Not far around Mount Tai, both the Awakened and government officials witnessed it.
On the distant horizon, two more masses of black energy emerged.
They dyed the clouds pitch-black, exuding an immense aura as if darkness itself were descending.
Furthermore, various instruments detected powerful life signs that could be identified as the Nether Bull Clan.
Among all extraterrestrial beings that had descended, this clan had been the most active. The others seemed to conceal themselves after reaching the ground.
Especially now.
Three Nether Bulls from the Thunderstrike Star Domain had appeared.
Previously, they had acted alone, but now they had chosen to unite.
"Three? Three beings evolved to the fifth stage, the Sovereign King Realm? How are we supposed to fight this?"
"It seems Mount Tai is just too special. That's why they attach so much importance to it, arriving in succession to seize this famous mountain."
"The Peacock King and the Nine-Tailed Fox King couldn't even match one of them. Now three have arrived—can King Lu truly handle them?"
People watched with deep anxiety. Even though they knew Lu Yuan possessed extraordinary combat power, he was still an entire realm lower, after all. Especially now, facing three entities of that same level.
Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and the others also frowned upon seeing this. Although they had mobilized nuclear weapons, there was no guarantee they could help Lu Yuan in this situation.
"Perhaps we should persuade King Lu to lie low for now."
This was Elder Yun's suggestion. Previously, he had possessed an aggressive temper, handling everything with decisive speed. But this time was different; the situation had far exceeded expectations.
His thought was simple: abandoning Mount Tai wasn't out of the question, but under no circumstances could they let King Lu take such risks.
What if something happened to him?
"Once King Lu makes up his mind, nothing will likely change it. All we can do is ensure he has no worries behind him," Elder Ji shook his head, knowing Lu Yuan wouldn't shrink back just because circumstances had changed; that wasn't his nature.
He and the others resolved that if an unexpected crisis arose and nuclear weapons failed, they would personally enter the fray.
Even if doing so was suicide, they couldn't cower behind King Lu forever.
Meanwhile, the outside world had already fallen into panic over the appearance of the three Nether Bulls.
Even Awakened who possessed absolute confidence in Lu Yuan's strength grew silent.
If it were only one, it might still be manageable. But now... Mount Tai was unlikely to hold.
Yet Lu Yuan was unaware of all this.
At that moment, inside a room in the Trial Academy, he also sensed the auras released by the Nether Bull Clan. They were indeed formidable.
In the next instant, Lu Yuan opened his eyes, brilliant gleams welling up in his gaze before receding.
"Having thoroughly familiarized myself with all the power of the Golden Body Realm, the next step is to see just how much my combat strength has grown." With an expectant look, he stood up and walked out of the room.
Nearby, Jiang Ningxian had already entered closed-door cultivation, not appearing for days, presumably undergoing some transformation.
Thus, Lu Yuan paid her no further attention and instead looked up toward the sky.
Three distinct auras were surging toward Jade Emperor Peak.
They had already entered the territory of Mount Tai.
With hundred-meter-tall bodies, their power joined as one, darkening nearly half the sky in a terrifying display of might.
"King Lu..." Zhu Qingyu walked over, deep worry in her eyes as she took in the sight.
It was fair to say that even someone who previously held absolute faith in Lu Yuan's strength was beginning to feel anxious.
These were extraterrestrial beings, after all.
"Tell Elder Ji and Elder Yun that this won't take long," Lu Yuan smiled, his tone remarkably calm.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he stepped into the air, vanishing from the spot at blistering speed.
His destination was none other than the summit of Mount Tai.
Atop Jade Emperor Peak.
The livestream had already begun.
The three Nether Bulls of the Sovereign King Realm descended, each colossal in size and radiating an intimidating presence.
Opposite them stood the three Beast Kings led by the Spirit Monkey, their gazes sharp as they maintained their combat stances and released their own auras.
However, a full evolutionary stage separated the two sides, leaving the Beast Kings firmly suppressed despite their extraordinary bloodlines.
"The three of you aren't bad. Surrender Mount Tai and become our servants," the leading Nether Bull spoke, its voice buzzing heavily.
It pronounced the two words "Mount Tai" with pinpoint accuracy.
Evidently, they might have begun studying Earth even before descending.
Now, having arrived atop Jade Emperor Peak, it wasted no words, demanding the three Beast Kings' immediate submission.
For no other reason than that might was revered above all.
"You are delusional," the Peacock King snapped angrily. "Mount Tai originally belongs to the living beings of this world. Why should it be surrendered to you?"
"You want our submission? Give us time, and who can say who will be stronger in the future?"
As a Beast King, its pride was immense; how could it tolerate being ordered about by extraterrestrial beings? Were it not for its wounds having not yet fully healed, it would have fought even knowing it was outmatched.
"There is nothing more to say. Surrender is impossible. Battle is the only answer," the Spirit Monkey growled fiercely, its golden fur bristling. The iron rod in its hand gleamed with light, itching for combat.
Though the Nine-Tailed Fox King beside them remained silent, its resolute gaze spoke volumes.
Just as had been said, all famous mountains and great rivers belonged to the creatures of this world; the invaders were merely outsiders.
"The Milky Way Star Sector has only just been unsealed, barely obtaining transcendent power, yet you dare act so insolent," the lead Nether Bull rumbled. Black energy began to pour from its body, surging in terrifying waves.
