Wishing to Establish the Sealing Immortals List, Those Above the Sacred Emperor Realm May Enter
Wishing to Establish the Sealing Immortals List, Those Above the Sacred Emperor Realm May Enter
As far as the eye could see, everything was vast and boundless. Across the boundless heavens, I truly stand alone in solitary silence.
In all that stretches before me, there is no one left who can stand at my side.
Gu Changge sighed softly in his heart as he rose to his feet above the Divine Empire, his gaze slowly sweeping across the crowd.
His handsome, immortal-like face showed not the slightest change in expression. It was as still and waveless as the most ancient abyssal sea. No one could read the look in his eyes, and no one could guess what was on his mind.
Those old acquaintances of his, those peers who had once crossed hands with him—wherever his gaze touched, they all involuntarily lowered their heads, carrying fear and dread in their hearts.
Their view of Gu Changge had long since changed. They could no longer regard him as a peer of the same generation, nor as that dazzling, brilliant figure of the younger generation he once was.
The Gu Changge of now was the true master behind Dark Heaven, the peerless, ruthless mastermind who had schemed against all the heavens and buried the Beyond itself.
How many orthodoxies and forces, how many star territories had been destroyed because of him? Many of the young prodigies present trembled at the thought, unable to imagine that one day they would come into contact with such a terrifying truth.
It was truly enough to make one’s scalp tingle, to leave the whole body ice-cold, the very soul frozen.
Those contemporary prodigies who had regarded Gu Changge as their goal, who had wanted to catch up to him, now had their mouths hanging open in disbelief, before their eyes finally filled with fear and they could not help but shudder.
But at this moment, the ones whose hearts were most conflicted and terrified were actually those immortal orthodoxies, those supreme great sects, and some of the older generation.
If one calculated carefully, in these short few decades, how many universes had Dark Heaven swept through, how many clans had it engulfed? This was simply an uncountable, horrifying number.
Pushing further back, before Gu Changge’s wedding, he had been the most dazzling figure of the Beyond—so dazzling, so terrifyingly talented, that he had pressed down on his entire generation until they could not lift their heads.
Who would have thought, who would have dared to think, that he would be the Greatest Villain behind it all?
From the very beginning, Gu Changge had been playing a grand game of chess.
Everyone was a piece in his hand. Even the clansmen of the Family of Immortals had not known of this matter—they had never even guessed in that direction.
Yet Gu Changge had managed to hide it from everyone, like a shadow within the darkness, without the slightest trace or ripple, silently laying out his plans behind the back of the entire Beyond.
Many young prodigies had once even regarded him as a role model, a goal. They felt he understood righteousness deeply, was refined and easygoing, treated others with humility, and had nothing but a good reputation before the world. Never had they thought he could be equated with such a ruthless figure.
The so-called Successor of Demonic Arts—looking at it now, was actually just a grand play that Gu Changge had directed and acted in himself.
He had woven a monstrous lie, and the entire Beyond had been kept in the dark, deceived by him.
How many young peers had died miserably at his hands because of this affair?
Just thinking about it a little made one’s hair stand on end, the whole body turning cold, unable to stop trembling. What terrifying methods and scheming this was.
“He hid it far too deeply. Back then, before Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom were destroyed, they tried to frame Gu Changge as the Successor of Demonic Arts. But who could have thought that they had actually stumbled onto the truth by accident?”
“Yet at that time, everyone believed Sky Emperor Mountain and the Endless Fire Kingdom were deliberately splashing dirty water on Gu Changge. Without any evidence, all they knew was how to slander and pin false charges on him.”
“All living beings cursed them, speaking out in Gu Changge’s defense.”
“Ha, looking at it now, don’t you find it ironic? It’s simply the greatest joke under heaven.”
Within the great hall of the Divine Empire, many figures of the older generation revealed bitter smiles, feeling that those scenes from back then were truly laughable and ironic.
Especially Gu Changge, who had previously held high the righteous banner of exterminating the Successor of Demonic Arts, drawing cheers from all corners and winning boundless support.
“I’m afraid that even in the calamity that suddenly erupted from the Absolute Yin Heaven, Gu Changge’s shadow was present. The more one thinks about it, the more terrifying it becomes. It’s truly horrifying.”
“The Tree of Epoch was actually in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains from beginning to end. Gu Changge simply seized it first and kept it hidden from the world, which is why he could later use it as bait.”
Thinking of all this, at this moment, many things could actually be figured out.
Everyone’s hearts filled with bitter laughter and trembling. They felt that such methods were truly terrifying. If it had not actually happened, probably no one would have dared to think in this direction.
Gu Changge took in everyone’s expressions, yet his own expression remained without the slightest ripple or change.
The reason he revealed his true face today was, on one hand, because Dark Heaven had emerged into the world and needed to be proclaimed to all under heaven.
On the other hand, it was also to inform the Beyond of a fact: the Beyond of today was no longer like before, chaotic and masterless.
The Divine Empire had been newly established to rule over all the heavens, and he was the true master of this Beyond. Those who submitted would live; those who defied would die.
