Chapter 1294: Even in Death, They Seek to Shatter Your Dao Heart—A Thousand Years of Time
Chapter 1294: Even in Death, They Seek to Shatter Your Dao Heart—A Thousand Years of Time
The many disciples of the Immortal Chu Vast Land's imperial family, as well as Chu Gucheng's trusted confidants, now wore expressions thick with grief, fury, and unwillingness.
In a single day, the vast Immortal Chu Vast Land had collapsed and perished.
Their kin and subordinates had all died along the way, sacrificing themselves to help them escape.
Ruins and wreckage stretched as far as the eye could see—crumbling walls and shattered pillars. Once high above, looking down upon countless cultivators and living beings, they had now been reduced to stray dogs, forced to flee in all directions.
"Ji Lang, from now on, we can only rely on you. Right now, we likely can't stay in the Primary Hope Civilisation any longer. Our only hope is to seek refuge in the Rising Dawn Civilisation, under the Unfettered Heavenly Palace."
"The various orthodox forces of the Primary Hope Civilisation will surely hunt us down to the last, leaving no root or sprout behind."
Aboard the flying vessel, Chu Xinyue clutched a jade bottle tightly in her hands. She glanced back at the many brothers, sisters, and descendants of the Chu Family before turning to Ouyang Ji beside her, her voice tinged with apology.
This was the only solution she could think of. The calamity had struck too swiftly, leaving them no time to prepare.
As the Second Princess of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, she had long been a target for many.
Thus, Chu Xinyue had no choice but to split everyone up to escape. She would lead a group, including Ouyang Ji and others, to the Rising Dawn Civilisation, seeking shelter under the Unfettered Heavenly Palace.
As long as they survived, there would still be a chance for vengeance.
"They came far too quickly. What worries me now is that we might be intercepted before we even reach the Rising Dawn Civilisation."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ji's face also showed traces of worry as he spoke with resignation.
Chu Xinyue gritted her teeth. "If it truly comes to that, we'll have to leave some behind to hold the line while those with greater talent escape. Among us are nearly all the remaining embers of the Immortal Chu Vast Land—they are its future hope. They cannot fall so easily."
As she spoke, her gaze swept over the group she had taken with her.
Many among them were individuals of formidable talent, blessed with great fortuity. So long as they did not perish, they had a high chance of reaching the Dao Realm in the future.
They would be the foundation of her vengeance.
Ouyang Ji shook his head.
Chu Xinyue knew they now faced a life of dependence, so she refrained from pressing Ouyang Ji further.
She could already guess that the Unfettered Heavenly Palace might be unwilling to shelter the remnants of the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
Once the reckoning began, the Unfettered Heavenly Palace would inevitably be implicated.
But now, aside from the Unfettered Heavenly Palace, she had nowhere else to turn—no other choice.
Could they seek refuge in the elusive Ardent Ruins Cave?
When the great war erupted, Old Woman Xing Ying of the Ardent Ruins Cave had vanished without a trace.
Star King Bai Mei might still harbor some lingering sentiment—he hadn't fled immediately but had instead joined forces with the ministers and divine generals to resist the enemy. Yet whether he was alive or dead now remained unknown.
Chu Xinyue had her own plans. She did not intend to stay at the Unfettered Heavenly Palace indefinitely. Once the situation stabilized somewhat, she would lead everyone away to find another refuge.
The Unfettered Heavenly Palace was merely a temporary sanctuary.
"Ji Lang, my father left behind several hidden dimensional vaults, sealing within them the accumulated treasures and foundations of the Immortal Chu Vast Land over a hundred epochs—just in case, as capital for resurgence."
"This time, I've also taken many of the Immortal Chu Vast Land's remaining resources with me. Once we safely return to the Unfettered Heavenly Palace, if we marry, these will be my dowry."
"I know asking you to help the Immortal Chu Vast Land through this crisis is a heavy burden, but my feelings for you are sincere..."
Her gaze softened as she looked at Ouyang Ji beside her, her voice brimming with tenderness.
