The Seed of Ambition Planted in Ji Qingxuan, the Vermilion Bird Empire's Doomsday
The Seed of Ambition Planted in Ji Qingxuan, the Vermilion Bird Empire’s Doomsday
After confirming the whereabouts of Jiang Chen and Niu Tian, Gu Changge set their matter aside for the time being.
He didn’t pay it much mind. To him, it was at most a minor interlude.
The two of them were still mere mortals. Even with heaven-defying Fortuity, it would take them a long time to grow to a level worthy of his attention.
He would let them develop during this time, and hoped that the next time they met, they could give him a pleasant surprise.
After that, Gu Changge turned his attention to another matter.
He planned to fuse and refine Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s Foreseeing Eye together with the Chaos Purple Qi Seed.
During this period, he had tried refining it himself.
But he always felt something was missing.
Even throwing in that Chaos Dao Bone didn’t bring about much change.
So, Gu Changge sent his subordinates to deliver these materials to the Heavenly Arms Domain, intending to find someone to refine them for him.
Although the Longevity Gu Family had deep foundations, they weren’t particularly skilled in the art of refinement.
The Heavenly Arms Domain, on the other hand, was a special place in the Beyond.
Naturally formed and nurtured by heaven and earth, its terrain shaped by nature itself, it had, since ancient times, been etched with over three thousand kinds of Primal Arrays across its expanse.
It was especially suitable for Cultivators to forge weapons.
Many of the renowned divine weapons and Transcendent grade weapons of the Beyond came from the Heavenly Arms Domain.
Even some True Daoists, when planning to forge a Dao Artifact, would venture deep into the Heavenly Arms Domain, heading to the Million Fire Domain within it.
There, Godly Flames, Sacred Flames, Emperor Flames... practically everything one could want was there, and even traces of Immortal Flames had once appeared.
With Gu Changge’s status, even without paying a hefty price, plenty of old fossils would be willing to refine for him, eager to earn his favor.
So he wasn’t particularly worried.
The Heavenly Arms Domain was vast and boundless, with sects standing in great numbers, the most numerous of which were the various great artifact-refining sects.
The Foreseeing Eye, the Chaos Purple Qi Seed, the Chaos Dao Bone... Gu Changge sent all of these materials over.
Next, even if the Purple Mansion really did rescue Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, they would find that the fellow was already no different from a cripple.
Everything they did would be nothing more than drawing water with a bamboo basket—all for nothing!
“If this secret treasure is successfully refined, I might be able to glimpse many fragments of the future along this current timeline. Then I won’t need to keep probing Mingkong for information.”
“She’s somewhat easy to fool, but if I probe too long, she might actually notice something...”
Gu Changge had long-term plans.
Although Yue Mingkong was a regressor, many of the events from her timeline had clearly already deviated from the current trajectory.
The demise of the Mortal One, the emergence of the Absolute Yin Heaven, the birth of the Demon World’s child, the establishment of the True Immortal Academy, the riot of the Demon-Burying Abyss... this whole series of events differed greatly from what Yue Mingkong had experienced.
At this point, even if Gu Changge asked her about other matters, he probably wouldn’t get anything out of her, and he would have to carefully deduce things himself.
After all, the greater the Variables, the less advantage Yue Mingkong had as a regressor.
Moreover, in Gu Changge’s view, her identity as a regressor was more like suddenly fusing with and obtaining a segment of future memories. Those future memories belonged to the normal trajectory of the world. That being the case, it was understandable why there were so many Variables.
After that, Gu Changge summoned a group of subordinates and gave them some instructions.
Then he planned to wait for the Purple Mansion to send Cultivators to rescue Heavenly Monarch Ziyang, so he wasn’t in any hurry.
Right now, Heavenly Monarch Ziyang’s life and death were entirely within his grasp. Even if an Emperor Realm expert showed up, Gu Changge wouldn’t care in the slightest.
If the Purple Mansion were smart, they would understand that attacking openly would accomplish nothing. They’d be better off learning from Chu Hao—sneaking around, quietly inquiring everywhere about where Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was being held.
Once they had some certainty, then making their move—wouldn’t that give them a better chance of rescuing him?
