Chapter 1203

Chapter 1203: Thunder

The giant, who bore a striking resemblance to Xu Gang, stood within the River of Time, repeatedly attempting to lift his foot and break free from the river’s constraints to step onto the shore. However, each time, the relentless pull of the River of Time dragged him back, making escape impossible. It felt as though tens of thousands of worlds were weighing down on his feet, rendering him immobile.

At this moment, all the disciples who had been preparing for battle within the sect emerged, their eyes fixed on the River of Time that stretched across the star region. After several failed attempts to break free, a magnificent phenomenon representing the paths of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth ignited behind the giant. This phenomenon then merged into a chaotic force, amplifying the giant’s power. With this newfound strength, one foot slowly and laboriously pulled free from the River of Time and landed on the shore.

Xu Fan, watching from the Hidden Spirit Sect, narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that freeing the last foot would be the most challenging part. The disciples observing from the sect also began to feel a sense of tension, imagining themselves in the giant’s place, wondering if they could escape the River of Time. After all, the River of Time in the Immortal Realm was vastly different from the one in the star region. The difference was akin to that between a tributary and the main river, making the difficulty of breaking free exponentially greater.

“To achieve Great Luo in the star region, if you can’t do it here, you won’t be able to summon the River of Time in the Immortal Realm to break free,” an elderly man with white hair appeared beside Xu Fan.

“Xu Gang has been by my side since he was a child, receiving meticulous guidance. The Spiritual Treasures, techniques, and source immortal spells I’ve taught him are all of the highest caliber,” Xu Fan said with a slight smile. “I have confidence in Xu Gang’s ability to break free from the River of Time and achieve Great Luo.”

Xu Fan could see that his first disciple had not yet used his full strength. Just as the giant began to lift his other foot to escape the River of Time, two massive hands came together, forming seals. Above the River of Time, a gigantic, twisted light sphere began to take shape. The light sphere descended slowly, like the setting sun over the ocean, toward the River of Time.

“Quite bold,” Xu Fan remarked with a chuckle as he watched his first disciple’s actions.

As the twisted light sphere fully submerged into the River of Time, a massive mushroom cloud erupted from the river’s surface. Instantly, the fabric of space and time in the star region was thrown into chaos. Prepared for this, Xu Fan quickly suppressed the area outside the River of Time, preventing any disturbances. The River of Time where the giant stood also experienced a disruption, allowing the giant’s other foot to break free with ease.

At that moment, the traces of fate and time on the giant began to fade, and the causal connections tied to him started to dissolve. The giant turned and looked in Xu Fan’s direction, bowing respectfully. Xu Fan smiled and waved his hand, calming the turbulent ripples in that segment of the River of Time.

In the courtyard, Xu Fan nodded in satisfaction as he looked at Xu Gang. “Not bad. After all these years, you’ve finally grasped it,” Xu Fan said, his face filled with contentment. It was like a swordsman who had spent a lifetime practicing basic techniques suddenly achieving enlightenment and becoming a master swordsman. Xu Fan had always emphasized the importance of fundamentals in his teachings to Xu Gang. Every divine ability and immortal technique Xu Gang practiced was rooted in the path of the five elements.

Xu Fan had refined countless versions of the Five Elements Technique through his cultivation. Ultimately, it was Xu Gang’s relentless training, paired with the heavenly spirit peach, that facilitated his enlightenment today.

"Master, I must have caused you a lot of trouble in the past," Xu Gang remarked.

"Trouble? You’re actually the one who’s given me the least to worry about," Xu Fan replied with a chuckle.

"Now that you’ve achieved the status of a Great Luo Saint, don’t let it go to your head. Remember, when we ventured into the outer realms, Great Luo was merely the starting point. Keep pushing forward, stay diligent, and never lose sight of your pursuit of the wide road," Xu Fan advised.

"Understood, Master," Xu Gang acknowledged.

After Xu Gang’s ascension to Great Luo Saint, the disciples of the Hidden Spirit Sect were still in awe when a message from Grapes brought them unexpected joy. Thanks to Xu Fan’s saint state, the protective grand formation was set up early, granting the sect’s disciples their benefits ahead of schedule.

The disciples erupted in cheers, reminiscent of a school celebration after a festival. They quickly organized into their respective groups to form the Giant Battle Formation of Great Road Giants. Under Grapes’ guidance, they entered a designated large world to combat chaotic giant beasts.

With the protective grand formation now securing the inner walls of the Three Thousand Realms, the Hidden Spirit Sect was operating at full capacity. Every disciple, whether in combat or other disciplines, was actively engaged in managing the influx of chaotic giant beasts into the large world. Even the top powerful families of the human race were sending an increasing number of deliveries.

What was a looming disaster for the Three Thousand Realms turned into a boon for the Hidden Spirit Sect. At the edge of the large world, a unique small world was reserved for Xu Gang, a solo instance teeming with chaotic giant beasts.

On this particular day, Xu Fan and Huang Shan were enjoying tea in a pavilion on the main peak of the Hidden Spirit Sect.

"The Xuanhuang giant peach tree, an innate celestial spirit root that my Yuanshi Sect searched for so long, and you found it," Huang Shan commented, eyeing the heavenly spirit peach on the plate.

"It was just a stroke of luck," Xu Fan said with a smile, handing over a space ring containing the Primordial Purple Qi crystal he owed to Huang Shan.

"No need to return it; my Yuanshi Sect hasn’t settled the account for this grand formation yet," Huang Shan said, pushing the space ring back.

"How can I accept payment for aiding the human race?" Xu Fan shook his head and pushed the space ring back again.

"Your sense of duty is commendable," Huang Shan said with a laugh, finally accepting the space ring.

"From what I’ve seen in the communication mirror, the situation at the borders guarded by several top powerful families seems precarious," Xu Fan noted.

"Don’t fret; they can manage," Huang Shan replied dismissively.

At that moment, the protective grand formation within the Three Thousand Realms’ inner walls shook violently. Three Great Saint-level chaotic giant beasts had forced their way through the outer wall and entered the Three Thousand Realms.

Xu Fan immediately turned to Huang Shan, who calmly continued sipping his tea as a spatial gate appeared in the star region. From it, endless thunder surged forth, forming a giant of condensed lightning that swiftly annihilated one of the Great Saint-level chaotic giant beasts. The other two were thrust back through the breach in the outer wall.

Observing the endless thunder, Xu Fan sensed a familiar presence. Meanwhile, in the large world, the Great Road Giant wielding a postnatal Spiritual Treasure, the lightning knife, suddenly halted.

"Brother Knife Wall, take over the Great Road Giant. I sense my father’s presence; I need to check it out," Li Lei Hu said, transferring control to a senior brother before flying towards the familiar aura.

The giant of endless thunder then transformed into a strong, bearded man, who looked warmly towards Hidden Spirit Island.