Her beauty was peerless—skin like snow, a tall and graceful figure. As she spoke, her delicate fingers lightly brushed aside a few strands of hair at her forehead, adding to her enchanting charm.
Ouyang Ji seemed moved by her words, a flicker of emotion and delight crossing his face.
"Xinyue, don't worry. I've said it before—the matters of your Immortal Chu Vast Land are my matters. I will do everything in my power to help you." He immediately vowed, nearly thumping his chest in assurance.
Hearing this, Chu Xinyue revealed a sweet smile.
"With your words, Ji Lang, I am completely at ease."
She had deliberately revealed this information to steady Ouyang Ji's resolve.
Human hearts were fickle, and Chu Xinyue did not expect Ouyang Ji to help her indefinitely.
Once the Unfettered Heavenly Palace coveted those dimensional vaults, they would have to ensure her group's safety. Until they obtained those vaults, they would continue to conceal their tracks and evade pursuit.
Chu Xinyue had calculated this precisely. The Unfettered Heavenly Palace was in decline—how could they possibly resist such a readily available feast?
"Fu Bo, I must trouble you to soothe everyone's hearts. With the Immortal Chu Vast Land destroyed and my father and the others likely fallen in battle, the last embers of our land are gathered here. From now on, we will have to rely on you, Elder..."
She then turned to an elderly, hunched man in the crowd, his bearing weathered by time.
Fu Bo had followed her father from the humblest beginnings, witnessing his rise to become the Ruler of the Immortal Chu Vast Land. He had seen countless myths and miracles unfold with his own eyes.
So during her escape, Chu Xinyue had brought him along, intending for Elder Fu to assist her.
"Rest assured, Miss Xinyue. Leave these matters to this old servant."
Elder Fu's face was weathered, covered in wrinkles, as if he had aged many years in this short span of time. Hearing Chu Xinyue's words, he immediately responded.
Chu Xinyue felt slightly comforted. Then, she turned her gaze to the others aboard the flying vessel.
"This time, the Immortal Chu Vast Land has suffered an unprecedented calamity. The Lord and the others resisted powerful enemies to buy us time to escape. Now, they have likely perished. This vengeance for our fallen nation, we shall engrave in our hearts. One day, we will make all our enemies pay and repay this debt in full."
"I, Chu Xinyue, hereby swear a Great Dao Oath today—if this vengeance remains unfulfilled, may I be struck down by the Nine Heavens' Divine Lightning, my True Soul cast into the Nine Nether Hells, never to reincarnate for eternity."
Her voice was filled with bone-deep hatred, carrying an iron-blooded resolve.
In the unseen void, layers of the Great Dao suddenly resonated with a deafening roar, as if Chaos Lightning crackled in response to her Great Dao Oath.
The crowd, who had been immersed in despair and hatred over the fall of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, immediately shed their despondency upon hearing this. Their spirits were roused, their emotions surging with fervor.
"This enmity is irreconcilable! We shall repay tooth for tooth, blood for blood!"
Many even followed suit, swearing oaths with solemn conviction.
Chu Xinyue nodded slightly, comforted, while tightening her grip on the jade vial in her arms.
Their escape was swift. Once they left this region, they would soon cross beyond the borders of the Immortal Chu Vast Land and flee outside the Primary Hope Civilisation.
Ouyang Ji watched the confident Chu Xinyue and shook his head imperceptibly.
If one ignored many factors, Chu Xinyue was indeed an extraordinary figure, perhaps even capable of catching up to her father, Chu Gucheng.
Even in such a life-or-death crisis, she could still devise methods to stabilize everyone—and the Unfettered Heavenly Palace.
However, Ouyang Ji could also guess Chu Xinyue's intentions.
Whether the so-called Spacetime Treasuries she mentioned were real or not was impossible to verify.
Had it been before, he might have been tempted, scheming to extract their locations from her and seize them for himself.
But now, Chu Xinyue could barely ensure her own survival. Yet she still dreamed of vengeance—it was nothing short of delusional.
A faint trace of mockery flashed in Ouyang Ji's eyes.
Whoosh!
