Chapter 1317: In My Eyes, You Are All Just Ants
Chapter 1317: In My Eyes, You Are All Just Ants
"Then what kind of outcome do you want? To be honest, I don't think you're foolish enough to use such methods against me."
"What just happened was also unexpected. Before this, I never imagined such a thing would occur."
"I can even swear a Dao Heart Oath—none of this was arranged by me. I never intended to deal with you this way."
Ling Yuling knew that Gu Changge likely wouldn't believe her words now, but she still offered this clumsy explanation.
Before this, there had still been room for negotiation, but now, apart from drawing blades against each other, there was no other possibility. In truth, her mind was in chaos. The entire situation had spiraled completely beyond her control and expectations.
"Unexpected? You mean that not only did I survive, but I emerged completely unharmed?" Gu Changge's tone was indifferent, almost dismissive.
Ling Yuling sighed inwardly. She knew her explanation was ultimately futile.
Gu Changge would no longer trust her. The fact that he had agreed to the Primary Hope Covenant and personally attended its signing had already been a tremendous show of face and trust toward her.
He had even mentioned multiple times that he wanted her to join the Heavenslayers Alliance and assist him.
If she put herself in his shoes, she could understand how difficult it would be to accept such a betrayal of goodwill.
"I'm sorry." After a moment of silence, Ling Yuling could only apologize again.
Gu Changge ignored her. His gaze was calm and cold as he swept it over the crowd confronting the Heavenslayers Alliance, his tone icy and detached.
"I gave you all a chance. It's a pity you didn't know how to seize it. Since even you don't care about the countless lives of the Primary Hope Civilisation, why should I show you any mercy?"
His words caused the leaders and patriarchs of the various orthodox forces to pale drastically. Many felt their hearts tremble with fear, fully understanding the implications of his statement.
Had the earlier incident not occurred, there might still have been room for negotiation—a chance to sign the Primary Hope Covenant and establish peaceful coexistence.
But now, all of that had been ruined.
Naturally, Gu Changge would no longer sit down and talk things out with them. The next step would inevitably be a full-scale war between the Heavenslayers Alliance and the various orthodox forces.
Many wore bitter expressions, wanting to say something, but the words died in their throats. They knew they had no moral high ground to stand on.
They had acted ruthlessly and employed underhanded tactics first—why should the Heavenslayers Alliance show them any mercy?
The Primary Hope Saintess glanced at Ling Yuling, hesitating to speak. She wasn't sure whether Ling Yuling had truly plotted against Gu Changge.
But one thing was certain—if Ling Yuling didn't act now, the entire Primary Hope Civilisation would soon face a terrifying storm of bloodshed.
"I've always wanted peace among the various clans and orthodox forces, free from conflict and war. The Black Disaster will soon sweep over us again. If the Primary Hope Civilisation doesn't stop its internal strife, we may not survive this calamity."
"This belief of mine has never changed."
Ling Yuling looked at Gu Changge, knowing full well that he must be deeply disappointed in her now. If she dared to speak of anger, she wasn't even qualified to feel it.
But she still wanted to try—to salvage the situation as much as possible.
"You keep talking about the Black Disaster's approach, about wanting the Primary Hope Civilisation to stop its internal strife. But judging by the current situation, it wasn't my Heavenslayers Alliance that sought to break this peace."
"Ling Yuling, shouldn't these words be directed at someone else? Are you sure you're not addressing the wrong person?"
Gu Changge let out a light, indifferent chuckle, but anyone could hear the mockery in his tone.
Ling Yuling's expression froze, especially when she heard him call her by her full name. A faint, inexpressible frustration stirred in her heart.
Was there really no way to salvage this?
"My mind is in chaos right now. I don't know how to explain this to you, Young Master Gu. But I can swear a Dao Heart Oath—none of this was my scheme against you."
"I truly don't wish to go to war with the Heavenslayers Alliance. The entire Imperial Immortal Palace, myself included, owes you a debt of gratitude. How could we repay kindness with enmity? If not for our differing stances, I believe we could have shared drinks and become close friends."
"Young Master Gu, can you give me some time? Trust me once more. I promise to give you a full explanation—to uncover who tampered with the Golden Book of Covenant, deliberately sabotaging the Primary Hope Covenant. Their intentions are vile, their actions premeditated. It's even possible that a rival True World civilisation hostile to the Primary Hope Civilisation was behind this..."
Her usually gentle and serene face now bore a rare expression of determination. Her bright eyes fixed intently on Gu Changge, filled with urgency and pleading.
Many were stunned by her words. Could it really be that Ling Yuling hadn't orchestrated this scheme?
But the Golden Book of Covenant had been jointly forged by her and others, with her overseeing every step. How could someone else have tampered with it?
Or was this just her excuse—a way to buy time?
