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Translator: Fate
Proofreader: Silavin
After a moment of contemplation, Gu Changge sat down as he communicated with the System, intending to purchase something with Fatums.
*Whoosh!* Out of nowhere, black light surged above his head, subtly illuminating downwards, after which intertwining Grand Runes started to whirl towards the black matter, which the Grand Flask then began to absorb as it floated like a frightening black hole.
The Grand Flask extreme eagerness was unprecedented, and Gu Changge knew that he had underestimated its desperation for the black matter as it wasn’t as aggressive back when it was devouring the Symbol of Reincarnation.
“It appears Fatums are not needed.”
As Gu Changge silently sat in the void, his face emitted a black glow, as his expression remained solemn. Ancient ritual sounds of the world gradually arose, as if it was echoing around him. Behind him, amid surge of demonic energy, a figure of a domineering Demon Lord, whose eyes were filled with immense coldness that was unimaginably all-terrorizing, appeared.
With this, something in his conscience cracked and shattered, releasing a memory deep within.
In front of the mountaintop, where mists and clouds billowed, a simple straw house stood. On a boulder, a little girl in red was dancing with her sword. Her sleeves were rolled up and her sword, like silver, lit up the sky. As she stood before the straw house, her garments swayed and her hair flew along with the winds, as if everything in the world was changing according to the sword in her hand.
As the little girl in red’s dance was finished, she joyfully hopped to the host of the memory. “Master, I bumped into disciples of Nine Skies Mountain today. They took my things and said my Talent is unremarkable and I could only attain Enlightenment Realm my whole life. However, I took each of them down with one slash.”
“Who told you to take them down?” The host calmly questioned without raising his voice.
With a stiffened grin, the little girl in red lowered her head. “I’m sorry, Master.”
“The swordsmanship I taught you isn’t to beat people up.” The host retained his tone.
Later, the little girl in red went down the mountains, and when she returned, she was covered in scars with a severed hand in her hand. “Master, I am back.”
In spite of her injuries, she was still happy.
“Here, your favourite roasted chicken.” The host said while caressing her head, and then continued “From today onwards, Nine Skies Mountain, along with Nine Skies Continent, no longer exists. None is allowed to bully my disciple.”
“Master, I made a friend while I was away.”
“Oh? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“It’s a girl, but she’s not human.”
“Then what is she?”
“She’s a small peach tree!”
The host revealed a smile. “Then I shall dig her up and bring her here to be your companion.”
And so, a delicate, unstained small peach tree was added to the mountain top.
As the memory ended right there, Gu Changge sank into contemplation.
…
In the blink of an eye, numerous days had passed. In the outside world…
“The number of Eternal Overcast creatures and Yin Energy is exponentially lessening. Did Gu Changge actually manage to stop everything?”
Stupefied, Wang Zijin peered at the abyss high up in the sky. From what she detected, the density of the grey fog within the Sky Abyss was much sparser, which indicated that Gu Changge actually entered the abyss with cards up his sleeves. The unwavering Yin Energy that had been troubling mankind since ancient times was actually dispelled by Gu Changge, a true miracle.
“It is said that only the Mortal One is able to deal with Eternal Overcast. Gu Changge couldn’t be the Mortal One’s reincarnation, could he?” Wang Zijin was confused. She turned to the side to Jiang Chuchu, but the latter’s face bore nothing unusual as it was serene, so serene there was not a trace of emotion.
After a few days, Jiang Chuchu’s injuries almost fully healed. Apart from her initial concerns, after noticing the waning Yin Energy, she understood Gu Changge was fine, which caused her to feel relieved.
Furthermore, the Eternal Overcast Energy, which was a great obstacle to all lives, was resolved by Gu Changge. If she hadn’t known about his murder of the Mortal One, she, too, would have suspect him to be the Mortal One’s reincarnation.
At that moment, Jiang Chuchu suddenly remembered what Gu Changge mentioned previously, ‘The world doesn’t need the Mortal One. They simply need the idea of the Mortal One’. At such a time, whether the world needed just the appearance of the Mortal One, Jiang Chuchu did not want to even consider it as that would mean she would be betraying Mortal Palace. However, she couldn’t help but do so.
“Jiang Chuchu, be honest with me, what exactly happened between you and Gu Changge?” Wang Zijin suddenly asked about what had been stressing her out recently.
Having regained her composure, Jiang Chuchu knew that she couldn’t disclose the truth to Wang Zijin and tell her that Gu Changge was the Successor of Demonic Arts, while Prince Ying was nothing but an unfortunate scapegoat. Furthermore, she couldn’t reveal the fact that Gu Changge imprisoned her for a long time, and the Successor of Mortal Palace during that time, was merely an imposter.
Although those were the truth, judging by Wang Zijin’s personality, she would never believe her. Instead, she would question why Gu Changge didn’t murder her, who knew about his secrets.
Therefore, Jiang Chuchu calmly answered, “Don’t worry about it. Just know that Gu Changge is not anything decent, and you should stay away from him.”
