Diverting Disaster Eastward, Killing with a Borrowed Blade; The Immortal War and the Immortal Tribulation; A Scene of Despair
Diverting Disaster Eastward, Killing with a Borrowed Blade; The Immortal War and the Immortal Tribulation; A Scene of Despair
In the courtyard, a gentle breeze drifted through, making the emerald bamboo rustle softly.
The surroundings grew all the more serene and tranquil.
“Is that so?”
“But I feel like Chu Hao is still dead set on putting me to death. Is that my imagination, or is it Chu Hao’s arrogant confidence?”
“If I gave you time, how many days do you think would be appropriate? Or should I just do it myself? I’m actually someone who really hates trouble, but Chu Hao doesn’t seem to fall into that category.”
At the stone table, Gu Changge gently blew at the steam rising from his teacup, his gaze indifferent as he asked casually.
His words sounded utterly nonchalant, as if he didn’t take the matter to heart at all.
Ji Qingxuan’s beautiful, glass-like eyes revealed a trace of surprise.
She stood attentively at his side, obediently massaging his shoulders, long since perfectly suited to this role of a maidservant.
In her view, with Gu Changge’s status, how could he possibly care too much about Chu Hao?
He was saying this purely because being targeted and offended by an ant made him feel uncomfortable.
“Please give me a little more time, Master. Half a month at most. I will definitely make Chu Hao understand everything and make him give up.”
“Chu Hao doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. For the ways he has offended you, Master, I beg you to be magnanimous and not take it to heart.”
Tang Wan’s voice trembled, her eyes filled with utter terror—she was clearly frightened to the extreme.
From the meaning behind Gu Changge’s words, could it be that he intended to make a move against Chu Hao?
She didn’t dare imagine—if Gu Changge truly struck at Chu Hao at a time like this, what chance of survival would Chu Hao have?
It would be certain death with no hope of life!
Before this, no matter what she said to Chu Hao, he firmly believed that sooner or later he would take everything back from Gu Changge and wash away the humiliation of that day.
Chu Hao turned a deaf ear to all of Tang Wan’s advice, ignoring it completely.
Harboring such thoughts, Chu Hao had actually been secretly plotting quite a few schemes during this period.
In Tang Wan’s eyes, these schemes were downright stupid—there was no way they could affect Gu Changge in the slightest.
At the end of the day, Chu Hao was merely a minor prince of the Vermilion Bird Empire.
And compared to the entire Longevity Gu Family, the Vermilion Bird Empire couldn’t even match its smallest subsidiary force—it was as lowly as an ant.
With such an enormous gap, did Chu Hao still think he had hope?
Especially now that even she was no longer in control of herself and could no longer help Chu Hao.
And he still couldn’t figure it out?
Tang Wan was deeply disappointed in Chu Hao now.
She was already racking her brains for every possible way to help him, yet not only did Chu Hao not care, he was actively courting death.
If Gu Changge truly intended to destroy the Vermilion Bird Empire, it would really only take a single sentence.
He wouldn’t even need to act personally—countless sects and factions eager to curry favor with him would be more than happy to do the deed.
Counting on the Supreme Cave Heaven behind Chu Hao to protect him? Had he not seen what happened to Purple Mansion?
“No need. You don’t have to concern yourself with Chu Hao’s side anymore. I have another matter to entrust to you.”
At this, Gu Changge waved his hand to cut her off and said indifferently, “During this time, a man named Qin Wuya may come looking for you... When that happens, no matter what you encounter, don’t panic. Just do as I’ve told you.”
“Qin Wuya...”
Tang Wan froze. For some reason, this name gave her an incredibly familiar feeling, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
“Isn’t that Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s senior brother? Master’s enemy?”
Suddenly she realized, her expression shifting slightly as she remembered.
During this period, she had heard the name Qin Wuya, and at the time she’d felt strangely familiar with it.
But why would Gu Changge say that Qin Wuya would come looking for her?
