How Could He Bear to Hurt Her? What a Ruthless Scheme
How Could He Bear to Hurt Her? What a Ruthless Scheme
A ripple spread through the void, and immediately a terrifying aura surged forth like a boundless ocean, more like an entire Astral River crashing down upon the mortal world.
Countless runes and rules of order interwove as a figure strode out, striking with overwhelming force, carrying icy killing intent and fury.
Around his body emerged the countless Principles of Dao he had mastered and comprehended, swirling about him as if submitting to him, as if bowing in worship, as though facing a young, supreme deity.
The place instantly erupted.
A colossal palm print materialized in the void, carrying the force of billions of jun, as if it could suppress eternity itself—domineering to the absolute extreme.
It descended from the high heavens, instantly slamming into the caught-off-guard Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.
Though he reacted quickly, his expression changing drastically as he tried to resist, the power contained within this palm was simply too immense.
Even though he wore a treasure robe capable of withstanding attacks at the Sacred Lord Realm, he still could not endure this single strike.
After resisting for but an instant, cracks appeared across the treasure robe before it exploded into a sky full of divine light.
His physique was like an egg striking a stone—utterly fragile. With a crack, every bone in his body shattered.
His five organs split apart, his entire body burst open, blood dripping everywhere, his form no longer recognizable as human.
“Gu Changge!”
Seeing who had arrived, Heavenly Monarch Ziyang let out a low, furious roar.
At the same time, the heart-piercing pain contorted his face into something utterly hideous.
He had never imagined that at this moment, Gu Changge would suddenly appear and launch a strike as forceful as thunder, severely wounding him in a single blow.
His divine soul transformed into divine light, sweeping up his broken body as he hastily fled to the other side, seeking to reconstruct his form.
Though Heavenly Monarch Ziyang harbored boundless hatred for Gu Changge,
he also knew his own limits—he knew he was no match for him. He feared that Gu Changge would seize this opportunity to strike directly, destroying him body and soul before the experts of Purple Mansion could arrive to support him.
In the void, Gu Changge’s figure stood tall, robes fluttering, his gaze calm and profound, but filled even more with coldness and killing intent.
Hearing the roar, he did not respond. Instead, he looked toward the other side, at Gu Xianer, who was staring blankly at him, and sighed softly. “How could you be so reckless? You found Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s whereabouts and didn’t even send me a message?”
Though it was a reproach, his words could not conceal his concern and worry.
In truth, before Gu Xianer had rushed to this place, Gu Changge had already found it.
He simply had not revealed himself, waiting for Qin Wuya to appear, wanting to see what methods he possessed.
Afterward, he had personally witnessed the entire process of Qin Wuya scheming to lure Gu Xianer here.
Including the two of them laying their cards bare before Gu Xianer, explaining everything about their past lives, and Heavenly Monarch Ziyang exposing his identity as the Successor of Demonic Arts.
Gu Changge had watched all of this, but he had not intervened, nor had he shown himself.
Then, Gu Xianer’s actions had surprised him somewhat, but more than that, they left him dazed and sighing.
Especially after witnessing that miserable vision of the future, Gu Xianer had actually said that if it came to that, she would be willing.
This left Gu Changge silent for a time, not knowing what to say—should he call her stupid, or scold her for being naive?
Of course, he also suspected that the scene Heavenly Monarch Ziyang had witnessed was actually something from the timeline Yue Mingkong had experienced.
In this life, at most he would bully Gu Xianer a little—how could he ever bear to hurt her?
However, hearing Gu Changge’s words, Gu Xianer did not answer. She continued staring blankly at him, her usually cool and captivating eyes seeming to have lost their luster.
She didn’t even wipe away the blood at the corner of her mouth.
“Gu Changge, how did you find this place?”
At this moment, it was Qin Wuya who shouted coldly, deeply apprehensive. His figure flashed as he appeared before Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, intending to protect him and guard against Gu Changge striking again.
He was certain Gu Xianer had not sent any message to Gu Changge.
So how had Gu Changge found this place? And just how long had he been hiding in the shadows?
This made a terrifying chill crawl up Qin Wuya’s back. In other words, everything they had just said, Gu Changge had heard it all—including their origins and their relationship?
This was their greatest secret, one they had never told anyone besides each other.
They had told Gu Xianer today only because if she refused to comply, they would ultimately strike by force, suppress her, and force her to drink the water of the Lake of Reincarnation.
So they had not worried about her revealing it.
“This is all thanks to you. If you hadn’t led the way for me, how would I have found this place?”
“Speaking of which, I really should thank you properly.”
Gu Changge smiled casually, his figure descending from the high heavens as he strolled forward.
