The Dagger Revealed When the Map Unrolls—After Today, the Nine Great Mountains Will Cease to Exist
The Dagger Revealed When the Map Unrolls—After Today, the Nine Great Mountains Will Cease to Exist
Chaotic mist shrouded the plaza. Xiao Yang was pinned beneath Gu Wudi’s foot, his face full of... humiliation and fury, his body covered in blood, utterly wretched.
Yet he couldn’t lift his head. His injuries were severe. Wisps of azure light flowed across his body, as if about to seep beneath his skin.
At this moment, my bloodline power, suppressed, began to revive on its own—a surging force, as if about to burst forth.
“Second Mountain Elder, are you not going to acknowledge this now?”
At that moment, a trace of absent-mindedness flickered across Gu Wudi’s expression.
But he quickly recovered his composure, released Xiao Yang, and strode forward with a cold sneer.
“I remember every moment of what just happened clearly.”
“Back then, though my body was not under my control...”
“I could clearly feel every single movement I made, including the execution of every transcendent technique and spell.”
“That was a level I could never have reached before—even my control over my own physique, the excavation of my potential, all reached an unprecedented degree.”
Before this, he could never have imagined that his physique could possess such terrifying methods and divine abilities.
It was simply unthinkable.
Thinking of this, Gu Wudi’s reverence for Gu Changge deepened even further.
“You certainly have some tricks.”
The Second Mountain Elder snorted coldly, staring at Gu Wudi before him with an unfriendly gaze.
Before the eyes of all, though unwilling in his heart, he dared not go back on his word. The other Mountain Elders would not stand idly by and ignore this matter either.
After all, this concerned the handover of the Nine Great Mountains’ Supreme Treasure, the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains.
“It seems the Second Mountain Elder’s disciple is nothing special after all.”
“His methods are passable, but he’s far from being invincible within his realm.”
The Sky Deer Goddess smiled faintly, glancing at Gu Changge as if her words carried a hidden meaning.
“After all, it also depends on who his opponent is.”
Gu Changge smiled nonchalantly.
“My disciple hid his depths so well—he truly gave his master a grand surprise.”
The Third Mountain Elder swept a smug glance at the Second Mountain Elder, then looked at Gu Wudi with immense satisfaction.
“I truly never expected Gu Wudi to give me such an enormous surprise.”
“When Xiao Yang displayed his powerful strength just now, my heart skipped a beat, and I thought things had gone wrong.”
“But the methods Gu Wudi displayed afterward shocked me—and delighted me.”
“Who would have thought that this disciple of mine had hidden strength even deeper than I knew?”
Today, before all the disciples and Mountain Elders, he forcefully suppressed Xiao Yang and seized control of the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains.
That meant for the next tens of millions of years, the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains would be under the Third Mountain’s control.
“Congratulations, Third Mountain Elder, on winning the right to wield the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains.”
The Sky Deer Goddess, smiling, walked over at this moment and offered her congratulations to the Third Mountain Elder.
Hearing this, the other Mountain Elders also appeared, each stepping forward to congratulate the Third Mountain Elder.
In the Nine Great Mountains, whoever wielded the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains would hold the greatest authority in the Nine Great Mountains for what followed.
Why had the Second Mountain Elder dared to openly bully the Third Mountain and propose this contest? Wasn’t it because the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains was in his hands?
Now that this contest was lost, the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains naturally fell into the Third Mountain Elder’s hands.
So for the next tens of millions of years, the entire Nine Great Mountains would be governed by the Third Mountain Elder.
“Second Mountain Elder, I wouldn’t dare break the rules of the Nine Great Mountains.”
“Your disciple will certainly not fail Master’s great expectations.”
Having basked in such glory, Gu Wudi’s face also showed some pride.
However... when his gaze fell upon Gu Changge, his heart tightened, and his reverence for Gu Changge deepened further.
“Since Xiao Yang has lost, this old man will naturally honor the wager and accept defeat.”
