Planning to Find a Second Scapegoat — Gu Xianer, You've Gotten Cocky Again
Planning to Find a Second Scapegoat — Gu Xianer, You’ve Gotten Cocky Again
Gu Xianer had left the clan at a young age, and in all these years since, she had never returned to the Gu Family. Although she had family, shifu, and the like in Peach Village...
She surely wanted to go home and take a look. After all, that was the place where she was born, and the clansmen of her own branch were there too.
So in Gu Changge’s eyes, this birthday banquet was an excellent opportunity for him to completely erase the estrangement between the various branches of the Gu Family over the years and take full control of the Gu Family.
Gu Changge had never forgotten about this matter from the very beginning.
Because his mother and father had married relatively late...
His mother was now already five thousand years old, though she still maintained her looks with the Beauty Preserving Technique, so nothing showed.
Moreover, given his mother’s status, this birthday banquet would be a grand affair whether for the Longevity Gu Family or the Primal Celestial Temple.
All manner of Dao lineages and powers would be invited to attend the feast.
At that time, it would be unavoidable for the prodigies of the great Dao lineages to gather together, which would spark some clashes.
As the host, Gu Changge naturally had to maintain the dignity of the host’s position and couldn’t personally step into the fray.
Of course, all of this was a trivial matter to Gu Changge.
What he cared about was another matter entirely.
Next, the Mortal Palace was bound to begin making its move, which also meant that many ancient freaks, or young sons of Ancient Emperors, might emerge into the world.
Their talent went without saying — all of them were extremely powerful.
Gu Changge just so happened to be short on some physique Sources lately. He intended to temper his Sacred Principles and order, and was worrying about finding no suitable prey.
On top of that, it was also time to find some unlucky sucker to take over the black pot of the Successor of Demonic Arts.
Ye Ling’s survival or death would presumably soon be ascertained by the Mortal Palace, because the Ancient Ye Family was, after all, Ye Ling’s own clan.
And the Mortal Palace held a transcendent position, had existed for ages, and possessed countless secret arts and divine abilities. They could very likely use a portion of Ye Ling’s bloodline to determine his location.
When the time came, once the news of Ye Ling’s death spread, it was bound to greatly impact Gu Changge.
Therefore, Gu Changge had to begin the second phase of his preparations.
“I’ll have a stretch of time to arrange things, but before that, I need to first determine who the scapegoat will be this time...”
Gu Changge’s expression gradually grew deep. The faces of many Young Prodigies flashed through his mind, and he ruled them out one by one, from Wang Wushuang to Ye Langtian.
He pondered continuously, searching for a suitable candidate.
First of all, this prey’s status and position had to be great enough. If it were an ordinary Young Prodigy, that definitely wouldn’t do.
Because this prey’s strength had to be extremely powerful — otherwise, how could he explain Ye Ling’s death?
So the other party had to possess a background and cultivation far beyond the reach of someone of Ye Ling’s status. Otherwise, even Gu Changge would find it hard to scheme.
“Back then, I built Ye Ling’s strength up a bit too much — to the point where he could contend with me evenly and even escape from my hands with his life...”
Gu Changge was somewhat troubled by this too.
At the time, to make the act convincing, he had even wounded his own Source and put on a show with Yin Mei, fooling everyone.
The result of that was that practically every Cultivator now knew Ye Ling was powerful enough to escape from his hands alive.
So now, he couldn’t just casually pin this pot on anyone.
Because in the image he had crafted, ordinary Young Prodigies were no match for Ye Ling at all!
How could they possibly kill Ye Ling? If he was going to find a new scapegoat, it certainly couldn’t be someone too weak.
And now, Gu Changge wanted to create the illusion that Ye Ling was already dead, that the Successor of Demonic Arts was someone else — or rather, that there was a mysterious organization behind them.
That made the choice of candidate rather demanding.
In terms of cultivation, aside from Wang Zijin, Gu Changge couldn’t think of any other candidates for the moment.
But Wang Zijin was definitely out of the question. She was the Successor of Mortal Palace — dumping the black pot on her head would be no different from ramming into the tip of a blade.
