The Fortuitous Ones Finally Clash, the Purple Mansion's Last Hope
The Fortuitous Ones Finally Clash, the Purple Mansion’s Last Hope
At this moment, inside a grand and magnificent residence.
Tang Wan still had no idea that Chu Hao was planning to come find her, to beg Gu Changge to spare the Vermilion Bird Empire.
“How could the family have lost so much during this period...”
“Isn’t this just being stupid?”
Tang Wan sat upright at the stone table, her brows slightly furrowed, looking at the message sent over from the Tang Family.
She wore a plain gauze dress, her figure graceful, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her teeth like concealed shells, her temperament gentle and serene.
Originally, following Gu Changge’s instructions, she had stayed in the Vermilion Bird Empire, waiting for that so-called past-life Dao Partner, Qin Wuya, to come knocking on her door.
But unexpectedly, today she actually received news from the Tang Family.
Some time ago, her good-for-nothing younger brother Tang Tian had somehow obtained a mysterious scripture from who-knows-where, one of ancient and profound origins.
After appraisal, many of the clan elders believed it might be an Immortal Scripture.
This news instantly shook the entire Tang Merchants Family.
However, the Tang Family reacted quickly, sealing off the news layer by layer so it never leaked out.
Afterward, many clan members who cultivated that scripture saw their cultivation improve, and some even broke through bottlenecks that had trapped them for years.
For the Tang Family, this was naturally a good thing.
The only problem was that because of this, many clan members focused all their energy on cultivation, leaving the family’s many businesses unmanaged, resulting in considerable losses in a short time.
For this reason, Old Master Tang finally remembered her and planned to summon her back to the family to take over the various businesses.
Originally, this would have been a good thing for Tang Wan as well.
But because of Gu Changge’s instructions, she could not leave the Vermilion Bird Empire during this period.
This caused a trace of worry to appear on her face. She could only think of an excuse to tell the Tang Family that she couldn’t return for now.
“Is something troubling you, Miss Tang? Your brows are knitted so tightly?”
At this moment, the voice of a grey-robed man reached Tang Wan’s ears, snapping her back to her senses.
“It’s nothing. It’s just that my family has run into a bit of difficulty.”
Tang Wan smiled faintly, and the worry on her face quickly vanished.
The grey-robed man standing before her was not very tall, his features somewhat refined, giving off the amiable air of an accomplished cultivator.
It was none other than Qin Wuya, who had disguised himself and infiltrated Tang Wan’s side.
During this period, unable to find where Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was being held, he had simply given up.
He planned to wait until the Purple Mansion’s army clashed with Gu Changge, then make his move and fish in troubled waters.
However, considering he would need to stay in the Vermilion Bird Empire for a few more days, he had racked his brains for ways to approach Tang Wan and remain by her side.
And it just so happened that Tang Wan was recruiting Retainers everywhere, so he naturally and smoothly became one of her Retainers.
Over these past few days, he had grown quite familiar with Tang Wan.
“Does Retainer Qin Ya have some business?”
After putting away the transmission message in her hand, Tang Wan looked at the grey-robed man before her and asked softly.
She could naturally tell that the person before her was none other than Qin Wuya, the one who had offended Gu Changge.
He had merely disguised himself and taken the alias Qin Ya.
That sense of familiarity coming from the depths of her soul, as if they had known each other for a long time, could not be faked.
Knowing that Qin Wuya would come looking for her, she had naturally followed Gu Changge’s instructions and allowed him to smoothly get close to her.
“Oh, it’s nothing, nothing at all. It’s just that while patrolling outside the courtyard earlier, I noticed that Miss Tang seemed troubled. I was curious and couldn’t help but come over to ask. For any offense in my presumption, I hope Miss Tang will forgive me.”
Qin Wuya revealed a kind smile and explained apologetically.
“I see. Then thank you for your concern, Retainer Qin Ya.”
Tang Wan nodded, her expression calm.
“Can Miss Tang tell me what exactly the matter is? Perhaps I can help you think of a solution.”
Qin Wuya then asked. Seeing Tang Wan’s face full of sorrow earlier, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.
Hearing this, Tang Wan glanced at him, seemingly not expecting him to say such a thing.
