On the third morning, when the sky above Golden Rooster Ridge shifted from pale gray to the faint silver of dawn, the entire mountain seemed to sink for a breath. The wind paused as if pressed down by an unseen force, and all birds in the forest fell silent in the same instant. Then the sky split open with a sharp white line. That line twisted in the air until it formed the shape of a sword, its edges filled with a cold shine.
The descending sword light felt as if it could cut the world into two halves.
A colossal sword shadow, as tall as a cliff face, crashed from the heavens toward the summit. Its intent locked firmly on Kong Xuan, and even the layer of snow retreated piece by piece under the pressure.
"Demon clan member Kong Xuan, step out and receive judgment."
Twelve disciples of the Chan Sect descended on their swords. They wore white robes embroidered with jade patterns that glimmered faintly, giving them the air of twelve judges stepping out of the clouds.
They formed a sword formation. Twelve sword tips pointed to the sky, and their combined sword light bloomed into a jade lotus. At the center of the lotus hovered a demon disc mirror, its surface cold and still as if it could reveal all causes and consequences under heaven.
The little fox and little rabbit stood beside Kong Xuan the moment the sword light fell.
Kong Xuan showed no concern. He stretched lightly. His tail feathers trembled, and a curve of five colored divine light flowed from his palm.
A crisp sound echoed across the sky.
The demon disc mirror trembled, then split down the middle. The broken pieces fell into the snow. The faces of the twelve immortals froze.
"Judge me?" Kong Xuan raised a brow, his tail feathers half spread. "Ask my feathers first."
He lifted his hand. At that moment the five colored radiance poured back into the ridge like returning sunset, bathing the entire Golden Rooster Ridge in faint colors.
The little fox shot upward on surging karmic flames. The pagoda above his head rang with a deep hum. His fire changed from red to gold, then from gold to a clear green, like an inverted volcano blazing in the clouds.
"You must also ask my fire." His voice rang with force.
The pagoda pulsed, and waves of fire swept across half the ridge. Snow turned instantly into white mist. Within that mist, fire flickered like countless fierce eyes.
The little rabbit raised her small staff. Her spirit arts unfurled outward, and white light burst into nine spiritual rabbits darting into the sky. The nine white shadows flared like rushing meteors weaving through the sword array.
"Protect Brother Kong." She called softly, ears pressed flat.
The sword formation activated.
Twelve flying swords plunged downward like silver dragons. Their cold intent felt sharp enough to freeze blood. The jade lotus spun, scattering sword light that ripped open the air, each flash severing the mountain wind into fragments.
Fire collided with sword light, splitting the ridge like thunder.
The little fox's green gold flames surged again and again. Waves of fire roared upward, melting several lines of sword light into molten silver. A blade cut across his cheek, yet he charged out of the flames with a wild joy.
The little rabbit's spiritual rabbits also reached their limit. Pressed by sword light, they shattered and reformed repeatedly. White fur scattered like backward falling snow.
"Again." She forced out, spirit energy bursting from her fingers. The rabbits released a faint cry, then accelerated once more.
Kong Xuan had not moved. The storm of wind and snow parted around him. Every sweep of his five colored light dimmed several swords at once, as if wiping away their existence.
But the twelve immortals were far from weak. Their jade lotus spun faster and faster, and their sword intent turned from white to clear. Even the space around them wavered faintly.
A blade grazed the little fox's shoulder. The little rabbit's sleeve tore apart. Drops of blood dotted the falling snow.
Kong Xuan's gaze darkened.
His tail feathers spread fully.
The motion was gentle like opening a fan, yet the sky tightened as if pulled taut.
A single blue feather loosened and drifted free. It spun once, changing into a ribbon of blue light.
The blue light drew a circle around the sword formation.
Once the circle closed, everything fell silent.
Inside the circle, every sword froze. Tip, hilt, spine, markings, and light. All went dark in the same instant.
No explosion. No resistance.
The swords simply dropped.
Their fall chimed on the snow like tiny ice beads striking stone.
The twelve immortals paled at the same moment.
Kong Xuan gave a quiet laugh. "My feather is not for your judgment."
He lifted his hand and reclaimed the blue light.
"Let us go."
He grasped the little fox and the little rabbit by the shoulders. Five colored radiance flared and wrapped all three of them.
In the next breath, they vanished like a streak of rainbow light.
Only the ruined sword formation and drifting snow remained.
As the jade lotus lost its power, the snow mist cleared. Guang Chengzi stood among the broken swords, his face dark as stone.
He watched the fading trace of the blue light, then said quietly,
"We withdraw."
A faint tremor pulsed at the center of his brow. He sensed that a deeper storm had begun to break open.
Above Golden Rooster Ridge, the crack left by the sword light had not fully closed.