<<Previous Chapter Index Next Chapter>>
Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
The void blurred as the Second Mountain Elder led Xiao Yang and Gu Wudi out of this place. A speck of golden light flickered outside of the universe where the Nine Great Mountains were before they walked out from it. They had left the Deep Cloud Graveyard and arrived almost instantly outside by tearing space apart.
“The Aether Abyss and Sky Deer City are both further away. From what I’ve seen today, the Sky Deer Goddess herself has submitted to the Upper Realm for some time. You both must be careful in Sky Deer City since we don’t know if she has eyes there.” The Second Mountain Elder sighed as he informed them about some important issues. After that, his expression became determined as he turned away. He tore apart space once again, and transformed into a golden beam of light to return to the Nine Great Mountains to join in the fight against the Upper Realm invasion.
“Master, you must stay safe.” Xiao Yang couldn’t hide his mournful expression as he watched the Second Mountain Elder move rapidly and soon disappear into the distance. He clenched his fists and couldn’t help despising his weakness and inability to protect his Eldest Senior Sister, as well as the Nine Great Mountains.
“Let’s go. Neither of us will be able to survive if the Upper Realm army catches up to us.” Compared to Xiao Yang, Gu Wudi was much more composed and did not show too much emotion.
“We shall go our own ways after leaving the Nine Great Mountains. Just leave me alone.” Xiao Yang frowned at him, still harbouring disdain for the cowardly Gu Wudi.
“Youngest Junior Brother, it’s not the time to act on our emotions. The Nine Great Mountains may not be so lucky; if anything happens to us, who will pass down the teachings of the Nine Great Mountains? Are you willing to see the Second Mountain Elder’s efforts go to waste?” Gu Wudi shook his head and replied patiently.
He still remembered Gu Changge’s instruction and wanted to be careful. Once he completed his task, there would be a spot for him in the Upper Realm. The Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would be completely taken over by the Upper Realm soon, so it wouldn’t be long before the Nine Great Mountains went extinct if it kept on resisting. Any intelligent person would know which side to choose in this situation. Besides, his life was still in Gu Changge’s hands.
[Supreme Mountain Elder, Xiao Yang’s relatives…] He thought, with a fierce look flickering within his eyes.
“If not for Master’s sake, do you think I want to be with such a cowardly person like you?” Xiao Yang frowned deeply, mocking him. However, he still remembered his Master’s instructions and thus ignored Gu Wudi for now. They transformed into divine rainbows and headed for the Aether Abyss. They had their token of proof from the Nine Great Mountains, so those from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would come to welcome them.
As Xiao Yang remembered that the Sky Deer Goddess of Sky Deer City was on the Upper Realm’s side, he became annoyed and frustrated. She had somehow submitted to the Upper Realm even though she was the guardian of Sky Deer City, and many of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains might not know of this. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this to the cultivators of Sky Deer City and couldn’t ensure that they would believe him.
…
Soon, the war in the Nine Great Mountains drew to a close. Many Mountain Elders battled with Gu Changge by travelling infinite kilometres away to an area away, to fully be able to express the most powerful abilities not seen for a very long time. However in the end, they still lost. All coughing up blood before exploding into pieces.
Meanwhile, a terrifying grey fog containing great murderous intent blew in seemingly from another land. It covered an area trillions of kilometres wide and blocked away everything in the universe.
Gu Changge wore a cold expression, his white clothes ethereal and otherworldly compared to the universe around him. However, Demonic Qi seemed to surge in waves behind him like an enormous ocean.
“Do you still want to fight?” His expression was mild as his palm struck downwards and instantly enclosed the universe.
The sun, moon, and stars seemed to rotate within, and the palm contained the whole universe. The Yin-Yang symbol revolved above him, raining down black and white Qi. These seemed to evolve into the six paths, as six indestructible doorways appeared and stood in the depths of the universe while shining intensely. It was a shocking sight and all attacks fell at his feet, all unable to strike him – only eliciting water-like ripples.
