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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
*Rumble!* Above the Aether Abyss floated a massive mist that stretched across the horizon. It looked mottled, with terrifying Chaos Qi laced in it. The land below was chaotic and filled with various broken World Principles. If an ordinary cultivator were to make contact with these Principles, their body would be blown to bits.
Right then, in this deadly silent region, a concealed altar glowed, and emitted ripples in space as a young man and a young woman manifested.
The young man seemed sharp. He had a well-proportioned body that gave off an unyielding feeling. Meanwhile the young woman next to him was dressed in white, enveloped in a soft glow, looking sacred and otherworldly.
They were none other than Lin Wu and Song Chan.
“That was close. We nearly got discovered. People will definitely get suspicious and start to admonish us if they find out we are leaving the city at this tumultuous time.” Song Chan couldn’t help sighing as she swept her gaze across the surroundings, seeing that they had left Sky Deer City and arrived at the Aether Abyss.
There was no turning back after making this decision. She had no other choice when it had now come to this.
Lin Wu and her had been very careful not to get caught by those in Sky Deer City after leaving from the pavilion’s secret passageway. Fortunately, they never let their guard down the entire journey and left Sky Deer City through the path Lin Wu set up long ago, arriving at the Aether Abyss without alarming anyone.
After the last battle, the area became silent, and barely anyone remained here.
“After today, they probably won’t have the chance to admonish us anymore. Without the barrier, Sky Deer City has no way of defending itself against the Upper Realm Army.” Though both exhaled audibly, Lin Wu was heaving a sigh of relief, feeling like a weight had finally been lifted off his shoulders.
In his hand was a bronze box that contained an Array Core of Sky Deer City. Slivers of mysterious glowing energy, which made one’s heart race, flowed around the box. It made it look like an ancient world was contained within it.
Now that he had accomplished the task Gu Changge given to him within half a year, Lin Wu believed his life was safe for the time being. More than that, he could use this chance to keep his beloved out of danger.
“Are you certain Gu Changge will really do as promised?” Song Chan asked with doubt as she couldn’t help recalling what she saw back in Sky Deer City.
She had witnessed the terrifying scene of Gu Changge annihilating Zhao Yunze, the greatest in his generation sixty million ago, twice.
To her, Gu Changge was lofty, mysterious, and incredibly powerful. He was not someone mere mortals could ever hope to defeat. Even her Master, the Sky Deer Goddess, whom she thought was invincible, also fell into Gu Changge’s hands. If it weren’t to save her Master, Song Chan probably would never dare to approach someone like him her whole life.
“Gu Changge might be despicable and impassive, but he keeps his word… sometimes…” imparted Lin Wu through gnashed teeth, simultaneously comforting himself.
Back then, in what they called theVoid Realm at the Boundary Marker Sea, Gu Changge had indeed promised to let them go but never said anything about releasing Lu Luo. Hence, she was still taken away by the man.
“Sometimes?” Song Chan gasped.
Just as the two were chatting, ripples spread in space not far away, gradually becoming blurry.
The next moment, a slender, dashing white figure stepped out. As he approached the two, the mysterious mist enveloping him gradually dispersed, allowing his originally blurry face to become more apparent.
Song Chan was stupefied when she saw the heavenly young man, having a hard time coming to herself. If it weren’t for the fact that she had witnessed Gu Changge’s terrifying powers, she would never believe the otherworldly man before her eyes was him.
On the other hand, Gu Changge disregarded the young woman entirely after taking a gander at her. Instead, he gazed at Lin Wu, who was looking warily at him, and smiled. “Have you completed the task?”
Chills instantly ran down Lin Wu’s spine. He had even planned on contacting Gu Changge with the brand inside of him, but little did he think Gu Changge would appear before his eyes so suddenly. It was as though his every action was within the man’s control, and the notion made him shudder.
“I have, but I only managed to retrieve one out of the eight Array Cores,” said Lin Wu while presenting the bronze box in his hand.
Anyone with discerning eyes could tell it was no simple box when thick energy was emitted from it, even through the gaps
“Only one?” Gu Changge quirked a brow slightly, then nodded. “No matter.”
He didn’t doubt that there was more than one Array Cores to the Sky Deer City’s array. Besides, the array would become incomplete when one piece had been removed, and the defence would be greatly weakened. In fact, now, they would be able to rip open a space rift in certain areas with ease.
However, Lin Wu didn’t immediately give Gu Changge the box but instead continued to gaze warily at the latter.
