She Was Ultimately Just a Chess Piece; The True Mastermind Behind It All
She Was Ultimately Just a Chess Piece; The True Mastermind Behind It All
## 684: The Matter of Neraka’s Palaces, Lu Ming’s So-Called Fortuitous Encounter (Please Subscribe)
The moment Gu Changge rose and left his seat, nearly everyone in the Battle Arena noticed.
Many had rushed here tonight precisely because they had heard news of Gu Changge’s appearance. Now that he had no interest in staying any longer, the crowd naturally had no desire to remain either.
Judging from Gu Changge’s attitude tonight, many speculated that he had come here to select some battle-hardened death row prisoners or servants.
After all, given Gu Changge’s current status and position, ordinary prodigy followers were probably beneath his notice.
The followers he sought to select would have to be at least of the Sacred Realm, or even beings of the Sacred King Realm above it.
Even within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, cultivators of the Sacred King Realm were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns—exceedingly hard to find.
Of course, this was everyone’s assumption. As for what the truth of the matter actually was, no one knew.
After Gu Changge departed, the host in charge of the Battle Arena’s eyes flickered slightly, and he quietly passed down orders that the remaining death row prisoners need not take the stage.
That lord had left.
The group from the Blue Flood Ancient World was also astonished. Gu Changge was simply not of the same world as them, and they dared not harbor any other fantasies in their hearts.
They merely could not help but glance at the young woman Xue Yan, deeply envious of her.
Soon, news of what had happened here was spread by the informants of various powers lurking in the shadows.
Many prodigies who considered themselves powerful began rubbing their fists and palms, eager to try—to participate in this arena combat and thereby catch Gu Changge’s eye, becoming his follower.
An undercurrent, deliberately orchestrated by Gu Changge, had instantly swept across the entire Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
Besides Vermilion Bird Hall, the other districts—Azure Dragon Hall, White Tiger Hall, Dark Luo District...—all received word at the first opportunity.
“Could it be that this Gu fellow really just came here to select followers? Were we all being too cautious?”
“Or is he doing this merely to deceive the eyes and ears of others, with ulterior motives?”
Deep within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, in an extremely gloomy palace.
Several terrifying figures shrouded in monstrous black mist stood tall. Array light flickered and died, and within it horrifying scenes evolved—moons sinking, stars perishing, worlds collapsing.
Their cultivation was extremely dreadful; their vast, boundless fluctuations made it seem as though one were standing within a boundless abyss, infinite and without end.
Beneath their feet lay heaps upon heaps of white bones—skulls of Sacred Realm beings from ancient eras, as well as corpses of Sacred Emperor Realm beings from recent epochs, and the hand bones of True Daoists.
Every piece was crystalline and translucent, hard as divine iron, with undissipated divinity still permeating them.
For the killers and assassins who walked in the darkness, every piece of white bone here represented a glorious battle achievement.
The owner of every piece of white bone had possessed illustrious status and origins; otherwise, they would not have qualified to be displayed in this hall as a collector’s item.
Neraka had Ten Palaces in total, and each palace was situated within its own mysterious space.
Even the respective Palace Lords could not find the spatial coordinates of one another’s domains.
This was also the reliance by which Neraka, since its ancient founding, had repeatedly evaded the encirclement and extermination campaigns of various powers and orthodoxies.
But for six of the Ten Palace Lords to gather as they had today—this had happened only a handful of times in all of Neraka’s history.
And each time, it was because a major event concerning Neraka’s very survival had occurred.
“This matter cannot be rushed. We still don’t know what Gu Changge’s intentions are in coming here. It would be best not to act rashly for now.”
“The power backing Gu Changge is truly too terrifying. If we clash head-on with him, the only path left for us in the end would be utter annihilation.”
A terrifying figure entirely wrapped in black mist spoke. Endless bloody killing aura permeated his surroundings; his eyes were deep and profound, yet he appeared extremely cautious.
Neraka had existed to this day and made countless enemies. If the location of their headquarters were suddenly exposed, they would inevitably be attacked and besieged by various powers and orthodoxies.
That was not a situation they wished to see.
“If he has merely come here to select followers, then all is well. What I fear is that he has other schemes. If the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion has not the slightest connection to him, this old man refuses to believe it.”
Another Palace Lord spoke, his figure likewise shrouded in mist, his true visage indiscernible, with vast magical power fluctuations and killing intent interweaving at his side.
Every one of Neraka’s Ten Palace Lords was a being of monstrous slaughter; the cultivators and living beings who had died at their hands were beyond counting.
For each of them to have reached this step, none could be simple—their minds were extremely careful and cautious, and they would not easily take risks.
Were it anyone else, they naturally had methods to make that person vanish from the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds without a sound or trace.
But this person happened to be Gu Changge. With his strength, in the current Beyond, there were probably few left who could contend with him.
Even while grievously wounded, he had been able to withstand several black-clad True Daoists within the Great Yu Celestial Dynasty.
They simply dared not entertain such thoughts.
“What a pity. The current First Palace Lord’s cultivation has yet to reach that step. Otherwise, with all ten of us joining forces to lay out the Immortal Annihilating Formation, we could certainly battle Gu Changge.”
“If we could kill Gu Changge, Neraka’s prestige could absolutely return to its peak. Why would we need to fear him so?”
At this moment, a Palace Lord who had remained silent all along shook his head with some regret, his gaze cold and harsh, terrifying killing intent permeating the air.
The Immortal Annihilating Formation was a secret never transmitted outside Neraka, passed down since ancient epochs.
However, it required all ten Palace Lords working together to maintain and activate it. Its power was unimaginably great.
But thirty million years ago, the previous First Palace Lord was ambushed, suspected to have been grievously wounded, and his whereabouts thereafter became unknown.
The current First Palace Lord’s cultivation was still considerably inferior to that of the previous First Palace Lord, making it difficult to sustain the operation of the Immortal Annihilating Formation.
Of course, unless it came to the very last moment, they did not wish to come into conflict with Gu Changge.
And while the various Palace Lords of Neraka deliberated on how to resolve this trouble...
East of Vermilion Bird Hall, within a cluster of towers and palaces.
The group from the Blue Flood Ancient World, having returned from the Battle Arena, explained matters to the several elders behind them, then returned to their respective courtyards, intending to rest.
After Lu Ming returned to his own room, he carefully glanced around.
Only after confirming no one was there did he shut all the doors tight, simultaneously laying down restrictions to prevent spying.
