Indeed. Lu Yuan's next goal was to become an immortal.
The Immortal Realm seemed only a single step away from the Saint Realm, yet for an Awakened, that single step was like heaven and earth.
Although he had not yet reached that realm and did not know how great a change becoming an immortal would bring, one thing was certain: in terms of sheer strength and methods, it would be incomparably vastly superior.
The most noticeable change would be lifespan. Lu Yuan knew that once a being stepped onto the evolutionary path, the continuous tapping of their potential caused both body and soul to undergo metamorphosis. At the same time, their lifespan would begin to lengthen. Upon reaching the Saint Realm, their lifespan would span at least a millennium. In other words, even if Lu Yuan did nothing at all at his current stage, he could live for at least a thousand years.
This would have been hard to imagine in the old era. But in the New Era, many understood it clearly, and it was precisely why so many people sought to evolve continuously—who didn't want to live a little longer?
Living longer gave one the opportunity to reach higher realms and greater heights. As for how many years of lifespan one possessed after reaching the Immortal Realm, it was hard to say for sure, but he knew well that it would not be less than five thousand years.
Five thousand years! In the human world, that was an utterly terrifying figure. After all, how far back did recorded human history even go?
Yet, this was truly nothing. The reason was simple: five thousand years was entirely insignificant to the universe as a whole. It seemed long, but in reality, it was merely an instant—at least from the perspective of the entire starry cosmos.
Of course, Lu Yuan's desire to become an immortal was not limited to this. He was well aware that only by reaching this realm would he be able to accomplish far more, without feeling the pressing urgency he had previously experienced. At the very least, when facing those mighty experts, Divine Sons, and Holy Maidens, he would be able to handle them with ease.
Lu Yuan had learned from Jiang Ningxian that among the extraterrestrial starry sky's great clans, most Divine Sons and Holy Maidens were at the peak of the Great Saint Realm. The strongest among them had already touched upon—or even attained—the Immortal Realm. This was considered a true watershed. Across the entire starry cosmos, those in the Immortal Realm could truly be called formidable figures, capable of swaying situations to a certain degree.
Thus, attaining the Immortal Realm was imperative.
Previously, Lu Yuan had possessed no clear lead. Now, however, perhaps due to fusing the fourth Ancient Heavenly Emperor Token, he had found the path and caught a clue; all that remained was to test and verify it.
As for outside affairs, Lu Yuan did not concern himself overmuch. With Elder Ji and Elder Yun overseeing the overall situation, nothing would go awry.
And so, time slipped away bit by bit.
It had to be said that the Jiang clan showed immense sincerity. They not only brought over breathing methods and visualization methods, but they also brought some of the Jiang family's cultivation handbooks and passed them down without reservation, allowing Zhu Qingyu and the others to realize their own shortcomings in a short period. Though this did not immediately elevate their realm of strength dramatically, it broadened their evolutionary path for the future.
At the same time, the Jiang clansmen brought an abundance of spiritual fruits and anomalous herbs. While some might not match those found on Earth, they were plentiful and required no perilous excursions to obtain. This alone was enough to demonstrate that the Jiang clan truly held full sincerity in cooperating with Lu Yuan.
With these resources, the Heavenly Court's subordinates gained greater confidence to face their formidable enemies in the future. After all, the Jiang clan was descended from Human Sovereigns and Heavenly Emperors, and even now, they ranked among the top ten forces across the entire starry sky, no weaker than the Eternal Clan or the Ji clan. Their assistance to the Heavenly Court was a tremendous boon, offering timely help when it was needed most.
In this manner, the Heavenly Court's strength and foundation grew swiftly under the Jiang clan's assistance. In just three short months, earth-shaking changes occurred. Even without Lu Yuan showing his face, they managed to hold everything under control, leaving any internal friction completely powerless to resist. According to Jiang Ningxian, if they were given just a few more years, the Heavenly Court's collective power—excluding top-tier combat strength—would be sufficient to push the Milky Way Star Sector into the ranks of the top hundred star sectors.
This was astonishing. After all, which of the star sectors ranked in the top hundred had not accumulated their strength over thousands or tens of thousands of years? Yet Earth had only been reviving for a few years. Such was the nature of a land favored by the great era.
What the Jiang clansmen cared about, however, was whether the Milky Way Star Sector would reclaim the glory it possessed countless years ago. After all, even the Heavenly Court had reemerged, and Lu Yuan was by no means an ordinary figure. He was a being capable of rivaling the universe's foremost chosen prides. What was more, he had only been cultivating and evolving for a few short years. Thus, the Jiang clan's members watched with keen attention.
Meanwhile, outside the Milky Way Star Sector, colossal stars rotated, rose, and sank, flickering between brightness and dark. The cosmos, usually cold and barren, finally took on a semblance of vitality beneath those resplendent celestial bodies.
Yet within this region, powerful auras surged, causing even small stars to tremble.
These were beings from major star sectors across the universe—the Eternal Clan, the Ji clan, and others—essentially all hailing from among the top hundred. The vast majority present had attained the Saint Realm, and some had even become immortals. Yet none of these beings spoke a word. Ever since arriving at the edge of the Milky Way Star Sector, they had remained in place, waiting.
*Buzz, buzz, buzz—*
Just then, an enigmatic tremor came from the distance.
In an instant, pairs of eyes snapped open. At the same time, smiles surfaced on some of their faces.
"The power of the Severance of Heaven and Earth has weakened further. We can enter now," the Divine Son of the Ji clan spoke up at this moment, gazing toward the nearby Milky Way Star Sector as a cold, sharp glint appeared in his eyes. He had been waiting for an opportunity all along; Lu Yuan's actions had long kindled an unquenchable fury in his heart.
"If the Immortal Realm can enter, how long could it possibly take before we descend upon Earth?"
"Brother Ji, do not be impatient. Lu Yuan will surely pay the price for the crimes he committed."
Beside him, the Divine Son of the Eternal Clan spoke as well, his voice dripping with murderous intent. His clan was fiercely protective of its own, and several of their kinsmen had already perished at Lu Yuan's hands. If they did not slay this man, how could the Eternal Clan continue to deter the entire starry cosmos?
"Indeed."
"Then let us set out."
The Divine Son of the Ji clan said nothing more. At this point, he was entirely unwilling to wait any longer. The weakening of the Severance of Heaven and Earth over the Milky Way Star Sector was now sufficient to permit those in the Immortal Realm to enter. Simultaneously, the great clans of the other star sectors did not hesitate either. Had they not also waited for this moment for a long time? Even if for nothing else, they were determined to descend simply for the sake of the so-called great era providence.
Shortly after the various clans entered the Milky Way Star Sector, the higher-ups of the Heavenly Court detected their presence. Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and even the younger generation knew that this day would arrive eventually. Yet it did not matter—everyone had prepared thoroughly.
Chapter 334