The Second Mountain Elder’s expression was ugly. Just as everyone said, before all the disciples and Mountain Elders, he dared not go back on his word, much less break the rules of the Nine Great Mountains.
“Master, wait!”
Just as the Second Mountain Elder finished speaking, Xiao Yang, stumbling over, suddenly interrupted.
His face could not conceal his coldness, his fury, and his deeply buried humiliation.
Today was supposed to be the day I crushed Gu Wudi, washed away my shame, and defended Eldest Senior Sister’s final dignity.
But the result was the opposite of what I had predicted.
Before all the disciples and Mountain Elders, I was forcefully suppressed by Gu Wudi, trampled beneath his foot.
When had Xiao Yang ever experienced such humiliation? It filled my heart with even greater fury.
Moreover, Xiao Yang could be absolutely certain—the one who struck just now was definitely not Gu Wudi, but Gu Changge off to the side.
Gu Wudi absolutely did not possess such powerful strength.
“What is it, Xiao Yang?”
Hearing this, the Second Mountain Elder looked over, somewhat puzzled.
Though I was disappointed, I also knew today’s events couldn’t be blamed on Xiao Yang.
Gu Wudi’s strength had somewhat exceeded everyone’s expectations.
“Master, that contest just now doesn’t count. The one who fought me wasn’t Gu Wudi—someone was meddling from the shadows.”
Xiao Yang’s furious, ice-cold gaze fell upon Gu Changge as he practically ground out the words through clenched teeth.
If Gu Changge hadn’t interfered, how could he have suffered such a crushing defeat?
The moment these words came out, the place fell silent.
The expressions of all disciples and Mountain Elders shifted slightly. They were shaken, looking at Xiao Yang in disbelief.
Some even furrowed their brows, displeasure rising in their hearts, feeling they had misjudged Xiao Yang.
A win is a win, a loss is a loss—yet he actually said the contest just now didn’t count. How disappointing.
I thought Junior Brother Xiao Yang would be a magnanimous person. I never expected he couldn’t accept defeat...
“Ah, how could you say such a thing?”
Many female disciples who were usually on good terms with Xiao Yang now furrowed their delicate brows, their faces showing displeasure, looking at him as if he were a complete stranger.
Many people nodded in agreement, unable to understand why Xiao Yang would say such a thing.
Did he think he hadn’t lost enough face already?
After all, everyone had witnessed with their own eyes the Chosen One Gu Wudi unleash his powerful divine abilities and forcefully defeat Xiao Yang.
They even recognized the techniques involved—some had even cultivated them themselves.
But now Xiao Yang claimed the one who fought him was actually someone else.
How could anyone believe that?
“Heh heh, Second Mountain Elder, so this is the fine disciple you raised.”
Hearing this, the Third Mountain Elder was stunned, then fury surfaced on his face, and he couldn’t help but sneer. He never expected Xiao Yang to say such a thing.
This was no longer a matter of winning or losing—it concerned a person’s character.
Back then, how readily had Xiao Yang agreed to this contest, and how confident had he been? Yet now, having lost, he turned around and refused to acknowledge it.
Such behavior could only make people feel contempt.
“Xiao Yang, say no more.”
The Second Mountain Elder also understood what Xiao Yang meant by these words. He sighed and waved his hand.
So what if they knew? How could they produce any evidence?
Have another match?
Setting aside the consequences of that, who knew whether Gu Wudi still had those methods from before? What if they lost again?
They had already lost enough face today.
“Master!”
Xiao Yang was utterly unwilling. If the matter ended just like this...
...then how could I wash away today’s humiliation?
“Sore loser, is this all you’re capable of?”
Gu Wudi sneered coldly, his words full of disdain and mockery.
“...”
“If this person hadn’t interfered, how could I have won so easily?”
Xiao Yang’s gaze was furious and icy as he stared coldly at him.
If looks could kill, I would probably have already torn Gu Wudi to pieces, cut him into a thousand slices.
“So this is the disciple the Second Mountain Elder raised. Today has truly been an eye-opener for me.”
At this moment, Gu Changge didn’t forget to let out a light chuckle, his tone rather amused.
