The Relationship Really Isn't Complicated at All — Granting Them the Favor of Becoming a Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers
The Relationship Really Isn’t Complicated at All — Granting Them the Favor of Becoming a Pair of Star-Crossed Lovers
Even with two lifetimes of experience, Yue Mingkong’s state of mind was unstable at this moment, enormous waves surging within her.
The tip of the iceberg of Gu Changge’s hidden depths had finally revealed a trace of itself.
Silently and without a sound, his cultivation had already broken through to the Sacred Realm. This kind of speed simply defied all common sense — enough to make one despair, even feel terror.
She finally understood the true horror of the Immortal-Devouring Demonic Art.
Why, every time a Successor of Demonic Arts emerged into the world, it would throw the entire world into chaos, with countless orthodoxies and forces hunting them down, determined to erase them.
This kind of cultivation speed was simply world-shaking.
One had to know, Gu Changge was only in his early twenties, yet he had already reached a height that countless Cultivators could never reach in their entire lives.
“To be targeted by Gu Changge... that is the true nightmare...”
Yue Mingkong recalled how, before, she had thought she still had hope of taking revenge on Gu Changge. Only now did she understand how foolish and laughable that thinking had been.
Boom!
At that moment, the Celestial Path before her eyes suddenly trembled violently, as if a terrifying earthquake had struck.
The mountains shook and the earth quaked. Numerous Divine Chains of Order, dense and innumerable, burst out from within.
“Gu Changge...”
Yue Mingkong’s cool, clear eyes widened slightly.
The next moment, she saw a charred-black figure within, the Grand Flask hovering above his head, suddenly charging out.
Billions of bolts of lightning, as if enraged, let out heaven-shaking roars, crashing down behind him with thunderous fury.
Rumble rumble!
The entire Celestial Path was collapsing, cracks appearing one after another!
However, the instant it made contact with the outside world, the sea of lightning that was about to surge out seemed to touch a layer of ripple-like rules.
In the blink of an eye, it dissipated into the void — rather like snow melting under the sun.
This vast Heavenly Tribulation, in the end, did not strike down upon Gu Changge at that moment.
Honestly, this was the first time he had ever looked so wretched.
He had been happily devouring those Celestial Spirits and breaking through his cultivation, when dark clouds gathered in the sky above.
Immediately after, the vast Heavenly Tribulation came crashing down directly. Every bolt of lightning was enough to injure an ordinary Sacred Realm Cultivator — one careless moment, and even total annihilation of body and soul was possible.
Gu Changge knew this was caused by the heavenly rules within the Celestial Path.
Nowadays, breaking through in the outside world no longer summoned a Heavenly Tribulation.
Only in the most ancient of eras would those monstrous geniuses with powerful talent possibly encounter the baptism of a Heavenly Tribulation when breaking through.
But this Heavenly Tribulation looked like it was dead set on striking him dead.
After enduring several waves, Gu Changge felt things weren’t looking good, so he simply left. The subsequent tribulation would only grow stronger — it was already approaching the level of the Sacred Lord Realm, even tainted with a trace of Sacred Emperor Realm aura.
He knew he was very strong.
But there was no need to get himself half-killed in a place like this.
Now his cultivation had broken through in one go to the late stage of the Quasi-Sacred Realm — that was quite comfortable. Moreover, he had scooped up every last one of the Celestial Spirits inside in a single haul.
Whatever he couldn’t devour and refine now, he could just save for later use.
At this point, his ultimate goal had been successfully accomplished.
This left Gu Changge quite satisfied.
Next, it was time to go stir up some trouble.
“Pfft...”
And at that moment, looking at the completely charred Gu Changge before her, Yue Mingkong finally couldn’t hold back, letting out a peal of melodious, pleasant laughter.
This was also the first time she had ever seen Gu Changge in such a sorry state — chased and struck by a Heavenly Tribulation, it was practically as if the heavens were eliminating a menace for the people.
Gu Changge glanced at Yue Mingkong, his expression composed, his face calm and untroubled.
Then his body gave a light shudder.
The charred husk cracked apart inch by inch!
A layer of fresh fragrance emerged.
The newborn skin was crystalline and translucent, gleaming with the luster of immortal jade, yet it also carried an aura of — though the world be destroyed, I shall not be destroyed; though the universe collapses, he shall not perish.
