135: A shocking change occurred at the palace, and the sword pierced through the gloom.

"The auspicious hour has arrived! The Ancestral Worship Ceremony officially begins—!"

The Grand Elder's resonant voice, accompanied by the melodious tolling of bells, echoed over Qingyun Peak. Below the Heaven Sacrificial Platform, thousands of Qinglan Sect Disciples and guests from all sides stood in solemn silence, the atmosphere both grave and spirited.

The complex rituals proceeded step by step, with incense smoke curling and sacrificial texts being chanted. The Grand Elder stood in the center of the high platform with a solemn expression, every movement adhering strictly to protocol. Only the occasional glance swept toward a certain spot below the platform, or the subtle exchange of looks with the grey-robed Elder holding the box beside him, betrayed the turmoil within his heart.

Lin Xuan remained hidden within the crowd, his Divine Sense like an invisible spider web shrouding the entire venue. The System continuously filtered through the massive stream of information, highlighting the Grand Elder and his cronies, as well as those suspicious targets whose Qi matched the characteristics of the Guixu Cult. He could sense an undercurrent surging violently beneath the solemn and dignified facade.

Utilizing the concealment effect of the Phantom Blood Silk, Su Wanqing had become like an invisible phantom, quietly sneaking into the core area below the Heaven Sacrificial Platform, less than thirty zhang away from the grey-robed Elder holding the box. She held her breath and focused, her icy eyes locked onto the ancient wooden box, while her Taiyin Power and Frost Silence Sword Intent were highly concentrated within her, waiting only for the best opportunity.

Like a dancer in the dark night, Qu Feiyan wove through the shadows of the crowd and buildings. Several Blood Lotus Illusory Bodies with weak Auras, almost indistinguishable from her true self, had been quietly deployed at key nodes around the Heaven Sacrificial Platform.

Gongsun Yu gripped her fists tightly in the pavilion, her spiritual sense pushed to the limit, closely monitoring any slight fluctuation of spiritual power in the venue.

Time ticked away, and the ceremony reached its most critical stage—the "Ancestral Offering" at the stroke of noon.

The Grand Elder took a deep breath and stepped forward, preparing to lead everyone in the final kowtow. The moment he bowed to pay his respects, a sudden change occurred!

"Now!" Lin Xuan shouted in his heart, simultaneously sending the agreed-upon signal to Luo Li!

Almost at the same time, the flow of spiritual power in the core area below the Heaven Sacrificial Platform suddenly stalled! Although it was extremely brief and almost imperceptible, Su Wanqing keenly captured this fleeting opportunity!

"Act!"

Her figure moved like lightning, instantly breaking out of concealment. Her Taiyin Power erupted with full force, transforming her into an ice-blue stream of light that tore through the air, lunging straight at the grey-robed Elder holding the box! The frost silence sword was unsheathed; before the blade even arrived, the extreme chill had already frozen the surrounding air!

"Su Wanqing?! Stop her!" The Grand Elder was both shocked and furious. He never expected Su Wanqing to dare to appear at this time and place, and even less did he expect her to be so fast and her target so clear!

The grey-robed Elder's reaction was also lightning-fast. With a sharp shout, his cultivation at the Late Golden Core Stage exploded. One hand protected the wooden box, while the other unleashed a massive palm strike, attempting to block her.

However, having been baptized by moonlight, having her Bloodline partially awakened, and having received treasures "invested" by Lin Xuan, Su Wanqing's strength was no longer what it once was! The frost silence sword traced an arcane trajectory, and the Taiyin Sword Gang, condensed into substance, easily tore through the opponent's palm power, the tip of the sword pointing directly at the wooden box!

"Presumptuous!" Above on the high platform, two other cronies of the Grand Elder struck at the same time, launching two fierce attacks at Su Wanqing's back, a tactic to relieve the siege by attacking the rescuer!

Just at this critical moment—

"Giggle~ Elders, why the rush? Come play with big sister~"

Qu Feiyan's charming laughter rang out abruptly, accompanied by bursts of blood-colored phantoms erupting all over the venue! Some lunged at the two Elders who had attacked, some rushed toward the Law Enforcement Hall Disciples maintaining order, and even more brazenly, some made provocative gestures directly at the distinguished guests in the viewing area!

