The Nine Great Mountains Are Destroyed, the World Is Shocked, and a Grand Offensive Begins
The Nine Great Mountains Are Destroyed, the World Is Shocked, and a Grand Offensive Begins
The Second Mountain Elder’s current condition was not good; his aura was withered and weak.
There was a terrifying wound that had nearly torn him apart, and the destructive power within it was constantly destroying his vitality.
As a True Daoist, the vigor of his life force was simply beyond words.
Even a single drop of blood could rebuild his body and forge a new life.
Yet now he had fallen to the point where he could not even recover from his injuries.
He had witnessed Gu Changge’s transformation over the past half month, from initial shock and horror to his current trembling fear—his state of mind had undergone an earth-shaking change.
So this was the reason he possessed such terrifying strength at such a young age.
The Second Mountain Elder watched Gu Changge walk toward him, his face unable to hide his wariness, but he still spoke up.
He did not know why Gu Changge had killed everyone yet spared his life alone.
Now that the Nine Great Mountains had suffered a great calamity, nearly all the disciples were dead, and even the Mountain Elders, who were True Daoists, had fallen in pools of blood.
How could the remaining disciples possibly have survived?
He had even already foreseen the scene of the Nine Great Mountains’ destruction, all its buildings and mountain islands reduced to ruins and ash.
This pained and enraged him, but more than that, he felt regret and deep powerlessness.
If he had detected Gu Changge’s wolfish ambitions a little earlier, things might still have had a chance to turn around.
With the Celestial Seal of the Nine Mountains in hand, the Nine Great Mountains could have become an impregnable fortress.
Even if Gu Changge wanted to break in, it would not have been so easy.
Thinking of this, the Second Mountain Elder had no pleasant expression either for the Sky Deer Goddess who followed behind Gu Changge.
What he could not figure out most was why the Sky Deer Goddess, who was responsible for guarding Sky Deer City, was now so close to Gu Changge.
She had even joined forces with Gu Changge to move against the Nine Great Mountains.
If not for that, how could they have fallen into the trap?
As the Sky Deer Goddess, she had actually colluded with someone from the Beyond to attack the Nine Great Mountains—was she worthy of her position?
The Second Mountain Elder’s face was cold and furious, his voice filled with rage.
However, the Sky Deer Goddess paid him no mind, as if she had not heard what he said at all.
She smiled gently at Gu Changge beside her.
“Now, Young Master Gu should believe me, right?”
“For the sake of Sky Deer City, you truly are ruthless.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge merely smiled and did not answer her question.
“After all, before my shifu of Sky Deer City passed away, she entrusted it to me. No matter the price, I will protect it.”
The Sky Deer Goddess wore a faint smile at the corner of her lips, but her eyes were fixed intently on Gu Changge, as if trying to discern the changes in his expression.
However, Gu Changge’s face showed little change, and she could make out nothing from it.
This left her somewhat disappointed.
He was as inscrutable as ever; she simply could not guess what he was thinking in his heart.
Cooperating with Gu Changge was no different from seeking a tiger’s hide, but she truly had no other choice.
Even the Nine Great Mountains, with their many True Daoists stationed there, had been slaughtered clean by Gu Changge alone.
How could Sky Deer City possibly hold out?
“You have fallen into demonic obsession. If you wanted to protect Sky Deer City, you should have joined forces with us to resist the Beyond’s invasion together, rather than surrendering to them.”
“Have you still not woken up?”
What kind of person was the Second Mountain Elder? In almost an instant, he guessed the whole story and could not help but roar in anger.
This made him even more furious, even somewhat resentful at her failure to fight.
The Sky Deer Goddess’s actions were clearly a sign of falling into demonic corruption.
What kind of logic was it to join forces with the Beyond to attack the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains in order to protect Sky Deer City?
How greedy was the Beyond? How could they possibly spare Sky Deer City because of this?
“What do you know?”