“That’s it?” Hearing that, Wang Zijin rolled her eyes. “And there I thought you were my best friend, yet you won’t answer my question. Of course I know Gu Changge is not a good man.”
In that instant, she grew more suspicious of Jiang Chuchu, since the latter always detest men, feigning nothing but indifferent towards them, unlike how she was now.
“Gu Changge is a real menace. It’s best you don’t get too close to him.” Jiang Chuchu softly sighed, speaking with a tone filled with unexpressed frustration.
“Nevermind, then. To be honest, I somewhat like Gu Changge, but since both of you share an inexplicable relationship, perhaps I should forget about it.” Wang Zijin then heaved a rather depressed sigh.
Upon those words, Jiang Chuchu was taken aback. [What inexplicable relationship? And did she say? She like Gu Changge?]
“Are you going to tell me there’s no such thing?” Wang Zijin observed her expression and revealed an ambiguous grin. “Then, that’s fine.”
Followingly, the Sky Abyss had suddenly become silent, as though it had been suddenly disrupted. From there, Gu Changge could be seen walking out. Judging from his face, there wasn’t much of a difference from the last time they saw him.
Jiang Chuchu and Wang Zijin intuitively walked towards him, and their eyes carried different emotions.
“Brother Gu, you okay?”
As Wang Zijin took the words right out of Jiang Chuchu’s mouth, the latter could only wordlessly look at him. Pursing her lips, Jiang Chuchu lowered her head, swallowing down the words she was about to say.
“I’m fine. The issue of the Eternal Overcast has been temporarily dealt with, but this is all I could do with my current capabilities…” Gu Changge shook his head as he turned to the Successors of the Mortal Palace with a distinctive look saying nothing more.
Now that the Eternal Overcast Source of the region was absorbed by him, he gained control of the Power of Yin, and even his Grand Flask showed signs of mysterious change. Nonetheless, he had no intentions of letting those things be known so quickly. Thus, he did not absorb all of the lingering Yin Energy. After his experience here, he could now devour Yin Energy faster should he locate another Eternal Overcast Source.
“I sometimes suspect that you’re the Mortal One’s reincarnation, Brother Gu. You achieved so many things that others could not,” Wang Zijin half-jokingly praised as merriness surged in her eyes.
“The Mortal One’s reincarnation? Beats me. To an almighty being like the Mortal One, an insignificant cultivator like me is hardly worth mentioning. I’m sure the Yin Energy showed me mercy. I doubt I’ll ever be this lucky in the future.” Gu Changge let out a sigh, hiding no secrets from them.
Following an audible rip, his sleeves were torn, revealing the traces of grey fog wafting out of his arms. Even his bones and skins were under corrosion, and it was a spine-chilling, gory sight.
Of course, those injuries were caused deliberately, as he wasn’t at all hurt in the Sky Abyss.
“This is…” Seeing that, Wang Zijin was clearly startled by the gruesome sight. “Brother Gu, you’re corroded by the Yin Energy? Let me take a look.”
Accordingly, ignoring the boundaries of a man and a woman, as well as the corrosion of Yin Energy as she grabbed Gu Changge’s arm to check on his injuries.
In that instant, Jiang Chuchu was visibly worried, yet she could only stay out of their interaction like an outsider. She felt as if she was the one who caused his injuries. As such, she felt remorseful and dejected, yet Gu Changge wouldn’t look at her once. It was as he said, she was annoying.
“Brother Gu, judging by the wound, it should have been done by some sort of creature, as the usual Yin Energy wouldn’t combine with Sacred Principles…” After checking on his injuries, Wang Zijin claimed with a scowl.
As she was speaking, lights of celestial energy surged in her palm, possessing a terrifying lifeforce. *Tss…* The celestial energy, upon brief contact with the Yin Energy, emitted a sizzling sound similar to when water was sprinkled onto boiling oil.
Accordingly, Gu Changge subconsciously tensed his brows, though he made not a sound, as if he was enduring the pain.
“Indeed, the injury was caused by my negligence as I allowed myself to be ambushed by a Sacred Noble Realm creature. I never thought it would be so difficult to drive away.” Having said that, he retained his unaffected expression, though his face visibly paled.
“Gu Changge…” Looking at his state, Jiang Chuchu felt rather perturbed as she felt the need to say something. Nonetheless, after blurting out his name, she was at loss for words, as though she never had any decent conversation with him other than derogatory remarks.
“What is it, Saintess Chuchu?” Hearing that, Gu Changge turned to her and casually asked, seemingly having no intention of talking about what happened back there.
Sensing the apathy in his tone, Jiang Chuchu immediately felt intimidated, though on the surface, she retained her calm look. “Thank you for saving me. If you’re not in grave trouble, I shall take my leave.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, Saintess Chuchu. Perhaps you should worry about the safety of the world more, or more living beings would fall into the hands of the Successor of Demonic Arts,” Gu Changge said with an indifference-filled tone.
Upon those words, Jiang Chuchu’s face slightly paled, but she kept silent, after which, she took a glimpse at Wang Zijin before turning into a divine rainbow and leaving.
“There seems to be a conflict between you and Jiang Chuchu, Brother Gu.” Seeing that, Wang Zijin interestedly asked.
