The Godly Illusion Clan That Burns Bridges and Turns the Tables — Nothing Like the Impression

“I understand now. This Gu Changge truly cannot be... underestimated. Right now, the various sects of the outside world harbor no small amount of hatred toward our clan. If he hadn’t dumped the blame onto our clan, we wouldn’t have attracted so many calamities.”

“The most urgent matter at hand is to clarify what actually happened back then as quickly as possible.”

“However, I have one doubt. Weren’t there only four Sect Masters who fought Gu Changge at the time? Why, in the end, did eight people die?”

“What happened to the remaining four?”

After hearing these words, the Godly Illusion Emperor furrowed his brows and began pondering a countermeasure.

At ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this point, even if they declared to the outside world that this matter had nothing to do with them, it would be useless. On the contrary, it would stir up even greater waves — more loss than gain.

After all, that tomb was left behind by their clan’s ancestors. If anything happened to the other forces inside, they would be the first suspects.

And with Gu Changge’s account serving as testimony, the blame was practically nailed firmly onto their heads, impossible to shake off.

They could only honestly swallow their broken teeth along with the bitterness.

Hearing this, Jiang Luoshen was stunned for a moment, somewhat puzzled at first. Then, thinking it over carefully, she suddenly felt that something was wrong.

She had witnessed it with her own eyes back then — the Sect Masters who died at Gu Changge’s hands numbered only four.

So how exactly did the other four die? Suddenly, a possibility occurred to her, and she couldn’t help but shudder.

“Father, do you think it’s possible that Gu Changge killed those four himself, intending to stir up hatred between us and those... sects?”

“According to the reports, Gu Changge was the last one to leave the underground palace. Even if the palace collapsed, it shouldn’t have taken that long.”

“Between him taking the Ancestor’s Divinity Crystal and leaving the underground palace, he definitely did something else...”

“So it was he who killed the other four Sect Masters.”

Jiang Luoshen’s voice trembled slightly.

“Why would Gu Changge do such a thing? Could it be just to frame our clan?”

“What a vicious mind that is.”

Hearing Jiang Luoshen’s analysis, the Godly Illusion Emperor also felt the matter was almost certainly as she said, and his expression grew increasingly... furious.

In an instant, rage blazed within him. He had never imagined that the Godly Illusion Clan would one day be framed like this! Yet the worst part was that to resolve this matter, his only option was to force a smile and submit to Gu Changge, admitting his own misfortune.

If he insisted on opposing Gu Changge, what awaited him would be even greater trouble.

“Father, I think Gu Changge killed those four Sect Masters for some other purpose. Framing our clan was merely incidental.”

“I just don’t understand what he’s really after...”

Jiang Luoshen’s delicate brows knitted tightly as she considered another possibility.

She felt that Gu Changge never did anything without a purpose.

If he truly wanted to frame the Godly Illusion Clan, he wouldn’t have needed to go to such trouble.

“No matter... what the reason, the fact that those eight Sect Masters died at his hands is beyond doubt.”

“Luoshen, that monk and that young man who escaped back then — you must send people to capture them and bring them back.”

“Those two cannot fall into anyone else’s hands! They are the key to resolving this crisis...”

“At the same time, I’m afraid you’ll have to suffer some grievance! Otherwise, our clan may truly face a great catastrophe this time.”

The Godly Illusion Emperor’s expression was grim as he gave his orders.

This was the only solution he could think of — to push all the guilt onto that monk and that mysterious young man.

Moreover, the collapse of the underground palace and the revival of the Array Patterns had nothing to do with Jiang Luoshen.

On the contrary, those two had fled at the critical moment, which looked extremely suspicious no matter how one viewed it.

It was the perfect opportunity to dump this black pot onto their heads.

“I understand, Father.”

Then, Jiang Luoshen gritted her teeth slightly and withdrew, her face pale.

She began dispatching clan members to capture Jiang Chen and Monk Pu Du, who had escaped back then, while simultaneously dealing with this great crisis.

She also understood the meaning behind the Godly Illusion Emperor’s words.

As the saying goes, blocking is inferior to channeling.

The more they argued and tried to wash away the blame, the blacker they would paint themselves.

Conversely, if they admitted partial responsibility and positioned themselves as victims as well, the effect would be entirely different.

There was just one prerequisite — Gu Changge must not interfere in this matter.

Soon after, the Godly Illusion Clan released a piece of news that shocked all parties.

This time, the Godly Illusion Clan had also suffered heavy losses, and had not returned laden with spoils as the outside sects had speculated.

