Willingly Serving Him Is No Different from Abetting Evil
Willingly Serving Him Is No Different from Abetting Evil
While the entire Wonder Domain was in an uproar over the descent of the Exalted Immortal.
At this very moment, at Illusion Gates.
Among the layers upon layers of towers and palaces, within the grandest and tallest great hall at the very center.
The atmosphere was solemn and grave.
The current Sect Master and numerous Elders were all gathered here, their faces respectful, yet carrying traces of curiosity and doubt.
Above them sat several old monsters who had emerged from seclusion upon hearing the news. Their seniority was terrifying, and every one of them possessed Sacred Realm cultivation.
They were also the immensely powerful foundation that Illusion Gates had accumulated over the years, existences who would not easily reveal themselves.
Today, they had been awakened by the utterly shocked Sect Master and had rushed to the great hall, intending to preside over the situation.
After all, this news was simply too world-shaking. They had no choice but to treat it with the utmost seriousness.
Outside the great hall stood the outstanding disciples of Illusion Gates’ current generation, the young prodigies and the like.
Their gazes were equally filled with curiosity and shock.
They looked toward the figure within—Gu Changge, who sat with his eyes closed in repose, his expression incomparably calm and indifferent, utterly unconcerned with everything in the outside world.
Their eyes were filled with deep reverence and disbelief.
“Could this be the legendary Exalted Immortal?”
“Standing there, he seems as if he’s standing in another world entirely. He truly isn’t on the same level as us.”
“Too terrifying. This is the first time I’ve ever seen such a figure.”
A heaven-blessed young woman spoke, her eyes full of shock and yearning.
“The cultivation of such an existence is simply unfathomable. Just a casual wisp of his aura is enough to make one’s heart palpitate and tremble—even more terrifying than when we faced a Sacred Realm master back then.”
“The Exalted Immortal can probably hear everything we’re saying. Our Founding Ancestor back then must have been a figure like this as well!”
They spoke in hushed voices. When they had first heard the rumors, they had been incomparably shocked.
A figure who had been acquainted with their Ancestor from eight hundred thousand years ago had personally descended to the Overworld, claiming to repay a debt of gratitude.
The matter was too astonishing. Had they not witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have dared imagine it.
Gu Changge paid no mind whatsoever to these words of amazement, flattery, and sycophancy, as if he hadn’t heard them at all. He had long since become immune to such things.
Honestly, he rather wished someone would jump out right now to question him, just to relieve the boredom and add a bit of fun.
“Reporting to the Sect Master, this is the full account of what happened.”
Inside the great hall, Zhao Wu’s expression was agitated, his voice trembling as he reported the entire sequence of events.
He had led the way for Gu Changge all the way to Illusion Gates.
Although Gu Changge had not spoken a single word along the journey, Zhao Wu could sense that Gu Changge seemed to hold some appreciation for him.
Thus, Zhao Wu spared no effort in vividly recounting the scene of Gu Changge’s descent to the Overworld.
No one doubted the truth of the matter. On the contrary, like Zhao Wu, they were all equally excited and thrilled.
“May I ask for Senior’s honored title?”
Hearing this, the Sect Master of Illusion Gates quickly reacted, his voice trembling slightly.
He did not doubt the veracity of Zhao Wu’s words in the slightest.
Back then, the Founding Ancestor of Illusion Gates had also been a legendary figure, leaving behind a illustrious reputation throughout the Wonder Domain and even the entire Heavenly Star Realm.
Having ascended to the Beyond, it was only natural that he could become acquainted with an existence like Gu Changge.
After all, even the old antiques behind him could not perceive the depths of Gu Changge’s cultivation in the slightest.
This showed just how powerful Gu Changge was!
This confirmed his suspicions.
“There’s no need to discuss my title.”
At this moment, Gu Changge finally opened his eyes, his expression calm, carrying a trace of impatience.
His words and demeanor gave off the appearance of someone aloof and cold.
He swept his gaze across everyone in the great hall, and that single look caused even the several Sacred Realm old antiques to feel their hearts palpitate.
Their souls trembled, and they involuntarily retreated several steps, unable to withstand that gaze.
Let alone the others—some nearly collapsed weakly under that wisp of aura.
“The debt I owe Chu Taixu, I shall repay today. This is the Illusion Creation Technique, a method your Ancestor and I derived together back then. Since he cannot descend to the Overworld himself, I shall impart this technique to you on his behalf today.”
Gu Changge spoke indifferently, his expression composed.
The name Chu Taixu was something he had casually glimpsed upon entering Illusion Gates, carved on the grand and imposing statue in the plaza.