Yue Mingkong’s gaze fixed upon him.
On her snow-white, lovely face, those eyes radiated blazing divine light, staring at Gu Changge without blinking.
“You’ve been looking at me for so long — shouldn’t you let me have a look too? Reciprocity, you know?”
Gu Changge said casually, the corners of his mouth carrying an intrigued amusement.
“Reciprocity?”
Hearing those words, Yue Mingkong froze outright, then turned her head away, saying flatly, “Then shouldn’t you hurry up and put some clothes on?”
Gu Changge laughed. “Didn’t I see you watching so entranced? Just letting you take a little advantage.”
Those words made Yue Mingkong grit her teeth in vexation — she refused to admit that she really had been a bit dazed just now.
Soon, Gu Changge casually found a robe and slipped it on.
He walked toward the outside.
At the same time, he said, “The Celestial Gate will close soon. But after being opened early this time, the next opening won’t come so easily...”
He spoke casually. The next time the Celestial Gate opened, it would likely draw in a crowd of old fossils, triggering a terrifying storm of blood.
Gu Changge had now essentially picked the peaches ahead of time. When those old fossils rushed in later, they wouldn’t get anything good.
Apart from Yue Mingkong, no one knew any of this.
“That no longer matters. No one knows you ever went in,” Yue Mingkong replied.
Although her harvest was far inferior to Gu Changge’s, her cultivation had still made great breakthroughs — she had even faintly touched the peak of the Partial-Enlightened Realm.
“That’s right. Apart from you, no one knows about this.”
Gu Changge said with a smile.
Those words made Yue Mingkong pause slightly. What did he mean by that?
Reminding her that this matter was known only to heaven, to earth, to him, and to herself?
“Rest assured, I won’t leak this matter,” Yue Mingkong said.
“I never doubted you. What are you so nervous about?” Gu Changge shook his head, saying frankly.
Inwardly, though, he was actually a bit troubled.
Yue Mingkong’s personality truly was a profound illustration of that saying — once bitten by a snake, one fears the rope for ten years.
Her guard against him had indeed lowered considerably, but it had not yet reached the point of complete trust.
Gu Changge’s current need for Fortuity points and Fatums wasn’t actually that great.
Aside from exchanging for Absolute Detachment bones, they were used to expand the Internal World.
His remaining Fortuity points and Fatums now numbered in the tens of thousands.
To complete this System task of his, he would probably have to rely on the next step.
His plan was simple.
Because for women, to a large extent, the proportion of emotion far outweighed the proportion of reason.
He had laid enough groundwork. Next, he just had to wait for a tragic drama to play out.
On the other hand, Ye Ling was already dead, and the title of Successor of Demonic Arts still hung over his head.
It was time for Gu Changge to consider finding another scapegoat.
Where in the world was the next Fortuitous One?
“Oh right — take these things as payment for your hard work. Don’t overthink it, just consider it me spreading some wealth,” Gu Changge then said.
His tone was natural — neither intimate nor distant.
With a lift of his hand, hazy immortal essence emerged, wisps and strands of it, as if immortal chains floated and sank within, brimming with immortal charm and Dao intent, like rosy clouds.
Watching this scene, Yue Mingkong was slightly stunned, finding it somewhat hard to believe.
“These are Celestial Spirits.”
As Gu Changge spoke, he sealed them in a jade jar. The quantity wasn’t small.
But for the current Yue Mingkong, it was clearly more than enough — there would even be plenty left over.
With that, the jade jar drifted lightly into Yue Mingkong’s hand.
And with a single step, Gu Changge’s robes fluttering, he had already appeared high in the sky.
Shua!
The next moment, including Yin Mei, the numerous followers nearby all appeared together.
Gu Changge led them, transforming into divine rainbows, swiftly departing from this place.
“Gu Changge...”
Yue Mingkong stood frozen in place, looking at the jade jar that had landed in her hand.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
She truly hadn’t expected Gu Changge to actually give her the Celestial Spirits.
After all, these were things he had risked his life to gather from within the Celestial Path.
Every single wisp was incomparably precious, its value impossible to estimate — even a Sacred Emperor Realm being would be tempted.
Most importantly, her heart now felt lost and wistful.
