Gu Xianer's Inexplicable Sourness — She's the Little Sister Here, Okay?
Gu Xianer’s Inexplicable Sourness — She’s the Little Sister Here, Okay?
The Inner Domain of the Beyond, the territory of the Longevity Gu Family.
Gu Changge brought Yao Yao out of the Heavenly Star Realm, tearing through numerous world barriers along the way, and finally brought her within the bounds of his family’s mountain gate.
Everything she saw along the journey left Yao Yao’s eyes wide with astonishment, witnessing countless sights she had never seen or heard of before.
The vast, boundless universe, magnificent beyond compare.
Especially the sight of the Sanctum of Reception traversing the cosmos, shuttling through the chaos between worlds.
This was already beyond anything a divine miracle could explain.
If Gu Changge hadn’t patiently explained things to her, she probably never would have figured out that such an artifact existed in this world, one that could freely travel between worlds.
The Heavenly Star Realm where she lived was incomparably remote, separated from the prosperous regions Gu Changge spoke of by who knew how many trillions upon trillions of miles.
At that moment, she finally understood why so many Cultivators racked their brains, desperate to ascend to the Beyond.
During this time, Gu Changge also told her quite a bit about the Beyond, so that she wouldn’t feel unsettled arriving in an unfamiliar place where she knew no one.
“Shifu, after we return to the Beyond, will you be very busy?”
Yao Yao couldn’t help asking in a small voice.
Through her understanding over this period, Yao Yao had also come to grasp Gu Changge’s status — in the entire Beyond, he was someone of indescribable nobility, the kind whose stature few could ever hope to reach.
He had many matters to handle every day; he couldn’t possibly keep accompanying her at any time like he did in the Overworld.
She could still distinguish which matters were more or less important.
“It’s fine.”
“Shifu won’t be very busy. As for the peculiarities about you, I can have people investigate during this time. Who knows, we might actually find something.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled faintly. He naturally knew what Yao Yao was worried about.
Though young in age, the things she understood far exceeded those of her peers.
Gu Changge even felt that Gu Xianer might not be as sensible as her.
Receiving Gu Changge’s answer, Yao Yao couldn’t help but break into a smile.
And soon, Gu Changge brought her all the way back to the Gu Family.
Seeing Gu Changge leading a little girl and swiftly vanishing from sight,
the clansmen patrolling the mountain gate couldn’t help but look at each other in bewilderment, completely baffled.
“When did the Young Master leave the mountain gate?”
“No idea.”
“Why did he bring a little girl back this time?”
“What exactly is this little girl’s identity, that she’s worth the Young Master treating her like this?”
They were quite shocked. The news Gu Changge had released to the outside world during this period was that he was in seclusion, but clearly, he had not been.
Instead, at some point, he had quietly slipped away and gone somewhere else.
However, as servants, they didn’t dare ask — they were merely curious.
And soon, many Gu Family clansmen noticed that Gu Changge, who had claimed to be in seclusion, had appeared, with a little girl at his side.
This left many clansmen astonished.
There were all sorts of speculations about the little girl’s identity, but no one dared suggest she was Gu Changge’s daughter or anything of the sort.
She looked more like a little follower he’d taken in?
As for a disciple or the like, no one even thought in that direction — how old was Gu Changge, after all!
How could he possibly take on a disciple?
Gu Changge actually wasn’t surprised by the clansmen’s thoughts.
After all, unlike last time when he left while hiding it from everyone,
this time he entered directly through the mountain gate, so naturally he drew attention.
He also didn’t want to sneak back quietly and let Yao Yao misunderstand something, thinking he was afraid of letting the clansmen notice her existence.
A little girl’s mind could easily spiral into wild thoughts over the smallest detail.
Soon, Gu Changge brought her back to the Godly Island where he resided, then instructed the maids to arrange Yao Yao’s living quarters.
After all, he couldn’t have the little girl continue living together with him.
Yao Yao was very obedient too, following the pretty big sister before her toward the place where she would usually stay.
Arriving at the mountain gate of the Longevity Gu Family and seeing the sights within had already left her incredibly astonished.
It was the first time she realized a power could be like this — like a great world exclusively carved out for itself.
Vast and boundless, with myriad magnificent phenomena.
“Big sister...”
But then, the very first words Yao Yao spoke made the maid before her turn pale with fright, nearly collapsing limply to the ground.
“Little Ancestor, please don’t call me that. If anyone else hears it, I’ll be done for~.”
“You can just call me by my name...”
The maid’s face was deathly pale as she spoke with a slight tremble.
She could tell that Yao Yao’s identity was no simple matter — Gu Changge’s attitude toward her was very gentle, nothing at all like the usual cold, lofty Young Master who looked down upon everything.
As a maid, she had a decent understanding of Gu Changge’s temperament.
It was precisely because of this that she felt uneasy and afraid.
For Yao Yao to address her that way — in the Longevity Gu Family, where rules and hierarchy were incomparably strict — if someone with ill intentions reported it, she would inevitably face punishment.
“I’m sorry...”
Hearing this, Yao Yao quickly understood the meaning and felt a bit guilty.
