Oppression from Gu Changyuan

This voice did not intentionally release any killing intent, yet it carried an apocalyptic sense of oppression. It was like an emperor from the highest heavens descending to the mortal realm, looking down from above, brooking no argument.

Just the sound of it made the seven elders of the Star Vault Clan stiffen. Their vital blood surged wildly, and even breathing became difficult.

The moment the voice rang out, the expressions of the seven elders changed drastically. They hastily circulated their spiritual energy to protect their bodies, their eyes frantically scanning their surroundings, faces filled with horror.

Astonishingly, they could not sense the location of the voice's owner at all.

That invisible coercion was simply too terrifying—several times stronger than even the grand patriarch of their clan.

It felt as though, should the other party wish it, the seven of them could be completely obliterated with a mere snap of the fingers.

In the next instant, a figure dressed in profound black appeared out of thin air in the sky before the seven elders.

Gu Changyuan sat obliquely atop a massive phantom of a White Tiger.

The White Tiger had an enormous physique, covered entirely in snow-white fur. Its fangs were bared, its eyes burned like golden lanterns, and a monstrous, fierce aura swirled around its body.

Even though it was merely a phantom, it caused the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to stagnate.

His posture was languid. His left foot dangled in the air, while his right leg was crossed comfortably over his left.

His right arm rested casually near his ankle, his hand formed into a loose fist gently propping up his cheek. His fingertips tapped absentmindedly as his gaze swept indifferently over the seven people below.

Above Gu Changyuan, a colossal phantom of an Azure Dragon was rapidly condensing. Its serpentine body stretched for tens of thousands of fathoms, its scales gleaming brightly, and its dragon whiskers drifting in the wind.

The Azure Dragon let out a deafening roar, soaring and circling high in the firmament.

Intertwining with the fierce might of the White Tiger phantom, it formed a world-destroying oppressive force that drained the color from the seven elders' faces and made their legs tremble uncontrollably.

Gu Changyuan slowly spoke. His voice remained flat, yet it carried an irresistible majesty:

"I am the Holy Ancestor of the Heaven and Human Holy Land, Gu Changyuan. They, including Xing'er, are all my disciples.

If you have any matters to discuss, you can speak directly with me.

However, you can banish the thought of Xing'er leaving with you.

She chose to stay here of her own volition, and no one will force her otherwise."

Down below, the seven elders' expressions were grave to the extreme, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from their foreheads.

They had no choice; the pressure Gu Changyuan brought was simply too overwhelming.

Not only was his own aura unfathomably deep, but even the phantoms of the two divine beasts, the Azure Dragon and White Tiger, that he casually summoned...

...released a coercion that left them breathless, making the circulation of their spiritual energy sluggish.

They had previously wondered who possessed the immense capability to gather ten heaven-chosen prodigies with supreme physiques in the Heaven and Human Holy Land.

Now that they saw it with their own eyes, they completely understood.

The strength of the Holy Ancestor before them had long surpassed their imaginations; he was fully capable of accomplishing all this.

At this moment, only profound awe and dread remained in their hearts.

Xing Yan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the shock in his heart. Steadying his nerves, he immediately bowed low in salute.

He bent his waist extremely low, his tone respectful to the utmost degree, and even his voice carried a faint, imperceptible tremble:

"Please quell your anger, Senior. We harbor no ill intent. Our arrival this time is purely for the sake of our clan's survival.

Since the little junior sister's mind is made up and she is unwilling to return to the Star Vault Secret Realm with us, we absolutely would not dare to force her.

It is just that the Primal Chaos Star Spirit Body is far too important to our clan; it concerns the rise and fall of our entire race.

If Senior desires any resources, no matter how rare, we will definitely exhaust the power of our entire clan to satisfy your every need!"

As his words fell, Xing Yan raised his head, a final trace of hope lingering in his eyes—he still did not want to return empty-handed.

Looking at his demeanor, Gu Changyuan could not help but let out a soft chuckle.

He raised a hand and casually snapped his fingers. With a soft click, a barrier as black as ink instantly materialized.

It completely enveloped the sky above the Heaven and Human Holy Land, isolating it from all outside prying eyes.

In the next instant, spiritual light erupted across the sky. Countless Supreme Bones emerged from the void. Every single piece shone with dazzling divine light and surged with Daoist charm, exuding a heart-palpitating aura.

They floated densely in midair, their brilliance comparable to a sky full of stars, illuminating the inside of the barrier as brightly as daylight.

Not only that, but stalks of top-tier spiritual plants and pieces of heaven-and-earth spiritual treasures followed closely behind, manifesting one after another.

There was the Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Lotus, rooted in primal chaos, capable of reviving the dead and regenerating flesh on bare bones.

There was the Primal Chaos Jade Disc, bearing the laws of the Heavenly Dao and capable of evolving all things.

...

Even more terrifying were the phantoms of resource mountains, piled high with heaven-and-earth spiritual treasures.

They slowly materialized from the void, an endless, rolling expanse stretching beyond the horizon. Atop these peaks, spiritual mist swirled, and supreme treasures gleamed.

Just the aura emitted by these phantoms caused the vital blood of the seven elders to surge and their minds to tremble.

Yet, these sky-filling supreme treasures and endless mountains of resources were merely the tip of the iceberg within Gu Changyuan's storage space.

The moment all of this appeared, the seven elders were completely dumbfounded. As if struck by a body-binding spell, they froze in place.

Their eyes widened into perfect circles, and their mouths gaped open wide enough to fit a fist. Their faces were written with utter disbelief, and they even forgot to breathe.

Just the batch of resources closest to them was enough to rival the entire foundation of the Star Vault Clan in the Nine Heavens Realm.

Not to mention the sky full of Supreme Bones, the endless heaven-and-earth spiritual treasures, and those rolling mountains of resources.

This level of wealth had long surpassed their comprehension; it was simply terrifying to the extreme.

Gu Changyuan leaned obliquely against the White Tiger phantom. His gaze swept indifferently over the seven dumbstruck individuals below. He raised an eyebrow, a flash of mockery passing through his eyes.

"Do you really think I lack resources?"

Hearing Gu Changyuan's words, the seven elders finally snapped back to their senses, lowering their heads one by one in shame.

Only at this moment did they fully understand why Gu Changyuan's ten disciples hadn't shown the slightest reaction to the seven chests of resources they had offered.

It turned out that in front of this senior, the heavy gifts they took such pride in were nothing more than unnoteworthy, common trinkets.

The foundation of the Heaven and Human Holy Land far exceeded their wildest imaginations. The items they brought out couldn't even enter the other party's eyes.

Xing Yan's face was filled with bitterness. He slowly raised his head and bowed in salute once more, his tone carrying deep apology and helplessness:

"We apologize, Senior. We were ignorant and foolish to show off our meager skills before an expert, disturbing you and our fellow Daoists.

We shall take our leave now and bother you no further."

The six elders behind him were also filled with reluctance.

But they had no other choice. Not only was Gu Changyuan's strength too terrifying to oppose, but his wealth was also so vast that it induced despair.

They simply couldn't offer any conditions that would tempt the other party. Staying any longer would only be bringing further humiliation upon themselves.

Watching their embarrassed demeanor, the smile on Gu Changyuan's lips deepened. With a casual wave of his right hand, the sky full of supreme treasures and the phantoms of the resource mountains instantly vanished.

The black barrier was also withdrawn, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth returned to tranquility.

Wearing a somewhat playful smile, he spoke flatly:

"You certainly did disturb us. Since that is the case, consider the seven chests of resources you brought as your apology for the intrusion."