"Purple qi rising to the heavens, spanning thousands of miles, this is the phenomenon of a sage appearing in the world. A powerful figure in the Ancient Wasteland has ascended to the saintly realm!"
Upon stepping into the territory of the Ancient Wasteland, Zhang Ming looked up at the surging purple clouds and the overwhelming pressure emanating from the depths of the sky. He couldn't help but recall the ancient records of Taichu Heaven.
A sage appearing in the world.
Purple qi spanning the skies.
As a great imperial sect, Taichu Heaven had detailed records of the signs of a sage's birth.
However, Zhang Ming never expected that upon entering the Ancient Wasteland, he would personally witness such a heaven-shaking scene.
"Among the three major sects of the Ancient Wasteland, the one with the deepest foundation is undoubtedly the Ancient Wasteland's sect master, Gu Tiangang. He possesses the Ancient Wasteland Sacred Body and is most likely to be the first to enter the saintly realm with the advent of the Golden Era..."
Zhang Ming's brows furrowed, and his expression became solemn.
Although he did not know who had ascended to the saintly realm at this moment, the likelihood of it being Gu Tiangang was undoubtedly high.
The gap between a sixth-tier true monarch at perfection and a seventh-tier sage was clear in Zhang Ming's mind.
Since the Celestial Court's simulated combat function was activated, he had frequently entered it to hone himself, experiencing the power of sages and even using Gu Tiangang as a simulation target.
Despite having advanced to the mid-sixth tier, Zhang Ming could not withstand the perfected true monarch Gu Tiangang and was easily slain.
This was the disparity of the sacred body level.
Each leap in realm was not an easy feat.
Even at the perfected sixth tier, a sacred body at the same level possessed power far beyond that of ordinary cultivators.
The pressure Gu Tiangang exerted on Zhang Ming was comparable to that of an early seventh-tier star beast.
A perfected sixth-tier Gu Tiangang was already formidable; now that he had ascended to the saintly realm, his strength must be even more terrifying.
At this critical moment when Qingyang Realm was preparing to counterattack the Ancient Wasteland, Gu Tiangang's ascent to the saintly realm was undoubtedly a severe blow.
However.
Zhang Ming had unwavering confidence in the sovereign of Qingyang Realm.
Even if Gu Tiangang achieved sainthood, he would likely find it difficult to shake that existence, given the mysterious means of the Celestial Court's chat group, which was beyond the grasp of ordinary people.
"Qingyang Realm has not yet officially launched its counterattack. The primary task now is to investigate the true situation of the sects in the Ancient Wasteland."
Zhang Ming thought to himself and resolutely headed in the direction of the sage's phenomenon.
...
Meanwhile.
As Zhang Ming entered the Ancient Wasteland, many powerful figures from various factions also stepped into the territory, seemingly with clear goals, heading straight for the sects of the Ancient Wasteland.
At the same time.
Within Qingyang Realm.
Lu Qingyang, observing the sage's tribulation through the eyes of his followers, felt a heavy heart, "Gu Tiangang has ascended to the saintly realm!"
Gu Tiangang's advancement to the saintly realm signified the complete dissolution of the immortality shackles in the Wu Xian Realm, the official commencement of the Golden Era, and the onset of an era filled with endless conflicts.
Although Lu Qingyang was at the seventh tier, as a celestial tree of the Dao, he had never personally experienced the tribulation of a sage.
Tribulations arise from the Dao of Heaven. How could the Dao impose tribulation on itself?
Therefore, Lu Qingyang had never felt the power of a sage's tribulation.
But through the eyes of his followers, he sensed the terrifying power of a sage, clearly surpassing the extreme of the sixth tier.
Thus.
Lu Qingyang decided to enter the simulated combat.
At the moment Gu Tiangang ascended to the saintly realm, Lu Qingyang had captured a wisp of his aura through the eyes of his followers, allowing for perfect simulation now.
However, the difference was that while the seventh-tier Gu Tiangang was manifested, the perfected sixth-tier Gu Tiangang remained available for simulation.
In other words, the Celestial Court could capture the strength of a cultivator at any stage. Even if the cultivator advanced, the lower-tier simulation target would not disappear.
This time, Lu Qingyang entered the simulated combat not to challenge the perfected sixth-tier Gu Tiangang but to directly simulate his state after advancing to the seventh-tier sage.
As the sage Gu Tiangang appeared, terrifying pressure emanated from him. Compared to his perfected sixth-tier state, the strength of the now saintly sect master of the Ancient Wasteland had undergone a remarkable transformation.
Judging by his aura alone, Gu Tiangang was even more frightening than a star beast.
In an instant.
The two engaged in a fierce simulated battle.
...
Soon.
Lu Qingyang's consciousness returned from the simulated combat, reflecting on the intense battle just now, and his last bit of concern about Gu Tiangang dissipated.
No suspense.
Even with Gu Tiangang's ascent to the saintly realm, he was still instantly defeated by Lu Qingyang going all out.
Lu Qingyang had expected this outcome.
No matter how strong Gu Tiangang was, he was only a newcomer to the saintly realm. Lu Qingyang, who could easily defeat a late seventh-tier Divine Lightning Saint, had no fear of a newly ascended Gu Tiangang.
However, for the sake of caution, Lu Qingyang had expended incense offerings to simulate Gu Tiangang's strength.
The final result was as Lu Qingyang anticipated.
Moreover.
From this battle, Lu Qingyang saw that the Ancient Wasteland Sacred Body was indeed extraordinary. Although the star beasts possessed star bodies, in terms of strength, they were slightly inferior to the newly ascended Gu Tiangang.
Clearly.
Compared to the star beasts, Gu Tiangang had a more proficient command of the Ancient Wasteland Sacred Body, maximizing its power.
"Gu Tiangang's advancement is just the beginning. With the dissolution of the immortality shackles and the arrival of the Golden Era, the Wu Xian Realm will soon welcome a second and third sage."
"The prelude to an era of strife has slowly begun. It remains to be seen who can dominate the turbulent times!"
Lu Qingyang seemed to foresee the scene of heroes from all sides competing in the era of strife. However, the Golden Era had just begun, and it would take time for it to truly unfold.
After all, not everyone had a foundation as deep as Gu Tiangang, able to smoothly ascend to the saintly realm the moment the immortality shackles dissolved.
Then.
Lu Qingyang turned his gaze towards Qingyang Realm.
As news of the counterattack spread, the factions within Qingyang Realm were gathering their forces, but due to the large number of cultivators, it would take time to assemble the army.
This was why Lu Qingyang had not acted yet.
Moreover.
Lu Qingyang also needed to give the cultivators who had entered the Wu Xian Realm some time to rush to the Ancient Wasteland to participate in the battle.
This battle would not start unless it could be finished in one swift move, destroying the three major heavens of the Ancient Wasteland and turning it into a stepping stone for Qingyang Realm's advance into the Wu Xian Realm.
However—
Judging by the reactions of other followers, not everyone chose to head to the Ancient Wasteland. Some ignored the news, but the majority did not hesitate.
To this.
Lu Qingyang understood.
The human heart is unpredictable.
Twenty years is enough to change many things.
But now was not the time for reckoning. After this battle, the time for reckoning would come.
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