Chapter 387 - 203: Peak Master

’Looks like something big is about to happen in the Sect...’

’What’s this?’

Suddenly, a crystalline Communication Talisman began to flash from within Gu Yun’s Storage Ring.

Gu Yun’s Divine Sense surged into it.

A moment later,

a hint of confusion appeared on his face.

Senior Brother Ye had sent a message, summoning him for an audience with the Sect Leader.

’Why would the Sect Leader be looking for me?’

Lost in thought, Gu Yun’s gaze pierced the void, looking toward the distant horizon. He slowly rose, walked out of his cave abode, and with a flicker, transformed into a bolt of lightning. Tearing through the sky, he streaked toward the horizon at incredible speed.

...

"Six tolls from the Celestial Reaching Divine Bell... what... what on earth is happening?!" an Inner Sect Disciple exclaimed, his face a mask of shock as he listened to the bell’s resonant Dao Rhythm.

"The storm is gathering, a great calamity approaches. It seems even the Sect cannot completely escape this tribulation." An Inner Sect Disciple, dressed in an icy-white robe and holding a folding fan, gazed toward the source of the sound with a refined expression.

Celestial Wood Dao Peak.

In Tongmu Divine Valley, a sea of verdant green was crisscrossed by flowing rivers. A colossal, ancient tree soared into the heavens, its canopy like a great parasol piercing the clouds and covering the land for hundreds of miles around. Its hanging branches cascaded down like a thousand waterfalls, while its gnarled, intertwining roots anchored it deep within the soil.

The surroundings were wreathed in clouds and mist, faintly dotted with vibrant purples and reds. The air was thick with vitality, carrying the essence of a world of trees awakening!

A middle-aged man with snow-white hair, a slender figure, and his hair pinned up beneath a crown, sat cross-legged beneath the Heaven-Reaching Divine Tree. He was dressed in a green Daoist Robe. He slowly opened his eyes, a terrifying Dao Rhythm swirling around his body and emitting powerful and dreadful fluctuations.

"Six chimes from the Divine Bell. A calamity for heaven and earth. It seems our Sect will not be able to escape this..." Jiang Tingbai sighed. His gaze swept lightly toward the source of the Celestial Reaching Divine Bell’s chimes, then his figure flickered and vanished on the spot.

Flame Fire Dao Peak.

Deep underground, in an Abyssal Forbidden Land akin to a scorching furnace, the extreme heat seemed to warp space itself.

Lava flowed, bathing the Abyssal Forbidden Land in a red glow, and the air was thick with sweltering heat.

A middle-aged man—powerfully built, with a resolute face, clad in a crimson battle robe, and wreathed in crimson flames—suddenly snapped open his eyes. A fiery light like a great sun flashed within his gaze as a terrifying Dao Rhythm swirled around him.

"Six chimes from the Divine Bell! What in the world has happened to the Sect?!"

Before his voice had even faded, his figure vanished on the spot.

「An incense stick’s time later」

Upon an immensely vast plaza that stretched for thousands of miles, its floor inlaid with precious stone,

a great bell, thirty feet tall and filled with a primordial aura, hung suspended in the void. It was imbued with a heaven-reaching divine rhythm and covered in Profound Mysterious Inscriptions. Behind this bell loomed a magnificent palace.

In just a few moments, the plaza became a sea of people, and a continuous clamor arose. More and more Inner Sect Disciples of the True Martial Realm could be seen riding streaks of light as they flocked to the location.

Soon, several thousand Inner Sect Disciples stood in neat, solemn rows upon the plaza. The Peak Masters of the various Dao Peaks and the Elders stood at the head of the formation. Their combined momentum was astonishing. They were poised and ready, like dormant dragons—still for now, but world-shaking once they moved.

"Everyone, I have gathered you all here today to discuss a matter of great importance, one that concerns the very fate of our Sect."

High in the void above stood the figure of a middle-aged man. He wore a magnificent robe, had a powerful build, a majestic face, and a blazing gaze. An incredibly terrifying power roiled within him as he radiated an ultimate Dao Rhythm.

The Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect, Wu Tianhua, spoke in a grave voice:

"Today, a great calamity has befallen the world. Demon Fiends from beyond our Domain have invaded the Celestial Essence Realm. Central Earth is in turmoil, the battle is fierce, and the casualties have been devastating.

When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain unbroken? If Central Earth falls, the other four domains will not be spared. At that time, the entire Celestial Essence Realm may face the threat of extinction!

For this reason, the Central Earth Dao Alliance wishes to gather the strength of the entire Celestial Essence Realm, to build a united front and fight the Demon Fiends from beyond our Domain together!!"

"We, as Cultivators, were born in the Celestial Essence Realm. Now that our home is facing destruction, how can we not rise to its defense?

Our Profound Celestial Sect will march to the battlefield and exterminate the Demon Fiends!"

Hovering in the void, his robes fluttering, the Profound Celestial Sect’s Leader, Wu Tianhua, spoke with a voice containing a vast Dao Rhythm that resounded throughout heaven and earth, entering the ears of every Cultivator with perfect clarity.

"We swear to live or die with the Celestial Essence Realm!

"Those who invade our Celestial Essence Realm... KILL!!!"

The thousands of disciples standing solemnly below roared in unison. Their cry was filled with a heaven-shaking killing intent that made the clouds change color and the very heavens tremble.

"Very good,

On a chosen day, we will journey to the Central Earth Domain and march to the Void Celestial Battlefield!"

Wu Tianhua looked upon the disciples, filled with morale and brimming with killing intent. He nodded slightly, then continued:

"However, before that, I have one more announcement to make.

Our Sect’s Peak Master of Celestial Thunder Dao Peak, Sikong Zheng, has fallen. He perished on the Void Celestial Battlefield while protecting the Human Race. In a final, desperate effort, he took three Half-Step Harmonization Realm Demon Fiends from beyond our Domain down with him!"

"When I first heard this, I was overcome with grief.

May our entire Sect, from top to bottom, vow to go to the Void Celestial Battlefield and slaughter the Demon Fiends until the sky grows dark and rivers of their blood flow!"

Wu Tianhua’s words sent a shock through the thousands of Inner Sect Disciples.

"What? The Celestial Thunder Peak Master has fallen?!"

Hearing this, everyone was deeply shaken, and looks of utter shock appeared on their faces.

’A Great Cultivator at the peak of the Tongxuan Realm had fallen, just like that.’

The Cultivators from the Celestial Thunder Dao Peak, in particular, wore expressions of utter disbelief. Their Peak Master... the one who was like a Celestial God to them, their immensely powerful Peak Master... had fallen just like that. How could they believe it? After all, the Celestial Thunder Peak Master’s strength was ranked among the top three of the eight Peak Masters. His power was so immense it could shake the very heavens and earth.