Chapter 1335: The War Begins

"What's happening?" When the mastermind released a terrifying aura, all the cultivators sensed it and trembled from the depths of their hearts.

The aura vanished in an instant, as if it had never appeared. This left them bewildered, and they went about their business, not even realizing that the cultivation world had already shifted its location.

Only those who remained at Tianmen Peak were aware of what was happening.

"Where did Xiao Zhi and the others go!" Yun Mengmeng paced anxiously. Everything was unfolding too quickly, and she couldn't make sense of the conversation between the Second-in-Command and the mastermind.

The only thing she was certain of was that the atmosphere had been incredibly tense, as if a fight could break out at any moment.

Ao Ling, Jiang Lianyi, Jin Caiwei, and others were also very anxious, wishing they could rush over and join the battle.

"Everyone, please sit down," sighed Qinghe, the most composed among them, though her trembling hands betrayed her inner turmoil.

Facing Lu Yang's sudden move to expose the mastermind, who turned out to be someone close to them, no one could remain calm after experiencing such an event.

However, this was a battle between Immortals, and as Half-Immortals, they couldn't interfere. Even watching the fight might put them at risk of becoming hostages.

They had no other option but to wait.

"Trust Lu Zhuguo. This battle was clearly pre-planned," Qinghe forced herself to calm down, recalling the entire sequence of events.

It was evident that the so-called celebration was merely a pretense to gather all the Immortals to encircle and eliminate the mastermind. Inviting the Half-Immortals was simply to make the celebration appear legitimate.

Otherwise, if only Immortals were present at the celebration, the mastermind would surely become suspicious.

Now that the facade had been dropped, the Immortals were engaged in battle, while the Half-Immortals remained at Tianmen Peak.

In the starry sky, the Immortals besieged the mastermind. It was as if the cosmos was being created anew, with chaotic energy pervading, and countless layers of space shattering.

If a veteran Tribulation Transcender had been standing nearby, they would have been torn to shreds by the spatial distortion, their soul extinguished.

This was the most powerful battle lineup in history. What was revealed in the battle against Yao Sheng was only a fraction of the mastermind's combat strength.

In a battle of this caliber, even ordinary Immortals seemed inadequate. Yun Zhi and Immortal Wuxiu, no longer concealing their true strength, joined forces, each strike demonstrating their unique ancient status!

"Be careful, everyone! Don't treat him as an Immortal; he's in the Transcendent Realm!" Lu Yang shouted loudly.

Upon learning the mastermind's true realm, everyone was instantly shocked, and their mental pressure doubled. However, their fury soon overshadowed their fear of his realm.

The mastermind's eyes were cold, gazing at Lu Yang as if he were a dead man. A cruel smile played on his lips: "Young friend Lu, you certainly know a lot!"

The mastermind hadn't expected Lu Yang to guess his realm. He likely got the inspiration from Immortal Wuxiu's cave mansion. He had been observing Lu Yang all this time and hadn't noticed any clues; Lu Yang was truly well-hidden.

"It would be even better if you could voluntarily reveal your identity," Lu Yang replied with a smile, which made the mastermind's expression grow even colder and more ruthless.

A surge of thunderous plasma, like a collapsing sky and a raging tsunami, relentlessly swept towards Lu Yang. No one recognized this type of heavenly tribulation, but everyone could sense the extreme power it contained. Even Yun Zhi dared not underestimate it.

"Cloudfall Palm."

A stellar cloud appeared, containing thousands of stars, shattering the thunderous plasma. This was Yun Zhi's true power.

The mastermind's eyes focused on the stellar cloud. Within it were not just thousands of stars, but also countless laws, all comprehended by Yun Zhi.

"So this is your true power!" For the first time in his life, the mastermind felt pressure. To possess such power before achieving Dao Integration... what would she be like if she did achieve it?

Even he, as proud as he was, had to admit that Yun Zhi's talent was as strong as his own. He had comprehended the Transcendent Realm, while Yun Zhi had comprehended the Dao Integration Realm. However, Yun Zhi's flaw lay in her incomplete Dao Heart, lacking a pure heart devoted to seeking the Dao.

If Yun Zhi could have abandoned all worldly attachments like him, she would have long since reached the Dao Integration Realm.

"Aren't you afraid of accelerating your Dao Integration process by attacking so recklessly?!" the mastermind roared, knowing Yun Zhi's weakness. Threatening Yun Zhi was one thing, but Yun Zhi had too many allies, making it difficult to counter them.

What greeted him was not Yun Zhi's reply, but Immortal Wuxiu's self-detonation.

Boom—

Immortal Wuxiu had waited for this day for far too long; she was determined to kill the mastermind here!

Immortal Wuxiu detonated herself repeatedly, turning nearby star systems into nothingness. Facing the Transcendent Realm mastermind, Immortal Wuxiu no longer concealed her strength. Her claim of fighting Yun Zhi to a standstill wasn't just talk; she had genuinely been capable of it.

Although she couldn't reach the Half-Omniscient Realm she had once attained, her cultivation was still terrifying, and her methods were unstoppable, a pure symbol of power. The mastermind was also injured by the explosions.

Immortal Qilin transformed into a majestic Qilin, radiating an aura that seemed to swallow mountains and rivers, with ambitions to dominate the universe.

He successively swiped at Immortal Suiyue, Immortal Jiuzhong, Jiang Ping'an, and Meng Junzi.

Immortal Suiyue and Immortal Jiuzhong simultaneously cried out "I surrender." Jiang Ping'an and Meng Junzi didn't understand why, but they also mimicked the surrender in earnest.

Immortal Qilin's aura surged, making him the strongest among the five.

"Qilin's Roar!"

The Qilin's roar shattered the firmament, fully displaying the might of the King of Ten Thousand Beasts. The furious anger in his heart surged forth, all directed at the mastermind.

He had usurped his best brother's body and then called him brother—unforgivable! Only death would suffice!

"How boring," the mastermind frowned. Did they think anger alone could defeat him? If so, he would be far too easily overcome.

He extended a finger, as vast as a star, piercing Immortal Qilin. Immortal Qilin vomited blood incessantly, his immortal blood scattering across the starry sky; a single drop could create a Tribulation Transcender.

"Trace Origin."

"Immortality."

Lu Yang and Immortal Wuxiu acted simultaneously, applying both 'Trace Origin' and 'Immortality' states to everyone. Any injuries they sustained would instantly heal.

Immortal Qilin, his injuries healed, lunged at the mastermind again. A gaping maw, reeking of blood, opened before him, irritating the mastermind.

The mastermind took out a piece of immortal-grade metal, refining it into a peerless immortal artifact. Chains rattled, binding Immortal Qilin, who roared but could not break free.

Immortal Jiuzhong transformed into Yin-Yang energies, while Immortal Suiyue, wielding an axe imbued with the power of time, joined the encirclement of the mastermind.

Facing the collective assault, the mastermind held his ground. As the sole Transcendent Realm expert, with the Omniscient Dao Integration cultivator not appearing, who could possibly be his match?

He feared no one and had the ability to turn the tide at any moment!

After several exchanges, Lu Yang noticed that the mastermind's techniques were very strange. It seemed he only used heavenly tribulations and artifact refining, with no other methods.

Almost simultaneously, the mastermind also realized this issue. He had imitated Immortal Yingtian for too long; even his combat techniques were those Yingtian commonly used.

"Indeed, that brat Gu Junye was right. Possessing another's body is akin to being trapped in that flesh, unable to extricate oneself.

"Since our relationship is beyond repair, why should I continue to pretend to be Immortal Yingtian? Let me show you the power of the Transcendent Realm!"