BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The gigantic golden hand descended from the heavens, and the entire battlefield trembled violently. Cracks spread across the sky as an overwhelming pressure swept through TQI City.
The demonic ships shook in the air, and countless cultivators struggled to remain standing.
The elders of the Heavenly Void Sect immediately fell to their knees.
"Welcome, First Ancestor!"
"First Ancestor, please punish these arrogant demons for humiliating our sect!"
The Holy Maiden looked toward the sky, and hope returned to her eyes.
The First Ancestor has finally arrived! Now Yuixa Ju and that mysterious Die Yuan will pay for everything!
Meanwhile, the Demonic King rose from his throne, his expression unusually serious.
"That aura… His cultivation has already surpassed the Martial Saint Realm by an enormous margin."
One of his generals swallowed nervously.
"My King, should we retreat?"
The Demonic King shook his head.
"No. I want to see how that mysterious Die Yuan responds."
His gaze shifted toward Die Yuan.
Surprisingly, Die Yuan remained completely calm, as if the terrifying pressure didn't affect him at all.
The gigantic golden hand gradually disappeared.
A moment later, an old man dressed in magnificent golden robes emerged from the crack in the sky. A golden crown floated above his head, and countless mysterious symbols revolved around his body.
His mere presence caused the surrounding spiritual energy to tremble.
Name: Aurelius Vane
Title: First Ancestor of the Heavenly Void Sect
Cultivation: Great Saint Realm
Origin: Immortal Realm
Aurelius looked down at the battlefield. His gaze passed over the fallen bodyguards, the frightened Holy Maiden, and the countless cultivators below.
Finally, his eyes stopped on Yuixa Ju.
"So, you're the little brat who dared to humiliate my sect?"
Yuixa remained silent.
Aurelius narrowed his eyes.
"Didn't you hear me? Kneel!"
BOOM!
An invisible force descended upon Yuixa, attempting to crush him beneath the First Ancestor's pressure.
However, Yuixa didn't even move. The black demonic energy surrounding his body flickered for a moment before returning to normal.
Aurelius's expression changed slightly.
Interesting. He's resisting my pressure despite being so young.
He then turned toward Die Yuan.
"And you. I can sense that you're the one protecting him. Tell me your name and explain why you're interfering with the affairs of my sect."
Die Yuan casually scratched his cheek.
"You're making a lot of noise for someone who has only just arrived."
The entire battlefield fell silent.
"He's insane!"
"That's the First Ancestor! He's a Great Saint!"
"Doesn't he understand the difference between them?"
Aurelius's expression turned cold.
"You insolent fool! Do you have any idea who you're speaking to?"
Die Yuan smiled.
"An old man who talks too much?"
Even the Demonic King was speechless.
This man is either ridiculously powerful or completely insane!
Aurelius's eyes flashed with golden light.
"Very well. Since you wish to court death, I'll grant your wish!"
He raised his right hand.
Great Saint Art — Heavenly Golden Palm!
A gigantic golden palm materialized above TQI City. Its enormous shadow covered the battlefield, and the surrounding space began distorting under its pressure.
Aurelius brought his palm down toward Die Yuan.
BOOOOOOM!
The golden palm descended with enough force to shake the surrounding mountains.
Yuixa looked toward his master.
"Master, should I—"
"Stand aside," Die Yuan replied casually.
He lifted one finger.
Void Suppression!
The gigantic golden palm suddenly stopped in midair.
No matter how much power Aurelius poured into his technique, the palm couldn't descend another inch.
"What?!"
Aurelius increased his power.
Ten percent.
Thirty percent.
Fifty percent!
Yet the golden palm remained completely motionless.
Die Yuan yawned.
"Is that your attack? I thought a Great Saint would be more impressive."
Aurelius's face darkened.
"Impossible! How can you stop my Great Saint Art with a single finger?!"
Die Yuan gently flicked his finger.
CRACK!
The enormous golden palm shattered into countless fragments of golden light.
Not a single fragment reached TQI City.
The entire battlefield was stunned.
Their First Ancestor's attack had been destroyed effortlessly!
Aurelius stared at Die Yuan, his arrogance gradually replaced by caution.
"Who exactly are you? Which immortal force do you belong to? Are you a disciple of one of the Ancient Immortal Emperors?"
Die Yuan placed his hands behind his back.
"Die Yuan."
"Die Yuan?" Aurelius repeated, searching his memories for the name.
He had lived for countless years and encountered many powerful experts throughout the Immortal Realm, yet he couldn't recall anyone with that name.
