Chapter 1313: Things Can't Possibly Go So Smoothly? Signing the Covenant
Chapter 1313: Things Can't Possibly Go So Smoothly? Signing the Covenant
The contents of the Primary Hope Covenant were all inscribed upon the Golden Book of Covenant.
Each character shimmered brilliantly, their strokes bold and powerful—silver hooks and iron strokes—illuminating the heavens as they manifested deep within the cosmos, lining up row after row as if to rewrite the ironclad laws of the Heavenly Dao.
The Golden Book of Covenant unfurled, its radiance filling every inch of the void, even the darkest depths of the Primary Hope Civilisation now bathed in its dazzling light. This was an indescribable, divine power, as though the Lord of the Heavens Himself had personally inscribed this ancient scroll, decreeing the laws of the universe. Its vast fluctuations traversed time and space, resonating through past and present.
At this moment, the entire Mountain of Wonders seemed immersed in a symphony of celestial wonders. Visions of the Classical Era emerged—auspicious lights intertwined, divine trees swayed, and Grand Runes flickered one after another, wrapping around those ancient, eternal leaves.
All cultivators and living beings raised their heads to gaze at the sky, trying to discern the contents of the Golden Book of Covenant.
However, for ordinary beings, those characters were far too dazzling to look upon directly.
A mere glance would make their eyes sting and tears flow. Only those at the Dao Realm could strain their vision enough to barely make out some of the runic inscriptions.
The ancient beings who had jointly forged the Golden Book of Covenant also looked up toward the depths of the cosmos.
This included the many Dao Realm experts of the Heavenslayers Alliance, who were observing with solemn expressions.
Numerous sect leaders and figures of authority were likewise scrutinizing the clauses and contents of the Golden Book of Covenant, not missing a single word.
"It seems the future will finally have a period of relative peace. The terms of this Primary Hope Covenant align perfectly with our intentions."
Finally, someone finished reading the contents of the Golden Book, their previously tense expression relaxing into a smile.
Before this, many had harbored worries. Though they had heard some details about the covenant from others, they still couldn't shake their unease—fearing unfavorable clauses or that Ancestor Yuxian might collude with the Heavenslayers Alliance to deceive them.
But the moment the Golden Book of Covenant appeared, the weight in their hearts finally lifted.
"Excellent! This is exactly how it should be. All races and sects must coexist peacefully, abide by the rules, and refrain from reckless actions. The Primary Hope Civilisation may face calamity in the future—before that, internal strife must be avoided at all costs."
"Only by uniting in solidarity can we have any hope of surviving the coming tribulations."
The leaders of many smaller clans also wore expressions of joy, sighing in relief.
Unlike the immortal sects backed by Ancestral Dao Realm experts, these minor clans only had a handful of Dao Realm cultivators. Against a behemoth like the Heavenslayers Alliance, they stood no chance of resistance.
Apart from being swallowed whole, they had no other options. In the past, they might have sought protection or pledged allegiance to other immortal sects.
But now, with the situation so volatile—even the immortal sects struggling to protect themselves—they could only rely on their own luck.
In a way, the Primary Hope Covenant had indeed resolved their anxieties and worries.
At this moment, many clan leaders were eager to immediately inscribe their family names upon the covenant and swear a Heavenly Dao Oath.
"The clauses seem quite thorough. They even considered the ordinary living beings and minor clans."
Shang Chongming, the second-in-command of Empty Boundary Ridge, swept his gaze over the contents of the Golden Book, his expression contemplative.
"Senior Ling Yuling has considered every detail with the utmost care. Naturally, she would not overlook anyone."
"Such foresight truly commands admiration."
The surrounding ancient beings nodded in reverence upon hearing this.
Had it been them, they would never have bothered expending so much effort to account for those insignificant clans and factions.
To the Primary Hope Civilisation as a whole, those minor forces were as countless as the sands of the Ganges.
For beings standing at the pinnacle like them, such concerns were beneath notice.
"The future remains uncertain. I merely did what I could." Ling Yuling smiled faintly.
The terms of the Primary Hope Covenant were all framed in righteousness—not a single clause was unreasonable.
In fact, she had deliberately incorporated aspects of the Heavenslayers Alliance's founding principles in certain places, ensuring Gu Changge would have no grounds for objection.
This way, if Gu Changge refused to sign the covenant, how could he justify the very ideals upon which the Heavenslayers Alliance was built? Wouldn't that be self-contradictory?
"Indeed. With the future so uncertain, we must all adhere to our duties and refrain from overstepping."
"Otherwise, we will have every reason to eliminate any destabilizing factors."
The leader of the Solar Heavenly Clan nodded slightly in agreement.
The other sect leaders beside him had long been aware of most of the covenant's contents, so they showed no surprise.
The terms of the Primary Hope Covenant had been drafted through collective discussion, ensuring that while maintaining the current balance, they also secured benefits for their respective sects.