“I hope you can keep your promise of sparing Lu Luo and remove the thing you’ve left inside me. Otherwise, I’ll open the box right away. If I do so, the Array Core will return to Sky Deer City by itself. If you don’t agree, I won’t let your scheme prevail, even if it’s the last thing I do,” Lin Wu threatened warily, then pointed to Song Chan. “Also, this is the Sky Deer Goddess’ disciple, Song Chan. She wants to see that her Master’s is safe and sound.”
Though rumours of the Sky Deer Goddess having betrayed the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains and had become Gu Changge’s concubine had spread, no one knew its validity. After all, none of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains cultivators had seen the Goddess with their own eyes.
Hence, Song Chan was worried that her Master had met with some kind of accident, or better yet, the Upper Realm had only deliberately spread the rumours to ruin the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains’ morale.
“I assure you, I never go back on my words. Good thing you’re not slow. One of the youth in my Family has taken a liking to your beloved and wants to make her his servant,” taunted Gu Changge with a plain smile, making nothing of Lin Wu’s threats.
“You—” Lin Wu clenched his fists tightly as his expression turned awful. He knew Gu Changge could make Lu Luo’s life a living hell if he wanted to.
Lin Wu might not fear death, but his heart wrenched painfully at the thought that the young woman would suffer such torment.
“I understood. I hope you can stay true to your words.” He gritted his teeth and handed Gu Changge the bronze box unwillingly.
“Where is my Master? I want to see her!” Song Chan couldn’t help demanding with urgency, seeing that Gu Changge ignored her entirely.
Finally, Gu Changge glanced at her after taking the box over, and a chuckle escaped from him as he asked, “Are you not going to show yourself when your disciple wishes to see you?”
Subsequently, a soft sigh came from behind him, and a sacred-looking, ethereal woman with fluttering black hair emerged.
“Master…” Song Chan was dumbstruck when she saw the Sky Deer Goddess. She couldn’t believe her Master was truly following Gu Changge. She hadn’t had her freedom restricted nor was locked up in some place like she had imagined.
“You shouldn’t have come,” lamented the Sky Deer Goddess as she looked at her disciple with mixed emotions.
However, Song Chan thought the Goddess was sighing because she had stolen an Array Core. “I want to save you, Master. That’s why I took an Array Core…”
“Since it has come to this, you can forget about returning to the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains,” interjected the Goddess with a wave of her hand, rendering the newly appointed Sky Deer Goddess stupefied.
[Is it really as the rumours have said? Has Master really willingly submitted to the Upper Realm?] Song Chan thought, still unable to believe it. She had thought her Master would reproach her, but it appeared that the Sky Deer Goddess and Gu Changge were rather close, and the discovery left her in confusion.
…
At the same time, towering black figures enveloped in Chaos Qi stood atop the city wall.
As they opened their eyes, terrifying golden lights spread. With each blink, a star above seemed to move, evolving to give off primal chaos. It could be said that their aura contained unprecedented might.
Behind them were numerous cultivators within Sky Deer City, some with clans, some without. They had stayed behind, unyieldingly.
Currently, they were watching these black figures in front of them with veneration. An Elder couldn’t help sighing under his breath, “You have to hand it to the Four Powerful War God Clans. Only they would remain at this time while the other clans have retreated and abandoned Sky Deer City.”
The others couldn’t help nodding with reverence. How could they not when the War God Clans refused to leave Sky Deer City and wanted to continue to resist the Upper Realm till their deaths? Was there anyone else in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains with such determination!?
One had to admit there had to be a reason the four powerful clans were honoured as War God Clans.
Just then, a few ancient beings standing on the city wall spoke up, sighing with deep despair.
“Less than half of our soldiers now remain in the city. Even if the rest of us fight against the Upper Realm, we’d just be sacrificing lives for nothing. Why don’t we old bags fight instead? Burn out our remaining fuel for them?”
“If we fail as well, the rest of you should leave the city like everyone else.”
*Boom!*
Their glowing aura shot up into the sky, stretching far into the sky. At the same time, waves of Qi and Life Force emerged from the top of their heads, transforming into terrifying river that engulfed their surroundings.
At that moment, it appears as if they wanted to forcibly return back to their prime to fight against the Upper Realm.
Blood boiled within those who remained in Sky Deer City after hearing the Elders’ words, but at the same time, helplessness, shame, and indignation. They felt even worse when they heard these Elders call themselves ‘old bags’ and wanted to ‘burn out our remaining fuel’.
Some of their eyes had turned red as they clenched their fists.
Then, someone bellowed with gnashed teeth and red eyes, “We want to fight with you!”
“Even if we’re sent ourselves to our demise, we want to do it with you!” The others spoke up with determination, having been inspired by the atmosphere.
