao, Wang Yan, and the Dao Sect disciples stared in shock at Lin Dong's kneeling figure, feeling a deep ache in their hearts.
Ying Xuanzi clenched his hands as he looked at the kneeling young man in front of him. His body trembled slightly, and his eyes filled with sorrow. He took a step forward, but the blue-robed elder beside him laid a hand on his shoulder and solemnly shook his head.
"Lin Dong, what are you doing?" Elder Chen Zhen called out, his face tense and pained.
"Please convey my apologies to Master Wu Dao. I may never be able to repay his kindness," Lin Dong said respectfully to Chen Zhen before standing, his eyes flashing with a fierce determination.
"Attack!" he shouted, and in an instant, he and Xiao Yan shot forward, moving to strike the black-and-white energy barrier holding Xiao Diao.
But before they could make contact, space twisted again above them, and four figures emerged.
They floated in the air, exuding no visible energy, but their very presence was enough to rival the power of the three Yuan Gate Headmasters and Ying Xuanzi.
Four Samsara Stage masters!
"Heaven Yuanzi, my Tianxuan Sect was completely decimated by your people. Yuan Gate owes us an explanation!" the leader, dressed in black robes decorated with embroidered serpents, fixed a furious gaze on Heaven Yuanzi, his voice booming across the sky.
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