Hearing this, the Sky Deer Goddess’s brows furrowed, and a cold glint flashed through her eyes.
“With just your Nine Great Mountains, how could you stop the Beyond’s army? All these years, have you not been cowering in the Cloud Burial Grounds, not daring to show yourselves?”
“In this invasion by the Beyond, you even tried to seal off the mountains, abandoning the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, including Sky Deer City, to their fate.”
“What right do you have to speak of me?”
If she had any other option, how would she have come to this?
This was nothing more than a faint, slim thread of hope glimpsed in utter despair.
Hearing these words, the Second Mountain Elder’s face froze.
He had indeed planned to abandon the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, abandon Sky Deer City, and seal off the mountains to ensure absolute safety and preserve the Nine Great Mountains.
But before that could be realized, Gu Changge had sent his army to attack.
Moreover, this was no excuse for the Sky Deer Goddess to betray the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, to betray Sky Deer City.
“It seems that even now, you still haven’t figured it out. The Nine Great Mountains have already been reduced to ruins, erased from this world.”
“And the Sky Deer Goddess is far smarter than all of you.”
Seeing the Second Mountain Elder’s expression, Gu Changge could not help but shake his head, putting on a look of pity for him.
“As long as the disciples of the Nine Great Mountains still live, the legacy of our Nine Great Mountains endures. For him to think of destroying the Nine Great Mountains—that is absolutely impossible.”
Hearing this, the Second Mountain Elder’s face turned alternately pale and ashen.
But remembering that he had sent Xiao Yang and Gu Wudi away at the final moment, he still felt somewhat relieved.
They were the last hope and the last spark of the Nine Great Mountains.
As long as they could find the First Mountain Elder, the Nine Great Mountains could still reappear between heaven and earth.
Even if he died now, he would have no shame before the many ancestors of the Nine Great Mountains.
“Oh, is that so?”
“Are you still counting on that useless disciple of yours, Xiao Yang? Even now, have you still not figured out why I killed everyone yet spared your life alone?”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled, his words not bothering to hide his mockery.
He knew what the Second Mountain Elder was thinking, but did he really think that sending Xiao Yang away in advance would settle everything?
Unfortunately, whatever he could think of, Gu Changge had long anticipated, and had schemed against him on this very point.
“What do you mean by that?”
Hearing these words, the Second Mountain Elder’s face suddenly stiffened; something felt wrong.
That familiar sense of dread washed over him once again.
“As a remnant of the Family of Protectors, why do you think I let him go?”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, but the depths of his eyes remained cold and without a ripple.
“What!!! You mean you did it on purpose?”
At this moment, the Second Mountain Elder simply could not believe his ears. His heart shook violently, and his expression changed drastically.
Gu Changge actually knew Xiao Yang’s identity!
How had he learned of it? One must know that besides himself, no one in the entire Nine Great Mountains knew of this matter.
“Gu Wudi—was he also arranged by you?” In the end, he thought of this possibility, his face filled with dejection and endless regret.
Why had he agreed to Gu Wudi’s request back then, sending him away together with Xiao Yang?
So all of this had long been calculated by Gu Changge.
“The Family of Protectors...”
Hearing this, the Sky Deer Goddess’s heart also trembled slightly, and she could not help but look at Gu Changge.
If Gu Changge had not said it, she would not have known that Xiao Yang was actually a remnant of the Family of Protectors.
As the guardian deity of Sky Deer City, she naturally knew of the tragedy that befell the Family of Protectors over twenty years ago.
It was said that the entire clan was massacred, hundreds of people dying tragically, with only very few survivors escaping.
The Family of Protectors had always been few in number, and after this calamity, they were nearly wiped out.
For over twenty years, the Family of Protectors had nearly vanished from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains; not a single one of their clansmen could be found.
Xiao Yang was actually a remnant of the Family of Protectors.
And how had Gu Changge learned of it?
Could it have been that Purple Scripture in his hand back then?
The Sky Deer Goddess recalled seeing Gu Changge bring out that Purple Scripture of his.
