An Explanation for All Living Beings Under Heaven, an Apology for Gu Changge
An Explanation for All Living Beings Under Heaven, an Apology for Gu Changge
## 729 Gu Xianer’s Speculation, the Successor of Demonic Arts Reappears in the World (Please Subscribe)
“Big Red, tell me, what exactly did I just stumble into?”
Only after Lan Yifei’s figure had completely vanished from sight did Xianer emerge from the shadows, her face carrying a trace of disbelief.
Had she not witnessed it with her own eyes, she would never have dared believe everything she had seen tonight.
Originally, she had thought that Lan Yifei was that ever-mysterious, low-profile Successor of Demonic Arts who had hidden himself so deeply. Xianer had even entertained the thought of capturing him, to wash away the suspicion that Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts.
But she never expected that Lan Yifei had his own unspeakable difficulties—as if controlled by an invisible hand, he was nothing more than a chess piece.
He was not the true Successor of Demonic Arts.
The real Successor of Demonic Arts was someone else entirely, hidden unfathomably deep, beyond imagination.
“This matter is no longer something a silly girl like you can meddle in.”
At this moment, the Big Red Bird, unusually, did not show Xianer any mocking expression. Instead, it spoke with extreme gravity.
It too had witnessed everything from beginning to end.
Even the mysterious Chosen One of the Immortal Dao Alliance was merely a chess piece—the origins of the person behind him could only be described as terrifying beyond measure.
This was no longer something a girl like Xianer could get involved in.
The slightest misstep would invite a fatal disaster.
“But... why do I feel like I should know who the Successor of Demonic Arts is?”
Xianer fell silent for a moment. For some reason, a strange feeling lingered in her heart.
She couldn’t say whether it was speculation or intuition.
This extremely mysterious Successor of Demonic Arts had never revealed his true face in the Beyond.
And now, even as the True Daoist ancestors of the various orthodoxies and forces emerged one after another, the Successor of Demonic Arts showed no sign of restraining his ferocity.
From this alone, one could see the arrogance and dominance of the Successor of Demonic Arts—he did not place any of the Beyond’s orthodoxies and forces in his eyes at all.
“In any case, this isn’t something a little girl like you can worry about. Hurry up and find that Immortal Pill, then leave this place of trouble. Someone will definitely discover the fall of Purple Cloud Valley’s ancient freak soon.”
The Big Red Bird urged anxiously, worried that someone would come looking and that it and Gu Xianer would inexplicably take the blame.
A Young Prodigy of a Cult of Immortality had fallen—and his Source had been seized, no less.
If word of this got out, it would inevitably cause enormous waves and sensation.
“Right now everyone believes that fellow Gu Changge is the true Successor of Demonic Arts. Well, isn’t this convenient—his suspicion has been washed clean, so you don’t need to worry anymore.”
“With something like this happening, that fellow Gu Changge has instead become the biggest beneficiary.”
Seeing Gu Xianer still sunk in silence, the Big Red Bird couldn’t help but glance sideways at her as it spoke.
Hearing these words, Gu Xianer was stunned for a moment, and that strange thought in her heart grew ever more distinct.
Changge had instead become the final beneficiary...
Was everything really such a coincidence? Or was everything within someone’s plan and control?
She suddenly recalled the words Lan Yifei had spoken at the time—the true Successor of Demonic Arts, whose very name would drive people to despair upon hearing it.
In this vast Beyond, who exactly possessed such terrifying might and influence?
If the scenes from the Lake of Reincarnation were real... no, impossible. I hope this is just my speculation...
Gu Xianer’s brows knitted tightly, her expression both conflicted and complicated.
In the end, she sighed and temporarily set the thought aside, planning to first search for that so-called Immortal Pill together with the Big Red Bird.
And at the very moment Jin Yun, the ancient freak of Purple Valley, fell—
Outside these ruins, among the many cultivators and living beings waiting there for Jin Yun, one person’s expression suddenly changed drastically.
“This is bad!”
“Daren’s Life Talisman has shattered!”
His face turned incomparably pale, his voice trembling, feeling as if the sky had collapsed.
“What? Daren’s Life Talisman shattered?”
Hearing these words, the rest of them felt as if struck by thunder from a clear sky, frozen dumbly in place, not daring to believe it.
Jin Yun was a Young Prodigy who had dominated an entire era!
How could he possibly have fallen within this cave dwelling?
