Everyone knew a great war was coming. Everyone knew this battle would alter the balance of power.
Yet those whose strength fell short dared not bear witness in person. There was no helping it; they knew all too well that in the eyes of the Immortal Realm, they amounted to nothing at all.
If caught in the crossfire, their fate would be truly miserable, so it was far better to keep their distance and watch how things developed.
In fact, many shared this mindset. In the grand scheme of things, this matter had little to do with them; it merely meant adjusting their future plans depending on who emerged victorious.
And so, at this moment, they all waited to see what would happen once the three days had passed. Time continued to slip by, and soon the day proclaimed by the two factions arrived.
On this day, anyone with decent strength leaped into the sky. Though still far from Mount Tai, if a great battle broke out, they would certainly feel it.
As for several figures in the Immortal Realm, they chose to draw closer, wanting to receive news at the earliest moment. Everyone knew this battle would be no simple affair.
It was initiated by two of the top ten clans, and its fallout would be colossal. No one chose to overlook it at such a time.
Meanwhile, on Mount Tai, the members of the Heavenly Court had fully assembled. With their vast numbers, they truly lived up to the legendary hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals.
"This is the true moment of life and death for our Heavenly Court."
"For two peak factions in the cosmos to take action is extraordinary indeed."
"Only if we weather this storm will our footing truly be secure."
At this time, Zhu Qingyu and other members of the younger generation looked toward the vault of heaven, conversing among themselves from time to time. To say they weren't nervous would be a lie; everyone knew true immortals would take the field this time—beings regarded as peak powerhouses across the entire universe.
And how long had they themselves been cultivating and evolving? In a direct comparison, the disparity was genuinely vast.
Yet nervous as they were, each stood firmly in place. When crisis came, they would face it together.
On the other side, the Jiang clan members had also emerged, numbering several hundred in total. They were essentially in the Saint Realm, with Great Saints and even Immortal Realm figures among them.
Led by Jiang Huanyun, beside whom stood Jiang Haokong, they were receiving instructions.
"Those Heavenly Court members possess some strength, but the crisis they face this time is unprecedented. If the Eternal Clan and the Ji clan act recklessly, you must remember: even at great cost, they must be preserved."
"These people are the future backbone of the Milky Way Star Sector, the flesh and blood of our ancestral home. Do you understand?" Jiang Huanyun spoke in a solemn tone. After all, even a figure like him could not guarantee the safety of everyone in the coming war.
And this was precisely why the Jiang clan had continuously sent people down.
"Rest assured, Fifth Ancestor. With me leading them, there won't be any problem," Jiang Haokong replied. He had now reached the Immortal Realm, and with his extraordinary natural talent, his combat prowess was top-tier among his peers.
If he personally took the field, he was a force that could not be overlooked. He had taken on the primary task of protecting the Heavenly Court members.
"Good." Jiang Huanyun nodded at his response. Though this junior, a Divine Son, possessed a haughty personality, his strength was immense. More importantly, in many matters, once he set out to do something, he rarely disappointed anyone.
Thus, Jiang Huanyun felt at ease on this point. Even so, he asked one last question: "By the way, where is your sister?"
Only if both brother and sister took action together could absolute security truly be guaranteed.
"She went to find Lu Yuan and will be over soon," Jiang Haokong answered, finding nothing amiss about it.
Hearing this, however, Jiang Huanyun fell into thought and muttered to himself, "The two of them really are quite a match."
Jiang Ningxian was a peerless proud daughter of heaven, but was Lu Yuan anything less than a proud son of heaven?
He was quite satisfied with this youth in his heart—at the very least, far superior to the so-called Divine Sons of some of the great clans.
"Huh? Fifth Ancestor, what did you say?" beside him, Jiang Haokong asked in slight bewilderment.
The elder paid him no mind at all. Having finished his instructions, he said nothing more and took a step forward. No one knew when the Eternal Clan and the Ji clan would appear, so there was no room for carelessness.
Meanwhile, in a courtyard within the Trial Academy, Jiang Ningxian sat upright. She poured herself a cup of tea from time to time beneath the shade of a tree, drinking in quiet solitude.
It had to be said that whether in countenance or bearing, she was extraordinarily stunning, resembling an ethereal fairy of the mortal world at this moment.
Soon, Jiang Ningxian paused in her movement, rose to her feet, and looked behind her with a smile on her face.
There, Lu Yuan stepped forward slowly. Dressed simply, with no aura fluctuating around him, he looked just like an ordinary person devoid of any power.
"Unified as one, freely controlled and released. It seems you've made further progress," Jiang Ningxian remarked upon seeing him.
With her discerning eye, she naturally noticed his transformation at once.
"It's decent enough; I merely gained some insights," Lu Yuan smiled without denying it. In truth, his progress over this period had surpassed all imagination.
In just a few more days, he would likely reach the peak of the Undying Immortal realm directly. And by then, he would have the chance to advance toward the Grotto-Heaven Immortal realm.
How long had it been since he broke into the Immortal Realm? Even Lu Yuan himself felt a bit in a daze at the thought.
"So, what are your thoughts on this battle?" Jiang Ningxian dropped any playful tone, her gaze turning serious.
"The same as before: no matter who I face, I will simply fight," Lu Yuan replied. A portion of the Nine Cauldrons' providence was already empowering him.
In other words, he held even more trump cards in hand. Unless the two great factions mobilized in full force, there was not a shred of fear in his heart.
"Good," Jiang Ningxian nodded. "Then let us be on our way. I believe they will arrive before long."
With that, the two spoke no more. Walking side by side, they headed toward Jade Emperor Peak on Mount Tai.
They had already reached an agreement beforehand: if the two factions struck, they would fight atop Mount Tai's Jade Emperor Peak.
The reason was simple: the ruins of the Heavenly Palace lay there. Every corner possessed special markings that could minimize devastation to the surrounding territory in the event of a great war. Of course, if things truly got out of hand, they would have no choice but to take the battle to the heavens.
There was no alternative; after reaching the Immortal Realm, a single strike could wipe out mountains and rivers. Earth remained largely intact only because it was an extraordinarily unique ancient star.
Were it any other celestial body, an Immortal Realm powerhouse's strike could obliterate it directly, for the destructive might at this realm was truly terrifying.
Soon, the two arrived where the crowd had gathered and ascended Mount Tai without hesitation.
At the same time, across the vault of heaven, powerful auras continuously approached. All were above the Saint Realm—a formidable force in their own right.
However, those auras did not belong to the human race, but to mutated beasts.
These were the Beast Kings summoned by the Peacock King and the others.
At this critical hour, they had arrived to lend a helping hand!
Chapter 384