Chapter 150: The Six Mountain Lords Invite the Holy Teacher, the Shattering of the Minor Sage Token Reveals the Sage Teacher [Requesting Monthly Votes]
The wind rises in the empty mountains at night, and a myriad of sounds contend in the void.
The First Mountain.
Swirling clouds and mists shrouded the peak.
Wind chimes hung before the porch of the thatched cottage, swaying gently in the breeze to emit crisp, crystalline tinkles.
The Lord of the First Mountain had cast aside his usual sleepy and indolent demeanor, standing tall with the ethereal grace of an immortal.
He looked upon the spiritual projections of the five gathering mountain lords, a faint smile curving his lips.
Raising a hand, he cleared the fine ashes off a sheet of white paper.
Therein, a line of text was newly inscribed:
"Zhao Pei of the Lesser Sage List has fallen, his name struck off."
"An Le of the Lesser Sage List has attained the Fifth Realm in both Body Tempering and Spirit Refining, ascending to the top of the list."
The white paper fluttered upward, suspended in mid-air.
The various mountain lords, including the will-projection of the Lord of the Sixth Mountain, merely glanced at it before nodding without the slightest contention.
Naturally, they had all witnessed the news of Zhao Pei’s demise, yet it evoked little shock within them.
To them, Zhao Pei was merely a prince of the Great Zhao Dynasty; if he died, he died. In this world, no one was truly unkillable.
Even they, the lords of the various peaks of the Sacred Mountain, would one day meet their end.
According to the records in the Sacred Mountain's ancient texts, there were precedents of mountain lords being challenged and slain. Death was the ultimate equalizer for everyone beneath the heavens.
The Lord of the First Mountain nodded, and once more, ashes drifted from the incense burner.
Another line of text materialized upon the white paper:
"An Le ascends to the summit of the Lesser Sage List, having claimed the dual top honors in martial and literary arts at the Spring Imperial Examinations, thus fulfilling both criteria for an audience with the Holy Master."
"The third trial and test required An Le, before the Grand Capital of Northern Yuan Meng, to turn back and rescue Zhao Huangting, who had exhausted his cultivation following his battle with the Yuan Meng Emperor."
"He did not abandon Zhao Huangting to flee alone, but instead turned back to save him, thereby fulfilling the condition as well."
"All three conditions for an audience with the Holy Master have been fulfilled by An Le under our joint witness."
"Therefore, An Le shall be the chosen one to see the Holy Master. Do any of you mountain lords have objections?"
The Lord of the First Mountain stood with immortal grace, looking toward them as he spoke.
"No objections."
Facing the inquiry regarding An Le's qualification to meet the Holy Master, the five mountain lords gave a unified reply.
The Lord of the Sixth Mountain naturally harbored no objections. He held An Le in exceptionally high regard—even surpassing the high esteem recently shown by the Old Celestial Master of the Celestial Master Mansion. This left the aloof mountain lord with a sudden sense of rivalry; how could he possibly reject An Le's candidacy?
As for the other mountain lords, they too had met An Le and knew he had once obtained the future sword qi left behind in the mortal realm by the Holy Master upon the sheer cliff. They all held goodwill and appreciation for An Le, and thus offered no refusal.
"In that case, let us... each return to our respective sacred mountains and welcome the Holy Master."
The Lord of the First Mountain said.
The mountain lords said no more, dispersing their spiritual forms one after another.
However, the Lord of the Sixth Mountain did not dismiss his spiritual projection. He remained suspended outside the threshold of the thatched cottage, fixing his gaze upon the Lord of the First Mountain.
It was as if he were waiting for the Lord of the First Mountain to give him an explanation.
A smile involuntarily surfaced on the aged visage of the Lord of the First Mountain: "Old Six, isn't the present outcome quite ideal?"
The spiritual projection of the Lord of the Sixth Mountain crossed his arms over his chest, speaking in a chilling tone: "The present outcome is ideal solely due to An Le's own fortune. Senior Brother... do you have anything else to say by way of explanation?"
The smile on the face of the Lord of the First Mountain gradually faded, and he shook his head: "No explanation is needed."
The Lord of the Sixth Mountain raised his chin: "Then I understand."
With that, his spiritual avatar shattered, dissolving into dreamlike ribbons of light.