After pondering for a moment, Tang Wan nodded. There was nothing to hide, so she said, “It’s actually nothing major. My family sent word that they’ve run into difficulties and want me to hurry back, but for other reasons, I can’t leave the Vermilion Bird Empire right now.”
“I see.”
Qin Wuya looked somewhat enlightened, but his gaze turned rather gloomy.
He actually knew about the relationship between Tang Wan and Chu Hao.
When he first saw Tang Wan in that alley back then, the man standing beside her was none other than Chu Hao, the Third Prince of the Vermilion Bird Empire.
Later, he inquired around and learned of the relationship between Chu Hao and Tang Wan.
The two had known each other since childhood and were very close—childhood sweethearts.
Tang Wan clearly had feelings for Chu Hao, and Chu Hao naturally felt the same toward her.
Now, the reason Tang Wan said she couldn’t leave the Vermilion Bird Empire was, in his view, actually because of Chu Hao.
After all, the Vermilion Bird Empire would soon be destroyed—this was an inevitable outcome that anyone with eyes could see.
A battle between a million cultivators—a mere Vermilion Bird Empire would be destroyed in an instant.
Chu Hao hoped Tang Wan could use the power behind her to help him, but the family behind Tang Wan wasn’t stupid. How could they possibly help the Vermilion Bird Empire at a time like this?
As a result, Tang Wan couldn’t let go of Chu Hao, which was why she hadn’t left the Vermilion Bird Empire.
This was Qin Wuya’s thinking. At this moment, he even felt a bit grateful toward Gu Changge.
He himself had no goodwill toward Chu Hao whatsoever, and the destruction of the Vermilion Bird Empire was something he would practically applaud.
In his view, Tang Wan’s current state was inseparable from Chu Hao.
“Actually, at a time like this, I think Miss Tang should still consider your family. After all, no one can stop the destruction of the Vermilion Bird Empire...”
Qin Wuya weighed his words, intending to persuade Tang Wan to leave this place and not get involved in this matter.
However, before he could finish speaking, a maid came rushing in from outside the courtyard in a panic, reporting, “Miss, Prince Chu Hao requests an audience...”
“Chu Hao? What is he here for? I won’t see him!”
Hearing this, Tang Wan’s brows furrowed and she said directly. She clearly still hadn’t gotten over being angered by Chu Hao a few days ago.
These past few days, she had been avoiding Chu Hao, not wanting to see him.
In her view, Chu Hao was already stupid beyond saving. If he really wanted to continue opposing Gu Changge, there was only a dead end waiting for him.
“Wan’er, I truly have an urgent matter to find you. Right now, only you can save me.”
However, before Tang Wan’s words had even finished, Chu Hao’s figure had already appeared outside the courtyard. Ignoring the obstruction of the guards, he barged straight in.
His face carried a measure of anxiety.
The situation was urgent; otherwise, he wouldn’t have done this—forcing his way in regardless of whether Tang Wan wanted to see him or not.
“Chu Hao, I said I wouldn’t see you, yet you still forced your way in. Do you no longer take my words seriously?”
Tang Wan’s face was covered in frost as she demanded angrily, utterly furious.
“Wan’er, don’t be angry. Hear me out. I had my reasons for barging in. Today, only you can save me, can save the Vermilion Bird Empire.”
“I know you’re still angry with me. What happened before was my fault. I apologize to you. I swear that after today, I’ll listen to you in everything from now on.”
Chu Hao also knew he had no moral ground to stand on in this matter, so he explained right away, taking all the blame upon himself.
“Is everything you said true?”
Hearing this, Tang Wan’s anger subsided somewhat. She thought Chu Hao had finally come to his senses about what happened before and intended to yield to Gu Changge.
“Absolutely true, not a single false word.”
Chu Hao nodded earnestly.
“Chu Hao?”
At this moment, a cold glint flashed through Qin Wuya’s eyes off to the side. He hadn’t expected Chu Hao to barge straight in without even waiting to be announced.
This made him loathe Chu Hao even more.
Immediately, his figure flashed, blocking in front of Tang Wan as he said coldly, “Barging in without the young lady’s permission—are you provoking us?”
“Who are you?”
Chu Hao’s brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of coldness appeared on his handsome face.
