First was the Ji Clan Divine Son. Even if this was merely a projected reflection, his cultivation alone was terrifyingly formidable. He was in the Immortal Realm, after all, and countless legends about him had circulated across the starry cosmos throughout his rise. The most famous among them was his feat of slaying an Immortal while still in the Great Saint Realm.
Throughout history, few had ever accomplished such a thing. Slaying an Immortal was completely different from slaying a Saint, for the gulf between the two realms was simply too vast.
Yet even so, the Ji Clan Divine Son had achieved it. It was an astonishing feat. Everyone knew he was destined to take the helm of the Ji clan in the future as a true powerhouse.
Lu Yuan, however, was somewhat different. Though everyone present acknowledged him as a chosen pride on par with Divine Sons and Holy Maidens—one whose future potential would be immense so long as he continued to grow—he was exceptional because he displayed an undisputed, crushing dominance over anyone in the same realm.
More importantly, he excelled in every aspect. For instance, how long had it been since the Milky Way Star Sector began its revival? Yet he had already reached the Great Saint Realm. In any other star sector, such speed would have been utterly impossible.
Admittedly, he had likely taken advantage of the conditions brought about by this world's resurgence. Even so, everyone clearly recognized that on Earth, he stood in a league of his own, having reached heights no one could surpass.
In many respects, the two seemed evenly matched. The problem, however, lay in the fact that the Ji Clan Divine Son was simply too powerful—he was an Immortal.
Thus, only by fighting could the outcome be decided. Even Zhou Yunqiong believed this.
There was no helping it. Lu Yuan had left such a profound impression on her that she remained on edge even with her greatest backer having arrived.
*Rumble—*
At this moment, the clash between the two had already erupted. The Ji Clan Divine Son's methods were indeed overwhelmingly potent.
With every move he made, boundless power surged. Unable to withstand the pressure, the surrounding meteors shattered one after another. Had this taken place on Earth, it likely could have obliterated everything within a ten-thousand-li radius in a heartbeat. Such was the might of a true expert.
Yet Lu Yuan showed no fear. One grotto-heaven after another manifested behind him, steadily boosting his combat strength.
Even if this was only a projection, it was still the projection of an Immortal, terrifying beyond measure. After all, Lu Yuan himself was only in the Great Saint Realm.
Yet precisely because of this, his battle intent burned fiercer as time went on. For the longest time, he had wanted to test the true limits of his combat power.
Unfortunately, none of his previous opponents had ever pushed him to fight without reservation. With the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method, simply opening ten grotto-heavens to gain a tenfold boost in combat strength was enough to crush most major foes.
Today was different. Lu Yuan discovered that this Ji Clan Divine Son truly was exceptionally powerful.
Even with a tenfold boost, Lu Yuan could not suppress him; in fact, he was the one being pressed on the back foot.
"Good! Excellent!" Sensing this, Lu Yuan laughed aloud, his eyes burning with excitement as he put even greater weight behind his strikes.
Opposite him, the projection of the Ji Clan Divine Son blurred slightly. Though he had attained the Immortal Realm, this was only power cast across the void through a projection, incapable of unleashing his peak strength. More importantly, he sensed that the man before him was actually growing stronger as the fight progressed.
*Rumble—*
Soon, more and more grotto-heavens appeared behind Lu Yuan.
The golden blood and qi enveloping him transformed into silhouettes of golden dragons. As he channeled the Ancestral Dragon Breathing Method to push his battle prowess to its utter limit, more than twenty grotto-heavens materialized behind him, each housing a seated deity within.
Under normal circumstances, anyone else wishing to sustain such peak combat strength would require an enormous supply of power. But that power would inevitably have a limit, and past a certain point, it would begin to wane; almost no one could maintain their peak indefinitely. But Lu Yuan was different. Supported by the Furnace of Heaven and Earth, he had no such limit.
*Boom—*
Another punch descended. Golden dragon silhouettes soared upward, accompanied by countless dazzling bolts of thunder.
Opposite him, the projection of the Ji Clan Divine Son finally began to buckle, forced to take a step back. This sight struck every watching extraterrestrial being with profound shock.
"He... he actually did it? Overcoming the strong from a weaker position?"
"Wasn't Lu Yuan just suppressed moments ago? How many methods does this man possess?"
"Divine abilities, physical prowess... he has far more hidden trump cards than we ever imagined!"
Cries of shock rippled through the crowd as they stared in disbelief. It was simply too astounding to fathom. Lu Yuan's opponent was no ordinary cultivator; he was the Ji Clan Divine Son, a figure whose fame had shaken the entire starry cosmos over a century ago.
Zhou Yunqiong was also left dumbfounded, unable to believe her eyes. Yet no matter how stunned they were, the fierce battle continued.
"I advise you to stop now, or you will face consequences you cannot bear," the Ji Clan Divine Son warned. He realized his projection could not defeat the man before him, and if he fell, Zhou Yunqiong would die.
Thus, he attempted to intimidate Lu Yuan into halting. As long as he bought enough time, he could find a way to channel more power into the projection.
"Consequences I cannot bear? From a mere projection of yours?" Lu Yuan replied calmly.
Yet the blood and qi around him flared like True Solar Fire, exuding an imposing aura of supreme disdain for the world. Word by word, he declared, "Forget a mere projection—even if your true body were here in person, I would slay you just the same!"
At this moment, his battle intent had reached a terrifying apex; he was a true god of war.
As soon as the words left Lu Yuan's mouth, his aura concentrated in an instant. Just then, the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token within his mind seemed stirred by his soaring battle intent.
A wisp of purple qi coiled around him. In that moment, Lu Yuan appeared like a lofty Heavenly Emperor. Facing the Ji Clan Divine Son, he threw a devastating punch.
*Boom—*
The space quaked, and countless meteors detonated under the unbearable pressure. The form of the Ji Clan Divine Son could no longer hold together, growing exceedingly faint and frail.
His power had been thoroughly shattered. Manifesting any further moves with this projection was entirely impossible. Sensing this, Lu Yuan's expression did not waver in the slightest.
He shifted his gaze onto Zhou Yunqiong.
"It is time to end everything," he said calmly. Then, facing Zhou Yunqiong, he brought a palm down.
Lu Yuan was not being overconfident; with his current strength and methods, crushing an opponent still in the Demi-Saint Realm was as effortless as turning his hand.
"How dare you!" the Ji Clan Divine Son bellowed in fury, but his power had been dispersed, leaving him powerless to intervene.
*Squelch—*
In that very instant, Lu Yuan's power tore straight through Zhou Yunqiong!
Chapter 311