The expression of the Lord of the First Mountain remained serene. The interrogation by the Lord of the Sixth Mountain seemed to stir not the slightest ripple in his heart. A gentle breeze swept past, rustling the wind chimes hanging from the eaves, producing a crisp, melodic chiming.
He walked toward the threshold as the brilliant rays of dawn spilled across the earth.
At the same moment.
The Lord of the Sixth Mountain opened his eyes in the void, his expression cold. A sharp sword leapt forth, and stepping upon the blade, he hurtled away as a streak of light toward the direction of the Sixth Mountain.
Before long, he had returned to the Sixth Mountain.
Mid-Mountain Leisure Pavilion.
The Fairy Yunruo stood quietly, cradling the Mochi Sword in her arms.
When the Lord of the Sixth Mountain arrived, she bowed gracefully.
"Mountain Lord."
Fairy Yunruo greeted.
The Lord of the Sixth Mountain nodded without uttering another half-word. He immediately sat cross-legged upon the ground, raised his hands, and pressed a peculiar ancient seal between his brows.
Simultaneously.
Across every corner of the mortal mountains and rivers, atop towering peaks, figures sat cross-legged in meditation—some women, some scholars, some wandering wine-drinkers. One and all, they raised their hands, forming ancient seals and pressing them between their brows.
Hum, hum, hum...
Between mountain peaks separated by vast distances, invisible connections seemed to ignite. As the ancient seals touched their brows, their souls vibrated in unison. Driven by the seals, invisible waves of spiritual brilliance bridged the immense distances, intertwining and converging.
Together, they formed a grand spiritual array that spanned the vast landscape of the mortal realm.
The array surged impetuously into the heavens, instantly flooding the firmament to the point where the entire vault of heaven was imprinted with the pattern of the array.
Yuan Meng Grand Capital.
Within the imperial palace.
The Yuan Meng Emperor slowly opened his eyes, within whose depths various lights intertwined, collided, flickered, and vanished.
"The mountain lords are summoning the Holy Master. It seems someone is about to converse with the Holy Master, and the Seventh Mountain is finally about to open."
"This time... our Yuan Meng Empire shall also produce a mountain lord upon the Sacred Mountain."
At the Zhenwu Temple, the old abbot opened his eyes, a flicker of astonishment crossing his gaze.
"The Sacred Mountain lords... are summoning the Holy Master indeed."
At the Celestial Master Mansion, the Old Celestial Master stood before a clear pool where purple-gold lotuses bloomed and gently swayed. He tilted his head back, his robes fluttering in the wind as he beheld the astral soul array, a smile lingering at the corners of his lips.
"It seems this old daoist's... judgment was not mistaken after all."
The old sword saint of the Sword Pool Palace, the three great Buddhist temples...
Countless unfathomable powerhouses experienced a sudden stirring in their hearts at this very moment.
Logically speaking, such a commotion should have drawn the attention of many.
Yet, throughout the vast realm, facing the grand array formed by the intertwining souls of the mountain lords, aside from those powerhouses who had stepped into the Tenth Realm, anyone beneath the Tenth Realm felt not the slightest perception.
It was as if their senses had been entirely sealed off.
Ten thousand feet above the sky, as the souls of the mountain lords merged into an array that pierced the clouds, the radiance of the dawn vanished in an instant at that dizzying altitude, and even the stars were suppressed, hidden, and extinguished.
Within the primordial spirit array.
Vaguely, a blurred visage took shape.
That face was immense, as though it blanketed the entire firmament, gazing down upon the mortal world.
The gaze within its eyes was as solid as substance, falling upon the six mountain lords.
These six mountain lords, who feared neither heaven nor earth, were entirely respectful at this moment.
For a long time...
That unimaginably colossal face finally let out a light chuckle.
"Good."
...
...
Between heaven and earth, remnants of sword qi still lingered, and the cries of swallows echoed ceaselessly, making the eardrums of everyone present vibrate intensely.
Upon the city wall, those Seventh Realm Spirit-Refining Xiaoyao experts who had released their primordial spirits to block An Le felt their souls churn, their emotions rising and falling like turbulent waves!
That single streak of sword light—simple and pure, carrying an indomitable momentum and an overbearing will of certain death—tore through the intercepted spiritual wall, hurtling outward to transform into a beam of light in the world. Resembling a swallow darting from its nest, it instantly pinned Second Prince Zhao Pei, who had thought himself safe, directly onto the city wall.
