"The will of the people has spoken."
"It must be obeyed."
"Fellow Daoists, I hereby declare that Jie Nianqing received the Sacred Palace's holy grace, yet betrayed the Sacred Palace. Today, she is sentenced to death."
"Everything on her body was bestowed by the Sacred Palace and must be reclaimed."
"Today, I shall deploy a great punishment formation using supreme treasures."
"Stripping Jie Nianqing of her bloodline."
"Distributing the power she obtained from the Divine Heritage Ground to our Sacred Palace's members."
As Jie Tianran spoke, over a hundred talisman papers materialized in his palm.
Each talisman paper contained incredibly ancient and formidable power.
But what emerged was not merely talisman papers—a massive compass appeared as well.
The compass flew from his hand, transforming from a solid object into a radiant formation array that descended into the plaza, forming an enormously vast formation.
The formation eyes alone numbered in the tens of millions.
This was a massive formation capable of accommodating over a hundred million people, all activating it simultaneously.
At the same time, the over a hundred talisman papers in Jie Tianran's hand merged into the formation.
At this moment, everyone could feel what kind of great formation this was.
It was forcibly refining Chu Feng's grandmother—intending to refine her to death.
Ling Xiao felt immense terror in his heart.
Such methods.
This was no longer simple punishment. These were clearly the methods of the demonic path.
"Palace—"
Ling Xiao was about to speak up to dissuade them.
But a large hand seized his shoulder, forcefully pressing him back down just as he was about to stand.
It was Ling Xiao's grandfather.
At the same time, his grandfather's secret voice transmission echoed in Ling Xiao's ears.
"At this point, if you interfere any further, our entire family will be unable to leave either."
"Xiao'er, remember—when you act, know your limits."
The moment Ling Xiao's grandfather's hand grabbed him, his power was sealed. Even if he wanted to speak up now, he couldn't.
"Fellow Daoists, whoever activates this formation may share in the power of the Divine Heritage Ground."
"Slots are limited. First come, first served."
As Jie Tianran spoke, he rose into the air and departed from the great formation.
But as he left, countless figures descended into the plaza.
In the span of a single breath, the vast formation capable of holding over a hundred million people was filled to capacity.
Those outside the plaza had barely reacted before they had already lost their chance.
Because among those standing at the formation eyes, not a single one was of ordinary status.
They were almost entirely the strongest individuals on this plaza.
After all, competing in speed meant competing in strength. Without powerful cultivation, they couldn't have occupied their positions so quickly.
But if one might argue that those who could only stand outside the plaza were of humble status with little connection to Chu Feng's grandmother— Then those standing within the formation—nearly every one of their families had once received kindness or assistance from Chu Feng's grandmother.
Yet before this, not only had they wanted Chu Feng's grandmother dead— Now, to obtain the power of the Divine Heritage Ground, they were personally activating the formation to refine her.
"How can the human heart be this ugly?"
Ling Xiao gritted his teeth.
"The martial cultivation world has always been a world where the strong devour the weak and strength reigns supreme."
"In the end, most people are nothing more than beasts cloaked in the garb of hypocrisy, disguising themselves behind false virtue."
"How many people truly value bonds and loyalty?"
"It's all just pretended kindness, pretended devotion, pretended gratitude."
"When profit is placed before them and cannot be missed, they reveal their true selves."
"At this very moment, this is their true selves."
Ling Xiao's grandfather saw what he was thinking and secretly transmitted to him.
Hummm— And at that moment, the Refinement Formation blazed with brilliant light. The crowd, impatient, had already begun activating it.
At this instant, cracks appeared across Chu Feng's grandmother's body. Blood seeped from the cracks, transforming into a blood mist that merged into the formation, distributed among the formation eyes, and was absorbed by the crowd.
Heaven only knew what kind of pain she was enduring.
But her face showed not a trace of pain—instead, it wore a cold smile.
Suddenly, a blood-red talisman mark appeared on Chu Feng grandmother's right arm.
BOOM— In the next instant, the mark transformed into a blood-red, magnificent formation that spread outward with her at its center.
It covered the entire Refinement Formation, then merged seamlessly with it.
AAAGH— Immediately, screams pierced the air.
Within the Refinement Formation, the over a hundred million Spirit World Masters were all writhing in excruciating pain.