This voice seemed imbued with a certain power.
It struck instant awe into every extraterrestrial being present.
Their violent aura was suppressed in an instant, unable to stir the slightest wave.
And the Awakened, who had originally steeled themselves for death, shuddered all over upon hearing this voice. They turned their heads, their faces alight with disbelief.
"It's... it's King Lu's voice!"
"That's right, it's King Lu! Is he... coming out?"
Cries erupted in shock and disbelief, and then they witnessed the scene that followed.
Clad in simple, unadorned robes, a slender figure stepped forward through the sky above Mount Tai Trial Academy, one deliberate stride at a time.
With a calm expression, hands clasped behind his back, he appeared before everyone's eyes, radiating supreme confidence.
At last, he stood directly opposite the extraterrestrial beings.
Everyone was stunned.
Speechless.
For from Lu Yuan, they sensed a terrifying aura as vast and deep as an abyss and an ocean.
There was no trace of the rumors claiming he was gravely injured and on the brink of death.
Everything was completely different from what they had been led to believe.
No one could remain calm.
Only Elder Ji and the other high-ranking officials wore faint smiles.
This had all been planned in advance; now, the truth was merely being revealed.
Looking at the utterly shocked faces of the extraterrestrial beings, the officials felt an overwhelming surge of satisfaction.
Where was their bluster now?
Why had it vanished?
Within the Trial Academy.
Jiang Ningxian sat upright, looking at the chessboard before her, and couldn't help but purse her lips. "Walking away when we're only halfway through... Whatever, let's call it a draw this time."
With that, a satisfied smile touched her lips, and she turned and walked away with her hands behind her back.
Yet on the board, the white stones Lu Yuan played had already gained an overwhelming advantage.
His victory was only a matter of time.
As for the impending battle outside, Jiang Ningxian had no interest in watching, for the outcome had already been decided.
On the other side.
Outside Mount Tai.
"Y-You... how can you be fine?"
"Could the rumors really have been just rumors?"
"Why? How can this be? Why isn't he hurt?"
The extraterrestrial beings and the humans who had defected to their side began to tremble upon seeing who had arrived.
An injured Lu Yuan was a toothless tiger, nothing to fear—but a Lu Yuan at his peak...
That was why their reaction was so extreme, as though they had seen a ghost. Some even looked directly toward the official leadership.
To this, Elder Ji merely remarked airily, "I told you long ago that King Lu was not injured and had taken another step forward. You simply refused to believe it from start to finish."
Indeed.
The government had never confirmed the rumors.
It was just wishful thinking on their part all along.
"To think that under the might of the Ranked Immortals, you could actually emerge unscathed."
Astonishment filled the eyes of the Yin Sparrow Clan Void Saint; clearly, he had never anticipated this.
Had he known beforehand, he never would have descended so rashly, aware of how dangerous the man before him was.
"Even if he is unharmed, so what? He is merely in the Sovereign King Realm."
"Our side boasts three Void Saints who are not suppressed by heaven and earth, along with the experts of every clan. Could we possibly fear one mere Lu Yuan?" an elder of the Zhou family spoke up with a sinister look in his eyes.
The truth was indeed unexpected, but that was all. For this plan, they had prepared extensively.
Lu Yuan was only in the Sovereign King Realm, while they now had three Void Saints—and unlike before, these saints were at their full power.
"That's right! Why fear this man? We can simply join forces."
"If everyone swarms him at once, he won't stand a chance. It's just a fight to the death!"
"Must we be suppressed by this man forever? I've had enough of living like this! Today, we must strike him down!"
The Zhou elder's words snapped the extraterrestrial beings out of their stupor. Their side still possessed the Saint Realm—and unlike the Celestial Clan's Lei You before, these were Void Saints at their absolute peak.
Add to that so many Sovereign Kings, could they really fail to kill Lu Yuan?
Impossible.
At once, they regained their composure, quelling the fear in their hearts.
Yet Lu Yuan paid them no heed. Looking toward the five elders of the Zhou family, he said softly, "After today, I will destroy the Zhou family. I shall begin with you."
Drawing out the Zhou family had been part of this plan. Zhou Yunqiong had been spared by a Death Immunity Talisman before; this time, he would send her to the afterlife for good.
"Young man, do not be overly confident," the Yin Sparrow Clan Void Saint said. "You had better consider how you will survive today's calamity first."
With that, he beat his wings, and boundless black flames erupted, blanketing the surrounding sky and plunging the earth into darkness.
A terrifying aura surged from his body.
Beside him, the two Void Saints of the Nether Bull Clan did not hold back either.
Things having reached this point, further words were useless; they could only strike with everything they had.
The five elders of the Zhou family also stepped forward in unison, unleashing the secret treasures in their hands.
All of them were Saint weapons, each possessing immense power, shimmering with dazzling brilliance.
The extraterrestrial beings linked their auras into a single unbroken front.
Battle was on the verge of erupting—especially this time, led by three Void Saints.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan wasted no words.
He simply took a single step forward, and the aura within him bloomed without restraint.
Previously, concealed by both the Innate Qi Robe and his own deliberate suppression, it had gone unnoticed.
Now, however, Lu Yuan had no intention of hiding it.
Rumble!
The moment he revealed his aura, the firmament quaked, and streaks of lightning tore across the sky.
A majestic aura filled every corner of Mount Tai.
Lu Yuan's figure had not changed, yet at this moment, he seemed powerful beyond measure.
In a mere instant, he suppressed the three Void Saints and every single extraterrestrial being before him.
The Saint Realm!
The three Void Saints were shaken to their core.
Had this man truly entered the Saint Realm?
Instant dread welled up within their hearts.
His combat prowess was already a terrifying legend; now that he stood in the same realm as them...
Flee!
That was the first thought that crossed the minds of the three Void Saints.
Yet it was too late.
Lu Yuan raised his hand.
The Jade Emperor Orthodox Heavenly Thunder Art was invoked.
Across the firmament, rolling purple heavenly thunder gathered, as though Heaven itself had been provoked to fury.
Standing beneath it, bathed in a sea of lightning, he faced the enemies before him and said softly, "Go."
Rumble!
Violent thunder peals echoed in everyone's ears.
The extraterrestrial beings felt their very souls shudder.
Was this...
a punishment from Heaven?
Such a thought surfaced in their minds.
And in the next instant, three lightning dragons, each ten thousand zhang long, emerged from the sky. Descending from the void, draining heaven and earth of color, they crashed down toward the three Void Saints.
Upon seeing this, the three Void Saints found their auras completely smothered.
Even so, they poured every ounce of their power into their strongest defensive arts.
For they knew that if struck, they would die!
Yet it was truly too late.
Pffft!
The next moment, as the purple lightning dragons descended upon the world, the three Void Saints were completely swallowed up. The resplendent brilliance was so blinding that no one could keep their eyes open.
And Lu Yuan, as though transformed into a supreme war immortal, pronounced their death!
Chapter 221