Prepare to Make an Enemy of the Entire Beyond, the Grand Bridal Escort
Prepare to Make an Enemy of the Entire Beyond, the Grand Bridal Escort
Gu Changge did not believe these matters were coincidences, just like what Gu Qingyi had said before she left.
Some things could not be spoken of directly, because once spoken aloud, one would suffer the backlash of so-called karma.
Just like the Forbidden Epoch of old—many Daoist traditions and forces kept it a taboo secret, their expressions changing at the mere mention of it.
That was because the Forbidden Epoch had been forsaken by the heavens, and even now, an inerasable aura still lingered.
Speaking of the Forbidden Epoch would, in the unseen workings of fate, draw those auras down upon oneself, thereby inviting the backlash of heaven and earth.
The higher one’s cultivation level, the clearer one’s perception of such auras, which was why they would go to great lengths to avoid it.
“When I break through to the Celestial Realm, perhaps that will be when I gradually come to know these truths.”
Gu Changge did not trouble himself excessively over these questions.
He shared a deep, entangled connection with Gu Qingyi, and given his identity back then...
And Gu Qingyi’s own identity—how could it possibly be simple?
Of course, Gu Changge also remembered the wager Gu Qingyi had mentioned to him before leaving.
That he would remember it all sooner or later?
What exactly was that wager?
“Changge, what’s wrong? Are you thinking about something?”
Yue Mingkong’s gentle voice came, pulling Gu Changge back to his senses.
She extended her slender, flawless jade fingers, like scallion stalks, and gently smoothed out his furrowed dark brows.
“It’s nothing. I just suddenly thought of some things that may happen in the future. The Beyond will likely fall into great chaos very soon.”
“Although you and I both have the power to protect ourselves, I still worry that some unexpected existences might appear. Once the Epoch Dao Fruit emerges, the struggle over the Celestial Gate won’t be far off. The entire Beyond will likely become a battlefield.”
Gu Changge shook his head, coming back to himself, and decided to inform Yue Mingkong of the matters concerning the Tree of Epoch, so she could make some preparations.
Otherwise, when the time came to bury the Beyond in a pit, if the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty got buried along with it, the losses would outweigh the gains.
Beyond that, the matters of the Celestial Gate also had to be made known to her, so she could plan accordingly.
“The Tree of Epoch... the Epoch Dao Fruit is about to ripen...”
“So the Tree of Epoch that none of the forces or Daoist traditions could find during the last campaign against the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains ended up in your hands. No wonder the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains were practically turned upside down without the slightest clue surfacing.”
“If this news gets out, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Hearing this, Yue Mingkong’s heart trembled as well, understanding the immense stakes involved.
Once news of the Tree of Epoch was exposed, the entire Beyond would be shaken to its core.
No force or Daoist tradition would be able to sit still—especially those foundation-level existences who had lived through vast ages, whose cultivation could advance no further.
They would absolutely go mad, sparing no cost to seize the Tree of Epoch, to fight for the chance of becoming a Celestial.
The Tree of Epoch nurtured the Epoch Dao Fruit, which could mend and perfect the broken laws of heaven and earth, thereby allowing Celestials to...
But how many Celestial-level existences could the freshly mended laws of heaven and earth bear?
All of this remained unknown.
Therefore, anyone with aspirations toward the Celestial Dao would stake everything to fight for the chance to enter the Celestial Gate first.
“I’ve long had plans regarding the Tree of Epoch, so there’s no need to worry too much. It’s just that when the time comes, the situation of the entire Beyond will undergo earth-shaking changes—perhaps even a great reshuffling.”
Gu Changge shook his head lightly. “When the time comes, I’ll take the opportunity to bring Dark Heaven into the open and begin...”
Dark Heaven had thus far existed only in the shadows, never truly revealed before the eyes of all the forces and Daoist traditions of the Beyond, but the power it had accumulated was already incomparably vast.
The number of True Daoist puppets alone already surpassed that of an ordinary Cult of Immortality.
Among them was even Ah Er, a being at the level of a Remnant Immortal, holding down the fort, as well as the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being whom Gu Changge had refined into a puppet.
Not to mention the countless believers implicated in the shadows, and the innumerable Overworlds.
Once these forces converged, they would be enough to make anyone’s courage crumble and their body tremble.
Of course, the treasures Gu Changge had accumulated over the years were equally staggering.
The accumulations of the various races of the Celestial Ancient Continent, the spoils from annihilating the Purple Mansion, the wealth of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants, the gains from campaigning across the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains—far too much, already beyond imagination.
And all of this would become the foundation of Dark Heaven.
