After visiting various famous mountains and great rivers, the experts of the two great factions who had emerged from the Eternal Warship actually began to strike against the beings from the various star sectors—especially those who had previously remained neutral.
Though not everyone was targeted, their objective was crystal clear: anyone on friendly terms with the Heavenly Court. In the end, several major battles erupted directly. There were formidable figures among those extraterrestrial beings, but compared to the two great factions, the disparity was simply far too vast. Even though some Grotto-Heaven Immortals managed to hold their ground without being defeated, Creation Immortals from the two factions descended at the critical moment and slaughtered any who dared resist.
In an instant, two or three Grotto-Heaven Immortals spilled their blood across the sky. The emergence of this slaughter made it abundantly clear to the Heavenly Court that the two factions' next target would be them.
"What should we do? They've taken direct action. There are Grotto-Heaven Immortals, Creation Immortals, and perhaps Heavenly Position Immortals will intervene later..." Atop Mount Tai, Ice Fairy and the others gathered once more.
They understood that the Ji clan and the Eternal Clan were now practically certain to move against the Heavenly Court; their current actions were merely meant as intimidation.
The group was not worried for their own lives. Rather, they felt that if experts at the level of Creation Immortals or even Heavenly Position Immortals truly descended, could they really hold the five super cities? Evidently not. The gap in power was insurmountable.
Thus, at this moment, everyone could not help but turn toward Jiang Huanyun, hoping for news from the starry sky.
"When the time comes, I will give it everything I have," Jiang Huanyun said after a moment of contemplation. He continued, "Right now, that is not what worries me most. Rather, I am concerned about why the two factions traveled across those famous mountains and great rivers. Are they plotting something? I haven't been able to figure it out, but I feel it is anything but ordinary."
What he had to consider now was not just the beings of Earth, but also the safety of the Heavenly Court. At the same time, would the two factions' movements and covert schemes impact the entire universe?
After all, as a member of the Jiang clan, he knew what had happened on the Celestial Star. He suspected that Earth might currently be facing the very same situation. Furthermore, the true reserves and heritage of both factions had now appeared here; whatever they were planning was bound to be extraordinary. Under these circumstances, he could not help but worry.
Nearby, Zhu Qingyu shook her head upon hearing this. "Senior, we truly do not know what they did at those famous mountains and great rivers. Even after mobilizing the mutated beasts, we failed to gather any relevant information."
When the people from the two factions had first set out for those famous mountains and great rivers, Jiang Huanyun had given explicit instructions to find out what they were doing. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Court had failed to accomplish this task.
Originally, with mutated beasts spread all across the world, they could acquire virtually any intelligence they sought. But the enemy they now faced was simply too powerful, leaving Zhu Qingyu and the others entirely helpless.
Hearing this, Jiang Huanyun merely smiled faintly and said, "No matter. If you don't know, you don't know. You did everything within your power, so there is no need to dwell on it. Besides, even if we knew now, I doubt we could change anything."
He knew very well that since the two factions had already begun dealing with the beings of the various star sectors, it meant their earlier preparations were essentially complete. Under these circumstances, whatever those experts had left behind in the mountains and rivers no longer mattered.
Silence fell over the crowd. There was truly no other way forward; all they could do was wait.
Rumble!
Right at that moment, however, a deafening rumble arose. Everyone present felt their hearts shudder, their faces draining of color in shock.
They could sense a succession of terrifying auras descending, rampaging through the firmament.
Could the two factions finally be unable to hold back any longer?
The exact same thought crossed everyone's mind.
Without another word, they all rose to their feet and headed toward Mount Tai's Jade Emperor Peak. Everyone understood that the two factions could wait no more.
What followed would undoubtedly be a cataclysmic battle—a battle in which countless people would perish. Perhaps themselves, perhaps those beside them; in all likelihood, no one would be spared.
Soon after, when they arrived at Jade Emperor Peak, they looked up to see endless clouds gathering in the heavens. Streaks of thunder roared, blanketing an area of ten thousand li.
At the same time, far above in the sky, an enormous warship slowly bore down. A crushing pressure swept across Mount Tai in an instant.
At present, the Heavenly Court had dispatched most of its forces to the five super cities to protect the ordinary mortals. Those remaining on Mount Tai were essentially the core and strongest members, as they all knew that if the two factions struck, they would inevitably target this place first.
As for why they had not concentrated all the Heavenly Court's strength in one place to confront the enemy, the reason was simple: what if the beings of the various star sectors who had already surrendered attacked the five super cities? They had to divide their forces to protect as many people as possible.
"They've truly appeared. What comes next is a genuine battle, surpassing anything before," Zhu Qingyu said with a solemn expression. Even the Eternal Warship had arrived in person.
The two factions were clearly bent on destroying the core of the Heavenly Court. After all, everyone believed that beings of the Heavenly Position Immortal level were overseeing things aboard that Eternal Warship.
Therefore, no matter how hard they struggled in the coming fight, they would likely still be unable to stop the enemy's methods. Yet even so, they did not give up. Giving up might allow them to survive, but far more people would die. And if they fled, what would become of the ordinary civilians in the five super cities?
At this moment, no one spoke. They all stood shoulder to shoulder.
As the strongest among them and an elder, Jiang Huanyun stepped directly to the very forefront. Even though he knew full well that once the two factions made their move, he would be no match for them and would die, some things simply had to be done.
Rumble!
As time passed, the immense pressure continued to rage uncontrollably. Terrifying auras surged, causing Mount Tai below to shudder incessantly. The manifestation of such power cast a suffocating weight upon Zhu Qingyu and the others.
Yet each of them remained as steadfast as before, facing the same direction together.
"Mount Tai? Heavenly Court?"
"To name your faction the Heavenly Court—what audacity."
Just then, a voice echoed from the void, causing the stars beyond the realm to tremble. Immediately afterward, another terrifying aura descended once more!
Chapter 537