“That’s him. After all, you were his Dao Partner in a past life. Once he learns of your existence, he will definitely come find you to rekindle your past bond.”
Gu Changge glanced at her and said flatly.
“Dao Partner from a past life?”
Hearing this, Tang Wan’s eyes snapped wide open. She couldn’t help sucking in a cold breath, her face turning pale.
During this period, some hazy images had actually been faintly surfacing in her mind.
They were of a grand and ancient mountain gate, from an era unimaginably distant from now.
The sky was high and the earth vast, all things boundless and misty.
Divine peaks towered majestically, immortal mountains stretched grandly—immeasurably vast and limitless.
She had a kind-browed, highly respected father who was the sect leader.
She also had a mature, steady senior brother who was her Dao Partner, as well as junior brothers and junior sisters who shouldered the heavy responsibility of restoring the sect to glory.
Although she kept comforting herself that it was nothing but a dream, she couldn’t help but wonder whether reincarnation truly existed in this world.
And now, hearing Gu Changge’s words, she was left frozen in place on the spot.
It was as if a great bell had exploded inside her head, buzzing and reverberating.
But how exactly did Gu Changge know all of this, and how could he state with such certainty that Qin Wuya was her Dao Partner from a past life?
This left Tang Wan completely dumbfounded, hardly able to believe it.
What kind of being was Gu Changge, that he would know such things?
Ji Qingxuan also heard Gu Changge’s words and was deeply shocked inside, but she showed nothing on her face, pretending she hadn’t heard anything.
Yet in her heart, Gu Changge grew ever more mysterious and unfathomable—he could even perceive past-life reincarnation with such clarity?
“Master, how do you know all this?”
Still, Tang Wan had, after all, been tempered in the merchant alliance and weathered great storms.
She quickly regained her composure and couldn’t help asking.
But her voice carried a trembling fear that even she didn’t want to admit.
Gu Changge glanced at her, shook his head, and said no more. “You don’t need to know these things. You only need to remember what I’ve asked you to do.”
“Yes.”
Tang Wan nodded, her heart full of sorrow as she recalled Gu Changge’s other identity—the successor of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being!
That he could comprehend the Dao of Reincarnation and see through all of this was hardly strange.
What she couldn’t figure out was why every man connected to her ultimately ended up standing on the opposite side of Gu Changge.
Whether it was Chu Hao or this man named Qin Wuya, who was suspected to be her past-life Dao Partner—it was the same for both.
And in the end, it would actually be her personally striking against them.
This feeling left Tang Wan’s heart withered as if dead.
“Return to the Vermilion Bird Empire first. If anything comes up, I’ll give you further instructions.”
Gu Changge said indifferently. He knew what Tang Wan was thinking, but he didn’t care.
“Yes, Master.”
Tang Wan lowered her head, her face full of gloom.
After Tang Wan left, Gu Changge also waved Ji Qingxuan away.
He looked at the sheet of paper in his hand, his gaze somewhat thoughtful.
“At a time like this, Purple Mansion can’t possibly abandon Heavenly Monarch Ziyang. Though they’re being besieged by the various sects and factions, they’ll definitely send experts to rescue him.”
“If the Supreme Cave Heaven knows what’s good for it, it should know what to do. If it doesn’t... then don’t blame me for making another move...”
Gu Changge couldn’t help murmuring softly, his gaze growing deep.
Thinking of this, Gu Changge began ordering his subordinates to imprison Heavenly Monarch Ziyang and the rest of the Purple Mansion members in the Vermilion Bird Empire.
After all, he intended to divert the disaster eastward.
If this could provoke a conflict between the Supreme Cave Heaven and Purple Mansion, that would save him some trouble.
And if it couldn’t, it could still let the Vermilion Bird Empire suffer collateral damage when fire spread to its gates—and be destroyed in the process.
Although Gu Changge wanted to move against Chu Hao and strike at the Vermilion Bird Empire, acting without cause would only invite criticism.
