"Boom—"
Lu Qingyang descended from the nine layers of clouds, his left arm severed by a sword.
Yet, in an instant, he summoned the spiritual power of heaven and earth, regenerating a new arm from the void.
At this moment, the battle had raged for about half an incense stick's time.
The power of the three great lords had reached its pinnacle, all having stepped into the peak of the sixth stage.
Although slightly inferior to Gu Tiangang in cultivation, Qiu Chengfeng and Ye Taixian were genuine sixth-stage peak powerhouses.
Lu Qingyang, however, was fighting with just an avatar, not his true self.
Even though he could contend with Gu Tiangang, facing the combined might of the three lords, he was at a disadvantage.
The battle had pushed him to the brink.
"Retreat!"
Lu Qingyang's voice echoed in the minds of the cultivators of the Qingyang Immortal Nation. The remaining elders, who had not yet escaped, understood and immediately ordered the troops to retreat.
Since the Qingyang Immortal Nation relied on the cross-realm gate to fight, their retreat was relatively smooth.
The Gu Huang forces, seeing the enemy retreat, naturally pursued them. The Qingyang Immortal Nation fought while retreating, not fleeing in panic.
"Boom—"
Lu Qingyang's fingers trembled slightly, instantly dissolving a fierce sword aura.
He shattered Ye Taixian's whisk with a punch, and then the ancient bronze cauldron pierced through his protective divine light, causing his conjured form to crack extensively.
In a moment, the form swiftly regenerated.
Lu Qingyang's face was cold, repelling the ancient bronze cauldron with a punch.
Stepping on the void, he headed straight for Gu Tiangang.
Qiu Chengfeng and Ye Taixian attacked simultaneously, forcing him to halt.
Under the siege of the three, Lu Qingyang could not gain any advantage.
Before long.
Seeing that the Qingyang Immortal Nation's army had almost completely retreated, Lu Qingyang turned his gaze towards Gu Tiangang and the others.
Ignoring the incoming attacks, a frosty smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Seeing this, Gu Tiangang and the others felt a sudden tension, as if realizing something, their faces changing drastically.
Before they could react, Lu Qingyang's form suddenly exploded.
The self-destruction of the form!
Such terrifying power was comparable to the self-destruction of a sixth-stage powerhouse.
The devastating energy radiated from Lu Qingyang's form, ravaging in all directions.
Gu Tiangang and the others, caught at the center, were instantly engulfed.
The shockwave swept across, severely injuring or killing many cultivators.
As the shockwave gradually dissipated, the figures of Gu Tiangang and the others reappeared.
Gu Tiangang, shielded by the ancient bronze cauldron, was covered in blood and looked extremely disheveled.
Qiu Chengfeng and Ye Taixian were also in poor condition, having used life-saving techniques at the crucial moment, but still suffering significant injuries from the explosion.
At this moment.
The faces of the three were as dark as water.
Qiu Chengfeng coldly said, "This person is extremely dangerous and must not be allowed to live. Gu Lord, you have fought him before. What are your thoughts on his strength?"
As the lord of Tianyang Sect, Qiu Chengfeng had never faced such a setback, but considering Lu Qingyang's unfathomable power, he did not rashly enter Qingyang but sought Gu Tiangang's insight.
Having fought Lu Qingyang twice, once within Qingyang, Gu Tiangang's knowledge would be more comprehensive.
Hearing this.
Gu Tiangang's face grew even darker: "This person should be a spirit born from plants. Last time he fought me with an avatar, his cultivation far inferior to today."
"I have not seen where his true body hides."
"But judging by his previous appearances, always using an avatar, and never showing his true form, I speculate that his true body either has limited power or is difficult to move. However, as Qiu Lord said, he is extremely dangerous and must not be allowed to grow!"
Thirty years ago, Lu Qingyang fought with just an avatar, and in a realm without the Dao of Heaven's suppression, his strength could not match Gu Tiangang's.
Now, after three decades, his cultivation had advanced at a terrifying pace.
Gu Tiangang could not imagine how high Lu Qingyang might rise if left unchecked.
Despite knowing that Qingyang's spiritual energy was scarce and theoretically unable to nurture powerhouses above the True Lord level, Gu Tiangang could not rule out the possibility of a breakthrough.
After all, such barren spiritual energy made it nearly impossible to become a True Lord, let alone a higher realm.
To Gu Tiangang, Lu Qingyang's achievements were already beyond comprehension.
Thus.
Such a colossal threat could not be allowed to continue growing.
"Since Qingyang started this war, I propose we strike while the iron is hot and completely destroy Qingyang!"
"Tianyang Sect has no objections!"
"Taixu Sect agrees as well!"
Qiu Chengfeng and Ye Taixian exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
Immediately.
The three of them, without hesitation, stepped into the cross-realm gate, followed by the rest of the cultivators, who quickly entered Qingyang.
In their view, the combined strength of the three True Lords would easily flatten Qingyang.
A realm filled with countless opportunities, especially one that nurtured a True Lord, might hold world-shattering inheritances.
If they could obtain such inheritance, it would be a heaven-sent opportunity for any cultivator.
Even the major sects with True Lords or the powerful clans just below them eagerly entered Qingyang.
...
Qingyang Realm.
Northern Region.
The army of the Qingyang Immortal Nation had safely retreated.
As they returned, within the Ten Thousand Heavens, the Celestial Tree gently swayed.
In an instant, the ground shook, countless roots breaking through the soil like dragons turning over.
The entire Eastern Region felt a subtle tremor.
The next moment.
Endless spiritual light erupted from the Ten Thousand Heavens.
When the light faded, the Celestial Tree had vanished from within the Ten Thousand Heavens.
Witnessing this, Qing Ye, who was cultivating, was stunned.
In its memory, since the Celestial Tree had gained sentience, it had always been rooted here, never moving.
Now, with the tree's disappearance, it was a monumental shock for the little grass.
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