Without a shred of hesitation, without a trace of fear, without the slightest mercy!
Truly... overbearing to the extreme!
A mere Fifth Realm cultivator was capable of displaying such tyrannical demeanor?!
Above and below the city wall, a dead silence fell. Those armored garrison soldiers stood gaping, holding their bows, paralyzed and stupefied.
Killed... he killed him?!
Second Prince Zhao Pei... a formidable contender for the crown prince, backed by numerous officials in the imperial court, holding high authority, and even occupying an important place in the heart of the Son of Heaven of the Zhao family.
Most importantly, Second Prince Zhao Pei... was a prince of noble birth, a distinguished personage flowing with the imperial bloodline of the Zhao clan!
How could such a noble personage be killed?
And to be slain right outside the gates of Lin'an City, nailed to the city wall itself!
Not only did he kill the man, but he also struck at his soul!
Atop the city wall, the head of Second Prince Zhao Pei was pierced through and pinned to the brickwork by the broad blade of Returning Swallow. Upon the ancient city wall, yet another sword scar was added.
In Zhao Pei's eyes, there was only boundless bewilderment. The top-grade resilience and razor-sharp edge of the blade had plunged deep into his flesh, causing blood to involuntarily gush out from both sides of the sword.
He thought of many things. He thought of how, as the Second Prince of the Great Zhao Dynasty, he ought to have had an incomparably glorious future. He even had a chance to become the crown prince, and one day ascend the throne that symbolized the supreme power of Great Zhao.
Yet now, a single Returning Swallow had severed and ended all his aspirations, all his hopes, and ultimately, his life.
A sudden, immense wave of regret washed over him—regret for his arrogance, for his haughtiness.
Ever since he descended Mount Yunjin of the Celestial Master Mansion, he had learned of the events in Lin'an Prefecture. At that time, his mind was entirely consumed by the thought of capturing An Le, bringing him back to Lin'an for their imperial father to judge, thereby winning his father's favor and deeper appreciation.
As for whether An Le lived or died, he hadn't considered it at all; an An Le brought back to Lin'an by his hand would undoubtedly die without a doubt, needing no further thought.
Yet, what did An Le's death have to do with him?
Using An Le's death in exchange for his father's favor seemed utterly worthwhile to him.
From that very moment, he had locked horns completely with An Le, ultimately leading to this present scene.
He had been pinned to the gates of Lin'an City by An Le's Returning Swallow.
It must be said, it was somewhat desolate and ironic, but when traced to its root, it was still his own doing.
As Returning Swallow pierced deep into his skull, the sword qi and sword intent contained within the blade surged into Zhao Pei's body, tearing apart his meridians, snapping his heart vessels, and extinguishing his life force.
Even though he had forcefully broken into the Sixth Realm, Zhao Pei still found it difficult to resist this fatal sword strike.
The light before his eyes gradually faded, and Zhao Pei closed his eyes just like that, losing all breath of life.
An Le stood clad in white robes stained with blood, fluttering gracefully in the wind.
He grasped the gradually-greening Bamboo Sword, his expression utterly serene, as though slaying Zhao Pei were nothing more than a trivial, effortless matter.
Though Zhao Pei had broken through to the Sixth Realm and his strength had soared by a wide margin, he had already been thoroughly crushed by An Le beforehand, shattering his confidence. Coupled with An Le's comprehension of the Red Heart and Mountains-and-Rivers sword intents, the amplification of those intents seemed to activate An Le's All-Penetrating Sword Body.
The power of his swordsmanship had likewise surged manifold.
Thus, slaying a fleeing Zhao Pei whose confidence had already been broken was naturally a trivial affair.
However, to everyone else, Zhao Pei's death was by no means a minor matter; it was a truly momentous event. For an imperial prince to be slain right before the gates of Lin'an Prefecture—this news would inevitably sweep across the entire world, even turning the Son of Heaven of the Zhao family into a laughingstock.
Of course, what shocked the numerous powerhouses even more was that even after the Son of Heaven of the Zhao family had released his imperial aura and issued a wrathful decree, An Le had remained completely unconcerned, striking down Zhao Pei regardless!
This was tantamount to nailing the face of the Son of Heaven of the Zhao family, along with Zhao Pei, directly onto the city wall!
"He's mad... This boy has completely lost his mind!"