Following the usual pattern, barring any surprises, this had to be the name of Illusion Gates’ Founding Ancestor.
Gu Changge’s casual fabrication was not entirely without basis.
Weng!!
Then, with a casual wave of his hand, golden ancient runes suddenly emerged in the void before him.
They resembled a vast and profound Astral River, constantly evolving, constantly unfolding.
Seeing this scene, everyone in the great hall held their breath.
The crowd of young disciples outside the hall also widened their eyes, their breathing quickening.
They truly had not expected this Exalted Immortal to be so direct.
An incomparably precious scripture, bestowed outright before everyone’s eyes, manifested in the void.
At once, everyone stared unblinkingly at those ancient runes, desperate to comprehend their true meaning.
“This is no longer... merely a Sacred Realm scripture...”
“It contains profound mysteries that transcend the Sacred Realm...”
Soon, one of the Sacred Realm old antiques perceived the profundity within and could not help but widen his eyes, crying out in disbelief.
He was incomparably excited and thrilled.
Seeing this, the others stared even more intently, not daring to miss a single detail.
They had never doubted the truth of Gu Changge’s words. After all, who would go to such great lengths to descend to the Overworld just to bestow this scripture?
Unless there was something wrong with their head.
Gu Changge’s attitude gave them a take-it-or-leave-it feeling, yet this was precisely the temperament they believed a true master should possess.
After bestowing the scripture, Gu Changge quietly closed his eyes once more, paying no heed to anything and saying nothing more.
In everyone’s eyes, this was the very image of a true master—lofty and supreme, aloof and cold.
But within Gu Changge’s heart, all sorts of thoughts flashed by, and he found it quite amusing.
There was a saying that rang very true: there was no free lunch in this world, and certainly no meat pies falling from the sky.
The Illusion Creation Technique was naturally a name he had made up.
Was the purpose not precisely to trick this bunch of fools into cultivating it?
Although Gu Changge’s plan appeared crude and simple, in truth, not a single flaw could be found in any of its steps—and the cultivation technique was no exception.
Even a Perfect Prodigy would fall for it at this point, obediently cultivating this technique.
Of course, the average person at this moment certainly would not suspect anything either. They would all adopt the attitude of taking advantage of a benefit freely offered.
And the technique Gu Changge had bestowed was far more effective in terms of control than something like a Slave Mark.
It was cut from the same cloth as the Entanglement Immortal Art.
Illusion Gates had, after all, been passed down for hundreds of thousands of years, with deep and entrenched roots. If Gu Changge wanted to seize it directly, it would require considerable effort.
If he were to suppress them outright with his cultivation, it would inevitably provoke fierce resistance, and might even attract the attention of other powers.
That ran contrary to Gu Changge’s intentions.
After all, the main purpose of his descent to the Overworld this time was the Reincarnation of the Mortal One. Before that, he needed to keep a low profile.
That was why he had chosen this method—to have Illusion Gates cultivate it of their own accord, to willingly place themselves in his service.
Very quickly, under Gu Changge’s scheme, everyone in the great hall had more or less committed the scripture to memory.
Many of the young disciples outside the hall had done the same.
His expression remained calm and composed, but inwardly he was sneering endlessly.
The Sect Master of Illusion Gates was even more calculating. Hearing that this was something their Ancestor had derived together with Gu Changge, he directly took action to copy it down, intending to preserve it as an inheritance for future generations of disciples to cultivate.
In just this short span of time, they had already come to understand the profundity of this technique—it far surpassed any technique they had previously cultivated.
Gu Changge acted as if he hadn’t noticed, which allowed the Sect Master of Illusion Gates to breathe a sigh of relief.
“For the Exalted Immortal’s great kindness, all of Illusion Gates shall remember it in our hearts.”
“We are endlessly grateful!”
Soon, such voices of gratitude rang out both inside and outside the great hall.
They admired Gu Changge all the more for personally descending to the Overworld to deliver a technique for the sake of a single debt of gratitude, feeling that this was perhaps the so-called Dao Heart!
“With this, the debt between Taixu and I is settled.”
Hearing this, a trace of something inscrutable flashed through Gu Changge’s expression as he spoke thus.
Afterward, at the earnest insistence of the Sect Master of Illusion Gates and the others, Gu Changge took up residence with a clear conscience at the highest peak of Illusion Gates.
Within a few days, the controlling effects of the technique began to take hold, its reach rapidly enveloping the entirety of Illusion Gates. Even the strongest Ancestor of Illusion Gates was alarmed into emerging into the world.
With Sacred Noble Realm cultivation, he could practically sweep across the entire Wonder Domain.
So long as no Great Sacred appeared, he was virtually invincible!