The flying vessel tore through the cosmos, streaking across the vast Spacetime Currents as countless starfields vanished behind them.
"From this day forth, the Immortal Chu Vast Land shall cease to exist in this world."
Suddenly, a cold, indifferent voice, devoid of any emotion, echoed through this stretch of spacetime, like an eternal deity passing judgment upon mortals.
From the frigid depths of space, a streak of light shot toward them.
A blinding radiance, sharp as an arrow, illuminated the dark, fathomless cosmos.
Chu Xinyue had just calmed everyone, her heart slightly at ease.
But the sudden voice made her expression twist in shock, her face filled with disbelief.
"How... is this possible?"
She abruptly stood and rushed to the prow of the vessel, divine light blazing from her palm as she soared forward to intercept the incoming light.
Boom!
A terrifying surge of energy erupted across spacetime, as if billions of tons of Chaos Qi had detonated, its destructive force capable of annihilating heaven and earth.
Chu Xinyue was instantly overpowered. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she was sent flying, crashing into the vessel before collapsing to the deck.
The arm she had used to block the attack hung limp, drenched in blood.
"Second Princess!"
Everyone aboard the vessel paled. Many of the stronger cultivators rushed forward, wanting to aid Chu Xinyue.
"Run! All of you, run!"
Chu Xinyue's face was deathly pale as she struggled to stand. Yet with just one strike, her arm had been crippled—and that was only because the attacker had held back.
An enemy of this level was undoubtedly at least at the Ancestral Dao Realm. She stood no chance.
Her heart was filled with unwillingness and despair.
They had already fled this far—how could they still be pursued?
Moreover, this flying treasure was supposed to obscure their traces from divination and detection. How had their location been exposed?
Was the heavens truly determined to exterminate the Immortal Chu Vast Land, leaving them no hope at all?
"From this day onward, the Immortal Chu Vast Land shall be erased from existence. None shall escape."
A figure materialized soundlessly atop the vessel, his gaze indifferent as he looked down at Chu Xinyue.
"You...?"
Chu Xinyue's eyes widened as she stared fixedly at the figure, her face a mask of shock.
The very culprit responsible for her younger brother Chu Xiao's death—the enemy she had dreamed of killing—was standing before her.
"It seems you find this quite unexpected."
Gu Changge's eyes remained placid, utterly devoid of emotion.
"I truly... never imagined..." Chu Xinyue suddenly let out a bitter laugh. She glanced around—everyone who had just been filled with fervor, eager to avenge the Immortal Chu Vast Land, now looked as withered as frostbitten eggplants, their faces twisted in terror and trembling.
This enemy, whom even her father, Elder Jin, and the combined might of the Immortal Chu Vast Land had failed to defeat, had actually appeared here—just to intercept them.
"Who could have imagined such a thing?"
She didn't blame everyone for their expressions of despair and terror, too afraid to fight back.
In such a hopeless situation, even if her father were still alive, he wouldn't have been able to resolve it.
"So this bottle contains Chu Wushang's last remnant of True Soul? You still want to reconstruct his Physical Body and bring him back to this world?"
"I originally thought Chu Gucheng could be ruthless enough to uphold justice at the expense of his kin, but it seems I overestimated him."
Gu Changge's gaze fell upon the white jade bottle clutched tightly in Chu Xinyue's arms, immediately discerning its contents with a single glance.
Prior to this, he hadn't been certain whether Chu Gucheng had truly killed Chu Wushang with his own hands in the great hall.
Though Chu Gucheng possessed some traits of a ruthless overlord, for the sake of his youngest son, he had recklessly waged war against the Beast Court, losing sight of the bigger picture.
He likely couldn't bring himself to personally execute his own flesh and blood.
Struck by Gu Changge's accurate deduction, Chu Xinyue's face twisted in anguish once more.
Before the allied forces of various orthodoxies arrived, Chu Gucheng had already prepared an escape route for Chu Wushang—extracting a wisp of his True Soul and sealing it within this vessel.
Then, through an elaborate deception, he staged that dramatic scene of upholding justice at his son's expense in the great hall, fooling everyone.