After what had just happened, few dared to judge by appearances anymore, assuming Ling Yuling was as gentle and refined as she seemed.
"Alliance Leader, don't believe her one-sided words! The female heart is the most poisonous—who knows what schemes she's still plotting? Not everyone is as kind and forgiving as you!"
The members of the Heavenslayers Alliance couldn't help but urge him urgently.
Many faces showed anxious expressions, fearing that Gu Changge might repeat his earlier mistake of trusting too easily.
"Ling Yuling, as a Progenitor, you should understand that so-called Heaven Dao Oaths hold no power over beings like us anymore, don't you?"
Gu Changge ignored the concerns of the Heavenslayers Alliance members and merely smiled faintly at Ling Yuling. "Since you want me to trust you one more time, fine. The Primary Hope Covenant can still be signed—but I have one additional condition."
"From this day forward, all lineages and clans of the Primary Hope Civilisation shall submit to the command of the Heavenslayers Alliance. Those who defy will be dealt with according to the iron laws of our alliance."
"How does that sound? It maintains the peace you desire without bloodshed, resolves the internal strife you fear, and establishes a covenant to bind all factions. Isn't that killing multiple birds with one stone?"
Hearing this, Ling Yuling froze, momentarily speechless. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Even if she could agree to such terms, the various factions and clans of the Primary Hope Civilisation would never accept them.
Even at the peak of its power, the Primary Hope Holy Church had never been able to command the entire civilisation's factions to submit to its will.
This was no different from outright enslavement.
The expressions of the sect leaders and faction heads present darkened.
How could they possibly agree to such terms? That would make them nothing more than vassals of the Heavenslayers Alliance. If that were the case, they might as well fight to the death—at least then, there might still be a sliver of hope.
"I'm sorry... Even if I wanted to agree to your condition, I doubt I could make it happen."
"The Imperial Immortal Palace may submit to your terms, but I cannot speak for the other clans and lineages. They will never agree." Ling Yuling replied with a trace of bitterness.
Gu Changge seemed entirely unsurprised. He merely smiled faintly. "But isn't this the best outcome for all living beings in this world? Why are these factions unwilling to accept it?"
"Is it because, in their eyes, the so-called 'living beings' and 'countless races' only refer to themselves?"
"Aside from my Heavenslayers Alliance, no faction or clan in this world truly cares about their survival."
His words were brutally direct, tearing away the hypocritical facade of all the factions present with merciless clarity.
Many leaders and sect masters turned pale, their expressions dark and ugly, unable to refute his words.
The smaller clans and factions among the crowd were not particularly surprised by this outcome, yet they still felt a deep bitterness and unwillingness.
This was the cruelty of the world. To those immortal factions, all living beings were nothing more than insignificant ants—who would care about their lives?
They had once waved banners of righteousness for the sake of the common people, yet now, their selfish ambitions were laid bare.
And as Gu Changge had said—aside from the Heavenslayers Alliance, no other faction would ever care about their survival. What they thought of as unity was, in the eyes of those immortal factions, nothing more than a pitiful gathering of ants.
At this point, rather than being used as cannon fodder by these factions, wouldn't it be better to simply join the Heavenslayers Alliance outright?
"Enough nonsense! Fellow Daoists, why should we bother with morality when dealing with these heretics who defy the heavens? The covenant is meaningless—let us join forces and annihilate the Heavenslayers Alliance here and now!"
The sect master of the Solar Heavenly Clan broke the silence with a cold shout, his expression icy. Behind him, the elders and disciples of his sect radiated killing intent, already prepared for a desperate fight.
"Elder Solar speaks the truth. At this point, words are useless. The Heavenslayers Alliance defies the natural order—retribution will come for them sooner or later. What we do now is merely following the General Trend and acting as the agents of Heaven's will!"
"Even if you stand aside today, do you truly believe the Heavenslayers Alliance won't seek vengeance in the future?"
"Rivers shift, stars turn to dust—in the vast ocean of True Worlds, countless clans rise and fall every day. This is the unchangeable law of the Heavenly Dao. Why should we feel guilt? We merely follow the natural cycle. Those who sweep the world need not sweep their own doorstep!"
A sect master-level figure stepped forward, his booming voice echoing across the heavens, causing many hesitant cultivators and living beings to waver.
His words were not wrong. Even if they felt guilt now and chose to stand aside, how could they prove they had no part in the schemes against Gu Changge? How could they avoid the Heavenslayers Alliance's future retribution?
They were already grasshoppers tied to the same string.
Moreover, in the vast ocean of True Worlds, countless clans and factions perished every day—who truly had the luxury of caring about such things?
No matter how much they tried to win hearts, would a True Dragon ever care about the opinions of ants?
"There really is no other choice..."
The leader of one clan, after a moment of hesitation, finally hardened his resolve. His eyes turned cold and ruthless as he quietly issued orders to his clansmen, preparing for battle.