In this courtyard, by Tang Wan’s side, when had there appeared such an unfamiliar man?
Before this, he had never seen Qin Wuya, though from his aura, he seemed to be only at the Enlightened Noble Realm.
“He is a Retainer by my side, responsible for protecting my life.”
Fearing the two would suddenly come to blows, Tang Wan hurriedly explained.
Hearing this, Chu Hao’s expression eased, and he quickly dismissed Qin Wuya from his mind.
The priority now was to get Tang Wan to plead with Gu Changge.
Seeing this, Qin Wuya also snorted coldly and, giving Tang Wan face, did not make a move against Chu Hao.
“Speak. What exactly did you come to me for? Save you, save the Vermilion Bird Empire? What does that mean?”
Tang Wan let out a breath, her gaze falling on Chu Hao as she asked.
If she were told to ignore Chu Hao’s safety, that was something she truly could not do.
“Right now, the Purple Mansion’s army is already bearing down on the skies above the Vermilion Bird Empire and could clash with Gu Changge at any moment. Once they fight, the Vermilion Bird Empire below will inevitably be reduced to ashes... Wan’er, you don’t want to see the Vermilion Bird Empire destroyed either, right? At a time like this, you have to help me!”
Chu Hao took a deep breath, calming himself down, intending to keep it short.
“Of course I don’t want the Vermilion Bird Empire destroyed either, but how could I possibly stop all this?”
Hearing this, Tang Wan couldn’t help but furrow her brows, feeling that this matter was extremely difficult to handle. The Tang Merchants Family behind her would never dare offend Gu Changge.
If Gu Changge was truly set on dealing with Chu Hao, he wouldn’t need to go through all this trouble.
In her view, this was purely a little trick Gu Changge was playing after learning that Chu Hao still wanted revenge.
This was entirely Chu Hao’s own doing. If he had let go of this hatred sooner, how would things have ever come to this?
“No, I know you must have a way. As long as you go beg Gu Changge, he might just spare the Vermilion Bird Empire. If Gu Changge wants me to submit, then as long as he spares the Vermilion Bird Empire, the grudge between him and me will vanish into thin air from this day forth...”
“I won’t seek revenge on him anymore either.”
Chu Hao said, but toward the end he couldn’t help gritting his teeth—one could see just how stifling and humiliating it was for him to say these words.
He was a man of unbending pride. In the past, begging Gu Changge for mercy would have been utterly impossible for him.
But things had come to this point, and it was no longer up to him.
“If you knew it would come to this today, why did you do it back then?” Tang Wan sighed, not knowing what to say at this moment.
Unfortunately, there was no pill for regret in this world.
“Wan’er, you have to help me. Right now, you’re the only one who can help me!” Chu Hao gritted his teeth.
“You want me to go beg Gu Changge? But how could he possibly agree to see me? And even if he did see me, on what grounds could I persuade him?”
Tang Wan couldn’t help but smile bitterly, feeling utterly helpless. She knew Gu Changge’s character all too well—never mind that he felt nothing for her.
Even if Gu Changge did have designs on her, there was no way he would listen to her words.
This much self-awareness, Tang Wan still had.
“Wan’er, I know you’re close with Gu Changge. If you go beg him, he might consider it.”
As he said these words, Chu Hao nearly ground his teeth to dust. The humiliation had reached its peak, but he had no other choice—he could only confess everything he had witnessed that day.
This matter had always been something he was unwilling to face, but he never imagined that today, in front of Tang Wan, he would personally admit it all!
“That day after you left the imperial palace, I actually followed you. I hid in the shadows and saw what happened between you and Gu Changge...”
“I know it wasn’t of your own free will. You had your reasons.”
“What...”
As Chu Hao spoke these words in utter humiliation,
Tang Wan and Qin Wuya in the courtyard were both stunned, hardly able to believe their ears.
Tang Wan especially felt as if struck by lightning—her body trembled, her face turned pale.
The thing she most wanted to hide from Chu Hao—he had known about it all along, and had known for quite some time.
Who could have imagined that back then, Chu Hao had been hiding in the shadows, witnessing everything in its entirety!
That meant all this time, Chu Hao had been pretending to know nothing, while in his heart, he already understood everything.
