He Didn't Disappoint — Heaven Rewards the Persistent
He Didn’t Disappoint — Heaven Rewards the Persistent
This time, the Demon Slaying Event held within Divine City could be said to have drawn the attention of practically every orthodoxy and power in the Beyond.
Numerous supreme experts set out carrying Forbidden Weapons, and many ancient monsters who had not appeared for tens of millions of years revealed themselves, their auras towering to the heavens, all intent on hunting down the demoness in red.
Although many people did not participate, they had been keeping a close eye on the matter.
The instant the demoness in red appeared and stepped into Divine City, many Cultivators learned of it. They appeared high in the sky, gazing from afar at the scene within.
All they saw was chaotic light surging skyward, followed by dense chaotic mist spreading out, and peerless heavenly music permeating the air, enveloping all eight directions of heaven and earth.
That place seemed to have become the most ancient of eras, as if transported back to before the creation of the world. Nothing within could be seen clearly anymore.
Even Cultivators supremely proficient in the Heaven Peering Eye found it difficult to glimpse the slightest detail within, yet faintly they could sense the vast, surging fluctuations emanating from that place.
It was as if a peerless war drum had been struck, its sound reverberating in all directions — the sounds of slaughter and furious roars.
Heaven and earth seemed to have been overturned, the universe inverted, the sun and moon losing their light, while great stars beyond the realm trembled one after another and fell.
The sky itself seemed to split apart, boundless light bursting forth, radiant glows shining brilliantly, evolving into all manner of supreme divine weapons.
Those were the weapons of many supreme experts, rising and falling between heaven and earth like blazing great suns, like rolling rivers — a single wisp of their aura could shatter stars beyond the realm.
Yet even such weapons ultimately emitted cracking sounds of shattering, as if they had been blown apart.
Such a sight was utterly astonishing, leaving everyone shaken and curious — just what was the scene within?
How was the battle going?
Could this plan to hunt down the demoness in red actually succeed? But it had to be said, the formations laid out within Divine City were exceedingly profound.
Even the many Cults of Immortality and Ancient Royal Families, attempting to use their clans’ treasured artifacts to disperse the chaotic mist within, found it difficult to see the scene clearly. They could only wait for the outcome.
The longer they waited, the more their hearts palpitated with unease.
But then, when the Array Patterns above Divine City burst open, endless blood-red light illuminated the sky, and in distant places, strange phenomena even began to emerge.
Blood rain fell from the heavens, all living things wailed in grief, blood-colored lotuses took root in the void and bloomed with radiance, and great stars fell one after another.
In faraway lands, even upon the ancestral stars of certain clans, terrifying phenomena manifested. Many people began to weep in grief, tears and snot streaming down, overcome with sorrow.
Those were the signs of a supreme expert’s fall.
As these scenes reflected across all corners of heaven and earth, many people finally reacted, their faces turning deathly pale, feeling terror and trembling.
From the looks of it, this Demon Slaying Event might not go smoothly.
Such terrifying phenomena had not appeared for countless years, and this was the first time they had been so horrifying — the entire sky was dyed blood-red, blood rain pouring down in torrents.
And then, when the sounds of endless slaughter echoed out from within...
One after another, terrifying figures — hair disheveled, utterly horrified, covered in blood — continuously burst out of Divine City, opening Space Tunnels in a desperate bid to escape.
This sight left the onlookers in distant places utterly aghast.
Especially after they personally witnessed an incomparably terrifying existence being enveloped by a blood-red palm print that chased after it from behind, exploding in mid-air — they were even more horrified, their entire bodies turning ice-cold.
What happened afterward confirmed everyone’s suspicions.
This Demon Slaying Event shook the entire Beyond.
However, no one had imagined it would end in such a manner.
What was supposed to be a grand event for hunting the demoness in red had turned into a grand event of marching to one’s death.
The supreme experts of many powers and orthodoxies died tragically within, their bodies and souls utterly annihilated. Even their weapons were blown apart, the divine spirits within them perishing as well — no one survived.
The once glorious and ancient Divine City, with its auspicious vapors surging skyward and silver waterfalls cascading upside down, had become a land of death within a single day.
Corpses and weapon fragments could be seen everywhere, and in some areas, the aftershocks of the battle still lingered.
Cultivators of slightly weaker cultivation who approached would very likely be slain by these residual shockwaves.
Even the blood of the experts who had fallen there contained unimaginable divine might — with chains of order interweaving, a single drop could pierce through countless mountain ranges.
However, many people also noticed that the life Source of this place had been devoured completely.
Thus, they speculated that in the end, the demoness in red had most likely departed.
From this scene, one could see just how cruel and terrifying that battle had been.
The demoness in red’s whereabouts were unknown, and no one knew where she had gone.
And in this battle, the various powers and orthodoxies of the Beyond could be said to have suffered devastating losses.