After all, on the surface he was the foremost leader of the righteous younger generation—he had to cherish his feathers.
Moreover, the Longevity Gu Family was currently displaying its edge.
If his actions were too domineering and arrogant, it would inevitably make the other sects grow wary of the Longevity Gu Family and breed other intentions.
After weighing many considerations, Gu Changge felt that killing with a borrowed blade was more suitable.
As for Chu Hao’s side, for now, Gu Changge didn’t really care much.
At the end of the day, Chu Hao’s own background was far inferior to Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s.
Besides, when it came to dealing with Chu Hao, there was no rush yet.
As a Fortuitous One, Chu Hao himself was far more useful than Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.
Before this, he hadn’t been squeezed dry yet—killing him now would truly be a waste.
After all, such fine leeks were hard to come by!
Only Chu Hao and Qin Wuya were left for him to harvest.
“This way, things will fall into place much more naturally. The Vermilion Bird Empire gets destroyed along with the enraged Purple Mansion. When that happens, I’ll at most sigh with regret and say I never expected Purple Mansion to be so vicious.”
Thinking of this, Gu Changge couldn’t help smiling, and then he too set off for the Vermilion Bird Empire.
Meanwhile, the ruler of the Black Tortoise Empire and his people, who had been closely watching Gu Changge’s every move, finally showed long-absent smiles at this moment.
They practically wished the whole nation could send him off with firecrackers and thunderous gongs and drums.
The various great clans of the Black Tortoise Empire also collectively breathed sighs of relief, fearing that the clash between Purple Mansion and Gu Changge would drag them all in.
Now that Gu Changge had left, the Black Tortoise Empire was comparatively much safer—no longer needing to live in constant fear as before.
...
“Shishu, after Wan’er left, did she go see Gu Changge?”
At the same time, in the Imperial Capital of the Black Tortoise Empire.
Inside a grand and imposing mansion.
Two people were discussing some matters. The man asking the question had a handsome face and a tall stature, exuding a faintly extraordinary bearing.
It was none other than Chu Hao. And the elder before him, with an immortal air and Daoist bone, sporting three wisps of white beard, was his shishu, Bai Yang.
The two had left the Vermilion Bird Empire and followed Tang Wan all the way here.
Chu Hao desperately wanted to know her purpose in coming—why she had come here to see Gu Changge.
If he couldn’t get to the bottom of this matter, Chu Hao felt he would have no peace, unable to eat or sleep.
He couldn’t even settle into meditative cultivation, his mind breeding demons of obsession.
“Wan’er wouldn’t betray me. She has her difficulties—she’s being threatened by Gu Changge!”
Chu Hao couldn’t help muttering, his heart feeling as if a thorn had been driven into it.
At the thought of Tang Wan hiding it from him and secretly coming here to meet Gu Changge in private, his heart filled with stifled frustration.
Although he knew that given Tang Wan’s character, she would never do anything to betray him.
But something like this—what man could endure it?
Yet he had no choice but to forgive Tang Wan, putting on an act of turning a blind eye to the matter.
Hearing this, Bai Yang’s expression was also rather ugly. His brows furrowed tightly as he sighed lightly and said, “If Tang Wan didn’t change her route midway, then she should have gone to see Gu Changge.”
“That residence is precisely where Gu Changge is currently living.”
He looked at Chu Hao with some regret and sympathy, but at this moment, he couldn’t think of any words of comfort.
“Shishu, you didn’t follow after them?”
Although he had long guessed this would be the case, hearing his shishu say it, Chu Hao’s expression still turned extremely ugly. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
“Gu Changge currently has a mysterious Emperor Realm expert protecting him. If I rashly went over, I would very likely be misunderstood by that Emperor Realm being as being part of the Purple Mansion’s group, coming to assassinate Gu Changge...”
Bai Yang revealed a trace of apprehension as he explained.
He actually had some understanding of that Sacred Emperor Realm expert whom the Purple Mansion had previously sent to rescue Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.