Of the clan members they had dispatched, less than one-tenth returned, and they had not obtained any of the Ancestor’s relics.

The collapse of the underground palace, the revival of the Array Patterns, and the deaths of the various Sect Masters had nothing to do with them whatsoever.

It was all caused by a mysterious young man and a monk.

The origin of the matter was that Jiang Luoshen had been deceived by the two of them.

The pair had guaranteed they could break the many Array Patterns within the tomb, which was why they were brought along to the Godly Illusion Tomb.

But at the critical moment when Jiang Luoshen and Gu Changge were contending for the Ancestor’s relic, the two suddenly struck and snatched the item away.

Then they activated the Array Patterns, causing the underground palace to collapse. Destructive power erupted instantly, resulting in that tragic scene.

To substantiate this account, the Godly Illusion Clan revealed that the mysterious young man was actually the Successor of a Divine Source Master.

His methods were profound and unfathomable — he could alter the momentum of heaven and earth and twist the imprints of Array Patterns.

The Godly Illusion Clan’s Ancestor’s Divinity Crystal had ultimately fallen into his hands as well.

At present, the whereabouts of the two were unknown.

Once this news spread, it immediately caused a massive sensation.

Even the many sects that had intended to demand justice from the Godly Illusion Clan were stunned, unable to recover for a long time.

Because this news was simply too shocking.

The legendary Successor of a Divine Source Master had emerged into the world, and within the Godly Illusion Tomb, he had activated the Array Patterns and trapped and killed everyone! Even the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal had been snatched away by him.

Whether true or false, the moment this news spread, it triggered an earthquake-like upheaval, leaving countless people aghast.

Moreover, the identity of that young man was subsequently exposed by the Godly Illusion Clan.

Jiang Chen! That was the young man’s name.

For a time, the Beyond was once again in an uproar. Although quite a few people doubted the truth of the Godly Illusion Clan’s account,

far more people chose to believe them.

Unless the Godly Illusion Clan was truly stupid, why would they do something like trapping and killing eight Sect Masters and attracting such hatred? Clearly, in this matter, the Godly Illusion Clan had also suffered greatly.

Furthermore, many people connected it with what Gu Changge had said at the time, and felt that the Godly Illusion Clan was not lying.

Very quickly, the name Jiang Chen began to circulate.

Many people also began searching for his whereabouts.

Whether... it was the Godly Illusion Clan’s Ancestor’s Divinity Crystal or the inheritance of a Divine Source Master, both were eye-catching prizes.

Even quite a few rogue cultivators set their sights on him, beginning to keep watch and search for traces of this person everywhere.

As for Jiang Chen himself and Monk Pu Du, after escaping the Godly Illusion Tomb, the first thing they did was... find a place to hide.

But the two never imagined that the Godly Illusion Clan would pull a move like this in the end.

Jiang Chen and Monk Pu Du were both dumbfounded.

“Not only did they burn the bridge after crossing it, now they’ve turned around and bitten us, claiming the two of us snatched the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal in the end...”

Jiang Chen nearly ground his teeth to pieces, his eyes red. He had thought that after escaping the Godly Illusion Tomb, he would be safe.

But he never expected that an even greater danger was waiting for him.

Right now, practically everyone knew he carried great treasures.

The Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal, the inheritance of a Divine Source Master... But he didn’t have any of these things! Not to mention that many people believed he was the one who had trapped and killed the eight Sect Masters.

With such deep hatred, how could they possibly let him go?

“Amitabha. Benefactor Jiang, from this day forward, you and I are... grasshoppers tied to the same rope.”

Monk Pu Du sighed leisurely, taking it rather... philosophically.

“That bitch Jiang Luoshen! She promised to let us go, yet she went back on her word, and now she’s so despicable as to frame me.”

“I not only cleared the path for her and broke so many Array Patterns for her, I even bought her the chance to escape at the very end... And this is how she treats me!”

“When the day comes that I’m strong enough, I won’t let her off.”

The hatred in Jiang Chen’s heart surged to the heavens. Besides... Gu Changge, he now hated yet another person.

In his view, if the Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit hadn’t activated the Array Patterns within the Godly Illusion Tomb back then, the underground palace wouldn’t have collapsed, and Gu Changge wouldn’t have been delayed.

How else could Jiang Luoshen have escaped with her life from Gu Changge’s hands? Yet in the end, she repaid kindness with vengeance!

“Benefactor Jiang, take it easy. Right now, the best thing for the two of us is to find a place to lie low for a while.”

“This humble monk happens to have... a place in mind. I just don’t know if Benefactor Jiang is willing to come along with this humble monk...”

