The Longevity Gu Family's Heritage Shocks the World, Tang Wan's Terror and Dread
The Longevity Gu Family’s Heritage Shocks the World, Tang Wan’s Terror and Dread
As this elderly man—with a hale and hearty face, fluttering robes, and a vigorous, radiant spirit—stepped into the hall.
One could tell that in his youth, he must have possessed an extraordinary bearing. His entire being carried a transcendent air of being one with the Dao, as if he stood at the very center of the Dao itself.
The rhythm of the Dao flowed naturally around him, laws interweaving; as he walked, it seemed even heaven and earth merged with his breathing.
Even the old man who had just been puffing on a dry pipe like an old farmer stood up, appearing to hold considerable respect for him.
“Greetings, Ancestor.”
Within the great hall, Gu Lintian did not know which ancestor had arrived, but his words were quite deferential as he bowed in salute.
Besides Gu Lintian, there were quite a few clan elders of the Gu Family in the hall, hailing from the various branches of the Gu Family.
Their cultivation went without saying—the weakest among them was at the Sacred King Realm—and they had been discussing the matter of Purple Mansion.
To them, this was merely an insignificant, trifling little matter~.
If it weren’t for the fact that it involved Gu Changge, they probably wouldn’t have paid it much attention at all.
“Greetings, Ancestor.”
The assembled clan elders all bowed in turn.
Some were already speculating in their hearts about the identity of the ancestor who had entered the hall.
But the Gu Family simply had too many ancestors. Some ancestors had never been seen even once during the millions of years these elders had spent cultivating.
The ancestor before them was exactly such a case. Many clan elders found his face unfamiliar, yet none dared show the slightest disrespect.
One had to know that even they, beings of the Sacred Emperor Realm, felt deep trembling—a natural reverence welling up from the bottom of their hearts.
This could only mean that the cultivation of the ancestor before them had long since reached an unfathomable level.
“My name is Gu Lang.”
And while everyone was speculating, this ancestor spoke, wisps of chaotic mist curling even among the strands of his hair.
As if he had just crawled out of a graveyard, his voice carried a faint smile as he surveyed the juniors before him, somewhat satisfied.
“Sss!”
“Ancestor Lang! The one who nearly shattered Sky Emperor Shen’s Dao Heart back then...”
Hearing these words, all the Gu Family clan elders, Gu Lintian included, couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
Then, recovering himself, Gu Lintian stepped forward and cupped his hands slightly. “This junior is the current head of the Gu Family. Greetings, Eighteenth Ancestor!”
Even as the family head, his attitude was now far more respectful than before.
Gu Lang.
This man was none other than an ancestor of the very branch behind him.
His age could no longer be verified; no one even knew which era he belonged to.
His only recorded feat was from countless years ago, when he encountered Sky Emperor Shen of Sky Emperor Mountain.
During the era when Sky Emperor Shen ruled the world and commanded the various ancient races, his ambition swelled.
One day, riding a golden avenue of light, he descended before the mountain gate of the Longevity Gu Family, intending to provoke them and probe the depths of the Longevity Gu Family’s heritage.
As a result, before he could even step through the mountain gate, an ancestor of the Gu Family who had come out for some fresh air slapped him flying with a single palm.
This matter shocked the world at the time.
Naturally, it also became the greatest stain on the otherwise illustrious life of Sky Emperor Shen.
However, as time gradually passed, many of the Daoist lineages that had witnessed this event were buried and destroyed within the River of Time.
By now, very few cultivators or lineages knew of this secret history.
But within the Gu Family, any clansman who had studied even a little of the hidden ancient histories would know of this matter.
Of course, the people of Sky Emperor Mountain certainly knew as well. Otherwise, there would not have been that incident last time, when Ying Yu came to the Longevity Gu Family to visit Gu Changge, only to wait bitterly outside the mountain gate for half a month without seeing anyone, finally departing in a huff.
