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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Gu Changge’s arrival caused quite a commotion, leading many to look in his direction, as some ancient monsters who just awoken from their long slumber, too, fixed their gazes over with scrutiny.
In today’s Upper Realm, Gu Changge’s every action could move and shake the entire realm. Even the news of him obliterating the Nine Great Mountains caused a seismic commotion in the Upper Realm.
Some time ago, many supreme experts of various forces headed to the Divine City in an attempt to hunt down the demoness in red. However, only Gu Changge returned.
Furthermore, the powers he possessed were bone-chilling. However, even up till today, no one knew the full extent of what he was capable of.
Likewise, many young prodigies wanted to know just how big the gap between them was. Thus, all of them fixed their gazes at him.
Meanwhile, a few with auras that stood out from other young prodigies gazed beyond gravely at Gu Changge inside the camps of Sky Demon Tower, War Immortal Manor, and Holy King Palace.
The Sky Demon Sovereign of Sky Demon Tower was a young man dressed in dark blue with super fair skin and a golden horn in the middle of his forehead. Dazzling divine light surrounded him, and like a true sovereign, he had an innate commanding presence.
“How can there be such a terrifying youth like him…” the Sky Demon Sovereign mumbled with ill-concealed shock. His many followers kept silent as well as they sensed deep reverence towards this young man from their Master.
The Sky Demon Sovereign was a greatly lofty man, and he believed no one in this world could even match him. Thus, it was miraculous of him to say so.
“So he’s the one who killed the previous War Immortal?” mumbled the Successor of War Immortal Manor, whose face couldn’t be seen as he was enveloped entirely in mist. However, one could still make out that he had very long hair and a pair of golden cross pupils where rays of soul-stirring golden lights emitted.
He was so powerful that even some Elders revered him, and like Gu Changge, they couldn’t make out just how powerful he was either.
“Can he be that terrifying shadow I saw in the Time Shoal?” The Successor of Holy King Palace, the most enigmatic of them all, had shown himself as well right then. He was enveloped in a misty glow that looked like time fragments, and although he stood physically next to his fellow disciples, it looked as though he was in a different dimension.
*Buzz!* A golden divine light flashed across his eyes as he seemed to be using some secret technique to pry into Gu Changge. But the next second, he grunted involuntarily, and his body jolted while blood trickled down from the corner of his lips. He was forced to stop.
“What an interesting fellow… Time energy, huh…” Gu Changge smirked and withdrew his gaze.
The Successor of Holy King Palace, however, was greatly dismayed, and his reverence deepened. He was shaking, but it was barely noticeable. He couldn’t believe Gu Changge could seriously injure him and even nearly shatter his soul with just one gaze.
“Greetings, Young Master Changge,” greeted Elders from the Immortal Academy while everyone present had a mix of different feelings.
As Gu Changge’s abilities had surpassed far beyond theirs, they dared not flaunt their seniority in front of the young man even if they were Elders of the Immortal Academy.
Gu Changge dipped his head in reply, then turned to Gu Xianer. “What? Are you not happy that I’ve come to see you?”
The young woman wore no expressions on her face right then, looking all impassive and aloof. She seemed to despise Gu Changge very much in the eyes of many, and it made everyone, especially some prodigal damsels, envious. Nevertheless, the Immortal Gu Family’s little princess was probably the only one in this world who dared to treat Gu Changge like that.
Since many knew the history between the two, they also understood why he would treat her like this. It might look like he was pampering her, but it was more of atoning for what he had done.
Gu Xianer snorted, then monotoned with a tense face, “What are you doing here? I don’t need you to check up on me.”
This was just how she was. Despite being beyond elated, she would never humble herself before her cousin, not even showing a sliver of joy, especially when they were in front of a crowd. If anything, she wished nothing more than for people to think they were at complete odds with each other.
“Come on, isn’t it only right that I see how you’re doing? Do you know how worried I am after finding out you’re going to fight with the youths from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains?” said Gu Changge with a smile, unbothered by her snub.
He treated Gu Xianer with nothing but gentleness the whole time, and the prodigal damsels who had been looking at him discreetly watched with ill-concealed envy. [Why do we not have an older brother like him?]