"What on earth gives him the audacity to act like this?!"
In the void, the Left and Right Jinwu Guards Senior Generals—who had been deterred by Su Muzhe's Great Yan Sword Array and dared not move—exchanged glances. The two Ninth Realm powerhouses could only utter such words.
He truly was mad. After all, to kill Zhao Pei right before the very eyes of the Son of Heaven of the Zhao family, what was the point of it all?
It was bound to thoroughly enrage the Emperor!
An Le could forget about ever setting foot in Lin'an Prefecture again.
Originally, when An Le returned from the northern lands with Zhao Huangting—who had gone north to battle the Yuan Meng Emperor—it should have been a triumphant return steeped in glory. Moreover, everyone could guess why Zhao Huangting wanted to return to Lin'an: since he possessed imperial blood, he likely wished to enter the imperial ancestral tombs on Mount Phoenix.
Given Zhao Huangting's deeds, the Emperor certainly wouldn't refuse. After all, fighting the Yuan Meng Emperor to a standstill and withdrawing unscathed was a sensational and glorious feat.
Had the Emperor not fallen out with Zhao Huangting and An Le, the Ministry of Rites would have even organized an honor guard to hold a grand welcoming ceremony outside Lin'an City.
As a result, forget about a welcoming ceremony now.
An Le had directly pinned Zhao Pei to death with a single sword strike right under the gaze of the Emperor...
For An Le to even step foot into the city of Lin'an now would be nothing short of trampling upon the dignity of the Emperor!
A pair of massive golden eyes spanned the skies above Lin'an Prefecture, glowing with a molten radiance like two blazing golden flames.
Cold and brimming with murderous intent, they glared fixedly at An Le.
He saw the Second Prince pinned and slain.
And he saw An Le, who treated his imperial coercion as nothing at all.
The so-called majesty of the Great Zhao imperial clan and the dignity of the imperial court were, at this moment, completely trampled and ignored by An Le.
How on earth... could this boy be so arrogant?!
RUMBLE!!!
A terrifying willpower surged from within the city, rising like raging waves.
Then, powerful auras rose one after another from within the city—the auras of powerhouses acting upon the Emperor's commands.
Yet An Le remained tranquil, looking up at the eyes above Lin'an City with a soft smile.
"When Tong Guan died, I failed to bring his corpse back from the Canglang River to serve as a gift for His Majesty."
"However, I wonder if His Majesty is satisfied with this new gift today?"
...
...
Deep within the imperial palace.
Having departed from the courtyard of Zhao Xianyou—which was planted with late-winter plum blossoms—the Emperor stood clad in golden brocade robes, motionless in place. The space between his brows parted, glowing with rosy mists as a celestial platform loomed high. His primordial spirit sat atop the platform, hands seemingly capable of plucking the stars!
A formidable spiritual power surged through the surroundings, causing the flowers, plants, and trees in the imperial garden to sway violently, while numerous potted plants shattered into flying fragments and soil.
"This boy is utterly arrogant beyond bounds!!!"
A fierce, dense murderous intent rolled within the Emperor's eyes.
Second Prince Zhao Pei... was his most admired son and the candidate he deemed most suitable to be crown prince.
The First Prince fell short of Zhao Pei in cultivation talent. Though the First Prince enjoyed high prestige in the court thanks to the assistance of Chancellor Qin Lishi, Zhao Pei had gone to Mount Yunjin to cultivate, received the blessing of the purple-gold lotus, and had the backing of the Celestial Master Mansion. His political weight was by no means lower than that of the First Prince.
Once Zhao Pei returned to Lin'an Prefecture, cultivated his influence slightly, and gained the support of the majority of officials, he would undoubtedly have been able to stand on equal footing with the First Prince in the future, or even surpass him!
Yet, the son he admired the most... had just like that been killed?!
Most importantly, he had lost face.
Remembering how An Le had ruined his scheme on the White Jade Plaza, causing the Heart Sword within his grasp to fly away and forcing him to seek alternative methods to prolong his life by five hundred years, a suffocating murderous intent gripped his heart.
And now, the moment An Le returned to Lin'an, not only did he fail to tuck his tail between his legs, but he had also openly defied his will, slaying Second Prince Zhao Pei with his own hands right before his very eyes!
Suddenly, the aura around the Emperor abruptly converged.