Monk Pu Du pressed his palms together and sighed softly.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen naturally had no reason to hesitate. Right now, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Black-Robed Senior’s whereabouts were unknown, and the Celestial Boat of Creation’s Artifact Spirit had fallen into slumber.

The only one he could rely on was... the fairly dependable Monk Pu Du before him.

“Oh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right, Master Pu Du, I still don’t know your origins.”

Jiang Chen was somewhat curious.

“This humble monk once joined the Buddhist Mountain in his early years, later cultivated at the Floating Buddhist Temple, and was finally expelled from the sect for violating the precepts. As for how many years ago that was... this humble monk has forgotten.”

Monk Pu Du smiled, and for a moment, an aura of vicissitudes emerged from his body, like that of an accomplished eminent monk.

Jiang Chen was taken aback, suddenly feeling that Monk Pu Du was quite mysterious, his cultivation unfathomably deep...

After returning to the True Immortal Academy, the first thing Gu Changge did was... refine the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal along with the many Sources he had harvested within the Godly Illusion Tomb this time.

Several days passed, and his cultivation drew one step closer to the Sacred Emperor Realm.

As for the various rumors in the outside world, he saw them all. Regarding... the Godly Illusion Clan dumping the blame onto Jiang Chen and that... mysterious monk, he wasn’t... particularly surprised.

As the saying goes, if a man doesn’t look out for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him.

As one of the most ancient and long-lived races of the Beyond,

the Godly Illusion Clan naturally didn’t want to provoke public wrath over something like this. Protecting oneself wisely was forever the simplest truth.

It was just that the Godly Illusion Clan seemed to have forgotten one thing.

Gu Changge needed only a single sentence to instantly send their plan down the drain, rendering all their efforts wasted and attracting even greater hatred upon them.

That said, the Godly Illusion Clan’s behavior did carry a hint of submitting to him, of crushing their own teeth and swallowing them down.

Jiang Luoshen knew the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal was in his hands, and she also knew that those... Sect Masters had ultimately died miserably at his hands.

Yet she made no mention of it, instead pinning the blame on others and claiming the Godly Illusion Divinity Crystal was in Jiang Chen’s hands.

In Gu Changge’s eyes, this looked more like the Godly Illusion Clan extending goodwill toward him.

Since that was the case, there was no need for him to keep holding on to the matter.

“There’s still no word from Empress Yao Xi’s side. Before heading to the Demon World, I should... first settle the matter of Bai Lian’er.”

Gu Changge began considering his next moves.

During this period, he had sent quite a few people to investigate Bai Lian’er.

At the same time, he had Yin Mei keep an eye on the various branches of the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion for him.

By now, there were quite a few leads.

Bai Lian’er had always been mysterious; very few people had seen her true face. Even the assassins of the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion had never laid eyes on the real appearance of this... behind-the-scenes master.

So Gu Changge planned to first have people destroy several ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠branches of the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion and capture its important higher-ups.

With Bai Kun in his hands, plus quite a few of the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion’s upper echelons, it was impossible for Bai Lian’er not to show herself.

Unless, by this time, she had already gone to the Demon World.

“Master, at the mountain gate of the True Immortal Academy, the princess of the Godly Illusion Clan, Jiang Luoshen, requests an audience.”

Just as Gu Changge was pondering, a report came from outside the palace, causing his eyes to narrow involuntarily.

Jiang Luoshen requesting an audience? This surprised Gu Changge somewhat. Hadn’t Jiang Luoshen nearly died at his hands back then? And now she actually dared to come looking for him?

He had to admit, her nerve was... quite something. Wasn’t she afraid of being killed by him?

“Could it be that because of the Jiang Chen matter, she wants me to turn a blind eye and not expose the Godly Illusion Clan’s so-called explanation?”

Gu Changge thought of this possibility and couldn’t help but smile. Then he said, “Let her in.”

At the gates of the True Immortal Academy.

Many young prodigies watched this scene in astonishment.

A woman dressed in golden robes, with an absolutely beautiful face, stood there. Her figure was tall, and her entire body seemed to glow.

Her features were exquisite and well-defined, as if meticulously sculpted, flawless to the finest detail. Her golden hair fluttered, and her whole being exuded a cold and noble aura.

It was none other than the princess of the Godly Illusion Clan, Jiang Luoshen.

Many people recognized her, their hearts trembling all the more, not understanding what Jiang Luoshen was doing here.

The matter currently causing an uproar throughout the Beyond was precisely the feud between the Godly Illusion Clan and the various sects.