The vessel containing Chu Wushang's True Soul had been entrusted to Chu Xinyue for safekeeping until the time came to reconstruct his Physical Body.
Everyone aboard the flying vessel was stunned—they hadn't realized Crown Prince Chu Wushang wasn't truly dead, that a wisp of his True Soul remained.
Didn't this mean Ruler Chu Gucheng's righteous execution in the great hall had been nothing but an act to deceive them all?
"So this is the Immortal Chu Vast Land you sought to protect, the Ruler you pledged loyalty to? Have you finally seen his true colors?" Noticing the shifting emotions among the people on the flying vessel, Gu Changge's lips curled into a faint smile.
With a casual wave of his hand, the white jade bottle Chu Xinyue clung to so desperately was effortlessly drawn into his grasp.
Watching everyone's expressions change, Chu Xinyue's face was a portrait of bitterness and helplessness. She knew any explanation now would be futile.
Besides, if Gu Changge decided to kill them all, it would require but a single thought. What use was there in clarifying things?
"Young Master Gu..."
Ouyang Ji bowed slightly, unsurprised by Gu Changge's arrival. Having witnessed Gu Changge's divine abilities firsthand, he was filled with nothing but awe and reverence.
Had he followed the orders of the old masters from Unfettered Heavenly Palace and continued fostering relations with Immortal Chu Vast Land,
even Unfettered Heavenly Palace would have suffered collateral damage, left trembling in perpetual fear.
Seeing Ouyang Ji's deferential attitude toward Gu Changge, Chu Xinyue froze momentarily, struggling to comprehend.
If Ouyang Ji wanted to survive, this shouldn't have been his reaction.
Suddenly, her entire body trembled as realization struck. Her face turned deathly pale, shaking with overwhelming fury and resentment.
"Ouyang Ji... you... you've been deceiving me all along..."
She pointed a trembling finger at him, her eyes burning with venomous hatred.
If she still hadn't pieced it together by now, she wouldn't deserve to be called the Second Princess of Immortal Chu Vast Land.
All this time, she had believed Ouyang Ji was infatuated with her, willing to do anything for her sake, which was why she had treated him as a confidant and shared many secrets with him.
Yet who could have imagined Ouyang Ji's affection had been nothing but an act?
Hearing her accusation, Ouyang Ji merely glanced at her indifferently, offering no response.
Chu Xinyue had prided herself on her cleverness, viewing others as fools bewitched by her charms.
Today's retribution was simply the fruit of her own actions.
"I possess the virtue of sparing lives and have no wish for unnecessary slaughter. If any of you insist on avenging Immortal Chu Vast Land and opposing me, you may join her in death." Gu Changge's expression remained placid as he swept his gaze across the others on the flying vessel.
His words caused the cultivators with no blood ties to Immortal Chu Vast Land's royal family to exchange uneasy glances.
Many were tempted—at this point, what need was there to shed their last drop of blood for Immortal Chu Vast Land?
Until the very end, Ruler Chu Gucheng had deceived and manipulated them. Rather than dying for nothing, wouldn't it be better to live on? Surely an existence like Gu Changge wouldn't bother lying to insignificant figures like them?
After a moment's hesitation, many began voicing their surrender.
Even some disciples with blood ties to the royal family chose survival.
"Second Princess, this old servant has failed you. I've served Immortal Chu Vast Land my entire life, yet in the end, I wasn't even granted an honorable reputation. Now... I only wish to live for myself."
Fu Bo's face showed traces of guilt before he too chose to surrender.
Witnessing even this loyal old retainer of Immortal Chu Vast Land finally turn away in disillusionment,
the remaining hesitant individuals struggled briefly before succumbing to their will to survive.
"Immortal Chu Vast Land never wronged you... why must you destroy it like this..."
Chu Xinyue watched this scene with utter despair, her voice trembling with anguish.
"No grievances between us? For me, the fact that it stood in my way is reason enough." Gu Changge replied coolly.
With those words, he pointed a finger.
Chu Xinyue's brow exploded as her body and Divine Soul were simultaneously annihilated—utterly eradicated from existence.