Without the Slightest Malice, the Profound Sword World
Without the Slightest Malice, the Profound Sword World
This was a sword art that only Direct Disciples of the Shu Sect could perform. If it were privately passed on to outsiders, the Shu Sect would hunt the offender down relentlessly—even fleeing to the ends of the azure sky above or the Yellow Springs below would not save them from death.
“He is definitely a Direct Disciple of the Shu Sect. There is the aura of a Sword Spirit on him.”
The girl Ah Qing stood by the window, watching the battle unfolding there as she spoke.
At the end of the long street, a great battle raged sky-high. Two figures clashed madly within it, their momentum shaking all directions. Saber light and sword shadows intertwined, and all manner of ancient runes evolved and spread, turning that area into a blur.
The Cultivators watching from the sidelines were all gripped with fear, keeping far away.
It was hard to imagine this was a battle between two members of the younger generation. Had someone claimed they were of the older generation, people would have believed it.
The Young Master of the Demon God Palace was a renowned Young Prodigy, an invincible existence who had swept through his region unopposed.
As for Tuo Ba Xiaoyao, he had only suddenly emerged during this recent period. Before that, he had been extremely low-key, hiding his talents and biding his time, never revealing his edge.
Yet his actual strength could not be underestimated in the slightest—he had exchanged hundreds of moves with the Young Master of the Demon God Palace without falling into a disadvantage.
The many Young Prodigies watching all of this from the surroundings had flickering gazes, feeling that Tuo Ba Xiaoyao would become a great enemy.
“It seems this fellow Tuo Ba Xiaoyao’s rebirth into this world was no accident after all.”
Gu Changge set down the cup in his hand, his gaze suddenly turning intrigued.
From the looks of it, the secret art by which Tuo Ba Xiaoyao refined the Primordial Foetal Sword of World Domination should have come from the Shu Sect.
Which was to say, from the girl Ah Qing’s homeland.
The reason he rushed here at the first opportunity was undoubtedly to pass through that spatial gateway and return to that world.
Thinking this, Gu Changge’s figure suddenly moved, vanishing from where he stood. When he reappeared, he was already at the place where Tuo Ba Xiaoyao and the Young Master of the Demon God Palace were fighting.
“Greetings, Young Master Changge.”
Yu Feiya, Yu Ming, and the others had been closely watching this battle and had completely failed to notice when Gu Changge had appeared here. They all hurriedly saluted him.
Even the many older-generation beings in the surroundings changed expression slightly, not daring to show Gu Changge any disrespect.
“At this critical juncture of conquering that great world, why must you two fellow Daoists clash over a trivial matter?”
“Why not give me some face? If there is any grievance between you, you can settle it another day. How about it?”
Gu Changge looked at the two combatants, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he spoke.
Hearing these words, everyone was stunned. None had expected Gu Changge to step forward at this moment to dissuade the two.
Since he had said as much, who would dare continue fighting? That would mean slapping Gu Changge in the face.
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao had not expected Gu Changge to appear and intervene either.
His expression shifted between dark and light, but he did not continue fighting. His figure landed off to one side as he coldly stared at the Young Master of the Demon God Palace.
“Since Young Master Changge has spoken personally, how would I dare continue?”
The Young Master of the Demon God Palace was called the Mad Demon God, but even he dared not defy Gu Changge’s wishes.
Somewhat reluctantly, he landed on the other side and cupped his fists.
The Mad Demon God was what everyone called him, and from this alone one could see his temperament.
He showed no respect even for the ancient beings of the Demon God Palace. He was utterly rebellious, like a man possessed, his sole desire being to challenge the young prodigies of every path.
However, before Gu Changge, he was quite obedient, unwilling to offend him.
“Today I shall give Young Master Changge face. Next time, you and I shall fight to our hearts’ content.”
The Mad Demon God’s gaze swept over Tuo Ba Xiaoyao like a heavenly blade. Then he cupped his fists toward Gu Changge at the side, transformed into a streak of divine light, and departed without lingering.
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao snorted coldly, somewhat vexed in his heart. If not for this man suddenly insisting on fighting him, such a commotion would never have erupted—one that had even drawn Gu Changge over.
In his original plan, he would have quietly followed the Great Yu army through that spatial gateway, then headed to the Shu Sect to search for a way to break the technique.
But now he had been spotted by Gu Changge. What if Gu Changge assumed he intended to take advantage of the chaos to flee with the Sword of World Domination, abandoning Tuo Ba Qing Yu’s safety?
That would be difficult to explain.
Then again, now that he had run into Gu Changge, he could take the opportunity to probe just how his younger sister was faring.
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao was certain—the one who had sent people to abduct his sister was absolutely Gu Changge.
“It seems you still harbor considerable resentment toward me.”
“Rest assured, I bear you not the slightest malice.”
Gu Changge seemed to know exactly what Tuo Ba Xiaoyao was thinking at this moment and smiled faintly.
“Many thanks to Young Master Changge for resolving the situation.”
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao snorted coldly in his heart, but dared not reveal anything unusual on his face, cupping his fists as he spoke.
Gu Changge chuckled softly. “A trivial effort. Brother Tuo Ba need not be so courteous.”
“For Young Master Changge’s kindness in resolving today’s matter, I shall surely repay it in the days to come. I still have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first.”
Tuo Ba Xiaoyao glanced at Yu Feiya and the others, then spoke, intending to leave first so as not to affect tomorrow’s plans.
“Then I hope Brother Tuo Ba does not forget.” Gu Changge said with a casual expression.
“Naturally.” Tuo Ba Xiaoyao cupped his fists, then turned and left.
He knew this was Gu Changge reminding him not to forget the matter of the Sword of World Domination, and the agreed-upon time.