Before, Gu Changge would tease her, referring to himself as her husband in his words. But now, he clearly maintained a distance between them.
This natural, courteous way of getting along left Yue Mingkong dazed, her heart faintly bitter.
In the end, it was hard for the two of them to return to how things were before — she pretending not to understand while knowing full well, and Gu Changge happily teasing her.
“If only I hadn’t said those words back then, how good that would have been.” Yue Mingkong shook her head, sighing softly.
She quickly reined in these emotions.
She collected the numerous runic arrangements in this place and left with her group of followers.
...
After leaving the Mountains of Horizons, Gu Changge immediately rushed to the encampment where he had previously been stationed.
He had already sent word back to his clan, and he believed that by now, the clan’s experts were already rushing toward the Celestial Ancient Continent.
This kind of matter — annexing the Celestial Ancient Races while simultaneously occupying the moral high ground — the Gu Family was naturally more than happy to do.
Gu Changge had muddied the waters this thoroughly; he refused to believe the other orthodoxies could sit still and choose to be bystanders at a time like this.
The resources and interests involved in the Celestial Ancient Continent were enough to alarm every orthodoxy and power.
“We pay respects to the Young Master!”
Within the ruins, one after another, Immortal Guards mounted on ancient pure-blooded ferocious beasts, their killing intent soaring to the heavens, shaking the firmament, their auras icy cold.
They were waiting here, their killing intent terrifying, incomparably astonishing.
Every single one of them wore battle armor gleaming with immortal light, as if they had been through countless wars, their gazes like heavenly blades, causing the void itself to tremble uneasily.
The Immortal Guards of the Immortal Gu Family.
In every great upheaval — or rather, every great war involving the Immortal Gu Family — many of the matters conducted in the shadows were handled by this force.
Their hands were stained with endless blood. They were one of the Immortal Gu Family’s sharpest blades.
With Gu Changge’s current status, it was difficult for him to mobilize many Immortal Guards. This expedition to the Celestial Ancient Continent counted as an exception.
These Immortal Guards had long since received his orders and were waiting here for his return.
“This force, together with my several puppets, is enough to sweep through numerous clans.”
Gu Changge swept his gaze over the group of Immortal Guards and nodded slightly.
Of course, he knew there was actually an Ancestor following along as well.
That Ancestor came from Gu Xianer’s branch of the family, but he didn’t know exactly which one it was, or what his seniority was.
After all, as long as it was an Ancestor who had walked out of the clan grounds, sweeping aside the strongest experts of those Lost Clans should pose no problem.
As for whether that Ancestor would refuse?
No matter — Gu Changge had plenty of ways to make him agree.
“Moreover, the Great Elder still owes me a favor. This time, even he probably couldn’t hold back and has come to the Celestial Ancient Continent...”
“And if it really comes down to it, I still have a second contingency prepared.”
Gu Changge narrowed his eyes, having long since planned everything out.
They would start with the Feathered Clan — the clan that had wanted him dead from the very beginning.
Naturally, they had to be the first under the knife — conveniently beating the mountain to frighten the tigers, killing the chicken to warn the monkeys.
If the other clans were smart, they wouldn’t want to repeat the same mistake, and would know what they ought to do.
At the same time, this period of chaos was also the best opportunity for the Black Hawk Family to work for him in the shadows.
“To the Feathered Clan’s ancestral grounds.”
Gu Changge said indifferently, landing upon an Ancient Battleship. The vast figures of the Immortal Guards instantly crushed across the sky, their momentum grand and heaven-shaking.
At the same time, high in the sky, three figures were watching all of this.
They were none other than Gu Xianer, the Great Elder, and that yellow-toothed old farmer-like Ancestor of the Gu Family.
“Gu Changge should be heading to the Feathered Clan.” Gu Xianer noticed the route of Gu Changge’s departure and couldn’t help but guess.
“Such heavy killing intent, seeking revenge for the smallest grievance — I really don’t know how he became the Young Master...”
Gu Nanshan shook his head inwardly, but on his face he had no choice but to put on an expression of appreciation.
“Laozu, the Feathered Clan is, after all, a clan passed down since the Celestial Ancient Era. Their foundation is not to be underestimated. Are you really not going to do anything about Gu Changge?”
