Chapter 1289: May All Realms Join to Slay Them—Father, We Are Finished
Chapter 1289: May All Realms Join to Slay Them—Father, We Are Finished
The enmity between the Divine General Faction and the Champion General had long been common knowledge throughout the royal capital of the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
Yet few could have anticipated that on the very day the Champion General departed, the Divine General Faction would commit such a despicable and infuriating act.
Even the Ruler, Chu Gucheng, intervened to cover up the incident and prevent further escalation—going so far as to dispatch his trusted subordinates to assassinate Han Feng, the Champion General Chu Heng's confidant.
The scandal erupted like wildfire in the capital, leaving countless cultivators and living beings in shock and disbelief.
That same day, the Martial Divine General, who had remained in the capital, stepped forward to solemnly declare that the Divine General Faction had no involvement in the matter.
Though they were at odds with the Champion General, they would never stoop to such underhanded tactics—striking at his family in his absence.
However, despite the Martial Divine General's public denial and oath of innocence, few were convinced.
If they truly had no hand in it, why would the Ruler Chu Gucheng order the assassination of Chu Heng's confidant?
The former Grand Tutor refrained from voicing his stance, instead leading a joint petition of officials alongside Han Feng, Chu Bai, and others, demanding an explanation from Chu Gucheng.
As tensions escalated beyond control, Chu Gucheng had no choice but to make an appearance.
Summoning his ministers in the imperial palace, he claimed ignorance of the incident, insisting he had no idea why his trusted subordinates would target Chu Heng's confidant.
He speculated that his own men must have long conspired with outsiders, betraying him.
After all, Gu Changge's power was undeniable—if he had manipulated Chu Gucheng's inner circle, it wouldn't be impossible.
At this point, Chu Gucheng outright pinned the blame on Gu Changge, framing it as a scheme to destabilize the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
Yet his explanation failed to convince many, as most believed that with the terrifying might Gu Changge had displayed, he would hardly resort to such petty tactics if he truly wished to strike.
Han Feng, Chu Bai, and the others were especially furious—hadn't Gu Changge been the one to save them that night?
Now, the Ruler Chu Gucheng was turning the tables, accusing Gu Changge of controlling his subordinates to orchestrate the betrayal.
However, their true goal wasn't to force Chu Gucheng into admitting fault—it was to demand the return of the Champion General's wife's remains.
The former Grand Tutor understood the gravity of the situation and refrained from exposing Chu Gucheng's lies publicly, merely stating his wish to lay his daughter to rest and retrieve her body from the Royal Tomb.
To this day, Chu Gucheng remained clueless about who had killed the subordinate he sent to assassinate Han Feng—or who had rescued Han Feng and the others. This uncertainty troubled him deeply.
When the former Grand Tutor requested to retrieve his daughter's remains from the Royal Tomb, Chu Gucheng did not refuse. He had anticipated this move long ago.
Thus, he had already ordered the removal of all personal effects from the Champion General's wife's body, leaving no traces or clues behind.
The Immortal Chu Vast Land had suffered heavy losses, and many developments had spiraled beyond his control.
Now, he could only hope the situation wouldn't worsen further. If he could obtain the Mirror of Reincarnation, he might yet stabilize the realm.
"Father..."
Deep within the capital, the Crown Prince, Chu Wushang, watched as Chu Gucheng returned, his expression fraught with worry.
Chu Gucheng massaged his temples wearily before meeting his son's gaze. "I've handled the matter for now. But regarding that jade pendant you mentioned—where is it now?"
"I don't know. I didn't think much of it at the time and didn't pay close attention. Later, when I had Qinglan's belongings sorted, the pendant was nowhere to be found. I suspect it may have been lost. If the Grand Tutor's faction had it, they wouldn't be in such a hurry to reclaim Qinglan's remains."
Chu Wushang's face darkened as he spoke.
Chu Gucheng nodded. "If it's merely lost, that's one thing. But I fear it may have been stolen—and fallen into the hands of Champion General Chu Heng. Investigate everyone who had access to Qinglan's remains recently. Once my cultivation recovers somewhat, I'll attempt divination. For now, Chu Heng hasn't returned, so the situation is still manageable. My only concern is—"
He left the rest unsaid, but Chu Wushang understood.
The Immortal Chu Vast Land was severely weakened, its internal affairs unstable, while two external enemies loomed at its borders.
Worse still, the unfathomable Gu Changge lurked in the shadows, poised to strike at any moment.
The Immortal Chu Vast Land had truly reached a crisis of survival.
"Father, rest assured. If the matter of the jade pendant is exposed, I know what must be done. I will not allow the Immortal Chu Vast Land to be implicated."
Chu Wushang's voice was resolute, a fleeting glint of determination—and despair—in his eyes.
Chu Gucheng sighed heavily and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"I pray it never comes to that. It's too soon to speak of such things. For now, I must find a way to secure the Primary Hope Holy Church's aid and restore my master. The Ardent Ruins Cave is unreliable—Old Woman Xing Ying's refusal to intervene proves as much. It seems the Immortal Chu Vast Land has already become a pawn on someone else's chessboard..."
