A Dark and Despairing Day, the Finest Sacrificial Nourishment
A Dark and Despairing Day, the Finest Sacrificial Nourishment
On this day, endless blood and fire swept across the entire Profound Sword World.
Everywhere was filled with despair and wailing. Heaven and earth were shrouded in darkness, as if the apocalypse had descended, bringing catastrophe and calamity.
The original territory of the Thirteen States had already been smashed and sunk. Terrifying great rifts stretched out for tens of millions of miles.
Volcanoes erupted, and crimson streams of fire, dense and countless, fell from the sky like meteors, annihilating vast swathes of land.
At the distant other end, the seas burst their banks and surged forth madly, submerging the earth.
Countless terrifying ferocious beasts crawled out from the depths of the sea, charging toward the land.
This world was already torn to pieces. All forces and sects were enveloped in a dense gloom, utterly despairing.
“Heaven wants to destroy our Profound Sword World...”
Many elderly cultivators of profound cultivation lamented, kneeling prostrate at the foot of mountains, praying to their ancestors, hoping to glimpse a single ray of light.
Beneath what was once Sword God Mountain, countless cultivators and living beings knelt even more densely, praying toward the statue at the mountain’s peak.
The Profound Sword World had once suffered a terrifying calamity that nearly wiped out all its clans and races.
But at that time, a peerless hero emerged out of nowhere, suppressing all under heaven. He was honored by the world as the Sword God, and with his own strength alone, he propped up the collapsing edifice and resolved that great catastrophe.
Later generations of cultivators built Sword God Mountain at this site, forged a statue in his honor, and prayed day and night.
But now, many people despairingly discovered that the once golden and resplendent statue of the Sword God had dimmed, covered in far too many cracks.
Honglong—
In the end, before the horrified and disbelieving eyes of countless people, the statue collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Even Sword God Mountain itself was struck by a terrifying bolt of heavenly lightning from the sky above.
Countless shattered stones rained down, cracks split open one after another, and the mountain rapidly crumbled apart.
“There really isn’t a shred of hope left. Even Sword God Mountain has collapsed...”
The countless cultivators and living beings kneeling at the foot of Sword God Mountain wailed, overwhelmed with grief and despair, unable to believe what was happening before their eyes.
Scenes like this were playing out all across the Profound Sword World.
The catastrophe descended, heavenly might vast and boundless, limitless and without end.
Crimson chains of law pierced through the sky, like divine dragons one after another, seeking to traverse everything.
The Earth Sword Immortals hidden in various corners of the Profound Sword World were, at this moment, horrified to the extreme.
These crimson chains fell from beyond the heavens, carrying a scorching and terrifying aura of destruction, shattering the void as they shot straight toward the places where they hid.
Boom— Resplendent light exploded. Under such vast heavenly might, everyone was as insignificant as ants.
“Ahhh...”
All the Earth Sword Immortals roared in utter despair, using every means at their disposal, trying to break free of these chains.
But in the end, it was all in vain. Together with their divine souls, they were bound up completely, unable to move.
This was the power of the Heavenly Path, vast and endless. Any cultivator born within the Profound Sword World would find it difficult to escape.
However, this power only targeted existences at the Earth Sword Immortal Realm.
Many cultivators who had already reached the Ninth Step were seized with lingering fear, their hearts still pounding.
Many even personally witnessed their own ancestors, who had long lived in seclusion in the deepest parts of their clan grounds, being bound by a chain and dragged away directly, vanishing at the edge of heaven and earth.
This power was despair-inducing. The gap was simply too great; there was no way to resist it at all.
On this day, many Earth Sword Immortals who had never shown themselves to the world were seized by the crimson chains, disappearing without a trace.
No one knew where these Earth Sword Immortals were taken, nor what their fate, dead or alive, would be.
Whether for them or for all living beings, this was a day of despair and darkness.
Beyond the Profound Sword World, at the rift in the world barrier.
Numerous Ancient Battleships floated in suspension, surrounded by rising and falling great stars and enveloping nebulae, incomparably vast and profound.
The many orthodoxies and forces that had come to conquer this world were now all stationed at this location.
With such a drastic change occurring in the Profound Sword World, even they felt a wave of palpitations, their hearts trembling with fear, not daring to approach carelessly.
Some Quasi-Emperor existences attempted to descend to the lower world to investigate exactly what had happened.
But they were quickly repelled by that world’s power and nearly failed to make it back.
So they gave up, deciding to wait and watch from this location. After withdrawing from the Ancient Arcane Ruins, the experts of the various forces had stationed themselves here.
After all, their goal of conquering the Profound Sword World had not yet been accomplished, so they naturally would not choose to return to the Beyond.
Weng—
In a stretch of void beyond the heavens, a sudden light tremor arose, followed by ripples spreading out one after another. Gu Changge’s figure stepped out from within.
His speed was extremely fast; in almost an instant, he arrived at the Ancient Battleship of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
“Young Master Changge!”