He knew what Qin Wuya was worried about, but at this point, Gu Changge no longer cared.
“You left a mark on me? Impossible. I examined myself thoroughly back then and found no mark at all.”
Qin Wuya’s voice was dark, unable to believe it.
“If even you could discover it, then what would be the point of me setting it up?”
Gu Changge wore a light smile.
Qin Wuya’s expression grew even darker. He was now certain Gu Changge had done something to him.
So back then, Gu Changge had deliberately let him go, and had even used some method unknown to him to leave a brand-like mark on his body, using it to track him here.
Besides this possibility, he could think of no other.
The chill on his back deepened.
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, who was recovering from his injuries, also turned pale at these words. He had never imagined that the one who would ultimately expose his whereabouts would be his own senior brother.
“Junior brother, this is my fault. I never thought I would end up leading Gu Changge here.”
Qin Wuya looked at Heavenly Monarch Ziyang with some apology.
If he had been more careful, Heavenly Monarch Ziyang would not have been so severely wounded by Gu Changge, and who knew whether they could escape safely today.
“Senior brother, you needn’t blame yourself. Gu Changge is cunning and full of tricks—who could have imagined he would do something like this?”
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang took a deep breath and calmed down as well, showing no intention of blaming Qin Wuya.
At this point, they could only face Gu Changge head-on.
Weng!!
The next moment, purple mist surged majestically from his body, seeping out from every inch of his broken flesh and blood.
Finally, it transformed into chains of divine radiance, reconnecting his wounded body, his injuries healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Such a method naturally came at no small cost—it required consuming his Source.
Even for Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, this was true, because he needed to restore himself to peak condition in a short time. Only then would he have the strength to contend with Gu Changge.
Soon, his complexion improved.
Within his bloodline, a mysterious fluctuation emerged, transforming into ancient and profound divine runes that shifted and swirled, gathering matchless power.
“Junior brother...”
Qin Wuya recognized this secret technique, and his expression grew grave.
For this secret art did not belong to this life—it was a forbidden secret technique of the Borderless Sect of old.
It could never be used except at the most critical moment, for it not only burned one’s Source but also burned one’s lifespan.
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s face aged at a speed visible to the naked eye, and streaks of white appeared in his hair.
“Senior brother, you needn’t persuade me. No matter what happens today, I will subdue this demon! Not just for Xianer shimei, but for all living beings under heaven—the Successor of Demonic Arts must be executed by all!”
“Gu Changge has lost all conscience and committed every evil imaginable. Sooner or later, he will suffer retribution.”
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s expression was resolute, his righteous aura awe-inspiring, his words ringing with force, containing unimaginable power.
At this moment, even he did not know why, but a surge of righteousness welled up within him.
There was a righteous path in this world, and it would never permit this demon to run rampant and bring calamity upon the realms.
“Even at a time like this, you still don’t forget to frame and slander me?”
“Xianer may be a bit foolish, but to think you could provoke her with words like these—aren’t you underestimating her?”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, having already walked to Gu Xianer’s side, paying no mind whatsoever to Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s words.
“Gu Changge...”
Gu Xianer seemed to come back to her senses, still staring blankly at him.
Gu Changge gently wiped away the blood at the corner of her mouth, his eyes fixed on hers. “You only need to remember one thing—no matter when, I will never hurt you.”
Gu Xianer froze at his words. She actually wanted very much to ask Gu Changge whether what Heavenly Monarch Ziyang and Qin Wuya had said was true or false, whether he really was the Successor of Demonic Arts.
But since Gu Changge had spoken thus, she didn’t know how to bring it up.
Still, one thing was beyond doubt—she believed Gu Changge would never hurt her.
As for the scenes Heavenly Monarch Ziyang had shown her, in her view, they were meant to sow discord between her and Gu Changge. That was why she had been so angry earlier.
“Xianer shimei, don’t believe Gu Changge’s lies. To seize your Source, there is nothing he wouldn’t do.”
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang snorted coldly. By now he was no longer as furious as before, having calmed down.
After all, Gu Xianer had already been deceived by Gu Changge until she was spinning in circles, unable to tell east from west. He couldn’t blame her for that.
However, this debt would be settled on Gu Changge’s head.
“Junior brother, no need to waste words on him. Today, with the two of us joining forces, it’s not certain we have no chance.”
Qin Wuya said with a cold gaze. He was decisive, without hesitation, striking forward directly—immensely forceful and sharp.
The injuries he had spoken of earlier were naturally a ruse to deceive Gu Xianer.
His actual condition was excellent; he had not been seriously wounded at all that night.