In an instant, the area below the Heaven Sacrificial Platform was filled with exclamations, angry shouts, and the sounds of fighting, and the originally solemn and dignified scene fell into chaos! Qu Feiyan's true form remained hidden in the shadows, controlling the phantoms to muddy the waters completely, perfectly diverting most of the attention and support forces.

Su Wanqing's pressure was instantly reduced, and the frost silence sword continued its momentum unabated!

"Crack!"

The sword tip landed precisely on the wooden box! The seemingly ordinary wooden box instantly erupted with a strong, resistant spiritual light, but how could it withstand the combined force of an Immortal Artifact and the Grand Yin Origin? The lid shattered upon impact!

A palm-sized, pitch-black Talisman fragment, covered in cracks yet emitting a heart-palpitating Aura of destruction, was exposed to the air!

"A Restriction-Breaking Talisman!" someone exclaimed in shock.

Su Wanqing's eyes turned sharp, and the sword blade turned, intending to completely destroy the Talisman!

"How dare you!" The Grand Elder's eyes were splitting with rage. No longer caring about concealment, the terrifying pressure of his Nascent Soul Stage crushed down toward Su Wanqing like a mountain, and at the same time, his figure erupted into motion as he attacked personally! He would absolutely not allow his plan to fall short at the final moment!

Under the pressure of the Nascent Soul, Su Wanqing's movements faltered, and her face instantly turned pale.

Just at this critical juncture—

"Your opponent is me!"

A calm voice, yet carrying boundless sharpness, rang out. Lin Xuan finally moved!

He no longer hid his cultivation, and his Late Golden Core Stage Aura soared into the sky. Although not equal to a Nascent Soul, that immensely condensed Aura, containing radiant blood energy and the War Intent of the Thunder Emperor, actually briefly resisted the Grand Elder's pressure! His figure moved like a Dragon, starting later but arriving first, instantly blocking the space between Su Wanqing and the Grand Elder!

The sin-severing sword appeared in his hand. Although it was covered in rust, the moment he injected his magic power, an ancient, vast, and undying Battle Intent of administering punishment erupted! On the blade, crimson-gold blood energy intertwined with dense lightning arcs, and he simply slashed out a single sword strike at the furiously approaching Grand Elder!

There were no fancy Moves, only an unyielding determination and the intent to judge evil!

"Boom—!!!"

The sword and palm collided, exploding with an earth-shattering roar! Violent energy ripples swept outward, sending the crowd near the Heaven Sacrificial Platform tumbling in all directions!

Lin Xuan groaned, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. He staggered back more than a dozen steps, the webbing between his thumb and index finger split open, dripping with blood. The Nascent Soul Stage was, after all, the Nascent Soul Stage; in a direct collision, he was still at a disadvantage.

But the Grand Elder was also forced to pause by this sword strike, which contained the War Intent of the Thunder Emperor and supreme Yang Qi, his offensive blocked. For the first time, a look of shock appeared on his face: "What is this power?!"

This brief obstruction was enough for Su Wanqing!

Enduring the aftermath of the Nascent Soul pressure, cold light erupted from her icy eyes. She raised the frost silence sword once more, pouring her Taiyin Power into it without reservation, and slashed fiercely down at the exposed piece of the Restriction-Breaking Talisman!

"No—!" the Grand Elder roared in unwillingness.

The dazzling ice-blue sword light engulfed the Restriction-Breaking Talisman fragment, and the extreme chill instantly froze, eroded, and caused its structure to collapse! That heart-palpitating Aura of destruction, like a balloon that had been pricked, rapidly dissipated into nothingness!

The Restriction-Breaking Talisman was destroyed!

At the same time, purple lightning flashed in Gongsun Yu's eyes on the pavilion, and she shouted sharply: "Big Brother Lin, the southeast corner, the one in the blue robe! And the third one on the western viewing platform!"

She had keenly captured several hidden Auras attempting to quietly Move toward the Ancient Demon Sealing Site amidst the chaos!

Lin Xuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a sharp look flashing in his eyes. He pointed the sin-severing sword toward the southeast, locking onto the blue-robed Cultivator who had been pointed out by Gongsun Yu and whose expression had changed drastically—the mixed, nauseating Aura on his body was undoubtedly that of the Guixu Cult!

"Guixu Cult scum, die!"

The great battle was ignited at this moment! The fate of the Qinglan Sect headed toward an unknown crossroads.