And everything she had done—perhaps in Chu Hao’s eyes, it all seemed so ridiculous and hypocritical!
An unimaginable shame abruptly enveloped Tang Wan.
“So you knew all along.”
Thinking of this, Tang Wan’s smile turned somewhat desolate, but it quickly became ice-cold.
“In your eyes, I’m just a woman who clings to the powerful, aren’t I? You weren’t wrong back then. I was the one who took the initiative to curry favor with Gu Changge. As long as I could catch Gu Changge’s eye, then not just me, but even the Tang Family behind me would enjoy endless wealth and glory. And you? You’re merely the prince of a tiny ancient nation. What can you give me? You can’t even set foot in the Tang Family behind me...”
“Wan’er, I... I know you’re not that kind of person. You had your reasons back then.”
Chu Hao was also stunned. He hadn’t expected Tang Wan to react so strongly after he brought this matter up.
He wanted to explain, but Tang Wan’s eyes were filled with nothing but coldness, making her seem like a complete stranger to him.
Especially the words she was saying now—they sounded unbearably harsh to Chu Hao’s ears.
This scene, paired with these words—wasn’t it exactly the situation the Vermilion Bird Empire now faced?
“Chu Hao, shut your mouth! Do you even deserve to call yourself a man?”
Qin Wuya’s eyes were now bloodshot as he glared fixedly at Chu Hao, never imagining he would hear such a thing.
Chu Hao was simply unworthy of Tang Wan’s feelings for him. He clearly knew she had her reasons, that she had no choice—yet now he actually wanted her to go beg Gu Changge for mercy?
From what Chu Hao had said, he could guess that Gu Changge had at most threatened Tang Wan with the Tang Family behind her, forcing her to work for him.
But in Chu Hao’s eyes, that had become a sign of intimacy between Tang Wan and Gu Changge?
Thinking of this, fury surged in Qin Wuya’s heart. He couldn’t cherish and protect Tang Wan enough—yet now Chu Hao was hurting her heart like this?
Boom!!!
In that instant, a terrifying aura erupted. Qin Wuya struck directly at Chu Hao.
A mighty Transcendent technique blanketed the sky, transforming into a giant golden bell that cascaded down waterfall-like order, suppressing downward!
His strength was such that even facing an ordinary Sacred Emperor Realm expert, he could handle it with ease. Dealing with the current Chu Hao, in Qin Wuya’s view, posed no problem whatsoever.
“Pfft...”
Caught off guard, Chu Hao took the blow squarely. He was instantly sent flying from where he stood, his body nearly exploding, in an utterly wretched state.
The nearby buildings and pavilions shattered in an instant, reduced to ashes.
Qin Wuya’s furious strike was something even an ordinary Perfect Prodigy couldn’t withstand—and this was with him holding back so as not to destroy the place. Otherwise, the Vermilion Bird Imperial Capital would have already been reduced to scorched ashes!
“Perfect Prodigy!”
“Damn it, who exactly are you? There’s no way Wan’er has such a powerful expert by her side!”
Chu Hao struggled to rise from the ground, covered in blood, gritting his teeth as he glared fixedly at Qin Wuya.
At this moment, he was naturally furious as well. Having been ambushed, how could he possibly let it go?
Immediately, Chu Hao also struck, displaying a powerful Transcendent technique. The pressure of a Perfect Prodigy swept across heaven and earth as he charged at Qin Wuya to kill.
The two Fortuitous Ones had finally truly come to blows at this moment, and the ferocity and terror of their moves was enough to chill one’s heart.
“...” Tang Wan stared blankly at all of this, completely at a loss.
And just as Chu Hao and Qin Wuya began fighting,
from the distant sky above, a heaven-shaking fluctuation suddenly erupted.
It was a world-shaking aura that abruptly swept down. Great stars trembled one after another, about to fall as if sifted through a sieve.
The firmament quaked, the universe twisted, and boundless sounds of slaughter rang out from that place.
It was unimaginable what kind of great battle was unfolding there—describing it as seas running rampant would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.
Atop an Ancient Battleship, a figure stood tall, his features blurred, five-colored divine light swirling around him, his white robes whiter than snow, his garments fluttering, his bearing transcendent.
“This Tang Wan really hasn’t disappointed me...”
