After the path was cut off

Chapter 26 Purpose

On the platform of inquiry, a clamor arose.

The next instant, a voice suddenly fell from above.

Its origin is unknown.

But he was nowhere to be seen.

Just one sentence—

"It's a good show."

As the four words fell, the entire venue fell silent.

It was as if all sound had been abruptly erased at that moment. The discussions, exclamations, shouts, and arguments that had been surging on the stone steps were all frozen in mid-air, leaving not a trace.

Immediately afterwards, six streaks of fire suddenly descended from the clouds high above.

The flames were neither violent nor blazing white, but rather a reddish-golden hue, bright yet not dazzling, like six streaks of light slowly descending from the depths of the heavens. They approached with extreme slowness, yet were so fast that no one could avoid them; in an instant, they were already suspended above the Questioning Platform.

All the disciples present paled.

Even Shen Bai and the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall lowered their eyes at this moment.

The six heavenly flames did not land.

Instead, they hovered and circled in the sky, slowly merging into an ancient lamp.

The lamp was no more than a foot long, its entire body ancient and simple. The lamp body was neither copper nor jade, with layers of seal script patterns on it, and the Six Ding Talisman Fire flowing endlessly within it. The lamp flame was no bigger than a bean, yet it made all the restrictions on the entire Wenxuan Platform lower, and even the skylight seemed to be gently cut open by it.

Finally, someone in the audience recognized the lamp, their voice trembling, almost losing its voice:

"That's... a six-section sundial?!"

"According to historical records, this is the magic weapon of the Sundial Master—"

"The chief disciple of True Lord Xiyang, the Sundial Master?!"

After that sound, the entire venue fell even quieter.

No one expected that what was recorded in the imperial history would fall into place so unexpectedly today.

The Six Ding Dividing Sundial, hanging high above, trembled slightly.

The next moment, the lamp body began to shrink little by little.

Behind that single flame, a figure slowly emerged.

The face and clothing were not clearly visible.

All that could be seen was that person standing high up, his figure hazy, with six layers of light emanating from behind his head, flickering and flowing like six celestial flames that burned without falling, making him appear distant and unfathomable.

The lamp was in front of it.

A person stood behind him.

For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether it was a person holding a lamp or a lamp reflecting a person.

Siam had already stood up and was standing with his hands at his sides.

Li Wangxiang also stood up, feeling a slight heaviness in his chest. The two cracked Dao foundations in the Crimson Palace, illuminated by the lamplight, seemed to emit a faint, needle-like stinging pain. An Ting stood behind him, her face already slightly pale, her breathing extremely soft.

Gu Chenglan, Gu Xiangyang, Du Heng, and the disciples from all the peaks below the stage all bowed their heads, no one daring to look at them again.

After the figure stood still, he didn't utter a single unnecessary word.

With just a raised hand.

A decree was then issued.

"Li Wangxiang, Siam".

"The bidding started because of the two of you, and the conflict has intensified because of the two of you."

"Effective immediately, the True Transmission rank is abolished, the True Transmission Order is revoked, all previous merits are nullified, and all celestial merits under the name are revoked."

The Dharma teachings were not loud, yet they were like a heavy hammer, each word striking straight to the soul.

Suddenly, everyone in the stadium died.

Even Gu Chenglan and Gu Xiangyang couldn't help but feel a tightness in their hearts at this moment.

No one expected that the first blow would fall on the two true disciples.

Li Wangxiang's gaze relaxed slightly; he wasn't surprised by this outcome. The true teachings would be abolished sooner or later.

"Disciple Li Wangxiang respectfully obeys the Dharma decree!"

Siam lowered his eyes, his expression remaining aloof, as if he had been prepared for this all along.

"Disciple Siam respectfully obeys the Dharma's decree!"

High in the sky, the imperial decree continues.

"You two will each take charge of one of the two sacred sites in the Rotten Water Abyss."

"Open its own gates and operate independently."

Upon hearing this, Li Wangxiang's heart suddenly jolted.

Rotten Water Abyss.

It really was a stagnant pool of putrid water.

Moreover, it was not won through competition or schemes, but directly decreed by imperial decree.

This was not any of the approaches he had previously envisioned.

On the other side, a faint ripple finally appeared in Siam's eyes.

The ripples were fleeting, as quick as if they had never happened.

The decree was issued again:

"Fu Yun and An Ting will take over the mantle of the true master."

This time, someone in the entire audience finally lost their breath.

Fu Yun suddenly looked up, then immediately looked down again, his expression momentarily blank.

An Ting froze for a moment, as if she hadn't understood what "successor of the true teachings" meant at all. Only after a few breaths did she belatedly realize what was going on, her face turning pale, and she subconsciously looked at Li Wangxiang's back.

But Li Wangxiang did not turn back.

High in the sky, the figure gave no one time to process the information and continued to proclaim:

"From this day forward, true disciples and inner disciples are prohibited from participating in the bidding for sacred land."

"The Yunmeng Spiritual Land will no longer be open for bidding."

"The ownership of each territory shall be designated by the Lord of the Law Enforcement Hall."

Upon hearing this, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall bowed respectfully.

"I will obey the decree."

With that one sentence, all the thoughts and schemes of those on the platform who had been arguing heatedly, calculating with shrewdness and foresight, turning a bidding war into a contest of seats, became meaningless at that moment.

Whether it's immortal skills, betting, rumors, or dividing the seats.

It all turned into a joke.

The imperial decree finally fell upon Shen Bai.

Shen Bai.

"Ordinary affairs are in disarray, and bidding wars have become a spectacle."

"Effective immediately, you are removed from your position as head of the General Affairs Hall."

"A separate department will be established in the Yunmeng Great Marsh."

"You go to your post."

After he finished speaking, Shen Bai slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, there was little surprise or resentment on his face. He simply straightened his sleeves and bowed deeply to the figure in the sky.

"Shen Bai, receive the imperial decree."

His voice was very steady.

He was so composed, as if he already knew where he was going the moment he uttered the phrase "It's going to be a good show."

Meanwhile, the officials of the General Affairs Hall below the stage were all deathly pale.

The figure didn't glance at anyone again.

As the decree was finished, the six-day lamp trembled slightly.

The six halos behind his head receded, and the hazy figure faded away, disappearing back behind the lamp. The ancient lamp slowly rose, its flame still only the size of a bean, yet it illuminated the entire area, making no one dare to move.

Only after it rose back into the clouds and the six heavenly flames dissipated did the sky seem to loosen up as if something had loosened it, and it slowly brightened again.

The layers of restrictions that had been lying low around the Questioning Platform began to light up again.

The entire venue remained deathly silent.

No one dared to make a move.

No one dared to speak first.

From this moment on, the situation in Yunmeng has completely changed.

This bidding war has come to an end.