In the void, divine runes instantly flickered, radiance dazzling, all formed of various Principles of Dao, order condensing and interweaving—utterly terrifying.
“You don’t need to act. Leave these two to me. As for Qing Xiaoyi’s whereabouts, I will find them as well.”
A strange light flickered in Gu Changge’s eyes as he glanced at Gu Xianer.
Then, without waiting for her answer, his figure flashed, appearing in the high heavens as he began exchanging blows with Qin Wuya.
Chi!!
With a raise of his hand, he unleashed a divine rainbow, incomparably brilliant, like a strand of Sword Qi falling from beyond the heavens—unimaginably sharp, capable of striking down anything.
Immediately after, Heavenly Monarch Ziyang also struck at Gu Changge without hesitation. Vast purple qi surged like an Astral River, blotting out the sky, endless and boundless.
There it evolved into all manner of profundities, condensing into various divine weapons—blades, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—all attacking Gu Changge in unison to counter his strike.
Dong!
Heaven and earth shook violently, emitting a terrifying sound. The aftershock alone caused countless mountain ranges to collapse simultaneously, turning to ash.
For a time, laws interwove here, mountains quaked, and chains of order pierced through the void, as if they could punch through heaven and earth itself.
Then, golden mist appeared above the firmament. Gu Changge condensed his Dharma Body, golden light surging, a full ten million zhang tall.
He was incomparably domineering. A giant hand reached out, blotting out the sky, and the entire place instantly boiled over.
Hong!
Qin Wuya was very confident in his own strength. The moment he struck, he displayed battle power at the Perfect Prodigy level, transforming into a divine mountain, incomparably solid and towering, like a divine object from the Nine Heavens.
But facing Gu Changge’s palm, the divine mountain collapsed directly, unable to resist for even a moment.
Qin Wuya’s body shook violently, then he spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward.
“You still won’t admit it—you were never injured at all.”
He was utterly shocked and horrified. The strength Gu Changge now displayed was several times greater than that night at the residence, and even more domineering and terrifying.
“Injured? No, it’s simply that you’re all too weak.”
Gu Changge laughed casually, walking through the void as if strolling in a leisurely courtyard, utterly at ease.
Another palm descended. Chaotic mist spread, golden divine script cascading down, incomparably solid, like the palm of a Supreme Ruler, sending Heavenly Monarch Ziyang flying backward as blood gushed from his mouth.
His body nearly exploded. He crashed to the ground, unable to get up for a long while.
Though Heavenly Monarch Ziyang had used a Forbidden Technique, before Gu Changge he still could not withstand even a single palm. His body was tattered and broken, covered in blood.
He coughed up blood again, fragments of shattered organs mixed within—his injuries were severe.
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s expression was ugly. He hastily took out sacred medicines and pills, stuffing them all into his mouth at once, and only then did his injuries improve somewhat.
“Senior brother...”
He had never imagined that even with the two of them joining forces, they would still be no match for Gu Changge.
Hadn’t his senior brother said before that he had a fifty percent chance against Gu Changge?
“I didn’t expect his current strength to have reached this level either. Gu Changge has hidden himself far too deeply.”
Qin Wuya knew what Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was thinking. His expression grew darker, worry rising in his heart.
Under these circumstances, if Gu Changge wanted to kill Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, it would be effortless.
Though he still had many methods yet unused, he had too many misgivings.
Back when he had strayed into the Nine Heavens, he had obtained quite a few divine objects and learned many things.
But once those methods were used, they could very likely bring unimaginable consequences.
If objects of the Nine Heavens manifested in the Beyond and word got out, his fate would be no better than that of the Successor of Demonic Arts.
A common man is innocent, but treasuring a jade invites disaster—Qin Wuya understood this principle all too well.
Then, Gu Changge’s expression calm and indifferent, he struck again, his great palm sweeping across, slamming down from the firmament.
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was sent flying again and again, vomiting blood, his whole body covered in wounds. His bones healed only to break again, his organs shattered—his entire person broken beyond recognition.
At this point, even with all the sacred medicines and pills on him, he could hardly recover, because Gu Changge gave him no time at all.
“Gu Changge, stop!”
Qin Wuya’s eyes nearly split with rage, his fury boundless.
Though he struck from the side, trying to hold Gu Changge back, there was still no opportunity, even after displaying his strongest methods.
Gu Changge’s response was even simpler—he directly brought out the Great Seal of Mountains and Rivers. The might of a Sacred Emperor Realm artifact rose and fell, the Great Dao-like aura rumbling as it crushed across the firmament, leaving Qin Wuya gritting his teeth, utterly unable to intervene.