Under the incitement of the Solar Heavenly Clan's sect master and others, the wavering resolve of many faction leaders solidified.
They could not guarantee peaceful coexistence with the Heavenslayers Alliance in the future, nor could they ensure they would escape retaliation today. The only solution was to join forces and bury the Heavenslayers Alliance here and now.
The last traces of guilt vanished instantly before the interests of their clans.
"Hmph, this is the true nature of humanity. All that talk of righteousness for all living beings, the myriad souls of the world—before their own interests, it's all worthless nonsense."
"After tearing off that hypocritical facade, I see no difference between you and the so-called heretics. How dare you still call our Heavenslayers Alliance unorthodox?"
From within the ranks of the Heavenslayers Alliance, Old Man Cold Crow watched the scene with undisguised mockery.
"Hahaha, since you seek death, we'll gladly oblige."
"With our Alliance Leader present, you stand no chance of victory—no hope at all."
Behind Old Man Cold Crow, the many powerhouses of the Heavenslayers Alliance burst into laughter, their faces filled with scorn and disdain.
"If one cannot govern a single room, how can they govern the world?"
"You draw lines between yourselves and ants—how laughable. In my eyes, what difference is there between you and them? Are you not ants yourselves?"
Gu Changge's gaze was icy as he regarded the various clans and orthodox forces before him, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Heretical demons, bewitching the masses with your wicked words—you deserve death!"
The leader of the Solar Heavenly Clan could no longer endure that indifferent gaze, as if they were nothing but insects. With a furious roar, the Yin Yang Sword materialized in his palm and shot forth, transforming into two vast black fish that spanned the heavens.
The twin fish swam in tandem, forming a sword that tore through the sky with a terrifying, world-shaking aura. The overwhelming pressure alone caused even Dao Realm experts to tremble, while in the surrounding Great Universes, countless Immortal Kings, Quasi-Immortal Emperors, and even Immortal Emperor-level existences were forced to their knees, compelled to kowtow in fear.
This terrifying aura instantly swept through the entire Mountain of Wonders, radiating outward into the surrounding cosmic void.
Following the Solar Heavenly Clan leader's attack, the other Dao Realm elders behind him also struck. Brilliant Dao Realm laws intertwined into a vast net, shrouding the heavens in primordial chaos as it descended toward Gu Changge.
Without warning, the chaotic battle erupted once more. Countless palaces within the Mountain of Wonders shattered in an instant. Under the full assault of Ancestral Dao Realm experts, there was no room for resistance—everything was reduced to dust in a flash.
Gu Changge watched coldly as these figures charged toward him. He merely raised his hand and pressed it forward.
In that instant, a terrifying aura surged forth like a ruptured celestial river, flooding the entire region of space-time and engulfing the Solar Heavenly Clan leader and his followers.
Crack!
A crisp shattering sound rang out from the Yin Yang Sword, as if something had shattered it. The Solar Heavenly Clan leader coughed up blood, his arms exploding on the spot. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"How... is this possible...?" His voice trembled.
Absolute darkness swallowed the area, with not a single ray of light escaping. Only faint traces of an overwhelming pressure lingered, crushing all surrounding laws into nothingness.
Every corner of the cosmic void trembled, emitting sounds of terror. Without the protection of Dao Realm experts, even the slightest wisp of this terrifying aura would have been enough to annihilate everything.
All the figures from the Solar Heavenly Clan who had charged forward were now engulfed in that abyssal blackness—no sound escaped.
The ancient existences within the Mountain of Wonders shuddered in fear, unable to make out the scene clearly. Even Gu Changge's figure had vanished from their sight.
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion, as if it had detonated in the distant past, echoed through the River of Time, reverberating across the void.
The Solar Heavenly Clan leader's body was sent flying, crashing down like a broken doll. His eyes were wide open, his brow pierced through, white bone fragments mixed with blood that had long since drained away.
Within his fading pupils, ancient phantoms seemed to flicker—as if he had glimpsed something from an unfathomable past.
It was as though he had seen an indescribable era, where a figure whose true form could not be discerned emerged from the distant end of the River of Time.
That figure held a great halberd wreathed in an Aura of Darkness.
With a single, casual swing of its icy, razor-sharp blade, countless ancient universes and Supreme True Worlds turned to ash and dust, their inhabitants perishing instantly.
As that figure stepped forward, its aura grew ever more terrifying. Every wisp of its radiance surpassed the supreme, shattering the heavens and earth of countless ages with each step.
"How... is this possible...?"
Before their demise, Ancestral Dao Realm existences might occasionally catch a glimpse of something unimaginable.
But no one would ever know what the Solar Heavenly Clan leader had truly witnessed.
In just a few exchanges, he had met a gruesome end.
Even now, his lifeless eyes still held traces of disbelief, terror... and utter horror.