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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
In the mountainous depths of the Great Wasteland, where jade-like lakes and crystalline rivers intertwined, white colourful mists swirled into a thick haze. The tribe base wasn’t very big, harbouring not more than a hundred people. The fences surrounding it seemed to signify that it had no intention of competing with the rest of the world.
When Xiao Yang and the rest arrived, many children dashed to them and curiously observed them, as though they weren’t afraid of strangers. Evidently, they weren’t the same as those from ordinary tribes.
Xiao Yang grew even more determined that the Supreme Mountain Elder was cultivating somewhere here. The children carried a kind of spirituality in them, an exuberant amount, which was clearly a result of having absorbed spiritual energy for a long time. The reason the beasts wouldn’t attack them was probably because an inexplicable force was protecting them.
The group of cultivators walked towards the women who were washing their clothes by the creek, intending to ask about the Supreme Mountain Elder.
Although Xiao Yang and the rest didn’t know what guise the Supreme Mountain Elder was living under in the tribe base, they were confident that they could easily find out by asking for information.
Of course, there was no reason for the Supreme Mountain Elder to refrain from meeting with them.
“The most senior member of our tribe?”
The women who were washing their clothes seemed somewhat nervous, not knowing why the outsiders—Xiao Yang, Gu Wudi, and the rest—came over and asked such a question out of nowhere.
[Isn’t the most senior member of the tribe the Tribe Elder?]
Obviously, the women were afraid of offending the approaching formidable cultivators, hence they hastily answered, “The most senior member of our tribe is the Tribe Elder.
Hearing that, Xiao Yang and the rest nodded as they revealed faces of joy. “Rest assured, we mean no harm. We are simply here to look for a person.
“So, where’s the Tribe Elder now?” He hurriedly asked.
“The Tribe Elder passed away a few days ago. If you are here for him, I’m afraid you’re too late.”
A vigorous middle-aged man walked over from the side, warily gazing at them as he spoke.
“Passed away?” Dazed, Xiao Yang and the rest were in dismay.
[Supreme Mountain Elder died so easily? There must be some kind of mistake! But isn’t the jade pendant still glowing?]
“Supreme Mountain Elder must be someone else related to this tribe,” Gu Wudi stated after sweeping across the tribe base before him with his incredulous gaze.
Xiao Yang was stunned. As he regained his senses, he acknowledged that the Supreme Mountain Elder must be related to this tribe.
“Though, if you are looking for the eldest person, you should head to the mountain behind. An extraordinary old mister is there. Those who fall sick often go to him.”
All of a sudden, an old man came over holding a walking stick, shaking as he spoke. Nonetheless, when he mentioned the mountain behind, his expression was filled with respect.
“However, please be cautious. Beasts guard the mountain. Should you approach with no sincerity, they will tear you up,” the old man then warned.
Hearing that, Xiao Yang, Gu Wudi, and the rest immediately grew stern as they subconsciously turned to the distant huge mountain that was engulfed in clouds and mists.
[That should be where Supreme Mountain Elder is…]
…
Meanwhile, in the vast, boundless Great Bone Domain, the soil seemed to have withered and opened up a terrifying rift valley.
There, dense grey fogs could be seen. As its name suggested, many white bones were buried underground, and many of the mountains were formed by piles of snowy white bones. The dead silence amid shades of grey and white somehow indicated that countless lives were lost in the region. Furthermore, the local wildlife or people were all extremely ferocious. They would kill any other living beings that dared trespass the region.
From the sky, two individuals speedily descended, travelling thousands kilometres of distance within a blink of an eye.
“The Great Bone Domain is indeed isolated. It is clearly different from other Great Domains.”
Gu Changge and Ah Da landed on a white bone mountain.
Fascinatedly scanning across his surroundings, Gu Changge sensed that the Principles and aura of the Domain was tremendously different from those of other Great Domains. Therefore, it was visible that the immeasurable strength of the Ancestor of the Bone Clan had affected the Principles of the entire region.