“You promised me that once I came to the Beyond, you would give me a tremendous fortuitous encounter.”
Lu Ming’s expression became very calm. He seemed to be murmuring to himself, but it was more like he was speaking to someone else.
“To think that I would have a day when I return to the Beyond. Truly unexpected.”
The moment Lu Ming’s words fell, a ball of light suddenly lit up beneath his sleeve.
Immediately after, a stone shaped like a crystal, like amber, floated out—divine light shining brilliantly, extremely dazzling and resplendent.
Within this stone fragment, unfathomable fluctuations permeated, reflecting the void here into crystalline brilliance—most mysterious.
At the same time, the voice of a middle-aged man came from within, seemingly very calm, yet seemingly very weathered, having experienced the rolling vicissitudes of the mortal world.
Seeing this scene, Lu Ming was long since no longer surprised. His expression was very calm as he said, “Qianbei promised me back then that if I could come to the Beyond, you would bestow upon me a tremendous fortuitous encounter. Qianbei surely hasn’t forgotten?”
This stone fragment was something he had found in his childhood, when one day it suddenly streaked across the night sky like a meteor, then smashed into the back courtyard, where he discovered it.
At first, this mysterious stone fragment would absorb the spiritual energy of his cultivation, then feed back to him even purer and denser magical power.
Because of this, Lu Ming, born in some small backwater, laid an extremely solid cultivation foundation from a young age.
Even later, when facing disciples of great sects—such as the young woman Xue Yan—he had the strength to fight.
To put it bluntly, his achievements today were inseparable from this mysterious stone fragment.
Later, by chance, he discovered that within this mysterious stone fragment there was actually an inner space.
And within this mysterious space, the flow of time was very slow.
Cultivation manuals and secret texts that would normally take him months, even a year, to thoroughly comprehend—after comprehending them within this mysterious space, less than half a month had passed in the outside world.
Because of all these factors, Lu Ming’s cultivation advanced as if aided by a god, his fame rising, making him a locally renowned genius of their little corner of the world.
So much so that he later joined the sect of the young woman Xue Yan, obtaining the qualification to come to the Beyond and participate in the Hundred Worlds War.
Of course, it was only after recently joining Xue Yan’s sect that he learned there was actually a Remnant Soul within the stone fragment’s space.
At the time, that Remnant Soul had attempted Body Possession on him, but in the end, because his Physique was too frail and could hardly contain that Remnant Soul, it had no choice but to abandon the possession.
Although Lu Ming luckily survived, he was thereafter extremely wary of that Remnant Soul.
Of the many words the other spoke and the many conditions it promised, he agreed to none.
Only the matter of bringing it to the Beyond seemed relatively reliable in Lu Ming’s view.
“Heh heh, little brat. Back when I roamed the Beyond unchallenged, your ancestors hadn’t even been born yet. And you dare question my words?”
The middle-aged man within the mysterious stone fragment, sensing the long-missed laws of heaven and earth here, could not help but laugh.
His appearance was very faint, difficult to maintain in its original form.
Yet one could still make out a few traces of his former grandeur—tall in stature, deep-eyed, with a soul-stirring majesty.
At his peak, his cultivation, if not unmatched across the Eight Wastelands, could certainly sweep through the heavens of the Beyond without equal—easily accomplished.
“This junior dares not question qianbei’s words. I merely hope qianbei will honor his promise and bestow upon this junior the fortuitous encounter you pledged.”
Lu Ming maintained his attitude—neither servile nor overbearing.
He knew the other had means to easily end his life.
But back then, the other had sworn upon his Dao Heart, which concerned his very soul and life thereafter, so Lu Ming was not worried the other would go back on his word.
“Rest assured. Back in my day, I was at least a figure who sat as an equal with the Honoured Nobles of various lands. Even when I later suffered a murderous ambush by enemies and experienced the greatest crisis of my life, I still survived. This little fortuitous encounter—do you think I’d be stingy with it?”
The middle-aged man’s voice remained very calm, filled with the bearing of an ambitious warlord, and he was extremely disdainful toward Lu Ming.
Lu Ming merely stood there in silence, saying nothing.
He understood that in the current Beyond, the middle-aged man before him was perhaps the only opportunity he could grasp.
After experiencing tonight’s events at the Battle Arena, he even felt that Xue Yan, his junior sister who had once been so close to him, was becoming a stranger, and would eventually leave him.
Therefore, he had to become stronger, to seize everything that belonged to him.
“The stone fragment in your hand was something I found in a desolate star region back then. It contains divine patterns of time within, and I later refined it into a divine weapon. Originally it had seven layers in total.”
“But during that life-and-death battle, it was shattered, leaving only this last piece.”
“Since you obtained it by luck, today I shall impart to you the method of refining and activating this stone fragment.”
The middle-aged man’s gaze turned toward the stone fragment still floating in the void, and he suddenly spoke to Lu Ming.
As he spoke, he extended a finger, and a brilliant golden light instantly fell into Lu Ming’s mind.
An extremely obscure and ancient scripture unfolded and spread out in Lu Ming’s heart.
Every character shone dazzlingly, with a majestic might that one dared not look upon directly.
His eyes widened in shock—this was the first time he had come into contact with such a profound scripture.
Back in the Blue Flood Ancient World, the most profound scriptures he had encountered were merely superficial generalities, not profound at all.
“If I had obtained this scripture even earlier, would everything have turned out differently?”
Looking at all this, Lu Ming’s heart was extremely shaken, followed by waves of delight and wild joy.
“Don’t celebrate too early. What I intend to give you is far more than just this.”
“Do you remember what I told you before? After coming to the Beyond, go find an organization called Neraka, find their contact person, and at that time I shall bestow upon you an even greater fortuitous encounter.”
“This mere Hundred Worlds War—what does it amount to?”
The middle-aged man looked at Lu Ming’s shocked expression, seemingly quite pleased with himself, then his expression slightly withdrew as he spoke of another matter.
Thirty million years ago, he had held an identity that everyone feared—even the leaders of great sects feared him immensely.
Back then, he roamed the Beyond unhindered; the prodigies, Ancient Saints, even Sacred Emperor Realm beings and Quasi-Emperors he had slain were beyond counting. Wherever he passed, all trembled.
## 685: Methods in the Shadows, the Confidence of the Fortuitous One (Please Subscribe)
Lu Ming had only recently arrived in the Beyond and did not know what exactly this “Neraka” the middle-aged man spoke of was.