What ordinary Cult of Immortality or longevity lineage could make the personal daughter of Sky Emperor Ying of Sky Emperor Mountain act with such wariness?
“Not bad, not bad.”
“But Eighteenth Ancestor? That’s a title from how long ago? I’ve been slacking in my cultivation for a long time now—I’m afraid I couldn’t even rank as the Twentieth Ancestor anymore.”
Gu Lang was in a fine mood. Hearing this, he shook his head slightly and laughed.
He sensed the aura of his own branch upon Gu Lintian.
Judging by his cultivation, he was not far from achieving the Dao.
This gratified him greatly. In the past, the heads of the Gu Family at such an age had been far from possessing such cultivation.
This could only mean that Gu Lintian’s talent was excellent.
Hearing these words, the assembled clan elders in the hall felt even more ashamed. What did he mean, slacking in cultivation, unable to even rank as the Twentieth Ancestor?
Gu Lang was called the Eighteenth Ancestor because his strength ranked eighteenth among all the ancestors of the Gu Family.
And that was from a very, very long time ago. What level his cultivation had reached now, no one could say.
As mentioned before, the ancestors of the Longevity Gu Family rarely appeared in the world anymore. Setting aside those in the Immortal World—
Just the portion in the Beyond alone was already enough to leave the Gu Family’s people guessing and speculating.
“The matter of Purple Mansion—I am already aware of it. The sins of heaven may be survived, but the sins one brings upon oneself cannot be lived through. You need not concern yourselves with it. On the contrary, I am quite interested in that successor of our Gu Family...”
And just as everyone was speculating wildly.
Gu Lang spoke again, his gaze profound, within which countless terrifying visions surfaced—dust of myriad ages, the annihilation of past and present alike.
It seemed as though in an instant he had pierced through countless spaces, his gaze falling upon the territory of Purple Mansion.
His words were even more direct. In truth, he cared little for a trifling matter like Purple Mansion.
Before walking out of the graveyard and arriving at this great hall, he had already discerned the many events that had occurred within the Longevity Gu Family during this period.
Matters great and small—he was interested in none of them.
The entire Gu Family, under the governance of the juniors, was in perfect order and flourishing beyond measure.
However, toward that successor Gu Changge, who had nearly caused internal strife within the family, he had developed considerable interest.
Speaking of which, this was a junior of his own branch, yet he was so ruthless—at such a young age, he had moved against his own cousin, digging out her Daoist Bone.
Although his subsequent remedial measures could not be called brilliant, they had more or less resolved the matter at its root.
Hearing of this matter actually made Gu Zesheng suddenly want very much to meet this junior.
Of course, he would not blame Gu Changge for anything. The affairs of juniors should be left to the juniors to resolve. He was purely interested, that was all.
“Changge is currently in the Black Tortoise Empire, preparing to crusade against Purple Mansion. If the Eighteenth Ancestor wishes to see him, I shall send word at once for him to return to the family.”
“The matter of Purple Mansion shouldn’t take up much of his time.”
Gu Lintian said upon hearing this.
After all, it was rare for an ancestor to emerge even once. If the ancestor took a liking to him, anything that slipped through the cracks of his fingers would be enough to benefit these juniors enormously.
Although Gu Changge’s talent was formidable, he was ultimately still a junior. They were all well aware of the various rumors circulating outside.
Contending against a Perfect Prodigy.
Honestly, it had left even him, as a father, stunned for quite a while. He had never imagined Gu Changge’s hidden strength was so terrifying.
Of course, what he felt more was delight and gratification.
Some of Gu Changge’s plans during this period had actually been explained quite clearly in his Communication Runes.
For this crusade against Purple Mansion, there was actually no need for the Longevity Gu Family to intervene at all.
Relying on his own power alone, Gu Changge could handle it with ease.
Moreover, Gu Qingyi was now by his side. With her cultivation, even other ancient existences would have to weigh their options carefully before making a move against Gu Changge.
Therefore, Gu Lintian was not particularly worried about Gu Changge.