“It’s over, it’s over... Daren has fallen here, and not one of us will survive...”
Everyone’s faces turned deathly pale, trembling uncontrollably, already foreseeing the monstrous waves that would follow.
Very quickly, the news that Jin Yun, the ancient freak of Purple Valley, had fallen within this cave dwelling spread rapidly, as if it had grown wings.
Without a doubt, such news, bursting forth so abruptly, was no different from a meteor crashing into the deep sea, setting off a colossal uproar.
Every cultivator and living being who heard this news was shocked and horrified to the extreme.
The King of Six Crowns Jun Yao, the Heavenly Rat Woman, Jin Chan the Chosen Monk—all the Young Prodigies within this cave dwelling fell into silence in unison.
They considered themselves no weaker than anyone, and naturally no weaker than Jin Yun.
Yet now, Jin Yun had effectively fallen right under everyone’s noses.
How could this not leave them shocked and horrified, even seized by an indescribable dread?
Because Jin Yun... had died miserably at the hands of the Successor of Demonic Arts, even his Source devoured and plundered.
Just like those young prodigies who had previously fallen victim to the Successor of Demonic Arts’ poisonous hand.
“The Successor of Demonic Arts has appeared again, and brazenly killed Purple Cloud Valley’s ancient freak, plundering his Source.”
“This is far too arrogant. Just before this, Purple Valley was still crusading against the Successor of Demonic Arts, even declaring that Young Master Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts. Yet who could have imagined the Successor of Demonic Arts would be this domineering and rampant, appearing at this very moment to deliver a vicious slap to Purple Valley’s face.”
“Perhaps the Successor of Demonic Arts was displeased by such behavior, unwilling to have someone else usurp his identity, which is why he took this desperate risk.”
The moment the news spread, practically every cultivator was discussing it, the clamor boiling over.
Meanwhile, outside the Absolute Yin Heaven, the surging, vast Absolute Yin mist churned like a terrifying great river.
The Saintess of Mortal Palace, Jiang Chuchu, stepped forward and made her voice heard.
“Any orthodoxy or force that falsely accuses Gu Changge of being the Successor of Demonic Arts shall be regarded as an enemy of the Mortal Palace.”
Though she appeared exceedingly cold and otherworldly, her tone at this moment brooked no question, even carrying a hint of valiant sharpness.
Not a single cultivator dared meet her gaze at this moment; as her eyes swept over them, they all involuntarily lowered their heads.
Of course, there were also many cultivators who, after their initial shock, raised voices of agreement.
At the critical moment when the Absolute Yin Heaven erupted into crisis, the great orthodoxies and forces had turned their backs on everyone’s life and death.
Instead, it was the Saintess of Mortal Palace, Jiang Chuchu, and Gu Changge who were willing to brave enormous risk, venturing deep into the Absolute Yin Heaven.
On the strength of this benevolent heart alone, they had left the Endless Fire Kingdom, Sky Emperor Mountain, Purple Valley, and other orthodoxies and forces who-knows-how-far behind.
What virtue or ability did those forces have—by what right did they claim Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts?
“The Saintess speaks truly. Young Master Changge is kind and magnanimous—how could he be the Successor of Demonic Arts?”
“The rumors of this period were clearly all one-sided claims from Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom, without any evidence whatsoever.”
“They’re simply jealous of Young Master Changge’s current achievements, which is why they deliberately splashed dirty water on him.”
At once, boiling waves of discussion erupted near the Absolute Yin Heaven.
Many cultivators were filled with righteous indignation, unable to restrain themselves from loudly denouncing the Endless Fire Kingdom and the other orthodoxies and forces.
Changge watched all of this with great interest, not uttering a word to stop it. Only when his gaze swept past those few True Daoists of Sky Emperor Mountain did it carry a trace of amusement.
Counting the time, the matter on the side of Lan Yaofei, the Chosen One of the Immortal Dao Alliance, should also be drawing to a close.
“Silence!”
“Do you lot dare provoke our dignity as well?”
Hearing the angry denunciations of the many cultivators, the True Daoist ancestors of Sky Emperor Mountain, the Endless Fire Kingdom, and the various orthodoxies all turned extremely ugly in expression, directly shouting out.
Their voices contained a certain Dao resonance, like a great bell, shaking everyone until their blood and qi roiled.
Even some veteran Sacred Emperor Realm experts felt their hearts palpitate at this moment, suppressed by the aura of True Daoists.
