Yet Fenqi, who caused this tragedy, remained seated on the high platform, looking down at everything that was happening below, as if it were all within his expectations.
The clan chief was stunned.
The bamboo pendant, which he then hung on his waist and cherished dearly, given to him by Fenqi, emitted a soft red light.
Countless bamboo plaques emitted red light, forming a huge array that looked like a giant bowl overturned over the heads of the Fen family members.
The clan chief saw his clansmen being consumed by flames trying to break through the crowd to find a glimmer of hope, but they could only turn to ashes amidst their cries of agony because they had run into the formation.
The flames licked his skin, but what ultimately destroyed him was not the flames, but the endless confusion.
Why?
This question remained unresolved even after the clan chief's death.
Fenqi didn't see the confusion in the clan leader's eyes, but he did see the child from that day.
His small body stumbled through the crowd. After he fell, only one side of his signature braid remained. He clutched the bamboo plaque in a panic, unaware of what had happened. When the flames touched him, he was reduced to ashes before he could even cry out.
Fenqi's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. He stared intently in the direction of the child, but could not move forward an inch further.
He was enveloped in darkness; it turned out that the Heavenly Dao, which had been hiding behind the scenes, had emerged.
He remained unmoved by the tragedy unfolding below, but as he sensed the massive array slowly activating, he turned to Fenqi with ecstatic joy and exclaimed, "It's a success! The array has been successfully activated!"
Yes, it was a success.
Fenqi withdrew his hand, which had been hanging in mid-air, and slowly stood up and walked to the side of the platform.
But why am I not happy at all?
He reached out as if to grab something, but he couldn't grasp anything.
The Heavenly Dao was still rambling on about how it would deal with Shen Mo after successfully transforming into human form, and was enjoying its future life when it suddenly heard a muffled sound.
He turned his head sharply and saw Fenqi leap down from the high platform!
What are you doing!
Heaven was both shocked and furious, and seized him at the last second.
Below were raging flames; even falling into them would not be pleasant.
“I have said it before.” Fen Qi looked up at the Heavenly Dao and said calmly, “After the formation is activated, it needs a core, otherwise it will be very unstable. I set up this formation, so I am the most suitable person to be the core.”
The Heavenly Dao was tempted, but still hesitated.
Having a central point in the formation would be ideal, but if Fenqi jumps down, what if the formation fails?
Fenqi sensed the hesitation of the Heavenly Dao, and the last glimmer of hope in his heart was shattered. He knew Him so well; He knew that His hesitation was not because He was worried about His safety, but because He was worried that He would have no usable tools if the formation failed.
but……
Wouldn't a tool nearing the end of its lifespan and with no potential for further breakthroughs be discarded without hesitation?
Since that's the case, he might as well take a gamble and truly bet everything on the side of Heaven. If he wins, he'll break through and ascend; if he loses, his soul will be scattered.
"But some roads offer no turning back... Ah-Qi..."
Her dying words echoed in Fenqi's ears. He suddenly exerted force, startling the still hesitant Tiandao, who released his grip and then fell into the raging flames.
He burst into laughter amidst the feeling of weightlessness.
If there's no way back, then don't look back.
…………
"Strange... why do I feel so uneasy?" Master Xuanjing paced back and forth in the courtyard. He looked at the clear blue sky, which seemed peaceful, but his unease grew stronger.
The higher one's cultivation level, the easier it is for them to establish a connection with the rules of Heaven and sense in advance what bad things might happen. This time, even Xuanjing Zhenren himself was startled by his sense of unease.
But where does this unease come from?
Master Xuanjing immediately thought of Qin Moyu, but quickly rejected the idea. If even Qin Moyu, who was by Shen Mo's side, was in danger, then there was no safe place in the world.
Unable to understand it any better, Master Xuanjing went out for a stroll, trying to convince himself that perhaps his perception was simply wrong due to his injury.
When he went outside, he saw guards hurrying by, each with a solemn expression, as if something major had happened.
Master Xuanjing's heart tightened, and he turned around without hesitation and headed towards the Imperial Study—it was Shen Sheng who told him that he could come here to find him if he needed anything—just as he reached the door of the Imperial Study, he heard Shen Sheng scream.
"What?! The Abyss is spreading outwards?"
…………
Guanlan Sect.
The elders were summoned by Xuan Qing once again, and this time their expressions were even more unpleasant than when Shen Mo sent his letter last time.
"Have you confirmed whether the news is true or false?" Xuan Qing stared intently at Elder Xuan Li, desperately wanting to hear from him that the news was fake.
Unfortunately, things did not go as he had hoped.
After Elder Xuanli finished explaining the whole story, Xuanqing's breath caught in his throat.
He slumped into the chair, letting cold sweat soak his inner shirt, but his mind was filled with only Xuan Li's words.
"The overwhelming blazing fire... is already heading towards the Guanlan Sect..."