Clearly, both of them were at the exact same realm. But why was the gap between them so vast?
The Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal simply could not fathom it. He found it utterly inconceivable, especially since both he and his opponent were Heavenly Position Immortals.
If it were merely the Saint Realm or even ordinary Immortal Realms, such a disparity would not be unusual. But one had to understand that upon reaching this level of cultivation, no matter how terrifying one's talent or foundation had been in the past, everyone at this stage was nearly on equal footing. After all, of every existence who had become a Heavenly Position Immortal, which one had not once been a favored child of heaven?
Yet now, the present situation defied all his expectations. His opponent had completely shattered his preconceived notions.
The battle had barely begun, yet he had already fallen into a complete disadvantage. It was simply unimaginable.
At this moment, imprisoned within the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm, the Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal mobilized every ounce of his power, desperately trying to break free. Yet he could not do so at all, nor could he escape.
"Why? Why?!"
Questions swirled wildly in his mind as he looked at Lu Yuan, who stood not far away. "Could it be... have you stepped into the realm of Supreme Immortals?"
Indeed, that was the only thought in the Ji clan Heavenly Position Immortal's mind. Were that not the case, how could he have been suppressed so completely? Only a Supreme Immortal could possibly achieve this.
Yet Lu Yuan had no intention of answering. He merely looked at the man before him. His aura continued to swell without waning, and the mighty power of his vitality roared incessantly.
Just as he had thought before, after attaining the Heavenly Position Immortal realm, bolstered by his immense foundation and myriad techniques, the only beings capable of truly contending with him were likely Supreme Immortals.
Lu Yuan was naturally pleased with possessing such formidable combat prowess. Of course, that was all; after all, he knew that the enemies he would face in the future were bound to be far more powerful than he could imagine.
Without lingering on those thoughts, Lu Yuan stood in place, gazed at the Ji clan Heavenly Position Immortal, and spoke slowly: "Slaughtering innocent lives and destroying teleportation platforms already constitute your crimes. And in doing all this, were your targets the Milky Way Star Sector and Earth?"
Right now, he merely wanted to confirm the true motives of the two factions, which was why he had not struck to kill immediately.
"A swarm of mere ants, nothing more! If I wish to exterminate them, I exterminate them! Do you truly believe you have the right to pass judgment on me?"
Hearing those words, anger flared within the Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal. Even though he was currently at a disadvantage, he was still among the most powerful figures in the present Xuanhuang Universe. To be addressed in such a manner was an interrogation—an insult. How could he endure it?
"You are right. In my eyes, you are an ant as well," Lu Yuan replied in a tranquil voice, yet his words were already laden with killing intent. "What of interrogation? Even if I strike you down where you stand, it would mean nothing."
If that had been the Ji clan Heavenly Position Immortal's attitude toward ordinary beings, then Lu Yuan now regarded him with the exact same perspective. The only difference was that the one being treated as an ant was this powerful Ji clan elder.
"You!"
Hearing this, the elder was incensed, yet he found himself at a loss for words. For it was true—when outmatched in strength, he was indeed nothing more than an ant himself. All the while, he continued straining desperately to break the binding.
"I only need you to answer one question: yes or no."
Lu Yuan spoke once more, and at the same moment, the power within him surged forth.
In the next instant, the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm radiated an even more terrifying might, reverberating outward in waves.
A dread aura swept over the Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal, who instantly felt crushing pressure descend upon him. Then, with a sickening crack, his bones were pulverized directly.
How resilient was the physique of a Heavenly Position Immortal? It was sturdier than a celestial star. Yet at a mere thought from Lu Yuan, his body could not withstand the strain.
By now, Lu Yuan had already cultivated an unmatched presence, resembling a truly invincible sovereign.
"You really intend to kill me?"
The Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal found it difficult to imagine. Looking across the long history of the Xuanhuang Universe, very few Heavenly Position Immortals had ever been slain. Especially someone of his standing—countless beings would bow and prostrate themselves at the mere sight of him. Yet now, his life and death rested entirely in someone else's hands, and he was powerless to do anything about it.
Terror genuinely gripped his heart, especially when he recalled Lu Yuan's true identity.
How many years had it been? To think this youth had already reached such a height, capable of posing a threat to the entire Ji clan. If the Domain Lords did not make a move, there was likely no one in the universe who could oppose him.
Involuntarily, countless thoughts flooded his mind. Why? Why of all people did they have to provoke such an existence?
"If you will not speak, it matters not."
Lu Yuan had initially hoped to pry a few valuable clues from the man's mouth. Whether the elder spoke or stayed silent, Lu Yuan did not particularly care, for in the end, his decision would remain the same.
Having no further desire to question him, Lu Yuan's gaze hardened, and his aura surged to the absolute pinnacle. In the next instant, he extended his palm and gently clenched his fingers.
Crack!
The Buddha Kingdom in the Palm detonated. Terrifying force convulsed through space, and the Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal seemed to burst apart alongside it. His flesh was torn asunder, his blood splattered across the firmament, and against this devastation, he could not muster the slightest resistance.
Soon, the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm dissipated.
Yet the Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal was not dead. He reformed his physical body, but his face had turned deathly pale. His entire frame trembled uncontrollably, weakened to the utter extreme.
Indeed, while he had not perished, the injuries he had sustained were grave beyond measure, practically costing him half his life.
The disparity was truly that immense.
Still, a Heavenly Position Immortal was, after all, a Heavenly Position Immortal; dying was not so simple a matter. And Lu Yuan had long anticipated this outcome.
His expression remained placid, but the energy within him coalesced once again.
Below, sensing this supreme peril, the Ji clan's Heavenly Position Immortal finally showed abject terror on his face and tried to speak. Unfortunately, Lu Yuan's patience had worn thin, and he had no intention of granting his foe another chance.
He slowly threw a punch, one imbued with the power of the Heavenly Position Laws as it came crashing down. When the elder sensed this unimaginably terrifying aura, he had not even had time to react before he was engulfed by that boundless power.
Both his soul and his physical form vanished in an instant. Not a single trace was left behind.
As for the cosmic space itself, a massive void rift was blasted open, though under the influence of the spatial laws, it would slowly mend itself over time.
Having finished everything, Lu Yuan drew a deep breath. After this battle, he now had a rough estimate of his own strength. Essentially, one could say he was unrivaled beneath the Supreme Immortal realm.
Even if a true Supreme Immortal were to attack, he would feel no fear and could fight them head-on. He might not be able to win, but he certainly would not die.
And that was his current strength.
Chapter 530