Soon, the palm hurtling downwards was like a heavenly sword which could strike down even the sun and the moon due to its power.
“Do not be too haughty just yet!” The True Daoists looked stricken, now covered in blood from their injuries. Their expressions were grave as their Nirvana Grade Artifacts floated above their heads and beamed down Principles as numerous as the stars.
“His strength is somewhat strange. We cannot defeat him even after working together!” The Third Mountain Elder’s body shook violently with disbelief, covered in grievous injuries. A shimmering Dao Sword appeared in his hand to shield any attacks, while a frightening black Qi tangled around his hand. It contained unbelievable levels of corrosive power and couldn’t be removed at all. He could feel his body nearly cracking apart from just one strike by Gu Changge. [How terrifyingly powerful!]
“You’re all too weak. What right do you have fighting against me when you can’t even penetrate my defences?” Gu Changge continued approaching with an expressionless face as if he couldn’t sense any of the attacks that were targeting him. The Yin-Yang symbol shielded him from every technique and nothing could hit him.
“I’ll take you down!” The Third Mountain Elder looked fierce, a blinding light floating around him. It was the light from the aura of a True Daoist. A golden mountain floated behind him indistinctly, which could even crush the universe, and its aura swept through the battlefield. This was his ultimate technique.
Infinite light surged as soon as this technique was displayed.
“Now!” The other Mountain Elders immediately shouted as soon as they saw this. They moved their hands to evoke their strongest techniques, which exuded the brightest light. Their artifacts also glowed brightly as if powerful ancient deities were awakening. They had already seen a gap in Gu Changge’s defences. They knew they had to attack simultaneously or they wouldn’t have any other chance.
Suddenly, a blinding light shot from the ground and went through the clouds.
The collision caused a huge explosion, rivalling that of the Big Bang, as Chaos Qi surged into the air to destroy everything. It even penetrated to the other worlds.
Countless shivered at the quake caused by the explosion as they felt their souls nearly cracking from the force. This was the might of a True Daoist, which was unbelievably potent.
The vibrations spread above the sky and below the ground, making the stars around them shake. Even those in the Sacred Emperor Realm quivered before it.
…
“That is from the war of True Daoists! What is happening over there!? There can’t be just one True Daoist over there! Are those experts from the Upper Realm attacking!? Didn’t they say that the Boundary Marker Sea has not dried up yet!?”
Trillions of kilometres away, within the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, several ancient beings had sensed the vibration and looked shocked and in disbelief. They were awakened, and exuded terrifying and potent auras.
These experts soon appeared in the sky to watch the battle with sombre expressions. Other than those in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, even ancient beings in the Upper Realm near the Boundary Marker Sea could sense something was up. Their gazes all penetrated the world as if they could peer into everything, and see what was going on.
This invasion of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains might just change everything. It might even affect the surrounding worlds, including their own.
“What’s happening for there to be so many True Daoists fighting?” Sect Masters or Heads of their respective Immortal Forces, who were at the camp on the bank of the Boundary Marker Sea, felt fearful down to their core. The Boundary Marker Sea hadn’t dried completely yet so the True Daoists from their Sect or Family could not cross it yet. Thus, they were concerned about any True Daoists from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains attacking them.
In the depths of the universe, a giant hand stretched forward in response to such a bold attack. Gu Changge remained cold and emotionless as he raised his hand to strike it back. Gu Changge’s palm shone with a brilliant golden light, as if made of Divine Gold and was surrounded by swirling celestial energy and Chaos Qi. The power from it surged and swelled as it moved. It was as big as a hill at first but then became as big and borderless as the night sky, accompanied by an great explosion of energy.
The Mountain Elder facing Gu Changge directly felt it most acutely, and his expression shifted rapidly. He couldn’t believe that this youth was still unharmed after the Mountain Elders’ combined attack. He even had the leeway to stretch out a palm to hit him!
