In an instant, as if death itself had been proclaimed, earth-shaking screams erupted outside South Heaven Gate.
Countless Daoists, and even Celestial Soldiers and Generals, frantically shoved their way toward the South Heaven Gate. When they found it impossible to squeeze through, some soared into the air, trying to flee to the mortal realm—only to be yanked back by an invisible force, without exception.
Monkey raised his head and looked at General Lee, a mocking smile on his face: "I warned you—open the gate for me, or die. You refused to believe, and now you see. You brought this on yourselves; even I can't save you now."
"You!" General Lee gritted his teeth, panic showing in his eyes as he swept his gaze around and raised his hand to shout: "Listen to me, everyone! If we can't escape, then let's unite—"
Before he could finish, the heads of two Celestial Generals standing beside General Lee exploded into bloody fragments.
As the two armored bodies crashed heavily to the ground, everyone stared in terror—including General Lee and Master Taiyi.
The clamor outside South Heaven Gate was instantly silenced; everyone just stared in stunned disbelief.
"Unite for what?" Monkey lazily leaned on the Golden Staff, licking his fangs.
From beginning to end, he hadn’t moved a single step.
Raising his eyebrows, he spoke softly: "General Lee, do you really think I can't kill all of you in an instant? I simply... don't want you to die so quickly. Want to die? Not so easy. We'll take our time. I want you to savor the feeling of fear."
With that, he began to laugh slowly, clutching his stomach, cackling in madness.
Suddenly, a Daoist in the crowd opened his mouth wide to scream, and in the next instant, his entire body exploded into a mass of blood and gore before everyone’s eyes.
Immediately, a chill pierced straight to the heart.
General Lee’s face was turning faintly purple, Master Taiyi could only give a helpless, bitter smile, while the Celestial Soldiers and Generals trembled and the Daoists wailed in despair.
There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. All that remained was the South Heaven Gate—and soon, he would pass through it and turn the inner gate into a deadly trap.
Amid wild laughter and desperate cries, Daoists, Celestial Soldiers, and even Celestial Generals were blasted one after another into drifting clouds of blood.
......
Inside the Grand Celestial Hall, the Jade Emperor sat dazed on his dragon throne, face pale as ash, unable to utter a single word.
The assembled immortals at the foot of the steps were all frozen in shock.
"What... what kind of sorcery is this?"