As the princess of the Godly Illusion Clan, appearing at this place at a time like this —

wasn’t she worried about meeting some mishap? Moreover, this time Jiang Luoshen had no one accompanying her. She stood there like an ancient, unmelting iceberg, radiating a frostiness that warned strangers to keep away.

There was no expression on her face whatsoever.

“Princess Luoshen, please follow me. My master is waiting for you inside the palace.”

Soon, before the mountain gate of the True Immortal Academy, a burly being transformed into divine light and swiftly arrived, cupping his fists toward Jiang Luoshen.

Seeing this scene, everyone was even more horrified. They naturally recognized this burly being as one of Gu Changge’s followers, immensely powerful and quite renowned within the True Immortal Academy.

Didn’t that mean Jiang Luoshen had come here specifically to see Gu Changge? Hadn’t the two of them clashed and fought within the Godly Illusion Tomb?

A peak Sacred Lord Realm expert of the Godly Illusion Clan had even been suppressed and killed by Gu Changge’s hand, shocking everyone.

Now, everyone was extremely curious, wanting to know the reason Jiang Luoshen had come to find Gu Changge.

Could it be that something had happened between the two of them inside the underground palace? However, since Jiang Luoshen dared to show herself here, in the eyes of many, this also indirectly confirmed the authenticity of the news the Godly Illusion Clan had previously released.

Very soon, Jiang Luoshen followed the being leading the way toward the palace where Gu Changge resided.

And the True Immortal Academy was thrown into a commotion by Jiang Luoshen’s arrival.

Many young prodigies who received this news were astonished, emerging one after another from their cave dwellings in various places.

Jiang Luoshen was somewhat famous throughout the vast Beyond.

Although she had only recently emerged into the world, her formidable strength, terrifying talent, and stunning beauty had made her a goddess in the eyes of many prodigies.

The events that had transpired in the Godly Illusion Tomb this time had done nothing to diminish her allure... to the many young prodigies.

Now, she had gone so far as to leave her clan’s territory and come alone to the True Immortal Academy to find Gu Changge, which truly made many prodigies envious.

At the same time, they speculated about what exactly was going on between the two of them.

“Princess Luoshen, my master is inside the palace. This one shall take his leave first.”

With those words, the being who had led the way withdrew.

Jiang Luoshen gazed at the palace. There was no emotional fluctuation on her face, but her heart trembled slightly, and the jade hands hidden within her sleeves clenched tightly.

That... unsettling feeling of fear assaulted her once again.

The sensation of death enveloped her heart.

In a daze, she once again saw the scene of Gu Changge grabbing her by the neck, lifting her up, and then smacking her into a mist of blood with a single palm.

Jiang Luoshen’s face turned slightly pale.

Although her father had given her a protective treasure that would let her flee this place in an instant if anything went wrong,

she still felt uneasy... Coming to see Gu Changge — who knew how much... courage this decision had drained from her.

If it weren’t for the Godly Illusion Clan, she would never have done this. Of course, this calamity was also one she had brought upon herself, so she couldn’t blame anyone else.

Proud and domineering as she was, from the moment she was born, she had been destined to look down upon everything, to become the Emperor of the Godly Illusion Clan in the future.

At a time like this, how could she allow herself to retreat? Thinking of this, Jiang Luoshen took a deep breath, and her face returned to its cold indifference.

She pushed open the palace doors and stepped inside.

But the moment she entered, she caught a faint fragrance of tea drifting over — light and elegantly warm.

Within the great hall, a young man was gently fanning a teapot. His features were refined and handsome, his hair crystalline, flowing with a faint shimmer.

Because his white robes were rather loose, and he seemed to be minding the strength of the flame, he appeared very focused. The expression between his brows was natural and gentle, yet carried a hint of languor.

This was the first time she had ever seen Gu Changge like this.

Jiang Luoshen suddenly froze on the spot, swallowing the words she had intended to say.

Within the Godly Illusion Tomb, Gu Changge’s first impression on her had been one of coldness and dominance — this was a man far more terrifying than herself.

Not only that, he was ruthless, cruel, despicable, and shameless.

But Jiang Luoshen never imagined that after raising her guard and vigilance to the absolute limit, what she would see was Gu Changge casually and naturally brewing tea — vastly different from the image in her mind.

In this state, he instead resembled a banished immortal who had transcended the mortal dust, divine in bearing and otherworldly.

Still, she had not forgotten the fact that she had once been killed by Gu Changge.

“Sit.”

At that moment, Gu Changge’s voice rang out, interrupting Jiang Luoshen’s thoughts.

Without knowing why, she subconsciously sat down on a stone chair to the side.