“Looks like I’ll have to find out which ancient freaks, or descendants of Ancient Emperors and Ancient Sovereigns, are about to emerge into the world lately, and make my move from among them.”
Very quickly, Gu Changge had his target in mind.
His mother’s birthday banquet this time would clearly draw the great Dao lineages, great sects, and Ancient Royal Families to attend.
After all, for all the Supreme Dao Lineages and Cults of Immortality in the entire Beyond, no one truly dared to disregard an invitation from the Longevity Gu Family.
It would become quite lively then.
“Given that fellow Yue Mingkong’s personality, she’ll definitely rush over too. I can just pry some information out of her.”
“And I can take this opportunity to scheme a bit — incidentally probing for the whereabouts of the Mortal One’s reincarnated body, as well as that Mysterious Peach Tree behind Gu Xianer...”
By now, Gu Changge no longer focused the bulk of his attention on Gu Xianer the way he had at the start.
His mind was now more on that Mysterious Peach Tree.
After all, whether going by Gu Xianer’s Fortuitous Daughter template or by all the usual tropes, that Mysterious Peach Tree was surely an existence on the level of an eternal giant.
So how to scheme against that Mysterious Peach Tree — that would have to start from Gu Xianer herself.
“Gu Xianer’s attitude toward me will, to a large extent, determine the attitude of that Mysterious Peach Tree and the shifus behind her toward me.”
For all of this, Gu Changge had been scheming for a long time.
If he didn’t stage a tragic drama, he likely wouldn’t be able to move those old monsters who had lived for countless years, let alone convince them to trust him.
Gu Changge hadn’t forgotten — back then, he had sent Yan Ji to take a look at Peach Village, and she, already an existence of the Sacred Lord Realm, was grievously wounded by a single peach blossom petal. If she hadn’t escaped using a Domain-Shattering Talisman, she very likely would have perished there.
Such a supremely powerful existence — what if it could be used by him? Or better yet, what if he could seize and devour its Source?
Thinking of this, Gu Changge’s smile couldn’t help but deepen.
Very soon, the news that the Longevity Gu Family would hold a birthday banquet for its matriarch spread throughout the Boundless Heaven and even to the other Dao lineages, causing a huge sensation.
Gu Changge’s mother had been a renowned goddess in her day — the previous Saintess of the Primal Celestial Temple, with formidable talent, unrivaled as she swept across her domain.
Once the news of her birthday banquet spread, it immediately shocked countless Cultivators and set them discussing.
Many people only then realized that the goddess who had once dazzled the world was, in the blink of an eye, already five thousand years old.
Even her son had become a leading figure of the younger generation, with few who could match him.
For a time, countless Cultivators sighed with emotion.
Many Dao lineages and great sects — including the Vermilion Bird Clan, the White Tiger Clan, Skyward Schloss, the Longevity Wang Family, the Ancient Ye Family, and others — were all dispatching clansmen bearing congratulatory gifts toward the territory of the Longevity Gu Family.
At the same time.
On the other side, atop the mountain peak where the Great Elder usually cultivated in seclusion.
At this moment, a young girl of pure, exquisite beauty sat hugging her knees, her eyes staring blankly at the sea of clouds below, seemingly lost in a daze.
Occasionally a mountain breeze blew past, lifting the hem of her skirt and revealing a stretch of flawless, delicate calf like snow-white lotus root.
Her whole being seemed like an otherworldly sprite who had stepped out from between mountains and waters, carrying a cool, aloof air, untouched by a speck of dust, as if bearing heaven’s most beautiful blessing.
Like a darling of heaven and earth.
It was none other than Gu Xianer, who had just finished her cultivation session.
During this period, under the pressure from Gu Changge, her cultivation progress could be described as advancing by leaps and bounds — she was now on the verge of breaking through to the Partial-Enlightened Realm.
This speed shocked even the Great Elder, who felt she was reaping the fruits of long accumulation.
However, Gu Xianer couldn’t feel happy about it.
Because Gu Changge was ignoring her. No matter how she provoked him — even running to Supreme Peak, to the place where Gu Changge was in seclusion, and declaring she wanted to challenge him —
Gu Changge maintained an attitude cold to the bone, paying her no heed whatsoever, not even bothering to say a single extra word to her.