How vast was the palace of the Divine Empire, and how boundless were the cultivators and living beings who had come to this place?
They came from All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds, from every race and every orthodoxy. There were citizens of the Divine Empire, and naturally there were also cultivators from the outside world.
But now, all of them were strangely silent. No one spoke again. They all gazed up at Gu Changge above, waiting for him to speak, knowing that since Gu Changge had founded the Divine Empire, he surely had another purpose.
“I wish to establish the Sealing Immortals List. All who enter my Divine Empire may enter the list, attain the rank of immortal, receive the offerings of faith and incense of the Divine Empire, and become indestructible and imperishable.”
Gu Changge spoke slowly, his gaze profound, as if universe after universe evolved within it. All manner of terrifying scenes of the heavens flashed past within, carrying an unparalleled majesty.
He did not explain what the Sealing Immortals List was, but everyone present could react to it, their hearts tremendously shaken and horrified.
The Sealing Immortals List—as the name implied, was naturally a list for conferring the Celestial Realm.
If one entered this list, did it not mean one could become an immortal? Attain the rank of immortal? Become indestructible and imperishable?
After all, judging from the current situation, Gu Changge was the sole immortal existence of All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds. Even the Tree of Epoch was under his control, and no one had personally seen the existence of the Epoch Dao Fruit.
By saying this, did it not mean that he had a way to let others become immortals?
Those cultivators who had long since stepped into the ranks of Hidden Experts had naturally never seen the Epoch Dao Fruit. Hearing this news, their hearts burned with extraordinary longing.
However, they were also very clear-headed. They knew that being conferred into the Sealing Immortals List very likely meant they would no longer be as free as before. They would be bound by rules, perhaps even having to submit to Gu Changge, to submit to Dark Heaven.
It was even more possible that their very lives would be controlled by the Sealing Immortals List.
This matter was not simple. It contained enormous risk and required careful consideration.
The many Hidden Experts present all had flickering gazes, suppressing the excitement in their hearts and not letting it show.
The temptation of the Sealing Immortals List was great, but the risk was equally great. There was no doubt about this. Gu Changge was not a good person, and he could not possibly do good deeds for no reason.
Judging from his consistent behavior, this matter surely concealed a huge pitfall that needed careful consideration.
The many Hidden Experts exchanged glances, each seeing wariness and caution in the others’ expressions.
How vast was All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds? It could be called truly endless.
Even an immortal existence would not dare claim to perceive everything, let alone see clearly all that happened in every world, know all the secrets of this heaven and earth, or know how much was hidden within it.
Gu Changge was naturally no exception. His desire to establish the Sealing Immortals List was, to a great extent, because he wanted to truly take control of All of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds.
Rather than the current situation, where he merely made these immortal orthodoxies and supreme forces fear him.
There were actually still many things he needed to do at present. The Divine Empire had just been founded, and everything was only just beginning.
Therefore, he was not the least bit surprised by the expressions of these people. After all, he had not even begun to forge the Sealing Immortals List itself. To truly confer immortality upon cultivators, there was still some way to go.
His reason for saying this was merely to throw out the matter first, to shake all the heavens.
Because Gu Changge had other plans.
His gaze swept down once more, his voice calm and unchanged, as he said, “All living beings of heaven and earth, regardless of race, may enter the Sealing Immortals List. I intend to re-enact the rules of heaven and earth. Those above the Sacred Emperor Realm may ascend the list and comprehend the rules of the immortal path.”
“What?”
“Those above the Sacred Emperor Realm may ascend the list? Does that not mean that even we have a chance?”
As soon as these words came out, a huge uproar immediately erupted within the great hall.
Apart from the younger generation, nearly everyone’s expression changed. They were deeply shaken, horrified, and even carried disbelief.
Because judging from these words, the Sealing Immortals List Gu Changge spoke of was not created for the Hidden Experts.
Previously, they had all felt that this list had nothing to do with them. After all, the number of Hidden Experts was truly too rare, and especially after the Resplendence Universe Incident, the number of Hidden Experts had sharply decreased.
On the contrary, those at the Sacred Emperor Realm, Quasi-Emperors, and True Daoists were the most numerous.
But for them to reach the step of Hidden Expert, who knew how many more years of cultivation it would take?
So they had never held much interest in the Sealing Immortals List, knowing it had little to do with them.
However, now Gu Changge said that those above the Sacred Emperor Realm could enter the list.
Did that not mean they could become immortals through a shortcut? Directly skipping many years of bitter cultivation? Such a temptation was simply too astonishing. Who could still sit still?
It had to be said that once Gu Changge spoke these words, this place boiled over.
Everyone became stirred up. The expressions of many Hidden Experts changed drastically. They were deeply unsettled, feeling enormous competition.
Originally, they had been very cautious, but once these words came out, it directly meant that others could also enter this Sealing Immortals List—it was not so closely tied to them anymore.
One could even say that the meaning of this list lay in forcing them to make a choice.
