No Other Purpose, the Ceremony of Immortal Ascension
No Other Purpose, the Ceremony of Immortal Ascension
Ruoyin’s face had turned somewhat pale. It wasn’t because her cultivation realm was insufficient, but rather because during her deduction just now, she had touched upon an unknown, immense terror, which had wounded her mind and spirit.
To Xiao Ruoyin, something like this was extremely inconceivable.
Her research and comprehension of fate might not be called peerless in this world, but there was absolutely no one who could surpass her. Yet just now, while deducing the fate of the Divine Empire, she had sensed an unimaginable, immense terror.
What exactly was that?
Xiao Ruoyin’s mind was somewhat dazed for a moment before she came back to her senses. Realizing she was in Changge’s arms, she couldn’t help but rise and say, “I have disappointed Your Majesty. Regarding the fate of the Divine Empire, what this concubine could glimpse is truly far too little.”
She was speaking the plain truth. Even with the Celestial Boat of Creation in her possession, she could not clearly perceive the source of that thread of immense terror.
In fact, she had nearly suffered a backlash just now.
One must know that she possessed the Nihility Destiny Physique, innately detached beyond causality. Aside from when she had first awakened her past life’s memories and attempted to deduce Changge’s origins—suffering a backlash then—
today was the second time in her entire life that she had suffered a backlash.
This shocked Xiao Ruoyin immensely.
Changge’s expression, however, showed no surprise. He had known that the faint premonition in the depths of his heart would not be wrong.
Just now, when Xiao Ruoyin was deducing the fate of the Divine Empire, he too had seen those blurry images.
The future could not be glimpsed, yet a corner of the scene had surfaced.
Heaven and earth turned dim yellow, the epoch reached its end, even the starry cosmos collapsed, and the entire universe was shattering.
Vast, boundless fog swept in, concealing everything. The only thing visible was that within the dim yellow epoch, a vast and boundless ocean undulated in the distance, one wave crashing down after another.
The Beyond of the future would indeed undergo a world-shaking upheaval. It could even be said that all the heavens and myriad realms, including the Celestial Domain, would be affected and unable to escape.
Having confirmed this matter, Changge felt considerably more at ease, no longer harboring so many unknown speculations as before.
“It’s fine. Thank you for your hard work.”
“The Celestial Boat of Creation shall remain in your hands for now.”
He said casually, having no intention of keeping the Celestial Boat of Creation for himself. In his hands, it would at most serve as a tool for crossing the River of Time, unable to display its true purpose.
And now, Changge’s strength had already reached an unfathomable level, so he naturally had no need to rely on external objects to cross the River of Time.
On the contrary, in Ruoyin’s hands, the Celestial Boat of Creation could play a far greater role.
“Many thanks, Your Majesty.”
Hearing these words, Xiao Ruoyin couldn’t help but be stunned. She had not expected that Gu Changge would say he was returning the Celestial Boat of Creation to her.
But recovering what had been lost—even with her state of mind, she couldn’t help feeling some joy. Her slender, fair jade hand gently caressed the Celestial Boat of Creation’s weathered, ancient surface.
After recovering her past life’s memories, Ruoyin’s temperament had actually changed considerably compared to before.
In her past life, her heart had been set solely on comprehending fate. She held not the slightest interest in anything else, and would not even experience emotional fluctuations.
But this life was entirely different. Not only had she experienced being an ordinary person, experiencing and comprehending the mortal world, but she was now also Niangniang Ruoyin of this immortal Divine Empire, one of Gu Changge’s consorts.
Gu Changge was, in her past life, the chief culprit who had annihilated the Nine Heavens and Ten Realms and all the heavens and universes, causing the Immortal Palace to collapse.
All of this, in Ruoyin’s eyes, was difficult to explain even through fate.
“Your Majesty, will you be resting at the Sanctum of Destiny tonight? This concubine shall go bathe and attend to you right away.”
At this moment, as if thinking of something, Xiao Ruoyin raised her cool, clear eyes and couldn’t help but ask.
Although she had been made a consort, in all this time, this was the first time Gu Changge had descended upon the Sanctum of Destiny.
Though she herself held no interest in matters like attending the bedchamber and competing for favor.
At this juncture, however, she could not remain above worldly customs. The fate of the Divine Empire was difficult to glimpse, but Xiao Ruoyin understood clearly: as long as Gu Changge remained for even one day, the Divine Empire would never see its day of ruin.
If she wished to transcend worldly matters and focus wholly on the Sanctum of Destiny, ignoring worldly affairs and remaining unaffected by the outside world—
then the most crucial point was that she had to at least make the court ministers and the clans of all the heavens understand that she, this consort, still held some place in Gu Changge’s heart.
