Chapter 1328: Yin Mei's Heart Knot, the Long-Prepared Dao Realm Seed
Chapter 1328: Yin Mei's Heart Knot, the Long-Prepared Dao Realm Seed
Yin Mei wore a pale pink gown, her raven-black hair cascading like a waterfall down to her waist. Her jade-like face glowed with joy and excitement, and the soft, fluffy fox tail she held in her arms accentuated her flawless, radiant skin, shimmering like the finest immortal jade.
She hurried into the palace, her bright eyes fixed on Gu Changge. The depths of her crystal-clear gaze overflowed with affection and longing, like a lake brimming with emotion.
Gu Changge smiled faintly and pulled her into his embrace. Yin Mei closed her eyes gently, leaning against him, savoring this rare moment of warmth.
He remained silent, simply relishing the soft warmth in his arms, an indescribable emotion stirring in his heart.
"Young Master, you've finally decided to return?"
After a moment, Yin Mei opened her starry eyes and reached up to touch Gu Changge's cheek. Her petal-like lips parted slightly as she spoke with a hint of playful resentment.
"I actually came back once before, but you were all in seclusion at the time, so I didn't disturb you. I just took a look and left," Gu Changge replied with a chuckle, gently stroking her silken hair.
Yin Mei let out a soft hum of acknowledgment. Knowing that Gu Changge still held her in his heart was more than enough for her.
Content, she nestled deeper into his embrace, looping her arms around his neck. Then, as she always did, she began to softly recount the recent developments within the Heavenslayers Alliance and the Dao Chang True World.
Before Gu Changge had left the Dao Chang True World, he had entrusted all these matters to her, and she had made sure not to disappoint him.
"We can talk about all that later. Right now, I just want to know—how have you been these past years?" Gu Changge interrupted her with an amused shake of his head.
Yin Mei blinked in surprise, her beautiful eyes widening slightly.
"What's wrong? So shocked? Have you not been doing well all this time?"
Gu Changge wasn't surprised by her reaction and smiled knowingly.
Yin Mei shook her head, then nodded, a trace of melancholy in her voice. "The days without you by my side were unbearable. Every single day was hard. Every single day, I missed you."
Though she and Gu Changge were already married, she still preferred to call him "Young Master."
Compared to "husband," this was a title that belonged solely to her—as if by calling him that, he belonged only to her.
"You never used to ask about us like this. Of course, I'm surprised that you're suddenly doing so now," Yin Mei murmured, resting her head against his chest.
Gu Changge chuckled softly, acknowledging her unspoken grievance. He knew he was at fault.
Truthfully, he rarely paid attention to such matters. Even when it came to those closest to him, he seldom inquired, let alone took the initiative to show concern.
"Young Master, don't be upset. I was just speaking thoughtlessly—I'm not really blaming you. I know you have important matters to attend to, and often, you can't spare the time..."
Seeing Gu Changge fall silent, Yin Mei quickly tried to explain, afraid he might be angry with her for being unreasonable or failing to understand his burdens.
Watching her flustered, anxious expression, Gu Changge couldn't help but smile. He took her delicate hand in his and said gently, "You don't need to be so nervous around me. Aren't we already married? Why would you still treat me like a stranger?"
Hearing this, Yin Mei's eyes widened slightly again as she gazed at him. Then, her expression gradually turned aggrieved.
"But... but I really worry that one day, you'll discard me when I'm no longer useful—like a worn-out rag. I've always wanted to be of help to you, whether before or now. That hasn't changed. But the more I try, the more powerless and weak I feel. No matter how hard I chase after you, I can't even glimpse your shadow..."
"Not long ago, I kept having the same nightmare. I dreamed of the Immortal Ancient Continent, back when Ye Ling saw through my identity and tried to kill me. But you just stood there, cold and indifferent. No matter how desperately I called for you, you didn't move, didn't come to save me."
