The Inescapable Net Has Already Been Laid—They Will Not Get Their Wish
The Inescapable Net Has Already Been Laid—They Will Not Get Their Wish
This was an absolutely overwhelming force, and in no small numbers, drawn from various Cults of Immortality, Supreme Dao Lineages, Longevity Families, and Ancient Royal Families.
Every single one of them could shake all eight directions with a stamp of the foot. Their strength and status were beyond imagination—ordinarily, one simply could never lay eyes on them.
Whether they were reclusive rogue cultivators or old monsters emerging from seclusion, their cultivation was unfathomably terrifying; even calling it “immeasurably deep” would fall far short.
With every opening and closing of their eyes, streaks of divine light like the Great Dao itself flowed forth, as though they could evolve entire universes and heavens.
But today, they had all gathered in Divine City to discuss how to slaughter the demoness in red.
According to their calculations and plans, the demoness in red would arrive in this region before long—she would come here.
And this Divine City, within a radius of a million li, was the ideal location. Its population numbered in the tens of millions, and it had existed for an ancient, long stretch of time.
Many of its palaces were engraved with supremely powerful Array Patterns, and even the city walls were infused with divine materials, radiating brilliant rosy light.
Battles fought within Divine City could even withstand the fluctuations of a Sacred King Realm expert—which was precisely the origin of the city’s name. So they would lay down Array Patterns here, ambush their forces, and once the demoness in red arrived, they would strike explosively and trap her within.
In this way, not only could they put an end to her rampage of slaughter, they could also slowly grind her down to nothing.
Moreover, they were merely the first wave.
Afterward, experts from the various clans would continue to arrive, bringing all manner of artifacts and secret treasures, determined to resolve this calamity of the Demon-Burying Abyss.
“This campaign to encircle and annihilate the demoness in red—we shall be troubling all of you.”
Several ancient monks of Buddhist Mountain sat cross-legged where they were, their bearing solemn and dignified, faint golden halos behind their heads, Buddhist light shining everywhere, illuminating every corner.
They spoke kindly, conversing with the many supreme experts before them.
“You high monks are too courteous. This calamity of the demoness in red is something all the Dao Lineages of the Beyond must face.”
An elder with pale golden roc wings answered with a smile, his attitude toward the high monks quite warm.
He was an Ancestor of the Golden-Winged Roc Clan, with cultivation at the Sacred King Realm.
And the Golden-Winged Roc Clan had always been close to Buddhist Mountain, sharing deep ties.
This time, when Buddhist Mountain decided to hold the Demon Slaying Event, the Golden-Winged Roc Clan was the first to support it, dispatching many of the clan’s experts.
Hearing this, the other supreme experts present all nodded in agreement.
Among them were an Ancestor of the Golden Divine Armadillo Clan, the Nine-Headed Lion, an Ancestor of the Sky Demon Clan, and an Ancestor of the Feathered Clan—all of them on close terms with Buddhist Mountain. A portion of those present were very close to Buddhist Mountain. Not far away, within a pavilion, another gathering of supreme experts had assembled, their features blurred, their forms towering and majestic, as though standing in another spacetime. Wisps of divine light coiled around them, making onlookers tremble involuntarily, filling them with the urge to prostrate in worship.
They were the true leaders of the great sects, their strength unfathomable, their power overwhelming.
Though what had come here were not their true bodies, they were not far inferior to their actual strength.
“If this matter is resolved, we might find a way to claim a piece of the demoness in red’s flesh and blood. It is said she comes from that era which cannot be spoken of.”
“Sealed away for countless eras—even if her cultivation once dominated the world, less than one percent of it remains now. If we can probe the mysteries of the Dao techniques upon her body, it would be of great benefit to us all.”
At this moment, they were all discussing in low voices, harboring ulterior designs on the demoness in red. Though they did intend to rid the people of a scourge and eliminate her, their greater motives lay elsewhere.
The demoness in red’s cultivation had very likely already surpassed...
If they could obtain even a small piece of her, it would be a supreme fortuity for them—especially in this current era, where the Celestial Path remains hidden and the Celestial Gate remains shut.
Perhaps they could even glimpse the path of the Celestial Dao through her—would that not be an unimaginable opportunity?
And just as the crowd was discussing, a fluctuation of aura suddenly came from beyond the palace gates, causing the many sect leaders and old monsters to frown and look over. Divine City was now empty; most cultivators had already evacuated.
Save for those with profound cultivation who feared neither life nor death, no one dared remain here.
Of course, behind them were some young prodigies who wished to broaden their horizons. Though their cultivation was insufficient, they held powerful treasures that could protect them at critical moments.