“Changge, do you truly intend to bury the entire Beyond? If you do this, regardless of success or failure, there will be no path of retreat afterward. You will stand in opposition to the entire world.”
Hearing these words, Yue Mingkong merely asked softly, her expression calm, without unease or fear.
Burying the entire Beyond—the consequences of such an act needed little thought to know how terrifying they would be, what one would have to bear.
The Beyond was boundlessly vast. Over the endless ages of its existence, how many Daoist traditions had been born?
How many supreme experts were there? How many foundation-level figures? Even some ancient clans that had never revealed themselves to the world might emerge because of this.
By then, all of them would become enemies. Even an ordinary True Daoist would feel their scalp tingle just thinking about it.
“From the moment I set foot on this path, there was never any choice.”
Gu Changge smiled, his tone utterly casual. “Besides, it’s impossible for me to fail.”
“Regardless of success or failure, I will always be by your side.”
Yue Mingkong gently took his hand. Her voice was soft, yet it contained an unimaginable firmness.
At that moment, heaven and earth trembled in unison, and heaven-shaking dragon roars came from the depths of the starry domain.
Nine flood dragons of the Quasi-Nirvana level pulled a white jade carriage galloping forth, boundless red clouds beneath their feet, stretching out like a resplendent Astral River from the distant other end.
It descended straight toward the depths of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty’s imperial palace.
A vast army like a flood, riding numerous primordial fierce beasts, arrayed itself on both sides, its momentum overwhelming.
Seven True Daoists with terrifying auras, their dharma bodies towering ten thousand zhang high, wreathed in multicolored divine light, stood before the gates of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty’s imperial palace, as if waiting.
The entire expanse of heaven and earth was blanketed in red bridal finery. Golden lotuses bloomed, spiritual springs flowed, auspicious sights interwove, spirit deer called in harmony, and celestial music arose. Many beautiful songstresses sang and danced. Their wondrous fragrance drifted across numerous star domains. The Longevity Gu Family’s bridal escort army had finally arrived outside the imperial city of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty.
The boundless army stretching beyond sight was like a terrifying beast that could devour the universe, tasked with escorting the bridal procession. Its murderous aura shook the heavens, intimidating all Cultivators and living beings along the way.
Within this army, one could even faintly sense wisps of Celestial Dao aura permeating the air.
Among them were Immortal Grade Artifacts held by foundation-level figures, channeling vast magical power to sustain and awaken them, serving as a deterrent.
Outside the imperial capital of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, many supreme experts were already waiting, awaiting the arrival of the Longevity Gu Family.
An old imperial uncle dressed in dragon robes, his countenance naturally imposing without anger, wearing a purple-gold crown, his entire body suffused with a heart-palpitating, terrifying aura.
His gaze slowly swept over the many guests in the surroundings, carrying immense pressure.
Without a doubt, this too was a foundation-level figure, the depths of his eyes unable to conceal their vicissitudes.
His cultivation far surpassed that of ordinary True Daoists.
By his side was a host of imperial relatives—former emperors of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty as well as other princes, all of unfathomable cultivation.
From within the Longevity Gu Family’s bridal procession, a chuckling old man stepped forward, his body likewise emanating the aura of a True Daoist.
Emperor Yue was Yue Mingkong’s father and also the previous emperor of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, and he shared an inseparable friendship with Gu Changge’s father, Gu Lintian.
“Mingkong is together with Changge right now. I’m afraid it won’t be long before they come out.”
Hearing this, Emperor Yue also greeted him with a beaming smile, his face full of irrepressible joy.
As he spoke, he swept his gaze across the surroundings. Although the grand wedding of Gu Changge and Yue Mingkong had not yet truly been held—today was merely the bridal escort, bringing Yue Mingkong back to the Longevity Gu Family—
The guests who had rushed here were all of terrifying status and position, practically gathering the very peak figures of the entire Beyond.
They were either the leaders of Cults of Immortality, the family heads and ancestors of Longevity Families, or the True Daoist ancestors of the Ancient Immortal Races. There were even foundation-level figures appearing in the shadows, coldly watching all of this.
The Beyond had not seen such a grand occasion in who knew how many years. No force or Daoist tradition could sit still.
After today, the situation of the Beyond would undergo unimaginable, drastic change.
The marriage alliance of two superpowers—Gu Changge alone was enough to make countless Cultivators and forces of the Beyond wary.
Once he also held the resources of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty in his grasp, what would happen in the future was something no one could predict, nor dared imagine.
Once the two were wed, with Gu Changge holding the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty in hand, backed by the Longevity Gu Family, and having accumulated considerable power of his own over the years—his own cultivation also unfathomable—if he wished to annihilate a Cult of Immortality as he had last time, he would hardly need to lift much of a finger.
