Lu Yuan had always been very clear on this. The current situation on Earth had largely taken shape because of him, but it was also because he had people backing him.
The complete, unwavering trust of Elder Ji, Elder Yun, and the others allowed him to act with a free hand. Because of this, no matter how drastically the world changed, ordinary people still had not suffered catastrophic disasters or heavy casualties.
Under the protection of the Heavenly Court's forces, the five great cities were able to live in peace, just as they had before the cataclysm. Had he been completely on his own, achieving all of this would have been extraordinarily difficult.
Therefore, even when true, formidable enemies arrived in the future, if the strength of the entire universe could be gathered, it would be a blessing for all living beings.
The two major factions were continually annexing various forces using exceptionally overbearing methods. While that could secure them a temporary advantage, what would happen after that?
If the Heavenly Court and the Jiang clan stepped forward together at this juncture, they were bound to win immense support. And that outcome was precisely what Lu Yuan wanted.
After finalizing all the preparations, Lu Yuan sent Jiang Haokong and the others into action, instructing them to report back immediately if there was any news.
He naturally had absolute trust in this Divine Son of the Jiang clan. However, Lu Yuan was concerned that a Creation Immortal might intervene.
That would be troublesome. If it came to that, he would have to resolve it in person. With the plans laid, Lu Yuan entered secluded cultivation once more.
Naturally, it was not death-seclusion; anyone could approach him at any time so that he could react immediately should a crisis arise.
Soon, the plan was set in motion.
Leading the Heavenly Court's forces, Jiang Haokong did not choose to launch a direct war against the two major factions.
Instead, they acted under the banner of occupying renowned mountains and great rivers, just as they had done before. At the same time, they warned the Eternal Clan and the Ji clan that they were not permitted to set half a foot upon any of the famous mountains and rivers under Heavenly Court control, lest it be taken as a direct provocation.
This was the very first time the Heavenly Court and the Jiang clan had issued such an overbearing proclamation.
It startled many, and some beings immediately caught on. This meant they were truly preparing to take action. As a result, those who had previously feared being annexed chose to turn to the Heavenly Court and the Jiang clan in hopes of seeking protection. After all, compared to those two dominant factions, the former was still willing to reason with others.
However, Jiang Haokong kept Lu Yuan's instructions firmly in mind and did not directly accept the overtures of allegiance and cooperation.
There was simply no need. Looked at from another angle, anyone who harbored grievances against the two major factions already shared a common enemy; whether they formed an explicit alliance was truly inconsequential.
As for the Ji clan and the Eternal Clan, they fell silent upon hearing the news, only to continue their expansion regardless.
They paid no heed to Jiang Haokong. Clearly, they were already prepared for conflict; after all, it was inevitable.
More importantly, the two major factions no longer feared the Jiang clan and the Heavenly Court in the slightest. Having received the power bestowed by the extraterrestrial heavenly demons, their subordinate clansmen were essentially undefeated against peers of the same realm. Even when outmatched, it was exceedingly difficult to kill them directly.
After all, they had the black blood.
Before long, with both sides anticipating it, clashes broke out in short order. Still, the Ji clan and the Eternal Clan did not intervene directly at first.
Instead, they dispatched the Celestial Clan, Nether Bull Clan, and others to test the Heavenly Court's mettle. The result was astounding: the strength of those two clans proved utterly inferior to the Heavenly Court.
From beginning to end, it was a complete rout. The Heavenly Court's foundation and might were far beyond what they had once been.
With the Jiang clan's participation, they were fearless. Thus, in less than a month, Jiang Haokong led the forces of the Heavenly Court to seize numerous renowned mountains and great rivers, thoroughly establishing the Heavenly Court's prestige across the realm.
Left with no choice, the two major clans were forced to deploy their own clansmen, as this was disrupting their grand design. Relying on the black blood, the upper echelons of both clans assumed they could easily hold off the Heavenly Court.
Yet to everyone's astonishment, they discovered that the Heavenly Court's advance still seemed unstoppable.
Even when their own clansmen took the field, the aftermath was a trail of wounded and dead. It seemed as though even the black blood was directly erased, completely failing to serve its intended purpose.
This news swiftly reached the higher-ups of both clans.
"How is this possible?"
"The black blood suppresses the power of this world! How could they be defeated so easily?"
"Indeed, something is definitely amiss. What on earth did the Heavenly Court and the Jiang clan do?"
The upper echelons of the Eternal Clan and the Ji clan gathered together, including two Creation Immortals and several Grotto-Heaven Immortals.
Although they had not yet received the extraterrestrial heavenly demons' power themselves, they knew full well that with the empowerment of the black blood, their subordinate clansmen should have swept through all opposition. When fighting the major clans of other star sectors earlier, everything had proceeded without a hitch.
What was going on now?
"I feel that something is definitely wrong here," a Creation Immortal of the Ji clan spoke up, his expression exceedingly grave. For such an outcome to occur despite the black blood was simply unbelievable.
They knew the Heavenly Court was formidable, but it should only be on the level of a top hundred star sector. At most, with the Jiang clan's backing, its strength was merely a notch higher.
Even so, there was no way they could simply disregard the black blood.
"Could that Lu Yuan have meddled again?" at that moment, a Creation Immortal of the Eternal Clan remarked, his expression shifting.
To tell the truth, none of the people present had ever met Lu Yuan; they had only heard his name. Yet precisely because they had heard of him, they knew how terrifyingly great his reputation was.
The experts dispatched by the two clans one after another had all ended up slain by his hand. Even their Divine Sons had perished at his feet.
"Perhaps... that truly is possible." Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. By now, none dared underestimate Lu Yuan any longer; the two clans in particular regarded him as a true thorn in their side.
Even now, when carrying out their plan, the reason they acted with such caution was fear of provoking a reaction from Lu Yuan and inviting needless complications. Yet judging by the current situation, he seemed already poised to strike.
"Very well. Since he has come knocking, we will step in and strike him down!" a Grotto-Heaven Immortal of the Ji clan said, having long lost his patience. He continued, "With two Creation Immortals and four Grotto-Heaven Immortals, I refuse to believe we cannot slay him!"
In his eyes, things had reached a point where there was no longer any need to endure.
Otherwise, the two clans' grand design would sooner or later be ruined by him. In such circumstances, it was far better to take the initiative.
Several members of the Eternal Clan could not help but nod in agreement. Both sides were locked in a fight to the death; there was no need for pleasantries.
Enduring further served no purpose; ending it once and for all was the better course. Once the threat of Lu Yuan was eliminated, they would have eradicated their greatest peril, and whatever they chose to do afterward could proceed without restraint.
At that moment, everyone from both clans turned their gazes toward the two strongest Creation Immortals present, awaiting their decision.
Chapter 441