Chapter 1308: Late Crossing Tribulation Stage

"People of Daqian, look closely! We, the people of Dayu, are all here now. We no longer fear you!" After being suppressed by the two Daqian Immortals for a long time, Guan Shanhai could finally speak with renewed confidence.

"That's right! All of us from Dayu are assembled. You old geezers from Daqian, just wait and see!"

"Today, we'll show you why Dayu was able to replace Daqian!"

"Our Emperor could step out of the Box World, proclaim himself the Heavenly Emperor, and become a cosmic overlord. Can any of you from Daqian achieve that?"

"You constantly flaunt your seniority and throw your weight around. What good is seniority? Strength is all that matters!"

The Dayu cultivators clamored. Though Guan Shanhai held a prominent position in the Dayu Dynasty, he was ultimately the second-in-command. Wu Yao was undoubtedly their true pillar of strength.

Among the venerable tribulation-stage seniors guarding the entrance to the cultivation world was a friend of Grandmaster Child. He contacted Grandmaster Child using a quantum communicator, allowing him to witness the heroic battle between Lu Yang and Wu Yao. Grandmaster Child then slightly adjusted the screen's angle so that the prisoners could also view it.

The Dayu prisoners, who had been eagerly awaiting, finally saw Wu Yao arrive.

Even with Wu Yao's extraordinary intellect, he struggled to comprehend the current situation. The arrogant-sounding voices seemed to belong to loyal Dayu cultivators, while across from them were Daqian cultivators. And were Zhongtian Emperor and Siming also there?

Wu Yao's mind was in disarray; he couldn't make sense of the situation. Not counting himself, there were already three Immortals present?

This meant he wasn't the first to be captured. Were Guan Shanhai and the others also imprisoned?

Upon reflection, it made sense. While it was rare for Immortals to decisively defeat each other, and capturing one alive was almost unheard of, Yunzhi possessed an overwhelming power that could indeed capture Guan Shanhai and the others.

Realizing this, Wu Yao probably understood the origins of Prisoner Peak. He cleared his throat and took charge, attempting to restore order.

"Everyone, please quiet down," he said. "As prisoners, this is precisely the time for us to unite. Why waste energy fighting amongst ourselves?"

"In my opinion, we should all join forces..."

"Join forces, my foot!" Siming cursed, cutting Wu Yao off. His usual refined strategist demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by sheer fury upon seeing Wu Yao.

He and Zhongtian Emperor had been perfectly hidden within the sun. Yet, that scoundrel Wu Yao had insisted on placing a seal on it, which took them a hundred thousand years to break. And this was a secret they couldn't even speak of, as it would be utterly humiliating.

Now that the true culprit was finally right in front of him, how could he call himself a man, or a cultivator with any spirit, if he didn't seek revenge?

Wu Yao frowned, not understanding why Siming was so hostile towards him. "Siming," he began, "if there's an issue, we can sit down and discuss it calmly..."

Before he could finish, Zhongtian Emperor delivered a swift kick. "Everyone, attack him!"

Just as Guan Shanhai had eagerly awaited Wu Yao's arrival, so too had Zhongtian Emperor and Siming.

Wu Yao was caught completely off guard by the kick, stumbling several steps backward in an undignified manner, barely managing to stay on his feet.

"Are you alright?" Guan Shanhai asked, steadying Wu Yao. Wu Yao was the spiritual pillar of the Dayu cultivators; he couldn't be allowed to fall, as it would severely impact morale.

Wu Yao spat on the ground. "Damn it all! It's one thing to be unable to defeat Yunzhi, but I can't even beat you old fossils? Old Guan, don't intervene; I'll handle these guys myself!"

"Come on then!" Zhongtian Emperor stood his ground, raising his palm and beckoning, an intensely provocative gesture.

With the leaders of the two great powers engaging, the remaining individuals naturally joined the fray. The two dynasties clashed once more, and dust billowed across Prisoner Peak.

"Wanfa, take three people to support the west flank!"

"Si Lei, Si Chen, you two cut off their escape route!"

Guan Shanhai and Siming stood at higher vantage points, directing their respective forces. In quieter times, they would often quarrel, each asserting the supremacy of their own dynasty. They had even simulated countless battles on sand tables, with neither side consistently victorious and neither willing to concede to the other.

