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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
One slash from the blade seemed to sink the entire universe. The endless aura from the blade enveloped Zhao Yunze, containing unimaginable power that seemed to have been around for eons.
*Boom!* The Blade Qi and Sword Qi kept clashing, further tearing up the already battered universe.
The sound of liquid spraying out could be heard as red blood, mixed with Artifacts sputtered out. The bloody fountain shot high up into the air like a brutal wave, dyeing the sky red. Swiftly after, a figure rushed out from the crowd, only to have his body parts flying everywhere from the explosion.
However, the flash from the collision between the blade and the sword was too bright for people to see who it was.
*Crack!* A broken sword flew across the place. Its fragments looked like a glorious firework that exploded and covered the sky. The sight was as chilling as it was gorgeous.
[Impossible…]
[This can’t be happening!]
Everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains who saw this immediately turned pale as they froze where they stood. The ones who cheered for Zhao Yunze when he rose up from the ashes were especially aghast. They were now trembling as though they were doused in cold water. Even their souls were shaking as they looked out of Sky Deer City in fear.
Never-ending divine light lingered around a figure there, making it even more detached and sacred.
Blood that slowly pierced through the void was dripping from the long, black blade. This was the blood of a True Daoist. The blade contained a power so strong no one knew what to expect, and its appearance made everyone tremble fearfully.
It was just a moment ago that Zhao Yunze, whom they thought was invincible, was destroyed by Gu Changge. His blood splashed like the stars of the night sky, almost submerging the sky outside Sky Deer City. To them, this scene might become a nightmare that would never go away their whole life.
Gu Changge’s existence was like a terrifying specter that constantly haunted them.
“This can’t be happening… Young Domain Master Yunze has already broken through and has become a True Daoist…”
“This can’t be true. Tell me it isn’t true! Young Domain Master Yunze is untouchable! How could he be defeated? He has risen from the ashes!”
“Evil has always prevailed over good, so… How did this happen…”
Many were howling in disbelief at the scene in front of them. Some couldn’t take the news well, and passed out right there and then. The moment the last hope they had was defeated, it felt as if their world had turned dark. They initially thought that Zhao Yunze’s breakthrough at this critical moment was an opportunity to reverse the situation. A rare godsent opportunity.
Whether it was ancient records or mortal stories, there were countless tales about heroes who suddenly brokethrough in cultivation and saved the world in times of crisis. When they saw how the Upper Realm Army crushed their army, and Gu Changge appeared in front of the city to attack the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, they couldn’t help relating this scene to the heroic stories in those tales.
Zhao Yunze stepping forward at the critical moment, and being able to rise from the ashes before becoming a True Daoist should have fit the image of a hero. Whereas, Gu Changge’s actions conformed to the evil characters in those tales. But for some reason, Zhao Yunze still lost. His defeat had pushed everyone into despair and hopelessness.
“This is what all of you held hopes for? I commend you for your courage.”
The Dao Flowers blooming between heaven and earth, laced with celestial energy started to appear beside Gu Changge. He shook his head lightly as if he felt regretful, but his eyes were extremely indifferent. There wasn’t a hint of emotion in them.
*Clang!* The Solar Heavenly Blade in Gu Changge’s hand trembled as wisps of the black blade’s aura entwined, letting out a rumble. It seemed to be cheering because it was fed the blood of a True Daoist.
Upon hearing his words, everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains felt their hatred overflow, and they glared at him. [Damn you!]
“My son…” The Great Cloud Domain Master’s complexion was ashen due to his sadness and surging anger. His eyes had turned red from the overwhelming hatred in him. If he hadn’t been held back by the people around him, he would have rushed ahead.
Meanwhile, many even angrily gritted their teeth and inwardly wailed. Their hair could stand up straight, and their teeth could well be crushed at this point.
*Boom!* Right then, a terrifying sound could be heard from a far off distance. That drop of True Immortal Blood had turned into a sea of blood to fight against the Immortal-Killing Gourd. Even without a controller, this drop blood could still move on its own. When it felt the unprecedented pressure, it tried to resist the Immortal-Killing Gourd’s devourment.