But from this, she could also see just how terrifying the authority her Shifu wielded in the Beyond truly was.
His every word and action likely carried immense majesty — even something like a form of address could frighten someone to this degree.
Thinking of this, her admiration for Gu Changge grew even deeper.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after returning to his palace, Gu Changge summoned his confidant Ah Da and had him report on the various events that had occurred in the Beyond during this period.
“During this time, ancient beings discovered signs of the Absolute Yin Heaven and grew deeply unsettled. Thus, the various races and Daoist traditions deliberated and plan to jointly establish the True Immortal Academy, and during this period, prepare to launch the Plan to Create an Immortal.”
“They hope that in this era, someone can achieve Immortality and prevent the descent of the Absolute Yin Heaven...”
“Additionally, during this time, many ancient freaks and sealed ancient kings have emerged into the world; the curtains of a golden age have risen...”
“The children of Sky Emperor Ying of Sky Emperor Mountain, due to suspicion surrounding the Successor of Demonic Arts, have not left Sky Emperor Mountain this entire time. The other Successor of the Mortal Palace has also been traveling the lands, attempting to find the Reincarnation of the Mortal One...”
Soon, Ah Da arrived and respectfully reported everything that had happened during this period.
After listening, Gu Changge didn’t pay it much mind — everything was still within his control.
After all, to the outside world, he had claimed to be in seclusion.
So during this period, Gu Changge had seemingly vanished without a trace, with little news about him.
And without him stirring up trouble, Ying Shuang — who had been saddled with the title of Successor of Demonic Arts — didn’t dare show himself carelessly either.
The other ancient freaks and sealed young kings weren’t stupid either; they wouldn’t provoke him at a time like this.
Aside from the emergence of the Absolute Yin Heaven being slightly beyond Gu Changge’s expectations, everything else was still developing in the direction he wanted.
“Oh right, Young Master. Some time ago, an Ancient Imperial Princess — the daughter of Sky Emperor Ying of Sky Emperor Mountain — came to visit you. But she waited outside the mountain gate for a long time and finally left in a huff.”
Then, Ah Da spoke again, reporting an incident that had occurred right after Gu Changge left the Longevity Gu Family.
After all, that Ancient Imperial Princess had specifically named Gu Changge as the one she wished to visit.
But Gu Changge wasn’t there at the time, and without his word, who would dare entertain that Ancient Imperial Princess? Who knew what her purpose was?
So in the end, not a single person paid her any attention.
That Ancient Imperial Princess could only leave in a huff with her entourage.
“That should be Ying Shuang’s little sister, I suppose?”
Gu Changge was somewhat intrigued. He had a very clear grasp of the connections behind Ying Shuang, the current scapegoat.
Ying Shuang’s sister, Ying Yu — in his understanding — was a Young Prodigy with terrifying talent. In terms of strength, crushing the many Young Prodigies of today shouldn’t be a problem for her.
After all, she carried the bloodline of Sky Emperor Ying and had been sealed away until now.
So hearing that she had left, Gu Changge felt a bit of regret.
Because from the very start, he had planned to make his move through Ying Yu first.
It was just that due to his trip to the Heavenly Star Realm, the timing happened to miss.
That being the case, getting Ying Shuang — this former horse-feeding servant — to reveal his true colors would require some arrangements.
Gu Changge certainly wasn’t counting on the hat of “Successor of Demonic Arts” staying pinned on his head forever.
After all, the scheme back then had been quite crude; with just a bit of maneuvering and plotting, it could be resolved.
He figured Ying Yu had come to find him most likely for this very matter.
If he spoke up, the possibility of Ying Shuang clearing himself of suspicion as the Successor of Demonic Arts would be much greater.
“Aren’t they afraid I’ll only wash him blacker the more I try to clean him?”
Gu Changge couldn’t help letting out a derisive chuckle, appearing utterly unconcerned.
Although the Mortal One had now disappeared, that didn’t mean there was no risk of his identity being exposed.
Because besides the Mortal One, there were many ancient beings who were deeply taboo about — and deeply familiar with — the Successor of Demonic Arts.
Moreover, Young Prodigies like Jiang Chuchu, who possessed certain special talents, might also be able to perceive his true identity.
So Gu Changge definitely had to squeeze every drop of value out of Ying Shuang, and then go find a third scapegoat.
Then he waved for Ah Da to withdraw, and began pondering his next step — whether to first set to work on the matter of the Absolute Yin Heaven,
or to first deal with Ying Shuang, this Fortuitous One of the “expert’s-body-possession” variety.
After all, in the unseen workings of fate, some grand trend always seemed to appear, tossing him all sorts of fancy Fortuitous Ones to harvest like leeks.
Gu Changge didn’t even know what to say about it anymore.
“But before that, let me raise my strength first...”
Then, Gu Changge began sorting through and digesting the many gains from this trip to the Overworld.
The massive amount of Fortuity and Fatums was one aspect; beyond that, there was the gain of one disciple, Yao Yao.
The numerous divine objects dropped from killing the Reincarnation of the Mortal One were counted separately; next was the Nirvana Azure Lotus, which had raised his Physique to an extremely terrifying degree.