He employed numerous methods, yet still coughed blood, unable to match it.
Then, gritting his teeth, he brought out an ancient treasure, gleaming snow-white, like an ancient scale, its surface densely covered with all manner of archaic, natural Dao patterns.
The instant this scale appeared, it tore through the void, manifesting directly, as if to recreate the supreme creature of old.
Hu hu hu!
Between heaven and earth, a strange sound suddenly arose. This scale was extraordinarily bizarre—the patterns upon it seemed to come alive, all blazing with brilliant light.
Finally, it transformed into a strange beast with a dragon’s head and an ox’s body, wreathed in purple thunder. It roared toward the sky, a roar that seemed capable of shattering even the sun and moon.
Facing such power, even the Great Seal of Mountains and Rivers seemed affected.
A terrifying wind, accompanied by the rumbling of the Great Dao, deafening, blew in from all eight directions of heaven and earth, as if it could shred even a person’s divine soul.
“An object of the Nine Heavens?”
Gu Changge’s gaze fell upon that scale, somewhat intrigued. With the power of a single scale alone, it could contend against a Sacred Emperor Realm artifact.
Then how strong must this strange beast have been at its peak?
However, he paid it no further mind. After bringing out the Great Seal of Mountains and Rivers, he attacked Qin Wuya directly while simultaneously striking to suppress and kill Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.
Gu Changge did not intend to kill Heavenly Monarch Ziyang just yet. He was still waiting—beat the young one and the old ones would come. The experts of Purple Mansion had yet to arrive, so Heavenly Monarch Ziyang could not die.
“Doesn’t the usual script go that just when someone’s about to be beaten to death, an elder jumps out shouting ’stop’? Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, you’re nearly dead, yet the Purple Mansion experts still haven’t arrived.”
“Are they planning to abandon you?”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, paying no heed to Qin Wuya behind him, who was struggling against the Great Seal of Mountains and Rivers.
He slammed down another palm, this time directly suppressing Heavenly Monarch Ziyang into the ground.
“Gu Changge!”
“If you kill me, Purple Mansion will never let this go!”
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was covered in blood, without a single intact bone in his body.
At this moment he could not help but roar, incomparably frightened and uneasy, terrified of being suppressed and killed here by Gu Changge.
“You colluded with the Successor of Demonic Arts, murdered disciples of the Immortal Academy, then conspired with your senior brother to kill Saintess Ziyan, attempting to pin the blame on me.”
“And at this point, you still want to argue? If Purple Mansion dares shelter you, then I’ll simply destroy it. What of it?”
Gu Changge’s smile remained as light as a breeze, without a ripple.
“Gu Changge, you’re spouting blood libel!”
Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was enraged, cursing loudly, incomparably furious.
His entire body glowed, incomparably translucent.
At the same time, Chaos Purple Qi surged, evolving the auras of chaos and primordial beginnings, seeking to resist Gu Changge.
But the gap between their strengths was simply too vast.
No matter how extraordinary the Chaos Dao Bone was, spewing five-colored auspicious light and circulating supreme rules, it still could not contend.
Soon, Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was sent flying, coughing blood, directly suppressed into the ground by Gu Changge.
Before long, the aura of the battle here spread outward. Divine lights of every color illuminated the firmament, instantly drawing the many cultivators and prodigies in the distance.
For a time, streak after streak of divine rainbow tore through the sky, rushing toward this place, all sensing that something momentous was happening here, not to be missed.
The disciples of the True Immortal Academy also hurried over quickly, riding divine rainbows, artifacts, mounts, and more, afraid of missing anything.
“It’s Heavenly Monarch Ziyang!”
“Young Master Changge has found Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s trail—the two of them are locked in a great battle!”
Soon, the arriving cultivators saw the scene from afar and could not help but shout out, incomparably shocked and excited.
The many cultivators behind them were equally stirred at these words, rushing over quickly to witness it all with their own eyes.
The King of Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, Ying Yu, and the others waiting outside the mountain range also heard the commotion here. With varying expressions, clouds and mist rose beneath their feet as they hurried over.
“Not good!”
“This place has been discovered.”
Seeing this scene, Qin Wuya’s expression changed drastically once again.
He was in the midst of contending against the might of the Sacred Emperor Realm artifact when he realized that the concealing Array Patterns of this place had, at some unknown point, been broken, causing the light here to shoot into the sky and draw all the distant cultivators over.
He knew this must be Gu Changge’s doing.
Gu Changge intended not only to expose their whereabouts, but also, before the eyes of every cultivator, to raise high the banner of justice and suppress and kill Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.
This made him shudder involuntarily.
What a ruthless scheme this was!