Chapter 1290: Chu Gucheng's Explanation, A Vast Army Presses the Border
Chapter 1290: Chu Gucheng's Explanation, A Vast Army Presses the Border
"This matter is actually quite simple, and you need not worry—there will be no danger."
The swirling black haze shifted, revealing several indistinct faces within—men and women, humans and other races alike.
Each pair of eyes scrutinized Zi Wanhe with an unsettling intensity, making him feel deeply uneasy.
"Is there nothing else besides this?" Zi Wanhe asked gravely.
He didn't understand why these beings were so intent on uncovering Gu Changge's origins. It seemed they had been plotting this even before the great battle between Gu Changge and the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
Zi Wanhe had only met Gu Changge once.
Yet the terror of that encounter remained seared into his memory.
Even the curse of the Entanglement Immortal Might, which had plagued him for countless years, had been resolved by Gu Changge's intervention.
Of course, his life was now firmly in Gu Changge's grasp.
These beings wanted him to investigate Gu Changge's background—but how could he possibly dare?
"Nothing more. Once you complete this task, our transaction will be concluded."
The gazes fixed on Zi Wanhe quickly faded, and the faces dissipated like smoke.
Only when he sensed their complete departure did Zi Wanhe finally exhale in relief and withdraw his gaze.
"The Champion General of the Immortal Chu Vast Land suddenly withdrew his troops at this critical moment—what does this mean?"
He frowned, recalling the urgent messages from the elders of Purple Sky Mountain.
Logically, with the Immortal Chu Vast Land severely weakened, this was the perfect opportunity for Purple Sky Mountain to launch a full-scale assault.
But without Gu Changge's orders, he dared not act recklessly. He could only command his forces to hold their positions and wait.
At the border of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, the sudden withdrawal of the Champion General Chu Heng and his vast army quickly drew the attention of various orthodox forces.
Shock and confusion rippled across the land.
At such a pivotal moment in the conflict between the Immortal Chu Vast Land, the Beast Court, and Purple Sky Mountain—why would the Champion General suddenly retreat? Had some unforeseen disaster struck the imperial capital, forcing him to return?
Or had the Immortal Chu Vast Land abandoned its border territories, choosing instead to fortify its heartland?
Yet even more baffling was the fact that neither the Beast Court nor Purple Sky Mountain pursued the retreating forces.
Speculation ran rampant, but no one could decipher the truth.
The news of the Champion General's withdrawal sent tremors through every corner of the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
In the imperial capital, Chu Gucheng had been preoccupied with finding a solution to his master, the Dharma Saint's, grievous injuries.
But when the report reached him, his expression darkened instantly, his fists clenching involuntarily beneath his sleeves.
"How dare the Champion General abandon the border without my command?"
"Who authorized his return to the capital? Who will defend the border now?"
His fury erupted like a storm, and the servants and maids around him trembled in fear, prostrating themselves on the ground.
Chu Gucheng had never imagined that Chu Heng, the Champion General, would dare to leave the border without his permission at such a critical juncture.
If the Beast Court and Purple Sky Mountain seized this opportunity to invade, wouldn't vast swathes of the Immortal Chu Vast Land—even its heartland—fall into enemy hands?
With the Champion General abandoning his post, the people's morale would crumble further. Was this not a direct slap to his face as the Ruler?
The news also sent shockwaves through the imperial court, leaving ministers bewildered and uneasy.
Many speculated—had the Champion General received secret orders from the Ruler to abandon the border?
"It seems the turmoil in the Immortal Chu Vast Land is far from over. For the Champion General to return to the capital at this moment—he must be seeking more than just justice for his wife."
Old Woman Xing Ying of the Ardent Ruins Cave had not yet left the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
Her silver-bright eyes gazed beyond the capital, as if reflecting scenes of blood and fire.
Beside her, the White-browed Star Lord frowned gravely. "Senior Sister, should we return to the Ardent Ruins Cave and request the master's intervention?"