Even if his strength surpassed that person’s, it wouldn’t be by much.
At a time like this, if he encountered that mysterious Emperor Realm expert, wouldn’t that be marching to his death?
“Shishu’s consideration is thorough. I was reckless.”
Hearing this, Chu Hao clenched his fists tightly, and a wave of unwillingness surged in his heart once more.
He had cultivated since childhood, his path smooth sailing all the way, obtaining countless fortuitous encounters, never encountering any setbacks or hardships.
At merely a few hundred years old, he was already at the peak of the Sacred King Realm, his future bright. As long as he didn’t fall, he was bound to stand at the very pinnacle of the Beyond.
Yet now, at Gu Changge’s hands, he had suffered blow after devastating blow.
Even now, with his shishu of Sacred Emperor Realm strength showing himself, there was nothing he could do against Gu Changge—he didn’t even dare reveal himself to investigate.
“However, Hao’er, you needn’t worry too much. I saw Tang Wan go in to meet Gu Changge, and from when she entered to when she came out, it was only the time of a cup of tea... Nothing should have happened between the two of them. Moreover, Tang Wan’s aura is pure and harmonious—she is still intact...”
Seeing Chu Hao in this state, Bai Yang was also somewhat worried and helpless. He patted his shoulder, fearing that a fine seedling would be ruined just like this.
So he couldn’t help but speak up to console him.
A mere woman wasn’t worth Chu Hao caring about so much.
However, he didn’t say these words aloud.
“I know. Shishu, rest assured, I have it clear in my heart.”
Chu Hao had already calmed down by now, knowing that at this point, blaming Tang Wan was impossible.
But this matter—he had to find a way to resolve and stop it.
Gu Changge was so deranged and unscrupulous; who knew whether one day he might suddenly act recklessly?
And when that time came, Tang Wan, a weak woman—how could she possibly resist?
But at this moment, Chu Hao’s expression suddenly changed again. He sensed that within his Storage Ring, the Communication Rune had received a message transmitted from the Vermilion Bird Empire.
Unless something major had happened, the Vermilion Bird Emperor would not take the initiative to contact him.
“What happened?”
Bai Yang noticed the change in Chu Hao’s expression and couldn’t help but ask.
“Something happened to the Vermilion Bird Empire... Damn it... Gu Changge, I am irreconcilable with him!”
Chu Hao took out the Communication Rune and quickly read through the message within. His expression abruptly changed drastically.
His face turned dark and ugly, and he practically spat these words out through gritted teeth from his throat, his hatred towering to the heavens.
“Shishu, let us return to the Vermilion Bird Empire first.”
With that, he prepared to set off. He hadn’t expected that even while engaged in war with the Purple Mansion, Gu Changge hadn’t forgotten to scheme against the Vermilion Bird Empire.
Truly ruthless!
“Could it be...”
Bai Yang’s expression shifted slightly; he too understood the severity of the matter.
He vaguely guessed something, and regarding Gu Changge’s methods, he couldn’t help but feel a chill run through him.
While Chu Hao was discussing how to deal with Gu Changge, Gu Changge had already made his move first.
And the terror of his methods could be called swift and decisive, making one’s hair stand on end—killing without spilling blood.
......
During this period, the eyes of the entire Beyond were almost all gathered upon the territory where the Purple Mansion resided. There was no cultivator or orthodoxy that wasn’t paying attention to all of this.
Even transcendent forces like the Buddhist Mountain and the Human Ancestor Hall were closely watching.
An Immortal War, an Immortal Tribulation—how many times had such things occurred since ancient times?
Everyone’s blood boiled, their hearts surging with excitement....
A vast and mighty army arrived aboard Ancient Battleships, hailing from orthodoxies and forces such as Sky Emperor Mountain and the Ancient Ye Family. Under the banner of crusading against the Successor of Demonic Arts and crusading against Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, they charged straight in.
If they could trample the Purple Mansion flat, they too could carve up many benefits from it.