This attitude was as if he were facing a complete stranger with no connection to him at all.
Gu Xianer said nothing about it aloud, but in her heart, she was actually quite miserable.
She also understood now — back when she had treated Gu Changge with such coldness and hostility, he must have felt exactly the same way.
Gu Xianer knew Gu Changge was doing this deliberately, precisely because he didn’t want her getting close to him and digging into his unspeakable secrets from back then.
So she paid it no mind and remained undaunted.
But when a letter from the Longevity Gu Family suddenly landed before her, her whole being instantly turned unwell, and her mood quickly sank.
“Go home?”
At this moment, Gu Xianer murmured softly, staring blankly at the letter in her hand.
Just like Gu Changge, she too had received such a family letter, from the Longevity Gu Family.
Judging from the handwriting and aura on it, this letter from the family head had come from the hand of Gu Changge’s father, Gu Lintian.
That was the uncle she had once held in great awe.
Honestly, Gu Xianer truly hadn’t expected that at this time, her uncle would personally write her a family letter, one that sincerely and earnestly expressed his care and guilt toward her over all these years.
Although Gu Changge’s father never mentioned the reasons behind the events of that year, Gu Xianer could still sense his difficulties within the words.
On this point, she had long since come to terms with it, so naturally she wasn’t surprised.
But what did surprise her was what Gu Changge’s father had done. As the head of the Longevity Gu Family, his doing this was clearly a gesture of apology toward her.
Still, although Gu Xianer could come to terms with it, there was ultimately a knot in her heart.
Many things, once done, were done. Even if she forgave them, she couldn’t pretend they had never happened.
The one who had expelled her from the Gu Family back then was Gu Lintian, and the one now asking her to return to the Longevity Gu Family was also him.
This uncle wielded overwhelming authority in the Gu Family. Back then, her father had contended for the position of family head and lost to him by a narrow margin.
Toward the Longevity Gu Family, Gu Xianer had actually always held anticipation in her heart — she wanted to go back, to return to the place where she was born.
Her clansmen and kin were still there; she couldn’t possibly sever that.
“When Gu Changge acknowledged my identity as a member of the Gu Family that day, I should have actually foreseen all of this long ago. Don’t you think so, Big Red?”
Gu Xianer spoke, sighing as she addressed the Big Red Bird on her shoulder.
Hearing this, the Big Red Bird gave her a sidelong glance, as if to say, you’re just being a pretentious little drama queen — you clearly want to go back so badly, yet you can’t let go of your pride.
Seeing the Big Red Bird’s expression, Gu Xianer gritted her teeth in vexation again, wishing she could pluck out all its feathers and roast it right in front of her.
It really didn’t leave her any face at all.
Then again, wasn’t the Big Red Bird’s expression exactly what she truly thought in her heart?
Just as Gu Changge had said, Gu Xianer’s personality was tsundere — at times, she valued face more than anyone else.
If the Longevity Gu Family sent a grand eight-bearer sedan, a carriage drawn by nine dragons, and dispatched numerous powerful experts to invite her home, only then would she “reluctantly” nod and agree to return.
But now? Just one family letter, and nothing else?
That’s it? That’s it? That’s it?
Gu Xianer very much wanted to throw this family letter in her uncle’s face and properly demand of him — didn’t he have any sincerity or gifts of apology?
If she returned to the Longevity Gu Family just like this, where would she put her face?
One had to know, it was now Gu Changge who had taken the initiative to acknowledge her identity, clarifying the events of that year before the entire world — it ought to be the Longevity Gu Family inviting her back!
“Not a shred of sincerity. They’re looking down on me too much...”
Gu Xianer gave a soft, cold snort, a disdainful sound escaping from her nose.
Speaking of which, this matter was actually a lapse in Gu Lintian’s consideration.
In his view, the events of that year were the Longevity Gu Family’s wrong against Gu Xianer. If such a matter were made too high-profile, it might make Gu Xianer feel the Longevity Gu Family was just putting on a show for the other Dao lineages and powers, without genuine sincerity.