Many old monsters who had harbored intentions of seizing her flesh and blood after hunting down the demoness in red also perished in pools of blood as a result.
Such a scene could be called tragic to the extreme, without the slightest trace of life to be found.
All the runes had been ground away, the Array Patterns surged endlessly, divine light pierced through the firmament, and no one could control it anymore — danger lurked everywhere.
Those experts who had sensed things going wrong and fled at the time felt lingering fear and chill in their hearts.
If they had hesitated even slightly back then, they would likely have died tragically within, following in the footsteps of the others.
Regarding this battle, many orthodoxies and powers attempted to use secret treasures to reconstruct and recreate the scene of that time, but all of them failed.
The heavenly secrets within Divine City were in complete chaos, all manner of rules and order had been broken, collapsing in every direction.
As such, they could only rely on the accounts of those who had escaped to reconstruct the course of the battle.
Only then did many people learn that the problem had originated at the Eye of the Formation. Because the demoness in red had attempted to break out of the great formation, the Eye of the Formation was left short-handed, and the people there could no longer maintain the formation.
Otherwise, such a tragic scene would never have occurred.
Speaking of which, this was a miscalculation.
For a time, in the many ancient cities of the Beyond, Cultivators and living beings everywhere were discussing this matter, feeling palpitations and worry, believing that the demoness in red was not dead.
Moreover, her trail was impossible to find — no one knew where she was.
What if she suddenly appeared? Wouldn’t that be a devastating catastrophe for them?
“What a great opportunity that was — what a pity it was miscalculated.”
“If only a few more people had been assigned to the Eye of the Formation, perhaps the demoness in red could have been eliminated.”
Inside an ancient city, near a window seat, several young Cultivators were conversing.
There were men and women, young and full of vigor, wearing matching attire — clearly from some orthodoxy.
At this moment, hearing of what had happened in Divine City, their hearts were filled with shock and emotion.
Such matters were too far removed from them. With their cultivation, they were far from qualified to even observe.
Those supreme experts and old monsters all possessed unfathomable cultivation, having lived for tens of millions of years.
Yet even experts of that caliber had perished tragically within.
“I heard that among those responsible for guarding the Eye of the Formation in Divine City this time were Buddhist Mountain and Young Master Changge.”
“Word has already come from Buddhist Mountain — all the monks they dispatched this time have fallen, their Soul Lamps extinguished.”
“As for Young Master Changge, his whereabouts are unknown. Many people suspect he has also met with disaster — though who knows if it’s true or not.”
The several young men and women conversed softly. When they mentioned Gu Changge...
Expressions of reverence and admiration involuntarily appeared on their faces, though their words could not help but carry some sighing and regret.
Because they, too, felt that Gu Changge’s chances this time were grim.
Although Gu Changge’s strength was immense, he was ultimately still a young man. Compared to those old monsters, he was still far too green.
His age didn’t even amount to a fraction of theirs.
And so, the fact that Gu Changge had actually participated in this Demon Slaying Event filled many of the younger generation with boundless admiration.
This required not only strength, but unprecedented courage.
But this time, how many people had escaped from the entire Divine City? Those responsible for guarding the Eye of the Formation were said to have fought the demoness in red while their Source was already damaged.
What chance of victory could such a battle have? In their eyes, it was exceedingly slim. It was just that the Longevity Gu Family had yet to report Gu Changge’s Soul Lamp being extinguished, so no one knew whether he was alive or dead.
Of course, some also speculated that the Longevity Gu Family had concealed the news, unable to accept the matter.
After all, Gu Changge’s brilliance could be said to have illuminated the entire golden age — since ancient times, had anyone ever been able to compare with him? Many people felt profound regret over this.
In any case, opinions varied, and the many orthodoxies and powers of the Beyond were all paying close attention to this matter.
If Gu Changge did not fall, he was bound to reach the supreme heights in this era.
If the Celestial Gate opened, upon the path of Celestials, there would surely be a place for him.
“Whereabouts unknown...”
“Suspected to have fallen...”
And just as these young men and women were discussing...
On the other side, somewhat closer to the staircase.
A woman wearing a bamboo hat and dressed in white was drinking alone.
But the fingers hidden beneath her sleeves were trembling slightly.
The woman in white had features like a painting, her facial features delicate and breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes like flawless gemstones, her hair soft and smooth, her lovely face fair and lustrous, gleaming with a moving radiance.
As she listened, her heart grew somewhat unsettled, her dark brows knitting tightly together.
“Don’t you underestimate that guy’s methods. Even if everyone else dies, nothing will happen to him.”
“You’ve followed him for so long in vain — do you not even understand this much?”
At this moment, another voice sounded in the woman in white’s mind, seemingly quite disbelieving, with a hint of disdain.
