The Right Moment, Testing Tuo Ba Xiaoyao
The Right Moment, Testing Tuo Ba Xiaoyao
Yu Tianzheng’s assurances were not enough to put Gu Changge completely at ease.
He had a feeling in his heart that the sudden appearance of Tuo Ba Xiaoyao, this Fortuitous One, might not be a coincidence.
The assassination at this Hunting Event would probably not go so smoothly.
“How many men have you arranged for this Hunting Event?” Gu Changge pondered for a moment before asking.
Yu Tianzheng assumed Gu Changge was still uneasy, and couldn’t help but smile as he explained, “Please rest assured, Young Master Changge. I have been scheming for this day for nearly a hundred years. This Hunting Event is absolutely foolproof.”
“Not only do I have my people among the forces participating in this Hunting Event, but my men have also infiltrated those responsible for protecting the Second Prince.”
“In addition, I have specifically stationed men waiting outside the Hunting Event grounds.”
“They are all Deathsworn utterly loyal to me. When the time comes, I need only give the order, and they will charge at the Second Prince and perish together with him.”
As Yu Tianzheng spoke these words, he was brimming with confidence.
He had run through the scenario many times, and to ensure absolute certainty, he had laid numerous backup plans.
“Double the number of men you have arranged. In addition, I will secretly instruct others to assist you.”
Gu Changge nodded. In his eyes, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s existence was an Anomaly.
The assassination plan Yu Tianzheng had calculated so carefully might run into some accident because of Tuo Ba Xiaoyao.
Gu Changge planned to dispatch assassins from the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion to hide in the shadows and act when the opportunity arose, allowing not the slightest mishap.
“I will heed Young Master Changge’s words.”
Yu Tianzheng’s expression grew solemn, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
He dared not defy Gu Changge’s wishes. Besides, while sending more men carried the risk of exposure, it also increased the chances of a successful assassination. There were gains and losses.
Afterward, Yu Tianzheng’s figure dissipated into the void as he took his leave, worried that lingering here would cause unnecessary trouble.
The imperial palace was full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, with countless experts. It was not a place to stay for long.
Gu Changge, meanwhile, instructed the people of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants to contact Yin Mei, having her find Bai Lian’er to arrange for assassins to kill the Second Prince Yu Lie at the Hunting Event.
Although the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion was a newly risen assassin force, over these years it had already shown signs of faintly suppressing the other assassin forces.
Bai Lian’er bore the inheritance of an ancient era’s Killing Emperor, and she had quite a knack for training assassins.
Moreover, thanks to Gu Changge’s support during this period, the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion’s development had shot upward as rapidly as bamboo joints.
He had entrusted many unsavory matters to Bai Lian’er.
So when it came to assassinating the Second Prince, Gu Changge was quite at ease.
“As for the matter of Tuo Ba Xiaoyao, I can test him with that sister of his first. I refuse to believe he can keep lying low.”
As for testing whether Tuo Ba Xiaoyao was connected to the master of the Sword of World Domination, Gu Changge had long since made arrangements.
Soon, the day of the Hunting Event arrived. Outside the Great Yu Imperial Capital, numerous flying boats, flying artifacts, and mounts hovered in the air.
Figures crowded upon them, a sea of people—as far as the eye could see, nothing but heads.
Gu Changge, Emperor Yu, and the others stood upon an extremely luxurious and ancient Ancient Battleship, gazing down at the scene below.
Behind them stood many of the younger generation, including the various princes and princesses of the Great Yu imperial family, as well as their followers, all conversing in low voices.
In the distance were the various clans and families within Great Yu’s borders, their vessels likewise filled with people.
Leading them were elders of the forces behind them, their strength at least at the Perfect Prodigy realm.
In another direction were the Cults of Immortality on friendly terms with the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, which had sent some experts to observe the ceremony.
The venue of the Hunting Event was naturally not within the Imperial Capital, but was set in a region where an Absolute Yin Heaven calamity had erupted.
That place had once been the ruins of a great sect, which later offended a powerful enemy and was reduced to ashes overnight, with only a small number of people escaping.
Now, with an Absolute Yin Heaven calamity happening to erupt nearby, the Hunting Event’s venue was chosen at those ruins.
“Begin.”
Soon, with a low shout from the minister presiding over this Hunting Event—
The surrounding void grew blurry, radiance rushed skyward, and spatial energy permeated the air. There, great piles of Origin Stones were heaped into small mountains, so dense they were on the verge of liquefying.
This was the activation of a large-scale Transportation Array, to transport all the forces participating in the Hunting Event.
The Origin Stones consumed alone were an astronomical sum—apart from the immortal forces, no other power could afford it.