Old Woman Xing Ying shook her head and scoffed. "If the master wished to act, he would not have sent the two of us here in the first place. I once thought he favored Chu Gucheng, but after the recent battle, it's clear he is merely a pawn. If we don't want to become discarded pieces ourselves, we must watch the board carefully—and not move recklessly."
The White-browed Star Lord sighed inwardly.
He knew their master's temperament all too well. Though they were his disciples, in the eyes of such an existence, they were often nothing more than expendable pieces—discarded the moment they outlived their usefulness.
"Wonderful! The Champion General is returning to the capital!"
"With his return, justice will finally be served!"
In the former Grand Tutor's residence, Han Feng, Chu Bai, and the others rejoiced at the news.
Though they had retrieved the Champion General's wife's remains from the Royal Tomb, they had found no personal effects—least of all the jade pendant they sought.
Disappointed but unsurprised, they acknowledged Chu Gucheng's meticulous nature.
A man like him would never leave behind crucial evidence.
In the following days, the situation in the Immortal Chu Vast Land grew increasingly turbulent and unstable.
Many regions within its territory began experiencing unrest. The calamity caused by the black coffin that had crashed down earlier remained unresolved, and before one wave could settle, another arose.
Despite Chu Gucheng dispatching numerous trusted subordinates to stabilize the situation, their efforts proved futile.
The Immortal Chu Vast Land had already suffered severe losses in its battle against Gu Changge, yet many orthodox forces continued to closely monitor its deteriorating state.
Though Purple Sky Mountain and the Beast Court did not launch another attack, their armies remained stationed menacingly at the borders, exerting immense pressure.
Meanwhile, in other border regions of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, minor orthodox forces took advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters.
The battlefields from earlier were engulfed in karmic flames, littered with countless casualties. The sins of slaughter spread like tidal waves in all directions.
Many once-thriving life-bearing star systems were reduced to desolate wastelands in an instant, swallowed by the karmic flames.
This, too, was an unstoppable disaster beyond human intervention.
At the peak of its power, the Immortal Chu Vast Land could have relied on its surging national fortune to suppress such calamities.
But now, with its fortune scattered and the people's morale shattered, the boundless sins of war began to backfire.
The tragic state of the Immortal Chu Vast Land over these past few days sent chills through the various orthodox forces of Primary Hope Civilisation—this was undeniably the precursor to an imminent collapse.
Yet even at this critical juncture, Chu Gucheng still sought to establish the Primary Hope Covenant and secure the aid of the Primary Hope Holy Church.
To this end, the Primary Hope Saintess once again appeared in the imperial capital, appealing to orthodox forces for assistance.
Many found it baffling—why was the Primary Hope Saintess still lingering in the Immortal Chu Vast Land instead of leaving?
Did she truly intend to weather this crisis alongside it?
On the very same day, far from the Immortal Chu Vast Land, at the heart of Primary Hope Civilisation, movement stirred within the Primary Hope Holy Church.
A living fossil-level elder emerged—one of the most ancient figures.
Her name was Xi Yin, a nominal disciple of Xi Nu, the Progenitor who had founded the Primary Hope Holy Church. Her seniority even surpassed that of the Primary Hope Saintess.
This venerable figure had been secluded in the depths of the Primary Hope Holy Church, contemplating the Great Dao for countless epochs without appearing in the world.
She had not emerged of her own volition—she had been summoned by another living fossil-level Progenitor.
That Progenitor was none other than Jing Tianyuan, the ancestor of the Jing Family who had previously appeared in the Magnificent Sun Ancient Territory.
Jing Tianyuan, ancestor of the Jing Family, hailed from the same era as the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace—his seniority and origins needed no elaboration.
Accompanied by numerous Jing Family elders, he arrived outside the Primary Hope Holy Church, requesting an audience with its current council of elders.
He wasted no time, declaring outright that the Immortal Chu Vast Land had long colluded with the remnants of the Black Disaster and imprisoned the true Primary Hope Saintess.
The one currently appearing in the Immortal Chu Vast Land was an imposter.