Chu Hao’s actions these past few days made Gu Changge feel that he was practically on the verge of despair.
This process of watching a Fortuitous One who opposed him walk step by step toward despair was truly quite entertaining.
Moreover, Gu Changge had already guessed what Chu Hao would do next, which would serve nicely as a method to strike at the Fortuity points on Chu Hao’s body.
“Qingge, have you had any news of that sister of yours recently?”
At this moment, Gu Changge glanced at Ji Qingxuan, who was brewing tea beside him, a strange look in his eyes, and suddenly asked.
Regarding the matter of the Hidden Ji Family, he could first plant a seed called ambition in Ji Qingxuan’s heart.
“Hm? No. Why does Gongzi suddenly ask about this?”
Hearing this, Ji Qingxuan was first taken aback, her heart tightening.
But then, her face still showed a puzzled, confused expression as she asked.
She felt that with Gu Changge’s intelligence, he had probably long known that she wasn’t actually her sister Su Qingge, but he had never said it outright.
At this point, Ji Qingxuan could only steel herself and keep up the act.
But now that Gu Changge suddenly asked this, it truly left her bewildered.
Could it be that Gongzi intended to lay everything bare?
Thinking of this, Ji Qingxuan grew nervous for no reason, and even her tea-brewing motions paused.
Even if Gu Changge didn’t pursue the matter of her and her sister Su Qingge conspiring together to deceive him...
Once such a thing was confessed, it would mean that afterward, she could only return to the Supreme Cave Heaven and continue being the Hidden Ji Family’s puppet.
Then, one day in the future, she would be married off to some other family as a tool of political alliance, living a miserable life. How could that compare to her current freedom, to the status she now had?
Although she was only Gu Changge’s maid, with that status, no one dared show her disrespect.
One had to know that many people, in order to curry favor with Gu Changge, would even secretly send her gifts, just hoping she could put in a few good words for them at Gu Changge’s side.
Of course, she had told Gu Changge about such things, and he had merely laughed it off, not taking it to heart.
Ji Qingxuan truly loved and was truly content with her current life.
She didn’t dare imagine all the things her family behind her would force upon her after she left Gu Changge.
For the first twenty years, she had been cautious in everything, treading on thin ice, cultivating bitterly without end just to be valued by the family, surpassing the prodigies of her clan.
But in the end, she still couldn’t escape the fate of being a tool for political marriage.
Wang Xiao was dead, but there would still be a next Wang Xiao...
That was her fate.
“It’s nothing much. I just suddenly remembered the background you told me about before, and got a bit curious. After all this time, have you never thought about going back to the family to take a look?”
Gu Changge asked, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Ji Qingxuan into his embrace.
Hearing these words, Ji Qingxuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
On that flawlessly beautiful, crystalline snow-white face, a deer-like joy and delight immediately appeared.
“Thank you for your concern, Gongzi. I never expected Gongzi would still remember these things.” She was somewhat moved.
Gu Changge smiled. “Could it be that in your eyes, Gongzi is someone so forgetful?”
Ji Qingxuan hurriedly shook her head. “No, no. In my eyes, Gongzi is the best person in the world.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Gu Changge smiled, lowered his head, and pressed his nose against her snow-white, delicate, swan-like neck, breathing in that cool, clear fragrance like an orchid in an empty valley. “Don’t you miss your mother?”
Hearing these words, reminiscence appeared in Ji Qingxuan’s beautiful eyes, and her voice turned somewhat low.
“Back then, my mother was forcibly taken away by people from the Beyond. In the blink of an eye, it’s been almost twenty years.”
“To say I don’t miss my mother would be impossible. But Qingge also understands that I’m nothing more than an illegitimate daughter from the Overworld whom the family looks down upon. I can’t see my mother. The Hidden Ji Family values bloodline and reputation. Back then, my mother fled her marriage, causing the Ji Family to lose face before many powers. If not for my uncle pleading for her at the time, my mother probably would have been beaten to death after being taken back.”
“How could they let a disgrace like me set foot in the Ji Family even half a step, to see my mother?”
“Your sister told you all this?” Gu Changge asked, seemingly casually.
