Live or Die, the Dagger Revealed as the True Purpose Emerges?
Live or Die, the Dagger Revealed as the True Purpose Emerges?
As this voice suddenly rang out, the Heavenly Deer Divine Hall fell silent for an instant.
The many seated leaders of the various clans had never imagined that at a moment like this, someone would actually step forward and say such words to Gu Changge.
They were utterly shaken, and every gaze turned in unison toward Xiao Yang.
Even the First Mountain Elder, standing beside Xiao Yang, furrowed his brows slightly, feeling that Xiao Yang was being far too hasty.
“So it’s him, that disciple of the Nine Great Mountains. I heard he’s even a personal disciple of the Second Mountain Elder of the Nine Great Mountains. And that golden-robed man beside him is Gu Wudi, the Chosen One of the Nine Great Mountains.”
“Is he trying to get himself killed? Saying something like that at a time like this.”
Soon after, quite a few people recognized Xiao Yang, and understanding dawned in their hearts.
However, even more people were displeased, worried that Xiao Yang’s behavior would provoke Gu Changge’s displeasure.
Right now, all their clans were grasshoppers tied to the same rope. If Xiao Yang ruined the bigger picture...
They wouldn’t care about Xiao Yang’s identity—when the time came, they wouldn’t let him off.
“You want to see your shifu and your sister? Very well. This is also a good opportunity to let everyone here witness my sincerity.”
Gu Changge was neither surprised nor bothered by these words, and he smiled faintly.
And as his words fell, several figures suddenly walked in from outside the divine hall.
Everyone’s gazes involuntarily turned toward them, their pupils contracting slightly.
The person at the front was none other than the Second Mountain Elder of the Nine Great Mountains. However, his current expression was rather complicated. Although he had not suffered any torture, his cultivation and magic power were sealed, impossible to use.
Behind the Second Mountain Elder followed Luo Ying.
As for Luo Feng, Gu Changge did not have him appear at this time.
Seeing this scene, everyone in the hall was somewhat shocked. Then they carefully examined the Second Mountain Elder and Luo Ying, and finding that neither of them had suffered any harm, they felt puzzled but also couldn’t help breathing a sigh of relief.
From the looks of it, Gu Changge had indeed come with sincerity and had not harmed the hostages in his hands.
This caused hope to suddenly rise in their hearts.
This Hongmen Banquet was not, as they had previously guessed, completely without any chance.
If it wasn’t that Gu Changge’s ambitions were enormous, then it meant he truly intended to discuss the Peace Treaty.
“Shifu... Sister...”
Seeing the Second Mountain Elder and Luo Ying, Xiao Yang’s eyes instantly turned red, his voice trembling. Even though he had never seen Luo Ying with his own eyes before...
Just from the instinct of this moment alone, that feeling of blood being thicker than water, he could be certain that this person was his sister.
“Xiao Yang...”
The Second Mountain Elder had never imagined there would be a day when he would see his disciple again. His expression grew even more complicated—somewhat gratified, but more than that, helpless and pained.
He could tell that during this period, Xiao Yang had matured quite a bit and was no longer as rash and impetuous as before.
“You’re... my little brother...” Luo Ying stared fixedly at Xiao Yang, her body trembling as well, her words shaking, her eyes slightly red.
If nothing unexpected had happened, the Xiao Yang of today was her only remaining family in this world.
Gu Changge smiled and said, “I always keep my word. If this treaty is successfully concluded, what’s the harm in releasing them?”
However, he did not give them the chance to reminisce. With a wave of his hand, the subordinates beside Luo Ying and the Second Mountain Elder quickly led them away.
The people inside the divine hall watched this scene, none daring to speak up and stop it.
Xiao Yang, on the other hand, grew even redder in the eyes, his hatred impossible to conceal. Pale cyan runes surged across his body, and his entire aura seemed to be evolving toward some unknown state.
“Gu Changge, release my shifu and my sister right now.”
He practically ground out the words through his teeth, his whole being like an enraged ferocious beast.
“Xiao Yang, shut up.” Seeing this, the First Mountain Elder’s brows furrowed, and he couldn’t help but shout.
The rest of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains also frowned, somewhat displeased with Xiao Yang.
If not for their wariness of the First Mountain Elder’s presence, quite a few of them would have wanted to make a move to shut Xiao Yang up. Everyone present was a true ruler of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, and none of them had even spoken yet—since when was it the place of a junior like him to come out and make a racket?
“Junior Brother Xiao Yang, don’t say any more. Since Gu Changge has already said that if the treaty goes smoothly, he will release the Second Mountain Elder and your sister, then he certainly won’t go back on his word.”
“Acting like this will only make this matter more troublesome.”
At this moment, it was instead Gu Wudi beside Xiao Yang who sighed, tugged at Xiao Yang, and explained in a low voice.
