Chapter 1329: Yao Yao Has Grown Up, Pill Dao Grandmaster Lin Qiuhan
Chapter 1329: Yao Yao Has Grown Up, Pill Dao Grandmaster Lin Qiuhan
After many years, Gu Changge returned to the Dao Chang True World, which naturally caused an immense uproar.
All cultivators and factions were watching closely, eager to learn what Gu Changge intended to do upon his return.
However, even those who had personally paid him homage that day were left utterly baffled, unaware of his purpose—let alone everyone else.
Moreover, aside from those who had seen him in the Divine Nation that day, no one else had caught even a glimpse of Gu Changge, leaving his whereabouts and movements a mystery.
Of course, in the days since his return to the Divine Nation, Gu Changge had not gone anywhere.
After spending several days accompanying Yin Mei and Wang Zijin, he refined the World Sphere he had condensed and fused it into the deepest part of the Divine Nation, merging it with the blazing sun suspended high above.
A radiant light, as eternal as an endless day, illuminated every inch of the Divine Nation's territory and void. The World Sphere emitted boundless radiance, concealed within the sun, and like a whale swallowing the ocean, vast torrents of Power of Fortuity and Faith Power surged forth, transforming into overwhelming rivers and seas that churned and roared in the depths of the Divine Nation.
The sheer magnitude of the spectacle was as if ten thousand Pegasi were galloping within.
All the consorts within the Divine Nation—whether in seclusion or deep meditation—could sense the dense, ethereal divine substances drifting and accumulating in the void, mist-like and faint.
These substances were invisible and intangible, yet their presence could be felt with Divine Sense, as if one were immersed in a warm ocean, nourished and bathed in its essence.
Every moment, every breath, their Divine Sense grew stronger. No matter what cultivation techniques they practiced or what divine abilities they employed, their progress was twice as effective.
Of course, in Gu Changge's eyes, those dense divine substances were like the most vibrant auroras—white as snow, purple as amethyst, golden as dawn—scattering across different regions and manifesting in varying hues.
For those like Yin Mei and Wang Zijin, who possessed Dao Realm seeds, the experience was even more profound. Within the vast, misty expanse of their Sea of Consciousness, it was as if a blizzard of goose feathers was gently falling. This power was supreme and boundless, saturating every inch of the void and space, triggering an unimaginable metamorphosis in their cultivation.
Observing the changes within the Divine Nation, Gu Changge felt a faint sense of satisfaction. His efforts over nearly a millennium to refine the World Sphere had finally achieved the results he desired.
Upon his return to the Dao Chang True World, Yue Mingkong, Jiang Chuchu, and the others were still in seclusion. Gu Changge did not disturb them, nor did he wake them prematurely.
Though their palaces and sacred lands were independent pocket worlds, they still lay within the Divine Nation's domain and thus benefited from the nourishing radiation of the Immortal Substance and Creation Substance condensed by the World Sphere.
Beyond monitoring the Divine Nation's transformations, Gu Changge also took the time to visit the Great Wasteland near Xianer's palace. The Land of Abandoned Celestials, which he had once relocated with great divine power, now lay close to the palace Gu Xianer had intended to build, making it convenient for her to return to Peach Village whenever she wished to visit her masters.
Over the years, Peach Village had remained unchanged—serene, with orderly houses and crisscrossing paths. The villagers had long grown accustomed to life after Tao Yao's disappearance.
Of course, Peach Village was not particularly large, spanning only a few dozen miles. It had always been home to fewer than a hundred households.
The village children, the eldest around seven or eight years old and the youngest still drinking beast milk, learned simple qi cultivation techniques from the adults.
Even if they did not become cultivators in the future, these methods would strengthen their bodies, allowing them to hunt in the ancient mountains and forests.
Now, many children could be seen sitting cross-legged on bluestones, facing the sunrise and absorbing the morning mist with practiced ease.
The environment here was pristine—lush mountains, clear waters, fragrant green grass, and a distant emerald-green lake where many spirit birds came to drink.
There were also herds of snow-white Pegasi, their manes gleaming, bowing their heads to drink from the lake—a scene of tranquil paradise.
Gu Changge's sudden appearance shocked the villagers of Peach Village.
However, the village chief and others, having already heard of his return to the Dao Chang True World, were not surprised and welcomed him inside.
Yao Yao, of course, was overjoyed and ecstatic at the arrival of her master. Despite the passage of time, she remained as she had always been—a delicate porcelain doll, untouched by the years.
Gu Changge took out the gifts he had prepared for her and then lifted her into his arms.
The reason he had come to Peach Village this time was precisely to see this little girl.
After all, truth be told, he had been a rather negligent master, leaving Yao Yao in Peach Village and rarely checking on her afterward.
Fortunately, the little girl was obedient and sensible, never causing him any trouble.
"Yao Yao missed you so much. She would often sit on the green hill at the village entrance, watching for you. Sometimes she'd stay there all day, from sunrise to sunset. Occasionally, she'd even go there alone at night..."