Nevertheless, he kept his guard up in his heart while agreeing—after all, he truly had obtained benefits from the middle-aged man.
As for what Neraka actually was, he could simply spend some time inquiring about it afterward.
After explaining these matters, the middle-aged man transformed into a streak of flowing light and flew back into the stone fragment.
Now he was merely in a Remnant Soul state; before meeting someone worthy of trust, he would not easily expose his existence.
Tens of millions of years ago, his power was monstrous and he looked down upon all directions, but he also had countless enemies—which was why he later suffered the ambush, was grievously wounded and nearly perished, leaving only an indestructible Remnant Soul.
To ordinary cultivators, he in his Remnant Soul state was no different from a walking treasure trove.
Lu Ming’s cultivation and knowledge were both rather shallow, which was why the middle-aged man chose to remain by his side, unworried that Lu Ming might pull any tricks.
Moreover, he had means to control Lu Ming, so no accidents would occur.
In the following days, the prodigies of various Overworlds who had come to the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds all began their slaughter and great battles.
Every day, large numbers of prodigies died in this great war; the fighting could be called extremely brutal.
Beyond that, deep into the night, horns would sound between the various districts, stirring the blood and filling hearts with surging killing intent.
Great swathes of warriors gathered outside the main cities, beheading the cultivators who had provoked the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds during this period to consecrate the banners, then beginning their campaigns of slaughter.
Compared to the killing among the Overworld prodigies, the wars between districts were even more terrifying in momentum and scale.
War smoke billowed; blood energy pierced the heavens.
The gates of each district swung wide open, and flood-like masses of cultivators surged out, charging toward other districts as if hatred accumulated over lifetimes—eyes red, heedless of life and death.
This was the tradition and rule of the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds: on the last day of each month, the districts would wage war against one another.
During these days, Gu Changge continued to appear in the Battle Arenas of the various districts’ main cities, occasionally paying high prices to buy a few passable death row prisoners.
As a result, in the eyes of many cultivators, this confirmed the news that Gu Changge had come here to select servants or followers.
Compared to other places in the Beyond, the death row prisoners of the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds were indeed stronger, with richer combat experience.
Having figured out Gu Changge’s purpose, many powers breathed a sigh of relief, no longer as anxious and fearful as before.
“First select some death row prisoners, then plant my own people among them—naturally, I can infiltrate Neraka.”
Gu Changge harbored other plans in his heart, waiting for Neraka and Pagoda to first lower their guard.
This place was, after all, the gu-breeding ground of Neraka and Pagoda.
These death row prisoners, or the prodigies who prevailed in the slaughter, would ultimately become fresh blood injected into these two assassin powers.
So these days, on the surface he appeared to be selecting death row prisoners, but in truth he was making moves in the shadows, planting his own people among those prisoners.
Although Neraka and Pagoda had always been cautious, Gu Changge’s methods had always been impossible to trace.
Just like the Entanglement Immortal Art—impossible to guard against.
He did not believe Neraka and Pagoda could detect it. As long as he followed the slightest clue, in the end he could certainly dig out their headquarters.
Gu Changge appeared to have few people at his side, but the True Daoist puppets in his hands were not few—an absolutely powerful force. Without an Immortal Grade Artifact or foundational power to resist, it could sweep aside any supreme great sect.
And so, half a month later, the slaughter among the prodigies of the Hundred Worlds War finally began to show some results.
Some ancient worlds with relatively weak overall strength were essentially annihilated to the last.
Only the higher-ranked ancient worlds had more surviving prodigies, with greater hope of competing for the Realm’s Fortuity.
Among them, the most special was the Blue Flood Ancient World. This world’s strength was not particularly great, but...
In this great war, the prodigies who survived instead ranked at the forefront.
Because of what happened that night in Vermilion Bird Hall, and the matter of the Battle Arena, many people had come to remember the red-dressed maiden of the Blue Flood Ancient World.
Even the great figures within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds now dared not act rashly against the other ancient worlds. When encountering prodigies of the Blue Flood Ancient World on the battlefield, those who could choose to avoid battle all chose to avoid it.
“It’s all thanks to Shimei Xue Yan. This time, our Blue Flood Ancient World was able to rank within the top thirty—her contribution was indispensable.”
“Indeed. If not for Shimei Xue Yan, we probably couldn’t even have made it into the top hundred, let alone the top thirty. That’s simply something we wouldn’t dare imagine.”
Within the courtyard where the group from the Blue Flood Ancient World was resting, numerous prodigies were gathered in a small assembly, their words brimming with excitement and joy.
Although arriving in the Beyond had dealt heavy blows to their Dao Hearts, being able to reach this step today was, to some extent, an unexpected delight.
Even when they returned to the Overworld afterward, they would receive no small amount of rewards—not to mention there was even a chance of remaining in the Beyond, being noticed and taken in by other forces.
“After the Hundred Worlds War ends, does Xue Shimei have any plans?”
As these words were spoken, the many prodigies present grew curious, their gazes turning toward the other side—toward the red-dressed maiden who had been silently drinking all along.
The maiden Xue Yan came back to her senses, her delicate brows furrowing slightly before she said, “I’ll probably try to find a way to stay in the Beyond.”
Having witnessed the Beyond’s ancient vastness and unfathomable depths, she felt ever more keenly her own insignificance and powerlessness.
If she returned to the Blue Flood Ancient World, she estimated she would likely never have another chance in this lifetime to come to the Beyond again.
Let alone touch the realms that lay beyond.
Hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but feel envious. These past few days, quite a few powerful forces and orthodoxies of the Beyond had already extended olive branches to the maiden Xue Yan.
In their eyes, this was simply a dreamlike, inconceivable thing—yet now it had landed right before Xue Yan, within arm’s reach.
After all, she had encountered a noble benefactor. This kind of luck was something they could envy all they wanted but never obtain, nor did they have the qualifications to compete for it.
“Lu Ming shixiong is powerful; staying in the Beyond shouldn’t be a problem for him either.”
Thinking this, they looked toward Lu Ming on the other side.
During these days of great battles, Lu Ming’s performance had astonished them. Compared to back in the Blue Flood Ancient World, he had clearly grown much stronger.
“I will definitely stay in the Beyond.”
Lu Ming clenched his fist. Listening to the many discussions around him, a strong sense of confidence welled up in his heart.
These past few days, he had quietly gone to investigate the origins of Nether. After learning everything, his heart was utterly shaken—he never imagined that the middle-aged man within the stone fragment would have such an immense background.