Although Xiao Yang understood this reasoning, he was still unwilling in his heart. Especially having just seen his shifu and sister with his own eyes, he wished he could rescue them right this instant.
Gu Changge paid no mind to the hopping Xiao Yang. In his eyes, Xiao Yang was no different from a dead man; letting him clamor for a while was no hindrance.
“Young Master Changge, what exactly is this Peace Treaty you spoke of this time?”
Xiao Yang’s affair was, in the eyes of many, merely an insignificant interlude. What they cared about was the matter of survival for the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains this time.
At once, the Domain Lord of the Crimson Shack Domain stood up. He wore a fiery red robe, and even his hair was red, like a god of fire.
His entire being carried the world-shaking aura of a blazing divine flame.
His question was also the focus of everyone’s concern, and immediately all eyes turned over in unison.
Gu Changge sat upright in the seat of honor, unhurriedly drinking his wine.
Hearing this, he set down his cup and smiled. “Naturally, it is exactly as the words suggest—the two realms restore peace and reduce the slaughter.”
“Do you truly mean that?”
Hearing these words, many people’s hearts stirred. Although it felt unbelievable, they could not hide their hope.
If peace could truly be restored, then it was naturally something they could only wish for.
“These words are naturally true. We can swear a Dao Heart Oath as proof. Of course, the premise is how this treaty is to be set.” Gu Changge smiled faintly.
“A Dao Heart Oath?”
“Very well. Please elaborate, Young Master Changge.”
Everyone present was no stranger to the Dao Heart Oath. It could be called one of the most severe oaths for a Cultivator.
Unless one did not wish to break through in cultivation for the rest of one’s life, or wished to suffer the backlash of inner demons and fall into qi deviation, no one would dare violate a Dao Heart Oath.
So they actually believed Gu Changge’s words to a certain degree, feeling that this Hongmen Banquet did not seem to be the certain death they had imagined.
“It seems everyone here is a smart person. Speaking with smart people is simple indeed...”
Gu Changge nodded slightly, a light smile on his face, and then said unhurriedly, “Actually, this Peace Treaty is very simple. From this day forth, the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains will become a subordinate Overworld of my Beyond. Apart from being at the Beyond’s disposal, each year you must also offer up a certain amount of resources and goods...”
However, before he could finish these words, the expressions of everyone in the divine hall had already changed. Many even shot to their feet at once, their faces drastically altered, anger written across their features.
“Gu Changge, you bully us too far! How is this any different from surrendering to the Beyond and becoming slaves of the Beyond?”
“You keep talking about a Peace Treaty, but this is your so-called Peace Treaty? This is clearly a slave treaty! Forgive us, but we cannot comply.”
Several Domain Lords stood up in unison, their expressions ugly, voicing their fury at the first opportunity.
At the start, they had still held some expectations, but upon hearing Gu Changge’s words, they understood.
What Peace Treaty was this? It was clearly a slave treaty, merely given a nicer-sounding name.
“At the Beyond’s disposal—how is this any different from urging us to surrender?”
The leaders of the other great clans also had extremely gloomy expressions, feeling that Gu Changge was simply bullying them too far.
And to think that at the start they had believed Gu Changge was showing great mercy, intending to spare the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
Now it seemed he had deceived everyone into coming here in order to catch them all in one net.
At this moment, everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains turned their gazes toward the First Mountain Elder, who had yet to speak, wanting to hear his opinion.
“I gave you a choice. It is not that I did not give you a chance.”
Gu Changge’s face still wore a faint smile as he said, “From the looks of it now, it seems you do not intend to appreciate the favor.”
As these words came out, everyone present felt a chill run down their backs, sensing Gu Changge’s undisguised killing intent.
Could it be that everyone here would die miserably today?
“Is there no room for negotiation at all?”
The First Mountain Elder’s brows furrowed, and at this moment he couldn’t help but speak up and ask.
In his eyes, this Peace Treaty was actually unimportant. What mattered was rescuing Luo Feng.
Whatever became of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains then would have nothing to do with him.
But today Gu Changge had not let Luo Feng appear, which made him feel the matter was somewhat tricky—he still needed time to find where Luo Feng was.
So the best plan was still to stall for time.
“What room for negotiation do you still want? At this point, do the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains still have a choice? Either live, or die.”
The smile on Gu Changge’s face faded, turning somewhat cold.
As he stood up, his sleeves swept out, and his words fell.
From outside the Heavenly Deer Divine Hall, a vast and terrifying fluctuation suddenly came, like a boundless ocean reviving, surging and crushing toward this place.
And such auras were far from just one.
Weng!!
In an instant, this entire universe was completely locked down, a million li of territory fully sealed off. It was impossible for any living being to escape.
Such a scene caused the expressions of everyone in the Heavenly Deer Divine Hall to change drastically. They felt that Gu Changge had finally revealed the dagger when the map was unrolled—his true purpose finally laid bare.