The sky above was a field of gold, stretching so far that even with Ye Jingyu’s keen eyesight, the end was nowhere in sight. By the look of it, there must have been tens of millions of troops assembled.

Xuan Yuanjing was clad in the Tian Luo Yi, wielding the Xuan Yuan Sword, possessing the Taiji Diagram; he appeared utterly imposing, his eyes burning with a fierce resolve that stabbed directly at Ye Jingyu—eyes filled entirely with the intent to battle.

Seeing the battle-lust in Xuan Yuanjing’s gaze, Ye Jingyu’s eyes also lit up. However, what shone in his was not the will to fight, but a dense, killing intent. Xi Yang had nearly been slain by Xuan Yuanjing, and Jiu Feng’s Xuan Yuan Water Control Banner had been seized. These were deep-seated grievances that Ye Jingyu would never forget. Nor was he the type to let an enemy go just because he showed restraint; an injury inflicted was an injury that stood, and he would absolutely not allow anyone to harm his woman.

Fury swelled within Xi Yang’s eyes as well. The battle against Xuan Yuanjing had been the most bruising she had ever endured. Seeing her enemy before her now, how could she not feel her vision blur with rage? If she hadn't just become a bride, she probably would have charged straight forward already.

Meanwhile, Yunjing City, the capital of the Southern Cloud Empire, felt the pressure descending from the heavens. The surrounding soldiers rapidly mobilized, quickly forming a great army numbering in the millions behind Ye Jingyu and his allies. Luo Ruofeng casually flicked his hand, and the Mountain and River State Diagram manifested, from which figures emerged one after another. No matter what, they absolutely could not concede superiority in numbers.

Xuan Yuanjing showed no immediate intention of opening hostilities. Instead, two men stepped out from behind him. One was handsome, armored in pale gold, holding a three-pointed, double-edged blade, and bearing a vertical eye on his brow, looking majestically formidable.

The other wore a short shirt of crimson silk, with a fair face and bright red lips, standing on Wind Fire Wheels, grasping a Fire-Tipped Spear; he too possessed an extraordinary handsomeness.

The two men exited the battle array and bowed directly to the Master of the Tongtian Sect seated on the plaza: “Disciple pays respects to Martial Grand-Uncle…”

Upon seeing their attire and hearing their address to Tongtian, the hearts of Ye Jingyu and Liang Xiaoke clenched violently. Could it be—could they truly be the legendary Erlang Shen Zhenjun Yang Jian and the Great God of the Three Altars of the Lotus, Nezha?

These two... why were they here too?

“Erlang Shen, that brat, weren’t you two assigned to build the Bridge of the Other Shore? How are you still alive?” Before the Master of the Tongtian Sect could speak, the Monkey beside him shouted out loudly. Hearing the Monkey’s words, Ye Jingyu and Liang Xiaoke finally understood; these two were indeed the legendary figures.

“Great Sage, aren't you alive as well?” Yang Jian, the God of Erlang, replied coolly to Sun Wukong’s provocation.

“Hmph…” Sun Wukong, clutching the Ruyi Jingu Bang, was about to advance for a fight, but he was pulled back by Tongtian.

“How did you descend?” Tongtian looked at Yang Jian and Nezha, speaking his question aloud. This was the very question on Ye Jingyu and the others' minds: the Tongtian Jianmu had not yet matured, and they were not Taishang or Yuanshi; how could they possibly descend to the mortal realm?

“Martial Grand-Uncle, have you forgotten the Nine Dragon Heaven-Ascending Ladder?” Yang Jian bowed again to Tongtian, saying, “I am the disciple of Yu Ding Zhenren, the grand-disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, thus I must call Tongtian Martial Grand-Uncle.”

The Nine Dragon Heaven-Ascending Ladder? Upon hearing the name, Tongtian frowned. That was the most basic material Master Hongjun intended to use to construct the Bridge of the Other Shore. How could it still exist? Had those two secretly embezzled it?

But recalling the unique properties of the Nine Dragon Heaven-Ascending Ladder, Tongtian let out a slight smile...

“The Nine Dragon Heaven-Ascending Ladder can only be used once every hundred years, and only nine people can be transported at a time. Which nine people have descended with you this time…”

“We apologize, Martial Grand-Uncle, this is a question we cannot answer! However, with your divine powers, we trust you should be able to calculate it,” Yang Jian replied, neither subservient nor overbearing.

Hearing these words, the Reincarnation Eye between Ye Jingyu’s brows flickered. A sense of unease rose in his heart, but when he tried to look clearly, it felt as if something was obscuring his sight, making it impossible to discern anything.

“Doesn’t Yuanshi fear that I will personally descend and kill you?” Tongtian let out a cold snort…

“The Martial Uncle naturally would not lower his status to cause trouble for us!” Facing Tongtian’s snort, Yang Jian replied placidly.

Hearing Yang Jian’s words, Tongtian turned his face away. Although he never bothered with trivialities and always did as he pleased, he truly felt reluctant to stoop to punishing a few juniors. Furthermore, he understood that although Yang Jian was his grand-disciple, his innate talent was extraordinary, having long surpassed his own master, approaching the realm of a Saint. If he truly moved against him, while victory would ultimately be his, it would not be easily won.

