Only three seconds? He's already the Lord of All Realms, so it doesn't matter.

The morning bell tolled three times, but the mist inside the Golden Phoenix Temple had not yet dissipated.

The altar has been set up in the square in front of the tower.

The stone platform, which was nine zhang in diameter, was paved with green jade and its surface was engraved with dense golden runes. The runes were connected end to end and finally converged in a groove in the center. On the groove, there was a phoenix with outstretched wings carved from dead wood.

It was still early, and the cultivators who had come to witness the ceremony were still having their meals in the dining hall.

Of course, there are also those who skip breakfast and arrive early, such as Mo Chenling.

Although Ye Xuan was in the dining hall, he was constantly aware of all the changes within the Taoist temple, and naturally noticed Mo Chenling, who had not eaten breakfast.

"So arrogant?"

At the foot of the tower, he was the only one who had arrived early, and his intentions were obvious to everyone. It seemed that this disciple from the Valley of Lunar Eclipse was full of confidence.

Ignoring Mo Chenling, Ye Xuan focused on eating his breakfast.

It's still early, and no one dares to make any rash moves. The Taoist temple is very peaceful.

"..."

As noon approached, more than thirty people were scattered around the edge of the square, each occupying their own spot.

Zhen Yu of the Green Mountain Sect and two fellow disciples stood on the east side. The three of them glanced at the Qita Tower from time to time, their expressions solemn. It seemed that they had tried for two days but had not managed to recruit a single ally.

The others also looked uneasy. Ye Xuan arrived a little later and chose a secluded stone railing on the north side, where he stood leaning against it.

The disciples of Jinluan Temple, including Zhu Xiao, stood around the altar early in the morning, each holding a jade plate filled with various offerings.

Among them were spiritual fruits, herbs, jade dew... and several rare crystals, all orange-red in color.

But the boys looked haggard, with bloodshot eyes, clearly having spent another sleepless night.

As everyone waited calmly, the appointed time quietly arrived.

Just as noon arrived, the golden phantom at the top of the tower suddenly trembled.

The nearly extinguished halo suddenly lit up, though still dim, it was much brighter than the previous two days, somewhat like a final burst of light before the sun went out.

The illusory figure's circling trajectory was no longer sluggish; its wings spread out, and a clear, melodious cry faintly emanated from the tower, echoing through the valley.

The people in the square looked solemn, all gazing towards the top of the tower.

"They're here."

Ye Xuan whispered, and saw four figures slowly flying towards him from the direction of the back mountain of Qita.

The one in the lead was an elderly man with white hair, dressed in a plain white Taoist robe with golden phoenix patterns embroidered on the hem, holding a jade whisk in his hand. He was none other than the abbot of the Golden Phoenix Temple who had been in seclusion for three days.

Behind the abbot, three elders followed closely, all dressed in the same style of Taoist robes, their expressions solemn.

The four walked to the altar, where the abbot of Jinluan Temple stopped and scanned the entire area with his gaze.

His gaze lingered on each spectator for a moment before finally settling on the token at Ye Xuan's waist, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar to participate in our temple's centennial celebration. On behalf of the entire Jinluan Temple, I would like to express my sincere gratitude."

The abbot's voice was not loud, yet it could be clearly heard by everyone.

Ye Xuan originally wanted to investigate its cultivation level, but found that an extremely strong restriction was rising in front of the entire tower, so he gave up the idea.

As the abbot of Jinluan Temple slowly ascended the altar, the three elders stood in a triangle, while disciples such as Zhuxiao presented the jade plates in their hands one by one.

"Before the ceremony begins, I would like to say a few words to you all."

He stood in the center of the altar, his gaze sweeping over the crowd once more. This time, the abbot's eyes held less politeness and more sharpness.

"I know that you have not come here just to witness the ceremony."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the square suddenly froze for a moment.

Zhen Yu subconsciously gripped the magic weapon in her sleeve. Mo Chenling's lips curled up slightly. The rogue cultivator stopped chewing what was in his mouth, and even the one who had been resting with his eyes closed opened them.

"Hmm? I thought that person was born blind."

Ye Xuan remained calm, waiting for the next part to continue...

"The Golden Phoenix Temple has been in decline for eight hundred years, and the divine fire of the Qita Tower has been gradually weakening. This is no secret in the world of immortals."

However, the remains of the ancient Golden Phoenix are the foundation upon which our temple was established. If the divine fire is extinguished, the remains will become ordinary objects, and the Golden Phoenix Temple will exist in name only.

Therefore, the consecration ceremony held every hundred years is simply a way to find a solution.

He paused, his previous words filled with helplessness, then looked at the golden phantom at the top of the tower and continued:

"I think you all came here simply to get a share of the spoils before the divine fire is completely extinguished."

Whether it's the remains themselves, the inheritance within, or at the very least, the hope is to temper oneself through the sacred fire of the ritual and glimpse a sliver of opportunity.

This is a straightforward statement, without any attempt to conceal anything.

Several people in the square had their expressions change slightly, as if their secrets had been exposed, but they dared not retaliate.

The abbot of Jinluan Temple saw it clearly, but suddenly laughed and said something that was hard to understand.

"But today, I must advise you all not to take action."

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

"What does the abbot mean by this? Does the Golden Phoenix Temple intend to hand over the remains?"

A male disciple of the Green Mountain Sect couldn't help but speak up, only to be met with the abbot shaking his head in denial.

No.

"What I mean is that what you all seek and what the Golden Phoenix Temple needs can perhaps be met by each of you, without the need for armed conflict."

He raised his hand and gestured to suppress the whispers in the room.

"It is true that the divine fire of the Golden Phoenix's remains has weakened, and it is also true that it needs pure yang blood as a catalyst to reignite it."

This is not something I've made up. Though the divine bird perished, its spirit remained, and it was still seeking a way to live…

As the abbot of Jinluan Temple spoke, he walked to the luan bird groove in the center of the altar and lightly touched the runes with his fingertips.

"At today's ceremony, I will invoke the last divine power of the remains to manifest the phantom of a golden phoenix."

At that time, anyone who wishes to inherit the Golden Phoenix Legacy can step forward and give it a try.

"As long as it gains the divine bird's approval and helps the remains reignite their flames, you may choose for yourselves; I will absolutely not stop you."

He turned to face the crowd, and after a brief moment of shock, the audience was eager to try.

"However, I am willing to tell you all."

The remains of the Golden Phoenix require the ultimate pure Yang energy; if there is even the slightest deviation, life and death will be lost... This is no joke!

Therefore, in today's consecration ceremony, Jinluan and everyone else have each taken what they needed.

The square fell silent. The suggestion was unexpected by everyone, especially Ye Xuan, who had just entered the Taoist temple and had noticed the abbot.

"They actually sacrificed so much..."

He never expected that this abbot could be so ruthless as to use the remains that had been passed down and worshipped for thousands of years as a trade. Was he really not afraid that there were cultivators with pure yang bodies among the crowd?

But Ye Xuan also remembered what the old man had said last night: "Don't easily trust that abbot."

"Is the Abbot's statement true? After the divine fire of the remains is continued, will the inheritance truly be shared?"

Among the crowd, it was the Green Mountain Sect disciple who spoke first.

"nature.

The Golden Phoenix is ​​an ancient creature, not an immortal being. Its heritage is vast and cannot be fully obtained by one person.

Sharing this part will not harm the temple's foundation, and it will also create good karma with everyone. Why not do it?

Hearing this reasonable explanation, the audience was eager to participate.