The momentum that erupted here was no weaker than how it was when Gu Changge and Zhao Yunze fought just now. The world was turned upside down, and the pieces of void seemed to be turned into ashes. Everyone in Sky Deer City could feel this fluctuation.
This Blood might have belonged to a Prime Ancestor. Now that it had been awakened, it wanted to kill those experts in the Upper Realm when it felt their aura.
In the thick fog, an ancient existence from the Upper Realm opened his eyes and suddenly disdainfully sneered, “Despicable Fortuity Thief. It seems like that is the blood of one of his underlings…”
Back when the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was still the Barren Realm, the existence who stole Fortuity from the Upper Realm had four underlings. Each had surpassed True Daoists. Now, those four people were obviously the Prime Ancestors of the Four Powerful War God Clans of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
After killing Zhao Yunze, Gu Changge was currently focused on this drop of True Immortal Blood. That vast but dormant True Immortal power might finally explode at this moment, swallowing the universe and shocking the world. The place immediately turned into a wide, boiling red sea.
“Ah, a rare resource,” Gu Changge chuckled. He mentally instructed the Immortal-Killing Gourd. Soon, a brilliant beam came out from the mouth of the bottle. Immediately afterwards, the beam spread out to the far distance, seemingly enough to cover the starry sky. With a bang, a terrifying Sword Qi burst out of it, tearing apart the eerie blood-coloured sea in an instant.
The Immortal-Killing Gourd then swelled up again before it crossed over to devour the sea. The drop of True Immortal Blood was swiftly engulfed and swallowed by the gourd.
Everyone could vaguely hear the roaring coming from inside the Immortal-Killing Gourd. It sounded like the howls of an Unrivalled True Immortal, but it was all meaningless. Any show of strength from it was subdued.
After all, this was only a drop of blood of a True Immortal. Furthermore, the Immortal-Killing Gourd itself was no ordinary item. It had to live up to its name. In fact, its name was enough to prove how insanely powerful it was.
*Buzz!* Soon, the brilliance on the surface of the Immortal-Killing Gourd disappeared, and it became a common gourd before it started shrinking rapidly. It finally fell into Gu Changge’s hands from the air. From the looks of it, it wasn’t different from any other gourd.
Everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains disgruntledly watched everything unfold. The Immortal-Killing Gourd was the most precious treasure in their realm back then, but it was now shining brightly in Gu Changge’s palm.
After losing that drop of True Immortal Blood, the Black Tortoise Flag instantly dimmed. It looked ordinary without its previous splendour. Despite that, the Black Tortoise War God Clan’s Ancestors still took it back with a Secret Technique, even when it was still outside.
The small cauldron collapsed the moment Zhao Yunze died, but instead of disappearing, it scattered what it contained. As it was a treasure cultivated with the Power of Faith, it wouldn’t be destroyed just because it was smashed. It could alway cultivate again some other time.
The battle came to an end without any surprises—Gu Changge had easily killed Zhao Yunze. And yet, Gu Changge’s robe had not fluttered once. He hadn’t even moved from the same spot he was standing on from the beginning with a nonchalant, domineering air.
This caused many people from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains to fall into deep fear, anger, and uneasiness. [Would we have survived if we were the ones who fought against him?] Except for some senior True Daoists, the rest of them felt chills all over their bodies. They couldn’t imagine surviving this.
At this very moment, Sky Deer City was in a state of despair. A majority of the people here were grieving as they felt that they didn’t have the slightest chance of victory.
[They are brave indeed, but it’s a pity that they have Young Master Changge as their opponent. Any other True Daoist would be on the losing end as well. They’re bound to lose no matter how confident they are.]
[The blow just now was indeed terrifying. I wonder where Gu Changge gets his treasures from.]
Many True Daoists of the Upper Realm had different emotions written over their faces. After seeing so much from this battle, they grew curious about what Gu Changge was capable of, particularly the treasures he had obtained.