This revelation sent shockwaves through the entire Primary Hope Holy Church, drawing all its elders and disciples in alarm.
Had such claims come from anyone else, few would have believed them.
But Jing Tianyuan, like the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, was a Progenitor of the Classical Era who had resisted the Black Disaster.
Would he fabricate such accusations without cause?
Many elders of the Primary Hope Holy Church had already harbored suspicions, finding recent events bizarre.
The Primary Hope Saintess had originally planned to stay in the Immortal Chu Vast Land for only a few days, yet she had not returned.
Even more absurdly, she had proposed an alliance through marriage—something utterly uncharacteristic to those who knew her well.
Jing Tianyuan made no secret of his purpose: he had come at another's behest, seeking to unite with the Primary Hope Holy Church to rescue the imprisoned Saintess.
The elders wasted no time, rushing to the depths of the Sacred Hall to notify their secluded, Great Dao-contemplating ancestral elders.
If the Saintess had truly been harmed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Xi Yin, though a revered elder of the Primary Hope Holy Church, appeared as a graceful middle-aged woman.
Her hair was coiled in a cloud-like bun adorned with jade hairpins, and she wore a dark-hued palace gown that accentuated her slender, alluring figure. Her striking beauty was further enhanced by a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, lending her an otherworldly charm.
Frowning slightly, she gazed across the vast expanse of space toward the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
"I have just used the power of the Mirror of Reincarnation to deduce the situation and indeed detected anomalies. The Immortal Chu Vast Land is now shrouded in black mist, and even the Saintess cannot be reached."
"The connection between the Mirror of Reincarnation and her has been severed."
The faces of the Sacred Hall elders paled, many overcome with worry.
Jing Tianyuan, though elderly and thin, carried an air of scholarly refinement. Nodding, he said, "Precisely why I have come to discuss with the Primary Hope Holy Church how to rescue the Saintess and resolve this calamity for Primary Hope Civilisation."
Xi Yin inclined her head slightly. "We appreciate Elder Jing's concern. On behalf of my master, I express our gratitude. The Saintess is her personal disciple, blessed with extraordinary talent and numerous life-preserving methods. She should remain safe for the time being."
"May I ask who entrusted Senior Jing to come seek aid from our Primary Hope Holy Church?"
As she spoke, a trace of puzzlement flickered across her face.
Jing Tianyuan laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be anxious. You'll meet Young Master Gu soon enough. In fact, I owe my reappearance in this world to his assistance."
"Young Master Gu?"
Xi Yin's brows furrowed again. Then, with a mere thought, all the events that had transpired in the Primary Hope Civilisation during this period instantly became clear to her.
For an existence like hers, almost no secret in the myriad worlds could remain hidden. Many things could be deduced with just a flicker of thought.
As for widely known major events, they went without saying.
"So, such things have happened during this time..."
Soon, Xi Yin's expression returned to normal as she nodded slightly.
Then, she personally drafted a decree. Streaks of divine-light edicts tore through space-time, radiating from the Primary Hope Holy Church toward various regions, descending upon the great orthodox forces.
"I have issued the Primary Hope Decree, uniting all orthodox forces to eradicate the Immortal Chu Vast Land for colluding with the remnants of the Black Disaster," Xi Yin declared.
The Primary Hope Decree was a special edict of the Primary Hope Holy Church, one that would not be issued unless the Primary Hope Civilisation faced upheaval or calamity.
The fact that Xi Yin had directly invoked the Primary Hope Decree was enough to demonstrate the gravity with which she regarded this matter.
Seeing this, Jing Tianyuan nodded. "This matter cannot be delayed. The longer we wait, the more I fear the Primary Hope Saintess may suffer unforeseen harm."
"I have already brought many of the Jing Family's elites and coordinated with the Imperial Immortal Palace. We must ensure the Primary Hope Saintess is rescued unharmed this time."
Hearing this, the elders of the Primary Hope Holy Church were deeply moved.
This Great Sage truly embodied righteous indignation and noble compassion.