To Yu Feiya, Yu Ming, and the others watching from the side, this scene looked like Tuo Ba Xiaoyao still brooding over what had happened in the great hall back then.
Although he had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison by Emperor Yu and had since been released, the various circumstances of that time had spread far and wide, causing no small sensation.
In the eyes of many Cultivators and living beings, Tuo Ba Xiaoyao was a toad lusting after a swan.
Especially since Gu Changge had personally evaluated him back then as unfit for great use. So it was only natural that Tuo Ba Xiaoyao showed Gu Changge no pleasant expression.
“After what happened in the great hall that day, it seems this fellow has finally given up and stopped pestering you, Imperial Sister.”
Yu Feiya’s younger brother Yu Ming still wore his usual arrogant demeanor. Seeing that Tuo Ba Xiaoyao had left without even greeting them, he let out a disdainful snort through his nose before speaking.
Yu Feiya sighed softly. “I think Xiaoyao seems weighed down with worries. He must have run into some trouble. But why would he appear here? Could it be that he is also going to that world this time?”
She did not step forward to greet Tuo Ba Xiaoyao either, because after Emperor Yu had confined her last time, she had come to understand.
If she did not want to once again incur Emperor Yu’s displeasure toward Tuo Ba Xiaoyao, she should not grow too close to him.
“Is Young Master Changge also going to that world this time?”
Yu Feiya glided over gracefully, dressed in snow-white robes, her raven hair like clouds, appearing noble and elegant as she asked Gu Changge at the side.
Gu Changge’s expression was casual. “That is indeed my intention.”
“No Cultivator has ever set foot in that world before. There are too many unknowns, and it is filled with dangers. In that case, why don’t we travel together, Young Master Changge?” Hearing that Gu Changge was also going, Yu Feiya grew rather curious and could not help extending an invitation.
She was leading the younger generation of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty there on Emperor Yu’s orders.
But Gu Changge was clearly alone this time, with no one from the Longevity Gu Family accompanying him. What was he going to that world for?
“I am accustomed to my freedom, so I fear I cannot accept Princess Feiya’s invitation.”
Gu Changge wore a faint smile and did not accept.
His purpose differed from that of Yu Feiya and the others. Traveling together would only bring him unnecessary trouble. Besides, the girl Ah Qing was still by his side.
How many times had Gu Changge refused her now?
Hearing this, Yu Feiya’s face showed slight astonishment. Even with her intelligence and wit, she could not figure out Gu Changge’s reason for refusing her for a while.
Traveling together at a time like this would clearly be much safer. That world was full of unknowns, and though Gu Changge was powerful, he might not be able to resolve every crisis.
Could it be that Gu Changge truly disliked her, and that was why he kept refusing?
Today’s great battle on the long street was, to the many surrounding forces, nothing more than an insignificant interlude, for everyone’s attention was fixed on that great world they were about to head to.
Over these past few days, quite a bit of information about that ancient great world had also leaked out, causing no small sensation.
Many ancient beings speculated that this ancient great world might have nurtured a Great Dao of the Sword, which was why the Sword Dao flourished so prosperously in that world.
Rumble—
At the very center of the star domain, accompanied by dazzling, blinding divine light, surging energy as vast as an abyssal sea erupted there, as if world after world of immense weight was crushing through.
A spatial rift fully ten thousand li long stretched across that region, surrounded by all manner of chaotic auras and Chaotic Storms.
Numerous shattered star fragments floated around it, revolving around that spatial rift.
Ordinary Cultivators dared not approach even the peripheral regions. They would be crushed to death by the aura there, reduced to dust, body and soul annihilated.
This place was like a cosmic tunnel carved out by a supreme Immortal King, allowing passage to another world—mysterious and vast.
At this moment, numerous Ancient Battleships sped forth, their runes resplendent, resisting the spatial aura of this place as they forcibly crossed over and plunged into the great rift.
These Ancient Battleships were packed with figures—some clad in battle armor, wielding heavenly blades and war halberds, their murderous aura soaring to the heavens, their radiance eclipsing the world.
The spatial gateway opened wide, and the various forces and orthodoxies dispatched their armies to conquer this great world.
The Profound Sword World was an incomparably vast and boundless continent.
However, viewed from high above, one would discover that it was actually an extremely ancient life-bearing star. Beyond its expansive landmass, everything else was ocean and islands scattered like stars across a board.
The land was divided into Thirteen States, each state’s territory virtually boundless. Even beings whose cultivation pierced heaven and earth would find it difficult to reach the end of a single state.
Within each state, forces and sects large and small stood in great numbers, depending on one another for survival like interlocking roots. Among them were hegemons that had stood immortal for hundreds of thousands of years.
The Shu Sect, Kong Mountain, Sword Cliff... these forces possessed extremely ancient inheritances, and every disciple who walked out of them was a hero of their region, powerful in strength and revered by countless people.
Among these hegemon forces, each had Earth Sword Immortals with lifespans exceeding ten thousand years lying in slumber.
Such beings possessed world-shaking cultivation, their splendor beyond the power of words to describe. With a single strike of the sword, they could chill all Thirteen States, and none under heaven would fail to bow.
However, half a year ago, a great upheaval occurred in the Outer Territory. Numerous Otherworldly Sky Demons descended, attempting to conquer this world. The glory and splendor of the past were no more—everywhere was engulfed in the flames of war, with turmoil unending.
Even the Earth Sword Immortals who emerged into the world were severely wounded at the hands of the supreme powerhouses among the Otherworldly Sky Demons.
Countless Cultivators and living beings spent every day in fear and unease, worried that this world would fall completely and that everyone would be slaughtered and enslaved by the Otherworldly Sky Demons.