Gu Xianer snorted, wanting to roll her eyes at him. [You? Worried about me? Huh? I can consider myself lucky if you don’t bully or pick on me! As if you’re really a sweet older brother.]
“You never come to me for anything good,” she remarked, saddening Gu Changge. “I’ve come to give you something to protect yourself with because I’m worried about you. It really hurts me that you think of me like that.”
Gu Xianer was first stunned when she heard what Gu Changge said, but the reaction was quickly replaced by distrust. She could already consider herself lucky if Gu Changge didn’t snatch her treasures for himself. In her mind, all the treasures she obtained from him were ‘done through her own abilities’.
“As if I need any protective items from you. I have plenty…” Despite really wanting to roll her eyes at her cousin, she maintained her usual grace in front of everyone.
However, Gu Changge made nothing of her reaction and just continued with a smile. “This is a divine dress I got after obliterating the Nine Great Mountains. Though its spirituality is gone, it’s still an invaluable protective artifact. And this. This is the Primeval True Feather of a Demon Overlord. Its power, once activated, is incredible, and only a True Daoist can withstand an attack from it.”
While speaking, dazzling celestial beams shone from his palm, and if one listened carefully, they might even hear holy hymns.
Very quickly, a stunning light cyan dress appeared. While it was similar to Gu Xianer’s wide-sleeved dress, it had slivers of Dao draped across it, giving it a sense of divinity.
For a moment, it was as though the land itself had become divine.
Meanwhile, all the prodigal damsels widened their eyes in awe the second they saw the clothing. Some Elders even began breathing erratically. If it wasn’t for the fact that the dress was in Gu Changge’s hands, they even planned on taking it for themselves.
Evidently, it was no simple battle dress as it contained celestial energy. In fact, it might even be made from genuine Immortal material, and there were only so many of such materials created in this whole universe.
Even if such a dress had lost its spirituality, it was still far more powerful than most protective artifacts.
Right then, many were filled with nothing but envy and jealousy. None would believe someone could give such a precious treasure away just like that if they hadn’t witnessed it for themselves. One probably even had to guard against their own family; after all, there were plenty of cases of people falling out because of fortune.
[What is the other thing in Gu Changge’s hand?] A thick red aura enveloped the dazzling blade-like item while billions of fragments of Principles. The red aura would wreath around it as it emitted soul-shattering energy.
[That’s the Primeval True Feather of a Nirvana Realm expert!]
To some extent, the artifact was even more precious than a Nirvana Grade Artifact, for the latter could still be reforged if broken. However, there were only less than a handful of Primeval True Feathers one could grow in a lifetime. Even if one was powerful enough to reshape the universe, they wouldn’t be able to grow any more of them.
Something like this only ever existed, enshrined in the vaults of one’s Sect or Family. Thus, none of them even dared to think that they would one day see such a precious treasure for themselves.
It was already no longer important how Gu Changge got these two priceless treasures but that he was now going to give them to Gu Xianer for protection.
The only thing in many prodigal damsels’ minds was, [Where can I get such a sweet big brother!?]
Naturally, those with brothers were even more envious.
Of course, it wasn’t just the ladies; even the Elders shared the same sentiment. “What danger can she possibly have when she now has an offensive and a defencive artifact.”
At that, they looked at their own artifacts, which couldn’t even compare to the divine dress Gu Changge gave away so simply.
“I-I… I d-don’t… need…” Gu Xianer stuttered after hearing Gu Changge’s words and also saw the artifacts in his hands. Her head buzzed, and she couldn’t even form a proper sentence. She forced herself to calm down and not get tempted by Gu Changge’s tricks. Though she knew he had an agenda, she just couldn’t stop herself from shifting her gaze to the two in his hand.
[Damn you! You know full well that I can’t say no to such treasures, and yet you still tempt me with them!?] Even her big red bird by her leg was gawking at the two priceless treasures as it flapped its wings. Evidently, nothing needed to be said to know just how precious these two treasures were.
“Alright then,” sighed Gu Changge with pity. “Since you don’t need them…”
Gu Xianer glared daggers at him at once. One would suspect if she’d snatch them right away. But Gu Changge seemed to have turned a blind eye to her reaction.