[That black blade just now looked like the Solar Heavenly Blade that appeared six thousand years ago. It should have belonged to the Solar Demon Overlord, but why is it with Gu Changge now? Rumour has it that the Solar Demon Overlord disappeared without a trace six thousand years ago… So why is Gu Changge wielding that Overlord’s weapon?]
Many of them wondered if it was for this that Gu Changge went to the Demon World some time ago.
“That’s the Solar Heavenly Blade… Could it be that the Solar Demon Overlord also died in his hands?”
Wang Zijin, who had been following the battle closely from the ancient warship, looked on with interested eyes. According to her understanding of Gu Changge, he wasn’t someone who would do anything unnecessary. She was more convinced that the Solar Demon Overlord might have had some kind of accident, such as being brutally killed by Gu Changge, than him simply being missing. However, this was only her guess. She didn’t have any evidence for this matter.
[It seems that Zhao Yunze’s breakthrough just now has something to do with the Fortuity of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.] Gu Changge narrowed his eyes. He had been observing the changes in Sky Deer City’s Fortuity.
After Zhao Yunze’s breakthrough earlier, he undoubtedly noticed the accumulation of Fortuity. It wasn’t Fortuity from the whole realm, but given its volume, it might as well be. Under such circumstances, Zhao Yunze’s cultivation and might could be said to have reached the peak in his entire lifetime. Even though he couldn’t get a Fortuity Chest after killing Zhao Yunze, Gu Changge could feel that he had taken some kind of illusory Fortuity from Zhao Yunze.
To him, the suppression he got from the Eight Wastelands’ and Ten Domains’ Heavenly Way had weakened a lot. The reason many experts were unwilling to make a move against Sky Deer City was because of the suppression from the Heavenly Way, which made it difficult for them to truly unleash their powers. There was always a risk of them being defeated here.
Signs of this suppression weakening gave Gu Changge the confidence that he might be able to control the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains after he successfully invaded the city. After all, this was equivalent to the World Principles here weakening. Its meaning was evident.
Swiftly after that, the void blurred as a golden path stretched out under his feet, leading him back to the Upper Realm Army. Those on the walls of Sky Deer City who watched Gu Changge calmly leave were livid. However, even though they couldn’t hide their murderous aura, no one dared to tell him to stay. Even the senior True Daoists could only remain quiet at this moment. Everyone from the Upper Realm had to suffer in silence as they both witnessed the experts from their world being killed and the perpetrator walking away, and yet none of them dared to step out and avenge their men.
“Damn it!” Many Elders could only sigh. They felt so suffocated they could cough up blood.
“Sky Deer Goddess, aren’t you ashamed? How can you still remain close to Gu Changge even after what you saw with your own eyes? How he killed your compatriots?”
“Do you not feel bad for the billions in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, and everyone in Sky Deer City?”
Considering how they didn’t dare face the Upper Realm or Gu Changge, they could only vent their anger and frustration to Sky Deer Goddess, the traitor who turned her back on Sky Deer City and the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, after they gave it a long thought.
Their words now contained deep resentment and hatred, even righteous indignation. When they uttered those words, the complaints immediately spread to the outside world. Past the barrier outside Sky Deer City and it echoed in the sky. It was obvious that these Elders were advanced in their cultivation, which was why these words could echo far and wide. Naturally, the accomplished this by purposefully putting their Qi into their voices.
Of course, they didn’t see the Goddess in the Upper Realm Army. However, they knew that she must be in it now. She only chose not to show up because she felt ashamed to face the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
When the people from the Upper Realm heard this, the looks on their faces changed slightly. Some of the supreme experts, especially, were looking at Gu Changge with strange gazes. They knew that Sky Deer Goddess was by Gu Changge’s side now. She even appeared some time ago. However, they were dumbfounded when they saw how the people of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains were treating Sky Deer Goddess.
A lot of people from the city’s walls were infected by the rage when they saw this. It felt as though their long-suppressed fury was leaking out of them. Almost all from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains were mad at Sky Deer Goddess. It seemed that it was because of her that Zhao Yunze and many others perished in front of Sky Deer City.
A few True Daoists were also angry because of this, and they couldn’t help but demand, “Sky Deer Goddess, why don’t you show your face? Why are you hiding from the fact that you have betrayed our homeland? How are you going to face your Master?”