“Based on the word Qingyi has sent back, Changge has obtained quite a few fortuitous encounters during this period, and his cultivation has advanced rapidly. This crusade against Purple Mansion can serve nicely as his tempering.”
Furthermore, Gu Lintian felt deep admiration for this sworn younger sister of his; he could no longer see through her cultivation at all.
He still remembered when Gu Qingyi first emerged into the world—she had looked like a little girl of only seven or eight years old. Yet in the blink of an eye, her cultivation had become unfathomable, leaving even him, her sworn elder brother, feeling somewhat ashamed.
“Oh? In that case, there’s no need. I’ve come out this time and can take the opportunity to visit some old friends. I won’t be going into seclusion anytime soon. Then let us wait for this little fellow’s good news.”
Hearing these words, Gu Lang merely waved his hand and smiled faintly, having no intention of summoning Gu Changge back.
Doing so might very well interfere with Gu Changge’s plans.
Toward a junior like this—courageous and resourceful, ruthless and forceful in his methods—he was actually quite appreciative and did not wish to meddle excessively.
And after saying these words, Gu Lang said nothing more. His figure flickered, and he had already vanished from the great hall.
At his level, a single thought could traverse hundreds of millions of miles. It was but an instant, yet he might well have already arrived at some immeasurably distant place.
“Judging from what is recorded in the legends, the Eighteenth Ancestor’s temperament is exactly like this. Though he says he doesn’t intend to interfere, in truth, his venerable self has most likely already rushed off toward Purple Mansion at this very moment.”
“If Purple Mansion lacks some powerful heritage of its own, I’m afraid it won’t even last until Changge’s troops arrive...”
Seeing Gu Lang disappear, one clan elder revealed a wry smile.
“Who would have thought this matter would alarm the Eighteenth Ancestor? If his venerable self takes action, then Purple Mansion truly won’t be able to stir up any waves.”
The many clan elders discussed among themselves, but their words were filled with boundless admiration for the Eighteenth Ancestor.
Moreover, from today’s words, one could also see that the Eighteenth Ancestor likely held Gu Changge in high regard.
Thinking of this, the various clan elders looked toward Gu Lintian, their gazes gleaming.
“Family Head, for this crusade against Purple Mansion, our Gu Family shall dispatch five Nirvana Realm experts and ten Sacred Emperor Realm experts to assist the Young Master. What do you think?”
Before this, they had all heard Gu Changge’s message and knew of his intentions—that there was no need for the Longevity Gu Family to intervene.
Gu Changge intended to use this to temper that army of his on the Celestial Ancient Continent.
But now even the Eighteenth Ancestor had rushed over.
The Longevity Gu Family could hardly let the ancestor take action while the juniors stood by and watched the show, could they?
Gu Lintian nodded upon hearing this. “Then so be it. However, in this great battle, Sky Emperor Mountain, the Ancient Ye Family, and the Endless Fire Kingdom have already rushed over. At most, we’ll only be there to hold down the fort.”
Five Nirvana Realm experts.
But to be precise, it should be two Nirvana Realm experts and three Quasi-Nirvana Realm experts.
Only after breaking through to the peak of the Ninth Heaven of the Sacred Emperor Realm could one step into the ranks of the Nirvana Realm.
Those who had just entered the Nirvana Realm were, in the current Beyond, generally called Quasi-Nirvana.
After the Quasi-Nirvana Realm, cultivators began their Nirvana of the Dao.
If the Nirvana of the Dao succeeded, they were called Nirvana Realm—also commonly known as True Daoists.
Those were true emperors, rampaging across the universe, invincible throughout the cosmos, with scarcely a match to be found in all the heavens and earth.
Among the many Overworlds subordinate to the Beyond, only worlds with a complete Heavenly Path could give birth to a Heavenly Path Mark. Fusing with a Heavenly Path Mark, one could achieve Nirvana.
But in the Beyond, there were no such restrictions, for the completeness of its Heavenly Path encompassed countless Overworlds.