“I don’t need them, but since you’ve decided to give them to me, I should still accept your well wishes,” said the young woman with reluctance on the surface while feeling vexed on the inside.
“But if you don’t need them, I think it’s better to give them to someone who needs them more. After all, the battle at the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains is so dangerous this time, anybody can die.” Gu Changge grinned. But after catching his cousin’s piercing gaze, he decided not to tease her anymore. “But there’s no harm in having more protection.”
“You son of a…” Gu Xianer gritted her teeth, infuriated. If it weren’t for the many eyes on them, she’d have long sunken her teeth into this bastard she calls brother.
In actuality, Gu Changge had long decided to give her both the divine dress as well as the Primeval True Feather.
Initially, he had planned to refine the Primeval True Feather into the Immortal-Killing Gourd, but later, he realised it was rather redundant, as the gourd’s power was already leagues above the True Feather. Moreover, he personally had no use for the feather.
Soon after Gu Changge handed the two treasures to Gu Xianer, Wang Zijin, in a light blue dress, approached them with an amiable smile. “It’s been a while, Brother Gu.”
Followingly, the King with Six Crowns, the Phoenix Lady, and other Immortal Academy acquaintances came to greet Gu Changge.
“I really am jealous of you, Xianer. To think you have such a sweet brother!” commented An Yan, the young lady of the Hidden An Clan, with a beaming glimmer in her eyes. Her hair glowed beautifully as she approached Gu Xianer from afar.
The girls looked to be about the same age, and yet An Yan was shapely, while Gu Xianer was rather… modest.
She chatted away with Gu Xianer, looking rather envious at the mention of the scene a few minutes ago. It was as though all she could see was Gu Xianer, as she didn’t give a damn about the others.
And unlike the others, An Yan didn’t make herself known to Gu Changge at once. Instead, she merely said hi out of politeness.
Days flew by, and very quickly, the day of the battle arrived.
*Rumble!* Principles clashed, creating thundering rumbles!
The Upper Realm Army descended into the Aether Abyss with grandeur once again, covering up the sky with the size of their troops and fleets.
A terrifying mist spanned between the sky and the earth, so enormous that it stretched across the horizon, and the endless thick, dark clouds covered the sky, enveloping far and wide.
Meanwhile, outside the dark abyss stood many fearsome giants, their energy so terrifying that they suffocated everyone.
Unquestionably, they were the peerless masters of the Upper Realm. Though only their Dharma Bodies had shown up. Nevertheless, their presence alone was enough to reign terror on others.
They remained impassive behind the thick mist, and their exposed eyes were filled with nothing but frost and contempt, seemingly unwilling to say a word.
“So? Where are those from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains? Have they cowered too much to appear? Why did they accept the declaration then?” monotoned one of them, seemingly disinterested in the battle.
The many Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains experts who had been stationed there to prevent the Upper Realm from taking them by surprise put up a brave front, keeping their heads held high. “Our people are on their way! What is there for us to fear?! We Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains lacked no hot-blooded cultivators!”
“Huh, your hot-bloodedness is merely an excuse for your groundless stupidity. Do you honestly think a True Dragon and a vermin are in the same league? You can’t really think you have a chance at winning this battle, do you? This very land had buried countless of your Ancestors back then. We had killed each and every one of them and chucked their corpses here. Are you all intending to join them?” sneered someone from the Upper Realm,
It was precisely due to his indifference that the gap between the two sides became more obvious.
The disparity in power between the Upper Realm and the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was genuinely beyond drastic. Thus, the Upper Realm’s scorn and ridicules dispirited those from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, who were rushing over even though they were enraged and unwilling.
The land before their eyes had all been stained red with blood, and of course, the blood included their Ancestors, who died in battle back then.
“Is someone finally coming?” The same person from the Upper Realm who had just spoken lifted his head and looked contemptuously into the distance. Fleets of ancient battleships were traversing the sky towards their direction, and behind them followed many divine rainbows as well.
Meanwhile, the many black figures behind him remained indifferent, intimidating others greatly despite being silent.