As long as they did not participate and found a place to hide and watch...
Those young juniors were much doted upon by their elders, which was why they had been brought along at such a dangerous time.
This was also a mark of their confidence.
A Great Dao stretched forth through the air, hazy and misty, divine light shining brilliantly, chaotic light flickering in and out of sight, with two figures standing atop it.
The one in front wore white robes, his figure tall and straight, with an otherworldly air about him. He was very young—compared to the many sect leaders and old monsters present, he was practically a child, his age negligible.
Behind him stood a tall figure clad in Dark Iron Battle Armor, golden-eyed, gripping a black long spear, standing at attention like a bodyguard. A terrifying, boundless aura emanated from him, causing the expressions of everyone present to turn solemn, gravity rising in their hearts.
Strong. Unprecedentedly strong. This was the first reaction of the many supreme experts. They dared not underestimate him, feeling that a truly remarkable figure had arrived.
“Young Master Changge?”
“He actually came here too—could it be he also plans to observe this battle?”
The young men and women standing behind the leaders of the Cults of Immortality all recognized the young man upon the Great Dao.
Whether male or female, their gazes revealed shock and reverence.
Though they were of the same generation, his cultivation had reached a point where they could not even catch a glimpse of his back, let alone catch up.
Gu Changge’s current cultivation and power could be called unprecedentedly mighty—he could already sit as an equal with the sect leaders before them, addressing them as peers.
Before Gu Changge, none of them deserved the word “genius.”
By now, Gu Changge was the publicly acknowledged leading figure of the Beyond.
With his aptitude, he was destined to become a Celestial, and no one could stop him.
Of course, many gazes also fell upon the tall figure behind Gu Changge, carefully trying to discern his identity, but none could tell which expert he was.
With such strength and cultivation, he could not possibly be a nobody in the Beyond.
For a time, this caused quite a commotion. Both the older and younger generations walked out of the palaces and pavilions.
Soon, Gu Changge descended from the high skies and landed before the pavilion.
Quite a crowd had already gathered here, all of them leaders of the great sects, sizing him up with complicated gazes.
This was also their first time seeing this young man in person, and even they could not fathom his strength, which stirred their hearts.
“Greetings, Young Master Changge.”
The young prodigies were all quite restrained before Gu Changge, bowing respectfully, no longer daring to treat him as a peer.
“Changge greets the various seniors.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly and nodded slightly, then looked toward the other figures of the older generation, appearing quite casual. Among the younger generation present, he even spotted quite a few familiar faces.
For instance, Ye Langtian, the young master of the Ancient Ye Family, and his sister Ye Liuli.
Ye Langtian, who had once addressed him as an equal, now stood respectfully behind his family head, his gaze toward Gu Changge incomparably complicated.
As for Ye Liuli, she too stared somewhat dazedly.
It had only been a few years since they last met, yet he had already risen to the same height as their fathers’ generation—a height they could only look up to.
The events that had once transpired in the Overworld still surfaced in her mind from time to time.
“May I ask what brings Young Master Changge here?” At this moment, a rather refined middle-aged man asked, holding a feathered fan, his bearing extraordinary with the elegance of a scholar. He was the leader of a great sect.
As he spoke, many people were sizing up Ah Da, who stood respectfully behind Gu Changge, deeply wary.
For his cultivation was impossible to gauge—he felt no weaker than any of them, if not stronger.
And now, such a powerhouse stood at Gu Changge’s side as nothing more than a bodyguard, which they found utterly inconceivable.
“I have come here for the same reason as all of you—naturally, to contribute my own strength to the annihilation of the demoness in red.”
“Back then, within the Demon-Burying Abyss, had I intervened in time, the successor of Buddhist Mountain would not have caused such a catastrophe.”
“Thinking of this matter fills my heart with guilt.” Gu Changge wore a smile, though his tone carried a hint of regret as he explained to the crowd.
The many sect leaders and old monsters were all shrewd old foxes who had lived for countless years—there wasn’t a naive eyelash among them.
They did not entirely believe his words, wondering whether he had some other purpose.
But the young men and women felt deep respect, believing Gu Changge’s conduct lived up to all the rumors—truly admirable.
Even though the emergence of the demoness in red had nothing to do with him, he still came here to contribute his strength to the cause.
In another palace, the ancient monks of Buddhist Mountain heard the discussion and came out as well.
However, upon seeing Gu Changge and hearing his words...
Some of them grew inwardly furious, quite enraged.
Others might not know, but how could they not be clear about the matter of the demoness in red’s emergence? Buddhist Mountain simply had no way to defend itself and had taken the blame for Gu Changge.