Die Yuan chuckled.
"Why do you need to know? Are you planning to introduce yourself to my master?"
Aurelius clenched his fists.
"You—!"
He stopped himself before saying anything further.
After witnessing Die Yuan destroy his attack with a single finger, he understood that reckless action could lead to disaster.
Nevertheless, he wasn't willing to accept the humiliation.
"Fine! Since you refuse to reveal your background, I'll force you to show your true strength!"
His hands came together, and the golden laws surrounding his body began to transform.
Great Saint Domain — Golden Heaven!
RUMBLE!
Golden light spread across thousands of miles. The entire battlefield was enveloped by Aurelius's domain, and countless golden swords appeared in the sky.
"Die!"
Thousands of golden swords shot toward Die Yuan from every direction.
Die Yuan looked at the incoming attacks and sighed.
"So you really want to see my strength?"
His expression gradually changed.
"Then don't regret it."
THUMP!
A strange sound echoed throughout the battlefield.
Die Yuan's ordinary aura began to disappear. In its place, terrifying crimson energy erupted from his body.
The sky darkened.
The earth trembled.
The surrounding space began to distort violently.
Yuixa stared at his master in disbelief.
"Master… what is that aura?"
The Holy Maiden felt her legs weaken.
"N-No… this kind of pressure…"
Even Aurelius's expression changed dramatically.
Impossible! He's been hiding his true strength this entire time!
Die Yuan opened his eyes. His pupils had turned a deep crimson.
"Since you're so eager to see my strength, I'll grant your wish."
He spread his arms.
"TRUE FORM — EIGHT-ARMED RED DEMON BODY!"
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A terrifying transformation took place.
Eight enormous arms emerged from Die Yuan's transformed body, each surrounded by crimson flames and mysterious black markings. His entire body turned a deep, blood-red color, while a dark crimson aura spread across the heavens.
Behind him, the sky split apart as if the world itself could no longer withstand his existence.
His eight arms moved slowly, and every movement caused the surrounding space to ripple.
For the first time, Die Yuan had revealed his true form before everyone present.
The battlefield fell completely silent.
One elder of the Heavenly Void Sect trembled.
"That… that isn't an ordinary transformation technique!"
Another elder swallowed nervously.
"No! His physical body alone feels like an ancient calamity!"
Aurelius stared at Die Yuan, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
"So, this is your true form… Interesting! But don't assume that a strange appearance is enough to defeat me!"
Die Yuan smiled.
"Let's see how long you can keep talking."
Aurelius roared and controlled his golden swords to attack from every direction.
But Die Yuan didn't retreat.
Two of his arms formed seals, while the remaining six moved simultaneously.
Eight-Armed Art — Crimson Heaven Breaker!
BOOOOOOM!
Eight crimson strikes erupted from his arms, shattering countless golden swords.
The two forces collided, shaking the entire region.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Golden light and crimson energy repeatedly exploded across the sky. Demonic Alliance cultivators and righteous cultivators alike were forced to retreat as shockwaves swept across the battlefield.
Aurelius raised his hand and summoned a gigantic golden spear.
"Golden Heaven Piercing Spear!"
The spear shot forward with terrifying speed.
Die Yuan blocked it with two of his arms, but the force behind the attack pushed him backward through the sky.
Aurelius immediately followed up with a golden palm strike.
Die Yuan countered with four crimson fists.
KRAAAAAASH!
Their attacks collided, producing a shockwave that shattered the clouds above them.
For several moments, the two fought at astonishing speed.
Golden palms clashed with crimson fists. Saintly laws collided with mysterious crimson energy. Every exchange shook the battlefield.
Neither side could gain a decisive advantage.
The Demonic King stood frozen.
"They're actually fighting on equal terms!"
A Heavenly Void Sect elder shouted excitedly.
"Ancestor Aurelius is a Great Saint! How can someone from the Lower World match him?!"
But Aurelius wasn't celebrating.
He had already realized something disturbing.
His true form has increased his strength tremendously… and he still hasn't revealed the full extent of his power.
Meanwhile, Die Yuan glanced at the golden domain surrounding him.
Then he smiled.
"Not bad, old man. You really are stronger than the others I've encountered."
Aurelius sneered.
"Don't praise yourself too early! This is only the beginning!"
He raised both hands.
Great Saint Art — Ten Thousand Golden Heaven Swords!
The entire sky filled with golden swords, each containing a portion of Aurelius's Great Saint power.
With a single movement of his fingers, all the swords rushed toward Die Yuan simultaneously.
