Chapter 1334: The Fortuitous Furnace, A Path Once Walked
Chapter 1334: The Fortuitous Furnace, A Path Once Walked
Ling Yuling admitted to herself that she could never be as magnanimous as Gu Changge, let alone forgive everyone with such broad-mindedness.
Half a year was enough time for her to reflect on many things, yet now there was no room left for redemption or making amends.
Her gaze dim with sorrow, she followed Gu Changge and Mu Yan back into the valley.
This modest valley was dotted with simple, unadorned cottages and courtyards. A stream meandered through, veiled in a faint mist, while the rustling of bamboo filled the air.
By the stream, peach blossoms bloomed vibrantly, their petals scattering like a shower of crystalline snow, painting a scene of breathtaking beauty.
Mu Yan took Yao Yao from Gu Changge's side and arranged a separate courtyard for her, all the while curiously probing about the girl's identity.
Though Yao Yao wished to stay with Gu Changge, she knew she had grown up now, and he would never agree to it.
So she obediently followed Mu Yan, head lowered, quietly walking toward the courtyard assigned to her, her demeanor docile and well-behaved.
Mu Yan didn't mind Yao Yao's lack of response, assuming the girl was simply shy and would warm up in a few days.
It was obvious how attached Yao Yao was to Gu Changge—she seemed unwilling to leave his side even for a moment.
And Gu Changge indulged her, treating her with obvious affection.
This puzzled Mu Yan so much that she nearly wondered if the girl was Gu Changge's secret daughter with some woman.
Otherwise, how could he return from a trip with a girl he doted on so much?
Her gossip-loving heart flared up, and she took Yao Yao's small hand, bombarding her with questions in hopes of uncovering some of Gu Changge's secrets.
Yao Yao, faced with this stunningly beautiful woman who kept prying into her background, couldn't help but feel sullen and unhappy.
Why were there always so many women around her master, each clamoring to become her shiniang?
Just dealing with Xianer was already overwhelming—how could she compete if more kept appearing?
Before, she could rely on her childlike appearance to demand Gu Changge's doting affection.
But as she grew older, she noticed that while he used to carry her without hesitation, now he would only hold her hand at most, avoiding overly intimate gestures.
In the days following their return to the Heavenslayers Alliance, Gu Changge personally traveled to various places, gathering rare and precious materials. He even ventured into the depths of spacetime to retrieve fragments of ancient treasures tainted with the essence of Variability.
Then, following the embryonic formation patterns within the Scavenger Tome, he crafted a unique fortuitous treasure for Yao Yao—the Fortuitous Furnace.
At first glance, the Fortuitous Furnace was no larger than a palm, spinning deftly in Gu Changge's hand. It had three legs and a round mouth, its lid translucent as if cast from ancient jade, its surface engraved with intricate, archaic patterns.
Mountains, rivers, stars, creatures of land and sky, ancient ancestors, divine nations—it encapsulated the profound mysteries of myriad worlds, perpetually shrouded in a dense, steaming aura of fortuity, exuding an unfathomably mysterious presence.
He handed the Fortuitous Furnace directly to Yao Yao but didn't explain how to use it, leaving her to discover its secrets on her own. This treasure would become a powerful aid in her early cultivation.
However, she couldn't rely on it forever, so he deliberately imposed certain restrictions.
"Did Master make this treasure just for me?"
Yao Yao stared blankly at the crystalline furnace in her palm. Though it was her first time seeing it, she could sense a deep connection, as if it existed solely for her.
After a stunned pause, overwhelming joy lit up her face. She played with the Fortuitous Furnace, utterly enchanted, unable to put it down.
"So unfair..." Mu Yan muttered under her breath as she watched, her eyes filled with curiosity.
She wasn't envious, but she couldn't help but marvel at how exceptionally well Gu Changge treated Yao Yao.
"A fortuitous treasure..."
Though Ling Yuling's cultivation was sealed, her discernment remained unaffected.
She was deeply astonished that Gu Changge would go to such lengths to forge such a formidable treasure for Yao Yao.
Anything related to fortuity held unimaginable, miraculous profundities.
And the corresponding karma would inevitably fall upon the creator—though, given that Gu Changge had already established the Heavenslayers Alliance, he clearly cared little for such consequences.
"Do you like it?" Gu Changge smiled faintly at Yao Yao's delighted expression.
"I love it! Thank you, Master!"
Yao Yao nodded eagerly, her happiness radiating.
Ling Yuling observed the rare, genuine smile on Gu Changge's face, her emotions growing even more complicated.
Was this really the same Heavenslayers Alliance's leader—the man whom the Primary Hope Civilisation now feared, the name that silenced crying children in the night?
"Had I not witnessed this with my own eyes, no one would dare believe he could display such warmth and tenderness," Ling Yuling thought inwardly.
"You like it? Good. First, refine and familiarize yourself with its functions. Once you've fully mastered it, it will be time for you to embark on solo training and tempering," Gu Changge said with a slight nod.