A cultivator need only break through to the Quasi-Nirvana Realm and then succeed in the Nirvana of the Dao to achieve Nirvana.
That is why, within a single epoch, so many prodigies could break through and achieve the Dao all at once.
In order to better distinguish between those who had achieved the Dao and those who had not, the various orthodoxies coined the term Quasi-Nirvana Realm.
Below the Enlightenment Realm: the Enlightenment Realm, the Sacred Realm, the Sacred Emperor Realm, the Nirvana Realm, and beyond that, the Celestial Realm.
These were the six great realms known to all in the Beyond.
Soon after, decree after decree was sent out, shaking every region. The upper echelons of the Gu Family began mobilizing experts from all territories, preparing to crusade against the Purple Mansion.
“The Purple Mansion truly doesn’t know life from death!”
Atop divine peaks and immortal mountains, one terrifying expert after another snorted coldly and began donning their armor, their blood qi surging forth from the crowns of their heads like True Dragons.
At the same time, ancient war horns sounded—forged from the true horns of various fearsome vicious beasts—their reverberations calling the Unrivalled Guards of the Gu Family to descend.
Boom!
Brilliant gates of light pierced open one after another. Immortal music spread, immortal mist billowed, as though connecting to another world entirely.
Figures in immortal armor, mounted upon ancient pure-blooded vicious beasts, strode forth. Their killing intent soared to the heavens, shaking the firmament, their auras glacial.
Every single one of them wore battle armor gleaming with immortal light, as if tempered through countless wars. Their gazes were like heavenly blades, setting the void itself trembling.
Without a doubt, this was an invincible army of the Longevity Gu Family.
Ordinarily, they cultivated and slaughtered enemies within other worlds, honing their combat strength—but when war erupted, they would charge at the very frontlines.
In other directions, more portals swung open.
Divine light flickered in and out of sight, momentum towering to the heavens, as soldiers began pouring forth, mounted upon all manner of terrifying vicious beasts, like thousands upon thousands of galloping horses.
At the same time, the sky itself trembled.
Domain-Breaking Ancient Battleships tore through from the various minor worlds, their hulls stained with blood, wreathed in Chaos Energy and immortal mist, carrying matchless divine might.
“By the decree—crusade against the Purple Mansion!”
Throughout the boundless territories of the Longevity Gu Family, countless vassal forces were shaken. Without the slightest hesitation, they began assembling their strongest forces.
Their faith in the Longevity Gu Family was absolute and fervent.
Battle arks and war beasts converged into a vast, terrifying force, arrayed beneath the starry sky.
Their numbers reached into the hundreds of millions!
And the upheaval on the Longevity Gu Family’s side immediately jolted the many orthodoxies and powers who had been closely watching the situation.
Many orthodoxies had wanted to know just how deep the Longevity Gu Family’s foundations ran, and what stance they would take toward this war.
After all, forces like Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom had already set out, slaughtering their way toward the Purple Mansion’s territory.
Yet the Longevity Gu Family had shown no movement for a long time.
This led many to suspect—could it be that the Longevity Gu Family truly didn’t intend to get involved?
But very soon, the sky-piercing turbulence here stunned everyone.
They watched as Domain-Breaking Ancient Battleships—immensely vast and ancient, each like a continent unto itself—surged forth from the Longevity Gu Family’s territory.
Carrying thick Chaos Energy and immortal mist, they tore directly through space, their momentum grand and overwhelming, shaking the very heavens.
Beyond that, countless Unrivalled Guards radiant with divine light charged out, mounted upon all manner of terrifying vicious beasts, their killing intent blotting out the sky and sun.
As for the forces of the vassal powers—there was no need to even mention them.
Like a plague of locusts, they blotted out the heavens, a boundless, endless dark cloud with no visible edge.
Between heaven and earth, only an infinite darkness cast its shadow down, black clouds pressing upon the city, descending straight toward the Purple Mansion’s territory.