Hong long long—
The next instant, ancient Array Patterns emerged in the sky, as if tearing open a passage that ran through the universe.
All the flying boats and warships converged toward it, crushing across the heavens with incomparably grand momentum.
Within the Great Yu Imperial Capital, many Cultivators and living beings witnessed this scene with their own eyes, watching those forces quickly vanish from sight.
Passing through endless great mountains, crossing numerous peaks, marshes, and rivers, everyone’s vision suddenly opened up again as they appeared at the border of a Great Wilderness.
This place was desolate—not a trace of human habitation within hundreds of thousands of li.
But looking down from high above, one could see the surrounding mountain ridges distributed in peculiar patterns, like True Dragons about to soar into the sky.
“What a fine Soaring Nine Dragons terrain. What a pity it’s so ancient—otherwise, by now it might have become the mountain gate of a supreme great sect,” Gu Changge remarked with some admiration.
“It is indeed a pity for such a treasured land. This was once a great sect, prosperous for ages. Had it not offended a powerful enemy, it might indeed have survived to this day.”
“Nowadays, the nine dragons of this place have already been beheaded, unable to soar,” Emperor Yu sighed.
Gu Changge smiled noncommittally.
When a force threatening their position suddenly appeared within Great Yu’s borders, the first reaction would naturally be to destroy it.
So all this talk of offending a powerful enemy and being annihilated overnight was nothing more than the story the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty put out.
What the truth was, perhaps only the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty knew. Of course, Gu Changge wasn’t interested either.
“Ahead lies the venue of this Hunting Event. Some time ago, that place was shrouded in dense Absolute Yin Qi. I suspected Yin Spirits had appeared there and specifically sent people to investigate, but they all died miserably there,” Emperor Yu said, pointing toward the border of the Great Wilderness ahead.
Gu Changge nodded, looked over, and asked with a smile, “So this Hunting Event is about hunting Yin Spirits?”
Emperor Yu glanced at him and said, “Exactly so. However, the fierce beasts of this place can also become targets of the hunt. And of course, so can the disciples of the various forces.”
As he spoke, some doubts flitted through his heart.
Judging from Gu Changge’s words, deeds, and conduct in many respects, he didn’t seem to harbor malice toward him or the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
Then why had Yu Feiya repeatedly warned him to be wary of Gu Changge, telling him to send more people to protect the Second Prince Yu Lie today?
This was precisely what Emperor Yu couldn’t figure out.
Still, compared to Gu Changge, he would certainly rather trust his own daughter.
So this time, he had indeed dispatched more men to protect the Second Prince Yu Lie—the future successor of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
No accident could be allowed to befall Yu Lie.
“By the looks of it, there will be a great chaotic battle here shortly.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, standing on the Ancient Battleship and gazing down at the scene below.
Around them, numerous Ancient Battleships and flying boats had also gathered, their decks filled with figures discussing the upcoming Hunting Event.
Many young prodigies were rubbing their fists, secretly full of anticipation.
The Second Prince Yu Lie was a man of extremely delicate and handsome features, dressed in a long cyan robe, with one hundred and eight divine rings faintly condensing behind him, like a son of a god.
He possessed an innate nobility that made it impossible to ignore his existence.
At this moment, he was standing together with Yu Feiya and the others, seemingly saying something in low voices.
From time to time, he glanced toward Emperor Yu, Gu Changge, and the others ahead, a strange gleam flickering in his eyes.
In this Hunting Event, the princes and princesses would naturally all participate.
For the sake of imperial dignity, they even had to rank at the top—no disgrace allowed.
“Royal Sister, rest assured, I will be careful,” Yu Lie said.
He had no idea why his royal sister kept reminding him over and over to be cautious.
However, as the future ruler of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, he was naturally extremely confident in his own strength. So although he agreed readily enough, inwardly he paid it little mind.
Yu Feiya also knew that Yu Lie had surely not taken her warnings to heart.
She sighed softly, then glanced at Gu Changge without leaving a trace.
Seeing him chatting so merrily with her father, she found it hard to believe he would arrange for someone to assassinate the Second Prince and plot against the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
Soon after, an expert of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty appeared and brought out a five-colored exquisite pagoda, with black-and-yellow qi flowing over it—utterly ancient. It rose and fell above the heavenly palace, letting down hundreds of millions of rays of light.
This was a Supreme Treasure. While enveloping this place, it could also project everything happening in the various regions.
At the same time, Emperor Yu also stepped forward. With a wave of his sleeve, heaven and earth abruptly darkened.
A blurry phantom of an emperor emerged, branded between heaven and earth, like a Supreme Ruler patrolling the skies, exuding terrifying pressure that shook the hearts of all.
