“Considering that the Lingxiao Sect has built itself up to its present foundation and scale from its founding until now, it has not been an easy journey, which is precisely why I am willing to give you a chance. Submit to our Guardian Faction immediately and henceforth act in accordance with our commands.
I will give you the time it takes one stick of incense to burn to consider. After one stick of incense, you must deliver your answer: submit or face annihilation.”
A plain-looking, gray-robed middle-aged man walked out from the ranks of the Guardian Faction’s army, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze was cold as he slowly spoke.
Although the man's words were delivered calmly and without any particular emotion, they carried an imperious, boundless aura. His voice started out soft, even seeming a bit quiet, but it gradually grew stronger and stronger.
In the end, each of his words transformed into thunderous peals, rolling and roaring through the void. Everyone felt endless, terrifying echoes reverberating in their ears, their Soul Bodies swaying unsteadily in tune with his words.
With just a casual sentence, this gray-robed middle-aged man made every living being in this expanse of void feel his terror.
“That’s unquestionably a Heavenly God, and one of an exceptionally powerful kind at that! Most likely a high-level Heavenly God or even a Peak Heavenly God!”
the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm blurted out, unable to conceal its shock.
“Dreaming of making our Lingxiao Sect surrender? Your Guardian Faction truly has some nerve. Enough chatter. If you want to fight, then fight. Don’t think for a second our Lingxiao Sect can be so easily bullied.”
The Sect Leader of Lingxiao stepped forward, his voice cold.
Infused with divine power, the Sect Leader’s words also transformed into a volley of thunderous peals that rumbled outward, shaking the heavens and causing every living being to feel immense pressure.
“That’s the Sect Leader of Lingxiao for you!”
Many who heard his words were inwardly awestruck.
“Oh? It seems the Lingxiao Sect does not wish to treasure the opportunity I gave you. Very well. Since that's the case, there's nothing more to be said. Today shall be the day the Lingxiao Sect perishes.”
Having heard the Sect Leader’s words, the gray-robed middle-aged man standing before the Guardian Faction’s army displayed a placid expression and a cold gaze, seemingly devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as he spoke in that same detached tone.
“Act. Crush the Lingxiao Sect.”
The gray-robed middle-aged man raised his right hand, paused momentarily in the air, then swung it forward.
Kill!
Instantly, an ocean-like tide of battle cries erupted from the masses of the Guardian Faction army behind him, and they surged forward like a tidal wave.
“Meet the enemy!”
the Sect Leader of Lingxiao shouted almost simultaneously.
Kill!
The forces of the Lingxiao Sect also surged forward in an instant.
“The numbers on both sides are so vast! The scale of this battle is truly terrifying! We should retreat immediately.”
“Don’t get too close. If we’re caught up in the crossfire, we’d likely be reduced to dust in an instant!”
“Fall back, quickly! The further from the battlefield, the better.”
...
At this moment, all the onlookers scattered throughout the surrounding void felt the terrifying, suffocating killing intent emanating from the battlefield. Terrified, each and every one of them swiftly retreated, distancing themselves from the conflict.
“Activate Battle Formations!”
a Peak True God from the Guardian Faction shouted, raising the silver longsword in his hand high.
Immediately, a large contingent of Guardian Faction troops rapidly gathered around him, forming a large-scale battle formation.
A massive, peculiarly shaped scimitar materialized directly above this formation, radiating countless dazzling blade lights. The scimitar’s volume was enormous, occupying a vast stretch of the void.
Boom…!
The huge scimitar swung down violently. Wherever it passed, the void ahead instantly disintegrated, leaving behind an area of pitch-black absolute space.
Besides this formation, the rest of the Guardian Faction forces simultaneously deployed over a dozen other large-scale battle formations. These formations charged at the forefront of the army, akin to over a dozen sharp blades brutally stabbing toward the Lingxiao Sect’s forces.
“Our Lingxiao Sect also possesses battle formations!”
A Lingxiao Sect elder soared into the air and declared in a clear voice.
As his words faded, over a dozen large-scale formations also surged forth from within the Lingxiao Sect’s army. Each formation was composed of a large number of members—at least a thousand—with a considerable portion among them being True Gods and Void Gods.
“Master, the battle formations deployed by these two factions all seem incredibly powerful,” Hu Miao couldn’t help but exclaim.
The scale of the battle formations laid out by these two forces was immense. Every formation contained dozens of True Gods and several hundred Void Gods.
“Naturally, battle formations of this scale possess fearsome power. Even I might not dare to directly confront one head-on.”
Watching the massive formations on the battlefield, Ye Yunfei nodded as he answered.
