Chapter 2664: A Scene Unseen in a Hundred Thousand Years
Before the Hour of the Rat had even arrived, the island where Green Pear Garden was located blazed with radiant light.
The light emanated from the armor worn by the Great Saints of the Heavenly Realm faction, illuminating the night as if it were day, like countless stars scattered across the mortal world.
Even the rules of heaven and earth were influenced and altered.
"Tonight, the Heavenly Realm stands firmly in support of the Confucian Realm in seeking justice from the Book Realm cultivators. All idle cultivators, retreat now, lest you invite trouble upon yourselves."
A ten-winged, Supreme Realm angel stood atop a hundred-meter-long dragon, circling the island as his voice spread across the surrounding sea.
He was a Great Angel from the "Heavenly Camp" of the Radiant Divine Temple.
The Radiant Divine Temple had eight palaces and two camps.
The two camps were the "Heavenly Camp" and the "Earthly Camp."
The Heavenly Camp managed matters of the Heavenly Court and was composed entirely of Great Saints.
The Earthly Camp handled affairs of the Heavenly Realm and consisted of the most top-tier experts among Half-Saints, Saints, and Saint Kings.
The Heavenly Camp rarely mobilized, but once it did, it would sweep away all opposition, serving as the greatest deterrent in the mortal world. Even Eon-level representatives and Eon-level geniuses could not compare.
No matter how powerful an individual, they could not match a sacred army.
Moreover, the Heavenly Camp was even more fearsome than a sacred army. Only the strongest forces of the Ten Clans of Hell could contend with it—such as the Undying Blood Clan's "Blood Emperor Demon God Camp" or the Underworld Clan's "Iron Blood Underworld Cavalry."
If only the top thousand powerful realms could train a sacred army, then to form a force like the Heavenly Camp—an army entirely composed of Great Saints—only the top ten ancient great worlds could achieve it.
The appearance of the Heavenly Camp shocked cultivators from all realms, who quickly retreated, unwilling to remain on the island for fear of being caught in the conflict.
The entire island, aside from the cultivators within Green Pear Garden, seemed to be covered only by the overwhelming number of Heavenly Realm faction Great Saints.
Yes, overwhelming.
On the ground, Great Saints from the Angel Clan, Elf Clan, Titan Clan, Beast Clan, Dwarf Clan, and Earth Spirit Clan gathered, alongside Great Saints from over a hundred powerful realms such as Talisman Spirit Realm, Soul Realm, Yin-Yang Realm, Ruiya Realm, Dark Demon Realm, and Ten Thousand Evil Realm, who had summoned their sacred artifacts.
In the sky, the Great Saints of the Heavenly Camp, clad in Monarch Sacred Artifact-level armor, rode dragons, emitting light as bright as the sun.
The Great Saints gathered on the island numbered no less than ten thousand.
This was only after the Dragon Realm faction, Truth Divine Temple faction, and Thousand Star Civilization faction had been held back. Otherwise, the number of Great Saints here would have been several times greater.
A Great Saint was an emperor among saints. In the mortal world, ordinary cultivators would find it difficult to encounter even one.
Such a terrifying scene shook even the Mysterious Case War God stationed on the island.
Since the end of the Middle Ages, over a hundred thousand years had passed, and never had so many Great Saints gathered to attack an enemy.
Only a dominant world could command such influence.
Standing on the steps outside the divine palace, the Mysterious Case War God sighed, "Too terrifying. This matter tonight is indeed beyond our ability to intervene."
Two other War Gods had also arrived on the island, gathering with the Mysterious Case War God.
"If they all attacked together, launching their sacred artifacts, even the three of us gods would be annihilated in an instant," the Black-Robed War God said with a bitter smile. He had lived for over fifty thousand years but had never seen such a grand event.
No Merit Battlefield could compare to this.
The Red-Robed War God asked, "To deal with a few cultivators in Green Pear Garden, is it necessary to mobilize so many experts? Isn't the Heavenly Realm overreacting?"
Recalling what the Pavilion Master had once said, the Mysterious Case War God replied gravely, "Actually, the Heavenly Realm is just going with the flow."
"What do you mean?" the Black-Robed War God asked.
The Mysterious Case War God explained, "Because of the Red Dust Convention, countless Great Saints from the Heavenly Realm faction have already gathered on Red Dust Archipelago. This is the momentum."
"The challenges from the Dragon Realm faction, Five Elements Temple faction, Western Buddha Realm faction, Thousand Star Civilization faction, and Truth Divine Temple faction have clearly angered them. This, too, is momentum."
"The most direct way to intimidate challengers is to flex their muscles, display their greatest power, and crush them all."
The Black-Robed War God said, "I understand. At this point, the main goal is no longer about seeking justice for the Confucian Realm or leveling Green Pear Garden. The primary purpose is to showcase the might of the Heavenly Realm faction—to show their allies and intimidate their enemies."
The Red-Robed War God said, "The juniors in Green Pear Garden all have significant backgrounds. If the situation spirals out of control, won't we step in to stop it? If they die here, how will the true gods of the Dragon Realm, Truth Divine Temple, and Pangu Realm let it slide?"
The Mysterious Case War God sighed, "This is a game between great worlds, beyond our control. Even if these juniors die, it's the Heavenly Realm faction's affair, not ours."
...
On another island, within the Colorful Cloud Villa.
