The divine lightning gradually intensified, tearing through space, a mass of dark thunderclouds, churning with fierce winds, began to spread over Chang'an City!
*Crack!*
Thick bolts of lightning, like dragons, raced across the heavens. The terrifying energy rent the void into countless fragments, deep, bottomless chasms opening like the jaws of colossal, ethereal beasts, poised to swallow all life in this place.
Tai Shang of Jian Palace, holding his sword, cast a mere glance at the thundering clouds and then lost interest.
Zi Li, the Holy Lord of Zi Yun Mountain, observed, "I thought they wouldn't come. But to make a move now, isn't it a bit late to start the show?"
When divine lightning roamed the skies, in the entire Western Region, none could match the Lei She clan in their mastery and application of such power.
Lei Yun Hall stood adjacent to the former Hai Yun Divine Dynasty. After millennia of intermarriage, their bloodlines had become almost indistinguishable, making it difficult to precisely delineate their origins.
However, this was no secret in the Western Region. The Hai Yun Divine Dynasty had been annihilated by the Great Han over a month ago, so Lei Yun Hall's intervention was understandable.
Supreme Gui Hai and Supreme Li Xin walked together. The scene before them held little interest for them. The levels of Holy Lord were, in their eyes, resolvable with a single breath. Their attendance at the Great Han's ceremony was more out of curiosity.
"Ants of the Great Han!"
"You leveled a mere hundred cities and dare to oppose me? Hoarding my prey means opposing me, and the entirety of the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty!!"
"Have you accepted the responsibility for this crime!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Not far from where Holy Lord Zi Li and Tai Shang stood in the void, a rumbling sound erupted. Suddenly, a spatial rift tore open, and a detachment of iron cavalry, shrouded in blood mist, emerged from the void passage.
This cavalry wore dark crimson armor, their mounts, steeds of the Dao God realm, their hooves shattering the void. The lances held by the soldiers ignited layers of blood mist in the air.
"Neigh!!"
"Neigh!!"
The iron cavalry quickly arrived above Chang'an City. With a tug on the reins by a soldier, countless warhorses neighed in unison and halted above the city walls.
*Boom!*
With a dull thud, a black banner, bearing the characters "Tuo Ba!" emblazoned upon it, shook free from the midst of the cavalry.
*Boom!*
The iron cavalry split in two. A middle-aged man in armor, his features unremarkable and quite ordinary, his temples flecked with white, possessed veins on his hands that were noticeably thick and prominent.
"Hai Wei King Tuo Ba Zhang of the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty!"
"The second most influential figure of the Tuo Ba clan in the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty!"
Upon seeing the cavalry's banner, countless creatures who had witnessed much were stirred. The Tuo Ba clan was the most influential family in the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty, second only to the Imperial lineage.
Tuo Ba Zhang, a late bloomer, unlike his brother Tuo Ba Li who achieved fame in his youth and had commanded the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty's military for nearly four million years.
However, Tuo Ba Zhang was not to be underestimated. Though his path of cultivation was arduous, his willingness to endure hardship had led him to his current position, commanding an army and achieving the realm of Holy Lord as the Hai Wei King!
"When did the Great Han Divine Dynasty provoke the Tuo Ba clan?"
Seeing Tuo Ba Zhang emerge from the cavalry, Holy Lord Tai Shang of Jian Palace couldn't help but change his expression. The appearance of Lei Yun Hall here was understandable, but the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty and the Great Han Divine Dynasty were separated by dozens of Dao Provinces.
Furthermore, the Great Han Divine Dynasty had only recently established itself. When did these two powers clash?
"I did hear from a junior in my clan that Tuo Ba Li's only son, Tuo Ba Jing Xing, was pursuing a Great Sage realm Chi Dragon in Wo Long Yuan. However, that Great Sage realm Chi Dragon later fled to the Great Han's borders. The rest, I don't need to say, do I?"
Holy Lord Zi Li glanced at Tai Shang and murmured.
"This Great Han Celestial Dynasty is indeed a bit arrogant. Look at the Great Han Divine Emperor. Although human, he is only a few dozen years old. To offend the Tuo Ba clan of the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty for a Great Sage realm Chi Dragon is truly regrettable."
Tai Shang shook his head, and from the bottom of his heart, he now looked down upon Yang Hao.
"That's not entirely fair. I've heard that this Great Han Divine Emperor, Yang Hao, is adept at recognizing and utilizing talent, especially his great generals who command his legions. They are all prodigies among humans, possessing terrifying combat power capable of slaying opponents of higher realms. Otherwise, how could the Great Han have swept through these hundred cities in just twenty years?"
Holy Lord Zi Li disagreed to some extent.
"Even if these human prodigies of the Great Han can fight beyond their realm, so what? Having just established itself, the Great Han has already made enemies of Lei Yun Hall and the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty. Previously, I heard that the annihilated Yao Guang had close ties with the Magic Sea Marsh and Tai Xuan Palace."
Tai Shang continued, "Half a month ago, a disciple of my Jian Palace saw the disheveled Divine Emperor Yao Guang in a city at the foot of Tai Xuan Palace!"
"Oh!"
Hearing this, Holy Lord Zi Li's expression changed drastically. A Great Han that had just ascended to the status of Divine Dynasty was already making enemies on multiple fronts.
"Where is Li Su!"
Yang Hao looked at Lei Ce, the Fifth Hall Master of Lei Yun Hall, who emerged from the void, and Tuo Ba Zhang's cavalry, hovering above the city walls.
"Your subject is here!"
Li Su, from the ranks of military generals, stepped forward.
"Slay the enemy!"
Yang Hao's words echoed, stunning countless beings, some even cursing aloud. Did this Divine Emperor of the Great Han not understand the deep foundations of the two opposing powers?
If the Zhu Lu Sacred Sect, Heng Tian Immortal Dynasty, and Qing Xuan Immortal Dynasty were considered the three great overlords of the Western Region, then the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty and Lei Yun Hall were the second tier.
You, who have only just entered the ranks of Divine Dynasties, a human no older than thirty, dare to be so arrogant!
"Hahaha!!"
Lei Ce's laughter erupted upon hearing this. A ruler of a Divine Dynasty so foolish was destined for ruin.
Slay him!
On what basis!
Relying on Li Su, a mere Great Sage realm human?
"Presumptuous!"
Li Su, who had bowed respectfully, turned his head. With a grip, a long saber materialized. Layers of flames ignited on his back armor, and a battle bow was directly condensed. Holding the long saber, Li Su ascended step by step from the square of the Xuan Zheng Hall, layers of surging killing intent reaching their peak with each stride!
On this square, there were dozens of formidable figures among the military generals. The Divine Emperor Yang Hao had personally ordered him to fight, naturally trusting him. More importantly, as he had just appeared, he urgently needed battle achievements to establish his foothold within the army.
"Li Su? Have Meng Tian and Guan Yu come out to die!"
"You are not qualified!"
Seeing Li Su ascending step by step, before Lei Ce could even speak, Tuo Ba Zhang, standing before the iron cavalry, his eyes closed, projecting an aura of immense power, exuded a chilling killing intent, completely disregarding Li Su!
"Is that so!"
Li Su coldly snorted, without further words. With a flick of his wrist, a saber glow, burning with Qilin divine fire, split the heavens and earth. This saber glow silenced all beings present.