The battle would not be decided anytime soon.
Yu Hong had already realized that Lu Yuan's strength was immense. Even for Yu Heng, a sequence of the Eternal Clan, defeating him would likely require paying a tremendous price. Facing such a situation, an easier alternative came to his mind: threaten Lu Yuan using the other humans. Since Lu Yuan had brought those people along, they were bound to be important to him and could serve as hostages.
Having made up his mind, Yu Hong gave the order without hesitation. "Come with me, and take those people down!" Barking the command to the Spirit Clan cultivators beside him, his sharp gaze locked onto Zhu Qingyu and the others in the distance.
"Understood!" As subordinates of the Eternal Clan, the Spirit Clan obeyed every order without question. Furthermore, because of Ling Que's death, they already bore a grudge against Lu Yuan. If there was a way to slay and eradicate him, nothing could be better.
*Hum!* In the next instant, led by Yu Hong, the group struck directly.
Watching from afar, the Celestial Clan and other extraterrestrial beings noticed immediately. They exchanged glances and instantly understood Yu Hong's intention, their own desires stirring in turn.
Right now, the Eternal Clan was causing trouble for Lu Yuan, and the one attacking him was at the Demi-Saint Realm. If they chose to lend a hand, they might truly manage to eliminate him. Ever since descending into this world, they had yearned for Lu Yuan's death. Once he was gone, they would no longer be suppressed. They would be free to roam this realm at will, without having to tread timidly in everything they did.
Even so, the various extraterrestrial clans still hesitated. The reason was simple: Lu Yuan's terrifying strength was etched deeply into their minds.
*Rumble!* Right then, another deafening blast compelled everyone to look up. Ten thousand meters up in the vault of heaven, two figures clashed continuously.
Treading on the void, the divine halo behind Yu Heng's head turned incomparably brilliant. Around him, Divine Chains of Judgment rattled and vibrated ceaselessly, exuding a might that was potent to the absolute extreme. His every move carried overwhelming oppression, causing the surrounding void to shudder continuously as though unable to bear it.
The Eternal Clan was truly formidable, terrifically so in both bloodline and battle prowess. Opposite him, Lu Yuan wore a grave expression as purple lightning roared across his entire body.
The Great Sun Smelting Furnace hummed incessantly as well. In the next instant, the two sides collided once again. Mountain ranges below shook violently, and several peaks split apart on the spot.
This was merely the aftermath. If thrust into the center of the battlefield, hardly anyone present would have been able to endure it. This was a battle between Demi-Saints—and what was more, both Lu Yuan and Yu Heng were ranked among the chosen prides.
*Thud!* Before long, their fists collided. Lu Yuan's expression did not waver, but the golden vitality coursing through his body gathered completely, erupting like a hundred thousand volcanoes.
Opposite him, Yu Heng began to retreat. The divine halo behind his head dimmed slightly, and cracks spread across his palms as blood seeped out, leaving him utterly shocked. In that clash just now, he had actually come out on the losing end.
"Formidable methods indeed," Yu Heng said coldly. Raising his hand again, tens of thousands of Divine Chains of Judgment manifested. They seemed poised to blanket the entire sky, while the halo behind his head blazed with endless radiance.
"I admit you are powerful, and perhaps you have yet to reveal your true strength. The same holds true for me. But unfortunately, you won't live to see that moment." He spoke again and cast a glance below.
By now, Yu Heng knew Yu Hong had taken people to deal with the humans, which was sure to throw Lu Yuan into disarray. That was why he had deliberately spoken—to exploit any opening. Sure enough, Zhu Qingyu and the others had already been surrounded, while other extraterrestrial beings seemed to be stirring as well.
*Now is the time!* Seeing this scene and noticing Lu Yuan's momentary distraction, Yu Heng hesitated no longer. Mobilizing the Divine Chains of Judgment around him, he launched an outright assault. He knew full well that this strike could not pose much of a threat to his opponent, but that did not matter. As long as he held the man back for a moment and waited until Yu Hong succeeded, everything would fall entirely into their grasp. Yu Heng refused to believe the man would disregard the lives of his subordinates.
Yet in the next heartbeat, Lu Yuan did not say a single word. Facing the tens of thousands of Divine Chains of Judgment without the slightest hesitation, he unleashed the immense power within his body. At the same time, the Great Sun Smelting Furnace behind him roared, intertwining completely with his golden vitality.
*Boom!* In a flash, an even more terrifying power erupted from his body. At this moment, Lu Yuan chose to hold back no longer and truly began to display his full strength.
His golden vitality surged like an ocean, churning forward and causing the entire void to shudder continuously. Under such tremendous might, the tens of thousands of Divine Chains of Judgment ahead shattered inch by inch, completely pulverized in mere moments.
And Lu Yuan's strike was only just beginning. He took a single step forward, and in an instant, he appeared right before Yu Heng.
Without any fancy movements, he hurled a single punch. *Thud!* As that fist struck, heaven and earth shook and roared.
Yu Heng had assumed his opponent would be distracted, never imagining that Lu Yuan would pay no heed whatsoever to the humans below. Hurriedly conjuring his techniques to block the blow, it was unfortunately too late. Lu Yuan had unleashed his true combat power.
After that single punch, Yu Heng stumbled backward continuously. The light enveloping his body dimmed completely, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his lips. Gazing at Lu Yuan in disbelief, he was utterly bewildered. "You... do you truly care nothing for the lives of your subordinates?"
He could see now that in a true fight, he was no match for Lu Yuan. This made him even more baffled: would the man truly disregard the kin he had brought along just to defeat him?
"Just a few insidious scoundrels. Naturally, someone will deal with them," Lu Yuan said from a short distance away. His voice remained as calm as ever, devoid of emotion.
Could he not know what Yu Hong and the others intended? It was precisely because he knew that he chose to ignore them.
At these words, Yu Heng grew even more confused, entirely at a loss. But soon, he came to his senses, his face overcome with shock.
To protect the living beings of this world, Lu Yuan of the human race had taken action more than once. It was therefore impossible for him to let his people come to harm. For him to ignore it now, there could only be one reason: someone was there to protect them.
Thinking of this, Yu Heng could not help looking down.
By now, Yu Hong had led his group to surround Zhu Qingyu and the others, sealing off the surrounding heaven and earth. Looking down from above, each radiated immense might, their eyes devoid of emotion and cold to the extreme.
Yet right at that moment, Jiang Haokong, who had been standing to the side all along, stepped forward slowly and murmured, "Time to stretch my limbs!"
Chapter 268