“Raze the Purple Mansion!”
“Exalt the Young Master’s might!”
The terrifying clamor echoed beneath the starry sky, nearly enough to split the heavens apart.
This sight instantly silenced all the orthodoxies that had previously harbored doubts and speculation, leaving them utterly horrified.
To put it bluntly, this display alone was enough to make countless orthodoxies tremble with fear.
0····Seeking flowers·····
Compared to the armies dispatched by Sky Emperor Mountain, the Endless Fire Kingdom, and the other powers, this was more than several times more terrifying.
Moreover, spies from many orthodoxies noticed that the Longevity Gu Family had simultaneously dispatched at least ten Sacred Emperor Realm beings, their auras suppressing the very sky, so heart-palpitating that one couldn’t help but want to prostrate oneself.
And among them, there wasn’t even a single Perfect Prodigy.
One must know—Sky Emperor Mountain had sent three Sacred Emperors, and the Ancient Ye Family likewise sent three.
Among the various orthodoxies, that was already considered an unmatchable force. The rarity of Sacred Emperors was no exaggeration.
Even the True Immortal Academy of today knew of only a dozen or so Sacred Emperors in total!
Yet the Longevity Gu Family had sent out a full ten!
This was a statement of attitude—and a display of terrifying depth!
The Purple Mansion had sent a single Sacred Emperor to rescue their successor?
Very well—today, my Longevity Gu Family shall send ten!
This left the various powers trembling to their very cores.
They knew the Longevity Clans possessed terrifying, unfathomable foundations, having stood unshaken since the most ancient times of the Celestial Domain—beyond imagination.
And now, many orthodoxies couldn’t help but ask themselves: if this force were to suddenly descend upon their own territories, could they withstand it?
Aside from those orthodoxies that had existed since before the Forbidden Epoch, there was likely no one who could!
At this thought, they couldn’t suppress a shudder. Before this, many orthodoxies had speculated about the depth of the Longevity Gu Family’s foundations, wondering by what means they had stood eternal.
And now, they finally understood part of the reason!
Then, one Domain-Breaking Ancient Battleship after another—draped in Chaos Energy and immortal mist—roared as they smashed through the firmament, bearing upon them the blood of ancient supreme beings.
Gates of light opened one after another, from which charged knights and war soldiers with sky-piercing momentum, numbering in the thousands and tens of thousands.
Their immortal armor gleamed brilliantly, as though tempered through endless slaughter.
Hot-tempered experts one after another had blood qi erupting from the crowns of their heads, piercing the sky.
Each one like a burly giant, wielding weapons of every kind, mounted upon pure-blooded vicious beasts, they strode into the gates of light!
“Kill!”
“Today we raze the Purple Mansion!”
“Exalt the might of our Longevity Gu Family!”
The ancient battleships, archaic and towering, roared across the firmament, smashing open the horizon, forcibly carving out Space Tunnels.
That immortal might was simply too vast—beyond imagination—suppressing the souls of countless Cultivators until they trembled, unable to keep from falling to their knees.
.............
Moreover, some Cultivators seemed to notice that, besides the Sacred Emperors, the Longevity Gu Family had also dispatched Nirvana Realm existences!
Nirvana Realm beings—those were practically invincible existences who suppressed the very foundations of a power!
In the current Beyond, where the Celestial Realm did not manifest, the Nirvana Realm represented invincibility!
For a moment, everyone’s scalps went numb.
And then, after the Longevity Gu Family dispatched its grand army, in a far distant land—
The territory of the Primal Celestial Temple also saw ancient battleships charging forth, vast and mighty, carrying boundless killing intent, splitting the very sky!
The eyes of the entire Beyond were drawn in by this war.
Many orthodoxies and powers also sent experts rushing toward the Purple Mansion at once—not to participate, but unwilling to miss this terrifying great battle.
At this point, how could the Purple Mansion possibly hold out?
