Chapter 1362: The Overbearing Elder, Perilous Situation (Part 1)
Chapter 1362: The Overbearing Elder, Perilous Situation (Part 1)
The sudden emergence of the Earth Immortal’s power stunned the entire battlefield, casting it into a chilling silence. No matter if it was the White Dragon Immortal Sect, the Yellow Wind Immortal Sect, or any other sect present, every cultivator held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
“Roar—”
Only the three-headed white dragon let out a pitiful howl, its anguished roar echoing across the heavens. Above the nine skies, the once rampant immortal energy began to calm, as if an unseen hand was pressing down upon the chaos.
“You youngsters, this place is beyond your reach,” came a calm yet commanding voice as a figure slowly appeared in the sky, catching the gaze of every immortal present.
All eyes turned to the newcomer. Clad in a peculiar straw cloak and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, the elderly man looked more like an unremarkable fisherman than a powerful figure. His appearance was plain and ordinary, but those attuned to the Dao could feel it—his mere presence was enough to still the laws of heaven and earth, as if nature itself bent to his will.
There was no doubt that this was an Earth Immortal.
“Honored one, why would you, a being of such exalted status, compete with us juniors for this opportunity…” said one of the True Immortals from the White Dragon Immortal Sect, his face tense as he bowed, trying to maintain composure. Beside him, the once-mighty three-headed white dragon lay battered and bloodied, its scales cracked and bleeding from the Earth Immortal’s earlier strike.
Despite his fury at the treatment of his sect’s prized beast, the True Immortal could only voice his displeasure in words, unable to retaliate.
“Isn’t this action a bit too overbearing, honorable elder?” added the leader of the Yellow Wind Immortal Sect, stepping forward in solidarity.
While the appearance of the Earth Immortal had shocked them all, the leaders of these top-tier sects still retained a shred of courage. After all, their respective ancestors were also Earth Immortals, and they believed that their elders wouldn’t sit idly by if things went too far.
Though there was tension in the air, mere words weren’t likely to lead to fatal consequences.
“Hmph!” the elder snorted, his eyes narrowing.
“This treasure is far beyond your comprehension. For you juniors to take it would be a waste of its power. My actions are merely a warning. Leave now, and I will not pursue the matter.”
His calm voice was infused with an undeniable authority. His gaze shifted to the leaders of the Yellow Wind and White Dragon sects, causing both men to freeze in place, cold sweat beading on their foreheads. They had been prepared to argue further, but under the weight of his gaze, they found themselves tongue-tied, unable to speak.
This was the oppressive might of an Earth Immortal. Even without raising a hand, he could dominate the minds and bodies of True Immortals with just a look.
The battlefield, once filled with chaos and destruction, fell into a heavy silence. It was as if the earth-shattering battle moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.
“Hmm?” The elder stepped forward, his eyes sweeping across the remaining forces still hesitating in the void.
A chill ran down the spines of those under his gaze, as though they were being suffocated by an immense, unseen pressure.
“Forgive us! We’ll leave immediately!”
“Honored elder, we dare not linger!”
“Farewell!”
The unspoken threat in his gaze shattered any lingering hope. In a flurry of panic, sects and cultivators alike began to retreat, bowing respectfully before fleeing. One by one, black clouds of retreating cultivators fled the scene, like flocks of crows scattering in fear.
While they might have been willing to risk their lives for the treasure against other True Immortals, the arrival of an Earth Immortal made it clear that staying would be suicide. Those without the backing of an Earth Immortal in their own sects had no illusions about their chances of survival.
In the blink of an eye, the once-crowded battlefield beneath the thousand-mile cloud waterfall had thinned considerably. Only a handful of sects remained, still weighing their options.
“Hmph. Are you all really so stubborn that you won’t give up until you’re dead?” the Earth Immortal elder spoke again, his voice now carrying a tangible weight. Taking another step forward, his aura fully unfolded, no longer restrained.
The power of an Earth Immortal descended upon the battlefield like a mountain pressing down on everyone present. It was as though the heavens themselves had grown heavy, and the remaining cultivators felt their bodies buckle under the immense pressure.
Some, unable to withstand it, collapsed to their knees, trembling and straining with all their might, but unable to rise. The humiliation of being forced to kneel made their faces flush red with rage, but the overwhelming force left them powerless to resist.
Even the cultivators of the White Dragon and Yellow Wind sects, who prided themselves on their strength, could not hold out. Their bodies groaned under the pressure, their bones creaking as they fought to remain standing. Yet, inch by inch, they were being forced to bow.
Among those resisting was Shen Ruyan and her forces from the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Her alliance members gritted their teeth, struggling to maintain their stance under the crushing pressure. Only Shen Ruyan herself, fortified by her connection to the Primordial Dao, was able to stand her ground, though even she felt the immense strain.