*Boom!* The palm was far too frightening and it felt like the earth was closing around him to bind him.
“Break!” The Mountain Elder shouted, his golden armour glowing intensely. The golden light then expanded rapidly as his face turned red and he exuded all he had. His spear then sliced across the air, making a whooshing sound.
The golden light that came out of his spear resembled an army with thousands of horse-riding knights, ready to attack the universe. This was a True Daoist’s ultimate attack which could shake the world.
However, the golden palm surrounded by crimson light remained unmoving in the face of this spear attack.
Cultivators in the extreme distance shook from the impact and retreated immediately, scalps tingling. The Mountain Elder shook violently like his body was about to explode. Blood sprayed into the air as the colour dyed the world crimson.
“They couldn’t beat him even with their combined strength…” The void was torn apart as the Second Mountain Elder, clad in white robes rushed in, just in time to witness such a scene. His face was grim. It was just like Gu Wudi had said—the Nine Great Mountains were facing a terrible crisis.
Meanwhile, the Sky Deer Goddess was battling several Mountain Elders as well. The shocks it elicited were equally terrifying as they spread to half of the universe. The only difference here was that she was clearly weaker than the three Mountain Elders. While her clothes were spattered with some blood, her techniques remained decisive and strong. Thus, she resembled a goddess with her pale skin and light emanating from her.
“You came just in time, Second Mountain Elder. We tried to kill him together but his strength is unfathomable…” The other Mountain Elders looked surprised yet hopeful to see the Second Mountain Elder, thus pleading with him.
They were all wounded, with blood all over them, and their usually formidable auras felt weak. Even the Third Mountain Elder, who was always at odds with him, had a weak aura and sustained terrible wounds. They had no other choice but to ask the Second Mountain Elder for help, as he was stronger than the Third Mountain Elder. In fact, the Second Mountain Elder was currently the strongest in the Nine Great Mountains, behind the mysterious Supreme Elder.
“Just who are you in the Upper Realm to have managed to achieve this at your age?” The Second Mountain Elder looked serious as this was the first time he had seen such a terrifying youth.
This young man had fought against multiple Elders of the Nine Great Mountains alone. He even had the upper hand. He also did not even show any sign of injury. If this stretched on for a little longer, everyone would have died. The Second Mountain Elder also noticed that the Ninth Mountain Elder’s aura had disappeared, which could only mean that he had already died before his arrival.
“Are all of you present? I’ve been waiting for you for some time.” Gu Changge did not reply, smiling at the Second Mountain Elder instead. Since the Second Mountain Elder was here, that meant that his plan had worked.
The Family of Protectors of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains had been massacred more than 20 years ago. Though most of its members had died back then, some still remained and had fled. Xiao Yang had merely been one of them. Gu Changge was planning to seek out the final remnants of the Family of Protectors via Xiao Yang. After all, their Sources and Talents were extraordinary. Not only could they summon Immortal Heroic Souls, but they could also reverse Yin and Yang and remould Dao Fruits. They were extremely useful to him, so he had sent Gu Wudi as his secret pawn to stay beside Xiao Yang.
“What do you mean by that?” The Second Mountain Elder felt alarmed by his expression, as the youth frightened him immensely and surpassed all logic.
“I’m waiting for you so I can kill all of you, of course.” Gu Changge smiled serenely, and a Dao Flask appeared above his head. It resembled a bottomless black hole and shone with dark light. All terrifying vibrations were easily consumed by it and even the universe was seemingly swallowed by it as the sky darkened.
“This is…”
“It is as those rumours… how is it possible?”
The Mountain Elders were all frightened by this. The Second Mountain Elder froze at first before his expression became stricken. He looked like he already understood something.
The Mountain Elders all tried to escape but all of a sudden, a giant spear surrounded by intertwining Demonic Qi sliced towards them. The universe before them felt like it had been split apart from the force, with pieces of the River of Time fluttered around it.