“I just suddenly feel that something about this matter is strange.”
“But are we still going to look for the demoness in red now?”
The woman in white shook her head gently and asked.
“The demoness in red’s whereabouts are currently unknown. Since that’s the case, let’s leave it be for now.
Back then, when I fell into the Demon-Burying Abyss, I received her kindness and obtained the Taboo Demonic Arts. Speaking of which, I owe her a favor.”
“If she’s in danger, we have to find a way to help her. Besides, I keep feeling that the Taboo Demonic Arts is missing something.”
“If there’s a chance, I need to ask her about it.”
The other voice in the woman in white’s mind sounded, explaining thus.
“Then I’ll head to the Chaotic Star Territory first to find my sister and swap our identities back.”
“The matters at the Ji Family need to be dealt with.”
The woman in white was none other than Su Qingge. Hearing this, she nodded, then rose and left the teahouse.
During this period, she had been hunting prey everywhere in pursuit of a breakthrough, and her cultivation had progressed quite rapidly.
However, she was ultimately bearing the title of the Successor of Demonic Arts. The many deeds previously committed by the demonic arts organization — such as killing numerous Young Prodigies, including the successor of the White Tiger Clan, the successor of Sky Emperor Mountain, and so on — all these hats had been pinned on her head.
She had no choice but to be careful, lest she encounter those hunting the Successor of Demonic Arts in search of vengeance.
What Su Qingge found somewhat puzzling was that during this period, everyone’s attention on the Successor of Demonic Arts had clearly diminished considerably compared to before.
Because her deeds, compared to what the demonic arts organization had done at the very beginning, could be called a minor witch before a great one.
Over time, although the Successor of Demonic Arts still appeared in various places, everyone assumed she had reined herself in, and attention naturally decreased.
“I hope to hear good news about Gongzi. His methods are numerous, his mind meticulous — in this world, there truly are few who could harm him.”
Su Qingge sighed softly in her heart, involuntarily recalling the events at the True Immortal Academy back then.
Back then, she had nearly exposed her identity — and what had Gu Changge said to her?
She didn’t know how he would feel, or how he would treat her, if he learned of her identity as the Successor of Demonic Arts.
Would it truly be as he said back then — eliminating demons to defend the Dao, carrying out justice on heaven’s behalf, and disposing of this scourge? Meanwhile, by the shores of the Boundary Marker Sea.
Great waves surged to the heavens, the black seawater heavy as billions of jun, containing infinite profundities within, as if worlds upon worlds were churning — weighty and vast.
Within the Boundary Marker Sea, numerous scattered islands could be seen. Upon them were either Space Rifts or ancient Godly Islands containing worlds of their own, where ancient existences dwelled in seclusion.
In the distance, ancient great ships could be seen, their hulls interwoven with Dao patterns and gleaming with divine light, crossing this sea, resisting the All-Repelling Force within, heading off to wage war against the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
“Gu Changge, I never thought you’d see a day like this.”
“If you die at the hands of the demoness in red, I suppose I’d feel somewhat regretful.”
A handsome, refined young man, dressed in blue robes, tall and straight in stature, with ink-black hair, had strands of gleaming divine light interweaving about him.
His entire being exuded an air of confidence and composure. As his eyes opened and closed, wisps of divine light flickered — his cultivation profound. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood upon the Ancient Battleship.
As he spoke, he shook his head, gazing toward the shores of the Boundary Marker Sea.
Once they passed the region ahead, the frontier of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would be within reach.
“Fuzhu, regarding Gu Changge’s disappearance this time, many people believe he may have been abducted by the demoness in red.
The demoness in red could use this to negotiate terms with the Longevity Gu Family. After all, based on the rumors from that time, the demoness in red possessed sentience.”
An old man appeared behind the refined young man and reported respectfully.
“That possibility isn’t very great. But since that possibility exists, other possibilities naturally exist as well — that Gu Changge has actually already been killed by the demoness in red, and the Longevity Gu Family simply refuses to accept it.”
The refined man shook his head slightly. When he mentioned Gu Changge, he narrowed his eyes, a deeply hidden trace of hatred within them.
Although he, too, hoped Gu Changge would die at the demoness in red’s hands, he hoped even more to personally slay this great enemy himself.
The matter of the Vermilion Bird Empire being destroyed as collateral damage back then — he still remembered it vividly.
Times had changed. Back then, he had to rely on others’ charity, merely the prince of a tiny ancient empire, utterly insignificant.
But now, he was the youngest Cave Lord of Supreme Cave Heaven, having become a Sacred Emperor Realm expert at merely three hundred some years of age, wielding boundless authority, his cultivation unfathomable.
Even veteran Sacred Emperor Realm experts were no longer his match.
“Fuzhu speaks truly. Once Gu Changge dies, no one in the Beyond will be left to contest the limelight with you, Fuzhu.”
