Chapter 1306: Jointly Establishing the Primary Hope Covenant—The Two Fall Out
Chapter 1306: Jointly Establishing the Primary Hope Covenant—The Two Fall Out
Everyone deep within the grand hall was profoundly shaken by the words spoken by the Primary Hope Saintess.
Had that wisp of black haze descended once more?
Was she referring to the Black Disaster that had once ravaged the entire Boundless Expanse?
Many trembled with fear at her final statement in particular.
The Primary Hope Saintess's master was none other than Xi Nu, the former possessor of the Mirror of Reincarnation. Had even she predicted that such events would recur in future eras?
If the Black Disaster were to sweep across the lands again, where would the living beings of the Boundless Expanse turn? How could they possibly resist?
Though none present had witnessed that ancient battle from countless years ago, the historical records painted a vivid picture of its brutality and horror.
Countless races, nations, and even entire civilisations and universes had perished, erased from the river of history.
And now, such devastation seemed poised to repeat itself.
Fear gripped many hearts, the sheer weight of this revelation unbearable. Some already foresaw the impending collapse of civilisations in the near future.
The leaders of various orthodox forces wore grave expressions. For the Primary Hope Saintess to suddenly declare this now likely carried deeper implications.
Ling Yuling nodded in agreement with the Saintess's words. "Indeed," she said softly. "That battle was fought with unimaginable hardship. Countless Great Sages of the past sacrificed everything in desperate struggle before finally succeeding in sealing the Master of the Source of the Black Disaster." Her voice remained gentle as she continued, "Yet though the Master was confined within the Source of the Black Disaster, none can say for certain whether he has already broken free."
"Moreover," she added, "what was sealed was merely his will. No living being in this world could destroy his physical form. Countless years have passed since then, and the six First-Generation Civilisation Supreme Treasures used to imprison him have all but vanished without trace."
"Whether any factions still guard the Source of the Black Disaster remains unknown."
"Perhaps the Master has long since escaped, calmly observing all worlds from some hidden dimension of spacetime."
Ling Yuling noticed that as the Primary Hope Saintess spoke these words, her gaze remained fixed upon Gu Changge.
This observation sparked speculation in Ling Yuling's mind.
Did the Saintess possess some hidden truth unknown to others? After all, she now held the Mirror of Reincarnation.
Before the fall of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, the Saintess must have foreseen its fate—hence her self-preserving actions at the end.
But now she faced the entire Primary Hope Civilisation, potentially the entire Boundless Expanse's destiny.
By speaking thus, was she signaling her own moment of decision?
Murmurs spread through the assembly as others reacted to Ling Yuling's words.
"If the Black Disaster spreads across worlds again, bringing boundless calamity after all these years..."
"Indeed, the celestial phenomena have been unsettled across regions recently—this explains it."
"In ancient times, countless Great Sages united against the Black Disaster, paying a terrible price merely to seal it away."
"Alas, troubles never cease..."
While the Heavenslayers Alliance matter remained unresolved, they now faced the sudden revelation that the Master of the Source of the Black Disaster—who once ravaged the Boundless Expanse—might soon emerge to reign over all worlds once more.
How could they possibly withstand this cascade of crises?
Some pondered deeper, sensing obscure connections between these events—particularly regarding Gu Changge's mysterious origins. None knew his true identity or from which era he hailed.
Strangely, the Heavenslayers Alliance members showed no surprise at this news, their calm demeanor suggesting prior knowledge.
This realization sent waves of unease through the orthodox factions. Did the Alliance already know everything?
Or worse—was the Heavenslayers Alliance itself inextricably linked to the remnants of the Black Disaster?
"Alliance Leader Gu," the Primary Hope Saintess addressed Gu Changge directly when he ignored her gaze, "what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Beside her, Xi Yin frowned slightly, a thread of concern weaving through her heart.
