It wasn't just Jie Shanxian who was stunned — the Master of the Ling Clan and the others were equally shocked.
Blocking the power of the Ancestral Decree was tantamount to defying the ancestors' orders, an act of supreme disrespect.
Moreover, under normal circumstances, this shouldn't even have been possible.
Yet Jie Tianran had truly accomplished it.
"Since I have taken the seat of Mansion Master, I will not tolerate anyone interfering in the Sacred Mansion's affairs."
Jie Tianran spoke, giving his reason for blocking the Ancestral Decree's power. Then he continued: "Lord Shanxian, you had already left. Why bother coming back?"
"If you've come back, it means you still consider yourself a member of the Sacred Mansion. And if you're a member, how dare you defy my orders and side with outsiders?"
"Could it be that you intend to betray the Mansion?"
"Betraying the Mansion is a capital offense," Jie Tianran said.
"Betraying the Mansion? What a grave accusation."
"You've been unjust in your dealings, using personal bias to control the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion, and now you've gone so far as to defy the ancestral teachings and sever the Ancestral Decree's power."
"You claim to act for the Sacred Mansion's sake, but everything you do is driven by selfish motives. You are nothing but a cancer upon the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion!" Jie Shanxian cursed in fury.
"Insulting the Mansion Master — that only adds to your crimes," Jie Tianran said calmly.
"Jie Tianran, do you really think that by blocking the Ancestral Decree's power, I can't touch you? Do you actually believe you hold absolute control over the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion?"
"I, Jie Shanxian, earned the Ancestral Decree through more than just seniority."
"Even without the Ancestral Decree, today I will purge you — this cancer — from the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion!"
Jie Shanxian put away the Ancestral Decree. Then her robes billowed as a tremendous barrier force erupted forth, filling the entire area.
The Master of the Ling Clan and the others immediately turned pale — that aura far surpassed their own.
A Third Rank Heavenly Dragon Spirit World Master!
This was Jie Shanxian's previous cultivation level, and she had now fully recovered.
But beyond that, she possessed the fighting ability to defy battle against a rank above, meaning her true combat power reached the Fourth Rank.
Yet when this colossal barrier force surged toward Jie Tianran, not a trace of unease flickered in his eyes. Instead, he spoke: "Not only did you side with outsiders and insult the Mansion Master — now you've even laid hands on the Mansion Master. With crime upon crime, the death sentence is already sealed."
Jie Shanxian wasted no more words. Her hand seals shifted, and the vast barrier force transformed into several enormous dragons that lunged toward Jie Tianran.
Facing such an assault, the corner of Jie Tianran's mouth curved into a smile.
……
Rumble— Above the clouds, the palace trembled violently.
Even from outside, one could feel a powerful force seeping through.
But the commotion didn't last long before the shaking palace came to a stop.
Inside, the air was suffused with dazzling barrier energy.
However, the clash had already ended.
Jie Tianran was completely unharmed.
Jie Shanxian lay on the ground, drenched in blood.
Scattered around her were several weapons and treasures radiating an ancient aura.
Those weapons and treasures were now sealed beneath a layer of barrier power — a barrier meant to protect them.
But those were Jie Shanxian's treasures, and yet the barrier protecting them came from Jie Tianran.
Jie Tianran walked up to Jie Shanxian and stomped down on her leg. A sharp crack rang out as her leg was snapped clean in two.
But Jie Shanxian did not cry out in pain. Her eyes were filled with nothing but fury and despair.
Fury, because she couldn't defeat the man before her.
Despair, because the Seven Realms Sacred Mansion now fell under such a person's control — and sooner or later, it would meet its end.