One of the most powerful assassin organizations in the Beyond, with an incredibly ancient inheritance spanning countless epochs, which had once slaughtered until the various orthodoxies of the Beyond trembled in fear...
“The Gongzi wishes to summon you. A qualified, obedient tool.”
And just as the many prodigies of the Blue Flood Ancient World were discussing their future plans, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the residence.
“May I ask if Miss Xue is here?”
A middle-aged, refined-looking man with a smile on his face stood outside the residence and asked.
Behind him followed numerous cultivators in respectful attendance—some Human, some of the Ancient Royal Clans. Every single cultivator and being among them possessed extremely powerful strength, their blood qi boiling like a blazing sun, enough to seize one’s heart and soul.
The servant in charge of guarding the residence had never seen such a formation. His expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly said, “Miss Xue is indeed here. May I ask who you are, Daren?”
Judging from the middle-aged refined man’s attire and demeanor, one could tell he was surely someone long accustomed to high position—his status was anything but simple, and his gaze faintly carried an air of authority.
“I am the Third Shopkeeper of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants of the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds. I have come to this place specifically on the Gongzi’s orders to find Miss Xue Yan,” the middle-aged refined man said with a smile.
The Third Shopkeeper of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants!
Hearing the servant’s report, the people of the Blue Flood Ancient World who had rushed to the residence’s entrance couldn’t help but collectively suck in a breath of cold air, their expressions horrified.
The Third Shopkeeper of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants—this status was not necessarily lower than that of the master behind Vermilion Bird Hall, and was even more mysterious. Ordinarily, one couldn’t even catch a glimpse of him in person.
Who could have imagined that today he would actually appear here, specifically to find Xue Shimei?
Moreover, the “Gongzi” he spoke of could only be that one person.
Thinking of this, the people of the Blue Flood Ancient World trembled all over, casting incomparably envious gazes toward Xue Yan.
“Daren, you are looking for me?”
After her initial daze, Xue Yan also understood the terrifying status of the refined middle-aged man before her. She walked forward.
“It is not I who seeks you, but the Gongzi who seeks you,” the refined middle-aged man said with a gentle smile. “Come with me. Don’t keep the Gongzi waiting.”
His tone was very amiable, yet it contained an unquestionable quality, not caring whether Xue Yan agreed or not.
Of course, in his view, there was probably no one who would dare refuse such a thing.
One must know that even the divine maidens of the various Cults of Immortality in the Beyond, upon learning that Gu Changge wished to see them, would likely be wild with joy and overcome with excitement.
This little girl from a mere Overworld—what virtue or ability did she possess, that Gu Changge would send someone to seek her out?
“That Daren is looking for Xue Yan Shimei...”
The crowd of prodigies from the Blue Flood Ancient World were at this moment even more envious, jealous, and resentful.
These past days, through indirect inquiries, they had already gathered quite a bit of information about Gu Changge.
For such a figure—one who held the most heaven-defying power in the Beyond—to actually wish to see Xue Yan Shimei...
What this meant, they simply didn’t dare to think about. Their entire beings were nearly mad with envy.
“Yan Shimei, hurry and go. Don’t keep that Daren waiting.”
“When you rise to greatness in the future, don’t forget about us!”
The prodigies of the Blue Flood Ancient World spoke up one after another, their words full of flattery.
Xue Yan Shimei...
Lu Ming, who had originally resolved to demand cultivation techniques and divine abilities from the Remnant Soul within that Mysterious Stone Fragment tonight, now felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head upon witnessing this scene. His entire being felt chilled to the core as he stood frozen in place.
This late at night, that great figure had come to find Xue Shimei...
In an instant, countless possibilities had already played out in his mind, finally surfacing certain images he dared not dwell upon.
Immediately, the fists beneath his sleeves clenched tight, emitting creaking sounds.
Lu Ming took a deep breath, yet found it difficult to calm himself down.
He knew that, no matter from what angle one looked at it, Xue Yan Shimei could not refuse.
Even if she was unwilling to go, she wouldn’t dare refuse.
A great figure like that needed only a single word to destroy the Blue Flood Ancient World behind them, thousands upon thousands of times over.
Faced with such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, there was likely no woman who could refuse.
And just as Lu Ming’s thoughts churned chaotically, Xue Yan had already smiled graciously and cupped her hands toward the refined middle-aged man, saying, “Thank you for your trouble, Daren. When shall we depart? For Gu Gongzi to summon this little woman—I am truly trembling with fear and trepidation, and dare not keep Gu Gongzi waiting even half a moment.”
“We leave now.”
The refined middle-aged man nodded. He hadn’t expected Xue Yan’s conduct to be neither servile nor overbearing, lacking the dazed reaction of someone struck by enormous shock.
This made him look at her a second time. He could only say that she was indeed worthy of being someone Gu Gongzi had taken notice of—there was something extraordinary about her.
Very quickly, the refined middle-aged man led Xue Yan away from this place, their figures gradually disappearing at the end of the long street, stepping into the depths of Vermilion Bird Hall’s main city, where the palaces were most resplendent.
Lu Ming watched this scene with a slightly ashen face, suddenly feeling as though something that belonged to him had been snatched away. His heart could not calm down for a long time.
“Kid, find Nether’s contact person, and I can help you take back the one you love.”
At this moment, a voice carrying a hint of mocking laughter suddenly rang out beside Lu Ming’s ear.
His pupils contracted, but he quickly recovered, understanding that it was the middle-aged man within the Mysterious Stone Fragment speaking to him.
“How can you help me?” Lu Ming transmitted back in a low voice.
“I can help you become this generation’s Successor of Nether. That way, your status would surpass even that Gu-surnamed Gongzi.”
The middle-aged man within the Mysterious Stone Fragment’s gaze shifted slightly as he spoke with a smile, his words brimming with confidence.
Although he had never taken half a step out of the Mysterious Stone Fragment, over these days he had still learned quite a bit of outside news from Lu Ming’s mouth.
The various rumors, while sounding shocking and horrifying, seemed from his perspective far too unrealistic—more like they had been exaggerated countless times over.
How could someone of the younger generation reach such a level at such an age?
Even ancient records probably wouldn’t dare record it that way.
“Successor of Nether...” Lu Ming’s breathing immediately grew rapid. He naturally understood what this represented.
During this period, quite a few prodigies had mysteriously gone missing within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
Meanwhile, within the resplendent palace at the deepest part of Vermilion Bird Hall.