“Whether or not Gu Changge is the Successor of Demonic Arts is not for the likes of you to decide.”
“If the Saintess of Mortal Palace insists on shielding Gu Changge, then you had best be prepared to make an enemy of the entire world. The Successor of Demonic Arts is intolerable to the Beyond. If you wish to drag the Mortal Palace down with you, then by all means...”
The red-clothed old woman of the Endless Fire Kingdom, her expression likewise gloomy to the extreme, spoke coldly.
As True Daoists, they stood at the very peak of the Beyond—even the sect masters and family heads of immortal orthodoxies had to treat them with reverence.
For these ordinary cultivators to act so presumptuously before them—what was that if not courting death?
They dreaded Gu Changge’s strength and methods, but that did not mean they would care about these ants.
Although Jiang Chuchu was the Saintess of Mortal Palace, she was ultimately just a junior. They could crush her to death with a single finger.
As their words fell, they unleashed their auras, pressing down like a raging sea, like a rolling flood of light descending, enough to crush everything.
Many cultivators immediately could not withstand this aura—some coughed up blood and retreated, others’ legs went weak and they knelt directly to the ground, their faces filled with terror.
(Seeking flowers)
The wrath of a True Daoist was indeed not something ordinary cultivators could withstand.
In the eyes of these True Daoists of Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom, the other cultivators were indeed no different from ants.
Of course, the vast majority of cultivators chose at this moment not to get involved in the matter, quietly watching how things unfolded.
After all, no one wanted to provoke the wrath of several True Daoists at this juncture—that would be a losing bargain.
Whether Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts, many people had their own judgment in their hearts; it was not something that could be swayed by a few words from anyone.
“Qianbei, why must you act this way? Since you all believe that I am the Successor of Demonic Arts, then I shall be exactly that.”
Changge suddenly spoke up, smiling faintly.
His hand reached out gently, pressing toward the void ahead of him. Visible to the naked eye, terrifying great fissures spread outward, and the entire expanse of void seemed on the verge of collapse.
Seeing this, the True Daoists of Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom changed expression, not daring to continue flaunting their might.
The red-clothed old woman’s face was especially ugly, unable to forget the feeling of nearly being crushed to death by Gu Changge’s subordinate earlier.
Seeing Gu Changge act to relieve their predicament, many cultivators could not help but reveal gazes of gratitude, and in their hearts, their resentment and loathing toward orthodoxies like Sky Emperor Mountain only deepened.
No matter what, what happened here today would soon spread throughout the Beyond.
The actions of orthodoxies and powers like Sky Emperor Mountain, Purple Valley, and the Endless Fire Kingdom were bound to provoke public outrage.
Although these orthodoxies had stood immortal and unshaken, that did not mean they had no enemies.
“Everyone, there is no need to be so courteous. This matter arose because of Changge, and it is I who have implicated all of you instead. For that, Changge feels deeply guilty.”
Hearing this, Changge smiled faintly and waved his hand, his expression gentle and natural, carrying an air as refreshing as a spring breeze.
Even ordinary, common Cultivators felt not the slightest trace of pressure before him—everything felt utterly natural.
This filled their hearts with even greater reverence. They felt that Gu Changge truly carried an easygoing, transcendent immortal grace.
Even at a moment like this, he showed not the slightest hint of anger or resentment.
“Speaking of which, during this venture deep into the Absolute Yin Heaven, I did discover some clues regarding its eruption. If we wish to resolve this calamity of the Absolute Yin Heaven, I fear we must act from within. As the saying goes, unblocking is better than damming. Rather than obstructing the spread of the Absolute Yin Heaven’s frigid qi from the outside, it would be better to dredge it at its very source.”
After that, Gu Changge paid no heed to the gazes of the various orthodoxies present. As if recalling the purpose of his trip, he began speaking to himself, as though he genuinely intended to resolve the Absolute Yin Heaven calamity for the sake of the Beyond.
Hearing these words, the expressions of everyone present gradually grew solemn as they recalled the great calamity before them. So long as the Absolute Yin Heaven disaster remained unresolved, it was like a colossal mountain that could come crashing down at any moment, suspended above everyone’s heads, leaving them trembling in fear.
“Putting on such a righteous and benevolent act—heh, who knows what scheme he’s really plotting? He just wants to trick us all into entering the Absolute Yin Heaven. Don’t forget his identity!”
The red-robed old crone of the Endless Fire Kingdom let out a cold laugh. Her voice was not loud, but many still heard her clearly.