The Purple Mansion had stood for countless years—who knew how many resources and foundations it had accumulated.
In everyone’s eyes, in this battle, the Purple Mansion was bound to be annihilated. There was no other possibility.
The momentum created by this great war was incomparably terrifying. The starry skies within hundreds of millions of miles were all shaken—unimaginable.
“Kill!”
“Trample the Purple Mansion flat!”
Billions of cultivators and living beings surged forth in a mighty torrent, crossing the void seas and chaotic currents, their momentum towering to the heavens, their killing intent nearly drowning everything.
Countless forces along the way trembled in fear, cowering within their own territories, not daring to make a sound.
They watched as these orthodoxies and their subsidiary forces passed across the sky, blotting out the heavens and covering the sun.
An army numbering in the billions pressed forward, like an unparalleled sharp blade forged of heavenly might, splitting everything apart with a boom!
Boom!
Within the Purple Mansion, all disciples and elders wore solemn expressions, activating all manner of supreme techniques.
Divine light shot into the sky as the mountain-protecting grand array activated. Beams of light of every color soared upward, interweaving between heaven and earth, converging into an endless, boundless net to resist the assault.
But the attacking cultivators were simply too numerous. The myriad races under Sky Emperor Mountain’s rule had all sent their elites. Dense clouds churned as they slaughtered until heaven and earth overturned, until the sun and moon lost their light.
Such a scene would be hard to witness in a thousand autumns or ten thousand ages.
In another direction, all living beings could only feel a world-shaking, supreme aura sweeping across from beyond the heavens.
Great stars trembled one after another, as if sifting through a sieve. The firmament quaked, and the universe distorted.
From there came furious roars and battle cries, shaking countless forces.
One could imagine what kind of terrifying great war was unfolding there.
A war between Sacred Emperor Realm beings!
One after another, world-topping dharma bodies manifested, purple qi stretching endlessly, evolving all things.
They stood supporting heaven and earth, wreathed in countless divine glows, determined to battle all enemies, as if standing at the very peak of the universe.
Faintly, one could see within a cauldron enveloped in infinite radiance, a golden and resplendent bell, a great cyan seal... rising and falling.
Those were Sacred Emperor Artifacts. The moment they awakened, they beat all laws into blur.
Numerous stars exploded, instantly becoming dust.
Scene after scene left all cultivators and orthodoxies aghast.
“The Purple Mansion’s foundation is actually this terrifying—it directly blocked the assault of Sky Emperor Mountain and the Ancient Ye Family?”
“Who would’ve thought the Purple Mansion was hiding so deeply? But those Sacred Emperors—they should have come out from the Ancestral Hall. Their auras don’t belong to the current era!”
The experts of many orthodoxies were closely watching this battle, incomparably shocked.
They hadn’t expected that a situation they thought would be completely one-sided would actually become a stalemate.
The Purple Mansion’s strength simply exceeded everyone’s imagination.
Only now did many people react—the Purple Mansion dared to act this way because it had the confidence to back it up!
And at this moment, from beyond the distant star regions, a rumbling sound suddenly rang out. Everyone trembled; their very souls seemed about to shatter.
Ancient banners swayed, propping open everything!
Domain-Breaking Ancient Battleships, as massive as an ancient continent, cast endless shadows.
Immediately after, they blasted open the void, draped in Chaos Energy, smashing through everything before them, crushing the firmament.
A huge character—“Gu”—swayed above the heavens!
The destination ahead was precisely the territory where the Purple Mansion resided!
“The Longevity Gu Family has descended! This time the Purple Mansion is in grave danger. It can hold off several allied forces, but can it withstand this display from the Longevity Gu Family?”
“It seems the Purple Mansion’s mountain gate is about to be breached!”
All orthodoxies and forces were shaken as they watched the army of billions charge forth, stretching endlessly, blotting out the sky and covering the stars.
This was a matchless power that made one’s courage turn cold and body tremble!