No one would be able to stand against him anymore, unless all the Daoist traditions combined their forces to strike.
In the shadows, many blurry figures watched all of this, their expressions dark to the extreme.
They had already foreseen that a power towering above all Daoist traditions and families was slowly rising.
As for stopping this grand wedding?
In the current Beyond, there was likely no force that dared do such a thing, unless multiple Cults of Immortality deliberated together and joined hands to act.
Otherwise, who could withstand the wrath of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty and the Longevity Gu Family?
The imperial capital was incomparably vast, its territory immense. Ancient peaks and Mystic Mountains stood tall, silver waterfalls cascaded down, and boundless celestial mist coiled about, like a sacred land of immortals.
Now the entire imperial capital was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, festive scenes everywhere. Celestial cranes soared, qilin shadows interwove, spirit beasts ran and leaped about, golden lotuses bloomed in the void, and gurgling clear springs welled up from the earth.
There were True Daoists presiding over the firmament, seated cross-legged, expounding the essence of the Great Dao. Celestial light emerged, radiance permeated the air, supremely holy, filling the entire star domain with an aura of tranquility.
Nearly every Cultivator who witnessed this bridal escort with their own eyes was shaken by such a grand display, one they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
The red carpet stretching all the way out from the depths of the imperial palace had been refined by True Daoists who gathered the starlight of the entire sky.
Many ancient stars had also been refined with supreme magical power, becoming steps descending one by one toward the white jade carriage.
There was far too much, not to mention the red bridal finery spanning billions of li.
Even some female True Daoists found their hearts filled with thick envy. Even the Heavenly Weddings of ancient times likely could not compare to such staggering extravagance.
Not to mention those heaven-blessed maidens, whose hearts were filled with admiration to the utmost, at a loss for words.
To have such a wedding in one’s life—one could die without regrets.
Within the imperial capital, all the subjects stood in orderly rows along both sides of the long streets, while the other Cultivators could only watch from afar, separated by an extremely great distance, their eyes full of awe at this bridal escort that had shaken the entire Beyond.
Boom!
At that moment, from the depths of the imperial capital, boundless red clouds emerged, illuminating heaven and earth in brilliant light.
Finally, the ruler of the entire Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, the current Empress Mingkong, appeared.
She wore a phoenix coronet and ceremonial robes, her head covered by a bridal veil, her hands folded before her abdomen. Her figure was tall and slender as she walked forward step by step, dignified and elegant.
Her whole being was like an empress descending from myth, her grace peerless. Though her face could not be seen, she was so beautiful she seemed not a creature of this world.
At this moment, nearly everyone was deeply stunned by this scene, unable to recover for a long time.
Behind Empress Yue Mingkong, her long skirt trailed along the ground, held by over a hundred maids of the Sacred Realm.
The female attendants leading the way on either side were even of Quasi-Nirvana cultivation.
Gu Changge, dressed in black wedding robes, wore a smile on his face, handsome and divinely elegant, holding Yue Mingkong’s hand as they walked all the way from the depths of the imperial palace toward the waiting white jade carriage.
Though called a white jade carriage, it was in truth crafted from a special immortal jade, its cost utterly terrifying. Even a True Daoist exhausting a lifetime of wealth could not produce such a carriage.
It could be called an immortal jade chariot of extravagance taken to the extreme.
“What a pair of divine lovers.”
Many guests watched this scene, and though they deeply feared Gu Changge, they could not help but sincerely utter these words.
Before the imperial capital, the people of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty and the Longevity Gu Family, watching Gu Changge lead Yue Mingkong into the immortal jade carriage, also quietly breathed sighs of relief, their taut nerves loosening.
It was not that they feared those forces that might interfere—they simply did not want any unpleasantness, any bloodshed, on such an auspicious occasion.
Of course, they were also very confident. With so many supreme experts guarding this place, and foundation-level figures holding Immortal Grade Artifacts in the shadows, deterring everything.
Even fellow foundation-level figures would not dare act recklessly.
Soon, as the nine Quasi-Nirvana Realm Azure Dragons let out heaven-shaking roars, they began to soar into the sky and gallop away.
The grand bridal escort procession also set off on the return journey along the red-carpeted passage that had pierced through numerous star domains on the way here.
The entire universe was filled with celebratory joy. Every star was hung with red silk, countless auspicious beasts offered tribute, and the momentum shook the heavens.
Outside the imperial capital of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, countless Cultivators and experts watched this scene, unable to come back to their senses for a long time.
Some True Daoists hidden in the shadows also shook their heads slightly and sighed deeply. Unless one wished to die, no one would dare interfere at this moment.
That would be a fight to the death with no end.