Some of them were even of the same generation as Sky Deer Goddess’ Master, and they were people the Goddess called ‘Senior’.
The Elders who spoke up earlier seemed to hold an even deeper grudge towards Sky Deer Goddess as their eyes turned red when they heard the True Daoists say so. They felt like they had found a target they could release their anger out on without worry of retaliation. And so, they took it up a notch by spouting crueller words.
“Sky Deer Goddess, don’t you feel ashamed to face your Ancestors. In a time of crisis, you would rather surrender to the Upper Realm than show up and fight back. You even witnessed the talents of our world die because of them.”
“I wonder how much more your conscience can put up with!”
They cursed angrily, as if they wanted to vent their fear and indignance from the previous battle.
[They didn’t even go out of the city to fight, and they’re scolding my Master now? What has this got anything to do with her!?] Song Chan’s face turned sour. She was filled with rage upon hearing these Elders admonishing her Master.
On the Upper Realm’s side, everyone was watching this with different looks in their eyes. Though, they remained quiet in unison. There was once an incident where a True Daoist who had a grudge against Sky Deer Goddess was warned by Gu Changge after he mocked her. That was why they chose to wait and see what would happen next.
Intrigued, Gu Changge kept his eyes on the Elders as he asked Sky Deer Goddess beside him, “So, these are the Sky Deer City cultivators you wish to protect?”
Sky Deer Goddess’ expression had been still this whole time; she didn’t seem to be surprised. But as soon as she heard these words, she couldn’t help letting out a soft sigh with a sad look on her face. These people didn’t, and wouldn’t try to understand why she had to make such a tough decision. All she was now to the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was a sinner.
Gu Changge took a quick glance at her before calmly instructing, “Ah Da, shut the noisy ones up.”
Hearing that, Sky Deer Goddess stole a glance at Gu Changge with certain emotions in her clear eyes. She didn’t think he would stick his neck out for her.
“Yes, Master.” As soon as Ah Da received his instruction, his phantom-like, scary figure stomped forward until he eventually stood on the battleground, his battle suit made of Hell Iron shining gloriously. His energy was captivating as he stood there with a terrifying black spear in his hand. His eyes then swept across Sky Deer City in front of him, and his Fourth-Order Quasi-Nirvana Realm aura shrouded the sky.
“The Goddess is now my Master’s concubine. Disrespecting her means disrespecting my Master. If you are dissatisfied, you can come here and fight with me.” His indifferent voice held a hint of bloodlust.
Hearing this, the Elders who were still blasting the Sky Deer Goddess a moment ago immediately paled. With the strongest among them being only in the Sacred King Realm, there was no way they dared to fight with Ah Da. Even if they were in the same cultivation level, they still wouldn’t dare to fight just like that, especially when they could tell that Ah Da was terrifyingly strong at a glance. His evil aura was so overwhelming it shattered the sky. In an instant, Sky Deer City fell into dead silence. Not even the True Daoists dared to say anything. After all, Ah Da was one of Gu Changge’s men. They wouldn’t want Gu Changge to have his eyes on them.
Wary, they snorted coldly and chose to shut up.
Ah Da stood there like a mountain, and the spear he held oozed a murderous aura that felt like it could overwhelm the world.
In the moments that followed after that, there would be experts from the two realms engaging in fights in front of Sky Deer City. Some fought against each other, while some of the young prodigies joined in the fight as well. Due to that, shocking fluctuations constantly reverberated.
As the end neared, some of the young prodigies couldn’t bear watching any longer, and they volunteered to come forward to fight the Upper Realm.
Of course, the outcome of this battle was to be expected. The Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains suffered more losses than victories, and almost every round ended in the tragic deaths of their people.
On the Upper Realm side, Gu Xianer, Wang Zijin, King with Six Crowns, and other young prodigies had all fought their own battles in front of Sky Deer City. Of course, they easily won.
The morale of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was now at its lowest point.
Just surrender already.
Yeah. Wasn’t someone supposed to open the barrier as well? Just how long are we going to sit here…