Chapter 425. Intimidation, One Hundred Thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals
"I understand. There is no need to explain too much."
Jiang Ningxian spoke with a smile. "In short, as long as you are fine, that is enough. What matters most for us now is getting through this chaotic situation. After that, everything will become much better."
Setting aside the Eternals and the Ji Clan for the moment, the various starfields were all watching the Celestial Court and this world like predators eyeing prey.
Why? Simply because they believed Earth had only just recovered and did not have many powerful experts. They believed it was not a starfield on the same level as their own, so they did not take it seriously.
The moment an opportunity appeared, they would make a large-scale move and completely divide up this world's resources and inheritances. However, if one day the Celestial Court displayed powerful strength of its own and made every living being take it seriously, then things would be different.
Earth's crises would be greatly reduced. A weak enemy would only give others the desire to annex it. But a powerful enemy inflicted fear, and in some cases, even forced cooperation. The weak were prey to the strong, and the strong were supreme. This principle applied across the entire universe as well.
"That is why I want to take the initiative. If we do not do this, I fear the entire universe will never see the Celestial Court," Lu Yuan said with a smile. This was precisely his plan. After all, at this point, schemes no longer held much meaning. Only a display of might would make enemies feel apprehension.
"In that case, let us wait and see." Jiang Ningxian smiled as well, clearly looking forward to it.
Afterward, the two said nothing more. They chatted for a few sentences, then parted ways.
For the following period of time, in accordance with Lu Yuan's orders, the Celestial Court acted completely contrary to its usual manner. When facing those who actively provoked them, they struck with ruthless force, especially those Outer Cosmos beings that took the initiative to approach the five supercities with unknown intentions. They were shown no courtesy whatsoever.
Within a short month, people from the Yin Sparrow Race, the Celestial Race, the Nether Bull Clan, the Three-Headed Ghost Race, and others were basically all killed. Sage Realm, Lesser Sages, and even Great Sages were not spared. All were slain.
One stone stirred up a thousand waves.
Although the Celestial Court had done similar things before, this time, they were truly too proactive. They did not even explain. They simply acted. In truth, those Outer Cosmos beings knew that they had broken the rules of the Celestial Court, or more accurately, the rules Lu Yuan had set. Before this, however, the Celestial Court would always issue a warning first, then act afterward. It had been nothing like now.
Some races could not swallow their anger and directly confronted the Celestial Court, sending out powerful existences. There were even Immortals secretly assisting. But very soon, new word spread. The Immortal who had actively provoked them had been gravely wounded and had nearly perished.
This shocked countless people. They wondered if Lu Yuan had personally acted. But accurate information soon arrived—it was the Jiang Clan.
Indeed, the Jiang Clan, which had always been kind and low-key, had now made the same move as the Celestial Court.
"What are they trying to do? Are they declaring war on the entire universe?"
"They are indeed too arrogant. They acted directly without even giving notice. Who does things like that?"
"If they truly push us too far, we will unite and join the Eternals and the Ji Clan. I refuse to believe they will still dare act recklessly."
"Oh, is that so? Then you go. We will definitely support you. Just do not bring us along."
The Outer Cosmos beings were all indignant. They felt that they had merely gone slightly too far and had not threatened the people of this world. The Celestial Court's actions were too arrogant, so they wanted to unite and make the other side feel apprehension.
However, not everyone shared this idea, especially those who had seen Lu Yuan before. One after another, they expressed that they would not participate.
The reason was very simple. They all knew he was forceful and domineering. If one did not actively provoke him, that was one thing. But if one angered him, then one would truly have to endure his thunderous wrath.
After all, he was no longer in the Sage Realm. He was an Immortal, a powerful expert even across the entire universe. Moreover, not long ago, he had directly killed the projections of two Holy Sons. For some weaker races, one careless move might lead to them being wiped out directly. How would they dare provoke him again?
Therefore, this fragile alliance was not merely easy to break; it could not even be established to be broken.
Under the Celestial Court's proactive attacks, those Outer Cosmos beings had no choice but to put away their little schemes. They focused instead on seizing some famous mountains and great rivers. However, as time passed, many places had already been completely occupied. The more famous ones were basically no exception.
Of course, greater fame meant that the race making a move was stronger.
Lu Yuan had also estimated that the reason the Eternals and the Ji Clan had still not acted was because they were doing this as well. They hoped to obtain that wisp of Great Age's Providence, likely feeling that it was more important than him.
That was fine as well. It gave him ample time.
Lu Yuan used the Providence produced by the Nine Tripod Cauldrons to confer titles upon another group of people. Over the next few months, the names on the Investiture Edict reached more than one hundred thousand.
They were truly one hundred thousand Celestial Soldiers and Generals.
Of course, this number looked exaggerated, but that was all. After all, truly powerful younger-generation figures like Zhu Qingyu were still few in number. But that did not matter. With such a foundation, would they still fear being unable to cultivate powerful experts in the future?
Lu Yuan was very confident in this. Everything was proceeding according to his expectations.
At the same time, he was also adapting to the Providence from the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, hoping to use it better. Lu Yuan knew that one day, he would face a true test, a true great battle. At that time, if his own strength was insufficient, all his previous efforts might be wasted.
What pleasantly surprised him was that during this process, Lu Yuan discovered that his own realm and cultivation seemed to have begun improving as well. This shocked him, because before this, he had felt nothing at all. The Immortal Realm was too powerful. Even if there was improvement, it should not have been much.
However, things were different now. This improvement seemed extremely obvious.
Could it be due to the Providence from the Nine Tripod Cauldrons?
Lu Yuan thought of this, then entered seclusion once more.
On this very day, atop a vast mountain somewhere, powerful auras continuously gathered. Each aura represented a powerful expert, an Immortal.
There were two figures at the head. One was the Ji Clan's Third Ancestor, and the other was an old man of the Eternals. Both of them were Grotto-Heaven Immortals. Across the entire universe, they could be considered apex powerhouses.
They sat facing each other. Beside them were the two Holy Sons of the Eternals and the Ji Clan.
"So much time has passed. What needed to be done is almost done." The Ji Clan's Third Ancestor was the first to speak. "Now, it is time to proceed with another matter, is it not?" His tone was calm, but a faint trace of killing intent flashed across his eyes.
"Naturally." Across from him, the old man of the Eternals spoke as well. "This time, our goal is not only that person. More importantly, it is Mount Tai!"