Gu Xianer felt that for Gu Changge, bringing only the Immortal Guards, to crush and steamroll the Feathered Clan and intimidate the other clans...
was honestly a bit difficult.
“Rest assured, when the time comes, this Laozu will step in.”
Hearing this, Gu Nanshan couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of his mouth, then quickly recovered his composure, forcing out a smile as he spoke.
He actually really wanted to watch Gu Changge suffer a big loss.
Although he had spoken well of Gu Changge many times in front of Gu Xianer,
that was only out of necessity — thinking of the family’s long-term interests, hoping to dissolve the enmity between the two of them.
Personally, he naturally harbored not the slightest goodwill toward Gu Changge.
He even wanted to teach him a lesson for having bullied Gu Xianer.
But now, Gu Xianer had already said this much — what else could he do?
When the time came, he couldn’t possibly watch the Feathered Clan’s old ancestor show up to bully a junior of the Gu Family while he, an Ancestor of the Gu Family, hid in the shadows watching the show, could he?
At this moment, Gu Nanshan genuinely felt a dull ache in a certain place.
He had the nagging feeling that he had dug a pit for himself.
As he spoke, the void before the three of them blurred, and they quickly followed after.
At this moment, it wasn’t just them — even the other orthodoxies within the Celestial Ancient Continent, and indeed the Celestial Ancient Races themselves, were all alarmed.
Outside the Feathered Clan’s ancestral grounds, these past few days, the area had already been swept by multiple divine senses, with many experts inquiring into the situation here.
Rumble rumble rumble!
But just the several enormous Copper Ancient Battleships parked in the sky were enough to make countless living beings and Cultivators tremble, unable to suppress their dread.
The Primal Celestial Temple had been stationed here for several days already.
Within the Feathered Clan’s ancestral grounds, the atmosphere was solemn and grave, vigilantly guarding against an invasion by the Primal Celestial Temple.
This attitude — coming right to the other party’s ancestral grounds, yet not charging in to kill, merely threatening — left many Cultivators and living beings shocked, then horrified in their hearts.
This was truly worthy of the incomparably domineering Primal Celestial Temple.
Fiercely protective of their own!
It was like brandishing their weapons early on, killing intent boiling, telling the other side to wash their necks clean.
Demonic Energy surged to the heavens, making one’s very soul tremble.
“I heard they’re waiting for Young Master Changge’s arrival. Some time ago, the Feathered Clan used a Transcendent grade weapon to ambush and kill Young Master Changge. This matter provoked the fury of the Primal Demonic Temple, which directly dispatched a large number of experts to charge in...”
“I also heard that the Immortal Gu Family was enraged. A terrifying force of Immortal Guards tore open a spatial passage and descended upon this place to exterminate the Feathered Clan.”
“The Feathered Clan is probably scared witless. They completely never expected the Primal Demonic Temple to come at them so ferociously — one disagreement and they blockade your ancestral grounds.”
“Yeah, if it were me I’d be dumbfounded too. I wouldn’t even dare raise the thought of resisting... The Immortal Gu Family is the most mysterious clan in the Beyond. It’s said the time they’ve stood enduring far exceeds any other power.”
“Their foundation is absolutely unfathomable. If this battle erupts, even if it can’t compare to the Immortal War, it couldn’t be much weaker...”
Among the numerous mountain peaks and ridges in the distance, many Cultivators and living beings had appeared, gazing from afar at everything in the high sky, discussing among themselves.
Among them were quite a few Young Prodigies, such as the successor of the Dead Man’s Lake, watching from a mountain peak along with the force behind him.
In another direction, the successor of the Immortal Wang Family, Wang Wushuang.
He too was frowning in contemplation.
Elsewhere, the Ancient Ye Family — Ye Langtian, Ye Liuli, and the others.
...
Their expressions carried deep shock.
This battle held extraordinary significance.
The Feathered Clan, after all, was a great clan that could rank within the top fifteen among the Celestial Ancient Races.
Although the clan had never produced an immortal-level existence, their former ancestor had stood at the absolute peak of Humanity.
A true Emperor Realm figure!
Boom!
At that moment, before the shocked gazes of all the Cultivators and living beings, a dazzling Space Tunnel emerged high in the sky.