Yet now he actually put on the appearance of a good Samaritan—it truly made their hearts burn with anger. They had never seen someone so shameless.
“Oh, the high monks have come at just the right time. I happen to be rather curious—after Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, committed such a grave error, how has Buddhist Mountain dealt with it?”
Seeing the Buddhist Mountain group approach, Gu Changge turned to look at them and asked with a smile, seemingly quite concerned. The other sect leaders’ faces flickered with strange expressions.
They had not expected Gu Changge to immediately go after Buddhist Mountain upon arrival, tearing open their wound and then rubbing salt into it before everyone’s eyes.
Were it anyone else, they might still fear Buddhist Mountain somewhat.
But Gu Changge had no such misgivings, appearing entirely casual, as though asking about some utterly trivial matter.
The monks could hardly maintain their composure, their expressions unnatural, hiding their fury. No matter how good their temperaments, faced with such provocation from Gu Changge, they could hardly remain calm.
Gu Changge was simply bullying them too far—he clearly knew the truth of the matter, yet still humiliated them before everyone like this.
Back then, to seize Buddhist Mountain’s Supreme Treasure, Gu Changge had not hesitated to release the demoness in red. Though his coming now was likely to make up for that mistake...
He still had to humiliate them like this.
They could even see the mockery hidden within Gu Changge’s smile.
“This matter need not trouble Young Master Changge.”
“Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, has already received his due punishment,” said an old monk with very long eyebrows, shaking his head.
Hearing this, Gu Changge said with some regret, “Is that so? Then I can only grieve on behalf of those innocent lives who perished tragically because of the demoness in red’s emergence.”
Hearing these words, not only did the expressions of the Buddhist Mountain monks turn cold, even the other sect leaders and old monsters felt their hearts skip a beat.
They sensed there must be some grudge between Gu Changge and Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk.
Otherwise, Gu Changge would not have said such words in front of the Buddhist Mountain group.
This was clearly no longer a matter of refusing to give face—this was openly making an enemy of them.
“Young Master Changge’s words are mistaken. The demoness in red would have emerged within half a year at the latest—judging by the timing, there really isn’t much difference.”
“Moreover, regarding what Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, did back then, in this old man’s view...”
“Buddhist Mountain would never allow the demoness in red to emerge unchecked.”
“You are still young. You see many things too one-sidedly and cannot comprehend Buddhist Mountain’s painstaking intentions.”
At this point, the Ancestor of the Golden-Winged Roc Clan, seeing the situation turning sour, could not help but frown and step forward, offering this mediation.
In his view, Gu Changge, as a young man, was being too impulsive with these words.
He was close to Buddhist Mountain, and as for the power behind Gu Changge...
So though his words sounded quite polite, the implication was still: you are merely a junior—what do you understand? Everyone present heard it clearly, and their expressions immediately turned rather intrigued as they looked toward this Golden-Winged Roc Clan Ancestor.
“Is that so? So I simply fail to comprehend Buddhist Mountain’s painstaking intentions?”
“May I ask how this senior is addressed?”
Gu Changge’s expression did not change in the slightest upon hearing this. Instead, he looked the Golden-Winged Roc Clan Ancestor over and asked casually.
“I am Jin Yuntian.”
Though the Golden-Winged Roc Clan Ancestor was somewhat puzzled as to why Gu Changge would ask his name at this moment, he still answered.
“Oh. Then perhaps this senior can explain Buddhist Mountain’s painstaking intentions to me. I shall listen attentively.”
Gu Changge smiled casually, his tone sounding quite earnest.
Jin Yuntian’s face stiffened slightly. Those words just now had merely been something he said offhandedly to mediate—how would he know what Buddhist Mountain’s painstaking intentions were?
“It seems this senior cannot explain it after all.” Seeing his expression, Gu Changge smiled, then his expression abruptly turned cold as he said indifferently, “So you were just toying with me?”
As his words fell, everyone instantly felt a terrifying chill sweep over them.
Even the many sect leaders felt their backs go cold, as though enveloped by a dreadful killing intent. The next moment, they saw Gu Changge’s palm strike down toward Jin Yuntian before him—simple and direct, his face incomparably cold. Swathes of golden runes descended through the void, seemingly evolving into a terrifying divine mountain bearing world-destroying might.
“You—”
Jin Yuntian’s expression changed drastically, paling. He had never expected Gu Changge to suddenly attack him out of nowhere, catching him completely off guard.
His entire body blazed with light, golden wings manifesting like one hundred and eight thousand swords, their sharpness pushed to the extreme, terrifying beyond measure, slashing toward Gu Changge to resist his palm strike.