It was as if she deliberately wanted to remind everyone that Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts.
“Terrible news! The real Successor of Demonic Arts has appeared! Jin Yun, an ancient freak of Purple Valley, has fallen victim to the Successor of Demonic Arts’ poisonous hand—his Source was devoured, and he died miserably within a cave abode!”
Just as the red-robed old crone’s words fell, a cry of alarm suddenly rang out from the distant crowd.
The expression of Purple Valley’s True Daoist instantly turned ugly. The Jade Talisman in his palm was already covered in cracks, and with a kacha, it shattered, scattering into dust that filled the sky.
“Jin Yun has fallen...”
He practically squeezed the words out one by one, his expression so dark it seemed about to drip water.
Jin Yun was a Young Prodigy he had held in extremely high regard. He had even believed that, given enough time, Jin Yun could touch the threshold of the Celestial Realm.
But who could have known that just moments ago, Purple Valley had sent him word of Jin Yun’s death.
For Purple Valley, this was an unimaginable loss.
One had to know that the Dao Protector at Jin Yun’s side had been one of his own followers from years past, a being who had already reached the Quasi-Emperor level—yet he too had fallen, his Life Talisman shattered.
“What... the Successor of Demonic Arts has appeared again?”
At this moment, the expressions of the red-robed old crone and the many other True Daoists froze, as if they could not believe their own ears.
The red-robed old crone in particular turned shades of green and purple, as though she had been slapped across the face in front of everyone—her expression ugly to the extreme.
Chapter 730: Give the World an Explanation, Give Gu Changge an Apology (Seeking Subscriptions)
News of the fall of Jin Yun, the ancient freak of Purple Cloud Valley, quickly reached the Absolute Yin Heaven.
Virtually every Cultivator and living being was plunged into extreme shock and horror.
The experts of immortal orthodoxies like Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom were also shocked beyond measure, even dumbstruck and unable to believe it.
“Impossible... this is absolutely impossible...”
The red-robed old crone of the Endless Fire Kingdom’s face was dark and ugly to the extreme, even somewhat twisted.
Her most beloved descendant had once fallen victim to the Successor of Demonic Arts’ poisonous hand.
And at that time, it had coincided with the eruption of the Absolute Yin Heaven, with Changge present within it, watching without lifting a finger to help.
Thus, her hatred for Changge was no less than her hatred for the Successor of Demonic Arts.
If Changge had reached out to help back then, how could her most beloved descendant have fallen there?
It was for this very reason that the red-robed old crone had so desperately tried to pin the black pot of being the Successor of Demonic Arts onto Gu Changge’s head.
But now, at this moment, she suddenly heard that the Successor of Demonic Arts had appeared and killed Purple Cloud Valley’s ancient freak.
How could this not leave her both shocked and furious?
The True Daoist of Sky Emperor Mountain and the others also fell into silence at this moment, never expecting to learn news of the Successor of Demonic Arts in such a way, at such a time.
If that was the case, wouldn’t the rumor that Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts collapse on its own?
After all, Gu Changge was standing right here, perfectly fine, before everyone’s eyes. How could he possibly have found the means to go kill Purple Cloud Valley’s successor?
“Didn’t they say the Successor of Demonic Arts was Young Master Changge? Isn’t he standing right here? Then how did Purple Cloud Valley’s ancient freak fall victim to the Successor of Demonic Arts?”
The instant many Cultivators heard this news, they found it utterly inconceivable.
How could Gu Changge possibly strike at Purple Cloud Valley’s ancient freak from such a great distance? He simply could not be in two places at once.
Could it be that Gu Changge had actually refined an avatar, while his true body remained here to muddy the waters?
However, only a minority of Cultivators held such thoughts.
Once most people came to their senses, they could not help but reveal strange expressions, looking toward Sky Emperor Mountain, Purple Cloud Valley, the Endless Fire Kingdom, and the other orthodoxies with gazes full of mockery and ridicule.
Just moments ago, they had insisted with absolute certainty that Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts—only for news to suddenly arrive that the true Successor of Demonic Arts had appeared at some cave abode ruin and killed an ancient freak of Purple Valley.
With this, who would still believe Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts?
In one stroke, orthodoxies like Sky Emperor Mountain had been dealt a vicious slap in the face before everyone present.