So he had used that secret treasure to deduce this matter.
This was truly shocking and unsettling.
Who knew what else such a secret treasure could deduce and peer into?
“The tragedy of the Family of Protectors over twenty years ago—could it also be related to you?”
The Second Mountain Elder suddenly stared fixedly at Gu Changge, blood-red surfacing in his eyes, looking almost ferocious.
“Naturally, it has nothing to do with me.”
“Though it does have something to do with the family behind me.”
Gu Changge shook his head slightly, not minding answering this question for him.
And as he spoke, in the distant sky, an incomparably massive Ancient Battleship descended, wreathed in dense immortal mist and bearing traces of blood, as if it had just fought its way out of an army of thousands.
Many terrifyingly powerful troops stood upon it like demonic shadows, carrying a vast, sky-piercing murderous aura.
It was precisely the army that had charged into the Cloud Burial Grounds.
“Reporting to the Young Master: according to your orders, the Nine Great Mountains have been completely destroyed.”
“All remnants have also been executed.”
A tall, burly Sacred Emperor Realm expert, clad in golden armor, transformed into a divine rainbow and descended upon this place, speaking respectfully to Gu Changge.
Hearing these words, the Second Mountain Elder, who had still harbored a sliver of hope, saw his face turn ashen with despair.
“This is the Second Mountain Elder of the Nine Great Mountains. Throw him into the dungeon and have him watched closely.”
Gu Changge nodded slightly, not surprised in the least.
Presumably, news of his destruction of the Nine Great Mountains would spread very soon.
For the cultivators and living beings of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, this would absolutely be a heavy blow. In their hearts, the transcendent status of the Nine Great Mountains even far exceeded that of Sky Deer City.
At this time, once the news of the Nine Great Mountains’ destruction spread, it was bound to throw countless forces of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains into panic, and morale would plummet.
As for the Beyond’s side, the other forces and Daoist traditions would certainly also take advantage of the chaos to send troops, attempting to break through the Aether Abyss and descend outside Sky Deer City.
Without a doubt, in the following days, news of the Nine Great Mountains’ destruction, just as Gu Changge had predicted, shook the entire Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
Because the battle between the many Mountain Elders and Gu Changge at that time had been far too world-shaking in scale.
Even the universe where the Nine Great Mountains were located had been pierced through, shattered to pieces and riddled with scars.
Between heaven and earth, shattered Principles of Dao and Great Dao imprints were everywhere, Chaos Energy overflowing in all directions, submerging the world. Beings with slightly weaker cultivation dared not set foot there.
Because apart from the terrifying battle, the many broken weapon fragments and severed limbs and remains all contained extremely dreadful fluctuations.
A slight touch could blast a person into dust, body and soul annihilated.
That place had already become a dead zone, a Life Forbidden Area.
It was also for this reason that the cloud tomb shrouding the Nine Great Mountains’ location was destroyed.
Only then did many powerhouses take notice of the legendary location of the Nine Great Mountains.
When they rushed there, they discovered the traces of a terrifying great battle.
Mountain ranges had collapsed, riverbeds had been severed, and horrifying great ravines stretched across all directions of heaven and earth.
Corpses were everywhere, palaces had collapsed into ruins—it no longer bore its former transcendence and mystery.
The Nine Great Mountains had been destroyed by someone.
This news swept through every corner of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains in an instant, like a terrifying great earthquake.
The cultivators and living beings who learned of it all stood frozen in place, their bodies going cold, unable to believe it.
In their eyes, the Nine Great Mountains, like Sky Deer City and the Aether Abyss, were barriers of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains—and the Nine Great Mountains were even more transcendent and mysterious, and likewise even more powerful.
Yet now they had been destroyed without anyone even noticing. How could they accept this?
Many people felt a sense of despair. This invasion by the Beyond, it seemed, would be even more terrifying and ferocious.
The Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would probably be breached.
