The World of His Past Life—Time Is Running Out for Him
The World of His Past Life—Time Is Running Out for Him
In the world Ah Qing originally came from, the Sword Dao had flourished to its absolute peak.
Every person was accompanied by a Sword Spirit from the moment of birth. Because of this, since ancient times, they had classified Sword Spirits into various grades and tiers—Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, Spiritual, and Divine.
Those with powerful talent cultivated with half the effort for twice the result, and their future achievements were limitless.
However, a Divine Grade Sword Spirit had not appeared for many years. Even a Spiritual Grade Sword Spirit was considered a genius that every sect and faction would fight desperately to recruit.
Take Ah Qing herself—she possessed a Spiritual Grade Sword Spirit, and that was only because her father was a powerful Earth Sword Immortal.
One had to understand that in their world, an Earth Sword Immortal already stood at the very pinnacle of the mortal realm, just one step away from shattering the void and ascending through tribulation.
But shattering the void—how incredibly difficult that was.
The last person to reach the peak of the Earth Sword Immortal Realm, the Old Sword Immortal of the Shu Sect, failed his tribulation in the back mountains of his own sect. His body perished, his Dao vanished, and his soul scattered into nothingness.
Since then, no one had ever heard of anyone reaching that realm again.
“The Earth Sword Immortal Realm...”
Gu Changge nodded lightly, listening to the many things Ah Qing told him, falling into thoughtful contemplation.
The heavenly rules and environments of different worlds were all different.
But the level of shattering the void had clearly reached the maximum limit that world could bear.
As for the matter of lifespan that Ah Qing mentioned, Gu Changge did not particularly care.
After all, this was influenced by the world’s environment. Some worlds lacked Life-Extending Matter. Even if the supreme beings of the Beyond lived within them, they would find it difficult to survive beyond a few hundred thousand years.
So in his view, this so-called Earth Sword Immortal Realm should fall short of a True Daoist—at most somewhere between the Sacred Emperor Realm and the Quasi-Nirvana Realm.
But without witnessing it with his own eyes, he could not be certain.
“Thank you, benefactor. I will definitely find a way to repay your kindness.”
Having eaten and drunk her fill, with even her cultivation recovered considerably, Ah Qing rose to her feet in great satisfaction and said to Gu Changge.
Gu Changge was still pondering the things she had spoken of. Hearing this, he waved his hand and smiled. “It was a trifling effort. Ah Qing-guniang need not be so courteous.”
“If everyone in this world were as kind as you, benefactor, that would be wonderful.”
Ah Qing’s eyes fell upon Gu Changge’s face as she spoke with great sincerity.
“Oh? Isn’t it a bit too early for you to say that?” Gu Changge smiled faintly.
A trace of suspicion appeared on Ah Qing’s sharp and pretty face. She felt there was some inexplicable meaning behind Gu Changge’s words.
However, Gu Changge did not explain anything to her. He smiled and said, “It’s getting late. Ah Qing-guniang should go rest early. I noticed you seem to have practiced the sword since childhood. Tomorrow I’ll send someone to take you to have a suitable sword forged anew.”
“This...”
Ah Qing was somewhat taken aback, but she quickly waved her hands. “Benefactor, you’ve already been more than good enough to me. I can’t trouble you any further.”
Although she did indeed need a suitable sword right now, constantly troubling Gu Changge made her feel deeply uneasy.
“I told you, it’s merely a trifling effort.” Gu Changge’s face still wore that faint smile.
“No, I can’t. Benefactor, the kindness you’ve shown me is already more than I could ever repay.”
Ah Qing insisted.
She had her own principles. She already owed Gu Changge far too much.
Gu Changge seemed to sigh. “Fine. In that case, Ah Qing-guniang, go rest early.”
He could tell that the young woman before him was the stubborn, old-fashioned type—once she set her mind on something, she would not easily change it.
After some time, Gu Changge planned to make a trip to the world she had previously lived in. For some matters, he would still need to make use of her.
Ah Qing glanced at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. In the end, she said nothing more, cupped her fists, and departed.
Her parents had always warned her that nothing good in this world came without a reason.
Gu Changge had only known her for a few days, yet he treated her so well. But she simply could not figure out what his intentions were.
Yet in all of Gu Changge’s actions, she could detect no ulterior motive. It seemed as if he were simply acting out of kindness.
Watching Ah Qing leave, the smile on Gu Changge’s face quickly faded, and a strange glint flashed through his eyes.
From Ah Qing, he had learned that her father was an Earth Sword Immortal, but he had gone missing while resisting the so-called Otherworldly Sky Demons—that is, the army of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
She had passed through that Space Rift in search of her father’s whereabouts, and was subsequently captured by the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
In her original world, she was actually quite renowned and held considerable status.
In the days that followed, news of an ancient great world’s traces appearing within the territory of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty suddenly spread like wildfire. No one knew who had leaked it, but it alarmed the many powers in the surrounding regions.
Many Cults of Immortality and Supreme Dao Lineages turned their attention toward it and began sending people to investigate. Some even came directly to question Emperor Yu.
Emperor Yu was naturally furious about this and ordered a thorough investigation into who had leaked the news.
Of course, he had also suspected Gu Changge, but there was not the slightest evidence indicating that Gu Changge knew anything about the matter.
However, among those responsible for guarding that spatial gateway was the eldest young master of the Tuo Ba residence—that is, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s elder brother.
