War God Hall!
Feng Clan!
Both are imperial-level sects and families at the pinnacle of the Central State. The former was founded by a great emperor, while the latter is a family inheriting the bloodline of a great emperor. Their status and prestige far surpass that of Ancient Wasteland Heaven.
Even at its peak, Ancient Wasteland Heaven was merely at the quasi-emperor level, with a significant gap separating it from true imperial-level forces.
However, this gap is as vast as the difference between clouds and mud.
At this moment.
The arrival of experts from Taichu Heaven, War God Hall, and the Feng Clan was truly astonishing.
Even Gu Tiangang, the leader of Ancient Wasteland Heaven, was visibly surprised, not expecting multiple imperial-level forces to send their experts in person.
But soon, Gu Tiangang's face broke into a warm smile.
No matter what, the fact that this saintly banquet attracted several imperial-level forces would undoubtedly shock the Ancient Wasteland's domain.
In an instant.
Gu Tiangang seated these esteemed guests of imperial-level forces in the honored seats and assigned elders from his sect to accompany them personally. As the master of the domain and a foremost sage, he naturally needed to maintain his dignity.
Otherwise, it would seem too humble for a sect master.
At the honored seats, Zhang Ming glanced around at the other equally disguised experts, a slight smile on his lips. He said, "I've long heard that War God Hall and the Feng Clan each have an exceptional prodigy. Seeing them today, they indeed live up to their reputation."
"I, Gu Fang, never expected to meet Daoist Zhang here."
Gu Fang responded with a smile. The two seemed like old acquaintances, conversing amicably without any formality.
With the arrival of the three imperial-level forces, the later arriving factions could no longer draw much attention.
Soon.
The saintly banquet officially commenced.
Many cultivators came forward to pay their respects.
After all, as the first sage in the Ancient Wasteland's domain, Gu Tiangang enjoyed supreme honor and reverence wherever he went.
During this time.
Some factions attempted to establish friendly relations with Taichu Heaven and other imperial-level forces. While Zhang Ming and his peers responded, they did not display excessive enthusiasm.
This demeanor, rather than offending others, made them more delighted to receive a response.
For them, the pride of the prodigies of imperial-level forces was to be expected. If they were too approachable, it would seem unusual.
While conversing.
Zhang Ming and his peers kept an eye on the dynamics of the Celestial Court chat group. They knew well that after Gu Tiangang's ascension, Qingyang Immortal Kingdom's offensive would not be delayed.
Their journey to Ancient Wasteland Heaven, under the guise of imperial-level forces, was to secretly investigate Gu Tiangang and Ancient Wasteland Heaven's true situation.
...
Qingyang Realm.
Northern Region.
Five great ancient cities stood tall, housing an army of a million strong.
This was the elite force of Qingyang Immortal Kingdom, with the lowest cultivation at the third tier. People like Lu Wanqing and others had even reached the sixth tier.
On top of Wanqing Ancient City.
Yang Yan, feeling the warlike spirit of the million-strong army surging like a tide, wore an expression of both pride and emotion.
"This battle, Qingyang Immortal Kingdom will undoubtedly win!"
Twenty years ago, in that bloody war, Qingyang Immortal Kingdom had only a handful of fifth-tier true persons leading the army, with fewer than a thousand fourth-tier cultivators.
In that battle.
Every cultivator above the first tier was pushed onto the battlefield, resulting in extremely heavy casualties.
Today.
After twenty years of accumulation, Qingyang Immortal Kingdom was no longer what it used to be.
At this moment, the kingdom had five sixth-tier true monarchs, two hundred fifth-tier true persons, over ten thousand fourth-tier dragon transformation cultivators, and ninety thousand other cultivators at the third tier.
This was a formidable force.
In terms of top-tier power alone, Qingyang Immortal Kingdom might not match Ancient Wasteland Heaven, but in terms of cultivators below the sixth tier, even the combined might of the three great heavens would struggle against it.
After all.
In the three great heavens, fifth-tier true persons were already at the elder level.
Even with the deep foundations of the three great heavens, the number of fifth-tier true persons could be counted in dozens.
As for fourth-tier dragon transformation cultivators, having a thousand would be their limit.
This was the current foundation of Qingyang Immortal Kingdom.
However—
Yang Yan felt no fear.
Qingyang Immortal Kingdom could mobilize all the top forces of Qingyang Realm for this campaign, whereas the three great heavens of the Ancient Wasteland could not do the same.
After all, no matter how powerful the three great heavens were, they only dominated one region and had not yet truly ruled the entire Ancient Wasteland.
Even the sacred lands and divine dynasties established by great emperors could not make all sects and cultivators genuinely submit.
In comparison, Qingyang Immortal Kingdom's advantage was clear.
"Report to Elder Yang, all cultivators are assembled and awaiting the kingdom's command!"
An official from the kingdom hurried forward, bowing to report.
Receiving Lu Qingyang's order, Yang Yan waved his hand and loudly commanded, "Set out!"
No need for excessive words.
The brief command "set out" was filled with intense killing intent.
With this order.
The million-strong army marched out grandly.
Led by the five great ancient trees, including Lu Wanqing, they were the first to cross the bronze gate, paving the way for the army.
As the only remaining sixth-tier true monarchs in Qingyang Realm, they were the most suitable to lead the charge.
Soon.
Beyond the bronze gate, violent tremors and signs of fierce battle erupted.
From the perspective of his followers, Lu Qingyang, in his form of a divine tree, sensed a fierce battle unfolding in the Ancient Wasteland.
The three great heavens had set up formations at the gate between the realms. Although Lu Wanqing and the others had reached the sixth tier, they struggled to break through the carefully laid formations.
After all, the formations laid by the great heavens were immensely powerful, difficult for even sixth-tier true monarchs to breach easily.
At this moment.
The Ancient Wasteland was engulfed in fierce battle.
Nine fifth-tier true persons jointly activated a powerful formation, besieging Lu Wanqing and the others. Despite their best efforts, they could not break through in a short time.
At this critical juncture, a leaf silently fell from the celestial tree that Lu Qingyang had transformed into, transforming into a sharp sword intent that tore through the sky, instantly shattering the formation of the three great heavens.
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