Yet because of this, Gu Changge of the Black Tortoise Empire found himself quite at leisure instead—most Cultivators had turned their attention to the Purple Mansion.
Far fewer people were paying attention to his side.
This made Gu Changge feel that some of his schemes might have been overthinking things.
He wouldn’t even need to lift a finger—with this force alone, the Purple Mansion was already in dire straits. Resist? That was simply impossible.
Only, this way, his opportunity to test that army from the Celestial Ancient Continent would be gone.
With the Purple Mansion as a cautionary precedent, which orthodoxy would dare let themselves be schemed against by him like this in the future?
At this moment, within the courtyard, several stalks of emerald bamboo rustled softly, lending the place a serene and elegant air.
Gu Changge’s robes were spotless, untouched by dust, while Ji Qingxuan ground ink beside him.
He, meanwhile, was writing something with a measure of leisurely interest.
Tang Wan wore a plain gauze dress, her features gentle and lovely, free of powder and rouge, her figure graceful as she stood before him, somewhat respectful and uneasy.
In truth, her heart was far from as calm as she appeared on the surface.
The more she learned, the more she felt Gu Changge’s terror.
Earlier, Tang Wan had consulted ancient records and guessed that Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts.
Now, it seemed that guess was very likely true.
While the entire Beyond was in an uproar over his actions, while the Purple Mansion teetered on the brink of annihilation by the combined orthodoxies—the man at the center of it all was here, leisurely practicing calligraphy.
Tranquil and unperturbed, exuding an air of one detached from worldly affairs.
Such an enormous contrast made Tang Wan’s heart quake—she was terrified to the extreme.
“Alright. This character really is hard to write.”
At that moment, Gu Changge smiled faintly and set down the brush in his hand.
“Gongzi’s calligraphy is truly beautiful.”
A strange light rippled through Ji Qingxuan’s beautiful eyes.
The character “Kill” should have brimmed with the grim, iron-blooded aura of war, yet under Gu Changge’s brush, it carried an otherworldly immortal grace—as though this single character could halt all warfare.
But upon closer inspection, one would discover that the character contained supreme profundities.
The character “Kill” could tear free from the paper at any moment, transforming into iron-blooded weapons of war, slaughtering all before it!
Such a realm left her in boundless admiration.
“You little flatterer.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge chuckled, then finally turned to look at Tang Wan, who had been waiting for him for quite some time.
“Greetings, Master.”
Now, before Gu Changge, Tang Wan no longer dared show the stubborn defiance she once had. She was deeply fearful and uneasy.
Because she worried that after the Purple Mansion, the Tang Family behind her would become the second Purple Mansion, following in its footsteps.
Though the Purple Mansion had not yet fallen, in her eyes, that day was not far off.
Even if Chu Hao took over as the future leader of the Supreme Cave Heaven, facing Gu Changge, there was only one road for him—death.
Never mind Gu Changge’s hidden strength—the methods he had already displayed openly were more than enough to chill one’s heart.
Before this, though Tang Wan had known the Gu Family was powerful, she had never imagined it could be powerful to such a terrifying degree.
Now, the situation of the entire Beyond was shifting because of the army the Longevity Gu Family had dispatched.
“During this time, Chu Hao seems to still be discussing plans to move against me...”
“I said before—if he doesn’t provoke me, I really can’t be bothered to act against him. Crushing him would be far easier for me than destroying the Purple Mansion.”
Gu Changge lifted his eyes and glanced at her with a smile, his manner warm as jade, like a spring breeze.
Hearing this, Tang Wan’s face paled slightly, a chill creeping up her back. She had no idea how Gu Changge had learned of this matter.
But what he said was true.
During this time, Chu Hao indeed had not taken her advice to heart.
On the contrary, he was still planning to move against Gu Changge, refusing to give up, determined to avenge the humiliation of that day.
Her voice couldn’t help but tremble, her fear barely containable.
“I’ve already tried to dissuade Chu Hao. Master, could you give me a little more time...”