Xi Yin also nodded. "Senior Jing's concern is appreciated. This matter is indeed urgent. Why don't we proceed immediately? I, too, wish to see what capabilities the Immortal Chu Vast Land still possesses."
Jing Tianyuan smiled. "Very well. It would be best to rendezvous with Young Master Gu and his party first."
A faint trace of curiosity flickered across Xi Yin's face.
She was also intrigued by the origins and identity of the leader of the Heavenslayers Alliance, but at this moment, she refrained from further inquiry.
Outside the Primary Hope Holy Church, a vast spacetime portal was opened. Xi Yin personally led the way, accompanied by numerous elders of the Primary Hope Holy Church as they stepped inside. Jing Tianyuan followed closely behind, bringing along the elite forces of the Jing Family.
Meanwhile, the Primary Hope Decree sent to various regions had already caused an uproar.
The Bright Light Temple, the Towering Divine Cave, the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom, the Undead Lake Clan, the Cave of Ultimate Bliss... Countless immortal orthodox forces were shaken, finding it hard to believe.
"The Primary Hope Holy Church has actually issued the Primary Hope Decree, calling upon all orthodox forces to eradicate the Immortal Chu Vast Land..."
"What in the world is happening?"
"This was personally decreed by a Great Sage-level figure of the Primary Hope Holy Church! They claim the Immortal Chu Vast Land colluded with the remnants of the Black Disaster, imprisoned the true Primary Hope Saintess, and replaced her with an imposter in an attempt to overturn natural order and plunge the Primary Hope Civilisation into chaos."
"They call upon all worlds to unite in exterminating them."
Every region was in an uproar.
All cultivators and living beings who received this news were utterly stunned, scarcely able to believe it.
Just how audacious was the Immortal Chu Vast Land to dare such a thing?
This was nothing short of attempting to deceive the entire Primary Hope Civilisation, trampling upon order and propriety.
"No wonder something felt off. The Primary Hope Saintess's behavior and words during that period were rather peculiar."
"If the Primary Hope Decree from the Primary Hope Holy Church is accurate, then the Immortal Chu Vast Land truly has the gall to impersonate the Primary Hope Saintess?"
The various orthodox forces were equally shocked and horrified.
The entire Primary Hope Civilisation was thrown into turmoil by this matter. Deep within the Imperial Immortal Palace, Ling Yuxian, who had long since returned, was discussing the matter with her elder sister, Ling Yuling.
Moreover, the Imperial Immortal Palace had received an invitation from the Jing Family, urging them to join forces in eradicating the Immortal Chu Vast Land and the remnants of the Black Disaster.
"This time, you and a Great Sage-level elder from our clan should go. The Immortal Chu Vast Land's fate is sealed. No orthodox force will pass up the chance to carve it apart," Ling Yuling said softly.
"Did the Immortal Chu Vast Land truly collude with the remnants of the Black Disaster?" Ling Yuxian still seemed somewhat puzzled.
Ling Yuling's gaze was complex as she shook her head. "Whether they colluded or not no longer matters. When the wall crumbles, everyone pushes it. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. The Immortal Chu Vast Land's impersonation of the Primary Hope Saintess has already crossed the line. No one can save them now."
There was no doubt—the Immortal Chu Vast Land was doomed. In this confrontation with Gu Changge, they had suffered a crushing defeat, with no hope of survival or victory.
Though Ling Yuling had anticipated this, she hadn't expected it to happen so swiftly, leaving the Immortal Chu Vast Land not even a sliver of opportunity.
"Father... we're finished..."
In the imperial capital of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, the eldest prince, Chu Wushang, turned deathly pale, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Chu Gucheng's descendants, concubines, and consorts all wore expressions of terror, as if facing an impending apocalypse.
The civil and military officials knelt in the grand hall, trembling with fear, not daring to raise their heads.
Chu Gucheng stood before the throne, his face ashen, fists clenched so tightly they creaked. In the depths of his eyes, terrifying visions of collapsing universes and shifting storms roiled—vast and unfathomable.