“Trample the Purple Mansion flat! Spread the might of our Gu Family!”
An elder aboard an Ancient Battleship blew a horn that resounded through everything, and then a terrifying fluctuation descended in an instant.
This great war erupted in a flash.
Aboard the Ancient Battleships, runes pervaded the air, transforming into divine swords that struck down toward the front.
In the depths of the starry sky, a sky full of light runes instantly appeared, shaking the nine heavens.
The void trembled in patches, like a sieve, pierced through by strands of radiance and aura.
The grand array before the Purple Mansion’s mountain gate nearly shattered, barely able to hold!
This scene left the experts watching this battle from afar shaken to the extreme, cold chills running down their backs.
This was just one strike. If a few more strikes came, could the Purple Mansion’s mountain gate still hold?
Boom!
And at this moment, the Gu Family’s Sacred Emperors were the first to strike!
With every gesture, the might of a Sacred Emperor swept through all directions, making countless stars tremble.
“Kill!”
From within the Purple Mansion, at this moment, three more Sacred Emperors charged out, their auras even stronger than those of the Sacred Emperors currently battling Sky Emperor Mountain and the other forces.
“The Longevity Gu Family bullies others too far! Colluding with Gu Changge to covet our Purple Mansion’s inheritance, suppressing our Purple Mansion’s successor! This enmity is irreconcilable!”
“The Purple Mansion’s inheritance is guarded by us—we will not tolerate outsiders coveting it!”
The three Sacred Emperors appeared beneath the starry sky, their faces ice-cold, filled with boundless hatred, directly cursing aloud.
“You think the three of you alone can offend my Gu Family? Knowing death is certain, yet still coming to block us—your courage is truly commendable.”
“Today we shall grant your wish. On the road to the Yellow Springs, having companions is not without its pleasures.”
At the same time, within the Gu Family’s army, terrifying auras pervaded, divine light blotting out the wilderness.
Ten Sacred Emperors appeared in all directions of the star region, their faces blurred, their majesty towering to the heavens, their words carrying coldness and dominance.
Ten Sacred Emperors appeared, their blood qi piercing through the sky, determined to suppress and kill the Purple Mansion’s three!
Everyone was shaken to the core. Previously, they had only vaguely sensed that the Gu Family had dispatched ten Sacred Emperors, but many had thought it was merely auras of that level, without them actually appearing.
Among them, there could very well have been many Perfect Prodigies.
But now, witnessing it with their own eyes was truly horrifying—ten Sacred Emperors, all at their peak condition.
And they were Upper-Rank Sacred Emperors at that, by no means middle or lower rank!
The Nine Heavens of the Sacred Emperor Realm—only upon reaching the Seventh Heaven would one be called an Upper-Rank Sacred Emperor. One could see just how terrifying this force was!
“No...”
This was a scene of despair. Countless disciples and elders within the Purple Mansion, seeing this sight, couldn’t help but feel grief and hatred arise, their fury blazing to the heavens.
Dong!
Soon, this terrifying great war erupted, gripping everyone’s hearts and minds, trembling to the extreme.
The Purple Mansion’s three Sacred Emperors were extremely forceful, advancing without retreat, fearless of death, displaying the strongest techniques of their lives.
Amid booming sounds like stars exploding, with a dong, the space ahead collapsed.
There, it was as if heaven and earth were splitting apart, the universe quaking violently, chaos churning.
An aura like the creation of the world emerged, submerging everything.
However, in the next instant, they coughed up blood almost immediately, their bodies nearly exploding as they were sent flying again and again. The stars they crashed into along the way were beyond count, instantly becoming dust.
Ten Sacred Emperors struck, sweeping aside all before them. Unless an Emperor Realm being intervened, who could possibly contend against them?
All orthodoxies were horrified, feeling their scalps go numb. With the Gu Family this domineering, even if Sky Emperor Mountain and the other forces didn’t act, it could easily annihilate the Purple Mansion!
This was a completely one-sided situation.
.......