"I am from Biyou Palace, and I fancy the immortal artifact in your hand. Hand it over."
The voice in his mind was of unknown origin, but it declared its identity as Biyou Palace, causing the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord to immediately rebuke, "Demon, how dare you use telepathic transmission to deceive us!"
"Impersonating a Biyou Palace cultivator, are you not afraid of offending Xiamiao Mountain!"
The voice immediately chuckled, "Oh! You think I'm impersonating?"
"Alright then, feel it, where am I speaking to you from!"
Following this, the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm descended, and the dense Shangqing energy filled the altar. Azure moon golden light and cloudy mists were all created out of thin air.
The Dharma Lords of the Six Sects were shocked, "He has hidden himself and descended from the Shangqing Dharma Realm!"
The Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord also tensed, feeling a chill creep up his spine.
Biyou Palace's control over the Shangqing Dharma Realm had reached such a state that it could utilize the Dharma Realm to act in the mortal world, moving unseen and appearing and disappearing at will. Who could possibly find the traces of a Biyou Palace cultivator then!
"Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord, are you afraid of Biyou Palace?"
"Don't you find it incredible? But Biyou Palace's techniques originate from Shangqing, so having strong control over the Shangqing Dharma Realm is not normal?"
"You are all using the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm... this power spreads to all of you, is cultivated and used by all of you, and finally, the incense and wishes you receive will return to the Shangqing Dharma Realm, helping us to grasp greater power."
"And your traditions may not have always been your own techniques."
Guanyin Dharma Lord said, "We all know... yes, it has always been like this."
"Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light, what did this esteemed immortal mean by immortal artifact just now?"
The flames flickered, but there was silence, no sound emerged.
The Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord's expression was extremely grim.
"Since you have mind-reading abilities, I won't think about anything else."
"I do have an immortal artifact, but I cannot give it to you. I must present it to the Palace Master of Biyou Palace."
The Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord prepared to make a final gamble. Presenting it was a lie, but as long as this cultivator retreated, he could directly seek out Prince Lu to resolve this predicament.
The voice of the Biyou Palace cultivator descended, "I know where your immortal artifact came from."
"The order to take your immortal artifact was given by the Palace Master."
"I'm sorry, we already know everything you discussed with Prince Lu before."
"So it was you who separated a part of the will here, causing our Sovereign to notice the anomaly, and thus spy on your actions..."
"Alas... Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord, do you know that betrayers will pay a great price? All the techniques of Xiamiao Mountain were passed down from the Shangqing Sect. Now, I only need to move my thoughts slightly."
"Your techniques will be your own undoing."
As he spoke, the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord began to experience intense pain, and the surrounding world of flames also generated high temperatures, causing his Fire Escape technique to gradually fail!
If he did not escape the world of flames before his Fire Escape technique failed, he would be burned alive in the inferno!
"Great Emperor Wuxian Touguan!"
"It cannot manifest. The form and spirit of the Great Emperor Wuxian Touguan have been reclaimed by me here."
The Biyou Palace cultivator, using the power of the Shangqing Dharma Realm, forcefully controlled the divine position of the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord. The divine position was forcibly stripped and reclaimed by Biyou Palace, a most overbearing method of deprivation.
The Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord was immediately engulfed in a sea of fire, his Fire Escape technique collapsing. He frantically searched for an exit, but the Biyou Palace cultivator continued to mock him:
"Without the divine position of the Fire God, your Fire Escape technique will be your own undoing. Now, hand over the immortal artifact, and I will send you out. Furthermore, Biyou Palace will forgive your act of betrayal!"
"No need to search, you won't find an exit. The lamps before the five Dharma Lords have all been extinguished."
"You hairy, horned wretch, you servant of two surnames! Hasten to hand over the immortal artifact!"
...
Black Fiend Dharma Lord looked at the extinguished lamps before him, his expression hesitant. The voice in his mind was pressuring the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord, while he himself was completely bewildered, not knowing how the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord had betrayed Biyou Palace.
In the mind of the Black Fiend Dharma Lord, those voices could also be heard. The Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord seemed to be on the verge of being burned alive.
"Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light betrayed Biyou Palace, no, he has always been under Prince Lu... Prince Lu, could it be the Emperor's most favored prince?"
"So this prince is also a cultivator."
"One reaps what one sows. Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord, we Six Sects are of one spirit. Now that great calamity has truly arrived, we can only scatter our own ways. Your death is not our fault. If you blame anyone, blame Guangze Dharma Lord for his loose tongue."
The Black Fiend Dharma Lord muttered a few prayers. Ji Xiang, listening clearly from within the statue, thought that he absolutely could not let the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord die in the world of flames.
If the people from Biyou Palace didn't come out, how could he capture them alive?
To make something perish, one must first drive it to madness. Ji Xiang's gaze fell upon some yellow talismans beside the statue. Merely looking at them caused the incense energy to naturally ignite on the talismans. Soon, several yellow talismans flew up, and this change caused the Black Fiend Dharma Lord to turn back in shock!
A ball of flame suddenly rose before the True Warrior Great Emperor's statue!
The Black Fiend Dharma Lord was almost scared out of his wits!
"True Warrior Manifests!"
The True Warrior Great Emperor manifested his sacred power, intending to protect the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord? How could he witness such a sight?
He almost prostrated himself in worship, but soon broke out in a cold sweat, thinking of the terrible consequences!
If the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord escaped from the world of flames, wouldn't he then be held accountable by the Biyou Palace cultivator? That would surely be a thunderous rage!
Thinking of this, he immediately prostrated himself before the True Warrior statue and said, "True Warrior Lord! Please forgive this disciple's disrespect!"
After speaking, he immediately began to extinguish the flames. How could Ji Xiang allow him to extinguish the fire? Thus, the incense stirred the talismans, and instantly the entire altar was filled with flames!
The Black Fiend Dharma Lord was stunned by this sight. He had intended to snuff out the three incense sticks, but seeing the True Warrior manifest, he dared not commit such irreverent acts. He could only stand aside, sigh, and shout, "My fate is sealed!"
As expected, the flames soon surged, and the Great Manifestation of Brilliant Light Dharma Lord, enveloped in roaring flames, emerged from a candle flame. The Biyou Palace cultivator was already furious!
"Black Fiend Dharma Lord, how dare you help this traitor?"
The Black Fiend Dharma Lord pleaded, "Spare me, esteemed immortal! It truly wasn't me. It was the True Warrior Lord's statue that used incense energy itself to write a fire curse!"
Biyou Palace cultivator: "Are you a fool or am I a fool? The Thirty-Six Heavenly Deities are all divine positions. You tell me about a divine position spontaneously igniting and writing a fire curse? I see it sitting well within its shrine!"
"You traitor, you betrayed us and then dare to lie to me, your crime is doubled!"