After thinking it over back and forth, he personally wrote a letter and had someone deliver it into Gu Xianer’s hands.
But he never imagined that Gu Xianer was actually this sort of personality.
“Not going back. Whoever wants to go back can go back — anyway, I’m not going back.”
Gu Xianer steadied her emotions and couldn’t help but mutter.
“Oh? Not going back where?”
However, just then, Gu Xianer suddenly heard a faint voice.
Immediately after.
She felt heaven and earth abruptly fall silent, as if a terrifying pressure had descended, carrying the rumbling of mountains and seas.
Even time and space, samsara and the world itself, froze still!
Weng!!
High in the sky, space blurred and a passage emerged, piercing through to this place.
From within, Gu Changge’s figure stepped out. His hands were clasped behind his back as he looked at Gu Xianer, whose expression had gone slightly stiff, his own expression calm.
“Gu Changge...”
Gu Xianer came back to her senses, her eyes widening slightly as she looked at Gu Changge, not understanding why he had suddenly appeared.
Before this, Gu Changge had paid her absolutely no attention, cold as a block of ice, making her grind her teeth in anger.
But now, why would he suddenly come here?
Gu Changge stood there, looking down at Gu Xianer with an indifferent expression.
His figure was tall and slender, his immortal robes wide-sleeved, seemingly embroidered with the stars of the heavens, appearing exquisite and magnificent.
His whole being carried a noble, high-above-all aura.
“What did you just say you weren’t going back to?” Gu Changge repeated faintly once more.
Gu Xianer’s gaze shifted away from Gu Changge, not daring to meet his eyes, appearing quite lacking in confidence.
Because she couldn’t beat Gu Changge, and right now the Great Elder wasn’t on the mountain peak either.
Since returning from the Celestial Ancient Continent, the Great Elder had been full of fury; after giving her some instructions about her subsequent cultivation, he had vanished without a trace.
Gu Xianer figured the Great Elder must have been thoroughly infuriated by Gu Changge within the Celestial Ancient Continent.
At this moment, if Gu Changge really wanted to teach her a lesson, she’d probably be crying to heaven with no answer and calling to earth with no response.
Especially since during this period, she had provoked Gu Changge quite a lot.
Although Gu Changge hadn’t paid her any mind, given this fellow’s vengeful personality that repaid every slight, he had probably kept a long ledger of grudges.
Just waiting for an opportunity to settle the score.
“Did I say anything?”
Gu Xianer couldn’t withstand the terrifying pressure radiating from Gu Changge and muttered softly.
Anyway, playing dumb was the right move at a time like this.
Although Gu Changge had very likely already heard her talking to herself just now — otherwise he wouldn’t have suddenly appeared.
But she wasn’t afraid of Gu Changge now.
“Oh, not talking, huh? Looks like your recent cultivation progress has given you delusions again, hasn’t it?”
Seeing Gu Xianer refuse to admit it, Gu Changge also put away the indifference on his face and asked with mockery.
“Gu Changge, you...”
Hearing this, Gu Xianer’s little face changed slightly, and she immediately sensed something was wrong.
Her reaction was quick. A layer of silvery radiance surfaced over her body, as if immortal light were flowing, all kinds of runes interweaving, transforming behind her into a True Phoenix spreading its wings in flight!
Flowing light and overflowing color, its aura astonishing — with a spread of its wings, it seemed it could tear even the dome of heaven apart.
This was a supreme-speed treasure art. The instant the wings unfolded, Gu Xianer fled into the space behind her.
Because she had detected that Gu Changge was about to make a move.
Weng!!
However, Gu Changge’s speed was far faster than hers, and the instant Gu Xianer tried to retreat, the surrounding space erupted with vast, terrifying fluctuations.
Like an ocean suddenly transforming into chaos, every inch of void became heavy as a mountain, locking her figure firmly in place!
“Not good.”
Gu Xianer cried out softly, discovering that with her current cultivation, she simply couldn’t break free.
Her breakthrough speed was already very fast, yet before Gu Changge she still didn’t have the slightest power to resist.