Seeing this, Gu Changge’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt that Emperor Yu had perhaps sensed something—otherwise he wouldn’t have manifested an external avatar to ensure the safety of this place.
The Emperor Yu beside him was merely a spiritual body descended here, not his true self.
Yet his aura was equally profound and unfathomable, extremely terrifying.
As long as he was within the borders of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, Emperor Yu was almost innately invincible.
This had nothing to do with cultivation realm.
Because whether it was the fortune of the people or dragon qi, all could become his means, and they would almost never run dry.
Unless his opponent cultivated the same heavenly arts and divine abilities as he did.
Thinking of this, Gu Changge glanced in the direction of the Tuoba Family.
He saw Tuo Ba Xiaoyao with his head lowered, still looking honest and dull, as if everything around him had no effect on him whatsoever.
After the minister presiding over this Hunting Event finished explaining the rules, the prodigies of the various forces transformed into divine rainbows and descended, heading toward the Great Wilderness ahead.
Miasma surged skyward, everything utterly hazy. Occasionally a fierce beast roared, as if a single roar could shatter the heavens, making one’s blood and qi churn.
In this Hunting Event, even fellow disciples of the same sect could become enemies.
So as the many prodigies descended into the Great Wilderness, they scattered, heading toward different regions.
Apart from the successors of the great forces, almost no one was willing to team up with others.
Yu Lie, Yu Feiya, Yu Ming, and the other imperial disciples also transformed into divine rainbows, heading deep into the Great Wilderness, quickly vanishing from sight.
High above, the elders of the various forces and sects were all staring intently at the five-colored black-and-yellow exquisite pagoda, searching for their disciples within it.
“In this Hunting Event, I wonder if Young Master Changge has anyone he favors?”
On the Ancient Battleship, Emperor Yu stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face as he asked Gu Changge.
“Princess Feiya’s strength is unfathomable. In my view, the top three will certainly include her,” Gu Changge replied with a smile, his bearing elegant and otherworldly.
Emperor Yu laughed heartily. “I didn’t expect even Young Master Changge to think so highly of Feiya. This is her honor.”
The many ministers standing behind him were also searching for their own offspring within the scenes projected by the five-colored black-and-yellow exquisite pagoda, paying close attention.
Gu Changge withdrew his gaze from the front and imperceptibly glanced into the distance.
The ruins chosen for this Hunting Event were heavily guarded on all sides. It might not be completely impenetrable, but if enemies attacked, they would be discovered at the first moment.
For Yu Tianzheng to assassinate the Second Prince Yu Lie at this time would be almost impossible to succeed.
It seemed he could only wait for the right moment.
Gu Changge thought to himself, unhurried and at ease, sitting there sipping tea.
From time to time he whispered a few words to Jiang Chuchu beside him, making her earlobes flush red.
Time passed quickly. The prodigies battling fierce beasts and Yin Spirits in the Great Wilderness fought to the point of frenzy.
At any moment, terrifying divine rainbows of blood and qi could be seen piercing the heavens like beacon smoke, their roars shaking the eight directions.
The elders of the various forces and sects also rode waves of intense emotion, deeply worried.
Although this was a tradition of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, in truth, of the prodigies participating in each Hunting Event, fewer than half ever returned alive.
Its cruelty was evident.
“The people I arranged should be about to make their move.”
Gu Changge raised his eyes to look at the sky. In the distance, dusk was gradually falling, the sky darkening, a pale crescent moon emerging below the horizon, hazy and faint.
With great interest, he looked into the black-and-yellow exquisite pagoda, finding Tuo Ba Xiaoyao among the scenes it projected.
This third son of the General Residence had little reputation in the Imperial Capital and kept an extremely low profile, so very few people paid him any attention.
Even his father, the Grand General Zhenguo Tuo Ba Yuntian, paid him little mind, instead searching for traces of his second daughter and youngest daughter.
In Gu Changge’s eyes, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s performance could only be described as mediocre.
Along the way he encountered several rather dangerous crises, but he narrowly avoided them all.
The opponents he encountered weren’t strong either—merely disciples of the minor sects around the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty’s borders.
From these aspects, it was indeed hard to discern anything.
“Isn’t this the Fourth Young Miss of the Grand General Zhenguo’s residence? How did you get separated from your brothers and sisters?”
Meanwhile, deep in the Great Wilderness, in a basin crisscrossed with ravines—
A young woman meditating cross-legged beneath a withered tree suddenly opened her eyes upon hearing these words, a startling chill surfacing in her gaze as she stared fixedly at the several figures who had appeared before her.