The many soldiers responsible for patrolling recognized Gu Changge at first glance. Greatly startled, they all saluted in unison.
The matter of the disappearance of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty’s Old Imperial Ancestor’s aura had not been spread, for fear of triggering panic, so many people still did not know.
They also did not know that the entire Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, from top to bottom, was now in fact extremely wary and apprehensive of Gu Changge.
“Where is your Eldest Princess now?”
Gu Changge’s figure descended onto the Ancient Battleship. Walking unhurriedly, he asked softly and casually.
“Reporting to Young Master Changge, ever since the Eldest Princess returned from the lower world, she has remained within the main hall and has not left.”
A soldier reported respectfully.
“The main hall, is it?”
Gu Changge nodded lightly. Then his figure vanished from the spot, appearing thousands of miles away in an instant.
“What do you think Young Master Changge wants with the Eldest Princess?”
Seeing Gu Changge leave, several patrolling soldiers could not help but exchange glances, feeling that something was somehow off.
The main hall was situated deep within the Ancient Battleship. Boundless clouds and mist cascaded down, with mountains and pavilions standing tall and upright, silver waterfalls spiraling, and colorful mist curling about.
Yu Feiya was dressed in white, her figure graceful, her features dignified and elegant, her hair like clouds, her face free of powder and rouge.
Her expression was calm as she stood quietly within the main hall.
Hearing the footsteps coming from outside the hall, she turned her head back. Gazing at the figure walking slowly toward her, her expression showed not the slightest surprise—it was more as if she had been waiting here for Gu Changge for a long time.
“Greetings, Young Master Changge.”
Then, Yu Feiya gave a light curtsey, her bearing dignified and graceful, carrying the poised composure of imperial royalty, appearing neither servile nor overbearing.
Gu Changge nodded slowly and said, “You’ve been waiting for me here for a long time?”
“Yes.” Yu Feiya nodded, admitting it quite frankly.
She had long known that Gu Changge would return to this place. The Heavenly Path’s Will of the Profound Sword World could not stop him.
Moreover, she understood that since Gu Changge dared to kill so many True Daoists without the slightest scruple, he clearly intended to bury everyone here.
So he would definitely make his move. No one could escape death—even True Daoists were no match for him, let alone anyone else.
“Oh? You waited for me. It seems you know my purpose in returning here.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, appearing somewhat intrigued.
Yu Feiya’s gaze was complicated as she said, “Young Master Changge presumably intends to bury all of us here, so as to monopolize the World Source of the Profound Sword World.”
She was very clever. In fact, after Gu Changge struck and killed the Old Imperial Ancestor and the many other True Daoists, she had already guessed it.
Something like the World Source was enough to drive True Daoists mad. With Gu Changge now standing at this realm, how could he not be tempted?
“Since you know all this, yet still wait here for me—are you planning to wait for death?”
Gu Changge asked with a smile.
Yu Feiya shook her head, her expression gradually growing solemn as she said, “Young Master Changge could actually consider a different approach. If you kill everyone here, when you return to the Beyond afterward, it will inevitably arouse suspicion.”
She understood that resisting at this point would only bring a faster death. So the only way was to make Gu Changge understand the value of keeping her alive.
“I know what you mean. You want me to spare the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty’s party. But how can you guarantee that the other forces won’t cause me trouble?” Gu Changge said with a slightly peculiar expression.
Although he intended to annihilate and bury everyone here, considering that the refinement of the World Source required the sacrifice of living beings...
If the offerings proved insufficient when the time came, the many upper-realm orthodoxies and forces here would be a fine choice.
“Young Master Changge has likely already made plans in his heart. After all, the dead cannot cause trouble,” Yu Feiya said with a calm expression.
Gu Changge smiled, then his smile faded as he said, “It seems you dared to wait for me here because you have some confidence. You want me to spare the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty—that can actually be arranged. But I want you to find a way to lead the armies of the various orthodoxies and forces into the Profound Sword World.”
“Lead them into the Profound Sword World?” A look of shock surfaced on Yu Feiya’s face as she abruptly guessed Gu Changge’s purpose.
“What, can’t do it?” Gu Changge swept a glance at her and asked.
Yu Feiya felt her mouth go somewhat dry, but she still nodded and said, “I will do my best to try. However, because of the Heavenly Path’s Will, I’m afraid many people will be forced back before they even get close to the Profound Sword World.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge shook his head lightly and said, “You don’t need to worry about that problem. The Heavenly Path’s Will will not make things difficult for them.”
“It won’t make things difficult for them?” Yu Feiya was stunned, not yet grasping the meaning of Gu Changge’s words.
But very quickly, she could not suppress a shudder, utterly chilled to the bone, as she thought of a possibility.
Could this world’s Heavenly Path’s Will... already be under Gu Changge’s control? Was that why he planned to lure the armies of the various orthodoxies and forces into it, to bury them all in one fell swoop?