“You little thing — a few days without a beating and you’ve gotten cocky again. This won’t do.”
Seeing this, Gu Changge shook his head slightly, speaking with a tone of pity and regret, yet his methods were exceptionally merciless.
Weng!!
The void suddenly surged. As he extended a palm, a terrifying great handprint of void appeared and then slammed down from the sky!
Without any surprise.
Gu Xianer was once again suppressed to the ground by his single palm. No matter how that newly grown Celestial Bone of hers shone and tried to awaken, it was of no use at all.
The Great Dao in its simplicity — Gu Changge suppressed her with the Force of Law, naturally with ease, because the two of them simply weren’t on the same level.
And Gu Xianer clearly didn’t know this.
Otherwise, she would definitely be shouting about how unfair it was.
Honestly, Gu Xianer’s current strength was actually already quite impressive in Gu Changge’s eyes, and her cultivation speed was worthy of a Fortuitous Daughter bearing two destiny templates.
But... Gu Changge naturally pursued an even higher result. How could Gu Xianer at this level of strength satisfy his requirements?
So his words remained cold, carrying merciless mockery as he said,
“Gu Xianer, is this the result of you coming to provoke me every day? You can’t even take a single palm from me. You truly disappoint me.”
“If this were a real battle, you’d already be dead.”
Gu Changge looked down at her coldly from on high.
“Gu Changge, if you’ve got the ability, suppress your cultivation to the same realm as me! Relying on your higher cultivation to bully me — what skill is that?”
Gu Xianer was so angered by these words that she gnashed her teeth, her chest heaving, struck hard once again.
No matter how she cultivated, she could never catch up to Gu Changge’s pace.
Instead, every time she was effortlessly suppressed by him.
This dealt Gu Xianer quite a blow.
She knew Gu Changge’s cultivation definitely wasn’t as simple as it appeared on the surface — he might even be close to breaking through to the Sacred Realm.
“In a true life-and-death fight, no one talks about fairness,” Gu Changge said indifferently.
“I know you won’t kill me...”
Although Gu Xianer was suppressed on the ground, hearing this, she said as much.
Wearing a look of having Gu Changge all figured out.
“Oh?”
Gu Changge responded noncommittally, his expression carrying a trace of amusement.
“In any case, Gu Changge, you’d better remember this — sooner or later, I’ll catch up to you, and you’ll never be able to bully me again.”
Gu Xianer said viciously, her eyes once again showing an expression that, in Gu Changge’s view, was simply begging for a beating.
But this time, Gu Changge didn’t say anything more.
“Father sent a letter ordering me to bring you back to the clan,” he said indifferently, simultaneously releasing his suppression of Gu Xianer.
He had already anticipated Gu Xianer’s intentions.
With her tsundere temperament, she definitely wouldn’t be willing to go back just like that — no matter how much she wanted to return in her heart, she wouldn’t agree.
That was why Gu Changge had come here, intending to make her face reality.
“I’m not going back. That’s your father, not my father.”
Hearing this, Gu Xianer’s expression quickly returned to cool calmness as she spoke indifferently.
“Gu Xianer, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood something. He ordered me to bring you back — not to ask you to come back with me.”
Gu Changge couldn’t help but laugh in derision.
Toward this stubborn-mouthed girl, he naturally had to adopt forceful measures.
The meaning of these words was already quite clear. If Gu Xianer resisted, then Gu Changge could only act as he had just now — strike again and suppress her.
Even if he had to knock her out and stuff her in a sack, he would haul her back to the clan grounds.
Hearing this, Gu Xianer secretly gritted her silver teeth, knowing that at this point, the choice wasn’t hers.
Gu Changge had no shortage of methods.
“This isn’t me wanting to go back — it’s you forcibly taking me back. Gu Changge, you’d better not get that wrong.”
Finally, as if having come to terms with it, Gu Xianer agreed.
Only her attitude looked extremely reluctant, her little face wearing an expression of complete unwillingness.
“Got it. It’s you begging me to take you back, not me wanting to take you back.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge nodded in complete understanding.
“Eh???”
Hearing this, Gu Xianer froze — and then exploded with fury.