However, some of the regulations and rules were later vetoed by Ling Yuling, the founding ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace, who deemed them inappropriate. This Primary Hope Covenant should be established from a fair and impartial perspective, considering the interests of the entire Primary Hope Civilisation without mixing in personal gains.
"Does Young Master Gu have any amendments he wishes to propose?" Ling Yuling turned to Gu Changge again, her expression carrying a hint of inquiry.
Ever since she revealed the Golden Book of Covenant, Gu Changge had been gazing at it, yet he made no statement, and his expression remained unreadable—impossible to discern his thoughts.
"The contents of the covenant naturally pose no issues," Gu Changge replied with a faint smile, withdrawing his gaze from the Golden Book of Covenant.
Hearing this, Ling Yuling was momentarily taken aback, as if surprised, while the ancient beings around her showed varying degrees of delight.
In their view, as long as Gu Changge agreed to sign the Primary Hope Covenant, the matter would essentially be resolved.
Thus, his stance was of utmost importance.
Now that Gu Changge showed neither anger nor displeasure, did this not mean things would proceed smoothly?
The other sect leaders and faction heads were also rather astonished. Many had anticipated heated disputes, even the possibility of a great battle. Before arriving, numerous individuals had prepared thoroughly, bringing along many of their foundational treasures.
Yet who would have thought that Gu Changge, the master of the Heavenslayers Alliance, would adopt such a casual attitude?
Anyone with eyes could see that the contents of the Golden Book of Covenant were, to some extent, disadvantageous to the current Heavenslayers Alliance. In fact, one could say they were specifically designed to curb the alliance's expansion—such as stipulating that all factions must abide by their territories, prohibiting the arbitrary annexation of other domains, and forbidding unnecessary slaughter.
These were clearly measures to suppress the Heavenslayers Alliance's growth.
The many immortal orthodoxies of the Primary Hope Civilisation had existed for countless eons, long past the era of territorial disputes and expansion.
Now, they all remained within their boundaries, adhering to their own domains.
Friction and conflict between them were rare. The last time a world-shaking war erupted was when the Primary Hope Holy Church issued the Primary Hope Decree, rallying all orthodoxies and factions to jointly besiege and annihilate the Immortal Chu Vast Land.
Before that, the great war between the Beast Court and the Immortal Chu Vast Land had, in the eyes of many, been nothing more than an accident—no one could have predicted how the situation would unfold.
Yet during this period, the Heavenslayers Alliance had suddenly taken root and flourished, accomplishing in mere centuries what other immortal orthodoxies would take hundreds of epochs to achieve—annexing and absorbing numerous factions, and now continuing to expand aggressively.
The next step was evidently to further enlarge their territory, stretching their reach into the domains of other orthodoxies and factions.
Not far away, the Primary Hope Saintess stood alone, her gaze cold as she observed everything, her eyes flickering with fleeting emotions.
Just what scheme is he plotting now? Things couldn't possibly go so smoothly.
The sect master of the Solar Heavenly Clan narrowed his deep, profound eyes, wisps of Great Dao aura drifting from them as he stared at Gu Changge from a distance, his expression unfriendly.
He believed the signing of the Primary Hope Covenant would not proceed so effortlessly.
He had always harbored deep hostility toward the Heavenslayers Alliance. Back at the Imperial Immortal Palace, he had even attempted to incite the others to act against Gu Changge.
Chu Gucheng, the former ruler of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, had once done him a great favor. During Chu Gucheng's longevity celebration, he had been traveling through the Boundless Expanse, outside the temporal bounds of the civilisation, and thus missed the event.
By the time he returned to the Primary Hope Civilisation, he had already heard the news of the Immortal Chu Vast Land's destruction.
Later, he personally investigated the origins and activities of the Heavenslayers Alliance. Though he uncovered little, it only reinforced his conviction that the alliance had deep ties to the remnants of the Black Disaster.
Gu Changge, the master of the Heavenslayers Alliance, might very well be one of the Remnants of Heaven’s Proxy Group.
The words of the Solar Heavenly Clan's sect master caused the brows of the other sect leaders and faction heads to furrow.
They, too, felt things were unlikely to proceed so smoothly. Since when had the ruthless mastermind behind the fall of the Immortal Chu Vast Land become so accommodating?
"If Young Master Gu also finds no issue with the covenant's contents, then may we proceed with the signing?" Ling Yuling regained her composure and raised a slender hand. From the depths of the cosmos, the Golden Book of Covenant suddenly emitted divine radiance stretching thousands of zhang, descending upon the Mountain of Wonders like a celestial curtain unfurling over the grand hall.
She, too, was taken aback by Gu Changge's attitude. She had anticipated many possibilities, but never had she imagined he would be so composed and indifferent.
Moreover, the other members of the Heavenslayers Alliance within the hall appeared equally at ease.
It was as if they cared not at all about the covenant's contents.
Could they truly not see how detrimental these terms were to the alliance's future development?
Even after considering countless scenarios, Ling Yuling found herself perplexed.
Had she overthought things? Had she misjudged Gu Changge and the Heavenslayers Alliance, assuming them to be far more sinister than they truly were?