After all, if they did not enter the list, there were plenty of Sacred Emperor Realm experts, Quasi-Emperors, or True Daoists who would.
To become immortal in the simplest and most direct way, breaking the rules of heaven and earth—how could they be reconciled to that? How could they watch such a scene unfold before their eyes and do nothing?
“What a ruthless heart. To be precise, once this list appears, it is forcing all of Heaven and Its Thousand Worlds. If no Hidden Experts are willing to enter the list, then there will be other Quasi-Emperors or True Daoists who enter.”
Having figured this out, the many Hidden Experts present all shuddered, their hearts filled with dread.
“The innate does not exist; the acquired defies it. The Great Dao is formless; all rules are evolved into being.”
“What the innate can manifest, the acquired can naturally re-evolve.”
Next, as if to verify his own words, Gu Changge sat cross-legged directly above the Divine Empire, like a supreme innate deity, and began to preach the Dao for the living beings of the Divine Empire, discoursing on the methods of cultivation and expounding the essentials of the Great Dao.
This was a scripture of the Great Dao, incomparably miraculous, belonging to the understanding of the immortal path.
Numerous strange phenomena emerged.
Beyond the heavens, one life-bearing star after another was affected and began to tremble, as if about to fall, all reflecting brilliant radiance.
Starlight sprinkled down, illuminating all eight directions.
Within the Divine Empire, a Heaven-Supporting Divine Tree was growing, boundlessly huge, with dense light emerging all around it, as if nurturing a new world, seemingly about to become substantial, growing between heaven and earth.
Within it, there seemed to be an ancient firmament of ten thousand ages, propped open along with this Heaven-Supporting Divine Tree.
Wisps of Chaos Energy rose and fell, and Grand Runes flickered in and out of sight.
Then, draped with strands of black matter, it resembled withered, deathly silent worlds.
Lightning surged and sprayed, manifesting billions upon billions of transformations.
Worlds, time, creation, space, Flying Immortals...
All manner of Great Daos emerged at this moment.
The River of Time even faintly surged, leaving everyone shaken.
All the citizens of the Divine Empire felt doubly honored and excited, coming to listen to the sermon, intoxicated and entranced.
The scripture resounded through the heavens, transforming into a great expanse of light rain that enveloped star territories billions of miles wide. Many cultivators immediately gained insight and fell into a state of enlightenment.
The invincible figures of the Forbidden Areas and the rulers of other orthodoxies, standing among the crowd, had complex expressions as they sensed the powerful meaning of the Dao.
From these short words, what they felt was the profound mystery of heaven and earth, so abstruse that even they felt inferior, with a sense of touching upon a path of new life, as if it could become a shortcut.
For a full half month, Gu Changge sat cross-legged here, preaching for the Divine Empire while simultaneously gathering that terrifying Power of Faith. The entire Divine Empire, just as its name suggested, was suffused with an aura of immortality.
Gu Changge bestowed his blessings upon the present age. Within the void, waves of Dao sounds blossomed.
The sound of chanting scriptures rang through heaven and earth, even spreading beyond the Divine Empire, echoing throughout the various universes.
Countless cultivators fell into enlightenment, chanting the name of the Divine Lord.
Stalk after stalk of Dao lotuses emerged, crystalline and brilliant, growing within, with thin lightning flickering, like solemn and dignified Buddhas, or like holy immortal gods.
From the firmament, great swaths of crystalline flower petals drifted down. Upon the earth, divine springs gurgled, flowing unceasingly, as boundless Dao qi surged.
All cultivators who came here gained something in their hearts, benefiting greatly and progressing rapidly.
Some even broke through on the spot, divine fire blazing, their Primordial Spirits bursting forth with auspicious light.
Others achieved success in secret arts, Daoist techniques, and Transcendent abilities. There were also those with powerful bloodlines whose bloodlines advanced a step further, their Runed Bones shining brilliantly, illuminating all directions and displaying terrifying potential.
All the space within the great hall was packed with people.
It could hold no one else.
Those who came later were all incomparably regretful, their intestines nearly turning green with regret.
Some ancient existences who had already stepped into the ranks of True Daoists, with the Great Dao surrounding them, also fell into sudden enlightenment, reaping abundant harvests.
Around Gu Changge grew all manner of immortal flowers and sacred herbs. Auspicious beasts gathered, a boundless sea of the Dao stretched out, and immortal mist curled and wreathed, transforming the place into a pure Holy Land.
Of course, his doing this was not without purpose. Within these essentials of the Great Dao that he preached were hidden the Divine Scripts of Salvation, which could silently and imperceptibly influence the minds of cultivators and living beings.
Directly converting them, turning them into the most devout believers.
“The Dao has a path, and it lies within the Divine Empire. All citizens of my Divine Empire may come here at any time to listen to the sermons.”
Gu Changge did not say much more. He merely casually displayed what the Celestial Path was, letting the living beings of all heavens understand what benefits there were in becoming citizens of the Divine Empire. Of course, when that time came, the one preaching would not be him, but another existence.