Gu Changge looked at the Jade Tablet in his hand, lightly raising an eyebrow.
The Alliance of Thousand Merchants’ informants were spread throughout every corner of the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, so many things that ordinary people found difficult to detect would enter the Alliance of Thousand Merchants’ information network.
He hadn’t expected that while investigating the two forces Nether and Pagoda, there would actually be an unexpected harvest.
The prodigies who had mysteriously disappeared—coincidentally, all of them possessed certain special physiques.
“If Su Qingge is in this place, why hasn’t she come to see me?”
Gu Changge’s brow furrowed slightly, feeling that matters were somewhat beyond his expectations.
Aside from Su Qingge, he couldn’t think of any other Successor of Demonic Arts existing in this Beyond.
Of course, only a Successor of Demonic Arts would devour prodigies’ Sources for cultivation. No other force or orthodoxy would dare do such a thing.
In the vast Beyond, the appearance of certain strange cultivation arts similar to the Taboo Demonic Arts was not unusual.
But Gu Changge had a feeling that Su Qingge should have already made contact with Chan Hongyi.
She should currently be within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, which was why she hadn’t come to see him—instead deliberately avoiding him.
So she had long since learned the truth...
“But this is not the mindset a qualified, obedient tool should have.” Gu Changge set down the Jade Tablet, his gaze gradually turning deep and unfathomable.
“Gongzi, the maiden from the Blue Flood Ancient World whom you sought has been brought.”
Just as Gu Changge set down the Jade Tablet in his hand, the voice of a servant reporting sounded from outside the palace hall.
“She’s here? Then let her in.”
Gu Changge’s expression returned to normal as he nodded.
Very quickly, outside the palace hall, the maiden Xue Yan—led there by the Alliance of Thousand Merchants’ Third Shopkeeper—arrived within the palace.
She wore a red dress, her face fair and exquisite, her eyes like water, her hair like clouds. But her expression was somewhat anxious and tense, her slender hands gripping her sleeves tightly, appearing deeply uneasy.
As the most resplendent palace complex within Vermilion Bird Hall, this place was filled with experts like clouds, with far too many terrifying powerhouses hidden in the shadows.
Divine senses vast as abyssal seas, blood qi surging like erupting volcanoes, pressing down upon this stretch of sky until it seemed about to collapse.
Merely the gazes they cast over to examine her made her feel suffocated, her very soul trembling.
To put it bluntly, any single person here was like an ancient deity, capable of casually sweeping away the Blue Flood Ancient World behind her.
“Miss Xue Yan.”
Just as all sorts of thoughts churned in the maiden’s heart, impossible to calm, Gu Changge at the front of the hall spoke with a smile.
He wore white robes and white socks, his black hair draped loosely, his figure tall and straight, appearing extremely simple and unadorned.
On his clear, handsome face was a smile like a spring breeze, easily able to calm one’s tangled emotions.
Gazing at the white-robed man before her, transcendent and otherworldly like a banished immortal, even though Xue Yan didn’t consider herself a vulgar person, she was still dazed for a moment. A blush surfaced on her cheeks, and only after several breaths did she recover.
“Xue Yan greets Gu Gongzi.” She bowed respectfully, her gaze falling behind Gu Changge.
Qing’er stood respectfully in attendance behind Gu Changge, currently brewing tea for him.
Tree Heart Spring of a million years of age bubbled and boiled, Enlightenment Tea leaves tumbling within, wafting a rich tea fragrance, with many strange phenomena manifesting.
Principles of Dao interweaved, dawn light suffused the air—a small golden sword, an ancient bell the size of a palm, a small golden figure...
In terms of value, this single cup of tea could absolutely rival an entire city.
Xue Yan had only ever seen such legendary divine objects in ancient texts. They could aid cultivators in comprehending the Dao—even a single whiff of the tea’s fragrance could advance one’s cultivation by leaps and bounds, something one wouldn’t dare dream of.
Moreover, it was being used merely as ordinary tea, for daily drinking.
Even describing it as extravagant would seem utterly inadequate.
Probably only those existences who could pluck stars with a hand and sit watching the passage of countless ages could manage such a thing.
Xue Yan’s dazed expression quickly recovered; she didn’t let these things shake her heart.
“May I ask, Gu Gongzi, for what matter have you summoned Xue Yan today?”
She cupped her hands and asked Gu Changge.
“I sought you out because there’s naturally a matter I’d like your help with.”
Gu Changge smiled faintly, gesturing for her to take a seat.
Xue Yan hesitated somewhat.
She didn’t understand what matter could require Gu Changge to seek her out.
Something even Gu Changge couldn’t accomplish—how could she possibly accomplish it?
Nevertheless, she sat down, waiting for Gu Changge to speak his instructions.
Seeing this, Qing’er behind him went over to pour her a cup of Enlightenment Tea, then walked back and stood respectfully at Gu Changge’s side.
She knew that Gu Changge seemed to be playing a grand game of chess, and the maiden Xue Yan before her was an extremely suitable chess piece.
Enlightenment Tea...
Seeing the tea before her, Xue Yan was momentarily stunned.
She truly never imagined that one day she would actually be able to drink Enlightenment Tea.
The Enlightenment Tea bubbled and boiled, emitting a Dao-comprehending aura that made one want to sink into intoxicated ascension. A great bell the size of a palm manifested, tolling melodiously; divine swords rang out, immortal light shone brilliantly, as if truly real.
She felt every pore in her body seem to dilate, even her soul absorbing this Dao-comprehending aura.
Her cultivation, which had long since reached a bottleneck, now showed signs of loosening.
This thing was far too precious. Xue Yan feared she lacked the fortune to enjoy it.
Nevertheless, with great difficulty she tore her gaze away from what was before her, not letting the Enlightenment Tea shake her true heart.
“It’s merely a cup of tea. Compared to the favor I wish to ask of Miss Xue Yan, it’s nothing.”
Gu Changge waved his hand, his gaze carrying a hint of appreciation as he smiled.
“Then, Gu Gongzi, the matter you seek me for—what exactly is it?”
Xue Yan was very curious and couldn’t help but ask in puzzlement.
“I want you to help me keep a close watch on someone.”
Gu Changge smiled, his fingers tapping unhurriedly on the table before him.
“Her every move, and all the stirrings around her, are to be reported to me.”
Xue Yan was stunned. What kind of person needed to be watched by her, with their every move reported to Gu Changge?
“This person—you should know them.”