He had other plans in mind. The Fortuitous Furnace was similar to the Primordial Chaos Golden Book he had previously given to Zhao Xiuyan—also known as Ah Man—both being cheats related to fortuity.
However, whereas he had set Ah Man on the path of a Child of Destiny, he intended for Yao Yao to follow the same path he once took—harvesting fortuity to strengthen herself.
The existence of the Fortuity Refinement function would help Yao Yao convert the harvested fortuity into nourishment for her growth. Of course, the Fortuitous Furnace's purpose didn't end there. Gu Changge had also left many restrictions and hidden mechanisms within it, waiting for Yao Yao to discover them on her own.
"Ah... solo training?"
Yao Yao had been immersed in the joy of obtaining the Fortuitous Furnace, but upon hearing this, the smile on her little face froze and vanished instantly.
Suddenly, even the treasured furnace in her hands didn't seem as appealing anymore.
Gu Changge looked at her, and the warmth in his expression faded, replaced by a rare sternness.
"What? Unwilling?" he asked.
"N-no! It's just... I don't want to leave Master's side so soon," Yao Yao quickly shook her head like a rattle-drum, her voice small.
"Given your current cultivation, fully refining the Fortuitous Furnace will still take some time," Gu Changge said with a faintly helpless sigh, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
Yao Yao tilted her face up, nuzzling against his warm palm, and whispered, "Then... will Master stay with me a little longer?"
"This period will be a good opportunity for Mu Yan to teach you survival and combat experience in the outside world. In that regard, she's an excellent teacher."
Gu Changge deftly shifted the topic, glancing toward Mu Yan.
Mu Yan, recalling the circumstances of her first encounter with Gu Changge, felt her flawless jade-like cheeks flush slightly. She couldn't help but shoot him a reproachful look.
Back then, she had no idea of Gu Changge's true origins, mistaking him for a naive young master from a noble family out on his first journey. She had only wanted to avoid dragging him into her troubles.
"..." Yao Yao hesitated, casting a doubtful glance at Mu Yan.
Mu Yan, radiant and ethereal, rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What? Even you look down on me now?"
Over the past few days, Yao Yao had grown somewhat familiar with Mu Yan. Back when Gu Changge had entrusted her to Mu Yan before leaving the valley without a trace, Yao Yao had no choice but to follow Mu Yan around to acclimate to her new surroundings.
Since arriving in the Primary Hope Civilisation, Gu Changge hadn't explained much to her.
But in Yao Yao's eyes, Mu Yan seemed somewhat unreliable—always trying to probe indirectly for information about Gu Changge's origins and secrets.
In contrast, the elegant and gentle woman in shackles appeared far more dependable in Yao Yao's view. She just didn't understand why that woman was bound and confined within this valley.
Of course, she was sensible enough not to pry into Ling Yuling's affairs.
In the days that followed, Yao Yao devoted herself daily to refining the Fortuitous Furnace. However, given her current cultivation, progress was painfully slow—each day brought only the tiniest advancement.
Gu Changge made no move to assist her in the refinement process, as the act itself served as a form of mental tempering, a rare opportunity for cultivation.
Her progress thus far had been built entirely upon the accumulation of resources and foundational treasures. While her foundation was solid, compared to those geniuses who had advanced step by step through sheer perseverance, she still lacked in certain innate aspects—such as the purity and resilience of her spirit, as well as various issues regarding her temperament.
The refinement process was exhausting, tedious, and intricate—but precisely for that reason, it was an essential means of tempering Yao Yao's willpower and spirit.
Gu Changge knew that, due to Taoyao's disappearance, Yao Yao's pursuit of cultivation and strength had become somewhat overly obsessive and impatient.
That was both a good thing—and yet, not entirely.
### Qingyu Ancient Domain, Snow City
This ancient domain had once been one of the three thousand domains under the rule of the Immortal Chu Vast Land. However, after the fall of the Immortal Chu Vast Land, it had been seized by the Heavenslayers Alliance and now served as their territory.
The city housed nearly ten billion cultivators and living beings. The streets teemed with figures from countless races, war chariots, and ancient flying vessels, yet order was meticulously maintained—no one dared act recklessly.
Inside an inn shrouded in chaotic mist, Luo Xiangjun finally let out a relieved sigh as she read the reply materializing on her jade slip.
"The master of the Heavenslayers Alliance actually left me waiting for so long. Just who is this person? If the opportunity arises, I must meet them."
Beside her, atop an ancient jade tablet, wisps of radiant mist swirled as the figure of the Eternal Primordial God manifested.
His ancient, inscrutable visage was tinged with cold displeasure.
Luo Xiangjun paid him no mind. This was the sixth reply she had received in the past six months. Unlike the previous five—which had all stated that the master of the Heavenslayers Alliance was absent—this time, the response confirmed his return.
Before, she had been told to wait.
Luo Xiangjun wasn't sure whether Gu Changge had simply refused to see her or if he had genuinely been away from the alliance. Regardless, now that she had received this reply, it meant she could finally proceed to meet him and discuss matters concerning the Eternal Hidden Treasury.