Half a Month to Lay the Great Net
Half a Month to Lay the Great Net
The Heavenly Prison was deathly silent. Only from its deepest regions would occasional bursts of low, guttural roars echo out, as though some terrifying beast were imprisoned there, enough to make one’s heart tremble with dread.
Within this stretch of heaven and earth, all rules and order were sealed away. Even a True Daoist would find it difficult to detect anything amiss.
Gu Changge gripped Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s throat with one hand, paying no mind to his face turning pale from suffocation, his expression somewhat pensive.
Whether the High Priestess of Destiny, Xiao Ruoyin, could use Tuo Ba Xiaoyao as material to refine the Sword of World Domination was still an unknown.
Before that, however, some of the things Tuo Ba Xiaoyao had said made Gu Changge somewhat suspicious.
If Tuo Ba Xiaoyao were merely a simple regressor, then how could he be so certain that the current Beyond had no solution?
“It seems you’re still hiding quite a few secrets.”
Gu Changge’s gaze was deep and dark as he stared at the space between Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s brows, wanting to peer into his soul.
But at that moment, it seemed a terrifying crisis had been sensed.
A blinding radiance spread out, like a sheet of crimson rosy light. The crown of Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s head glowed, becoming dazzlingly brilliant—one could even see bone and blood flowing within.
A palm-sized sword talisman circulated and emerged, less than an inch long, yet radiating a piercing sword intent that hummed and buzzed, like a divine sword about to leave its sheath, capable of cutting through everything.
“So you refined the Sword of World Domination and your Primordial Spirit together into a Nirvana Grade Sword.”
After examining it carefully for a few moments, Gu Changge recognized the object. It was stained with Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s life aura.
It also bore the unique imprint of the Seven Tools of World Domination.
If he forcibly performed a Soul Search, it would inevitably destroy this Nirvana Grade Sword, thereby damaging the Sword of World Domination.
“You should be able to believe what I said now.”
Though Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s face was pale, the depths of his eyes still held an unyielding, unwilling expression.
Gu Changge released the hand gripping his throat and said indifferently, “I don’t care how you managed all of this. But if you cannot hand over the Sword of World Domination within half a month, whether it’s Yu Feiya or your brothers and sisters, they will all pay the heavy price you deserve.”
Just as he had said before, even if there was no way, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao would have to come up with one.
Who told him to insist on choosing this dead-end path back then? Now he was merely reaping what he had sown.
If, after half a month, he still couldn’t produce the Sword of World Domination, Gu Changge would naturally resort to other methods.
And this half month happened to be exactly the time Xiao Ruoyin needed to arrive.
Half a month...
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s expression changed. Gu Changge had only given him half a month—where was he supposed to find a way to break this technique?
But he also understood that this was Gu Changge’s final deadline.
If he couldn’t hand over the Sword of World Domination after half a month, then whether it was Yu Feiya or Tuo Ba Qiongling, Tuo Ba Qing Yu, and the others, they would all likely pay a miserable price for his actions.
“I understand.”
Seeing that Gu Changge had no intention of saying more to him—having already turned and stepped into the void, vanishing from sight—
He fell silent for a moment before finally letting out a long breath, touching his neck that had nearly been crushed.
The feeling of facing death head-on still lingered there, leaving his entire back drenched in cold sweat.
If he hadn’t refined the Sword of World Domination into one with his Primordial Spirit, Gu Changge would likely have already used Soul Search to probe his secrets of rebirth and reincarnation just now.
Although Gu Changge had given him half a month, that time also included the period he would spend imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison by Emperor Yu.
So calculating carefully, the time left to him was already running short.
Revenge... that was nothing more than an unattainable, extravagant hope.
Meanwhile, after returning to his palace, Gu Changge sent someone to summon the Scarred Man from the Hunting Event that day.
The Scarred Man was named Song Ye, a Ranked seedling cultivated by the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion, possessing the strength to slaughter all young kings, and proficient in disguise, escape, assassination, and other such methods.
That day, even under the Inescapable Net laid by the former emperor, he had escaped unscathed, changed his face, and hidden within the Great Yu Imperial Capital.
“Greetings, Young Master.”
Soon, Song Ye arrived. He now appeared as a frail scholar, his face pale and weak, as though he had just recovered from a serious illness.
Before Gu Changge, he was extremely respectful.
As a Ranked assassin of the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion, he was qualified to come into contact with the upper management, and naturally knew that the master behind the current Nephrite Breeze Pavilion was actually Gu Changge’s person.
In other words, Gu Changge was the true master behind the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion.
“Go and capture the Fourth Miss of the Tuo Ba household,” Gu Changge instructed indifferently.
Although he had already given Tuo Ba Xiaoyao half a month, the necessary threats still had to be made, to keep Tuo Ba Xiaoyao from entertaining any other clever ideas.
