As Lu Yuan's words left his lips, Ao Ze turned to look at him. Its eyes turned grave with seriousness.

It had crossed hands with the Celestial Sages before and knew just how powerful they were. It was even injured seriously in the process. Now, inflicted with severe injuries, it could not afford to take the Celestials lightly anymore, even if it had Lu Yuan on its side.

However, Lu Yuan showed not the slightest concern. He could sense those auras drawing nearer without cease. They were all basically at the Void Sage Realm.

Against opponents in the same realm, he could already claim invincibility and suppress them outright. Not to mention when they were a full realm beneath him.

In this regard, Lu Yuan had not the slightest worry. Even if the opponent was the Celestials, this was hardly his first time facing them.

Very soon, as the minutes ticked by, those powerful auras drew closer and closer, until at last four winged figures with white hair and golden eyes arrived.

One was a young man. The other three were elders—two men and one woman. All of them were basically in the Sage Realm.

They looked at the mammoth Yinglong before them, and the young man at the front spoke, "Continue running. Why aren't you running anymore? I already told you long ago that your only choice is to submit to the Celestials.

"The Celestials rank among the top hundred in the entire cosmos. Joining us would not disgrace the dignity of your dragon race. One last chance. Stop fleeing at once, or else don't blame us for being impolite," the young Celestial added.

His name was Lei Chong, the 5th Ranker of the Celestial Race. He had descended not long ago and was participating in this operation to subdue Yinglong.

At his side were several elders of the Celestials. Though their strength was about the same, their status was inferior to that of a Ranker. After all, Rankers were made up of the younger generation of prodigies, and their future potential was immense.

"I've said it before as well. No matter what happens, I will never submit. Even if I die." Ao Ze shook its head, and rays of biting light continuously shot out from its dragon scales.

It truly was very powerful, and the aura it released caused the seawater below to surge without cease. Unfortunately, the ones standing before it now were Celestials of the same realm. And there was even a Ranker among them.

"Stubborn to the bitter end!" Lei Chong's gaze was cold as he stepped forward directly. Beneath his feet, bolts of lightning surged, rumbling and coursing back and forth.

The power of thunder and lightning was, by nature, one of the most violent forces in existence, and incredibly difficult to control. Yet now, in the hands of this Celestial Ranker, it obeyed him as easily as his own limbs.

At his side, the other Celestials also stepped forward. Lightning coiled around their bodies, making them appear overwhelmingly powerful. Those bolts intertwined and surged in constant violent motion.

"Cut the talk. We fight!" Yinglong Ao Ze showed no fear at all, and layers of powerful aura erupted from its body as well.

A great battle seemed just moments away from breaking out. But just at that moment, a voice rang out.

"Celestials. You guys are just as you were before. Do you think this is the Thunderflash Starfield?" Lu Yuan spoke. He walked to stand in front of Ao Ze; he appeared extremely calm.

Just moments ago, he had deliberately concealed his aura, unwilling to let anyone sense him. Now, just as the battle was about to begin, he stepped out directly.

Since he intended to help Ao Ze resolve this crisis, there was naturally no reason to remain silent.

His voice caused the expressions of the Celestials opposite him to shift at once.

Lei Chong was just about to rebuke him, when he saw who had spoken.

His eyes filled with immense shock as he stammered, "You are... the human Lu Yuan?"

There was no helping it. Lu Yuan's reputation was simply too great. So great that even in the depths of the cosmos, many had heard of him.

On top of that, the Celestials already bore a deep grudge against him, attaching enormous importance to his existence and wishing to eliminate him as soon as possible. They had long since prepared his portrait so that everyone in their clan could recognize him immediately.

That was why Lei Chong reacted this way the moment he saw Lu Yuan. Upon hearing that name, the Celestials at his side found even their auras growing unstable.

Lu Yuan was a great enemy of the Celestials. They also knew how powerful he was, and how difficult he was to deal with.

Even though large numbers of Outer Cosmos beings had now descended, they still held immense fear toward him and avoided provoking him. The reason was simple; none of them possessed absolute confidence in defeating him.

Lei Chong quickly gathered himself and spoke again, "You intend to stop us from dealing with Yinglong?"

He was indeed somewhat wary of Lu Yuan, but this mission had been ordered from above. The operation also had much to do with the Ji Clan standing behind the Celestials. Under such circumstances, there was no way he could simply retreat.

"That's not it." Lu Yuan shook his head. His tone remained as calm as ever, without the slightest visible fluctuation. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Those words made Lei Chong let out a small sigh of relief. He thought that as long as Lu Yuan was not stopping them from dealing with Yinglong, then there was nothing to worry about.

But very soon, Lu Yuan spoke again.

"I merely wish to collect some interest from the Celestials."

The moment those words fell, every Celestial present trembled. Because they could sense the evident killing intent laced within Lu Yuan's words.

"Back then, I had no wish to provoke anyone. Yet you Celestials kept pressing forward at every turn. From Lei Xuan to Lei You, there has always been someone trying to kill me. I remember every bit of it."

At this point, Lu Yuan slowly raised his head and continued, "The fact that I have not acted does not mean I can be provoked at will."

His meaning was very simple. He had remembered every trouble the Celestials had caused him. At the same time, he had never once thought of letting the matter pass.

So in the end, if they ever crossed paths, a battle was inevitable.

"You..."

Hearing this, Lei Chong was alarmed; he seemed to have figured out what Lu Yuan intended to do.

Lu Yuan no longer needed to explain further. Step by step, he began walking forward. One surge of powerful force after another continuously burst forth from his body. Golden vital qi roiled and slowly gathered together.

At the same time, a great sun emerged behind him, casting out streak after streak of piercing radiance, casting illumination over the surroundings.

An incomparably powerful force erupted from Lu Yuan's body. Below, the heavy waves of the sea surged and crashed, rising more than a hundred meters high.

At this moment, Lu Yuan was like a god as he stood there in the air.

Beside him, Ao Ze was utterly shocked as it witnessed the scene. It knew Lu Yuan was very strong. With terrifying combat power, he had directly slain a Sage even when he was still in the Venerable King Realm.

Yet, it felt that there had to be a ceiling to such... achievements.

The ones pursuing it now were four Celestial Sages, and among them was even a Ranker. Under such circumstances, Ao Ze had believed that Lu Yuan should at least be able to keep himself from defeat. But it was surely impossible for him to completely resolve the crisis.

Now that Lu Yuan fully revealed all of his aura, Ao Ze was thoroughly stunned.

That power was simply too strong that it even instilled a trace of fear in it. That meant that Lu Yuan was far stronger than it had imagined.

Standing opposite them, the Celestials were overwhelmed with dread at the situation. They also knew Lu Yuan was powerful and had entered the Sage Realm, but the current display of power was way beyond their expectations.

Lesser Sage.

Yes, the second stage within the Sage Realm, a stage above everyone present.

How were they supposed to fight?

Yet, Lu Yuan paid not the slightest heed to their reactions.

Step by step, he continued forward, and the aura around him grew more and more intense.

It was time to collect some past interest. And it would begin with the Celestials!