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he recalled Zhao Xianyou's mocking laughter: Would he grieve and feel pain in his heart now that his son was dead?
The Emperor did indeed feel a pang of heartache for a brief moment, but that was all.
His eyes grew deep and profound, yet his pupils reflected the figure of An Le standing proudly outside Lin'an Prefecture. The grief over Zhao Pei's death vanished, replaced by a deep, fervent eagerness that slowly welled up, spreading like dark ink.
For, upon An Le's body... he had sensed the aura of the Heart Sword!
"The Heart Sword... To think this boy actually tempered the Heart Sword while still in the Fifth Realm? Truly incredible!"
As the supreme technique of Ganye Temple, Hua Jiebing had been able to forge the Heart Sword because of her peerless talent in its cultivation, having been recognized by Venerable Suzhu at a very young age and taken in as a disciple to cultivate and temper it.
Even then, she had only condensed the Heart Sword upon reaching the Eighth Realm of wandering divinity.
Yet, how long had An Le been practicing cultivation?
Hua Jiebing had guided An Le onto the path of cultivation, lighting a green lamp for him along the journey.
An Le had rapidly stepped into the Fifth Realm, and now, he had even tempered the Heart Sword while in the Fifth Realm's Sitting-in-Forgetfulness Spirit-Refining stage!
This was simply... baffling.
However, the Emperor was incomparably overjoyed, for he saw a glimmer of dawn, a ray of hope.
Perhaps, if he seized An Le's Fifth Realm Heart Sword and refined it himself, the effect might not even be inferior to Hua Jiebing's Eighth Realm Heart Sword!
Anyone capable of condensing the Heart Sword in the Fifth Realm possessed monstrous talent in spiritual matters. Such a Fifth Realm Heart Sword was absolutely no weaker than an Eighth Realm one!
When mountains and rivers seemed to end in dark despair, a village appeared amidst willow trees and bright flowers.
This discovery even managed to dilute some of the Emperor's grief over Zhao Pei's death at An Le's hands.
"Su Qingke of the Grand Court of Judicial Review, hear my decree!"
"Grand Commandant Liu Guanshi, hear my decree!"
"An Le has heinously slain an imperial prince, a crime unpardonable. Seize him immediately and cast him into the death row of the Grand Court of Judicial Review!"
The Emperor's spirit shook, issuing the imperial decree personally, the roar sweeping across the entire city.
The Emperor did not know what cards An Le held.
However, since An Le dared to be so arrogant as to execute Second Prince Zhao Pei right before his eyes, he naturally had to make a response and display his stance!
Of course, once An Le was thrown into the prison of the Grand Court, things would become much easier. Seizing the Heart Sword within An Le's body would then become effortless!
Following the Emperor's command, the entire prefecture of Lin'an seemed to tremble in an instant.
Boundless auras rose into the air one after another, and the earth shook as mobilized troops marched swiftly.
Within the city.
Qin Lishi stepped through the air, appearing atop the city wall in a fraction of a second. The space between his brows parted as his primordial spirit sat high upon the celestial platform, aloof like an immortal looking down upon An Le below.
The Grand General of Suppressing the Nation and the Grand General of Aiding the Nation—two Ninth Realm generals with surging vital blood—also stepped through the air to arrive.
Grand Commandant Liu Guanshi wore brocade robes, his robust physique stretching his garments taut. Beneath the cloth, muscles rippled, and vital blood seeped out like intertwining mist.
Su Qingke wore a treasured saber at his waist and the official robes of the Grand Court Minister, taking strides through the void.
Powerful figures soared into the sky in a flash, Ninth Realm experts emerging in succession until even the sky grew dim!
Ninth Realm experts refined their divine souls to open celestial platforms, sitting upon them to alter the celestial phenomena; naturally, they were extraordinarily formidable!
Within the city, the Jinwu Guards, the temple guards of the Grand Court, and the constables of the Black Yamen had already gathered, rushing out swiftly to converge outside the city gates. Nearly ten thousand golden-armored and silver-armored guards, temple guards, and constables assembled, forming an array rivaling an actual army!
As the city gates slowly swung open, a sea of black flooded the gateway. Accompanied by synchronized footsteps that made the blue stone flags of the ground tremble, it swept forward like a dark cloud pressing down upon the city!
Above the void.