"That was just a dream. Ye Ling is long dead, and I've always been by your side."
Gu Changge's voice was soft. He didn't understand why Yin Mei would have such a nightmare.
That incident had happened so many years ago, yet she still remembered it so vividly.
Back then, he had hesitated to save her immediately. Only when she was in mortal danger, on the verge of self-destruction, had he stepped in.
At the time, he hadn't fully trusted her yet—he wanted to see how she would react in a crisis, whether she would expose his identity as the mastermind behind the scenes.
But reflecting on it now, this incident gave Gu Changge a faint inkling of Yin Mei's inner turmoil.
Her nightmares likely stemmed from her own fears and insecurities.
And those fears, in turn, came from her lack of strength.
Her talent did not lie in cultivation, nor was she particularly interested in it.
"Ye Ling is dead, but I don't know if there will be a second Ye Ling, a third Ye Ling... The truth is, I'm just too useless. I no longer have enough value to help you—instead, I've become a burden, bringing you nothing but trouble."
Yin Mei's bright, gem-like eyes gradually dimmed with uncertainty. She truly didn't know what to do anymore.
Over the years, the Heavenslayers Alliance had developed steadily without requiring much supervision from her, so she had devoted most of her time to cultivation—something she had never been particularly interested in before.
She knew her talent couldn't compare to others. No matter how hard she trained, she would inevitably fall behind.
And so, she pushed herself harder than ever.
Beyond the Immortal Path lay the even more distant Dao Realm, and only by reaching that realm would she have the right to look up to Gu Changge.
Yet now, she had only barely reached strength comparable to an Immortal King, while her actual cultivation realm still fell short of the Immortal King level.
The Quasi-Immortal Emperor Realm, the Immortal Emperor Realm, and the vast, unfathomably distant Dao Realm loomed ahead like an insurmountable weight, leaving her breathless with pressure whenever she thought about them.
Perhaps she should have accepted her fate long ago. Talent and aptitude were determined from the very beginning.
Even with the endless resources of the Divine Nation at her disposal, even with boundless fortune to squander, she could never change the limits of her future achievements.
"Actually, you don't need to consider these problems at all, nor do you need to worry about them. I no longer require you to bring me any benefits or value."
Gu Changge shook his head gently, his tone calm. "Having you by my side is already enough for me. In the future, when I look back, I won't be alone on the Divine Path. As for anything else... it doesn't matter to me."
As he spoke, he extended a finger and pressed it against Yin Mei's brow.
Yin Mei was still lost in the emotion of his words when suddenly, deep within her previously empty Sea of Consciousness, a hazy, ancient speck of light emerged, exuding an aura of vast, timeworn majesty—like a seed nurturing the profound mysteries of all worlds.
"What... is this?"
Her beautiful eyes widened in shock. She could feel the terrifying, surging power contained within that seed, as though it could take root at the edge of Chaos at any moment, evolving into an ancient divine tree that could inhale and exhale the Primordial Five Elements and the energies of the Great Dao.
And as the seed appeared, her cultivation also began to surge and transform.
She even heard the crisp sound of her long-stagnant bottleneck shattering.
BOOM!
Above the Divine Nation, where the skies had been clear, terrifying dark clouds instantly gathered. Lightning flickered within, and tribulation clouds churned, ready to descend in a furious storm.
"My Immortal King Tribulation—!"
Yin Mei was even more startled and made to rise to face the tribulation.
But with a single word from Gu Changge—"Disperse"—the roiling tribulation clouds instantly scattered, and the sky cleared once more. Wisps of pure qi and fragments of the Heavenly Dao silently poured into Yin Mei's body.
Her skin grew even more translucent, exuding a faint, lotus-like fragrance.
At this moment, she could even sense the entire process of the seed taking root, breaking through the soil, and sprouting.
"This is a True World Embryo Seed—you can think of it as a Dao Realm Seed. Originally, in my plans, it would only take root and sprout when you reached the end of the Immortal Path and stood before the threshold of the Dao Realm, because only then would you have the ability to nurture it..."
