Chapter 1332: Priestess Ruoyin Simply Dislikes Me
Chapter 1332: Priestess Ruoyin Simply Dislikes Me
The Sanctum of Destiny was located in the eastern region of the Divine Nation, near the Boundless Sea of Stars.
In this domain, vast floating islands drifted amidst ethereal mist, shrouded in perpetual obscurity. The area remained bathed in a cold, muted hue year-round, untouched by the radiance of sunlight.
At its heart stood the grand and solemn Sacrificial Temple, an ancient and majestic complex exuding an air of solemnity.
Though the temple halls stretched endlessly, row upon row, there were scarcely any living beings to be seen. The silence was so profound that one could almost hear the whisper of the chilly wind echoing through the empty halls.
Compared to other regions, this place more closely resembled the legendary Moon Palace—perpetually desolate, devoid of sunlight, making one question whether any trace of life remained here.
"Your Grace, the Divine Nation has been livelier these past few days than ever before."
Within the central Sacrificial Temple, a young woman dressed in red shrine maiden robes spoke softly as she relit the flickering candles around her. Her jet-black hair was tied back with a crimson ribbon, and she wore wooden clogs while holding a blue lantern. Her gaze drifted toward the distant Boundless Sea of Stars.
Seated in the hall was an exquisitely beautiful woman, clad in the moon-white robes of the Chief Priest.
Her long, silken hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her expression was serene and detached, as if untouched by mortal affairs—more akin to a celestial maiden from the Moon Palace of the Nine Heavens.
She was, of course, the mistress of this place—the current High Priestess of Destiny of the Divine Nation, Xiao Ruoyin, revered by many as Priestess Ruoyin.
The young woman in the red shrine maiden attire was Wu Qi, the successor Xiao Ruoyin had chosen in recent years to inherit the Sacrificial Temple.
Thousands of years ago, Xiao Ruoyin had suddenly sensed an unusual surge of destiny descending upon the Dao Chang True World. She had then left the Sacrificial Temple and found Wu Qi in a wild tribe.
Like her, Wu Qi possessed the Nihility Destiny Physique—a natural affinity for the Dao of Destiny, granting her an acute sensitivity and comprehension of the unseen currents of fate and destiny.
With dedicated cultivation in the path of destiny, she would undoubtedly be qualified to succeed as the High Priestess of Destiny of the Divine Nation in the future.
"His Majesty has returned, so naturally, the Divine Nation is livelier than before."
Hearing Wu Qi's words, Xiao Ruoyin paused briefly before replying indifferently.
Her flawless, jade-white face remained as emotionless as ever, as if no ripple of feeling could ever disturb it.
She was well aware of Gu Changge's return to the Dao Chang True World. As the High Priestess of Destiny, she could faintly perceive the shifting currents of fate within the realm. Gu Changge had not concealed his presence upon his return, so it was impossible for her to remain unaware.
"Even back in my tribe, I had already heard tales of His Majesty's illustrious reputation. I wonder if I'll ever have the chance to behold his immortal visage in person..." Wu Qi murmured with a hint of longing.
Xiao Ruoyin glanced at her but said nothing.
Wu Qi was neither her disciple nor her handmaiden.
Though they shared the same Nihility Destiny Physique, their paths were fundamentally different. She had brought Wu Qi along simply to nurture a rare talent—not to waste such a prodigious seedling.
After all, the Nihility Destiny Physique was an anomaly that might not appear even once in countless ages. For two such individuals to emerge simultaneously in the Dao Chang True World was already an inconceivable, near-miraculous occurrence.
Had it been someone else with the same physique, they might have sought to eliminate Wu Qi the moment they sensed her existence, unwilling to allow a second Nihility Destiny Physique to exist in the world.
"Does Your Grace not wish to meet His Majesty?"
As Wu Qi relit the candles in the hall one by one, she couldn't help but ask curiously, seeing Xiao Ruoyin's indifferent and aloof demeanor.
She had been by Xiao Ruoyin's side for a long time now.
Within the Sacrificial Temple, aside from the two of them, there were no other living souls.
In fact, it wasn't just the Sacrificial Temple—even the surrounding Star Domains and the countless halls and pavilions stood devoid of any trace of life, with not a single figure in sight. The place was perpetually desolate and cold, steeped in a bleak, lifeless hue. When she had first arrived, Wu Qi had even mistaken it for the Divine Nation's cold palace.
Over the years, this environment had gradually tempered her temperament, though she had nearly gone mad from the isolation at first.
Born in a wild tribe where all her clansmen were straightforward and exuberant, she had been no exception. Thus, being forced to remain by Xiao Ruoyin's side had been nothing short of torture for her.
As the mistress of the Sacrificial Temple, Xiao Ruoyin rarely spoke. Each session of meditating on fate lasted centuries, and her detached nature kept her entirely aloof from worldly affairs.
Had it been anyone else, they would have long been driven to madness—yet she remained tranquil and unperturbed.
When Wu Qi had first followed Xiao Ruoyin to the Divine Nation, she had thought she was ascending to the pinnacle of life, achieving heights beyond the reach of ordinary people.