Judging by today’s events, Xiao Yang was gradually losing the hearts of the people among the disciples of the Nine Great Mountains.
Although Gu Changge would begin moving against the Nine Great Mountains once he obtained the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains, fleecing Xiao Yang a little at this moment was merely a matter of convenience.
“...”
“The one who fought me just now was actually him—not Gu Wudi at all! That despicable wretch actually helped him in such a way!”
“Your victory was utterly dishonorable!”
Xiao Yang hadn’t expected Gu Changge to step forward and speak at this moment. His fury grew, his eyes ice-cold.
This great enemy before him had not only killed Eldest Senior Sister—now he was secretly aiding Gu Wudi and the Third Mountain Elder to seize the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains.
The face of a villain drunk on success.
If I don’t avenge this grudge in this lifetime, then I am unworthy of being human!
“Wearing battle armor of the Emperor Realm level and still no match for the Chosen One, and now he has the gall to claim the victory was dishonorable?”
“We never saw the Chosen One bring out a single artifact—if anything, Xiao Yang was the one who used plenty of methods and weapons.”
“Thank goodness a Supreme Treasure like the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains didn’t fall into his hands, or it truly would have been a pearl cast before swine.”
Hearing Xiao Yang’s furious words, many disciples also spoke up one after another, their faces full of anger and dissatisfaction.
After all, everyone had seen it—the Second Mountain Elder had even bestowed an Emperor Realm level battle armor upon Xiao Yang for this contest.
With both fighters’ strength suppressed to the same realm, it was actually Xiao Yang who held the advantage.
Now that he claimed his opponent’s victory was dishonorable, it instantly provoked public outrage.
“Junior Brother Xiao Yang, why must it come to this? If you couldn’t accept losing, why did you agree back then? All these years, cultivating bitterly day and night, sparing no effort—all so that on this day, I could openly and honorably take back the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains.”
At this moment, seeing the scene, a cold sneer flashed across Gu Wudi’s face before he returned to normal, shaking his head with a sigh.
Many disciples were moved by his words, their hearts surging with emotion. From today’s battle between Gu Wudi and Xiao Yang, they had witnessed the tremendous transformation in Gu Wudi’s strength, and many were inspired.
If even the Chosen One worked this hard, how could ordinary disciples like them afford to slack off?
Xiao Yang, on the other hand, lost and then refused to admit it.
“So Junior Brother is this kind of person. We truly misjudged him.”
“The Chosen One clearly cultivated bitterly day and night and displayed powerful strength today, yet he deliberately slanders him.”
“Fine if he can’t accept losing, but he’s even jealous. Someone like him will never amount to anything in this lifetime...”
For a moment, numerous disciples spoke up one after another, their words full of mockery, leaving Xiao Yang frozen in place, eyes wide, unable to believe this was everyone’s attitude.
His face turned alternately green and white, his fists clenched deathly tight, utterly unwilling.
The disciples who had been on good terms with him before now wore cold, mocking expressions.
The entire Nine Great Mountains seemed to be rejecting him...
“Xiao Yang, you need say no more about today’s matter. We lost, and that’s that. The Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains belongs to the Chosen One.”
Seeing this, the Second Mountain Elder sighed. With a wave of his sleeve, hazy azure light descended, sending a gentle force into Xiao Yang’s body, rousing him from his state.
At the same time, it helped Xiao Yang recover from his injuries.
He understood that after today, the entire Nine Great Mountains would likely change their view of Xiao Yang because of this matter.
The tide had turned. With the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains fallen into the Third Mountain’s hands, after sending Xiao Yang away from the Nine Great Mountains, he too resolved to enter death seclusion, no longer concerning himself with the affairs of the Nine Great Mountains.
Then, with a great sweep of his sleeve, the Second Mountain Elder departed with Xiao Yang and the disciples of the Second Mountain. A great path stretched out and vanished beyond the horizon.
All the Mountain Elders watched this scene with varied feelings. Some sighed, while others laughed coldly with schadenfreude.
