Young Master of the Great Cloud Domain, Were You Sent by Gu Changge to Protect Me?
Young Master of the Great Cloud Domain, Were You Sent by Gu Changge to Protect Me?
Rumble—
Blood rain poured down in torrents, and heaven-shaking commotion erupted from this place.
Gu Changge sat cross-legged in the depths of the universe. He opened his mouth and let out a great roar, and life Source like an Astral River continuously converged toward him.
Around him, it was as if a massive blood-red cocoon had formed. Then, a graceful figure walked over from the distance, watching all of this without any surprise.
“Their strength is much weaker than the Nine Great Mountains’ Elders.”
Gu Changge opened his eyes and sighed with what seemed like regret.
“They achieved their Dao only recently, so naturally, they can’t compare to the Nine Great Mountains’ Elders.”
The Sky Deer Goddess’s eyes flickered slightly as she spoke, sensing that Gu Changge’s strength had grown considerably once again.
At this rate of improvement, it probably wouldn’t be long before he stepped through the threshold of the Nirvana Dao.
No wonder the younger generation had been left so far behind by Gu Changge that they couldn’t even catch a glimpse of his shadow.
“How is the passage through the Aether Abyss?”
Gu Changge nodded, a strange look crossing his face. Then he lightly raised his hand and struck his own chest with a palm.
Immediately, a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, and his entire aura rapidly withered, as if he had suffered a grievous injury.
Seeing this, the Sky Deer Goddess was stunned. She felt that Gu Changge seemed quite practiced at this—clearly, this was far from his first time doing such a thing.
“The passage through the Aether Abyss has been stabilized. The Beyond can charge through at any time.”
She quickly recovered, her expression somewhat complicated.
This passage had, of course, been personally stabilized by him.
“That’s good. What a pity those three managed to escape in the end. Truly a shame.”
Gu Changge nodded, then sighed with some regret.
The Sky Deer Goddess’s crystalline eyes shimmered with a lustrous glow as she stared fixedly at him, suddenly understanding Gu Changge’s plan.
His feat of single-handedly withstanding three True Daoists was already shocking enough to astound the world.
If he emerged without so much as a scratch, it would only invite suspicion—because his strength was simply too inconceivable.
If Gu Changge’s hidden identity were exposed, he would likely face a situation where the entire world became his enemy in the blink of an eye.
At that point, the entire Beyond probably wouldn’t be able to tolerate him.
And clearly, this was far from the first or second time Gu Changge had done something like this.
“Are you trying to use this to threaten me?” Gu Changge noticed her expression and smiled with amusement.
“Does Young Master Gu really think I would threaten you?” The Sky Deer Goddess shook her head slightly, a calm smile on her lips.
“Of course not.”
Gu Changge smiled, reaching out to stroke her face, his hand finally resting on her snow-white, delicate neck. “Because crushing you to death... really isn’t difficult for me.”
Then, a golden Great Dao appeared beneath their feet, tearing apart the universe here as they departed.
Boom—
Meanwhile, at the site where the two armies clashed, amid the endless slaughter, a sound like the rumbling of the Great Dao rang out.
The void trembled, light blazed brilliantly, and a heavy aura pressed down—as if a passage was being punched through.
Some vast and terrifying existence seemed about to burst out from within.
“This powerful fluctuation... who is tearing through the void and rushing toward this place?”
Some powerful beings of the Beyond instantly sensed it, utterly shocked and bewildered.
“It seems the reinforcements of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains sensed this disturbance and are rushing over.”
Someone speculated, their gaze turning cold.
Boom—
Terrifying divine senses swept out one after another, crashing toward the void like heavenly blades, incomparably sharp.
This was pure Primordial Spirit power—the might of the Sacred Emperor Realm, easily crushing everything before it.
Amid the rumbling, it was as if stars exploded. With a dong, the space ahead collapsed.
There, it was as if heaven and earth were splitting apart, the universe shaking violently, chaos churning, the aura of creation itself surging forth and submerging everything.
“Ahh—”
Suddenly, a scream rang out. A Sacred Emperor of an Ancient Royal Family’s expression changed drastically, feeling as if his body was about to explode.
In an instant, all light in this place vanished, and even the sounds of slaughter faded into nothingness.
A dazzling golden divine sword, brilliant as a blazing sun, surged with sharpness and killing intent as it slashed straight down.
With a puchi—
The screams ceased. That Sacred Emperor of an Ancient Royal Family was slain on the spot.
The void split open, and a Space Tunnel was carved through.
A blurry figure walked out from within. His appearance seemed quite young, yet he could not conceal an air of vicissitude.
White mist swirled around him, his eyes cold as stars, standing tall within the void.
Behind this figure followed the vast, mighty army of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains—clearly, having learned that this place was under siege, they had rushed to provide support based on the spatial coordinates of the Aether Abyss.
The moment they saw him, everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was first stunned, then erupted into earth-shaking cries of astonishment.
Everyone was invigorated and overjoyed, recognizing who had arrived.
“It’s the Young Master of the Great Cloud Domain—he’s come to reinforce us!”
“Wonderful! Our reinforcements have arrived!”