The Milky Way Star Sector was the name extraterrestrial clans used for this starfield.
"Since it wants to fight, then fight we shall."
"Mere lower lifeforms. There's no need to waste more words on them," another Nether Bull chimed in, referring to the three Beast Kings as lower lifeforms.
Though not humanoid, they acted arrogantly superior, like higher-tier beings looking down on low-tier natives.
After it finished speaking, the three Sovereign King Realm Nether Bulls stepped forward in unison, pooling their black energy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, Jade Emperor Peak trembled.
They were indeed immensely powerful. Before even launching an attack, the sheer force erupting from within them was overwhelmingly potent.
The Sovereign King Realm, on Earth, was a level where an entity could break through the atmosphere and temporarily survive in outer space.
A formidable aura surged forth as the black energy converged into a torrent.
The three Nether Bulls intended to crush the three Beast Kings through sheer pressure alone.
Rumble!
Terrifying power swept out, forming a tempest that engulfed Jade Emperor Peak.
Aside from the Spirit Monkey, the Beast Kings were severely injured and had not fully recovered. They began to fall back, struggling to resist.
All of this unfolded before the livestream, leaving citizens and Awakened alike stricken with horror.
When extraterrestrial beings truly made their move, they were even more terrifying than imagined.
If ordinary humans stood there, they wouldn't last a second—the pressure alone could crush them to death.
Nevertheless, Beast Kings were Beast Kings. With bloodlines as potent as the Spirit Monkey's, they took two steps back and immediately surged forward again.
"Courting death!" seeing this, one of the Nether Bulls roared, extending a claw that resembled a celestial blade to launch an attack.
The Peacock King was also prepared; without hesitation, it unleashed the energy within its body, resolved to make these extraterrestrial beings pay even if it meant dying in the attempt.
Boom!
Yet precisely at this moment, another tremendous force surged forth.
Like a volcano, it erupted outward.
Golden vital energy manifested like rays of divine light, piercing through the black energy blanketing Jade Emperor Peak.
Simultaneously, Lu Yuan drifted down through the sky, a fierce aura raging around him.
In just an instant, he repelled all the energy released by the three Sovereign Kings.
Facing the Nether Bull's lunging claw, Lu Yuan uttered not a single word.
He simply threw a punch.
Thud!
Vital energy reverberated, rippling outward in waves that shattered the clouds across the sky.
Crack!
Opposite him, the attacking Nether Bull's claw snapped clean in two, and fractures tore up its limb as a massive pool of black blood burst forth.
All of this happened in a flash—in less than a single breath, the tables had completely turned.
"King Lu." Seeing him, the Spirit Monkey and the other two Beast Kings couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Watching the Nether Bull stumble backward with its fractured limb, they were filled with astonishment.
He was likely even stronger than they had imagined!
"King Lu has arrived!"
"He repelled an extraterrestrial being with a single strike?!"
"As expected, King Lu is still King Lu!"
Watching the livestream, viewers instantly erupted in excitement.
Atop Jade Emperor Peak, Lu Yuan was in no hurry to strike again. He turned toward the three Beast Kings with a smile. "Not bad, I arrived just in time. You three rest for now."
Hearing this, the Spirit Monkey grew restless and spoke up, "Weren't humans and mutated beasts supposed to unite together?"
It believed in Lu Yuan's strength, but felt having them assist would make things much easier.
"No need. To deal with them, I alone am enough."
Lu Yuan shook his head and said no more.
He turned his gaze toward the three Nether Bulls.
Strands of brilliance shifted in his eyes as power gathered within his body.
"What manner of being are you? Are you a creature of this world?"
The lead Nether Bull could sense a terrifying and immense energy residing within Lu Yuan.
Yet by all accounts, he appeared to be merely in the fourth stage, the Golden Body Realm.
This was bizarre. By rights, the Milky Way Star Sector should not possess such an entity at this stage, leading it to suspect he hailed from another world.
"The one who will kill you."
Lu Yuan couldn't be bothered to waste words. Stepping forward, he stopped suppressing the power within his body.
Boom!
In an instant, his golden vital energy surged, transforming into an ocean that engulfed a radius of several hundred meters.
The beating of his internal organs was no longer merely like war drums, but resonated like roaring thunder.
At this moment, Lu Yuan looked extraordinary to the utmost.
Even facing three gigantic extraterrestrial beings, his aura was not the slightest bit inferior.
The ocean formed from his vital energy suppressed them entirely, and his aura was still climbing.
"Not good! There is something bizarre about this man—attack together!"
The lead Nether Bull was thoroughly shocked.
Even it felt an intense sense of danger.
Now was no time to delve into his origins; what mattered was how to resolve the immediate crisis.
Instantly, terrifying power erupted from their bodies as black energy surged into a torrent.
Opposite them, Lu Yuan's golden vital energy blazed brighter and brighter as he took a slow step forward, suspended in midair.
Down below, Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and the others stood outside the Trial Academy.
They all looked up toward Jade Emperor Peak, their faces filled with shock.
High in the sky, golden vital energy clashed against black energy.
Accompanied by a colossal roar like the detonation of a nuclear warhead, their might poured forth, shaking the mountains and forests. An unprecedented battle since the dawn of the New Era was about to begin.
Chapter 129