The village chief sighed, shaking his head as he watched Yao Yao cling tightly to Gu Changge's neck.
Gu Xianer's other masters also nodded in agreement, their expressions tinged with emotion.
"Since Xianer left last time, we've had no news of her. Only Xian'er mentioned that she is no longer in this world."
"We old folks can no longer keep little Yao Yao company as we once did. She's not that little girl anymore."
They could all guess the true purpose of Gu Changge's visit to Peach Village.
Since Gu Xianer was no longer here, he certainly hadn't come to see them, the old relics.
"Master is usually very busy. He has so, so many things to do."
Yao Yao clung tightly to Gu Changge's neck. Hearing the village chief's tone, which seemed to carry a hint of blame for Gu Changge's long absence, she couldn't help but whisper in his defense.
Gu Changge chuckled at her words and gently stroked her head. "I'm sorry. As your master, I haven't come to see you for so long."
"It's alright! Master's affairs are what matter most. Just seeing you today has already made me so happy and satisfied." Yao Yao quickly shook her head.
Her response surprised Gu Changge slightly.
"Yao Yao has grown up..." The village chief sighed with emotion.
Yao Yao still rested her head against Gu Changge's shoulder. Her clear, crystalline eyes—like polished black gemstones—had been bright with joy and excitement at first, but now her emotions had settled into quiet calm.
Though her body remained unchanged, her mind had matured far beyond that of an adult.
Of course, this was a gradual process. She could no longer be that carefree, innocent little girl she once was.
After all, the children she had once played with had long since grown up, started families, and had descendants of their own. Many had already been buried in the earth, returned to dust.
She had watched as all her peers aged, married, bore children, and passed away—only for their descendants to repeat the cycle again and again, like leaves in an endless cycle of spring and winter, growing and falling, withering and sprouting anew.
Such an existence would drive any sane person to despair—unable to cultivate, unable to grow, unable even to die.
Even her dearest sister had long been forgotten, all traces of her existence erased from the world as if wiped away by some unfathomable force.
To her, wasn't this life nothing but an inescapable curse?
The village chief and Gu Xianer's masters had always treated her kindly, but what did it matter? Her days remained the same—monotonous, unchanging, a slow torment.
Though Gu Changge's arrival had brought her joy, the light in her eyes soon dimmed once more.
He wouldn't stay forever. Eventually, he would leave.
And her life would return to its old rhythm, trapped once more in that unsolvable loop.
If she were still that eternally innocent, carefree little girl, perhaps she wouldn't have minded. Perhaps she wouldn't have understood. Only then could she have endured this unchanging existence.
"You really have grown up..."
Gu Changge noticed the shift in her emotions, his gaze turning complicated.
As the Dao Fruit born of Tao Yao, Yao Yao's maturity meant she was gradually breaking free from Tao Yao's influence.
She was becoming her own independent being, no longer bound by the constraints of her former identity.
This was only possible because Tao Yao's existence had truly vanished from this world—her karma, her traces, even the memories and influence tied to her, all erased.
"I came to Peach Village this time to take you away from here."
Gu Changge looked down at the girl leaning against his shoulder and spoke softly. "From today onward, I will keep you by my side and personally guide you in cultivation."
His words stunned not only the village chief and the others but also Yao Yao herself. She froze, her round eyes widening in disbelief.
Her master... was taking her away from Peach Village? And would teach her cultivation?
Was this real? Was she dreaming?
Her small face was a picture of shock and incredulity.
"But... Yao Yao can't cultivate, can she?"
The village chief was the first to recover, his expression one of astonishment.
He had always known Yao Yao's body was special—unable to cultivate, unable to grow, impervious to harm—as if she were some immortal spirit given form.
No matter how they tried to guide her, cultivation had been impossible.
Yao Yao, now snapping out of her daze, also stared at Gu Changge in surprise.
"From now on, she will be able to cultivate." Gu Changge replied calmly, offering no further explanation.
At his confirmation, Yao Yao's face lit up with pure, unrestrained joy. Her voice trembled slightly, and she nearly wriggled right out of his arms in excitement.
The villagers, of course, were overjoyed for her. If Gu Changge said it was possible, then it must be true.
The next day, after spending the night in Peach Village, Gu Changge transformed into a streak of divine light and carried Yao Yao away.
As she watched Peach Village shrink into a tiny speck before vanishing entirely, Yao Yao's delicate, doll-like face flickered with complex emotions—but soon, they hardened into resolve.
"Master... do even you not remember Sister anymore?"
She turned to Gu Changge, who stood beside her, and finally voiced the question that had haunted her for so long, her voice trembling.
Everyone in Peach Village had forgotten her sister, Tao Yao. They didn't even remember why the village was called Peach Village—only that it had always been so since its founding.
This left Yao Yao feeling deeply sorrowful and pained. It seemed that in this world, apart from herself, no one remembered her sister's existence—that peerless figure dressed in snow-white robes, transcendent and ethereal, with unparalleled grace.