"But now that I've refined the World Sphere, it continuously condenses all the nourishment and resources needed for the Dao Realm Seed's growth."
"Within the Divine Nation, the Dao Realm Seed grows stronger with every passing moment, and your cultivation will also rise continuously as it feeds back to you."
Gu Changge gave a simple explanation of the Dao Realm Seed's profundity.
As for the origins of the World Sphere, he didn't elaborate—it involved too many complexities, and there was no need to explain them now.
Yin Mei listened in a daze. Though she still didn't fully understand, she grasped that this Dao Realm Seed was a shortcut Gu Changge had prepared for them.
He had foreseen this day long ago and made preparations in advance.
This was the very path to the heavens that countless cultivators and living beings dreamed of—and now, it had suddenly been placed right before them.
Anyone would be stunned, overwhelmed by the suddenness of it all.
And though Gu Changge made it sound simple, she knew that refining a Dao Realm Seed—and the World Sphere—couldn't possibly be easy.
Nothing in this world came without a price. There were no true shortcuts to the heavens.
Yin Mei was still in a daze when figures began arriving outside the hall.
"Oh? Seems we're a step too late."
A playful chuckle rang out as Wang Zijin strode in with light steps. She wore a silver-patterned white robe, a fluffy snow-white fur collar around her neck, and carried a folding fan in hand—looking every bit the elegant young noble.
Behind her, many cultivators and living beings arrived—the Gu Family's Founding Ancestor, the Drunken Sword Immortal, Old Ming, and other prominent figures followed in succession.
These were the high-ranking members of the Heavenslayers Alliance from its earliest days in the Dao Chang True World, and even now, they held pivotal positions within the alliance.
"Greetings, Alliance Leader."
The Drunken Sword Immortal, Old Ming, Ao Di, and others bowed respectfully, their gazes filled with reverence as they looked at Gu Changge.
Gu Changge gave a slight nod. Yin Mei, sensing the moment, gracefully stepped back from his embrace and stood to the side.
"It seems all of you have made considerable progress in your cultivation over these years."
Gu Changge's gaze swept slowly over the crowd, lingering briefly on the faces of the Gu Family's Founding Ancestor, Ming, and others.
Then, he turned his attention to the rest. Among them were those who had once harbored hatred toward him—such as Cen Shuang from the City of No Return—as well as remnants of ancient clans from the era of the Immortal Palace, like the Sea Clan behind Immortal King Ao Di. There were also those who had drifted in from other lands.
Naturally, there were also several Immortal Kings from the former Immortal Domain—the Moon King, the Luo King, and that female Quasi-Immortal Emperor who had once appeared at the edges of the Boundary Sea battlefield and accompanied Gu Changge for a time.
However, after establishing the Heavenslayers Alliance and uniting against external threats, the various factions gradually set aside their past grudges and hatred, beginning to coexist peacefully and thrive.
The existence of the Heavenslayers Alliance, in a way, restrained and balanced the various forces, ensuring that no one in the current Dao Chang True World dared to act recklessly, let alone disrupt the current stability.
Even those who had once been enemies had no choice but to set aside their grievances and prejudices, obediently abiding by the Heavenslayers Alliance's rules.
Of course, such a situation was undoubtedly beneficial for the overall development of the Dao Chang True World. Every year, numerous powerful experts emerged, and the fortunes of the various clans and factions flourished more than ever, frequently producing prodigious talents among the younger generation.
Soon, more clan leaders, sect masters, and figures of equivalent status arrived in the grand hall upon hearing the news, among them many who had once been of the same generation as Gu Changge.
Faced with Gu Changge's return to the Dao Chang True World after so many years, everyone's emotions were complex—reverence, fear, awe, admiration, fanaticism, terror... nearly every possible sentiment was present.