Gu Changge smiled, not surprised by Xue Yan’s reaction.
With that, Qing’er behind him stepped forward and handed a Jade Tablet over to her.
“This is... Lu Ming shixiong?”
Xue Yan’s divine sense probed into the Jade Tablet. Upon seeing the figure manifested within, her entire being froze in shock, her eyes widening as if in disbelief.
“Miss Xue Yan should be no stranger to him.”
Gu Changge actually hadn’t expected that this Fortuitous One he didn’t much care about would have some inexplicable connection with Nether.
The Alliance of Thousand Merchants’ informants were spread across the entire Battlefield of Hundred Worlds; very few things escaped his notice.
These past days, although Lu Ming had been cautiously and carefully inquiring about Nether’s various affairs, in the eyes of the observant, it was still quite obvious.
Especially since Gu Changge was also investigating Nether’s traces.
However, to avoid alerting the enemy, Gu Changge did not directly send people to seize Lu Ming.
So after some consideration, he planned to make his move through the fated maiden at this Fortuitous One’s side.
Whether he could follow the vine to find the melon—learning through what object Lu Ming had made contact with Nether.
“Gu Gongzi, can you tell me the reason?”
Xue Yan’s expression was somewhat conflicted and struggling. She didn’t dare refuse Gu Changge’s request.
She was a smart person; she knew she lacked the qualifications to speak with Gu Changge as an equal or bargain with him.
Nor did Gu Changge need her consent—he naturally had thousands of methods to control or coerce her.
But this person was actually Lu Ming shixiong, someone she was extremely familiar with.
Ordinarily, the two of them were quite close, often sparring and discussing the Dao together—their friendship was not shallow.
Even in her view, toward Lu Ming, her heart still held some inexplicable, unclear feelings.
“Because on his body, there is the mark of a certain person I’m looking for. So I want to use him to find that person.”
“Rest assured, I bear no malice toward this shixiong of yours,” Gu Changge replied with a smile, lightly sipping his tea.
He naturally wouldn’t say that he intended to use Lu Ming to find Nether’s whereabouts.
The maiden Xue Yan had no need to know these matters either.
Xue Yan’s expression turned slightly solemn as she nodded, but in her heart she didn’t fully believe Gu Changge’s words.
She also knew that, given her status, it was impossible for Gu Changge to tell her all the reasons.
The only thing she could do was obediently carry out matters according to Gu Changge’s instructions.
Although Gu Changge currently appeared gentle and refined, judging from the many rumors, the ruthlessness of his methods was absolutely no less than that of a world-shaking demon.
Afterward, Gu Changge instructed Qing’er behind him to hand Xue Yan a Communication Jade Talisman.
It contained a special Restriction, through which he could sense her whereabouts and movements.
Beyond that, all matters concerning Lu Ming could be transmitted through this Communication Jade Talisman.
Of course, most importantly, if Xue Yan made any move to leak any of this, Gu Changge’s people would notice immediately and act to deal with it.
“Handle this matter for Gongzi, and when the time comes, the rewards will naturally not be lacking for you.”
Qing’er placed the Communication Jade Talisman before Xue Yan.
Her exquisite face carried a trace of a smile. Although in her eyes Xue Yan was still no different from an ant, because of Gu Changge, she could no longer treat her with contempt, and spoke up.
Xue Yan nodded and accepted the Communication Jade Talisman, though her heart felt somewhat heavy.
Originally, she had thought that Gu Changge summoning her late at night meant he had some other intention.
In the end, she had simply overthought it.
With Gu Changge’s status, what kind of woman in the Beyond had he not seen? How could he possibly be moved by a woman from the Overworld like her?
“This pot of Enlightenment Tea—Xue Yan-guniang may take it back with you for your shixiongs and shidis.”
After Xue Yan agreed, Gu Changge smiled and had no intention of keeping her any longer, beginning to issue his dismissal.
Xue Yan hesitated somewhat. The value of this pot of Enlightenment Tea was something she simply dared not imagine.
But since Gu Changge had casually bestowed it, as though it were ordinary spirit fruit and wine, she did not put on false airs. After voicing her thanks, she took the teapot, bade farewell, and left.
The Third Shopkeeper who had brought her was still waiting for her at the palace gates.
Seeing her come out carrying the Enlightenment Tea, his eyes could not help but reveal a trace of envy.
With his status, even to taste a single cup of Enlightenment Tea would require an enormous price.
In the vast Beyond, aside from Gu Changge, there were probably few who could be so extravagant.
Of course, tonight was an exception. Gu Changge had instructed Qing’er to brew two pots of tea, so he would naturally have a chance to savor this tea’s wonders later.
After Xue Yan departed, the smile on Gu Changge’s face within the palace also vanished.
His gaze grew somewhat deep, revealing a trace of contemplation, and then he instructed Qing’er behind him:
“Keep a close watch on everyone from the Blue Flood Ancient World these next few days. Furthermore, I want to know everything about that prodigy named Lu Ming, truthfully and in full. Send people to take control of all his family and friends back in the Blue Flood Ancient World as well.”
“Let none of them slip through.”
After all, he was a Fortuitous One—some unexpected variable might arise.
So, to be absolutely certain, Gu Changge decided to first take control of his family and friends.
That way, even if the chess piece Xue Yan were exposed, he would still have the means to force Lu Ming to compromise and lure out the Nether for him.
Qing’er’s heart trembled slightly, her expression turning solemn as she nodded in acknowledgment. “Rest assured, Gongzi, I will arrange it at once.”
The Blue Flood Ancient World was endlessly far from here, merely one of the countless Overworlds in this region.
Like a tiny mote of dust in the sands of the Ganges—even if Gu Changge destroyed it with a raise of his palm, it would not cause the slightest ripple, let alone merely controlling a few people within it.
“Since you’ve appeared in the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds yet won’t come see me... then I’ll simply come find you.”
After Qing’er went down to carry out these orders, Gu Changge also dismissed everyone else in the palace.
He gazed at the moon wheel glowing with soft light outside, shook his head gently, then took a single step and vanished.
The matter of Su Qingge had come as quite a surprise to him.
And now, this surprise would naturally have to be resolved by his own hand.
Though the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds was vast and boundless, if Gu Changge truly wished to find someone—especially someone who had cultivated the Taboo Demonic Arts—it was effortless.
“Is the Chosen One Token I gave you still serving you well? Truly worthy of the Taboo Demonic Arts—in just these few days, your aura has grown so much stronger.”