Thus, when she asked Gu Changge this question, her voice trembled uncontrollably, filled with nervousness, terrified that even Gu Changge might not remember her sister.
Hearing this question, Gu Changge fell silent for a moment before replying, "Didn't Xian'er leave the Dao Chang True World and head for the Boundless Expanse? How could I not remember her?"
"I'm not talking about Xian'er-jiejie. I mean Tao Yao-jiejie," Yao Yao hurriedly shook her head, her face tense with anxiety.
Gu Changge frowned slightly, then shook his head and said softly, "Yao Yao, are you mistaken? Since when did you have another sister?"
Yao Yao froze in place as if struck by lightning, her small face turning deathly pale.
Gu Changge said nothing more and brought her back to the Divine Nation.
Yao Yao's constitution didn't actually require any foundational training. As the Dao Fruit of Tao Yao, her memories inherently contained Tao Yao's profound insights and experiences in cultivation. She was naturally attuned to the Dao, more suited for the path of cultivation than anyone else.
However, if she truly wished to embark on the Path of Cultivation, she still needed his initial guidance to set her on the right course.
Thus, Gu Changge instructed Yin Mei and the others to gather materials suitable for Yao Yao's foundation-building while also clearing the obstacles hindering her cultivation. The materials he currently possessed were of too high a level and weren't suitable for her yet.
As for why he denied Tao Yao's existence—he naturally had deeper intentions. After all, the traces of Tao Yao and Chan Hongyi's existence had been erased by his own hand. He still had other plans in motion.
Several days later, deep within the Divine Nation's grand hall, an ancient four-legged bronze cauldron stood solemnly, its base licked by roaring Dao flames.
From the void, streams of radiant clouds surged forth, constructing scenes of primordial chaos and the Great Beginning. Innate Five Qi, Primal Radiance, and Supreme Immortal Essence intertwined and collided within.
Inside the cauldron boiled the purest Immortal Dao Source Matter, the True Blood of ancient primordial beasts, and celestial herbs aged for millions of years...
Yao Yao, completely bare and pristine, soaked inside the cauldron, her small face flushed red from the steam. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain with unwavering determination, refusing to show even a hint of suffering.
The day she learned that even her master, Gu Changge, didn't remember her sister Tao Yao, Yao Yao felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her mind buzzed chaotically, unable to accept this reality.
In her dazed state, she nearly began to doubt her own memories. Had she truly imagined it all? Had her sister never existed in this world?
But she simply couldn't forget the scenes in Peach Village—her sister and her master sitting across from each other, smiling as they sipped tea, occasionally rising to stroll around the lake and scatter fish feed into the water.
Both wore spotless white robes, their sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze, looking so perfectly matched, like a scene from a painting, breathtakingly beautiful.
She had always dreamed that when she grew up, she too would be as stunning as her sister, able to walk side by side with her master.
But now, she was suddenly being told that those scenes were false, that her memories were false, that her sister had never existed at all?
She refused to believe it. She couldn't accept it. She would cultivate with all her might, uncover the truth behind her sister's disappearance, and bring her back.
Yao Yao's foundation-building lasted over half a month. During this time, Gu Changge visited the Violet Supreme Alchemy Sect, though he didn't reveal himself, merely observing Lin Qiuhan from the void.
Lin Qiuhan was now an elder of the highest standing in the Violet Supreme Alchemy Sect, only emerging to refine the most supreme immortal pills.
When Gu Changge arrived, she had just finished refining a furnace of pills. Thick medicinal qi surged into the heavens, summoning roiling tribulation clouds. Half the Star Domain trembled violently as radiant seven-colored lights intertwined, manifesting terrifying phenomena within, their power awe-inspiring.
Lin Qiuhan rose gracefully from beside the alchemy furnace. With a flick of her slender hand, a silk ribbon shot forth like a river of stars, shattering the gathering tribulation clouds with a thunderous boom. Clearly, she had anticipated this and performed the act with practiced ease.
"As expected of Fairy Qiuhan, refining pills even an Immortal King requires is effortless for her."
"It won't be long before Fairy Qiuhan can refine pills at the Quasi-Immortal Emperor level."
The cultivators who had been waiting nearby emerged, their expressions filled with admiration.
A long-bearded Immortal King cupped his hands in flattery, his gaze burning with desire as he stared at the furnace of pills. "Truly remarkable."
Lin Qiuhan, her face veiled in plain gauze, her figure graceful and elegant, stepped out from Alchemy Peak like a fleeting shadow. She nodded gently, her eyes warm. "The task is complete."
With that, she handed the furnace of pills to the Immortal King before her.
Though she hadn't yet reached the Immortal King realm herself, her talents lay primarily in alchemy, so her slower cultivation progress was natural.
Yet even veteran Immortal Kings treated her with utmost respect.
Under Lin Qiuhan's leadership, the Violet Supreme Alchemy Sect had long become the foremost alchemy sect in the Dao Chang True World.