The sunset had long since faded.
Dusk enveloped the land, darkness devouring it bit by bit.
Here.
Gu Qingfeng still stood quietly, one hand behind his back, the other toying with that string of ancient prayer beads. His slightly pale face was expressionless, his dark eyes utterly placid.
Within the field.
Jade Dragon Flying Star, Wan Huayu, and Wuya lay collapsed on the ground, wanting to stand but unable to control their violently trembling bodies—they were terrified. Gu Qingfeng's earlier earth-shaking roar had not only shaken their immortal spirits and scattered their minds, but also terrified their souls to the point of feeling detached from their bodies. Their entire beings were wracked with pain.
Wuya deeply regretted it.
He regretted not listening to Ghost Elder's advice.
Collapsed on the ground, he looked utterly dejected.
He knew Gu Qingfeng's physical body was formidable.
Yes.
He knew.
However, in his mind, no matter how powerful a physical body was, it had its limits. Moreover, Gu Qingfeng's human aura was still so weak today.
He didn't want to miss this once-in-a-millennium opportunity.
He wanted to gamble.
In this gamble, he didn't hope to annihilate Gu Qingfeng, nor even to best him in a single move. He only sought to suppress Gu Qingfeng in terms of presence and momentum; that alone would be enough to make his name known throughout the world.
He thought that with his own strength, possessing both an Immortal Dao Edict and a Heavenly Destiny, suppressing Gu Qingfeng in momentum wouldn't be difficult.
Therefore.
Disregarding Ghost Elder's opposition, he ultimately stepped forward.
Knowing Gu Qingfeng was powerful, he had constantly warned himself to proceed with caution. Yet, no matter what, he never imagined Gu Qingfeng's power far exceeded his expectations. With just the might of a single roar, he was shaken into paralysis on the ground.
Only after being paralyzed by Gu Qingfeng's furious roar did he realize he was wrong.
Terribly, terribly wrong.
It was also at this moment he realized how terrifying the renowned Chixiao King truly was.
All along, he had been the world's favored son, a dragon among men, famous from childhood, soaring to the heavens. He enjoyed the world's praise, his heart as lofty as the sky, disdaining to be subordinate to anyone. Hence, he had never pledged allegiance to the Great Heir Apparent of Shangqing Sect, and repeatedly refused the earnest invitations of the Immortal Court's Third Prince and the Purple-Gold Hall's Zi Xiao King. He had intended to use this opportunity to make his name known to the world, to prove his potential to the Great Dao, and to demonstrate his strength to all under heaven.
And now?
Shaken by the might of Gu Qingfeng's roar until he vomited blood from his mouth and nose and lay paralyzed on the ground—he could neither prove his potential to the Great Dao nor demonstrate his strength before the world.
Make his name known to the world?
Perhaps after today, his name would indeed be known, but that name would be one of shame.
A dignified bearer of an Immortal Dao Edict, a Great Heavenly Destiny Star-Incarnate Son, actually shaken so badly by a single roar from someone that he couldn't even stand steady.
Wuya knew he was finished.
Everything was finished.
In this confrontation, he had lost too completely. He lost not only the connections and reputation he had painstakingly built, but also his own future and prospects.
This was utterly unacceptable to the proud and arrogant Wuya!
It could be said all hope was lost.
If even he felt this way.
Needless to say for Wan Huayu and Jade Dragon Flying Star. Perhaps they didn't have Wuya's sky-high ambitions, but their haughty pride absolutely could not allow such a profound humiliation to befall them. Since birth, they had gotten whatever they wanted. After obtaining their Great Heavenly Destinies, even Immortal Court immortals dared not act presumptuously before them. As for fighting, they never even needed to make a move, because no one dared to fight them.
But now, they had been paralyzed on the ground by the might of Gu Qingfeng's roar.
Wan Huayu couldn't accept it. Jade Dragon Flying Star found it even more unacceptable.
Not only could they not accept it, deep down they were even more unwilling.
Especially Jade Dragon Flying Star. In his mind, he hadn't been prepared at all. He hadn't even summoned his Heavenly Destiny Star before falling prey to Gu Qingfeng's trick.
He was unwilling. Even more, he was resentful.
Enduring the pain throughout his body, gritting his teeth, he trembled as he stood up, glaring fiercely at Gu Qingfeng. He roared, "What a fine, renowned Chixiao King! Taking advantage of my unpreparedness, you actually ambushed me with sonic might!
!!
Truly remarkable!
Remarkable indeed!
!!"
Jade Dragon Flying Star's mind was already scattered, his immortal spirit considerably damaged, his soul trembling. His essence, energy, spirit, and even his entire cultivation were affected.
Normally, no one would continue to fight under such circumstances.
Because forcing action risked deviation, not only leaving hidden dangers but potentially stalling cultivation progress at best, or causing mental confusion at worst.
However.
Jade Dragon Flying Star couldn't care less about that now. All he wanted was to defeat—no!
To personally slay Gu Qingfeng and salvage his dignity.
"Ah—!" Jade Dragon Flying Star roared, leaping into the air, soaring into the sky. Dazzling radiance erupted from his body, bright and luminous like brilliant stars, illuminating the foot of Shangqing Sect.
"Gu!
Today, I, Jade Dragon Flying Star, will let you witness what the Present Era's Heavenly Destiny, a star-incarnate descending to earth, truly is!"
Whoosh!
As Jade Dragon Flying Star raised his arms, a beam of white light shot from his body straight into the firmament. Instantly, the myriad stars in the sky seemed to answer a summons, flickering into brilliance.
This sight was truly breathtaking.
The starry sky glittered and flashed, and Jade Dragon Flying Star truly seemed like a star-incarnate descending to earth. No longer as wretched as before, he now appeared majestic and extraordinary, like a celestial deity.
"Star-Incarnate Deity!
Manifest for me!"
With Jade Dragon Flying Star's roar, the stars in the night sky flickered. Whoosh! A beam of light refracted down, enveloping him. Then another beam, ten beams, a hundred beams...
As more and more starlight refracted down upon him, Jade Dragon Flying Star was no longer Jade Dragon Flying Star, but had transformed into a true celestial deity!
He truly resembled a celestial deity!
Nine meters tall, holding a long sword, clad in silver-white armor, with points of starlight swirling around his body—like a luminous, holy celestial deity descending to earth. His might was unparalleled, vast and majestic like heavenly authority.
"I am Jade Dragon Flying Star, the Great Heavenly Destiny Star-Incarnate Son chosen by Heaven! This is my Star-Incarnate Deity, Senluo! Moreover, it is the Star-Incarnate Commander on the verge of awakening! How dare a mere cripple like you think to contend with me?
Truly overestimating yourself!"
Transformed into the Star-Incarnate Deity, Jade Dragon Flying Star was supremely majestic and furious. Reaching out, the three-meter-long star sword pointed at Gu Qingfeng as he thundered, "Come up here and meet your death!"
As the word 'death' fell.
Boom!—Crack!
The natural world seemed to change under the force of his mighty roar, the entire void trembling violently.
What terrifying might!
What formidable power!
Could this be the true power of a Great Heavenly Destiny Star-Incarnate Son?
Since the Heavenly Destiny descended nine years ago, though it was known over thirty people had obtained it, most had never witnessed the true power of a Present Era Heavenly Destiny star-incarnate descending to earth. Today was the first time. Everyone was deeply shocked by Jade Dragon Flying Star's formidable might and power, completely exceeding their imaginations.