At the same time, while Chu Gucheng and Chu Wushang were conversing...
Far away, at the borders of the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
An ancient warship hovered in the air, upon which Champion General Chu Heng, draped in a golden cloak, stared fixedly at a figure shrouded in black robes standing before him. His trusted subordinates stood ready, tense and vigilant, prepared to strike at any moment.
"Who exactly are you, and why have you trespassed into the heavily guarded territory of my Immortal Chu Vast Land's army?" Chu Heng demanded in a deep voice.
Despite his cultivation level, he had nearly failed to detect this person's arrival, only sensing their presence when they appeared before the ancient warship. This was undoubtedly an existence whose cultivation approached the Ancestral Dao Realm.
Recently, he had been leading his army in battles against the Beast Court and Purple Sky Mountain at the border. Though he had heard of the events unfolding in the imperial capital of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, Chu Heng had been unable to lend aid. The onslaught from the Beast Court and Purple Sky Mountain had grown increasingly fierce. While the master of Purple Sky Mountain had ceased direct attacks, he had not returned to his domain either, instead maintaining a distant yet oppressive presence.
Moreover, the Beast Ancestor of the Beast Court seemed to be stirring, emboldened by the Immortal Chu Vast Land's weakened state, and was preparing to personally descend upon the frontlines. Beast Ancestor Di Huang, whose strength rivaled that of Purple Sky Mountain's master, was a being who had survived eight Decay Tribulations. The pressure Chu Heng faced here was no less than that weighing upon the imperial capital, leaving him unable to act rashly.
"This humble one has come under my master's orders to deliver an item to the Champion General. I bear no ill intent," the black-robed figure replied, his face obscured and voice hoarse and indifferent.
"Who is your master, and what is this item you speak of?" Chu Heng asked, his eyes flashing with wariness as he remained on guard.
"The Champion General will understand upon seeing it."
Without answering Chu Heng's question, the black-robed figure flicked his wide sleeve, sending a faint glimmer of light floating toward Chu Heng.
Chu Heng froze momentarily before his pupils contracted sharply upon recognizing the object. "This... this is the jade pendant from Qinglan's body. How could it be here?" His voice trembled slightly with disbelief, and even his outstretched hand shook as he took the pendant.
He had clearly dispatched his trusted subordinate Han Feng back to the imperial capital with his own jade token to investigate the truth behind his wife Qinglan's murder. Why had this pendant appeared here instead? Had something unforeseen occurred in the capital?
"My task is complete, and I shall take my leave. If the Champion General wishes to uncover the truth within the Immortal Chu Vast Land, it would be best to return personally. Otherwise, you may remain a pawn, discarded without value once your purpose is spent, all while remaining oblivious."
The black-robed figure's tone remained icy, utterly unmoved by Chu Heng's shaken expression. After speaking, he turned and strode toward the edge of the warship, preparing to depart.
Chu Heng's subordinates tensed, ready to intercept him, but Chu Heng waved his hand, stopping them and allowing the black-robed figure to leave unhindered.
"My lord, the sudden delivery of your wife's pendant... could this be part of some scheme?" one of his trusted aides ventured cautiously. "Or perhaps the enemy's ploy to lure us away from the frontlines and sow chaos in our ranks?"
Seeing the anguish and conflict on Chu Heng's face, several of his subordinates voiced their concerns.
"I have a feeling something has truly gone wrong in the capital," Chu Heng said, carefully tucking the pendant away before taking a deep breath. "Many of the informants I left there have sent no word in all this time."
His gaze turned heavy as he looked toward the direction of the imperial capital.
Though he had his suspicions about the identity of the black-robed figure's mysterious "master," Chu Heng remained uncertain. He couldn't fathom why the situation had taken such a drastic turn. Something unexpected must have happened in the capital—otherwise, his informants wouldn't have vanished without a trace. Moreover, if Han Feng hadn't met with misfortune, he should have long since returned to the capital. Why had there been no news from him?
As a cultivator of the Ancestral Dao Realm, Chu Heng possessed the ability to glimpse fragments of the past and peer into possible futures. The future was ever-changing, with infinite possibilities. Ordinarily, the moment he attempted to foresee events, the future he observed would shift, diverging from the present trajectory. Yet when he tried to divine the fate of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, multiple potential futures unfolded before him—all ultimately converging toward a single, inevitable outcome.
This could only mean one thing: this convergence was the future the Immortal Chu Vast Land was destined to face.
"Leave a portion of our forces to hold the frontlines. The rest will return to the capital with me," Chu Heng declared coldly after a brief moment of contemplation, sweeping his hand decisively. "Let us see which enemy seeks to oppose me so fiercely. If someone dares obstruct my investigation into Qinglan's murder, then I shall see just how they intend to stop me."
Though his subordinates hesitated, none dared defy his orders. Soon, commands were relayed from the ancient warship, and the Immortal Chu Vast Land's army, which had been locked in a standoff with the Beast Court's forces, began retreating like a receding tide.