Initially, she'd felt gratitude toward Gu Changge for aiding the Primary Hope Holy Church in rescuing the Saintess. After all, without his intervention—sending the Ancient Ancestor of the Jing Family to alert Primary Hope Civilisation—they might never have learned of the Saintess's imprisonment by the Immortal Chu Vast Land's schemes.
But later, Xi Yin realized the truth: Gu Changge's "assistance" was merely a pretense to orchestrate the Immortal Chu Vast Land's downfall. Countless orthodox forces, including the Primary Hope Holy Church, had been manipulated into becoming his pawns.
The Saintess had known this all along—hence her lack of concern while trapped in the void prison. She'd even anticipated Gu Changge's rescue following the Immortal Chu Vast Land's destruction.
Upon realizing this, Xi Yin couldn't help but feel both anger at being used and a creeping dread. In the grand scheme to destroy the Immortal Chu Vast Land, numerous orthodox forces of Primary Hope Civilisation had unknowingly played their parts, only grasping the truth afterward—a testament to Gu Changge's terrifying cunning.
Even Ancestral Dao Realm powerhouses were mere chess pieces in his hands. With so many formidable followers now under his command, his faction could sweep through any orthodox force or race within Primary Hope Civilisation.
"Since that wisp of black haze has descended again, wouldn't uniting all living beings to resist it together be the best course of action?" Gu Changge remarked, seemingly oblivious to the Primary Hope Saintess's gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"In my view, this is the perfect opportunity for all races to stand united."
"Young Master Gu speaks wisely. With calamity looming, the best solution is for everyone to join forces, suppress the black haze once more, and cleanse this world of its corruption," Ling Yuling nodded slightly in agreement, endorsing Gu Changge's words.
Her statement caused many of the ancient beings and sect leaders present to shift uneasily, fearing that Ling Yuling might side with Gu Changge.
However, before they could voice their concerns, she continued, "That is precisely why I have gathered all factions here at the Imperial Immortal Palace—to discuss and establish the Primary Hope Covenant."
"The Primary Hope Covenant?" The crowd erupted in shock and murmurs.
Those who had anticipated this development let out sighs of relief, realizing their earlier worries had been unfounded.
How could a Great Sage like the Imperial Immortal Palace's founder, who once fought against the Black Disaster, possibly collude with the Heavenslayers Alliance?
If the Primary Hope Covenant could restrain the Heavenslayers Alliance, preventing them from expanding unchecked like before, it would at least curb their influence and halt their ambition to dominate the entire Primary Hope Civilisation.
This was the best solution many had envisioned.
After all, no one wanted to clash head-on with the Heavenslayers Alliance—such a confrontation would be disastrous, even if they barely emerged victorious, the cost would be far too devastating.
"Oh? The Primary Hope Covenant?" Gu Changge feigned surprise, as if unaware of Ling Yuling's intentions. "If I recall correctly, Chu Gucheng, the ruler of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, once attempted to establish such a covenant with the Primary Hope Holy Church. Unfortunately, he failed and perished, his Dao extinguished."
"Could it be that Lady Yuling intends to follow in Chu Gucheng's footsteps, forging an alliance with the Primary Hope Holy Church? Or perhaps treading the same doomed path?"
Hearing his deliberate provocation, the Primary Hope Saintess clenched her delicate hands hidden within her wide sleeves, barely suppressing the urge to glare at him.
The topic was nothing short of humiliating for her—she wished she could erase all memory of it.
Though it had been Chu Gucheng's daughter, Chu Xinyue, who had impersonated her and spread those rumors, the mere association felt like having a bucket of filth dumped over her head.
Every time she recalled it, she felt sick to her stomach, as if something vile was churning inside her.
"Chu Gucheng sought the Primary Hope Covenant for selfish gain, not to protect the myriad realms. His failure was inevitable," Ling Yuling replied softly.
"In the past, when I and many other Great Sages resisted the Black Disaster, we also established a covenant. History proved our approach correct—without order, there can be no stability."
