Siege on the Heavenly Calamity Cult

Even Battle Saints could tear through space to travel — to say nothing of War Gods.

Though War Gods couldn't traverse space as quickly as those possessing Spatial Type Transcendent Genes, it was more than sufficient for the journey.

After Lu Yuan shared his coordinates with Ruoshui, barely half a day passed before a small rift tore open in the vacuum near his position, and several dozen figures stepped through.

The two at the front were both War Gods. The dozens behind them were all Battle Saint-level powerhouses.

Clearly, Ruoshui had spared no expense to ensure the Heavenly Calamity Cult's total annihilation — every single person she'd brought was among the Human Race's top-tier fighting force.

One of the two War Gods was Ruoshui, whom Lu Yuan had met just days ago in the Upper Layer of the Land of Origin. The other was a handsome young man with short silver-purple hair.

Ruoshui smiled elegantly when she saw Lu Yuan and made introductions.

"This is Nuxing, and this is Lu Yuan."

Nuxing looked like the aloof, unapproachable type. Lu Yuan had expected him to be difficult to deal with, but after Ruoshui's introduction, Nuxing offered a warm smile and nodded.

"A pleasure to finally meet you. I heard your name from Ruoshui while stationed at the boundary — I've been quite curious. Now that we've met, you seem even stronger than I imagined."

As Nuxing spoke, the assembled Battle Saints also turned their gazes toward Lu Yuan. Several who had been present during the Heavenly Calamity Cult's previous incursion into the Upper Layer of the Land of Origin smiled at him with warmth and respect, while those who hadn't met him before studied him with open curiosity.

Lu Yuan returned the greeting with a smile.

"It's an honor, Senior Nuxing. Your dedication to guarding the boundary breach and protecting the billions of lives across the cosmos has always been something I deeply admire."

Ruoshui chuckled. "You two can stop flattering each other."

Then she turned to Lu Yuan, her expression growing serious.

"Lu Yuan, where is the Heavenly Calamity Cult headquarters you mentioned?"

"I was worried my position might be detected, so I moved a hundred light-years away," Lu Yuan answered with a smile. "But I left a Shadow Clone there to keep watch and maintain a lock on the headquarters' location."

Ruoshui nodded. "Good. Let's move out."

Lu Yuan swept his gaze across the gathered Battle Saints. "Do you need me to conceal everyone?"

Ruoshui smiled. "I hear you possess a powerful darkness-type Divine Grade gene. If you can help us approach undetected, all the better — we can catch them completely off guard."

Nuxing nodded as well. "Then we'll be in your hands."

"Don't mention it."

Lu Yuan smiled, then invoked the power of his Shadow Divine Kingdom, cloaking everyone in darkness. Simultaneously, he layered Spatial Rift on top to ensure total concealment.

Nuxing examined the surrounding space, surprise flickering across his face.

"This spatial manipulation is truly exquisite. I'd heard you possessed an exceptionally powerful Spatial Type Divine Grade gene, and now I see the rumors didn't do it justice. I honestly can't fathom how you trained — inscribing this many Divine Grade genes is simply extraordinary."

He studied Lu Yuan with undisguised curiosity.

Lu Yuan realized this senior War God might look cold and aloof, but he was actually a bit of a chatterbox.

Chatting as they traveled, the group soon drew close to the green Heavenly Calamity Star.

The moment they neared it, every face turned grim, eyes locked on the emerald planet.

Nuxing's expression froze over. "This is definitely the place. I can sense the Aberration."

Ruoshui nodded. "Three War God-levels, twenty-two Saint Grades, and a large number of Sovereign Grades... It seems the Heavenly Calamity Cult's main force is all here."

Her gaze turned icy. "Once we destroy this place, the Heavenly Calamity Cult will be finished for good."

Excitement rippled through the group at her words. The Heavenly Calamity Cult had existed for hundreds of millions of years, scurrying from one hiding place to the next like rats, causing no end of trouble. Without being able to locate the Cult's headquarters, they'd been forced into an endless game of whack-a-mole. Now that they could end it once and for all, their excitement was only natural.

Lu Yuan recalled the Cult member with the Soul-Devouring Orb he'd encountered back on Great Qi Star, the eerie demonic hound, and those Apostles. A cold edge crept into his eyes.

He smiled. "Then let's get ready."

Ruoshui nodded, her expression grave. "The three of us will handle the three Bishops. The Battle Saints will deal with the Apostles and the rest of the Cult. Not a single member escapes — that is an absolute order."