Immediately after, immortal music sounded in waves, immortal light pervading the air.
A force of Immortal Guards, sharp as heavenly blades with astonishing killing intent, riding one ferocious, savage beast after another, seemed to come galloping from a primordial, ancient world.
“Kill!”
Between heaven and earth, a single astonishing word of slaughter echoed.
“Young Master!”
And the figures of experts on those Copper Ancient Battleships ahead, at this moment, all called out respectfully toward the direction of the tunnel.
Within the hazy tunnel, Gu Changge’s figure appeared.
He stood with his hands behind his back upon a battleship, his black robes whipping in the wind, his gaze calm, overlooking the Feathered Clan’s ancestral grounds below.
Behind him was a large group of followers with blood qi surging to the heavens, equally brimming with killing intent, as if it could pierce the sky.
“No need for formalities.”
Gu Changge nodded slightly to the crowd of Primal Celestial Temple experts.
This was the immortal power behind his mother.
The current leader of the Primal Celestial Temple was none other than his uncle.
The previous leader of the Primal Celestial Temple was his maternal grandfather.
And his uncle, wholly devoted to cultivation, had never married and had no children.
He had thus, as a matter of course, become the Young Master of the Primal Celestial Temple.
This relationship really wasn’t complicated at all.
Otherwise, why would the other Young Prodigies not dare provoke him? Not only in terms of strength, but even in terms of background, they fell far short of Gu Changge by several degrees.
And as Gu Changge appeared, the atmosphere within a radius of tens of thousands of li grew heavy.
“Gu Changge!”
“Hurry up and release our Young Master!”
From within the Feathered Clan’s ancestral grounds, several figures suddenly rushed out, appearing in the sky.
The wings on their backs spread wide, incomparably furious.
They roared in rage, carrying hatred and killing intent.
Judging by their appearance, they were about the same age as Gu Changge — the more impulsive younger generation.
Ignoring the obstruction of their elders, they charged out all at once.
“Release their Young Master?” Gu Changge smiled with interest and asked.
The golden-armored middle-aged man beside him answered respectfully,
“Reporting to the Young Master — this person is none other than the Feathered Clan’s successor, named Yu Xuan.”
As he spoke, he grabbed over Yu Xuan, whose cultivation had been sealed.
“Gu Changge, I’m going to kill you! I will avenge Yu Jing!” Yu Xuan’s face was full of defiance, fury, and killing intent. He stared fixedly at Gu Changge, his eyes scarlet red, roaring hoarsely.
He looked as though, if his cultivation weren’t sealed, he would absolutely fight Gu Changge for several hundred rounds.
“What is his relationship with that Yu Jing?” Gu Changge asked with a faint smile.
“Reporting to the Young Master — they are childhood sweethearts, extremely close,” the golden-armored middle-aged man answered, his smile carrying a trace of mockery.
“Oh, how perfect. This Young Master has always been one to help others fulfill their happiness — then I’ll send them off together to be a pair of star-crossed lovers.”
Gu Changge said with a light smile upon hearing this.
“Gu Changge, release our successor at once!”
At that moment, those few young beings up ahead, carrying fury and killing intent, charged toward Gu Changge.
In their hands was a Forbidden Weapon, shining brilliantly, terrifying aura interweaving.
“Just the likes of you, with a single Forbidden Weapon, dare to stand in my way?”
Gu Changge smiled nonchalantly.
He stepped through the void, his expression unchanged, and raised his hand, pressing down.
Weng!
Divine Chains of Order interwove, black and white qi coiling, runes flickering in and out — like a world-destroying divine disc, crushing across the sky, a single palm pressing down.
Pu!
The Forbidden Weapon exploded directly, and then blood splattered in all directions!
Those several Partial-Enlightened Realm prodigies, together with the Forbidden Weapon, collapsed on the spot — body and soul utterly annihilated.
“Foolish.”
Gu Changge hadn’t expected that at a time like this, there would still be brainless fools coming to throw their lives away.
The Feathered Clan was cowardly to this degree — not a single one of the older generation dared to show their face.
This left him slightly disappointed.
Then Gu Changge raised his palm once more, directly sending this so-called Yu Xuan down to accompany his childhood sweetheart.
After all, what had been said must be done.
A pair of star-crossed lovers — he would grant them that.