"Now, in these times, the Primary Hope Covenant is meant to unite all factions of our civilisation, ensuring they abide by shared rules and do not squander their strength over petty gains, disrupting the peace and balance of our world."
"The venerable one speaks wisely," the sect leader of the Solar Heavenly Clan, clad in violet robes and wearing the Black-Gold Dao Crown, immediately voiced his support.
"Without rules, there is no order. At a time like this, a new covenant is necessary to restrain those who would otherwise act without restraint, trampling upon laws and principles."
"My Solar Heavenly Clan is the first to pledge allegiance to the Primary Hope Covenant. We stand ready to uphold the laws and stability of the Primary Hope Civilisation alongside all righteous factions."
Though the Solar Heavenly Clan lacked the ancient heritage of forces like the Imperial Immortal Palace, Purple Sky Mountain, or the Towering Divine Cave, they still boasted Ancestral Dao Realm experts among their ranks—a force not to be underestimated.
The sect leader himself was an Ancestral Dao Realm powerhouse, which was why he had dared to confront Gu Changge earlier alongside other leaders.
"Well said. The Primary Hope Civilisation is no longer what it once was. With calamity approaching, none shall be spared. If we remain selfish, concerned only with our own survival, we will perish alone in this disaster."
"Fellow Daoists, the fate of the Immortal Chu Vast Land serves as a stark warning. Now is the time to open our eyes and make the right choice."
With the Solar Heavenly Clan taking the lead, other sect leaders and faction heads quickly followed suit, expressing their approval and willingness to abide by the new Primary Hope Covenant.
"We, too, pledge to honor the Primary Hope Covenant and stand united with all of you."
Soon, representatives from forces like Sun Covering Mountain, Sanskrit Temple, Gouchen Palace, Rotary Light Cave, and the Nine Nethers Sparrow clan also declared their allegiance without hesitation.
Apart from a few top-tier forces like the Imperial Immortal Palace, Purple Sky Mountain, and Bright Light Temple—who remained silent—most factions, large and small, had already taken a stance.
Even some recently awakened ancient beings, after brief contemplation, chose to align themselves with the majority.
None were fools. Rather than being swallowed by the Heavenslayers Alliance, it was far wiser to band together and resist the overwhelming pressure as one.
At the very least, this was preferable to inexplicably becoming part of the Heavenslayers Alliance.
To many cultivators and factions, the Heavenslayers Alliance was less like a malignant tumor and more like a venomous serpent—best avoided at all costs.
The Heavenslayers Alliance was truly bizarre. Despite having never interacted with them before, they seemed to possess a bewitching power capable of converting people, silently turning them into devout followers.
Even figures like Jing Tianyuan, the ancestor of the Jing Family; Zi Wanhe, the ruler of Purple Sky Mountain; and Di Kun, the current Demon Emperor of the Beast Court, had fallen under its influence. How could ordinary cultivators possibly resist?
"The contents of the Primary Hope Covenant will not be determined by me alone. We must gather wisdom from all sides and ensure that all factions and clans participate as much as possible. This will guarantee fairness and prevent bias toward any one party."
Ling Yuling's gaze swept over the remaining forces that had yet to declare their stance—among them the Primary Hope Holy Church, the Towering Divine Cave, the Bright Light Temple, and the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom—the most elite factions within the Primary Hope Civilisation.
In her view, the stance of these forces was even more critical, as behind them lay numerous branches, affiliated clans, and subordinate factions.
"Junior Sister, what are your thoughts on this matter?" Xi Yin turned to the Primary Hope Saintess beside her and asked in a low voice.
Though she was slightly senior in status, decisions of this magnitude ultimately rested with the Primary Hope Saintess.
"There's no need to rush into considering the Primary Hope Covenant. Let's observe for now," the Primary Hope Saintess replied softly via voice transmission.
A lingering unease weighed on her mind. Gu Changge could surely deduce Ling Yuling's intentions and the reason behind her public declaration—so why had he still led the Heavenslayers Alliance here?