Die Yuan's eight arms spread apart.
"Enough warm-up."
His crimson aura began to condense around all eight arms.
"TRUE FORM ART — EIGHTFOLD CRIMSON ANNIHILATION!"
All eight arms struck simultaneously.
Eight enormous crimson attacks merged into a single devastating force, tearing through the incoming golden swords and smashing directly into Aurelius's domain.
CRAAAAAAAAACK!
The golden sky shattered.
Aurelius's Great Saint Domain collapsed completely.
BOOOOOOM!
Aurelius was blasted backward, crossing thousands of meters before finally stabilizing himself. His golden robe was torn, and his face had become pale.
The entire battlefield was stunned.
The First Ancestor of the Heavenly Void Sect—a Great Saint from the Immortal Realm—had been forced into a disadvantage!
Die Yuan hovered in the sky, his eight arms spread apart.
"Now, do you finally understand the difference?"
Aurelius gritted his teeth.
He had never imagined that someone from the Lower World could force him into such a situation.
But instead of surrendering, he took out a golden jade talisman.
The moment it appeared, the laws of the surrounding space began to tremble.
"Die Yuan! You've forced me to use a method I never wished to reveal in this Lower World!"
He crushed the talisman.
CRACK!
A pillar of golden light shot into the heavens.
Aurelius roared toward the light.
"Great Ancestors of the Immortal World! Your descendant requests assistance! A mysterious powerhouse has appeared in the Lower World and threatens the dignity of our Heavenly Void Sect!"
A moment later, several terrifying auras descended through the spatial passage.
One voice rang out first.
"Aurelius Vane, what happened? Why have you disturbed our cultivation?"
Another voice followed.
"Who dares to challenge the Heavenly Void Sect?"
Three enormous figures appeared behind Aurelius, each surrounded by an aura vastly superior to that of ordinary cultivators.
The Demonic King nearly lost his balance.
"Three more powerhouses from the Immortal World?!"
Aurelius immediately bowed.
"Ancestors, this is the enemy. His true form is extraordinarily powerful. Please help me suppress him!"
The three Immortal World powerhouses turned toward Die Yuan.
Their expressions quickly became serious as they sensed the terrifying crimson aura surrounding his eight-armed body.
One of them spoke coldly.
"Young man, kneel and surrender. We may spare your life if you hand over whatever treasures you possess."
Die Yuan looked at the three newcomers.
Then he glanced at Aurelius.
Suddenly, he laughed.
"Hahaha…"
Everyone froze.
Aurelius frowned.
"What's so funny?"
Die Yuan slowly withdrew some of his crimson aura, although his eight-armed red body remained unchanged.
"Nothing. I was simply wondering why you needed to call so many people just to deal with me."
His gaze shifted toward the distant sky.
"Since you've called your ancestors, I suppose it's only fair that I call mine."
The smile on his face widened.
"After all, I haven't seen him in quite some time."
Die Yuan raised one of his eight arms and lightly tapped the air.
TOK!
A mysterious ripple spread through space.
The heavens suddenly turned dark.
The three Immortal World powerhouses immediately sensed something wrong.
"What is this?!"
"Why are the laws of this world changing?"
"No… this isn't the aura of a Great Saint!"
A massive shadow appeared beyond the clouds.
Then a deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Who dares disturb my descendant?"
The voice was calm, yet the moment it rang out, the three Immortal World powerhouses felt an unbearable pressure descend upon their souls.
Aurelius's face lost all color.
"Th-this presence…"
A colossal spatial gate opened behind Die Yuan.
An ancient figure stepped out, dressed in a dark robe. His expression was peaceful, and his hands rested casually behind his back.
He didn't release any visible aura.
He didn't even glance at the countless cultivators below.
Yet the moment he arrived, the entire battlefield became silent.
Die Yuan turned toward him and smiled.
"Ancestor Gu Jen, you've finally arrived."
The old man looked at Die Yuan's eight-armed red body and nodded.
"So you've finally decided to show this form to the world. It seems you've been having an interesting time."
Die Yuan chuckled.
"Just a little entertainment."
Lord Gu Jen turned his gaze toward Aurelius and the three Immortal World powerhouses.
His expression remained unchanged.
"So, these are the people who forced my descendant to reveal his true form?"
Aurelius trembled.
"Y-You… who are you?"
Lord Gu Jen didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he took one casual step forward.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The entire battlefield shook.
Aurelius and the three Immortal World powerhouses were instantly forced to their knees, unable to control their own bodies.