But Gu Changge merely swatted at him casually, like a great wave sweeping across the sky, a divine mountain overturning the heavens, rumbling thunderously as the void collapsed, annihilating all that sword qi.
Then the palm landed upon his body, blasting him flying. With a bang, he exploded directly in midair, bursting into a mist of blood.
Even at the moment of his complete annihilation, body and soul, the eyes of this Golden-Winged Roc Clan Ancestor still held lingering terror, horror, disbelief, and despair—he did not even have time to scream.
He could not believe that Gu Changge had killed him with a single palm strike, his very soul extinguished along with his body.
At this moment, everyone sucked in a cold breath. Even the ancient monks of Buddhist Mountain had their pupils contract, their hearts trembling violently.
It seemed that Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, escaping with his life from Gu Changge’s hands back then had already been an enormous stroke of luck.
To slap Jin Yuntian of the Sacred King Realm to death with one palm—Gu Changge’s strength had likely already reached the Sacred Emperor Realm. The other sect leaders felt chills run through their entire bodies, unable to believe it.
Now they had truly witnessed Gu Changge’s power firsthand, and in their hearts, their regard and wariness of him rose to unprecedented heights.
The young prodigies stared with wide, horrified eyes and gaping mouths—calling their feelings “stormy seas” would hardly suffice.
The Buddhist Mountain monks furrowed their brows tightly but said nothing more.
Though Jin Yuntian being slapped to death by Gu Changge enraged them, they had already endured even the matter of Jin Chan, the Chosen Monk, being framed.
What did something like this amount to, by comparison? The remaining experts of the Golden-Winged Roc Clan were also terrified, not daring to say a word, regretting this Ancestor’s recklessness.
He must have emerged from seclusion only recently and did not know of Gu Changge’s ruthlessness, deceived by his current outward appearance.
“This time, with Young Master Changge’s assistance, the calamity of the demoness in red can surely be resolved.”
At this moment, a group of experts approached from not far away, sleeves billowing, robes fluttering.
Their leader was an old woman in green robes, her face all smiles, her strength unfathomable.
She came from the Green Luan Clan and was one of its Ancestors. She had just witnessed Gu Changge slapping the Golden-Winged Roc Clan Ancestor to death, and her heart had pounded violently—but more than that, she felt delight.
The enmity between the Golden-Winged Roc Clan and the Green Luan Clan was no secret in the Beyond.
And now, Gu Changge had displayed terrifying strength, making the many old monsters dare not underestimate him, treating him with caution.
“May I ask, seniors, what plans do you have for this Demon Slaying Event?”
Subsequently, Gu Changge’s expression returned to normal, as though what he had just slapped to death was merely a fly. His gaze swept over the many sect leaders as he asked with a faint smile. Hearing this, everyone’s expressions shifted slightly. This plan was hardly a secret.
After all, everyone who had come here was here to deal with the demoness in red.
The refined middle-aged man from before smiled gently and explained, “A few days ago, we went to divine the matter, to see whether this affair would proceed smoothly.”
“As a result, we obtained a fragment of Array Patterns closely connected to the Demon-Burying Abyss, said to play a crucial role in this campaign to slay the demoness in red.”
“An Inescapable Net—as long as the demoness in red steps into this place and the Grand Array is activated, given her current state, she will have no way to escape even with wings.”
He explained the plan to Gu Changge—extremely meticulous, ensuring nothing could go wrong. This was also one of their sources of confidence this time.
Hearing this plan, everyone present could not help but smile, already envisioning the scene of the demoness in red falling into their trap.
Not to mention that some among them had brought Nirvana Grade Artifacts, and beyond that, even more terrifying Forbidden Weapons—trump cards for suppressing the situation, limited in the number of uses, but with vast and terrifying power, far beyond...
“A fragment of Array Patterns connected to the Demon-Burying Abyss?”
A strange glint flashed through Gu Changge’s eyes, then he said with seeming surprise, “That is indeed a perfect plan. No matter how profound the demoness in red’s cultivation, I’m afraid even she would find it hard to escape.”
He was indeed somewhat surprised inwardly. He had not expected these people to have laid so many schemes to deal with Chan Hongyi.
Given Chan Hongyi’s current state, once she entered this trap, she was bound to suffer greatly.
Of course, what caught Gu Changge’s attention most was that fragment of Array Patterns connected to the Demon-Burying Abyss—that was likely the key.
But since he now knew of this plan, he would certainly not let them have their wish.
His disciple—how could he allow anyone other than himself to scheme against her?