Zhao Huangting embraced Su Muzhe, while ten thousand swords clinked and chimed, intertwining to form the Great Yan Sword Array.
The Great Yan Sword Array, which had begun forming during An Le's pursuit of Zhao Pei, had been successfully deployed as they neared Lin'an.
Even for Su Muzhe, her expression became extremely unsightly at this moment; the pressure exerted by the Great Yan Sword Array upon her was immense.
Wan Jieliu wore a solemn expression as he nonchalantly drew the thin willow sword from his waist. He was a disciple of Master Wang Yansheng, and since the master had told him to protect An Le, he would naturally go all out.
As An Le's dao-slave, Li Qingchuan's expression was currently pitch black.
Looking at the golden and silver armored troops below, the military array formed by the temple guards and constables, and the various Ninth Realm figures emerging from Lin'an Prefecture, his face turned pale. Yet, remembering that he was now An Le's dao-slave, he could only grit his teeth, summon purple lightning to wrap around his body, and choose to fight without retreating.
The Great Yan Sword Array was indeed powerful, but Qin Lishi, coordinating with the civil and military officials within the city, released a primordial spirit array that soared into the sky, actually managing to block the Great Yan Sword Array.
Grand Commandant Liu Guanshi wore a cold expression. Outside the Sixth Mountain earlier, he had allowed the old imperial uncle to leave, even letting ten thousand men discard their blades to bid the old uncle farewell.
Today, however, he would make no such gesture of discarding his blade.
An Le had slain the Prince Zhao Pei, thus violating the laws of Great Zhao, and naturally deserved to be captured.
Both Grand Commandant Liu Guanshi and Grand Court Minister Su Qingke shared this exact attitude.
Within the Heavenly Mystery Palace.
The Emperor sat upon the imperial throne. Across the dynasty, a massive phantom seated upon the throne seemed to manifest, its cold eyes gazing down outside the city.
The Emperor did not care in the slightest about preserving his prestige when mobilizing such a massive force to capture An Le.
Since An Le had trampled his dignity underfoot by executing Zhao Pei in broad daylight before the world, why should the Son of Heaven care about prestige when dealing with An Le?
"Capture him!"
A cold voice resounded.
Grand Commandant Liu Guanshi and Grand Court Minister Su Qingke made no move.
However, the Senior Generals of the Left and Right Jinwu Guards seized this opportunity to break free from the lock of the Great Yan Sword Array, landing outside the city. Clad in armor and looking imposing, the two strode on foot toward An Le.
Wan Jieliu and Li Qingchuan dropped to An Le's sides, staring at the two senior generals—one wielding the thin willow sword, the other conjuring purple lightning.
Suddenly, Grand Commandant Liu Guanshi and Grand Court Minister Su Qingke moved.
With a single step forward, they materialized beside An Le as if by teleportation.
Before and behind, they sealed off all possible paths of retreat for An Le.
Yet, contrary to their expectations.
An Le merely gripped the bamboo sword Qing Shan, standing calmly in place without the slightest sign of attempting to flee.
"Are you not running?"
Liu Guanshi looked at An Le, narrowing his eyes as he asked.
Since An Le dared to slay Second Prince Zhao Pei right outside Lin'an Prefecture, it seemed he indeed possessed reliance of his own.
What, then, was his reliance?!
Suddenly.
Between heaven and earth, a streak of black sword qi flashed swiftly across, resembling a single stroke of ink leaving its mark upon the mortal world!
Hum, hum, hum...
The inky sword qi hummed aloud.
It abruptly manifested before An Le.
It was a sword as black as ink... precisely the sword Mochi, bestowed upon An Le by the Lord of the Sixth Mountain, which contained the Lesser Sage Decree within it.
It was the proof that allowed An Le to converse with the Holy Master.
An Le looked at the Mochi sword suspended before him, a smile curving his lips.
Just as he had anticipated.
He flicked his finger against the body of the Mochi sword.
The Lesser Sage Decree within Mochi shattered violently.
Liu Guanshi and Su Qingke, who had blocked An Le from front and rear, saw their expressions abruptly change. Their bodies were instantly struck by a terrifying, oppressive force, and with disbelief in their eyes, they struggled to raise their heads to look toward the firmament.
There...
High above the firmament.
The Lesser Sage Decree shattered.
Revealing an unimaginably colossal visage that gazed down upon the mortal realm.