Her gaze swept across the assembled Battle Saints.

Every one of them responded with steely resolve. "Yes, ma'am!"

The group vanished from their positions. Shielded by Lu Yuan's Shadow Divine Kingdom and Spatial Rift, they slipped onto the Heavenly Calamity Star and swiftly encircled the palace.

Ruoshui glanced at Lu Yuan and Nuxing, then nodded.

Lu Yuan grinned. "Shall I start things off?"

Both Ruoshui and Nuxing had been curious about Lu Yuan's true capabilities. They nodded, eyes on him.

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them.

He dropped all concealment. Spirit Power surged wildly around him as Shadow Divine Messengers materialized one after another. Simultaneously, waves of dark energy rolled outward, enveloping the entire palace.

Shadow Divine Kingdom.

Within the domain, spectral bronze grains of sand shimmered into existence, drifting through the air.

Sands of Time.

The two domains overlapped, generating an aura of such terrifying magnitude that both Ruoshui and Nuxing stiffened. They exchanged a glance, genuine shock written on their faces.

The power Lu Yuan was displaying surpassed even theirs.

Nuxing couldn't help but exclaim, "As expected of the monster who inscribed countless Divine Grade genes and reached this level in just over four years! I have no doubt you'll comprehend the Laws and ascend beyond War God."

Beside him, Ruoshui nodded in agreement.

Among the Battle Saints, those already familiar with Lu Yuan's strength showed no particular reaction, but those encountering it for the first time wore expressions of undisguised awe.

Inside the Heavenly Calamity's great hall, a large crowd had gathered.

The Grand Archbishop, the two Bishops, and the assembled Apostles were in the middle of strategizing their ambush on Lu Yuan.

For them, this target had been personally marked for death by the Heavenly Calamity itself — failure was not an option. Given the extraordinary strength the human had displayed, the Grand Archbishop had resolved to deploy the Cult's entire upper echelon. Individually, Battle Saint-level fighters might be unable to threaten a War God. But with enough numbers and proper coordination, even a War God could be hindered. And in a battle between War Gods, even a slight disruption was often enough to tip the scales.

Besides — they had three War God-level fighters ganging up on him. The Grand Archbishop intended to leave absolutely nothing to chance.

Just as they were deliberating on the timing of their ambush, a horrifying aura slammed down from above. Every face in the hall went pale.

The three Bishops shot to their feet, alarm etched across their features.

"An attack?! How is this possible?!"

Under the crushing pressure, the Apostles' faces drained of color, their breathing growing ragged.

**BOOM!!!**

A thunderous roar shook the air. The entire great hall trembled under the force, its walls cracking and crumbling.

The three Bishops had no time to puzzle over the impossible — how the Heavenly Calamity Star, shielded by the Heavenly Calamity's own power and perpetually in motion, had gone undiscovered for countless years only to be found now.

Green flames erupted around their bodies as cold fury blazed in their eyes. They vanished from where they stood.

"Counterattack!"

First Apostle Xue Han rose to her feet as well, her expression frigid.

"Follow the Bishops!"

The assembled Apostles transformed into streaks of light and surged out of the hall.

Beyond them, the hall still held a large number of Battle Emperor-level fighters. Under the oppressive pressure, these Battle Emperors were already coughing up blood, their auras feeble beyond measure.

With Lu Yuan's current power, he didn't even need to lift a finger — his aura alone was enough to grievously wound anyone at the Battle Emperor level.

To a War God, Battle Emperors were simply too fragile.

The moment Lu Yuan unleashed Shadow Divine Kingdom and Sands of Time, powerful auras erupted from within the palace.

Streaks of green light soared skyward and materialized opposite Lu Yuan's group.

At their head stood a handsome Elf, green flames burning in his eyes. Corrosive fire wreathed his body, carving out a pocket of stable space that held back the encroachment of both Sands of Time and Shadow Divine Kingdom.

Lu Yuan studied the Elf, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

*He can withstand both Shadow Divine Kingdom and Sands of Time — this must be the Grand Archbishop. Just as Senior Ruoshui said, his strength is no joke.*

Behind the Grand Archbishop, the Serpent Demon Bishop and the Ancient Barbarian Bishop emerged as well. Their auras surged as they glared coldly at the invaders. Behind them stood the ranks of Apostles. As for the regular Cult members — they'd been wiped out before the battle even began.