The refined man was none other than Chu Hao. Hearing these words, the old man behind him could not help but reveal a knowing smile and speak respectfully.
This time, Supreme Cave Heaven had emerged into the world once more, intending to wage war against the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. Besides searching for the Supreme Dao Diagram that had been lost on that side long ago...
The other important matter was to make Chu Hao’s name known.
A Sacred Emperor Realm expert of merely a few hundred years of age — such talent could be called unparalleled through the ages.
Even the other Young Prodigies of this era — such as the King of Six Crowns Jun Yao, the Phoenix Lady, the Saintess of Mortal Palace, the Crown Heir of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty Yue Mingkong, and others — could hardly guarantee breaking through to this realm at a few hundred years of age.
So Chu Hao had every right to be proud of himself.
Yet this era had to produce a monster like Gu Changge, several hundred years younger than him, yet his cultivation was on par with his own.
If compared alongside Gu Changge, others would only find him not worth mentioning.
If it were anyone else, Chu Hao might have just laughed it off and not cared much. But it just had to be his great enemy, Gu Changge.
His former childhood sweetheart Tang Wan had also suffered at his hands, causing their relationship to shatter.
All of this filled him with towering hatred toward Gu Changge.
“Wuu—”
Just then, a strange sound came, as if some kind of instrument was howling across heaven and earth, carrying a terrifying aura.
The sea surface within a radius of several hundred thousand li erupted into terrifying turbulence, and space itself rippled in waves.
However, only those with profound cultivation could hear this sound clearly.
Cultivators of slightly weaker cultivation merely felt a bone-chilling palpitation, as if swept over by some aura that sought to seize away their divine souls.
At this moment, everyone including Chu Hao and all those aboard this Ancient Battleship felt an instant stiffness, their hair standing on end, unable to move at all.
“What is that?”
Chu Hao’s scalp tingled somewhat. Unable to maintain his earlier composure, he stared at the distant region.
It was crimson beacon smoke, seemingly sweeping in from the distant sea surface with astonishing momentum, converging between heaven and earth, as if it could burst out beyond the realm.
Chu Hao activated his Heaven Peering Eye divine ability and could only barely make out the object.
It was a small black flask, very blurry and indistinct. As wisps of black light cascaded down from it, it resembled a pitch-black sun, with all the nearby light being devoured and absorbed by it.
That rolling beacon smoke was the life Source of living beings that had permeated the Boundary Marker Sea over these countless years — sparse, but scattered everywhere.
“Who exactly is this, actually collecting the life Source of this place?”
Chu Hao’s brows furrowed tightly, a chill creeping up his spine. He felt that blurry little black flask was incomparably sinister, devouring the rolling crimson beacon smoke. He dared not look at it another moment.
And at that moment, he noticed that beneath the small black flask...
A black figure stood, holding a long spear, incomparably towering, seemingly standing guard over the small black flask high above.
However, Chu Hao sensed the terror of that black figure and dared not look further, quickly withdrawing his gaze.
In a place like the Boundary Marker Sea, all manner of terrifying existences could be found — unimaginable.
“The priority right now is to find the Supreme Dao Diagram first.”
Chu Hao thought to himself. The very origin of Supreme Cave Heaven was tied to this diagram.
However, due to a certain reason, it had been lost to that realm.
In a hidden Space Rift not far from the shores of the Boundary Marker Sea.
Within the Sanctuary of Resurrection, inside the bronze palace.
Crimson light flickered, wisps of radiant glow swirling and interweaving, transforming into vast life-nourishing soul energy, finally converging into the pool within.
Divine springs bubbled, celestial mist curled, carrying an otherworldly, sacred aura of the Celestial Realm.
“Shi... Shifu...”
“Please... please don’t abandon Hongyi, okay?”
Suddenly, a head emerged from within the pool, strands of dark hair sticking together.
Her skin was fair and delicate, and on her palm-sized little face, her features appeared all the more exquisite, without the slightest flaw to be found.
At this moment, those flawless, moving eyes like black gemstones gazed somewhat weakly and dazedly at the figure at the palace entrance, feeling that he was about to leave her line of sight.
So she couldn’t help but want to stand up from the pool and chase after him.
“I’m just outside the hall. You stay inside and behave.”
Gu Changge did not turn around, merely shaking his head slightly.
“Then... then Shifu must not leave me.”
Chan Hongyi’s head slowly sank back into the pool, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed, as if afraid that Gu Changge would slip away while she wasn’t paying attention.
Her gaze remained much the same as before — no matter what she looked at, it was with a dazed and muddled expression.
She only felt that the pool was very comfortable, that she could no longer feel the pain from before, and that her injuries seemed to be rapidly healing.
Most importantly, she could sense Shifu’s aura.