upon hearing the command from the Immortal Kingdom, instantly responded. Various families and sects recalled their disciples, prepared themselves, and set off to participate in a fated battle.
The cultivators who had endured the flames of war more than twenty years ago were now filled with anticipation and determination.
In the last battle, although Qingyang Realm was not completely defeated, it suffered numerous wounds.
Today's rekindling of war was not only to wash away past humiliations but also to avenge the millions of comrades who had perished.
In the Tianling Hall, Lu Qingyang stepped in, seeing that many of the memorial tablets, originally filled with the spirits of a million heroic souls, were now missing.
Those tablets were not lost but had been taken home by descendants for worship.
The spirits left here had grown stronger over the past twenty years.
Among them, the outstanding ones had broken through to the sixth tier, while even the weakest had reached the third tier.
Such changes were due to the differences in the worship and offerings each spirit received, leading to varying progress in their cultivation.
Lu Qingyang gazed at one particular tablet, which bore the name "Lu Yue."
This person was the founding ancestor of the Taiyue Sect. Back then, with a fourth-tier cultivation, he fought valiantly against a fifth-tier enemy from the Ancient Wasteland, ultimately perishing together with them. The Taiyue Sect was annihilated in that battle.
Lu Yue's spirit, residing in the Tianling Hall, was revered and received abundant offerings. In just twenty years, he had advanced to the early sixth tier.
This demonstrated that the devout worship of the Qingyang Realm's people provided solid support for the spirits' cultivation.
"The spirits in the Tianling Hall have become formidable. Should Qingyang Realm face external invasion, they will surely act as a sturdy shield to protect our homeland."
Lu Qingyang sighed inwardly, his eyes sweeping over the other spirit tablets.
However, not everyone could become a spirit. Only those with great righteousness and the willingness to sacrifice their lives had this qualification.
Even so, the number of spirits in the Tianling Hall was considerable.
Unfortunately, the foundation of the Tianling Hall was still shallow, with only Lu Yue reaching the sixth tier.
Given more time, if they could accumulate strength for a few more decades, there would undoubtedly be more spirits entering the sixth tier.
Lu Qingyang's figure quietly vanished as he left the Tianling Hall.
In this battle, the spirits' power might not be fully utilized unless someone could resonate with them and borrow their strength.
But to achieve harmony with a spirit was no easy task.
...
Taichu Heaven, Zhang Ming sat in his room, his eyes fixed on the messages and newly released tasks in the Celestial Court chat group, murmuring to himself, "Is it finally beginning?"
Having joined Taichu Heaven for twenty years, Zhang Ming was no longer an obscure disciple of the Eastern Peak but had risen to become the young master of the heaven, personally taught by the heaven's lord.
Among the nine young masters of Taichu Heaven, Zhang Ming initially ranked last. However, relying on his battle saint body and his strength, he rapidly rose, eventually defeating the previous top young master to claim the first spot.
As the top young master of Taichu Heaven, endowed with the battle saint body, Zhang Ming naturally enjoyed endless resources and secret arts. When the Golden Era arrived, there would be great imperial forces paving the way for him, aiding him in his pursuit of the Emperor realm.
At this moment, Zhang Ming faced a difficult choice.
First, he could ignore the Celestial Court messages, stay within Taichu Heaven, leverage the might of the great imperial forces, and compete with various prodigies to seek the path to becoming an Emperor.
Second, he could abandon his current identity and head to the battlefield of the Ancient Wasteland.
"If Qingyang Realm manages to flatten the three great heavens, they will then face the entire Wu Xian Realm, with little chance of victory. It's clear to everyone what the wise choice is. Yet... I am ultimately a person of Qingyang Realm!"
Zhang Ming took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination.
In twenty years, many cultivators who entered the Wu Xian Realm might have forgotten their original intentions, but Zhang Ming always remembered that he came from Qingyang Realm, not the Wu Xian Realm.
The memories of that great battle were still vivid, where countless predecessors sacrificed their lives to stall the powerful enemies of the Ancient Wasteland, buying a chance for the future generations.
Their heroic shouts and dying words were deeply imprinted in Zhang Ming's heart.
Now that Qingyang Realm was raising the flag of rebellion again, how could Zhang Ming stand by and do nothing?
Having made up his mind, Zhang Ming first visited his mentor Yin Hong at the Eastern Peak, then bid farewell to the lord of Taichu Heaven and his old friends.
After making all the necessary arrangements, he quietly left Taichu Heaven and embarked on the journey to the Ancient Wasteland.
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