But who would have thought that the Ruoyin Niangniang who had taken her away from her tribe back then would have such an aloof and ethereal temperament? Anyone unaware might even assume she had been banished to the cold palace, neglected and unwanted.
Of course, Wu Qi knew this couldn't possibly be true.
With Ruoyin Niangniang's peerless beauty—enough to topple cities and ruin nations—even she, a woman, couldn't help but feel envious. How could someone like her be unwanted?
"There's no need. I won't go and add to His Majesty's awkwardness or troubles. He must be quite busy these days." Xiao Ruoyin shook her head lightly, her expression serene and indifferent, as if nothing could stir her.
She was no longer the pure High Priestess of Destiny from before, nor was she the Xiao Ruoyin from later.
Thus, she now saw many things clearly. Back then, she and Gu Changge had schemed against and used each other—there had never been any genuine affection between them.
Before she had awakened the memories of the High Priestess of Destiny, whatever goodwill she had felt toward Gu Changge had, at best, been admiration for his strength, reverence, and the compromises and fears born of needing to rely on him for survival.
"I noticed that Niangniang has been glancing in that direction these past few days, so I thought..."
Wu Qi was slightly taken aback by these words.
Though Xiao Ruoyin spoke with indifference, as if it meant nothing, Wu Qi could still detect a faint trace of... resignation and self-consolation in her tone.
She had always assumed the desolation of the Sacrificial Temple was largely due to Xiao Ruoyin's naturally cold and solitary temperament, her dislike for noise and bustle.
But these past few days, Xiao Ruoyin had frequently looked toward the heart of the Divine Nation—Wu Qi had thought she was waiting for His Majesty to visit.
Yet now, it seemed His Majesty truly had no intention of coming. Xiao Ruoyin's occasional glances in that direction were merely because she still clung to a sliver of hope.
Could it really be that this Niangniang was unwanted, which was why this place remained so eerily silent and devoid of life?
Wu Qi stared at that flawless, transcendent face—one that even she couldn't help but admire—and found it impossible to comprehend how any man could spurn such a peerless beauty.
Xiao Ruoyin understood what Wu Qi was implying, but she offered no explanation.
With slender, jade-like fingers, she idly twirled a few strands of hair that had fallen across her forehead. Gazing at the increasingly desolate and silent Sanctum of Destiny—colder now than ever—she let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
"Did Niangniang do something to displease His Majesty?" Wu Qi couldn't help but ask softly.
"No."
Xiao Ruoyin shook her head. "His Majesty simply... dislikes me."
Compared to the other consorts and concubines in the Divine Nation who had been granted titles, she knew her standing in Gu Changge's heart was negligible—practically nonexistent.
Though he had eventually returned the Celestial Boat of Creation to her, wasn't that also proof that he wanted to sever all ties between them?
Wu Qi stared blankly at Xiao Ruoyin, momentarily at a loss for words.
The Sanctum of Destiny had always been devoid of sunlight, but today, it felt even colder than usual.
Unable to resist, she glanced outside the temple. A few ancient osmanthus trees stood rooted in the distance, their delicate petals scattered beneath them like drifting snow. The moonlight remained cold and indifferent, with no sign of any approaching figure.
The ancient races of the Immortal Ancient Continent had long since left that small world. After departing the Yaksha Clan's ancestral lands, Gu Changge had attempted to track down the tribes he had initially subdued.
But time had passed, and the world had changed. Even Skyward Schloss no longer stood in its original ruins, let alone the Immortal Ancient Races—they had long since vanished without a trace.
With a brief sweep of his senses, Gu Changge found only the Black Hawk Family. The other races of the Immortal Ancient Continent had perished for various reasons.
The current patriarch of the Black Hawk Family was a descendant of Hei Ming—that very same "good-for-nothing" whom Gu Changge had once implanted with the Entanglement Immortal Might. Now, he had become an ancestral-level figure within the clan, his strength formidable.
Of course, the Black Hawk Family was far inferior to the Yaksha Clan in terms of heritage and power, but within the current Dao Chang True World, they thrived and flourished, their scale far surpassing what it had once been.
As for Hei Yanyu, the once-celebrated prodigy of the Black Hawk Family and Hei Ming's elder sister—who had followed Gu Changge for a time—she had now become one of the family's hidden experts, spending her years in seclusion, her cultivation unfathomably profound.
Afterward, Gu Changge traversed the borderlands between the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains and the former Upper Realm, crossing the Boundary Marker Sea. Tianlu City remained unchanged, as if frozen in time.
The Tianlu Mystic Maiden had long since stepped into the True Immortal Realm. Having received the faith and worship of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, her cultivation had advanced with astonishing speed. Within a few thousand years, she had attained the Dao Fruit of an Immortal King and had since remained in seclusion.
Gu Changge's arrival did not disturb her.
Finally, he returned to Green Mountain Village. The sky was overcast, a light drizzle falling as he approached the cluster of blue-tiled houses. There, beneath the courtyard's sheltering eaves, a woman in snow-white robes stood waiting for him with an umbrella, as if she had known he would return.