When the Grand Archbishop and the others caught sight of Lu Yuan, Ruoshui, and Nuxing, their expressions shifted dramatically. The Grand Archbishop in particular went wide-eyed with disbelief upon seeing Lu Yuan.

"You?! How can you be here?!"

He fixed Lu Yuan with an icy stare.

The others gaped at him in stunned bewilderment. They'd just been plotting how to ambush this human War God — and now the bastard had turned around and brought people to ambush *them*?!

The reversal was so stark they could barely process it. *They* were supposed to be the ones lurking in the shadows! How had they been attacked on their own doorstep without even noticing?!

Lu Yuan noticed their bizarre expressions and raised an eyebrow, mildly confused.

"Why wouldn't I be here?"

A cold smile graced Ruoshui's face as torrents of water surged around her, churning with terrifying power. She gazed at the three Bishops.

"Today is your last day."

Nuxing's expression turned glacial as stellar radiance flowed around him, each mote of starlight brimming with devastating force.

Behind the three of them, the assembled Battle Saints unleashed their own Combat Techniques, their auras spiking as they locked onto the Apostles.

The Grand Archbishop's face was a mask of cold fury. His gaze swept slowly from Ruoshui to Nuxing before finally settling on Lu Yuan.

"How did you find this place?! After all these years of failing to locate us, how could you possibly discover it now?!"

Lu Yuan smiled. "I suppose I just got lucky."

"..."

The Grand Archbishop and his Bishops' faces darkened.

"Fine, keep your secrets. But if you think you can keep us here — you're sorely mistaken!"

Lu Yuan was somewhat exasperated. He'd told the truth — he really had found them through luck.

Ruoshui stepped forward. The water around her surged and transformed into more than a dozen water dragons, each tens of thousands of meters long. They roared as they charged toward the Grand Archbishop.

"Whether you stay or go isn't up to you!"

She had gone straight for the Grand Archbishop. Simultaneously, she sent a telepathic message to Lu Yuan and Nuxing.

"The Grand Archbishop is extremely powerful — I can't kill him alone. I'll pin him down while you two eliminate the other Bishops, then we converge on him together!"

Both Lu Yuan and Nuxing gave slight nods.

"Understood!"

Lu Yuan and Nuxing each selected their targets. Lu Yuan took the Serpent Demon Bishop; Nuxing took the Ancient Barbarian Bishop. The Battle Saints, naturally, clashed with the Apostles.

With their Battle Saints outnumbering the Apostles, many engagements became two-on-one affairs. Lu Yuan's trio had no need to worry about that front. As long as they could eliminate the three Bishops, the Apostles wouldn't escape.

Before Lu Yuan, the Serpent Demon Bishop blazed with green flames. A pair of wings slick with green mucus unfurled from his back as his aura pulsed, his gaze locked on Lu Yuan with wary vigilance.

As a War God himself, he could naturally sense just how formidable Lu Yuan truly was. He even felt a threat to his very life. If they fought to the death, he understood he would very likely be the one who perished.

But his objective was never to defeat Lu Yuan.

The Grand Archbishop's voice echoed in his mind: "Break through at the first opportunity!"

Their goal had always been to escape.

Green flames roared around the Serpent Demon Bishop, spawning clone after clone wreathed in sinister emerald fire. Over a hundred clones surged forward with howling roars, their combined auras formidable beyond measure. Simultaneously, patterns flared across the bat-like wings on his back, his speed skyrocketing as he tried to flee outright.

At that moment, clock hands spun backward in Lu Yuan's eyes.

In the next instant, every fire clone that had charged at Lu Yuan reversed course, streaming back into the Serpent Demon Bishop's body. The Bishop himself, who had already covered a considerable distance, found himself dragged back to his starting position.

He froze for a heartbeat, then stared at Lu Yuan in utter disbelief.

"What Combat Technique is this?!"

Around Lu Yuan, Spirit Cannons enhanced by Mechanical Apotheosis materialized one by one, each beginning to gather Spirit Power. At the same time, the Wheel of Fate manifested in his eyes as he cast Misfortune upon the Serpent Demon Bishop.

Watching a wisp of eerie gray energy seep into the Bishop's body, Lu Yuan offered a genial smile.

"Take a guess."

The Serpent Demon Bishop's expression shifted as he watched the Spirit Cannons slowly charging with power. Green flames erupted wildly around him — this time, rather than creating clones, he poured everything into a single explosive burst, intent on breaking through.

But at that very moment, the green flames around him flickered and destabilized. His face went white, and he coughed up a spray of blood.