Emperor Yu was suspicious by nature. A few days ago, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao had left the Tuo Ba residence and headed to the borderlands to find his elder brother. Of this, he was naturally aware.
So he could not help but suspect whether the leak of the news had something to do with Tuo Ba Xiaoyao.
The timing matched up as well.
But since the secret was already out, Emperor Yu could no longer scheme to monopolize that ancient world. Facing the envoys dispatched by the various powers and Dao lineages, he revealed quite a bit of the information already known.
An unexplored ancient world like this meant abundant resources. There was not a single power or Dao lineage that did not covet it.
Immediately, the various Dao lineages and powers began dispatching personnel toward the location of that spatial gateway, while also coming to negotiate with Emperor Yu on how to conquer that ancient great world.
Due to the spatial barriers and the rules of heaven and earth, those who went to that world could not exert their original strength.
But the various Dao lineages and powers had long been experienced in such matters. They simply did not want to delay and let the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty take the lion’s share.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the various Cults of Immortality also dispatched outstanding disciples from their clans. Compared to the older generation, the younger generation would suffer far less suppression even upon entering that world.
Moreover, as successors of great sects, they carried numerous treasures on their persons and need not worry about mortal danger.
Emperor Yu was naturally unwilling to let other powers get ahead of him, so he selected quite a few from among his own offspring, intending to send them along as well.
The Second Prince Yu Lie was the future heir of Great Yu and could not meet with any mishap, so Emperor Yu did not have him accompany the expedition.
The matter of the marriage agreement between the Eldest Princess Yu Feiya and the Eternal Overcast Prince Jia Luo had not yet been settled.
And Jia Luo had also taken his leave these past few days due to other matters, returning first to report back, planning to come again after some time.
So after some deliberation, Emperor Yu had Yu Feiya lead the dispatched party. That ancient world was no trivial matter—it might even contain divine objects such as a World Source. Emperor Yu attached great importance to it.
One Ancient Battleship after another streaked across the sky, carrying vast and mighty armies, crushing through the starfields as they rushed toward the distant borderlands of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
The young woman Ah Qing watched this scene, appearing somewhat worried.
She had learned of these past days’ developments from Gu Changge. The ancient world she lived in had already been exposed to the eyes of the various powers and Dao lineages of the Beyond.
Previously, only the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty had sent its army. Now the other powers were sticking their hands in as well.
An even more dreadful and terrifying catastrophe was about to descend upon her homeland.
Faced with such a calamity, there was no way they could resist. The only outcome was to fall and be carved up by these powers and Dao lineages.
“Benefactor, isn’t the power behind you interested in this matter?”
Ah Qing suddenly felt somewhat puzzled and could not help asking Gu Changge beside her.
“Because I’m not interested, the power behind me naturally isn’t interested either.”
Gu Changge spoke with a casual expression.
Ah Qing nodded. She understood.
It all depended on Gu Changge’s attitude. If he wished it, he could also dispatch such a terrifying army like the other Dao lineages and powers.
It was just that he seemed to have no interest in the matter.
“Do you have any plans for what comes next?” Gu Changge asked, a faint, elusive smile at the corner of his mouth.
“I may have to go back. My mother must be terribly worried about my safety, and I need to join my compatriots in stopping this catastrophe.” Ah Qing fell silent for a moment, then answered.
Although she knew her own strength was insignificant in the face of this calamity, she still had to do her part.
Moreover, she had been away from home for several months now. Her mother must be endlessly worried about her leaving without a word.
Besides, knowing that her father was not dead—that he was still alive—she was already content.
“It’s just that benefactor’s great kindness—I’m afraid I can hardly repay it in this lifetime.” Ah Qing glanced at Gu Changge and added.
To this, Gu Changge merely smiled. “Actually, have you ever considered that you could resolve this calamity yourself?”
“I could resolve it?” Ah Qing was somewhat stunned. With her strength, there was certainly no way she could accomplish such a thing.
Could there be some other option?
The borderlands of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty were actually an extremely vast expanse of starfield.
Surrounding it floated numerous stars and continents, immensely vast. The central region was even home to many cities, scattered like stars across a chessboard, densely interconnected.
As the mighty armies descended from all directions, this place instantly became the focal point of attention for all powers.
Even some rogue cultivators came upon hearing the news, hoping to fish in troubled waters.
Besides the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, the many great sects and Dao lineages in the surroundings had also dispatched large numbers of personnel. By now, they were already stationed around the starfield.
“Without His Majesty Emperor Yu’s orders, we cannot casually pass through that spatial gateway. There are many experts guarding the area—even I cannot approach it easily.”
“So we can only wait until all the armies from every side have arrived. Only then can you blend in among them and head there together with us.”
In one of the cities here, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao was speaking with a young man whose features were extremely rugged and firm.
The young man’s features bore some resemblance to his own. This was none other than his elder brother, Tuo Ba Feiyun, who was responsible for guarding the spatial gateway in the borderlands.
“I don’t have much time left. I must get inside and find a way to rescue Qing Yu.”
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s voice was low, and the expression on his face appeared somewhat anxious.
He had been here for several days now, and he was now utterly certain—the world beyond that spatial gateway was precisely the world where he had lived and cultivated in his past life.
But there were less than five days remaining before the deadline Gu Changge had given him to hand over the Sword of World Domination.