Chapter 933

In that distant sky, ten‑thousand‑foot rosy light surged like a raging torrent, breaking through the heavy clouds and shining straight onto the Nine‑layer Heavenly Gate of the Golden Gate Sect. Each of these nine gates stands a hundred zhang tall, majestic and awe‑inspiring.

These gates are not made of ordinary building material but carved from massive blocks of Profound Sky Azure Jade. The jade is hard, crystal‑clear, emitting a faint azure glow as if it contains endless spirit, and the lintels are inlaid with three hundred sixty Starlight Stones, which refract rainbow‑colored streams of light under the sun, dazzling like stars in the night sky, making the whole gate appear like a celestial palace gate—mysterious and solemn.

Along both sides of the mountain path stand eighteen golden‑arm automatons. Each stands three zhang tall, clad in golden armor, wielding massive axes, exuding a powerful aura. Every automaton radiates the pressure of the Transforming‑Spirit stage; even these outer‑most mountain guardians of the Golden Gate Sect are so formidable that one cannot help but revere the sect's depth.

The Elders of the various sects ascend the cloud ladders slowly; beneath their feet rolls spiritual mist like a sea of clouds. Within that mist, vague massive silhouettes can be seen circling—the mountain‑protecting spirit beast of the Golden Gate Sect, the Golden‑winged Cloud Jiao. Its body is covered with metallic scales that flash cold light, and between its dragon eyes lightning flickers, clearly a terrifying Existence of the seventh‑stage pinnacle!

"The Golden Gate Sect really puts on a grand display!" the Elder of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion said, looking at the spectacular sight, and let out a cold snort. Though his voice carried a hint of displeasure, the signature flying sword in his sleeve silently dulled three‑tenths of its edge, as if even he feared the Golden Gate Sect's power.

"Esteemed Daoists, it is an honor to receive you from afar; please enter the mountain gate for a chat." A voice came from the summit, and the Elders of the surrounding Immortal Alliance passed through the sect‑protecting formation and flew up to the peak together.

When the last Elder stepped into the main hall, the previously calm ground suddenly emitted a faint glow, and immediately a complex and mysterious formation pattern spread rapidly across the floor. The pattern seemed alive, crawling over the hall's tiles, and wherever it passed the tiles shone ever brighter.

The crowd was astonished to find that the entire hall's floor tiles were made of a precious jade called Spirit‑Gathering Jade! This jade is not only warm‑toned, but each tile is meticulously carved with a miniature spirit‑gathering array. These arrays interconnect, forming a vast and intricate formation that continuously draws in surrounding spiritual energy.

Looking up at the dome, one sees nine hundred ninety‑nine "Heart‑Illuminating Lamps" hanging there, like countless stars in the night sky. The lamp oil is made from millennial shark‑man fat, and when burned it emits a refreshing fragrance that clears the mind, as if it can cleanse the dust from one's soul.

At the very center of the hall, the Golden Gate Sect Master sits upon a treasured platform called the Nine‑Orifice Exquisite Platform. The platform is wholly carved from Ten‑Thousand‑Year Warm Jade, its gentle jade surface emitting a faint sheen. The nine apertures on the platform constantly inhale and exhale pure spiritual energy, forming a small vortex of spiritual energy.

The Sect Master wears a violet‑gold Dao robe, its sleeves embroidered with the exquisite Golden Gate Heaven‑Connecting Pattern, and dons a Five‑Mountains Crown set with five spiritual pearls representing the five elemental origins. A faint light envelops his face, obscuring his true features, yet his imposing aura forbids anyone from staring directly.

"Esteemed Daoists, you have come together; what is your purpose?" The Sect Master's voice is not loud, yet it reverberates like a great bell throughout the hall, shaking the swirling spiritual mist inside.

Seeing the scene, the Medicine King Pavilion Master did not hesitate to step forward; the jade tablet in his hand suddenly emitted a crisp "Snap!" and unfurled as if a blossom were blooming. He shouted loudly, "May I ask, Sect Master, your faction's Lin Qingli, under the name of the Demon‑Eradication Office, has been indiscriminately capturing disciples of various sects—does this reflect the will of the Golden Gate Sect?"

As the Medicine King Pavilion Master's words fell, the images projected by the jade tablet appeared before everyone. In the scene, Lin Qingli leads a group to seal a branch of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion; several Heavenly Sword Pavilion disciples are tightly bound by thick chains, their foreheads marked with "Demon‑Aura Detection Talismans," clearly being treated as demonic beings.

The Golden Gate Sect Master watches this, his brows slightly furrowing, his fingertips lightly tapping the platform, producing a crisp sound. At that moment, the platform suddenly ripples with water, the waves coalescing into a water mirror that clearly shows Lin Qingli interrogating the prisoner.

The Golden Gate Sect Master gazes at Lin Qingli in the water mirror and says gravely, "Qingli, that child…"

Yet before he can finish, the Lin Qingli on the other side of the mirror lets out a cold laugh, cutting him off: "Master, since when have you begun to concern yourself with the affairs of the Demon‑Eradication Office?"

Those words thundered through the hall like a bolt of lightning, turning the faces of all the Elders an instant of extreme displeasure!

"Rebel disciple!" The Golden Gate Sect Master's hair flew up in fury as he slammed the table, causing the tea cups on it to jump. His voice echoed through the hall, laden with boundless wrath.

Simultaneously, nine illusory chain shadows shot from the platform like nine snarling poisonous snakes, lunging at Lin Qingli. These chains are the Golden Gate Sect Master's unique treasure, immensely powerful, beyond the resistance of ordinary cultivators.

However, when the chains struck the Demon‑Eradication Office token around Lin Qingli's neck, they emitted a crisp crack, like a shattered mirror, and the token's four ancient characters "Heaven‑Patrolling on Behalf of the Heavens" ignited like flames, blazing brightly and reflecting all of the Golden Gate Sect Master's power back at him!

Lin Qingli's mouth twitched upward, revealing a faint smile. She gently brushed the token, a hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes: "Master, you're old."

Though her voice was soft, it struck the Golden Gate Sect Master's heart like a heavy hammer, turning his complexion pale and green in rapid succession, clearly angered beyond measure.

Lin Qingli was unfazed; she suddenly flung a golden scroll. The scroll unfurled in mid‑air as if alive, revealing the inspection officer's handwritten decree:

"Anyone who hinders the Demon‑Eradication Office's case handling shall be regarded as a demon‑clan traitor."

Those words cut like a sword into the Sect Master's eyes. He widened his eyes, unable to believe what he saw, and for a moment could not utter a word.

"Excellent! Very good!" The Golden Gate Sect Master finally regained his senses, his anger turning to a bitter laugh that echoed through the hall, sending chills down everyone's spines.

Suddenly, a golden seal flew from his sleeve. The seal spun rapidly in the air, the pixiu on its knot vivid as if about to come alive. The inscription "Golden Gate Subdues Mountains" was the founding master's personal title, containing boundless power.

"In that case, I shall today revoke your rebel disciple's sect registration!" the Golden Gate Sect Master snarled, his voice filled with resolve and fury.

As the Great Seal hovered above, the Transcendent Jade representing the Golden Gate Sect disciples at Lin Qingli's waist shattered in response.