“The true Successor of Demonic Arts has appeared. It seems this trip has been a wasted effort for all you qianbei. The cave abode where the incident occurred shouldn’t be far from here. With the abilities of you qianbei, I imagine you can rush over very quickly. When the time comes, if you manage to capture the real Successor of Demonic Arts, I hope you qianbei will remember to clear this junior’s name.”
At this moment, Gu Changge acted as though he had only just learned of the news.
His face showed just the right amount of surprise, and his tone carried a hint of mockery.
“I hope that when the time comes, all you qianbei can give the people of this world an explanation. And at the same time, give Young Master Changge an apology and compensation.”
Jiang Chuchu, the Saintess of Mortal Palace, also looked over with an icy gaze, her words showing not the slightest courtesy.
Although she was merely a junior of the younger generation, even facing a group of True Daoists, her expression did not change in the slightest, nor did she show any fear.
Hearing these words, the faces of the True Daoists of Sky Emperor Mountain and Purple Cloud Valley all sank.
They dared not say anything more to Gu Changge. They only felt their faces burning hot at this moment, as though they had been slapped.
Especially since the Absolute Yin Heaven affair had captured the attention of every orthodoxy and power in the Beyond.
Right now, the gazes of virtually all Cultivators and living beings were converging upon this place.
No matter what, after today, the rumor that Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts would undoubtedly dissipate by a great deal.
Unless they truly found ironclad evidence proving Gu Changge was the real Successor of Demonic Arts, all their many efforts during this period would go down the drain.
“This matter cannot be concluded so hastily! Who knows whether all of this is a trap laid by Gu Changge himself, just to wash away his own suspicion? The real Successor of Demonic Arts is him!”
At this moment, the red-robed old crone of the Endless Fire Kingdom’s face had twisted completely. Unable to hold back, she roared furiously, unable to accept all of this.
Hearing her words, many people could not help but frown, wondering if she had gone mad.
At a time like this, she still insisted on framing Gu Changge.
The True Daoists of Sky Emperor Mountain and Purple Valley exchanged glances, each seeing helplessness in the other’s eyes. Then they involuntarily retreated several steps, unwilling to be dragged down with her.
“You court death! Framing my Young Master again and again—today I shall shatter your Platform, to serve as a warning to others!”
At that moment, a familiar pressure that made every True Daoist present change color and tremble in fear once again descended from the void.
Ah Er appeared, clad in Dark Iron Battle Armor, wearing a mask that concealed his true features.
His gaze was cold, his voice merciless. He simply extended a finger and pointed plainly at the red-robed old crone of the Endless Fire Kingdom. It was exceedingly simple, without any fancy techniques, yet it contained a return-to-simplicity essence of the Great Dao of heaven and earth.
The red-robed old crone’s expression turned horrified to the extreme. Her entire body froze, unable to move, as the finger pierced straight through the center of her brow.
The terrifying bloody hole ran clean through, front to back, shattering the Platform where her divine soul resided. Her sky-filling True Daoist pressure dispersed in an instant, and her cultivation was reduced to nothing.
“No, you can’t do this...”
She screamed miserably, utterly unwilling to accept it, her expression even twisting with terror.
“The Successor of Demonic Arts has appeared again in the world. This move is probably a response to all the rumors of late. It seems the Successor of Demonic Arts is also quite displeased about someone else taking credit for his name, which is why he showed himself. But he’s truly bold and brazen—to appear at such a sensitive moment, is he not afraid of making enemies of the whole world and drawing the crusade of every orthodoxy? What an unfathomable fellow.”
Near the Absolute Yin Heaven, many Cultivators were discussing the matter, greatly surprised by it.
Logically speaking, the Successor of Demonic Arts had escaped with his life from Gu Changge’s hands multiple times—the two should share an irreconcilable hatred.
Yet when Gu Changge was framed as the Successor of Demonic Arts, he actually appeared in high profile to resolve it.
Such conduct instead seemed rather open and aboveboard. Even though his usual practice of devouring the Sources of heavenly prodigies was sinister and vicious, compared to the various orthodoxies’ underhanded schemes, framing, and other malicious methods, it was far more candid and honorable.
Quite a few of the older generation of Cultivators even felt a sense of admiration arise in their hearts.
Very soon, the entire Beyond was greatly shaken and stirred into an uproar by what had happened at the Absolute Yin Heaven.
All kinds of news, as if sprouting wings, spread rapidly outward.
On every ancient star of life, countless Cultivators and living beings were discussing this matter.