At this moment, in the Dark Net Hall of the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, within an extremely secluded courtyard—
Lan Yifei, the Chosen One of the Immortal Dao Alliance, had appeared here. His figure was tall and slender, and his refined, composed face carried a trace of admiration as he spoke.
“How did you know I was here?”
Su Qingge stood in the distance, her entire body shrouded in black mist. Her true features could not be seen, nor her figure—everything was utterly blurred.
Her expression was cold, her voice extremely hoarse, impossible to tell whether male or female.
“The Dark Net Hall happens to be backed by my Immortal Dao Alliance, so your presence here cannot be hidden from me,” Lan Yifei said with a smile.
Su Qingge’s gaze returned to calm. “You came to find me—aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
“Not afraid. You don’t have that ability right now. I came to find you because I actually want to know the identity of the true Successor of Demonic Arts,” Lan Yifei said, shaking his head.
During this time, he had already studied the portion of the Taboo Demonic Arts that Su Qingge had given him, and felt as though a door to cultivation he had never seen before was slowly opening before him.
He had not suppressed the urge to try, and in the end could not resist seeking out a few corpses of experts.
And with that one cultivation session, he could no longer stop—he even had the thought of destroying his previous foundation and remolding it anew with the Demonic Arts.
Therefore, he wanted even more to know the identity of the true Successor of Demonic Arts, to obtain the complete Taboo Demonic Arts.
“When the time is ripe, I will naturally tell you. Now is not the time,” Su Qingge said indifferently, with no intention of informing Lan Yifei of the matter.
Lan Yifei’s brow furrowed. “Do you think I truly won’t make a move against you?”
By now, he was even somewhat doubting whether Su Qingge actually knew who the true Successor of Demonic Arts was—or whether even she was merely a chess piece kept in the dark.
That was why she had come up with such an excuse to stall him.
“Then you are welcome to try,” Su Qingge said, her expression calm, without the slightest change.
Although she had previously been no match for Lan Yifei, during this time in the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds she had devoured the Source of quite a few prodigies, and her cultivation had advanced considerably.
“You truly won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin. Unless the true Successor of Demonic Arts appears, you could never be my match—especially on my Immortal Dao Alliance’s territory.”
The smile on Lan Yifei’s face gradually turned cold, and his tone was far from polite.
“You are welcome to try and see whether I can kill you.”
A trace of disdainful smile surfaced at the corner of Su Qingge’s lips, though her beautiful, ethereal face was shrouded in mist and could not be seen clearly.
Lan Yifei’s brow knitted tightly. Honestly, he did not want to fight Su Qingge here.
Because he could not be sure whether Su Qingge still had some backup plan or hidden trump card.
“Then why do you keep refusing to tell me the true identity of the Successor of Demonic Arts?” His tone was unfriendly, carrying a trace of suspicion.
A flash of dismissiveness passed through Su Qingge’s eyes, but she quickly recovered and said indifferently:
“You only need to know that right now... you are not yet qualified to know who he is.”
If Lan Yifei were to learn now that Gu Changge was the true Successor of Demonic Arts—
Would he still have the courage to snatch the complete Taboo Demonic Arts from his hands?
Even given a hundred times more courage, he would not dare.
“You—”
Lan Yifei did not know what Su Qingge was thinking; he only felt that she looked down on him, and his face turned somewhat ugly.
He nearly laughed in extreme anger, wanting very much to strike and make Su Qingge understand the vast gap in strength between them.
“It seems you’ve been looking for me.”
But just then, a strange spatial fluctuation suddenly appeared in the courtyard, accompanied by a young man’s voice.
Beneath the mist, Su Qingge’s face instantly changed drastically, turning pale in an instant.
She was, after all, merely a chess piece—the true mastermind behind the scenes had come.
As this voice rang out, the entire courtyard seemed to be covered by a veil from an unknown dimension.
The breeze stopped, time froze, and even the moonlight falling in the distance seemed to grow hazier.
The terrifying pressure and aura made Lan Yifei’s face change abruptly. His whole body went cold, and he could not help but tremble in his very soul as he turned his head toward the source of the voice.
This stretch of heaven and earth seemed to tremble; spacetime warped, and everything shattered into fragments.
Off to the side, Su Qingge—her face concealed by black mist, her true form indiscernible—likewise turned pale in an instant.
This voice was all too familiar to her.
She simply could not fathom how Gu Changge had learned she was in the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, or how he had found this place.
Now that Gu Changge had taken the initiative to appear and come for her today, even if she sprouted wings, she could not hope to escape.
With Gu Changge’s current strength—while he might not be able to sweep through the entire Beyond—there were truly few who could be his match.
At this moment, many memories of her past with Gu Changge surfaced in Su Qingge’s mind, and bitterness and sorrow could not help but appear on her face.
She was, in the end, merely a chess piece.
Within the courtyard, a tall, slender figure appeared as if out of thin air, walking over slowly.
He seemed to stand in another distant world, his entire being utterly blurred, his true features indiscernible—revealing only a pair of eyes that seemed to carry an intrigued expression.
Looking at the figure that had suddenly appeared before him, Lan Yifei could not help but retreat several steps, his scalp tingling. He felt as though what lay before his eyes was a vast abyssal sea, or perhaps a boundless void.
Standing before him, he was like a withered leaf beneath raging waves, liable to be smashed to pieces at any moment.
This aura was countless times more terrifying than when he faced the True Daoist Ancestor of the Immortal Dao Alliance.
“Who am I?”
“Didn’t I just hear that you were looking for me?”
Gu Changge appeared in this place, gazing at Lan Yifei before him with some interest.
He had not expected that, following Su Qingge’s aura here, there would be an additional harvest.
This person actually wanted to scheme against him, attempting to learn through Su Qingge’s mouth who the true one was.
Ever since his cultivation had stepped into the True Daoist Realm, he had not thought about this matter for a long time.
“The true Successor of Demonic Arts... how are you here?”
Lan Yifei forced himself to calm down, but his voice still trembled slightly, containing a disbelief that even he could feel.
This was completely different from the true body of the Successor of Demonic Arts he had speculated about.
With an aura like this, even a true True Daoist would likely be horrified before him.
The cultivation of this mysterious man before him had absolutely stepped into the ranks of True Daoists—and he was no ordinary True Daoist at that.
How could the true Successor of Demonic Arts’ strength have reached this stage? It was inconceivable.
At this moment, he dared not think too deeply about those words, feeling only his hair stand on end, even feeling that Su Qingge had schemed against him.