“Mm. I went to see her once back then, and she told me. That sister of mine has actually had a very hard time these years. If only she could have met Gongzi early on, like I did...”
Speaking to this point, Ji Qingxuan seemed to have her heartstrings touched, and her gaze dimmed somewhat.
“Met me early on?” Gu Changge smiled, noticing the slip in her words, but didn’t point it out.
“Mm.” Ji Qingxuan still hadn’t noticed the flaw in her own words just now, and nodded somewhat dejectedly.
“Then have you ever thought that one day in the future, you might overthrow the Hidden Ji Family, or rather... completely take control of the Ji Family?” Gu Changge said with a casual smile.
“What?”
Ji Qingxuan’s eyes suddenly widened. She wondered if her ears had misheard. She simply couldn’t believe those words.
Overthrow the Hidden Ji Family? Completely take control of the Ji Family?
She knew that with Gu Changge’s power, since he had spoken such words, he must have a way.
Ji Qingxuan felt her heart beating uncontrollably. She forced herself to calm down.
“Gongzi, what do you mean by that...” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“Exactly what my words mean.”
Gu Changge smiled and said, “After all, you and your sister look exactly alike... When the time comes, you only need to do as I instruct, and presumably no one will be able to discover any of this.”
“...Take control of the Ji Family.”
Ji Qingxuan felt her ambition, at this moment, growing wildly, almost beyond her ability to restrain.
She very much wanted to agree in one breath, but she also worried this was Gu Changge testing her.
So, Ji Qingxuan fell silent.
Seeing this, Gu Changge wasn’t in a hurry. He knew Ji Qingxuan would agree to all of this sooner or later.
Her talent was passable, but she was disliked by her family. No matter how hard she worked, she couldn’t gain the slightest bit of the family’s regard.
Toward the Hidden Ji Family, she would feel nothing but hatred—not the slightest shred of gratitude.
Then again, this identity of hers was actually quite fitting. If the Entanglement Immortal Mantra were passed on to her, she would know exactly what to do.
In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Above the skies of the Vermilion Bird Empire, a dark, dense mass of the Celestial Ancient Army drew near.
Black clouds churned as Ancient Battleships loomed overhead, like continents suspended in the sky.
Following Gu Changge’s orders, Hei Yanyu had dispatched a million troops, sealing off every inch of the million-mile radius surrounding the Vermilion Bird Empire, front and back.
A terrifying killing intent swept out in all directions, blanketing a million miles.
At this point, even rogue cultivators dared not approach carelessly. Their souls trembled; they could already sense the storm brewing on the horizon.
Rumble!
The heavens quaked. Golden light spanning ten thousand zhang appeared in the void, spreading out into gateway after gateway.
The Purple Mansion army had also appeared in the distant sky at this moment—staggering in number, their killing intent surging like a tidal wave.
From the looks of it, they could attack at any moment.
The Vermilion Bird Empire, already teetering on the brink of collapse, was now like a lone leaf of a boat in a raging tempest, ready to be capsized and smashed to pieces at any instant.
Every cultivator watched this scene in utter horror, scalps tingling, feeling that a dreadful great war would soon erupt above the Vermilion Bird Empire!
The two armies faced off, their auras blotting out the sky. As boundless killing intent swept forth, even the firmament itself seemed on the verge of shattering.
......
Meanwhile, on the other side, just as the Vermilion Bird Empire hung on the edge of destruction.
Deep within an endless, towering mountain range.
Two figures were hurrying along, heading toward distant lands, seeking to leave the territory of the Vermilion Bird Empire.
Though the dreadful formation in the distant sky was far away, its vast, surging fluctuations still reached them, making hearts palpitate, making one unable to resist trembling, wanting to fall prostrate to the ground.
Jiang Chen’s expression was somewhat pale. He could clearly see the Ancient Battleships they had once departed from—and Gu Changge, the man he hated most, was still up there.
Back when he was aboard those Ancient Battleships, he had been unable to truly grasp Gu Changge’s terrifying might.
But now, seeing all of this clearly, waves of dread rose in Jiang Chen’s heart.
A million troops, riding clouds and mist; Ancient Battleships rumbling, ancient and majestic, divine light without end, blotting out the sky and sun, casting infinite shadows below.