Gu Wudi’s suddenly revealed powerful strength had surprised them somewhat, but they didn’t overthink it the way the Second Mountain Elder had.
Because the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains would only ever fall to the Second Mountain or the Third Mountain. There was no need for them to wade in—it would only waste time and make enemies.
Soon, with a buzzing hum, the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains floating above the heavens emitted a violent tremor, then withdrew all its radiance and descended from the sky.
Finally, it transformed into a small cyan seal the size of a palm, flowing with brilliant light, wisps of Chaos Energy trailing down, landing in Gu Wudi’s hand.
“So this is the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains.”
Gu Wudi was somewhat excited and trembling, feeling the vast and boundless power contained within, as if it could be unleashed at any moment to suppress and annihilate everything.
At this moment, I even felt as if I controlled the entire Nine Great Mountains.
“Good disciple!”
The Third Mountain Elder’s face could hardly conceal his excitement and exhilaration as he stared intently at the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains before him. After all, this was the Supreme Treasure of the Nine Great Mountains.
I had coveted it for nearly ten million years, and today it was finally in my grasp. How could I not be excited?
However, the smile on the Third Mountain Elder’s face stiffened somewhat—after obtaining the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains, Gu Wudi did not hand it to his master right away.
Instead, with a respectful expression, he presented it to Gu Changge beside him.
This scene not only stunned the Third Mountain Elder and the others, but also left the many disciples who had yet to leave dumbfounded, their minds unable to process it.
“This is the Supreme Treasure of our Nine Great Mountains. With Young Master Changge’s status, you’ve probably seen many similar...”
However, the Third Mountain Elder quickly recovered, figuring this was just that fellow Gu Wudi trying to curry favor with Gu Changge.
Though somewhat annoyed in his heart, he still smiled and prepared to explain things to Gu Changge.
The other six Mountain Elders, however, suddenly felt the atmosphere was somewhat strange. After obtaining the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains, Gu Wudi hadn’t given it to his own master.
Instead, he gave it to Gu Changge.
What did that mean?
Their expressions turned somewhat intrigued. It seemed that in Gu Wudi’s heart, his master’s status couldn’t compare to this mysterious young man before him.
“I have indeed seen many similar items. The Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains—so it truly was naturally condensed from a Wondrous Stone...”
Gu Changge nodded, black and white divine light blazing brilliantly in his eyes, quite dazzling.
He carefully examined the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains in his hand. Though it appeared extremely heavy and massive...
...it was unexpectedly light. Wisps of Chaos Energy trailed down between my fingers.
The terrifying power that could crush great mountains seemed to have vanished entirely.
He understood this was caused by the Innate Patterns contained within.
Beyond that, the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains was also an innate treasure, bearing no few innate Dao patterns, containing terrifying power capable of easily suppressing True Daoists.
“Young Master Changge is truly well-informed. The Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains is said to have been formed from an Innate Immortal Stone from the ends of heaven and earth, born within the Chaos Sea. Its origins are incomparably ancient, dating back countless epochs.”
Hearing this, the Third Mountain Elder couldn’t help but praise, yet his eyes remained fixed on the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains, utterly unable to look away.
“Is that so?”
Gu Changge chuckled lightly, his sleeve fluttering gently.
Streaks of brilliant, resplendent Grand Runes suddenly transformed into chains, branding themselves onto the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains in his hand.
The surging, vast aura gradually fell silent, turning it into an ordinary, unremarkable stone seal.
The next instant, the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains suddenly vanished from his hand, soundlessly, as if it had fallen into another world.
“This...”
“Young Master Changge, what is the meaning of this?”
The smile on the Third Mountain Elder’s face vanished, his expression frozen, somewhat unable to comprehend Gu Changge’s actions.
The other Mountain Elders also furrowed their brows, watching this scene in shock and confusion.
“Could it be that even now, the Third Mountain Elder still doesn’t know my purpose in coming here?”
Seeing everyone’s shocked expressions, Gu Changge remained unhurried, asking with a rather intrigued expression.