“These are battle formations jointly powered by a large number of Deities. Their power is naturally immense.
On the battlefield, formations of this scale possess terrifying destructive potential. I’d say only a Heavenly God would dare to face one of these head-on.”
the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm added with awe.
“So, the Lingxiao Sect has made preparations as well. Yet, it is futile. Before absolute strength, your resistance is meaningless.”
As the battle raged, the gray-robed middle-aged man who had spoken earlier for the Guardian Faction now clasped his hands behind his back and began striding forward.
A formidable aura of energy emanated from his entire being. Wherever he went, Lingxiao Sect disciples were instantly blasted away by the terrifying pressure of energy he released. Moreover, after being blasted away, their bodies detonated directly, transforming into clouds of blood mist.
Wherever this gray-robed middle-aged man walked, he had no need to make a single move. All Lingxiao Sect members blocking his path were instantaneously annihilated.
“With your realm and strength, you deign to attack our Lingxiao Sect’s ordinary members? Bullying the weak as a senior? How impressive you are.”
Suddenly, a cold snort echoed from the depths of the Lingxiao Sect headquarters. Before everyone’s eyes, a blur flashed, and a tall, elderly figure had already appeared before the gray-robed middle-aged man.
“He seems to be the Lingxiao Sect’s previous Supreme Elder! I heard he perished in an accident eight hundred years ago! Why is he alive and well now?
And by the looks of it, his strength is extremely formidable.”
Suddenly, someone cried out in shock, recognizing the identity of the tall, elderly figure.
“What? The Lingxiao Sect’s previous Supreme Elder?”
All present were utterly astounded.
The current Supreme Elders of the Lingxiao Sect were already among its top-tier peak masters. A previous Supreme Elder’s strength would undoubtedly be even more terrifying.
Boom…!
The tall elder acted immediately, throwing a punch forward. His technique appeared unremarkable; the fist struck out plainly, seemingly not carrying any extraordinary energy or laws. In fact, it looked like a casual punch thrown by someone who had never practiced cultivation.
However, the face of the gray-robed middle-aged man opposite him instantly paled drastically. The man’s body shot into the air as he rapidly retreated.
One magical treasure after another streamed endlessly from within the gray-robed man’s body. All of them were of the Heavenly God level, radiating brilliant divine lights that formed barriers before him.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In the next instant, the elderly man’s fist shattered all these treasures as if they were made of paper.
Expression grave, the gray-robed man stretched out his hands, forming a strange hand seal. From this seal, streams of mysterious runes related to Time Energy poured forth. Immediately, the flow of time in front of him began to change, reversing continuously.
Potent Time Energy resisted the old man’s fist, even threatening to force it back.
But soon, with a resounding bang, the elderly man’s fist shattered all the Time Energy and continued its relentless advance toward the gray-robed middle-aged man.
“A fossil like you crawling out here? Looks like you’ve lived long enough, old man. Prepare to die!”
Suddenly, an elder dressed in a faint golden robe appeared beside the gray-robed man, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
This golden-robed elder cradled a massive golden seal in his hands and forcefully thrust it forward.
Clang!
The golden seal actually managed to block the oncoming fist.
“That’s an excellent treasure. It shall belong to me,”
the tall Lingxiao Sect elder was momentarily taken aback, then reached out to grab the golden seal.
“In your dreams!”
The gray-robed man and the golden-robed elder acted simultaneously, launching a fierce assault against the tall Lingxiao Sect elder.
As these three top masters engaged, a massive area around them instantly cleared. Everyone was sent flying by the waves of energy released from their clash.
“It seems your Lingxiao Sect still harbors a few dusty antiques. Excellent. Today, we’ll wipe them all out.”
A black-clad figure appeared in the sky above the battlefield. His gaze was sharp as a blade as he spoke in an icy voice.
Having spoken, his figure flashed, and he pounced toward the Lingxiao Sect’s Sect Leader. An intense battle immediately erupted between them.
After that, more and more masters from both sides continuously appeared and joined the fray.
For factions like the Lingxiao Sect and the Guardian Faction, ‘masters’ referred solely to Heavenly Gods.
“I had no idea the Lingxiao Sect possessed so many Heavenly God-level masters. They were always far too low-key in the past.”
Witnessing the constant emergence of Heavenly God-level experts from Lingxiao Sect, many of the onlookers exclaimed in astonishment.
“Not all of these Heavenly Gods are from Lingxiao Sect.
Haven’t you heard? There are troops from many other major forces within the Lingxiao Sect’s army. Quite a few of these Heavenly Gods likely hail from those factions as well.
To put it plainly, Lingxiao Sect’s army is essentially an alliance.”
someone whispered quietly.