However, since Tongtian was too proud to act, the Monkey beside him immediately sprang forward. Yang Jian had long been hailed as the foremost God of War in the Heavenly Realm, and he had troubled the Monkey at every turn during his rampage in the Heavenly Palace. There was an irreconcilable conflict between them. Now that they stood on opposing sides, it was natural they should have a good fight…

“Erlang Shen, stop your arrogance! Since the old man Tongtian is too proud to move against you, this old Sun doesn't mind taking it upon myself to teach you a lesson!”

“Since the Great Sage harbors such interest, how dare Yang Jian refuse!” Seeing Sun Wukong step out, the God of Erlang’s three eyes focused, and he replied calmly.

“Hmph…” Sun Wukong snorted coldly, ascending on a seven-hued cloud. Yang Jian followed closely behind, moving directly to intercept Sun Wukong.

No one expected that the very first engagement between the Heavenly Cloud Empire and the Southern Cloud Empire would be heralded by two ancient rivals.

The Monkey wielded his Ruyi Jingu Bang, weaving thousands of staff shadows, closing in on Yang Jian and smashing down with a series of crackling blows. Yang Jian held his three-pointed, double-edged blade, his face showing no trace of fear, and he too conjured a flurry of blade blossoms, parrying every shadow from Sun Wukong’s staff.

Both compressed their power to the smallest possible radius, yet the shockwaves of their fight sent fresh blood spurting from the noses of those below with weaker cultivation. The very space roared under their impact, shattering intermittently. The two fought harder, faster, until only two streaks of light could be vaguely discerned constantly crossing paths. The intermittent clang of blade meeting staff stirred a fervent heat in the onlookers; almost everyone present longed to rush forward and join the fray.

One was the foremost God of War of the Primordial Heavenly Court; the other, the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Their battle intent was truly earth-shattering. Xing Tian and Ni Bo, standing behind Ye Jingyu, had glints flashing in their eyes, itching to join the slaughter. Yet, they understood that with their current cultivation, they could not yet participate in a conflict of this level.

Ni Bo was perhaps excusable, being a later creation, but Xing Tian felt a pang of confusion. He had once been the true foremost God of War of the Three Realms, yet after all these years, he had not fully recovered his former strength, while these two rising stars had already surpassed his past might.

Truly, the younger generation was to be feared…

“Nezha brat, I’ve long heard of your great divine abilities. Do you dare fight your Martial Uncle Liang?” Seemingly influenced by the battle spirit of the Monkey and Erlang Shen, Liang Xiaoke tore off his groom’s attire and stepped onto the clouds, roaring at Nezha who stood upon his Wind Fire Wheels.

Especially when uttering the last sentence, a look of pride crossed his face; being the martial uncle to Nezha, the Great God of the Three Altars of the Lotus from myth, felt utterly exhilarating…

Seeing Liang Xiaoke enveloped in a chilling, eerie wind, Nezha let out a cold snort. The Wind Fire Wheels spun, and he charged forth.

His nature was always proud; back then, he never paid much heed to the disciples under Tongtian. Now, why would he give a mere zombie a second glance…

“Big Brother, be careful…” Seeing Liang Xiaoke challenge the Great God of the Three Altars of the Lotus Nezha first, Ye Jingyu called out a warning…

“Relax, with this kid’s abilities, how could he possibly be my match!” Liang Xiaoke laughed heartily, a pair of flesh wings sprouting from his back as he ascended.

Although he hadn't taken that final step, he possessed the Zhuxian Sword Formation and drew endless energy from the Hao Tian Pearl. His fighting strength was certainly enough to challenge those divinities who had achieved that final step.

Generally speaking, taking that step to break free from the Heavenly Dao was not about a massive increase in strength, but merely freedom from the Heavenly Dao’s constraints. The Heavenly Dao was like a university: those who hadn't taken the step were subject to the school rules—which were certainly strict. Those who had taken the step had officially graduated and were no longer bound by those rules. But could one truly say a graduate was definitively stronger than a student still enrolled?

Seeing her husband willingly meet the enemy, Gongsun Lu also cast aside her bright red wedding dress, ready to fight alongside Liang Xiaoke. She had always been ready for battle throughout the years, but Liang Xiaoke’s voice stopped her.

“Do not come over! I can handle this myself!” He clearly understood that Nezha was no ordinary divinity. While he himself was safe due to the Zhuxian Sword Formation, Gongsun Lu lacked such supreme, innate magic treasures. What if she were damaged?

Hearing Liang Xiaoke’s commanding tone laced with concern, Gongsun Lu’s face broke into a smile, though she halted her advance. She cherished this feeling of being cared for.

“Teach them a good lesson!” Seeing Liang Xiaoke and Sun Wukong advance, Tongtian said to Ye Jingyu, “It is time for you to take action,” before his figure vanished. He truly had no interest in wasting his time here wrangling with a group of younger generations.

Ye Jingyu nodded lightly, turning to face Xuan Yuanjing. He clenched his fists tightly, seemingly weighing whether to rush forward immediately and engage in a fierce battle, or to remain seated and continue directing his troops.