Some cultivators exclaimed excitedly, suddenly glimpsing hope amid despair.
The Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was the collective name for the Eight Wastelands and the Ten Domains, and the Great Cloud Domain was one of those Ten Domains.
Even the many ancient clans residing within a domain had to abide by that domain’s rules.
And the Domain Ruler of each domain held supreme status.
The man who had suddenly appeared was the Young Master of the Great Cloud Domain, named Zhao Yunze, possessing terrifying talent.
He was the unrivalled number one of his generation sixty million years ago. His cultivation had reached the Quasi-Nirvana Realm many years ago, and now it was unfathomably deep.
“Everyone, retreat through the passage. I’ll hold the rear.”
Zhao Yunze looked young and heroic, even his hair strands shining brilliantly.
The first thing he did upon appearing was to raise his hand and unleash a strand of Sword Qi as terrifying as a star, barring the path of the Beyond’s army that sought to pursue.
This single sword strike contained a blazing, unseeable might, surging and vast, as if splitting heaven and earth apart—single-handedly forcing back countless soldiers of the Beyond.
One man blocking an army of millions.
He stood beneath the heavens, his entire body shrouded in mist, his eyes deep and calm, exuding an invincible bearing.
Behind him, many powerful experts arrived in support, responsible for covering everyone’s retreat.
Under this sword strike, even the Quasi-Nirvana level super experts of the Beyond changed expression slightly, feeling palpitations in their hearts.
This man is too strong—his power is beyond what we can match.
“As expected of the Young Master of the Great Cloud Domain—he alone has blocked so many of the Beyond’s armies!”
“Too strong!”
This scene invigorated everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. Even the younger generation, including Xuan Tian and the others, cast reverent gazes toward him.
After all, this was the number one of his generation from sixty million years ago, whose cultivation had suppressed his entire era, with no one able to stand against him.
And now his strength was even more unfathomable—displaying an invincible bearing the moment he appeared.
“This man’s reputation in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains seems considerable—so many people recognize him.”
“But it seems he only intends to buy time. With just one man, can he really stop our army of billions?”
The ancient existences of the Beyond’s various Dao traditions and powers narrowed their eyes, speculating about Zhao Yunze’s identity, then sneered coldly.
Rumble—
They struck first, terrifying might sweeping across heaven and earth. They were the same three True Daoists who had fought the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains earlier, yet facing Zhao Yunze, they showed no fear.
“Those who commit many injustices will bring about their own destruction. The Beyond commits every evil imaginable—retribution will come sooner or later.”
Zhao Yunze’s expression was ice-cold, and especially upon seeing the heavy casualties on the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains’ side, his face grew even frostier.
Moreover, deep within the Aether Abyss, more of the Beyond’s armies were appearing, intending to annihilate everyone here in one fell swoop.
This could only prove that a traitor had emerged from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains—one of high rank, with deep knowledge of the Aether Abyss’s changing routes.
Otherwise, the Beyond could never have entered the Aether Abyss in such a short time.
Who exactly this traitor was would have to be investigated after this matter concluded.
The urgent priority now was to bring everyone back to the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, away from this place.
Thinking of this, Zhao Yunze swept his gaze over everyone and ordered those behind him to evacuate the younger generation first.
Soon, a terrifying great battle erupted here. The starry sky trembled, pierced through like a sieve, with horrifying cracks appearing one after another.
Many ancient existences of the Beyond brought forth their strongest techniques in unison, clashing with Zhao Yunze.
Radiant light dazzled, and this place instantly blurred. All manner of Dao techniques evolved, rules collided, the Great Dao rumbled—as if crossing through time and space, fighting all the way back to the primordial era of chaos.
“Kill!”
From within the Space Tunnel behind Zhao Yunze, a massive army charged out, clashing with the Beyond’s forces before them.
At the same time, they covered the retreat of the many prodigies and higher-ups, evacuating them from this place.
Incredible—Zhao Yunze’s strength was terrifying. Even fighting against numerous Quasi-Nirvana Realm ancient existences, he did not fall behind in the slightest.
Sword Qi swept out from his body, and the already-shattered stars exploded under the aftershocks, reduced to ash.
“This man’s strength is immense. At the same cultivation level, I feel he would be a formidable opponent.” The Sky Demon Sovereign, the King of Six Crowns, the Successor of War Immortal Manor, and the others had all returned to the Ancient Battleship, watching this terrifying battle from afar.
If Zhao Yunze hadn’t suddenly arrived, this battle would likely have already ended.
However, just as Gu Changge had arranged a hidden trump card that caught the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains off guard—
Now, Zhao Yunze’s reinforcements were also beyond the Beyond’s expectations, catching them off guard in turn.
“If Young Master Changge hadn’t arranged that hidden move, we might have suffered a great loss today.”
A prodigy murmured, feeling that Zhao Yunze’s sudden assault was no accident, but a long-standing plan of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
Its purpose was to catch them unprepared.
But because Gu Changge had calculated everything in advance, Zhao Yunze’s appearance to provide support had been anticipated.
