A million cultivators surged like a tide, their momentum akin to thunder, causing even the sky to tremble.
As this vast army was about to storm Ancient Wasteland Heaven, a rift suddenly tore open in the void. A figure in black and gold robes emerged, exuding a pressure like that of a colossal beast, threatening to crush the heavens, making the million cultivators of Qingyang Immortal Kingdom's faces change drastically.
"Gu Tiangang!"
"A sage descends!"
All eyes focused instantly on the figure in the void, feeling the terrifying oppression from the sage, like a towering mountain pressing on their hearts, making it hard to breathe.
Lu Wanqing, Yang Yan, and the others also showed shock on their faces.
The pressure of a sage!
Experiencing it firsthand was far more overwhelming than imagined.
"In our last encounter, I spared you Qingyang Realm cultivators, giving you a chance to breathe. I never expected you to dare to invade again, seeking your own destruction."
"Today, I will ensure none of you return!"
Gu Tiangang's voice was icy. As he finished speaking, experts from Ancient Wasteland Heaven and various factions arrived.
In an instant, Gu Tiangang struck down with a palm, shattering space. The terrifying force surged down, causing Yang Yan and other experts' faces to pale.
The might of a sage could indeed change the heavens and the earth.
Even a casual strike was beyond the resistance of ordinary cultivators.
At this critical moment, Lu Wanqing and the five sixth-tier experts exchanged glances and launched a joint attack. Vast spiritual power burst forth, soaring into the sky.
"Boom—"
The two forces collided violently. The power of the sixth tier seemed extremely fragile before the seventh tier. Even the combined efforts of the five sixth-tier experts could not change the disadvantage.
With just one strike, Lu Wanqing and the others were thrown into a passive position, their bodies trembling as if struck by lightning, their blood churning uncontrollably.
"Hmph, the power of a sage is beyond your comprehension. However, Qingyang Realm has indeed grown. In just twenty years, you've nurtured so many cultivators."
"If given another hundred years, you might truly become a great threat to Ancient Wasteland!"
Murderous intent flickered in Gu Tiangang's eyes.
Twenty years ago, Qingyang Realm had only a handful of fifth-tier cultivators. Now, twenty years later, they had over a hundred fifth-tier cultivators, with several sixth-tier experts emerging. Such a leap in power secretly astonished the master of Ancient Wasteland Heaven, Gu Tiangang.
With Qingyang Realm's current strength, had he not ascended to sainthood, Gu Tiangang wouldn't have been confident of victory.
But now the situation had changed. As a sage, with experts from all over Ancient Wasteland gathering, and with the assistance of three imperial-level forces, annihilating a mere million cultivators of Qingyang Realm was a breeze.
"Qingyang Realm's invasion of Ancient Wasteland threatens Wu Xian Realm. As cultivators of Wu Xian Realm, it is our duty to eliminate these outsiders!"
Gu Tiangang's loud declaration invigorated all Ancient Wasteland cultivators, their eyes on Qingyang Realm's cultivators filled with killing intent.
"Kill!"
"Exterminate the outsiders!"
"How dare Qingyang Realm challenge Ancient Wasteland? They must die!"
An elder of Ancient Wasteland Heaven roared, charging towards Qingyang Realm's cultivators, followed closely by other experts, their killing intent soaring.
Meanwhile, Yang Yan's mind focused, and the sword on his back flew out, its sharp intent aiming at a fifth-tier elder of Ancient Wasteland Heaven, forcing the elder to hurriedly defend.
"Boom—"
The two forces clashed instantly.
Mountains collapsed.
The earth split apart.
The cultivators collided like ferocious beasts, unleashing a storm of destruction. Swords and blades clashed, tearing the sky apart, dimming the sun, moon, and stars.
At this moment, Gu Tiangang stepped forward, his fist shaking the mountains and rivers, targeting Lu Wanqing and the five sixth-tier experts.
The strongest in Qingyang Realm were these five. Once they were killed, the remaining cultivators would be no threat.
"Kill!"
Lu Wanqing and the others exchanged determined glances, unleashing all their combined power at the Integrating Stage, launching an assault on Gu Tiangang.
However, the gap in strength between them and Gu Tiangang was immense. In just moments, they were all spitting blood, the outcome decided.
Gu Tiangang looked at them disdainfully, as if looking at dead men.
"A bunch of ants, daring to defy a sage. You're courting death..."
He no longer wished to entangle with them and was about to use his sage power to wipe them out when he suddenly sensed a warning.
The next moment, Gu Tiangang instinctively struck back, shattering the void and nullifying a powerful punch.
When he saw the attacker, his face darkened.
"Taichu Heaven, what is the meaning of this?"
The one who attacked was Zhang Ming.
Gu Tiangang had not expected the young master of Taichu Heaven to strike at him.
"Could it be that Taichu Heaven fears me and wants to eliminate me before I prove the Dao in this era?"
In an instant, many speculations flashed through Gu Tiangang's mind.
The Golden Era was a competition for the Emperor's position. Every prodigy in this era would become a rival. Only the prodigies of the same generation, bearing supreme fortunes, had the possibility of proving the Dao and becoming an emperor.
As Gu Tiangang believed he had understood Taichu Heaven's intentions, Zhang Ming laughed loudly, his disguise gradually fading, revealing his true face.
"Lord of Ancient Wasteland, do you still remember Zhang after twenty years?"
"You are... a cultivator from Qingyang Realm!"
Gu Tiangang hesitated for a moment before recalling the past, looking at Zhang Ming with astonishment.
He never expected that a former cultivator of Qingyang Realm would now be the chief young master of Taichu Heaven.
However, shock quickly turned to realization.
He stared at Zhang Ming with cold eyes, "No wonder I couldn't find you back then. You've infiltrated Xianhuang and blended into Taichu Heaven. This is beyond my expectations!"
As the chief young master of Taichu Heaven, Zhang Ming's talent and potential were evident. The power in that earlier punch was comparable to a perfected true monarch.
In just twenty years, Zhang Ming had risen from a mere cultivator barely comparable to a True Person to such a profound level. Even Gu Tiangang felt a sense of dread at this rapid advancement.