But without exception, even he could not resist the temptation of this technique.
And so, throughout all of Illusion Gates, aside from those disciples unqualified to access it, everyone else began switching to cultivate this technique.
To Gu Changge, this scene was all too familiar.
Back when he had controlled the Black Hawk Family and other clans on the Celestial Ancient Continent, had it not been exactly like this?
Only, the Elders and disciples of Illusion Gates had yet to notice a thing. They were still immersed in excitement and elation, feeling that their cultivation showed signs of breakthrough.
Gu Changge, with a trace of amusement, chose not to lay his cards on the table.
Then, through this technique, he directly took control of the Sect Master of Illusion Gates, and through him issued a series of orders.
Nearly half of the entire Wonder Domain’s territory was, in fact, under Illusion Gates’ control.
And now, it was effectively all under his control.
The first thing Gu Changge wanted to do was naturally to search for those bearing great Fortuity across the lands—the Reincarnation of the Mortal One was absolutely hidden among them.
As the colossal power of the Wonder Domain, Illusion Gates’ layer upon layer of searching yielded Gu Changge quite a bit of information.
But it was not enough. To further narrow the scope, Gu Changge thought of Jiang Chuchu, whom he had trapped within his Internal World.
She should possess quite a few methods capable of determining the whereabouts of the Reincarnation of the Mortal One.
......
Weng!!
Within the Internal World, atop an enormous bluestone.
Jiang Chuchu, who had been sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, her entire body shrouded in a hazy layer of immortal light, suddenly sensed a fluctuation in space.
Her eyes snapped open.
Within her icy gaze was hatred and killing intent.
Then, very quickly, it returned to calm, as if that earlier expression had been an illusion.
A ripple spread outward.
Gu Changge’s figure stepped into the space, utterly indifferent to her expression.
Jiang Chuchu closed her eyes, refusing to look at him, unwilling to lay eyes on the man who had inflicted endless humiliation upon her.
“Open your eyes and look at me.”
Gu Changge spoke indifferently, his tone brooking no defiance. “You know the consequences very well. Defy my will here, and you will beg for death.”
Jiang Chuchu gritted her teeth and looked at Gu Changge.
She understood those consequences. At this moment, she dared not defy his words, and said coldly, “Gu Changge, what exactly do you want, you demon?”
During this period, she had been constantly thinking of ways to break out of this world.
But she had met with no success, and had even fallen into despair at times, feeling she would be trapped here until death for the rest of her life.
Meanwhile, out in the world, there was someone parading around under her identity, colluding with Gu Changge, bringing calamity upon the world.
Yet she was powerless to resist. Besides torment, there was only more torment.
Her only chance lay in the forbidden palace within her Knowledge Sea, but with her current cultivation, she could not even touch it, let alone wield its power.
As for submitting to Gu Changge?
That was even more impossible. She would rather die of old age, die under torture!
“Tell me how to find the Reincarnation of the Mortal One.” Gu Changge got straight to the point, too lazy for wasted words.
Hearing this, Jiang Chuchu’s expression shifted slightly, somewhat incredulous.
Not only had Gu Changge found someone to impersonate her, he was now actually scheming against the Reincarnation of the Mortal One?
His audacity truly knew no bounds!
“I don’t know.”
Jiang Chuchu shook her head directly, indicating she had no way.
“Oh? You truly don’t know, or you’re pretending not to know?” Gu Changge couldn’t help but laugh.
“If I knew where the Reincarnation of the Mortal One was, I would have gone to find him long ago. How would I have ended up trapped here by you?” Jiang Chuchu said coldly.
At the thought of her purity, ultimately ruined at the hands of this demon.
A wave of sorrow and hatred rose within her, and she wished she could perish together with him.
“As the Successor of the Mortal Palace, you wouldn’t know? Saintess Chuchu, at this point, are you still not giving up, still thinking you have a chance of escaping?”
Gu Changge spoke indifferently, his mockery merciless.
Jiang Chuchu’s face was very calm as she said, “So what if I can’t escape? Even if I knew, I would never tell you. I will not aid a tyrant in his evil. Give up, Gu Changge.”
At this moment, she still did not know that Gu Changge had already left the Beyond and rushed to the place where the Reincarnation of the Mortal One would emerge.
Because even she knew nothing of it.
Finding the Mortal One relied entirely on the Mortal Palace’s secret arts and guidance, as well as her own talent.
Moreover, most of the time, the Mortal Palace didn’t even need to intervene. The Reincarnation of the Mortal One would distinguish himself through all manner of trials and contests, suppressing his peers, dazzling beyond compare.
Gu Changge frowned. It seemed Jiang Chuchu truly did not know.