“My cultivation realm has now reached the Sacred Noble Realm, but my physical strength is estimated to be close to the Great Sacred level, and my divine soul is the same...”
Gu Changge estimated his true strength.
Because cultivation realm didn’t equal true combat power — he still had many Transcendent abilities, artifacts, and other means.
Which meant that even if he encountered a Perfect Prodigy, he now had ways to contend with one.
Of course, this referred to a Perfect Prodigy who had just stepped into that realm, at most at the first or second layer.
As for the surface-level realm of Skyward Ascension, Gu Changge kept it around the Quasi-Sacred Realm — not absurdly high, within a range everyone could accept.
Anyway, he could adjust his surface cultivation at any time through Fatums, so he wasn’t afraid of anyone with ulterior motives noticing anything unusual.
Then, Gu Changge continued to exchange Fortuity for ten Bones of Absolute Detachment.
A familiar, mysterious clear energy flowed through his limbs and bones.
Immediately after, his already extraordinarily resplendent bones burst forth with radiant light one after another, auspicious colors and divine glows, accompanied by waves of Dao sounds.
An indescribable, profound, and mysterious feeling spread out from between his bones.
This was the meaning of Absolute Detachment.
Gu Changge felt his comprehension of the laws and Great Dao behind the various divine abilities he had learned deepen considerably once more.
Cultivators of the same realm couldn’t catch up to him even if they whipped their horses to death.
...
At the same time, on another towering, magnificent Godly Island of the Longevity Gu Family.
Gu Xianer, dressed in a flowing wide-sleeved gown, was slowly coming back to herself from cultivation, exhaling a long breath.
Wisps of immortal Dao aura breathed in and out between her nose and mouth, slowly soaking into her body.
Between heaven and earth, strands of supreme Force of Law transformed into countless rays of rosy light.
Following her breathing, they continuously merged into her body, making her appear brimming with immortal intent and profound mystery.
Countless streams of Dao charm and spiritual essence also surged madly from all corners of the world, swallowed up by the inhalation and exhalation of her finishing breaths.
A crystalline bone brimming with immortal intent was radiating brilliance.
Its surface was filled with all manner of intricate laws, with strands of the Great Dao’s form firmly branded within.
Weng!!
The next moment, her cultivation abruptly shifted, breaking through to the Intermediate True Enlightened Realm — already surpassing many Young Prodigies older than her.
“Xianer’s strength has broken through again. How long has it even been since her last breakthrough?”
“I’m afraid it won’t be long before she catches up to Changge. This girl can endure hardship too — she’s even more diligent and hardworking than the other disciples.”
Several clan elders near the Godly Island, witnessing this scene, wore gratified smiles as they spoke, praising Gu Xianer.
And during this period, Gu Changge had claimed to be in seclusion, but had in truth vanished without a trace.
Gu Xianer had gone to find her parents and returned, discovering they were in no serious trouble, but couldn’t come back for the time being.
So she stayed with her parents for a while before returning to the clan and beginning to cultivate arduously.
Gu Changge’s painstaking care had been discovered by her.
After all, from her parents’ mouths, she had heard many things, learning that all along, there had been people searching for them in various places.
Under her careful unraveling of the threads, she discovered that those people were actually all connected to Gu Changge.
And she had barely returned to the clan when she heard news of her parents.
All these coincidences could only mean that Gu Changge had specially prepared and arranged it for her.
Yet Gu Changge had no intention of telling her any of this.
This left Gu Xianer both angry and moved — Gu Changge was the type who was cold-faced and stubborn-mouthed, but in truth, he considered more for others than anyone else.
Yet he simply refused to tell anyone, choosing to bear it all himself.
That was why he used this to spur himself on, making himself cultivate hard — because he worried that one day, when he could no longer suppress the Demonic Energy, he would kill her.
All this painstaking care left Gu Xianer not knowing what to say about Gu Changge.
Toward her concern, Gu Changge remained dismissive, unwilling to lower his lofty face.
And this was what angered Gu Xianer the most.
Back then by the Nirvana Pool, when Gu Changge struggled to suppress the Demonic Energy, the many things that happened still surfaced in her mind from time to time during this period.
Gu Xianer had discovered the hidden suffering Gu Changge had been desperately concealing all along, and her heart was truly a mixture of flavors.
She couldn’t help but feel heartache, guilt, and other emotions toward Gu Changge.
That was why Gu Xianer resolved not to let Gu Changge’s expectations down and to cultivate hard.
In addition, during this period, she had also been searching for ways, poring over all kinds of ancient texts, to see if she could resolve the matter of Gu Changge’s Demonic Energy.
At this moment, Gu Xianer finished her cultivation and was just about to get up.
A maid suddenly hurried over, quietly ran to her ear, and reported something with a very grave expression.
“What?! Ke!”
“After Gu Changge disappeared, he actually brought back a little girl?”
The moment Gu Xianer heard this, her incomparably beautiful face immediately showed astonishment, and an inexplicable discomfort faintly welled up in her heart.
Even her words carried an inexplicable sourness.
She was Gu Changge’s little sister, okay?!