Their faces were filled with absolute terror.
One of them screamed.
"Impossible! How can a Lower World possess an existence like you?!"
Lord Gu Jen finally spoke.
"Lower World?"
He glanced at the man.
"How amusing. You believe that coming from the Immortal World makes you superior to everyone else?"
He raised a single finger.
"Kneel properly."
CRAAAAACK!
The pressure increased.
The three Immortal World powerhouses were pressed even deeper into the ground, and Aurelius could no longer lift his head.
The elders of the Heavenly Void Sect watched in horror.
Their First Ancestor had called for help from the Immortal World.
Yet now, even those reinforcements couldn't stand before a single old man.
Lord Gu Jen casually waved his sleeve.
WHOOSH!
The golden laws surrounding Aurelius were erased. The three Immortal World powerhouses lost control of their cultivation techniques, and the spatial passage behind them collapsed.
In a single movement, Lord Gu Jen had neutralized all four opponents.
He hadn't even drawn a weapon.
Die Yuan watched with a satisfied smile.
"Ancestor, you're still as terrifying as ever."
Lord Gu Jen gave him a sideways glance.
"And you're still causing trouble wherever you go."
Die Yuan laughed.
"What can I say? They wouldn't leave me alone."
Lord Gu Jen sighed before turning back toward Aurelius.
"Now, tell me. Who sent you to this Lower World, and what exactly were you planning to do here?"
Aurelius struggled to raise his head.
"I… I am a descendant of the Heavenly Void Sect of the Immortal World! You cannot treat me like this!"
Lord Gu Jen shook his head.
"You're still talking about your background?"
He lifted his hand again.
Aurelius's golden robe trembled as an invisible force lifted him into the air.
"Very well. Since you value your sect's reputation so much, let us see whether your sect's founder remembers you."
One of the three Immortal World powerhouses immediately shouted.
"Wait! Do you understand what you're saying? The founder of our sect is an extraordinary existence in the Immortal World! Even you—"
Lord Gu Jen turned his eyes toward him.
The man immediately fell silent.
"Even me, what?"
The old man's voice remained calm.
"Finish your sentence."
The Immortal World powerhouse lowered his head, unable to utter another word.
Lord Gu Jen then looked toward the collapsed spatial passage.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Interesting. Someone has already noticed my return."
Die Yuan looked toward the sky.
"Ancestor, is someone else coming?"
Lord Gu Jen nodded.
"Yes. And unlike these four, this person might actually be worth speaking to."
Far beyond the Lower World, inside the depths of the Immortal World, an ancient palace began to tremble.
A sealed chamber slowly opened.
An old voice echoed through the palace.
"Lord Gu Jen… has returned?"
Several ancient figures opened their eyes simultaneously.
One of them stood up from his throne.
"After all these years, he has finally appeared again."
Another ancient existence spoke in a solemn voice.
"Send word to the Heavenly Void Sect. Tell them not to provoke the man standing beside Lord Gu Jen."
But it was already too late.
Back in TQI City, Lord Gu Jen looked toward Aurelius.
"You wanted to summon your ancestors to suppress my descendant. Now, I shall give you the opportunity to summon someone who can actually speak with me."
He waved his sleeve.
A new spatial gate began forming above the battlefield.
Its other end connected directly to the Immortal World.
The three Immortal World powerhouses stared at it in disbelief.
One of them whispered:
"He's opening a passage to the Immortal World by himself… without using any formation or artifact?"
Lord Gu Jen smiled faintly.
"Let us see who comes first."
Die Yuan crossed his eight arms and watched with interest.
"Ancestor, should I prepare some tea?"
Lord Gu Jen glanced at him.
"You're still joking at a time like this?"
Die Yuan grinned.
"Of course. The real show hasn't even started yet."
At that moment, a terrifying aura emerged from the other side of the spatial gate.
The entire Immortal World passage trembled.
A voice filled with ancient authority echoed across the battlefield.
"Who has summoned me?"
Lord Gu Jen finally raised his head.
His peaceful smile slowly returned.
"Long time no see."
The golden light behind the spatial gate intensified.
And for the first time since Lord Gu Jen's arrival, even the Demonic King felt that something truly extraordinary was about to happen.
The terrifying aura coming from the spatial gate continued to spread across the battlefield.
The three Immortal World powerhouses looked toward the gate with hope. They believed that someone powerful enough to challenge Lord Gu Jen had finally arrived.
Aurelius Vane struggled to raise his head.
"Senior! Please save us! This man has humiliated the Heavenly Void Sect!"