"The four Heavenly Rank Immortals of the two great factions are getting serious."
"Before, they were merely playing around, but now it's different."
"It seems the Heavenly Court truly is doomed."
"And it will happen today."
Far in the distance, sensing that formidable aura, the spectating beings of various races understood all too well: these four Heavenly Rank Immortals had genuinely brought out their intent to kill.
Under such circumstances, the Heavenly Court was bound to be destroyed.
The ones striking were simply too powerful.
Seeing this, some beings secretly rejoiced that they had not stepped forward.
They knew that choosing to oppose the two great factions would not change the outcome in the slightest.
In fact, it might bring disaster upon themselves and drag them into mortal peril later.
Whatever the case, at least for now, they were safe.
*Rumble!*
The void continued to roar.
Boundless lightning raged ceaselessly.
A fearsome aura swept across the heavens and the earth.
All manner of terrifying powers surged forth, turning the entire firmament dark and gloomy.
The sight looked just like the apocalypse.
Below, Zhu Qingyu and the others looked on with solemn eyes, yet none retreated.
Jiang Huanyun and the members of the Jiang clan stood equally firm.
They knew that once the four Heavenly Rank Immortals struck, they would likely be obliterated in an instant.
Yet what of it?
No matter what, they had to persevere at this moment.
High in the sky, the Heavenly Rank Immortals from the two factions looked down with utter indifference. Standing in the void without another word, a surge of killing intent welled from their bodies.
Indeed, this time they had no intention of playing around; they were going for the kill in earnest.
Jiang Huanyun, Zhu Qingyu, and the rest realized this as well.
Yet their expressions remained unchanged, as resolute as before.
Whatever the ultimate result, at least right now, they stood their ground here.
At this very moment, everyone present wore a solemn look.
Channeling their mightiest power, they knew this was very likely to be the final battle of their lives.
Two forces—one above, one below—manifested in opposition.
Yet plainly, the might radiating from the four Heavenly Rank Immortals had reached an appalling level.
Compared to it, the full strength mustered by Zhu Qingyu and the others atop Mount Tai amounted to practically nothing.
Without a shred of hesitation, the four Heavenly Rank Immortals all stepped forward and thrust out a palm in unison.
Colossal power erupted, rippling wave upon wave in a continuous rumble.
Below, Zhu Qingyu, Ice Fairy, and Jiang Huanyun all knew that everything might end right here.
*Rumble!*
Thunder crashed, and an unbearable sense of oppression bore down.
The onlookers paled, knowing that when this strike landed, not a single soul in the Heavenly Court could withstand it.
So after this blow, would the Heavenly Court truly be completely finished?
The moment that thought arose, they noticed that the eyes of everyone in the Heavenly Court were unshakeably firm.
It was as though they bore no psychological burden whatsoever, resolved to embrace death.
*If only the two factions were not so overwhelmingly powerful, or if only the Heavenly Court had been given enough time to grow, perhaps there would have been a different outcome?* Such was the final thought lingering in the minds of the crowd.
Then, they watched as the power unleashed by the four Heavenly Rank Immortals bore down to suppress everything below.
*Buzz!*
Yet right at that instant, an unimaginably terrifying sword intent manifested.
Bearing peerless, boundless might, it descended from beyond the heavens.
In mere moments, it slashed through and obliterated the combined attack of the four Heavenly Rank Immortals.
At the same time, the crisis looming over everyone in the Heavenly Court was instantly dispelled.
*Who is it?*
In that breath, countless people lifted their heads, confusion in their eyes.
Soon, however, that confusion turned to shock—and even fear.
The people of the two factions in particular furrowed their brows as they stared toward the firmament, finding it almost inconceivable.
Moreover, Jiang Huanyun, Zhu Qingyu, and the others also caught sight of figures high in the sky.
There were two of them. One stood beneath the blazing sun, grasping a sword embryo in hand.
He simply stood there.
No overwhelming aura radiated from his body, yet the majesty emanating from him was terrifying to the extreme.
It felt as if this person's arrival alone could shake the entire starry river, carrying an aura of invincibility.
"It's King Lu!" Ice Fairy cried out, her eyes wide with sheer disbelief.
It seemed as though it had never crossed her mind that he would appear at such a moment.
Meanwhile, tears welled in Zhu Qingyu's eyes, for she too had never expected it.
*Lu Yuan has returned?*
Upon seeing him—and Jiang Ningxian not far off—Jiang Huanyun felt an abrupt wave of relief wash over him, and he exhaled a long breath.
He knew that since Lu Yuan had returned, the outcome might truly be different from now on.
Simultaneously, the beings from the various starfields realized that the figure was Lu Yuan.
In an instant, varied expressions of disbelief spread across every face.
Yet that majesty and spirit were undeniable.
Besides, many present had seen Lu Yuan before.
"Lu Yuan is back."
"To think he descended at such a critical juncture."
"Didn't they say he went into the depths of the starry sky? How did he return?"
Voices rose in succession, everyone visibly shaken by Lu Yuan's arrival.
His timing could not have been more impeccable, and the shock was palpable.
For at this moment, though Lu Yuan had not displayed his full aura, one thing was certain: he was definitively stronger than before.
The reason was exceedingly simple: that single strike just now had directly countered and destroyed the combined technique of four Heavenly Rank Immortals. Such a feat was nothing short of frightening.
No one understood how Lu Yuan had pulled it off.
Could he have stepped into the Heavenly Rank Immortal realm as well?
Of course, that was merely their speculation.
The real issue now was that Lu Yuan had returned, which meant a genuine grand battle was about to unfold.
Everyone knew how formidable he was; he had slain many an immortal, and both factions had suffered heavy losses at his hands.
Under these circumstances, some thought that even with four Heavenly Rank Immortals present, attempting to annihilate the Heavenly Court and slay Lu Yuan would still prove exceptionally difficult.
Still, no one could foresee what the final outcome would be.
Yet this was already astonishing enough: the arrival of a single man had completely overturned a situation everyone considered certain death.
Now, all eyes turned toward the distance, gazing at Lu Yuan, who had descended from above.
What kind of grand battle would follow?
And Lu Yuan, having returned from the starry sky—just how strong had he become?
Chapter 541