After all, this was his Internal World. Jiang Chuchu’s slightest emotional fluctuation could not escape his perception.
More importantly, in his view, the Mortal Palace’s secret arts were actually inferior to the System’s detection.
From the amount of Fortuity points, he could make his judgment entirely.
Only, doing it that way was no different from fishing a needle from the sea.
Before this, Jiang Chuchu, like him, had never seen the Reincarnation of the Mortal One either.
“Gu Changge, have you already learned where the Reincarnation of the Mortal One will emerge?”
At this moment, seeing Gu Changge’s expression, Jiang Chuchu’s face changed slightly as she ventured a guess.
Gu Changge’s speed was actually faster than the Mortal Palace’s?
How exactly had he done it?
“I not only know, I’ve already arrived there.”
At this point, Gu Changge had nothing to hide.
He smiled faintly, carrying a trace of amusement. “What, worried I’ll find the Reincarnation of the Mortal One first and kill him? Why don’t you beg me? Perhaps I could grant him an easier death.”
Hearing this, a chill abruptly rose up Jiang Chuchu’s back, her face paling slightly as she felt a casually delivered, terrifying killing intent.
“The Mortal One’s methods are beyond your imagination. Even if you can kill the Reincarnation of the Mortal One in this life, he has other ways to return. You cannot defeat the Mortal One.”
She couldn’t help but say. Having grown up in the Mortal Palace since childhood, she understood how powerful the Mortal One was—practically omnipotent.
Although Gu Changge currently appeared to hold the upper hand, he still could not possibly be a match for the Mortal One, who had reincarnated who knew how many times.
At this, Gu Changge couldn’t help but sneer, saying indifferently,
“Speaking of which, I am, after all, your man. If I were killed by the Mortal One, would you remain indifferent?”
“I really don’t know what bewitching soup the Mortal Palace fed you, that a mere Mortal One has you in such awe. Jiang Chuchu, what was the purpose of your upbringing since childhood?”
“To be a tool for the Mortal One?”
“You despicable, shameless...”
Hearing Gu Changge’s first sentence, Jiang Chuchu’s expression instantly changed; she could no longer maintain her earlier composure.
How did he even have the face to say such a thing?
Yet Gu Changge wore an utterly nonchalant attitude.
Still, these words left her slightly dazed... Gu Changge was right. What had been the purpose of her upbringing since childhood?
And no matter what, her relationship with Gu Changge had already become extremely complicated.
She hated Gu Changge to the bone.
Because Gu Changge, as the Successor of Demonic Arts, brought calamity upon the world, and she had a duty to purge all evil for the sake of all living beings and restore peace.
This was the ideology instilled in her since childhood.
“A mere tool. Have you never considered living for yourself?”
At this moment, seeing Jiang Chuchu fall into confusion, Gu Changge was more than happy to stir the pot, smiling as he spoke from the side.
“A tool? Wang Zijin said those very words to me back then, saying she refused to be a tool.”
Jiang Chuchu was slightly taken aback, but quickly banished these stray thoughts from her mind.
Her expression returned to calm as she looked coldly at Gu Changge. “But I am the Successor of the Mortal Palace. The purpose of my birth is to uphold justice for all living beings, the peace of the world, and to slay demons like you.”
“Oh? Well, I’m standing right here. If you’ve got the ability, come kill me. A mere piece of trash, yet you dare spout such wild boasts.” Gu Changge laughed coldly, appearing thoroughly contemptuous.
“You can’t even kill me, yet you dare speak of upholding the justice of the world? How many sanctimonious hypocrites are there in this world? Is what they do justice?”
“Why haven’t I seen you go kill them?”
A Dao Heart like Jiang Chuchu’s, in his view, was actually not firm at all.
There was ample opportunity to exploit.
“You...”
Hearing this, Jiang Chuchu’s expression froze, and she nearly ground her teeth to dust.
This was the first time anyone had ever called her trash, yet she could not refute it.
“Am I wrong? You’re nothing but trash, fixating on me alone while accomplishing nothing, paying no heed whatsoever to all the others committing evil.”
“Tell me, isn’t the way you act no different from abetting the evil of this world? Are you worthy of your identity?”
“What difference is there between someone like you and me?”
Gu Changge asked in return with a faint smile, every word piercing straight to the heart.
He had discovered something interesting: a portion of the Reincarnation of the Mortal One’s Fortuity would be damaged as Jiang Chuchu’s Dao Heart wavered.
It seemed the Reincarnation of the Mortal One’s current Fortuity came from the living beings of heaven and earth who revered him.
And hearing these words, Jiang Chuchu’s face grew ever paler.