This matter could be said to have shaken the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains; all cultivators and living beings felt uneasy.
Afterward, many forces began speculating and making deductions, trying to reconstruct the scene of what had happened at the Nine Great Mountains, wanting to know how the Nine Great Mountains had been destroyed and how many powerhouses the Beyond had actually sent.
Judging from the fluctuations that had come from afar at the time, the number of True Daoists engaged in battle had not been small, the fluctuations sweeping across heaven and earth.
But the Boundary Marker Sea had not yet dried up—so how had the Beyond’s True Daoists crossed over?
Such deductions, in the end, naturally uncovered nothing.
The fluctuations there alone were incomparably chaotic; the rules of heaven and earth had been thrown into disorder, and nothing could be discerned at all.
Not to mention the shattered rules of heaven and earth and so on.
For a time, horns sounded and war drums thundered, sweeping across billions of miles.
The many families and sects of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains began leading great armies to rush toward the Aether Abyss outside Sky Deer City, dispatching the elites of their clans, intending to meet the Beyond in battle there.
Compared to the last great battle by the Boundary Marker Sea, the scope affected this time was clearly much broader.
For the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, this was already an incomparably critical and severe moment; they had realized the gravity of the situation.
Because the Aether Abyss could not hold back the Beyond—sooner or later, they would find the correct route.
They might as well take advantage of the fact that the Boundary Marker Sea had not yet dried up to launch a grand counteroffensive and annihilate the Beyond’s vanguard army there.
And unlike the grimness on the side of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, the many Daoist traditions and forces of the Beyond stationed at the Boundary Marker Sea...
Though shaken by the destruction of the Nine Great Mountains, what followed was mostly wild joy.
The Nine Great Mountains were to the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains what sharp claws were to a beast—and now the beast’s claws had been pulled out.
For them, this was naturally a good thing.
And as the ones who destroyed the Nine Great Mountains, the Longevity Gu Family and Gu Changge once again reached an unprecedented peak of fame.
Before this, no one had imagined that Gu Changge would seize this opportunity to lead the Longevity Gu Family, find the location of the Nine Great Mountains, and be the first to destroy them.
The strength of the Nine Great Mountains was absolutely beyond question.
Even in the Beyond, there were few Daoist traditions and forces that could compare with them, possessing so many True Daoists.
An ordinary immortal Daoist tradition’s sect strength was not even a third of the Nine Great Mountains’.
Yet the Longevity Gu Family had merely dispatched a single army and easily destroyed them.
The sensation caused by this matter was even more shocking than when the Purple Mansion was destroyed back then.
The depth of the Longevity Gu Family’s foundations was enough to make one tremble.
Of course, regarding this battle, the various forces could only speculate, believing that the Longevity Gu Family had dispatched quite a few True Daoists.
After all, in their understanding, Gu Changge alone could absolutely not have accomplished such a feat.
Although Gu Changge was powerful, suppressing his peers and earning the admiration of the older generation, he absolutely could not have done something so inconceivable.
Afterward, the many forces and Daoist traditions of the various heavens of the Beyond, upon learning of this matter, dispatched even more troops, gathering to cross the Boundary Marker Sea, preparing to launch a massive offensive.
Including the Phoenix Lady, the King of Six Crowns, the Successor of Mortal Palace, and many other giants of the younger generation, all took this opportunity to rush over, following the forces behind them to attack the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
During this period, quite a few things happened in the Beyond. Many prodigies who had never before appeared in the world emerged—among them ancient freaks, as well as sealed-away descendants of the Ancient Immortal Races.
The great era was glorious, but compared to Gu Changge, all of them seemed dim in radiance, making people lament that they had been born in the wrong era.
Meanwhile, at the peak of the Endless Sea, which bordered the billions upon billions of lower worlds of the Beyond, the demoness in red appeared there, gathering demons from all heavens, establishing her own Devil Mountain, her ferocious might suppressing the universe and striking terror into all under heaven.