In the depths of the starry sky, where corpses piled like mountains and rivers of blood flowed, the Seventh Prince of the Beast Court, Di Kun, watched the scene coldly and did not order his troops to pursue.
Beside him, ripples spread through the air as the Bone Ancestor King, clad in black robes, materialized and observed the same scene.
"Senior, what should I do next?" Di Kun turned to the Bone Ancestor King and asked respectfully, cupping his hands.
He knew the Bone Ancestor King was one of Gu Changge's people.
During the recent clashes between the Beast Court and the Immortal Chu Vast Land's forces, the Bone Ancestor King had met with him and relayed some of Gu Changge's instructions.
"Simply wait. Once chaos erupts in the Immortal Chu Vast Land, that will be the perfect opportunity for the Beast Court to launch a full-scale assault," the Bone Ancestor King replied indifferently.
"As you command, Senior," Di Kun said respectfully.
He had no idea what was happening—why the Immortal Chu Vast Land's forces had suddenly retreated.
Moreover, this wasn't just a simple withdrawal from the frontlines. Many of their commanders and Dao Realm experts were also retreating, clearly intending to fall back deep into the Immortal Chu Vast Land's territory.
"The Master may soon meet with the Beast Ancestor. Matters concerning the Beast Court must be settled," the Bone Ancestor King glanced at Di Kun, seemingly seeing through his thoughts.
Hearing this, Di Kun was overjoyed. He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
"Understood. I will discuss this with the Beast Ancestor and inform him of the matter. The entire Beast Court shall welcome the Master's arrival," he said deferentially.
The Bone Ancestor King nodded before his figure vanished from the spot.
The Beast Court's forces did not pursue the retreating army of the Immortal Chu Vast Land. However, several elders of Purple Sky Mountain, witnessing this, grew restless and quickly relayed the news to their master, Zi Wanhe, who sat cross-legged in the depths of a distant spacetime.
Zi Wanhe wore a purple robe and a starry crown, with tassels hanging down, his face obscured by swirling mists of chaos.
Seated in that spacetime, he exuded an aura of the Great Dao, as if he had remained unmoved since antiquity, his presence awe-inspiring and intimidating.
"Are you satisfied with the outcome of this transaction?"
Zi Wanhe paid no heed to the reports from the Purple Sky Mountain elders. Instead, he opened his eyes and gazed into the void before him, speaking in a calm tone.
"Satisfaction is still premature, for the transaction is not yet complete. We still require one final favor from the Lord of Purple Sky Mountain."
Within the void before Zi Wanhe, clusters of black haze swirled and dispersed.
A voice, neither male nor female, emerged from within, carrying traces of amusement, disdain, and arrogance.
"I have already agreed to send that black coffin as a congratulatory gift. Now, the various orthodoxies of the Primary Hope Civilisation suspect me of colluding with the remnants of the Black Disaster. Do you not owe me an explanation for this?"
Zi Wanhe's eyes were profound, strands of Primal Divine Light flickering within them. Terrifying visions of collapsing galaxies and shattered universes played out in their depths.
He stared coldly into the void before him, his tone utterly indifferent.
"We agreed from the start that you would bear all consequences. Besides, that black coffin was something we obtained by chance—we had no idea what was inside. Sending it as a gift to the Immortal Chu Vast Land suited your purposes as well, did it not?"
"This was a mutually beneficial arrangement. What more could the Lord of Purple Sky Mountain possibly want?"
The voices within the ever-shifting black haze spoke with careless mockery.
Zi Wanhe snorted, causing the surrounding spacetime to tremble. "You never clarified this beforehand. I had no idea that black coffin was connected to the remnants of the Black Disaster."
He refused to believe they hadn't known what was inside that coffin.
"And what if we did? This was a transaction you owed us. Did you truly think you could refuse?"
The voices in the black haze suddenly turned icy, a bone-chilling aura spreading out, freezing the very fabric of spacetime and halting the flow of time.
The previously thin black haze now took on a sinister glow, as if epochs passed and stars perished within its depths in the blink of an eye.
Zi Wanhe's expression shifted slightly. Though he was a supreme existence within the Primary Hope Civilisation, he dared not offend the beings behind these voices.
Especially since this transaction stemmed from a karmic debt he owed them from long ago.
Now that they had come to collect, even if he had known from the start that the black coffin was linked to the remnants of the Black Disaster, he would not have dared to refuse.
"Then, what do you need me to do now?" Zi Wanhe's face darkened, but he did not dare defy them. He could only ask in a heavy tone.
From the current situation, he had followed Gu Changge's instructions—delivering a "grand gift" to the Immortal Chu Vast Land and deploying Purple Sky Mountain's forces against them.
Even if Gu Changge learned the full truth, he likely wouldn't blame him.
But the beings behind these voices were not to be trifled with either.
Zi Wanhe strongly suspected that these figures were, in fact, the remnants of the Black Disaster. If they could form a karmic bond with him, they could surely do the same with others.
By now, who knew how many civilisations and nations across the vast expanse had already been infiltrated by them?
"Simple. You just need to help us get close to the leader of the Heavenslayers Alliance and confirm his identity and origins."