After calling out to him several times with no response from Chu Feng, Chu Xuanchangfa moved his body and soared toward the Heavenly Lightning Platform—he intended to forcibly bring Chu Feng back.
Crackling— Wuuwah— However, as soon as Chu Xuanchangfa drew near, the Heavenly Lightning Platform's lightning launched an assault upon him.
Chu Xuanchangfa was blasted away by sheer force.
But Chu Xuanchangfa was not merely knocked back—his entire body was charred, as if it had been scorched by raging flames. He had already sustained grievous injuries.
"Vice Hall Master!!!"
Seeing this scene, the members of the Punishment Hall immediately flew over.
"I'm fine." Chu Xuanchangfa was gritting his teeth in pain, yet his gaze remained locked on Chu Feng.
Rumble— At that moment, the thunder from deep within the sky grew ever more piercing. The condensed Nine-colored Divine Thunder was already stirring restlessly, poised to come crashing down at any moment.
"Chu Xuanchangfa, if you want your Punishment Hall people to be buried with you, then keep standing out there. Otherwise—return to the main city immediately."
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out.
Looking toward its source, it was Supreme Elder Chu Hanpeng.
Chu Hanpeng was no longer deep within the main city. He now stood atop the city wall, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at Chu Xuanchangfa.
At that moment, Chu Xuanchangfa's heart was wracked with conflict and contradiction.
He understood what Chu Hanpeng meant. If he stayed here, the people of his Punishment Hall would stay with him. And when the heavenly lightning came crashing down, it would not just be him and Chu Feng who suffered—it would be the entirety of his Punishment Hall that faced annihilation under that lightning.
"Father."
At that moment, another voice called out—it was Chu Lingxi.
Chu Lingxi had not entered the main city. She stood at the city gates, staring at Chu Xuanchangfa.
"Lingxi, get inside. Now!" Chu Xuanchangfa bellowed.
"No." Chu Lingxi shook her head stubbornly.
"You!!" Chu Xuanchangfa was at his wit's end.
Rumble— At that instant, a deafening roar cascaded down from directly overhead, and the entire heavens and earth trembled with it.
"Damn it."
Seeing this, Chu Xuanchangfa gnashed his teeth in fury. Then, with a sweep of his great sleeve, a streak of golden light shot toward the Heavenly Lightning Platform. The moment it arrived directly above the platform, the golden light burst apart and transformed into a grand formation that shielded the Heavenly Lightning Platform within.
It was a supreme-grade protective treasure.
At the same time he hurled the treasure, Chu Xuanchangfa launched himself skyward, carrying the members of the Punishment Hall with him as he flew toward the Chu Heavenly Clan's main city—scooping up Chu Lingxi at the city gates and bringing her inside as well.
"Activate the formation."