One of the Elders quickly activated the most powerful ability he had ever used in his life, making his body glow, but he still couldn’t dodge in time. All his techniques, treasures, and abilities collapsed, followed by his body splitting from its centre into multiple parts, with the ensuing spray of blood lingered in the air.
“Run! What he had on him in a Tool of World Destruction!” The voice of the Second Mountain Elder shook as he came back to himself. He quickly transformed into a divine rainbow so he could tear apart space and flee; the other Mountain Elders realised this as well but it was far too late. A terrifying black fog surged in from the edges of the universe, seemingly rooting the space into space.
The power spread to the outside of the universe as stars exploded and turned into ashes. Even the Milky Way rotated in the opposite direction as countless Principles were haphazardly flickering about. The sky and land were in total chaos, as even pieces from the River of Time faintly appeared. It was a chaotic sight. No war that involved Nirvana Realm experts had had such a great area of impact before, as even the surrounding universe was affected. Several smaller worlds had already exploded, leading to the meaningless deaths of many.
Many Mountain Elders displayed their strongest abilities, which was enough to shake the sky. However, it was futile.
A giant hand stretched into the sky and to the ground, its strike capable of reaching another universe and terrifying all. In front of this giant hand, screams of terror or rage soon return back to silence.
This whole universe was now battered and broken, with aftershocks from the battle lingering as well as splatters of blood and bone everywhere. Shattered artifacts were scattered everywhere, now reduced to nothing more than scrap.
“Except for the Supreme Mountain Elder, all the rest have been dealt with.” In the silence, a beautiful woman in white landed next to Gu Changge. She had flawless features and a tall slender figure. She looked otherworldly and perfect, yet she didn’t look too well. She had been hit badly and there was even blood on her clothes.
Her expression was conflicted as she spoke. since she would have been hurt even more seriously if Gu Changge hadn’t moved to help her after dealing with her own opponents. She might be powerful but she was still inferior compared to the might of three True Daoists. Thus, she remained at a disadvantage.
She had now seen abilities Gu Changge had never displayed before and felt fearful; even the Third Mountain Elder had instantly broke into pieces from his attack.
“This was just the fated result.” Gu Changge sat cross-legged, not opening his eyes even after hearing her speak. An aura as monstrous as the sea exuded from him, and the entire universe seemed to transform as he meditated. Constellations dimmed and the galaxy surged towards him. There even was a crimson-coloured cocoon surrounding him, which comprised thick Qi and blood. It was an astounding sight to see.
Stars and constellations shone brilliantly, as light concentrated on the area as Sources of all the True Daoists entered Gu Changge’s body. Every single pore glowed like an ancient world. As Gu Changge opened his mouth and growled, causing the stars to tremble.
*Boom!* The sky shook as if an ocean was sweeping towards the land. All light was consumed by Gu Changge, like he had transformed into a black hole which could swallow up the heavens. Principles collapsed and broke into pieces as they entered his mouth.
His cultivation had thus improved once again. His blood, flesh, organs, bones, and hair all reflected Chaos Qi. He now looked much more powerful than before. This sight continued for half a month before the universe eventually quieted down. No being dared approach to investigate as the deaths of True Daoists were too frightening to behold. Likewise, some strange phenomena hadn’t completely dissipated yet. After all, one drop of these True Daoists’ blood could completely penetrate a small world and any lingering aftershocks from it was enough to kill.
[The Fifth-Order Quasi-Nirvana Realm. I’m now several steps closer to the Path of Nirvana.] Gu Changge got up and opened his eyes, his aura calming down. It now resembled a deep ocean.
He looked towards the Second Mountain Elder, whose strength had been bound, and approached him.
The Second Elder had a terrifying wound from when he was nearly split apart, Even so, Gu Changge could not let him die just yet. He was Xiao Yang’s Master and thus still held some other value. That was why Gu Changge had left him alive.