“I wonder where Young Master Changge is now. Fighting three True Daoists—even with my strength, I’d likely suffer. Although from the earlier situation, Young Master Changge held considerable advantage, over time it would still be dangerous.”
“Young Master Changge is ultimately still too young. Given a bit more time, he should be able to battle true True Daoists head-on.”
Some people couldn’t help but say, their gazes turning toward the distant depths of the universe, where the fluctuations seemed to have subsided.
It seemed that terrifying battle had also drawn to a close.
This made many somewhat worried—if those three True Daoists of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains came back to kill them, their side would still be in considerable danger.
Hearing these words, Gu Xianer’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
It wasn’t that she lacked confidence in Gu Changge, but three True Daoists—those were existences nearly invincible in the current Beyond.
She wasn’t clear on how Gu Changge had previously annihilated the Nine Great Mountains.
But presumably, without the help of the Gu Family’s Ancestor, Gu Changge alone basically couldn’t have accomplished it.
This battle shouldn’t have been easy for him.
“The Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains are wholly focused on retreating. Their numbers were already small, and compared to the Beyond’s army, they’re far inferior.”
At this moment, someone saw through the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains’ intentions—nearly everyone was rushing toward Zhao Yunze’s location, seeking to retreat through the Space Tunnel they had opened.
However, after this battle, even if the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains’ people managed to escape, their losses were devastating. The army remaining now was less than a tenth of what they had before.
Even many Quasi-Nirvana level experts had been surrounded and slain earlier, their blood mist still drifting through the universe.
“Retreat!”
Seeing that the people of the various clans had mostly evacuated—
Zhao Yunze’s expression darkened, and he suddenly let out a low shout, his entire body blazing like a small sun.
His hair suddenly blazed with light, every strand flying upward, transforming into matchless Sword Qi with sky-piercing sharpness, slashing out in all directions.
In this instant, it was as if tens of millions of sword strikes descended, boundless and blazing.
Each one was incomparably terrifying—existences below the Quasi-Nirvana Realm had no hope of blocking them.
This was one of his secret techniques, requiring considerable expenditure of his Source, but at this moment he could no longer concern himself with that.
Seeing this, the many ancient existences fighting him turned grim, forced to defend themselves, unable to continue their assault.
Moreover, these tens of millions of sword strikes weren’t only aimed at them—most surged toward everyone aboard the Ancient Battleships behind.
Zhao Yunze’s intentions were not simple. This wasn’t merely a retreat—he wanted to use this strike to slaughter the Beyond’s army while he was at it.
Rumble—
In an instant, sword strikes descended one after another, blotting out the sky, heaven and earth overturning, countless rules and orders collapsing, surging like a vast ocean.
One flying vessel and Ancient Battleship after another lit up with radiance, forming divine patterns that interwove continuously, mounting a resistance.
Endless commotion and brilliance erupted from this place.
The ancient existences’ faces darkened one by one, forced to act in defense.
Zhao Yunze’s strength was no longer merely at the Quasi-Nirvana Realm—he was approaching the level of True Daoists.
They were but dharma bodies, and having already expended much in their earlier battle with Xuan Gang and the other two, they were no longer at their peak.
“His target is us.”
Seeing this, the King of Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, the Sky Demon Sovereign, and the others all turned slightly cold, realizing Zhao Yunze’s objective.
Given their status, having come here, they naturally all carried life-saving treasures on their persons.
Though this strike wouldn’t pose much danger to their lives, life-saving treasures were the sort where each one used was one less.
Who wouldn’t feel the sting of that?
Gu Xianer also realized this, a pained expression appearing on her small face as she reluctantly brought out a Jade Talisman.
However, before she could activate the Jade Talisman, a burly black figure, like a war god, suddenly crossed through the void and appeared before her.
A black long spear swept across with the sound of wind and thunder, shattering the incoming Sword Qi.
He stood there, exuding a terrifying might.
“Eh?”
Gu Xianer was somewhat stunned, never expecting that someone would appear to protect her at this moment.
Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be a Quasi-Nirvana expert of the Gu Family.
She was somewhat doubtful—she had never seen this figure before—but she still breathed a sigh of relief and put away that life-saving Jade Talisman.
After all, it could block a strike from a Quasi-Nirvana level existence—it was precious.
However, the other young existences weren’t as lucky as Gu Xianer. They all activated their protective treasures, light blazing brilliantly, and though they withstood the strike, they were left in a sorry state—sent flying, coughing blood from their mouths.
“She has a Quasi-Nirvana expert protecting her?” Princess An Yan of the Hidden An Clan was also in a sorry state, but noticing the terrifying figure before Gu Xianer, she couldn’t help but be stunned, then felt a surge of envy in her heart.
“Was he sent by Gu Changge to protect me?”
Gu Xianer’s eyes were crystalline and moving. Coming to her senses, she stared at the tall figure before her and couldn’t help but ask.
A Quasi-Nirvana Realm existence, hidden in the shadows all along—no one had known before this.
Thinking it over, besides Gu Changge, no one else would have arranged such a thing.
At this, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up slightly. She wanted to grab Gu Changge by the collar right now and demand answers—didn’t you say you wouldn’t care about me anymore?