No matter what, Gu Changge's infamous reputation had always persisted within the Dao Chang True World. Even though he had established the Heavenslayers Alliance, leading everyone in resisting external invaders and protecting the Dao Chang True World, it still could not wash away his title as the Demon Lord, nor could it erase his past acts of world-destruction, his annihilation of the Immortal Palace, or his schemes that once deceived and slaughtered countless in the Upper Realm.
Toward Gu Changge, they held both reverence and fear.
"After all these years, you still fear me as much as ever."
Gu Changge let out a faint laugh as he observed the crowd in the hall, then waved his hand dismissively, signaling for them to leave.
He had no interest in these people—their presence was nothing more than an eyesore.
Only the Gu Family's Founding Ancestor, Ming, and a few other Dao Realm existences were kept behind by Gu Changge.
Regarding matters of the Immortal Spirit Civilisation and the Primary Hope Civilisation, he could inform them—after all, they were at the Dao Realm and had the right to know.
That day, the Gu Family's Founding Ancestor and the others stayed behind, discussing many matters with Gu Changge. The Founding Ancestor was already somewhat aware of affairs beyond their world—unlike Ming and the Drunken Sword Immortal, who were native to the Dao Chang True World, his perspective far surpassed theirs.
Ming and the Drunken Sword Immortal were filled with boundless yearning and awe for the vast heavens and the endless Boundless Expanse beyond.
However, they were also acutely aware of their own limitations. Within the Dao Chang True World, they could claim invincibility, but once they stepped into the Boundless Expanse, they might struggle even to protect themselves.
Thus, they hesitated, wrestling with the decision before ultimately resigning themselves to staying in the Dao Chang True World.
After all, the current Dao Chang True World might not be inferior to the other Civilisations and True Worlds in the Boundless Expanse.
As for the Gu Family's Founding Ancestor, he had no interest whatsoever in the Boundless Expanse. His only desire was to guard the Dao Chang True World—unless a World-Destroying Catastrophe struck, he would never leave.
Gu Changge naturally had no intention of persuading them. Mentioning it at all was already a courtesy due to their past acquaintance.
The Founding Ancestor, however, was quite interested in Gu Changge's exploits in the Boundless Expanse, but Gu Changge had no intention of elaborating. After a few perfunctory remarks, he saw them out.
He had long known that the Founding Ancestor's strength was far from what it appeared on the surface, so his unwavering commitment to guarding the Dao Chang True World came as no surprise.
That night, under Yin Mei's curiosity and Wang Zijin's incessant wheedling and coquettish pleas, an exasperated Gu Changge finally relented and recounted some of the more interesting experiences he had in the Boundless Expanse, treating them like stories.
Having never ventured into the Boundless Expanse, the two women listened with rapt fascination. Wang Zijin, in particular, grew increasingly excited, repeatedly exclaiming that she knew Gu Changge had gone off to "explore the big map."
At these words, Yin Mei's face was a picture of utter bewilderment.
She felt as though there were entire dimensions separating her from Wang Zijin. Often, she had to pause and think before grasping the meaning behind Wang Zijin's words.
Gu Changge, however, was long accustomed to it.
Wang Zijin was, after all, an anomaly. In front of others, she might put on an act of grace and refinement, but around him, she was like a sprightly fawn frolicking through the woods—her train of thought sometimes left even him struggling to keep up.
Though Wang Zijin had devoted some effort to cultivation over the years, she still preferred wandering about most of the time. Yet, her cultivation had not suffered in the slightest—she was now at the Quasi-Immortal Emperor realm.
By her own estimation, if she were lucky enough to stumble upon a few heaven-defying opportunities, she might shave off tens of millions of years and break through to Immortal Emperor far ahead of schedule.
Such talent and fortune would have once filled Yin Mei with envy.
But now, no matter how extraordinary an opportunity might be, it paled in comparison to the Dao Realm seeds Gu Changge had crafted for them.