A sight that should only exist in myths and legends was truly unfolding before his eyes.
And that army of a million—those were no million ordinary mortals!
They were a million of the same powerful beings that had hunted them down before. Any single one of them could collapse mountain ranges and dry up rivers with a single breath.
And such a terrifying army of a million was all under the command of Gu Changge alone!
“Black-Robed Senior, are great wars like this rare in this world?” Jiang Chen quickly regained his composure and asked the Elderly Man in Black Robes beside him.
At this point, he didn’t believe Gu Changge would continue sending people to hunt him down, and with the Elderly Man in Black Robes at his side, he felt much more at ease.
From the Elderly Man in Black Robes’ explanations, Jiang Chen had also learned his name.
He knew the Elderly Man in Black Robes belonged to no sect or faction.
All this time, he had been searching for a suitable successor.
And because of the peculiar nature of the Everchanging Demonic Arts, he needed to find someone of humble status with high cultivation talent—ideally someone unappreciated by their family or sect, or better yet, someone with no sect at all.
As it turned out, Jiang Chen had become the most suitable candidate.
It just so happened that the Elderly Man in Black Robes had been searching for a successor among the nearby sects when he noticed him.
“A great war like this?”
A cold smile appeared on the Elderly Man in Black Robes’ grim face. “Do you think an Immortal War is so easily encountered? It might not happen once in ten million years.”
“If Purple Mansion hadn’t incurred the wrath of the masses this time, how would they have ended up in such a plight?”
“I see.” Jiang Chen let out a breath. “This is just too terrifying—it’s practically world-destroying.”
Over the past few days, the Elderly Man in Black Robes had taken him searching through the entire surrounding mountain range.
Aside from finding traces of a few companions’ auras, they had found no sign of Niu Tian, which left Jiang Chen somewhat worried.
It was clear those companions had likely all fallen to the vicious hands of the beings Gu Changge had sent. None had survived.
He just didn’t know whether Niu Tian was alive or dead now.
“Niu Tian is a fortunate soul blessed by heaven—he should be fine. If anything happened to him, I will never let that Gu bastard off.”
Jiang Chen’s gaze turned icy. Then he left this place with the Elderly Man in Black Robes. Once the two armies clashed in the skies above, this entire region would be swallowed up and destroyed.
The nearby sects had long since relocated.
These past few days, in his conversations with the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation, he had come to sense that the Elderly Man in Black Robes was probably no righteous cultivator.
But after experiencing Gu Changge’s people hunting them down to exterminate them all, Jiang Chen had learned the lesson that you can know a person’s face but not their heart.
Though he trusted the Elderly Man in Black Robes, his trust didn’t go so far as complete openness.
“...Next, find a power to blend into first. With your current cultivation, wanting revenge is simply impossible.”
“It’s not that this old man wants to discourage you, but that Gu fellow you speak of should be the Young Master of the Longevity Gu Family... Heh, this old man never imagined that the young paragon who shines so brilliantly before the world, admired by hundreds of millions, would turn out to be such a vicious-hearted man behind it all.”
The Elderly Man in Black Robes spoke as he led Jiang Chen through the void.
“Then, Black-Robed Senior, with my current ability, if I wanted revenge, how long do you think I would need?”
Hearing this, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but ask, a trace of hope in his eyes.
From the Elderly Man in Black Robes’ earlier words, he had already learned of the Everchanging Demonic Arts’ terrifying power.
If he were given a bit more time, wouldn’t revenge be within reach?
“With your current ability?”
Hearing this, the Elderly Man in Black Robes sneered, quite disdainful. “This old man advises you to abandon that notion. Even if you were given another ten thousand years, you still couldn’t do it. He and you are simply not people of the same world.”
“Is the gap between him and me really that big? Then, Senior, didn’t you say before that the Everchanging Demonic Arts were incredibly powerful?”
Jiang Chen couldn’t help but frown.
Seeing Jiang Chen’s disbelieving expression, the Elderly Man in Black Robes mocked him without the slightest reservation. “Do you know what a Longevity Family is? It is the most powerful force in the Beyond. And with that Gu Family Young Master’s strength, in just a few more years he’ll likely succeed the position of Family Head of the Longevity Gu Family. At that time, no one in the entire Beyond would dare defy his word. Do you understand?”