“Wudi, what is the meaning of this?”
An ominous feeling rose in the Third Mountain Elder’s heart, and he couldn’t help but shout at Gu Wudi.
However, Gu Wudi, who was usually so respectful toward me, now seemed not to hear my words at all. Instead, he stood extremely respectfully behind Gu Changge, his golden armor gleaming with divine light, a powerful aura emerging that shattered the restrictions from before.
“Something’s wrong!”
The expressions of the many Mountain Elders changed drastically as they sensed something amiss.
They had lived for countless years and were beings of the True Daoist level. Almost instantly, they felt a terrifying killing intent sweeping in from a distant land, abruptly enveloping the entire continent.
BOOM—
At that moment, from the edge of the distant sky, monstrous killing intent suddenly erupted forth.
The terrifying momentum swept in all directions, like the pounding of heavenly drums, nearly tearing eardrums and shaking hearts and minds.
Black clouds billowed, blotting out the sky and sun. One after another, terrifying riders wielding heavenly sabers, war halberds, and long spears, mounted on ferocious beasts, charged forth from there.
Thousands upon thousands of troops came galloping and killing, covering the sky and earth, their killing intent seemingly capable of splitting the firmament.
“ENEMY ATTACK!”
Someone in the Nine Great Mountains reacted, unable to hold back a great shout, eyes splitting with fury as they yelled to everyone.
At this moment, nearly every disciple on the entire continent was horrified to the extreme.
Even watching from afar, they were nearly shattered by that terrifying aura—their bodies simply couldn’t withstand it.
“Who exactly are you?!”
At this point, no matter how slow one’s reaction, everyone understood this matter was absolutely inseparable from Gu Changge.
Terrifying pressure surged from the bodies of the several Mountain Elders, their expressions ugly and ice-cold as they stared fixedly at Gu Changge.
Killing intent soared to the heavens, imperial might ran rampant. The instant it erupted, it nearly tore this stretch of heaven and earth apart, overturning mountains and rivers, collapsing the universe.
They were all True Daoists who had cultivated in the Nine Great Mountains for countless years.
Now, hearts shaking with fury, they didn’t bother concealing it at all. As monstrous fluctuations spread, heaven and earth changed color, and the sun and moon lost their light.
A single wisp of imperial might could annihilate mountains and rivers across tens of millions of miles. Every living being and cultivator on the entire continent trembled.
In the distant outer realms, the stars of the heavens all quivered, about to plummet down together.
Since ancient times, whenever a true imperial war broke out, it would affect hundreds of millions of miles—let alone now, with seven True Daoists gathered before them.
Each one’s cultivation was incomparably profound and vast, never displayed in ordinary times.
Once revealed, it was world-shaking might, surging like an Astral River, their blood qi like a universe, capable of swallowing sun and moon, of destroying the stars of the heavens with a single hand...
“So this... this was your goal all along!”
The Third Mountain Elder finally reacted, his voice trembling, his face ashen, unable to conceal his rage.
I never knew of Gu Changge’s wolfish ambitions.
These past days, I even treated him as an honored guest—fine food and drink, utmost solemnity, not daring to slight him.
Yet in the end, he actually brought an army to attack the Nine Great Mountains!
This made fury surge in his heart, his stifled resentment impossible to vent—he nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.
All the disciples stared at everything in dumbstruck horror. They never imagined that the Nine Great Mountains, peaceful for countless years, would today face thousands upon thousands of troops coming to slaughter them—the sheer scale of it was simply chilling and terrifying.
And the source of it all was actually that young man who had come here days before.
The map unrolled, the dagger revealed.
Yet even now, he maintained that same casual, unperturbed, transcendent demeanor, entirely unconcerned.
“I’ll give you all one chance. Those who surrender shall live. Those who resist shall die.”
“After today, the Nine Great Mountains will cease to exist in this world.”
Gu Changge seemed indifferent to everyone’s furious, ice-cold expressions. His gaze swept over the six Mountain Elders before him, the smile on his face gradually fading as he spoke coldly.