Otherwise, having been made a consort yet never having Gu Changge stay the night—if word of this spread, wouldn’t she, Niangniang Ruoyin, exist in name only, no different from being cast into the cold palace?
It had to be said that the current Xiao Ruoyin had, to some degree, been influenced in temperament by the previous “Xiao Ruoyin,” which was why she considered such things.
“No need. It’s getting late. You should rest early.”
However, to Xiao Ruoyin’s astonishment, upon hearing this, Gu Changge’s expression showed little change as he lightly waved his hand.
Those deep eyes were as calm as ever, making it impossible to fathom his thoughts.
With that, his figure transformed into a streak of light and shadow, vanishing from where he stood as if merging into nothingness, without leaving the slightest ripple.
Xiao Ruoyin was stunned for a long while before she lowered her eyes and said softly, “This concubine respectfully sees Your Majesty off.”
She had actually already prepared herself to attend him in bed, but she had not expected that Gu Changge’s gaze would not linger on her for even a moment longer.
Let alone any thought of staying the night.
It seemed that making her a consort was merely because the existence of the Sanctum of Destiny was needed.
This left Xiao Ruoyin’s heart filled with waves of melancholy and a sense of loss. No matter what, she was ultimately Gu Changge’s woman—this was an undeniable fact.
In her past life, as the High Priestess of Destiny, from the moment of her birth she had never left the Sanctum of Destiny.
And in this life, even before awakening her memories, she had already given herself to Gu Changge.
Looking at the Sanctum of Destiny before her, which seemed ever colder and more desolate, Xiao Ruoyin let out an almost imperceptible sigh. The joy of recovering the Celestial Boat of Creation had also vanished without a trace.
Gu Changge’s visit tonight seemed to have been solely to ask her about the Dao of fate, and to return the Celestial Boat of Creation along the way.
Beyond that, there was no other purpose.
Didn’t that also mean that the number of times she could see Gu Changge in the future could already be counted on one’s fingers? Or perhaps could not be counted at all?
After leaving the Sanctum of Destiny, Gu Changge once again, with a single thought, evolved a Dharma body of Principles of Dao to sit in command within the Divine Empire, while his true body went beyond the void to continue refining that True Blood, as well as the many other matters.
Through the affair with Xiao Ruoyin, he had confirmed the path ahead and understood what was what.
Many things, once figured out, came as naturally as water flowing into a channel.
Several days later, outside the Imperial Palace, the Ceremony of Immortal Ascension began.
The many ministers, following Gu Changge’s instructions, brought their clans’ most important treasures—such as their guardian scriptures and foundational weapons—
and waited at this place.
Behind these ministers were Immortal Dao Lineages, Longevity Families, and also ancient clans that had migrated from distant universes. In the Beyond of old, every one of them was an existence whose single stomp could cause a great earthquake.
Vast and mighty, endless in number, enough to frighten any ordinary Cultivator out of their wits, beyond belief.
Yet today, all of these people stood respectfully waiting outside the Imperial Palace. On the plaza outside, several enormous Heavenly Dao Steles had descended, radiating brilliant light.
Looking closely, one could see that these Heavenly Dao Steles were crafted from extremely special materials—even those who had achieved the Dao could not hope to damage them in the slightest.
And upon these Heavenly Dao Steles, spatial fluctuations flickered, then runes interlinked, evolving a terrifying black hole within the void, its surroundings emanating mysterious and profound ripples.
Many powerhouses, with just a single glance, felt waves of palpitations, sensing that this was not merely the entrance to an altar.
Behind it, a supreme Transcendent power had likely refined an entire great world to serve as the imperial treasury.
“This is the Immortal Ascension Altar, refined by His Majesty with supreme Transcendent power. At the dawn of the Immortal Ascension Rankings’ birth, Cultivators who enter the rankings first may obtain tremendous benefits.”
“According to the requirements of the Immortal Ascension Palace, as long as one casts treasured rarities into the altar, one can obtain corresponding Immortal Ascension Points. Sufficient Immortal Ascension Points can be exchanged for an Immortal Ascension Token.”
“The Immortal Ascension Points required to exchange for an Immortal Ascension Token will not be very high at the start, but as time goes on, they will gradually rise. Moreover, the Immortal Ascension Altar will not remain open forever—it requires specific timings.”
“But those who hold an Immortal Ascension Token can receive the conferment of the Immortal Ascension Rankings and achieve immortality on the spot.”
Upon the boundless plaza, mist drifted and swirled, as if it were a vast Great Universe.
The many ministers all spoke in low voices, gazing at the Immortal Ascension Altar at the very front, their eyes filled with anticipation, shock, and complicated emotions.