143: Lu Ya battles a late-stage Immortal Venerable general with illusory abilities.

Facing the two Early Stage Immortal Venerable followers, Lu Fan frowned and instinctively prepared to refuse.

But on second thought, his Master was currently in need of manpower. Taking in two Immortal Venerables was a guaranteed profit with no loss, so he agreed.

"I can take you in, but you must understand one thing: the one you follow is not me, but my Master, the Emperor Lord of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty, Gu Jixiao!"

As he spoke these words, Lu Fan's face was filled with fanaticism and loyalty.

This made them incredibly curious about just how powerful this Emperor Lord Gu Jixiao was, to be able to make the Late Stage Immortal Venerable Lu Fan before them so worshipful.

Could it be he was a Peak Immortal Venerable?

Or perhaps an existence that surpassed the Peak Immortal Venerable Realm?

After all, they had learned from Immortal Venerable Chi Yan that of the Three Great Saint Venerables, one was dead and two were missing.

Connecting all the dots, the strength of this Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty Emperor Lord, Gu Jixiao, was likely heaven-defying.

"Yes, Senior!"

The two agreed immediately without a second thought.

At the same time, this scene was also playing out in the other seven Directions.

In the Tian Direction, Five Elements Immortal Venerable looked at the Late Stage Immortal Venerable Lu Ya who had appeared before him, his expression extremely solemn.

"You are saying that you have come to take over by the order of Gu Jixiao, the Emperor Lord of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty?"

"Mm. Step aside quickly and submit to His Majesty. Otherwise, die!"

Lu Ya looked at Five Elements Immortal Venerable and did not take him to heart.

Hearing this, Five Elements Immortal Venerable's heart was extremely conflicted; he hadn't expected the era ruled by the Three Great Saint Venerables to pass so quickly.

But if it were replaced by the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty, perhaps the situation would be much better.

After all, under the leadership of the Three Great Saint Venerables, they hadn't been able to resolve the Gui Huan Clan for so long.

Now that the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty had displayed strength even greater than the Three Great Saint Venerables, perhaps they could restore peace to the Saint Realm.

Lu Ya paid no attention to Five Elements Immortal Venerable. With a flicker of his body, he arrived at the center of the battlefield, his terrifying Late Stage Immortal Venerable aura descending.

"I am Lu Ya, a General of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty. All of you, stop at once and submit to our Emperor Lord Gu Jixiao. Otherwise, no mercy shall be shown!"

As Lu Ya acted, everyone in the battlefield, whether they were Ghost Illusion Being or Saint Realm Cultivators, stopped without exception.

After all, they had been fighting for so long, and no powerhouse at or above the Immortal Venerable level had intervened until now.

With Lu Ya making a move, the Immortal Venerables of the Gui Huan Clan could no longer sit still.

The powerhouse of the Gui Huan Clan in the Tian Direction was a Late Stage Immortal Venerable. With one step, he appeared before Lu Ya.

"Your Excellency, are you not being too overbearing? If I do not submit to that so-called Emperor Lord of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor Dynasty, Gu Jixiao, what can you do?"

"Minions, continue the fight!"

The Late Stage Immortal Venerable Ghost Illusion Being snorted coldly and immediately ordered the Ghost Illusion Beings on the battlefield to resume their attack.

Faced with the general's command, those low-level Ghost Illusion Beings didn't dare to refuse and could only continue their assault.

Not far away, Five Elements Immortal Venerable sensed the aura of that Ghost Illusion Being's strength, his face full of shock.

"What? The opponent is actually a Late Stage Immortal Venerable!"

He remembered that when he confronted the opponent a few days ago, the other party was only a Middle Stage Immortal Venerable. How long had it been for them to break through to the Late Stage?

It was fortunate the opponent hadn't acted yet; otherwise, without this information, he might have suffered a disastrous defeat.

Thinking of something, he turned his gaze toward Lu Ya.

If anyone could suppress the opponent now, it would likely only be Lu Ya, who was also a Late Stage Immortal Venerable.

Five Elements Immortal Venerable thought to himself.

Meanwhile, when Lu Ya saw the opponent openly defying his will—and most seriously, showing no respect for his Master—he could no longer hold back.

In an instant, Lu Ya lost his patience.

"You are looking for death!"

As soon as he spoke, Lu Ya appeared before the opponent. With a raise of his hand, he threw a punch that seemed to return to simplicity.

However, the opponent was clearly prepared. Since Lu Ya had spoken, how could he not be on guard?

As Lu Ya's punch came, a shield formed of eerie black mist rose before the opponent.

But what the opponent didn't expect was that although Lu Ya's punch looked ordinary, its power was terrifyingly frightening.

When it slammed into the barrier, the barrier was like paper and shattered instantly.

"What!"

The Late Stage Immortal Venerable Ghost Illusion Being's expression changed wildly as he scrambled to deploy more defenses.

But against Lu Ya's angry and unreserved punch, he didn't have the slightest power to resist.

In an instant, he was sent flying by Lu Ya's blow.

However, because he was also a Late Stage Immortal Venerable, this punch only heavily injured him and failed to kill him.

But looking at the Late Stage Immortal Venerable Ghost Illusion Being again, he no longer had the confidence to fight Lu Ya.

He wasn't a match even at his peak, let alone now while heavily injured.

If he didn't run now, when would he?

But before running, he still had to throw out some parting threats.

"Damn you, you actually dare to try and kill me! Once I return and beg my Master to act, it will be the day you die!"

After saying that, the Late Stage Immortal Venerable Ghost Illusion Being's body flickered as he dove into a spatial rift and left the Saint Realm.

Seeing this, Lu Ya snorted coldly and was about to give chase.

But Five Elements Immortal Venerable reacted and directly blocked him.

"Senior, you mustn't! Outside the Saint Realm is the domain of the Gui Huan Clan. If we go there, our strength will be heavily suppressed."

Five Elements Immortal Venerable looked anxious, fearing Lu Ya wouldn't listen and would chase after him anyway.

Hearing this, Lu Ya was startled. Seeming to remember something, his expression became somewhat solemn.

If it weren't for the fact that the strength of Saint Realm living beings would be reduced upon leaving, and that the outside was the Gui Huan Clan's domain, they wouldn't have just stayed guarding the spatial rifts instead of charging out.

Back then, the Three Great Saint Venerables had also chased them out, but because their strength was reduced upon leaving the Saint Realm, they had abandoned the idea of pursuing further.

"I understand."

Lu Ya nodded and then looked at the Ghost Illusion Beings still in the Saint Realm.

Seeing that even the Late Stage Immortal Venerable Ghost Illusion Being had been beaten into a pathetic retreat by Lu Ya, they lost the will to fight and stood in place, at a loss.

The Saint Realm Cultivators were overjoyed at this sight and were about to strike.

In their view, the Gui Huan Clan were enemies, and enemies should be completely eradicated.

But before they could act, another figure appeared on the scene in the next moment.

Upon seeing that figure, Lu Ya's expression changed instantly, and he immediately stepped forward with a look of fanaticism.

"Greetings, Master!"

The person who arrived was none other than Gu Jixiao.

It was only now that Five Elements Immortal Venerable finally saw Gu Jixiao's appearance.

Seeing how young Gu Jixiao was, Five Elements Immortal Venerable's heart was filled with shock, but after sensing his aura, the shock grew even greater.

So young, yet his Realm was far above his own; he must have reached the Saint Venerable level.

No, that's not right. He seems to be even more powerful than a Saint Venerable!