Now that both forces were finally at full strength, it was time to put their theories to the test!

On Prisoner Peak, spiritual and immortal energy were unusable, Dao fruits had been removed, and physical bodies were suppressed to a very weak state. Initially, Wu Yao struggled to adapt to these conditions. The moment he engaged Zhongtian Emperor, he found himself at a disadvantage, causing the Daqian cultivators to cheer wildly, each as ferocious as a wolf or tiger.

Wu Yao possessed extraordinary comprehension. Encouraged by the cheers of the Dayu cultivators, he quickly found his rhythm, gradually adapted to the environment of Prisoner Peak, and slowly began to turn the tide. Seeing this, the Dayu cultivators' morale surged, and their ferocity became no less than that of the Daqian cultivators!

Wu Yao had come to a realization: there was no need to be so negative. The environment of Prisoner Peak was, in its own way, a form of arduous training, refining both body and mind, sharpening one's inner and outer self.

Through their exchange, Wu Yao gradually began to understand Zhongtian Emperor's concept of the Dao Fruit.

Even mortal martial artists had a saying about "meeting friends through martial arts" and communicating through combat. Cultivators could naturally do the same, especially Wu Yao, an Immortal standing at the pinnacle of cultivation.

Zhongtian Emperor's concept of the Devouring Dao Fruit embodied a grand ambition to rule the world, a quality Wu Yao lacked. If Zhongtian Emperor had taken control of the Candlestick Heaven Civilization, he would have led it to dominate the universe rather than merely plunder it.

Wu Yao was a diligent learner; otherwise, he wouldn't have mastered a hundred immortal arts. He was adept at acquiring knowledge, correcting his mistakes, and reflecting on himself, realizing that he still possessed numerous flaws.

Flaws were nothing to fear; the important thing was to correct them!

But before making any changes, he would first knock this old fossil down!

Wu Yao landed a punch squarely on Zhongtian Emperor's face. Zhongtian Emperor swayed, his footwork shifting precisely to deflect and counter the force.

Both Daqian and Dayu cultivators instinctively kept their distance from the center of the Immortal battle, wanting to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Lu Yang's claim that he was entering seclusion for a breakthrough was no mere excuse. His battle with Wu Yao had yielded significant insights; he felt his spiritual realm loosening and his comprehension of the nascent Tracing Dao Fruit deepening.

That battle had been far from as effortless as it appeared. Wu Yao proved to be an excellent opponent, exerting immense pressure on Lu Yang. Lu Yang had deliberately used this pressure to temper himself and facilitate his breakthrough.

Indeed, he succeeded.

Lu Yang sat cross-legged, his five centers facing skyward, as still as a Buddha statue. Nothing external could shake his Dao heart.

One after another, top-grade spirit stones were swiftly depleted, their essence drained, leaving behind empty husks that quickly accumulated into a small mound.

Immortal Fairy yawned, sensing that Little Yangzi's breakthrough would take a considerable amount of time. She had also expended significant energy cheering him on during his battle with Wu Yao.

Drowsily hugging her pillow, she mumbled a goodnight and drifted off to sleep.

Lu Yang sensed Immortal Fairy's movements, opened his eyes, and also wished her goodnight before continuing his seclusion.

An unknown amount of time passed. Immortal Fairy eventually sensed a change in Little Yangzi, stretched, and awoke. She noticed that Little Yangzi was covered in a thick layer of dust, indicating he had been in seclusion for a very long time.

Then, as if time were reversing, the dust on Lu Yang's body floated upwards, returning to its original state. Simultaneously, an overwhelming aura surged forth, signifying Lu Yang's breakthrough. He was now capable of multi-tasking, activating the nascent Tracing Dao Fruit even as he broke through his realm, which indicated a deeper understanding of its essence.

The cave dwelling was buffeted by the surging aura, shaking continuously. Had the dwelling not been fortified with formations beforehand, it would have long since collapsed.

Eventually, the immense aura dissipated. Lu Yang slowly regulated his breathing, and in his every inhale and exhale, faint traces of the Immortal Dao began to manifest.

After another indeterminate period, Lu Yang opened his eyes and stood up. Immortal Fairy clapped her hands in applause.

"Congratulations!" she exclaimed. "You've reached the late Tribulation Transcension stage. Little Yangzi, you're truly amazing!"