That Successor of Demonic Arts who had thrown the eight directions into chaos, devouring the Source of the successors of various orthodoxies—how could that person possibly be connected to the one before him?
“The true Successor of Demonic Arts?”
Gu Changge let out a soft laugh, then shook his head. “For you to think so... isn’t exactly wrong.”
With that, he paid no further heed to Lan Yifei, whose face had gone deathly pale with extreme terror.
Instead, he looked toward Su Qingge, who had been silent all this while.
“What is it? Now that you’ve seen me, you don’t plan to greet me with your true face, Qingge?” he said with a smile.
Su Qingge fell silent for a moment. The mist concealing her features and figure dispersed, revealing a beautiful, ethereal face—only her gaze appeared complicated, with loss, with struggle, and with pain.
But these emotions quickly dissipated entirely, leaving her cold and calm, untouched by worldly dust, just like the moment she had first met Gu Changge.
Seeing this scene, Lan Yifei was stunned for a moment. He had not expected Su Qingge’s true self to be such a breathtakingly beautiful woman, cold and pure as a moonlit immortal.
But the next instant, his pupils could not help but contract—he suddenly felt that Su Qingge looked very familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before.
“Back in Kunwu City, although I did not participate in the Divine Rock Conference, I did catch a glimpse of that maid by Gu Changge’s side...”
“This is impossible...”
Coming to his realization, Lan Yifei’s voice trembled, and he could not help but stagger back several steps.
Looking at Gu Changge again, his eyes were filled with horror and disbelief.
He felt his entire body go ice-cold, his hair standing on end, as if the top of his skull had been pried open and endless ice water poured down into it.
How could this be possible?
“You’re... the maid by Gu Changge’s side?”
Lan Yifei could not help but question Su Qingge, his eyes full of terror and disbelief, feeling that he had discovered a terrifying secret enough to shake the entire Beyond.
He dared not ask Gu Changge, still clinging to one last shred of hope in his heart.
“I am indeed the maid by Gongzi’s side,” Su Qingge said calmly, glancing at him, her voice without the slightest ripple.
Toward Lan Yifei, she could only feel pity.
Even she had not expected Gu Changge to come looking for her tonight.
This Lan Yifei actually wanted to know the identity of the true Successor of Demonic Arts, only to be caught red-handed by Gu Changge—aside from courting death, she had nothing else to say.
Gu Changge paid no mind to the changes in Lan Yifei’s expression. Looking at Su Qingge, he smiled lightly and said:
“It seems you still remember your own identity, Qingge. Then why have you been hiding from me?”
His tone was very gentle, without the slightest killing intent, as though he were conversing with an old friend.
Su Qingge’s gaze fell upon Gu Changge’s face, then gently lowered. “I was afraid... that Gongzi would kill me.”
How clever was Gu Changge? Her contact with the demoness in red, Chan Hongyi, could not possibly have been hidden from him.
Even now, she still remembered back at the True Immortal Academy, when her whereabouts had nearly been exposed, and she had asked Gu Changge: if she truly were the Successor of Demonic Arts, what would he do?
At the time, Gu Changge had said in a half-joking tone that he would naturally eliminate the demon to defend the Dao, and return peace to the Beyond.
But afterward, he would also come to accompany her.
Back then, Su Qingge had not known that Gu Changge had long since understood that her so-called identity as the Successor of Demonic Arts was fake, and she had been moved by those words for a long time.
Later, when her identity could no longer be concealed, she had thought Gu Changge would strike to kill her—but he did not. He still gave the same answer as before, and even helped her resolve her troubles, covering up her identity.
For this, she had been endlessly grateful. But who would have thought that all of this was nothing more than Gu Changge using her hand to toy with the Beyond?
Once upon a time, to her, Gu Changge had been her only anchor in the vast Beyond.
He was her only thought when she was being hunted by countless enemies and foes.
Without Gu Changge, there would be no Su Qingge of today.
But in the end, she was told the truth: even she had been toyed with and deceived in the palm of Gu Changge’s hand—merely a pitiful chess piece.
All her gratitude and hope collapsed overnight, turning to ash.
During this time, she had hated, she had resented, she had awakened, she had been lost—she had even wondered what the meaning of her existence would be going forward. Should she, as the demoness in red Chan Hongyi had said, take revenge on Gu Changge for hurting her?
Or should she walk openly before Gu Changge and ask him why he had done all this back then?
But all of it seemed meaningless now.
Because for Gu Changge, he would only smile lightly and carelessly, then abandon her without the slightest hesitation.
Everything she had done all these years—even now—had in truth been to make Gu Changge look at her properly. She did not want to be dispensable before him.
“Kill you? I’ve never thought of such a thing,” Gu Changge said, shaking his head upon hearing this.
“Then... do you hate me?”
Then, he extended his hand, letting it rest upon Su Qingge’s fair, delicate cheek, and spoke softly.
Su Qingge’s eyes held some loss and pain, but she quickly regained her calm and said:
“But... I no longer hate you now. It’s my own uselessness—I could only sink into being a pitiful chess piece.”
“You’re as obedient as ever.”
Gu Changge seemed to sigh, then looked toward Lan Yifei at the side. “It seems he has already cultivated the Demonic Arts. Then during this time, you should rest for a while.”
Su Qingge did not quite understand what Gu Changge meant by these words and was about to say something more—
But the next instant, her vision went black, her entire consciousness suddenly grew hazy, and she collapsed limply into Gu Changge’s embrace.
“You’re Gu Changge...”
“Young Master Gu...”
Having witnessed everything before his eyes, even though Lan Yifei was the Chosen One of the Immortal Dao Alliance, nearly unmatched among his contemporaries in this world, his voice was now filled with nothing but terror, his very soul trembling.
He was already utterly certain of Gu Changge’s identity.
Let alone him—even if the Ancestor of his Immortal Dao Alliance came, there would be no escaping this place.
There would not be the slightest chance of survival.
Who would dare imagine that the Successor of Demonic Arts and Gu Changge, the current leading figure of the Beyond, were actually one and the same person?
Which was to say, all along, Gu Changge had kept the entire Beyond in the dark, toying with them in the palm of his hand. He was the true mastermind behind it all.
“The Chosen One of the Immortal Dao Alliance...”
Gu Changge’s gaze fell upon him, his tone without the slightest ripple. “That identity suits you well enough. And you happen to have come into contact with the Demonic Arts.”
“I’ll give you a chance to live.”