"Amitābha. The Primary Hope Covenant is a matter of great significance. Our Tathagata Buddha Kingdom has always upheld compassion and mercy for all living beings. Naturally, we do not wish for calamity to befall them. In this matter, our stance aligns with Senior Ling Yuling's."
The ruler of the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom had not arrived in person. Instead, the speaker was an elderly monk dressed in plain Buddhist robes and a tattered hat. He clasped his hands together in greeting, exchanged glances with the ancient Buddhas beside him, and declared his stance.
Soon after, the Bright Light Temple, the Towering Divine Cave, and other major factions also voiced their positions without much hesitation, expressing their willingness to jointly establish and abide by the Primary Hope Covenant for the benefit of all living beings in the Primary Hope Civilisation.
Ling Yuling stood gracefully, her figure slender and poised, surrounded by a soft glow. A faint smile appeared on her flawless, elegant face as she said, "To receive such recognition and support from all of you is a blessing for the people of the Primary Hope Civilisation. On behalf of all living beings, I express my deepest gratitude to our fellow Daoists."
Leaders and sect masters from various factions quickly cupped their hands in response, replying courteously, "You flatter us, Senior. With you stepping forward to uphold justice for all living beings, we can finally unite against this scourge."
"Otherwise, who knows what kind of chaos the Primary Hope Civilisation would descend into?"
"We have always revered the Primary Hope Holy Church and held the utmost respect for Senior Xi Nu. Yet, to our dismay, the current Primary Hope Holy Church has turned a blind eye to the state of our civilisation."
"Though the Immortal Chu Vast Land suffered due to its own misdeeds, this is still a stain on our civilisation."
Apart from the Heavenslayers Alliance, the only ones yet to declare their stance were a few scattered cultivators from civilisations beyond the Boundless Expanse and the Primary Hope Holy Church.
This stirred discontent among many, who couldn't fathom the Primary Hope Saintess's intentions.
Back during the Immortal Chu Vast Land incident, she had taken a stance in Gu Changge's defense, insisting that the Heavenslayers Alliance had no connection to the remnants of the Black Disaster.
Later, when the ruler of Purple Sky Mountain sent a replica of the World Burying Coffin, plunging the Immortal Chu Vast Land into devastation, it was again the Primary Hope Saintess who stepped in, declaring that the black coffin had no ties to the Black Disaster remnants.
If it had happened just once, it might have been overlooked. But after multiple instances, many began to question her credibility.
Now, with the Primary Hope Holy Church still refusing to take a stand, dissatisfaction grew even stronger.
"Junior Sister..." Xi Yin couldn't help but feel concerned.
Yet the Primary Hope Saintess remained unperturbed, as if she had long anticipated this reaction.
"May I ask Young Master Gu for your thoughts on the Primary Hope Covenant I proposed?"
Ling Yuling ignored the murmurs around her and instead turned to Gu Changge, seeking his opinion.
"Lady Yuling's concern for all living beings and the myriad realms is beyond reproach. Naturally, I have no objections to the Primary Hope Covenant. I wholeheartedly support it and am willing to discuss countermeasures together," Gu Changge replied with a faint smile.
"However, if negotiations for the Primary Hope Covenant fail, what does Lady Yuling intend to do? Given our familiarity, there's no need to mince words."
Ling Yuling's slender snow-white neck and refined features carried a trace of apology as she responded, "Young Master Gu's life-saving grace is something I will never forget. But the Primary Hope Covenant concerns the fate of all living beings in our civilisation. I must proceed with caution—I hope you can understand."
"If the covenant cannot be agreed upon... then I will have no choice but to seek alternative measures. I cannot stand idly by while our civilisation falls into ruin."
Hearing her words, the crowd was momentarily stunned before realization dawned.
So the leader of the Heavenslayers Alliance, Gu Changge, had once saved the life of the ancestor of the Primary Hope Holy Church? The two were even acquainted?
In that case... perhaps this covenant wouldn't be so difficult to enforce after all?