“That is the enemy you must face.”
Hearing these words, even the Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation in Jiang Chen’s mind fell silent, knowing the Elderly Man in Black Robes spoke the truth.
With Jiang Chen’s current capabilities, revenge was simply impossible.
No one in the Beyond would dare defy his word.
That single sentence alone filled Jiang Chen with deep despair and powerlessness.
Why, having just arrived in this world, had he offended someone so powerful?
“However, Senior, have you ever heard this saying—never bully a youth for being poor?”
But soon, Jiang Chen calmed down, though he remained persistent.
He knew the Elderly Man in Black Robes’ personality was just like this. Though his words were harsh, they were meant to make him understand the gap between himself and Gu Changge—it was for his own good.
Still, Jiang Chen firmly believed in one truth: when mountains and waters seem to leave no path, willows and flowers reveal another village.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—fortune’s wheel keeps turning.
He held the Celestial Boat of Creation in his grasp—how could he ever resign himself?
“Heh heh, then this old man hopes you can give me a pleasant surprise.” The smile at the corner of the Elderly Man in Black Robes’ mouth remained full of mockery and disdain.
“Jiang Chen, don’t be discouraged by that old geezer’s words (Zhao Qian Zhao). As long as the two of us reforge the Celestial Boat of Creation and master its power, how could that Gu fellow possibly be your match!”
The Artifact Spirit of the Celestial Boat of Creation said.
“I’m not discouraged.”
Hearing this, Jiang Chen’s expression was exceptionally calm, his gaze brimming with confidence, radiating the vigor of youth.
The Celestial Boat of Creation was his greatest secret, and his greatest source of confidence.
Soon, he followed the Elderly Man in Black Robes out of this region, his figure heading toward other lands, the Vermilion Bird Empire growing ever more distant behind him.
“Ruoyin, wait for me—I will definitely come save you!”
......
“It’s over, it’s all over. The Purple Mansion army has descended from beyond the heavens and is about to clash with Gu Changge right here. Hao’er, tell your Imperial Father what on earth I should do? Must I truly just watch helplessly as the Vermilion Bird Empire is destroyed?”
In the imperial palace, the Vermilion Bird Emperor slumped to the ground, his voice trembling, filled with terror.
Today, scouts had reported that a million miles from the Vermilion Bird Empire, the void had torn open, and a mighty host of Purple Mansion cultivators was rushing over, their might soaring to the heavens.
From the looks of it, they intended to do battle with Gu Changge right here.
“I understand, Imperial Father! I’ll go find Wan’er right now and have her help me beg Gu Changge for mercy. At this point, this is the only way.”
Chu Hao’s expression was equally ugly as he gritted his teeth.
Although Tang Wan was angry with him and had refused to see him, at this point, this was the only option left.
Now, if he didn’t act, once the Purple Mansion army and Gu Changge went to war, the entire Vermilion Bird Empire would inevitably be destroyed.
During this time, he had searched everywhere for the place where Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was imprisoned, but Gu Changge had hidden him far too deeply.
He had scoured every dungeon, yet never found where Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was being held.
Chu Hao even suspected that Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was actually aboard the Ancient Battleships high in the sky.
If that were the case, his earlier plan of acting first and reporting later would have completely gone down the drain.
“Then this will be hard on you...”
Hearing this, the Vermilion Bird Emperor’s face was ashen; he had reached the depths of despair.
He truly did not want the Vermilion Bird Empire to perish in his hands. What he regretted most now was why he had let Chu Hao stay back then—after resolving the Eternal Overcast calamity, he should have sent him back to his sect.
That way, Chu Hao wouldn’t have offended Gu Changge over that junior brother of his.
“Imperial Father needn’t say such things. I’ll go find Wan’er right away.”
“Shishu, I’ll trouble you to protect my Imperial Father.”
With that, Chu Hao set off directly, taking a single step toward the residence where Tang Wan usually stayed.
Bai Yang’s gaze was complicated as he nodded. With things having come to this, the only thing he could do was take Chu Hao and the Vermilion Bird Emperor and leave this place when the time came.