Several ancient gods gathered, gazing toward the island radiating light. Among them were Yunshen Daozhu and the Divine Ancestor of the Thousand Star Civilization.
The Divine Ancestor of the Thousand Star Civilization said, "The Radiant Divine Temple's reaction is more intense than I expected."
Standing at such a height, he naturally understood that no matter how many races, temples, or great worlds the Heavenly Realm faction comprised, the central authority still lay with the Radiant Divine Temple.
The Truth Divine Temple Master, standing within a cluster of starlight, snorted coldly, "Clearly, that old man Koro saw through your intentions and decided to go all out, suppressing all your thoughts. And the Heavenly Realm faction indeed has the strength. When it comes to mortal power, the dominant worlds are ultimately stronger."
A white-bearded old Daoist, seated beneath a divine tree surrounded by chaotic void, spoke with a distant voice, "This move today was too hastily arranged. Tell the juniors in Green Pear Garden to back down. Don't let them become sacrifices in this game. They are not pawns."
The Truth Divine Temple Master said, "I agree."
Although the Divine Ancestor of the Thousand Star Civilization knew that retreating without a fight was a great shame, against the overwhelming mortal power of the Heavenly Realm faction, persisting would only lead to meaningless sacrifice.
"Though we haven't fought, the Heavenly Realm faction has already won," a voice came from within a golden sea, where dragon shadows flickered faintly.
They were not cowards, but this mortal struggle was merely a casual move for them—optional. Since this move had gone wrong, it was only natural to cut their losses.
The Divine Ancestor of the Thousand Star Civilization fixed his gaze on the silent Yunshen Daozhu and asked, "Old man Huaying, what do you say?"
Yunshen Daozhu chuckled, "I say, you old fellows, each nearly a million years old, why are you still worrying about the affairs of juniors? Let's continue discussing how to resist the Shura Star Pillar Realm. Let things take their course over there. Can a few dead Great Saints really affect the bigger picture?"
The Truth Divine Temple Master's eyes turned cold, "I didn't expect you, old man, to be so heartless. In your eyes, are the lives of saint-level juniors no more than ants?"
The Divine Ancestor of the Thousand Star Civilization, however, didn't believe Yunshen Daozhu truly didn't care about the juniors in Green Pear Garden. After all, he had heard him say he regarded Zhang Ruochen as a hope.
The Divine Ancestor said, "When you say 'a few dead Great Saints,' do you mean something else?"
"Exactly. Stop asking. You talk too much," Yunshen Daozhu replied.
The Divine Ancestor pressed on, "Are you so certain they can survive tonight's calamity? Isn't your faith in him a bit too great?"
Yunshen Daozhu sighed lightly, "If you think tonight's matter is hopeless, you can send divine decrees telling them to surrender to the Heavenly Realm faction. There's no loss in that. Enough of this. I won't trouble myself over a group of juniors."
The other ancient gods present couldn't quite follow their conversation and began to calculate secretly.
But they found nothing.
They then looked at Yunshen Daozhu with disdain.
What did he mean by "a group of juniors" and "won't trouble myself"? If it weren't for this old man using his powerful spiritual power to obscure things, how could they have failed to calculate any results?
Though they were displeased with Yunshen Daozhu's secrecy, they didn't believe his hidden cards could counter the Heavenly Realm faction.
Thus, the Truth Divine Temple Master, concerned for Xiang Chunan's safety, was the first to send a transmission.
The Divine Ancestor of the Thousand Star Civilization, however, remained skeptical.
If that Zhang kid could truly withstand the pressure from the Heavenly Realm faction, then Yunshen Daozhu's talk of "hope" might hold some credibility.
At that point, he might have to consider making arrangements around the Zhang kid in advance, planning for the future of the Thousand Star Civilization.
...
Within Green Pear Garden.
Linglong Fairy stood atop a pavilion, gazing at the dragons flying in the sky and the Heavenly Camp Great Saints on their backs. Her delicate, beautiful face had turned pale.
Though the Great Saints of the Dragon Realm still wore resolute expressions, the pressure of the Great Saints' might steadily increased their fear.
As for the Book Realm cultivators, they were already ashen-faced. They had repeatedly approached Zhang Ruochen, Xiang Chunan, Feng Yan, Ao Xukong, and others, claiming they were willing to die to atone for Gongyang Mu's life, urging them to submit to the Heavenly Realm faction and apologize, so they might leave safely tonight.
But their proposals were firmly rejected.
They were all proud individuals. Having already declared their intent to aid the Book Realm cultivators, how could they retreat in the face of danger? Moreover, submitting to the Heavenly Realm faction was something they simply could not do.
Suddenly, Xiang Chunan's expression shifted slightly, "The Temple Master has sent me a transmission."
Everyone in Green Pear Garden was shocked.
Had this matter actually alarmed the Truth Divine Temple Master?
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What did the Temple Master say?"
"She... she told me to leave Green Pear Garden. This matter ends here tonight," Xiang Chunan said, his expression complex and heavy. His once-steadfast heart was now in turmoil.
Not only him, but the other cultivators in the garden were also affected, thoughts of retreat creeping in.
The tide was against them. Even the Truth Divine Temple Master had issued a divine decree, showing that their actions tonight were indeed like smashing eggs against rocks.
Only Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed, "The Temple Master sees things from a different height. In her eyes, what we do tonight is a trivial matter—something that can be pursued or abandoned. Chunan, tell me, what do you truly think? Of course, if you want to leave, I fully support you."