For a moment, excitement and malice surged among them as they prepared to fight to their deaths. It didn’t matter to them, even if the Elders called themselves ‘old bags’.
Though the few ancient beings were touched, one of them sighed and waved their hand in rejection.
“No need. You guys are too weak. You’ll only be sending yourselves to death for nothing. We already have one foot in the grave. It doesn’t matter, even if we die. But, you’re all still young and have a bright future ahead of you. Stay here. Leave at once if you see that we have fallen. Keep as many people alive as possible. No one will blame you, given the circumstances we’re in now. It’s already good enough that you all continue to stand guard until this moment.”
The young ones felt even more tragic after hearing such words. Some women cried. They were deeply impressed by the character of these True Daoists from the Four Powerful War God Clans.
Just then, terrifying noise, sounding like a massive army charging in their direction, came from the horizon outside Sky Deer City.
*Thump!* A blunt noise suddenly came from the edge of the world, like some terrifying supreme treasure had awoken and wanted to sink everything beneath the sea.
A brilliant light arose like a sun, which illuminated the entire sky. Along with it came thick fog, with a few god-like figures walking out. They had traversed tens of millions of kilometres to this place.
From these figures came hundreds of millions of beams, condensed into an attack which could cause the entire universe to tremble.
“No! The Upper Realm is besieging again!” shouted the soldiers in Sky Deer City with pale faces. They had sensed the attack this time was even more terrifying than the last.
Moreover, the Upper Realm Army seemed to be using an incredibly terrifying supreme treasure. A dark glow emerged at the edge of the world, like a powerful burning black sun that made the surrounding space crumble.
“The Upper Realm Army is attacking again! Stay inside the city! We’ll hold them back!”
Irritated by the Upper Realm’s actions, the ancient beings on the roof disappeared from the city walls in a flash, appearing on the altar outside.
Meanwhile, the others couldn’t help clenching their fists as they loathed themselves for being too weak, unable to fight alongside their Elders; unable to protect the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
“The Sky Emperor Mountain had even brought their Sky Emperor Wheel over. I can’t believe they didn’t take it out earlier. In that case, things will be easier.”
Atop a golden path that stretched from the edge of the sky stood a blurry figure emitting a powerful aura. It made the countenances of the Elders from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains to change, as they sensed that they were being dominated by this figure.
They originally intended to fight the Upper Realm and—regardless of the result—find a chance to retreat to Sky Deer City and leave this place with their clan members.
After all, no one was dumb enough to sacrifice their life. Furthermore, what did the fate of this one city have anything to do with them?
However, they had not imagined Gu Changge would show up at such a time.
None of them wanted to fight the young man. As shrewd and powerful as they were, they didn’t want to cause even more problems. Hence they decisively charged towards other the supreme experts of the Upper Realm.
Nevertheless, to those inside Sky Deer City, the scene was a thrilling one. They clenched their fists tightly, believing in these Elders.
The god-like figures were from Sky Emperor Mountain. They appeared to be slightly different from Humans.
Seeing that the mere Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains dared make the first move, they felt that they were being challenged.
“So eager to send yourselves to your demise? You will rue this day.”
“To think you people audaciously come towards us first.”
*Boom!* Divine rainbows soared to the sky one after another, and massive palms slammed to the ground. Chaos filled the air as various techniques were hurled everywhere, and instantly, a terrifying battle broke out. It consisted of several True Daoists fighting against each other.
Phantom manifestations of terrifying beasts like True Dragons, Vermilion Birds, White Tigers, and Black Tortoises seemingly came to life and crossed over from ancient times, wanting to revive at this place and erupt unparalleled divine power.
“Smart move. You’ve picked the easy targets rather than fight me.” Gu Changge spectated the battle with great interest.
He didn’t join the battle. After all, he now has an Array Core in his hands. The city would certainly be besieged today and he wasn’t in any hurry. In fact, he really wanted to see what the Elders from the Four Powerful War God Clans were up to.
*Boom!* Just then, the terrifying black sun arose at the horizon. From the outside, it looked to be an ancient wheel, with countless rune interwoven into it, forged from Celestial Black Gold.
It was a supreme treasure of the Sky Emperor Mountain, the Sky Emperor Wheel. It contained various mysteries, and seemed to be suppressing a part of heaven.
From this wheel came slivers of dark light, falling like Chaos Qi, pouring towards Sky Deer City.
Looks like a charge particle beam.
How was that within 6 months? Please, author, just stop giving us numbers instead of this.
kinda miss the 7 chapters a week t.t