“Yes, Young Master.” Hearing this, Song Ye didn’t dare ask for the reason and nodded in acknowledgment.
The Great Yu Imperial Capital was known as an Inescapable Net, with tight defenses—if not a sentry every five steps and a post every ten steps, then close to it.
But as a Ranked seedling of the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion, he was confident he could take Tuo Ba Qing Yu away without anyone noticing.
After watching Song Ye depart, Gu Changge fell into contemplation once more.
He wasn’t worried that Tuo Ba Xiaoyao had warned Tuo Ba Qing Yu and the others in advance, putting the Tuo Ba household on guard. He was merely thinking about the plan ahead.
The time for the Epoch Dao Fruit’s ripening was drawing near, but before that, he had yet to finish laying this great net.
Needless to say, the temptation of becoming an Immortal was immense—even he could hardly avoid it, let alone everyone else.
It was just that he still lacked a place to set up this great net.
Gu Changge had considered manifesting his Inner Universe to serve as a killing ground.
But at the Inner Universe’s current level, it was still not stable enough, falling short of what Gu Changge expected. So he planned to refine another portion of the Source of the Eternal Overcast first, re-temper the Inner Universe, and then reconsider the matter.
Before that, what needed consideration were the Seven Tools of World Domination and the Immortal Palace Treasury. His strength had now reached a bottleneck—without the Source of a True Daoist, breaking through would be difficult.
Several days had passed since Tuo Ba Xiaoyao was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, and the entire Great Yu Imperial Capital had gradually calmed down.
Under Emperor Yu’s deliberate arrangements, the grounded Eldest Princess Yu Feiya was released, accompanying the Eternal Overcast Kingdom’s prince Jia Luo on several strolls around the area—ostensibly so they could get to know each other.
However, Emperor Yu remained tight-lipped, never mentioning whether he would agree to this marriage alliance, and various speculations and rumors circulated among the ministers.
Some felt that Emperor Yu still hadn’t given up, still harboring designs on Gu Changge.
If Gu Changge showed even the slightest interest in Yu Feiya, he would absolutely abandon the Eternal Overcast prince Jia Luo without hesitation.
However, during the days Gu Changge resided in Great Yu, he kept a very low profile.
Even the many princes found it difficult to meet him, let alone the other ministers.
Quite a few people also noticed that the Eternal Overcast Kingdom’s prince frequently went to visit Gu Changge. As for whether he actually got to see him, they had no way of knowing.
During these days, an incident of moderate significance also occurred in the Great Yu Imperial Capital.
One day, the Fourth Miss of the Tuo Ba household, Tuo Ba Qing Yu, suddenly and mysteriously vanished from the residence. The several maids responsible for attending to her also died silently and soundlessly within the estate.
None of the many guards patrolling outside sensed any of it.
Tuo Ba Yuntian had just experienced being cold-shouldered and distanced by Emperor Yu, his temples white with worry, his face clouded with gloom. The matter of his fourth daughter being abducted from the residence nearly made him faint dead away.
Many suspected it was the work of the Scarred Man from the Hunting Event—his audacity was truly outrageous.
However, no one had witnessed any of it, and not the slightest trace or clue could be found. On top of that, with the Tuo Ba household being cold-shouldered by Emperor Yu, very few people paid attention to the matter.
And after these few days had passed, Emperor Yu’s anger from the banquet had mostly subsided.
Remembering the many contributions Tuo Ba Yuntian had made for him in his earlier years, and now with his daughter abducted and the man sunk in gloom, his heart softened, and he ordered Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s release. Originally, he had been somewhat interested in the secrets Tuo Ba Xiaoyao carried, but after this incident, he felt some pity and chose not to make things difficult for him anymore.
Of course, part of the reason was that these days, Emperor Yu had seen Yu Feiya looking rather listless and unhappy, and his heart softened, feeling somewhat guilty toward her.
“Qing Yu was taken from the residence?”
Having left the sunless Heavenly Prison and finally returned home, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao only then learned of this news, and his entire face quickly darkened into an ugly expression.
His eldest brother was still at the border and had yet to return home.
At home there was only his despondent father and his second sister Tuo Ba Qiongling. The few clan elders simply didn’t care about this matter at all.
“Sigh, I’m not thinking about restoring the family’s glory anymore. As long as you few are safe and sound, that’s enough.” Tuo Ba Yuntian had originally had many things he wanted to say to Tuo Ba Xiaoyao, but at this moment he only let out a long sigh, his expression helpless.
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s fists clenched tight. He said nothing, but in his heart he had already guessed who had sent someone to do this.
“Third Brother...”
Tuo Ba Qiongling actually had her own suspicions in her heart as well, and couldn’t help but look at Tuo Ba Xiaoyao, questioning him with her eyes.
“Qing Yu will be fine. Second Sister, Father, you can rest assured.”
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao said in a deep voice.