Gu Changge’s smile was rather meaningful. Hearing the System’s notification, he then waved his hand, and a million-strong army charged out from behind him, pressing straight toward the Purple Mansion army ahead!
This great battle—it was time to raise the curtain. It was also a good opportunity to see the results of Hei Yanyu’s training during this period.
Moreover, as the Fortuitous Ones fought each other, the Fortuity points they mutually ground down and lost ended up falling into his hands.
This was something Gu Changge had not anticipated before.
Weng!!!
A tide-like army surged forth. Among them, even those with the lowest cultivation were Partial-Enlightened beings who had undergone countless trials.
They emerged from beside the Ancient Battleships, charging forward in a vast, mighty flood.
Each held an ancient divine weapon, shrouded in immortal radiance, their killing intent billowing, as if they had returned from an asura hell.
Every mount was a pure-blooded creature, raised from youth by the various clans of the Immortal Ancient era.
Their armor was engraved with powerful runes, divine light faintly gleaming, their might boundless.
As they charged, they even displayed various different formations.
Coordinating with one another, their might was overwhelming—even beings with higher cultivation than theirs would feel their hearts palpitate, not daring to contend.
The Purple Mansion army hadn’t expected Gu Changge to be so domineering. He didn’t even give them a chance to react, directly sending his army to attack. In an instant, their entire plan to rescue Heavenly Monarch Ziyang was thrown into chaos.
The army was routed!
Seeing all this, Chu Hao, who was in the midst of fighting Qin Wuya, now despaired as well. He never imagined Gu Changge would leave him no room whatsoever to salvage the situation.
“No...”
He couldn’t help but roar, his eyes bloodshot, like a dying beast.
“Bring out Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.”
At the front of the Ancient Battleship, Gu Changge stood with his hands clasped behind his back. As his order was passed down, a prison cage was quickly pushed out.
Inside was none other than the unconscious, blood-covered Heavenly Monarch Ziyang.
“If you want to save him, then by all means, try.” Gu Changge’s words remained as casual and indifferent as ever.
“Young Master Gu is so terrifying at this moment—annihilating countless people with a single thought...” In the distance from the Ancient Battleship, Xiao Ruoyin, watching this scene, couldn’t help but shudder, her face paling slightly. It was the first time she had witnessed such a vast and horrifying war.
The young man ahead, with a casual wave of his hand, decided the life and death of countless people, his expression never changing from beginning to end.
Weng!
Weng!
Weng!
As Gu Changge’s words fell, the Ancient Battleships trembled one after another. Ancient divine arrays lit up with dazzling brilliance, weaving together billions of rays of light.
Like the veins of a star chart, they formed a peerless sword of light, its killing intent soaring to the heavens, sweeping in all directions, splitting open heaven and earth as it blasted toward the Purple Mansion army ahead.
It was a scene that shook the very sky!
This sword of light contained a supreme strike surpassing the Sacred Realm. Any ordinary Perfect Prodigy who approached would be pulverized, body and soul annihilated.
Any Cultivator would blanch at the sight.
Ahead, Chaos Energy churned, heaven and earth were split apart, as if the world itself had been severed.
The Purple Mansion army collapsed. In a mere instant, tens of thousands of Cultivators turned to ash, body and soul destroyed!
Under the aftershocks of this, the many territories of the Vermilion Bird Empire were like shattered porcelain, effortlessly ground away.
“No...”
Watching this scene, the Vermilion Bird Emperor despaired and instantly fainted dead away.
In the other distant ancient nations, countless Cultivators were so terrified by this scene that their souls trembled, and they fell to their knees.
Boom!!!
Sensing this terrifying aura pressing down upon them, a heaven-shaking presence suddenly surged up from within the boundless Purple Mansion army.
Those were three Sacred Emperor Realm experts!
“You brat of the Gu Family, cease your insolence!”
Beyond that, from the deepest reaches,
a vast and heavy Sword Qi, like mountains and seas bearing down, swept across—a single wisp of sword intent slashing down numerous stars from beyond the sky.
It was a grand and towering figure, whose cultivation had astonishingly reached the Quasi-Nirvana Realm!
This was already the Purple Mansion’s last hope for the rescue—the greatest force they could currently dispatch!