“It’s just that her boastful, sanctimonious attitude irritates me,” Gu Changge casually answered as he shook his head.
Some time later, the two also departed without saying behind any longer.
And so, the drastic drop in the number of Eternal Overcast creatures and Yin Energy in Eternal Overcast Battlefield piqued the interest of countless cultivators. Nevertheless, to many, the depths of Eternal Overcast Battlefield was a life-threatening forbidden area that none dared to venture, so not many paid any more attention to it.
Be it Wang Zijin and Jiang Chuchu, they tended to keep things under the radar. Naturally, that was the same for Gu Changge, who would like to keep a low profile given that the Eternal Overcast had yet to gain the attention of certain Elders.
If they were to be informed that Gu Changge knew how to deal with the Yin Energy, they would definitely come looking for him. And since the matter pertained to the entire Upper Realm, despite being the Young Master of Immortal Gu Family, Gu Changge would be kept under strict watch. He would sooner or later be ordered to venture into Eternal Overcast together with the Elders. Naturally, Gu Changge would like to stay out of such a burdensome event.
Followingly, after parting ways with Wang Zijin, Gu Changge returned to Southern Flourishing Heaven for a temporary stay. Simultaneously, he attempted to experience the Power of Yin. After testing it out in his Inner Universe, he noticed that the Power of Yin possessed an especially potent engulfing trait towards space. Evidently, certain runes and arrays, much like paper paste, were instantly corroded upon contact with the Power of Yin.
At the moment, although he merely engulfed a fragment of Eternal Overcast Source, that very fragment of the power of Eternal Overcast Source was enough to engulf cities in a hundred thousand kilometres radius. In other words, Gu Changge was now in control of a hundred thousand kilometres square of Eternal Overcast, and it was sufficient to engulf small stars.
At the same time, Gu Changge received news from Yan Ji as she came to a finding from her instructed investigation.
“So she’s not in the Primal Demonic Temple, huh?” Gu Changge muttered to himself as he came to a realisation.
Prior to that, he ordered Yan Ji to visit the Primal Demonic Temple to look into anything pertaining to Su Qingge. And since both Yan Ji and Su Qingge came from the Lower Realm, the former wouldn’t feel strange. As a result, the news she obtained was that Su Qingge apparently left Primal Demonic Temple some time ago.
Truth be told, regarding Su Qingge’s possession of two souls in her body, Gu Changge had always paid attention to it since her Fortuity was not fixed. According to her confession, once in a while, fragments of memories related to the Upper Realm would surge in her mind.
From then on, Gu Changge would notice that whenever these memories arose, her Fortuity, too, would increase, so it was clear that these two factors bore a significant connection. Additionally, he, with his mother’s assistance, also investigated Su Qingge’s other soul, only to no avail. As such, he left Su Qingge in Primal Demonic Temple under his mother’s care.
[Regardless, these are just simply inferences. For more solid proof, I first have to locate Su Qingge.] Gu Changge thought then instructed his followers to keep an assiduous watch on any recent disturbances in Eternal Overcast Battlefield.
If Su Qingge was indeed the mysterious Successor of Demonic Arts mentioned by Ye Langtian and Ye Liuli, she would undoubtedly come to Southern Flourishing Heaven soon. After all, the existence of the Immortal Academy was the best hunting ground for a Successor of Demonic Arts.
Besides, since Southern Flourishing Heaven was now in major turmoil, and Ying Shuang was now shouldering the blame of being the Successor of Demonic Arts, this was the most opportune time for her to fish in troubled waters. In Gu Changge’s eyes, it would be effortless to look for someone who wasn’t deliberately hiding themselves.
[If Su Qingge really is the one, then perhaps I deserve some gratitude from her. At the very least, given the circumstances, the only people that were aware of the existence of the second Successor of Demonic Arts were Ye Langtian and Ye Liuli. Regardless, I do wonder if she would be salivating for my Source…] With that in mind, Gu Changge’s face grew fascinated.
Back in the Upper Realm, Su Qingge displayed her extraordinary intellect and tactfulness, and it was only fear that drove her to be subservient to Gu Changge, but as time passed by, there was no telling whether one’s heart would change.
Frankly, Gu Changge wasn’t sceptical of Su Qingge, but rather, sceptical of her other soul. Without her other soul, he doubted that Su Qingge would ever attain the Forbidden Demonic Arts.
Swiftly, a few days had passed, and Gu Changge received news about Su Qingge.
As he expected, she indeed came to Southern Flourishing Heaven.
Many thanks
And here I was thinking Qingge’s matter was unexpected even to him. How naive.
Nah, he was keeping tabs on his girls before, so I do not feel it to be out of character. It would be more surprising if she managed to completely blindside him.
Many thanks
Many thanks
Many thanks
Just guessing here but there being a successor of demonic arts means there should be a founder of demonic arts as well, so maybe he is the reincarnation of the founder and Su is the successor as it seems in the flashbacks that the disciple is female.
Can’t remember them ever saying outright the gender of the successor so could be a plot twist down the line.