After leaving the main hall, Gu Changge, based on the information he had obtained from Yu Feiya, headed toward the dungeon.
The Abundance Sword Immortal, the Snow Sword Immortal, Lin En, and the others were all currently imprisoned in that place, awaiting his return before being dealt with.
This was the method of handling unanimously decided upon by the experts of the various orthodoxies and forces.
The True Daoists of the various clans were now all of unknown whereabouts, their auras extinguished.
After all, they were not fools. Knowing full well they were no match for Gu Changge, they would not go and offend him.
Whatever matters there were, they would at least have to wait until returning to the Beyond before addressing and discussing them.
“Young Master Changge, this is the man who has been falsely accusing you all along. How would you like him dealt with?”
Within the dungeon, a Sacred Emperor Realm expert of Godly Spirit Mountain led the way in front, pointing at Lin En, who was imprisoned off to the side, and speaking respectfully.
Besides him, those accompanying them here also included experts from the other forces and orthodoxies, all of extraordinary cultivation, their blood qi astonishing, like terrifying furnaces.
“I understand.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge nodded. His gaze fixed on Lin En held a somewhat peculiar color.
Originally, he had wanted to see just how big a storm this Fortuitous One could stir up.
But the man had rather disappointed him. Not only had he been bewitched by the Heavenly Path’s Will, but even now he could not clearly grasp the situation.
Besides serving as an experience baby for farming Heavenly Gift Treasure Chests, he was probably good for nothing else.
Honestly, at his current realm, there was no longer any Fortuitous One who could greatly affect him, or serve any real purpose.
Gu Changge could only wonder whether, once the Celestial Gate opened and he entered the Celestial Domain, some pleasant surprise might occur.
“Why have you come here?”
Lin En stared at Gu Changge, ripples arising on his originally calm face. His cultivation had been sealed, and he had been imprisoned in the dungeon all this time.
He truly had not expected that after killing the True Daoists of the various clans, Gu Changge would actually return to this place so composed and unhurried.
And that he would even be treated with such fear and reverence by the experts of the various clans.
However, Gu Changge had no intention of paying him any mind, casually sweeping his gaze over the surroundings.
The Abundance Sword Immortal, the Snow Sword Immortal, and the others were imprisoned on the other side, their cultivation likewise sealed, reduced to ordinary mortals.
In this vast dungeon, those imprisoned were in fact precisely this group of Earth Sword Immortals.
Those who had once stood at the very peak of the Profound Sword World could now only become prisoners, their lives and deaths no longer their own.
Their expressions were incomparably complicated, somewhat uneasy, but mostly ashen.
“The Profound Sword World is now suffering a great calamity. Perhaps you have all long since learned of it. The Heavenly Path’s Will intends to slaughter the living beings of this world, so as to realize its plan of transcendence.”
“When it transcends, that will be the day this world collapses and all living beings perish. Every one of you will die. All the living beings ever born and nurtured in this world will be destroyed and buried along with it.”
Gu Changge looked around the dungeon, then slowly spoke, informing them of this secret.
For the time being, he did not wish to kill this group of Earth Sword Immortals. After all, having cultivated to this point, their bodies had long since been steeped in this world’s aura and laws.
In other words, Earth Sword Immortals were actually the most suitable sacrificial nourishment.
However, existences who had cultivated to this step were truly too few.
Gu Changge’s having the Heavenly Path’s Will seize all the Earth Sword Immortals currently hidden within the Profound Sword World in fact also served this purpose.
The Abundance Sword Immortal, the Snow Sword Immortal, and the others were all top-tier experts of the Profound Sword World. If they were simply killed like this, would that not be a waste?
Hearing Gu Changge’s words, the experts of the various orthodoxies and forces were all moved, their expressions changing, somewhat horrified and incredulous.
They had had no idea that such a secret existed.
The Heavenly Path’s Will of the Profound Sword World actually harbored such great ambition?
“I’m afraid that when it transcends, that will be the moment it steps into the Celestial Realm. After all, existences of the Heavenly Path’s kind are different from us cultivators. Born of heaven and raised by earth, sheltered and protected, their growth process requires none of the various tribulations...”
An expert of extremely ancient seniority spoke, appearing very grave, even worried.
After all, in the current Beyond, there had been no word of any Celestial Dao existence appearing either. This matter might even threaten the Beyond.
“Looking at it this way, perhaps the disappearance of our various clans’ True Daoists is related to this matter.”
“It seems this Profound Sword World must be explored once more.”
At this moment, Yu Feiya, the Eldest Princess of the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty, furrowed her brows slightly. As if she had thought of something, she could not help but sigh softly.
As soon as she said this, the hearts of the experts of the various orthodoxies and forces were immediately stirred. They all exchanged glances with one another, feeling it was very likely.
In truth, they were not very willing to believe that it was Gu Changge who had struck and killed their ancestors.
They would rather believe that their ancestors, for some reason, were trapped within the Profound Sword World, temporarily unable to escape.