“Master, are you looking for the strongest person in the region?” Ah Da reverently asked.
Gu Changge squinted his eyes and turned to the depths that were filled with condensed fog. “Perhaps I don’t have to look for him.”
The two then ventured deeper into Great Bone Domain, shrouded by their terrorising auras. As such, those surviving in Great Bone Domain dared not to reveal themselves as their bodies and souls were shivering, uncontrollably.
Such was the domineering presence of supreme experts. Even without doing anything and just by standing still, their bodies could drive the nearby living beings crawling down on their knees.
“It has been a long time since anyone last stepped onto the territory of my clan. Have formidable cultivators of other Great Domains come to request the Bone Clan’s assistance?” On the peaks of the white bone mountains covered in spiralling grey fog, a number of members from the Bone Clan appeared. Sensing the alarming disturbance from afar, they donned sterned faces.
Accordingly, by some unordinary means, they delivered secret signals to the deepest part of their clan’s territory.
In an area filled with frightening auras under a dim sky, a pair of emotionless eyes opened, causing the pressure in the region to erupt and forcing the nearby living beings to kneel down towards them.
“So, you are finally here…” An individual muttered with a voice harbouring unimaginable grandness and a trace of relief.
With that, a shocking beam that resembled an ebony lightning struck downward. The dense fogs of the region chaotically dispersed. From within, donning a grey robe an old man with a hunchback walked out. Under his swollen eyes, there was a pair of blue flames burning.
From his appearance, the Bone Ancestor seemed like a skeleton as there was no flesh or blood all over his body. Yet, his boney figure harboured a fathomless, terrifying aura. As he waved his arm, the void in front of him was torn apart, forming a path. He then took a step onto the path and instantly appeared before Gu Changge.
“Young Master Gu, this old one, the Bone Ancestor, greets you,” the old man respectfully greeted, while the vigorous aura persistently flickered around him.
Gu Changge then raised his eyes to look at the old man in grey levitating in the sky. The moment he detected the disturbance, he already figured out the identity of the approacher.
“You’re the Ancestor of the Bone Clan?” Gu Changge observed the old man.
Judging by the latter’s aura, he must be significantly stronger than ordinary True Daoists, though he was still far away from reaching the Immortal Realm. Regardless, he certainly lived up to his position as the supreme expert who conquered and ruled over the Great Bone Domain for so many years, which Gu Changge was satisfied with.
“Indeed. This old one has been loyally awaiting your arrival for a long time,” the Bone Ancestor claimed as he was observing Gu Changge at the same time. It was his first encounter with the rumoured Young Master of the Gu Family, yet he could only acknowledge that the rumours bore no lies, given how he was already intimidated by Gu Changge.
“Oh, you’ve been waiting for a long time? Did you perhaps already know that I’ll be coming?” Gu Changge smilingly asked without a change on his face.
The Bone Ancestor then nodded. “This old one has heard tales of your battle with numerous True Daoists outside Aether Abyss and predicted that you would descend upon the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains in the near future. Even so, your arrival is sooner than I expected. This old one intended to present to you the heads of the entire Family of Protectors. We finally managed to locate those who managed to run away from our attack.”
The Bone Ancestor told no lies. Back when he heard news about Aether Abyss, he predicted that Gu Changge would unquestionably come to the Great Bone Domain.
After all, the entire Bone Clan were the secret pawns the Immortal Gu Family planted throughout Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, so there was no way Gu Changge would refrain from taking advantage of them.
Given that the Immortal Gu Family were once the Master Family of the Bone Clan, the Bone Ancestor understood how powerful they were. Whatever abilities they displayed in the Upper Realm were merely the tip of an iceberg, let alone their strength that was concealed from rumours. Therefore, the Bone Ancestor wasn’t willing to forgo the opportunity to return back to the Upper Realm.
“Very well. I can see that you’re a wise man.” In response, Gu Changge was visibly satisfied as he nodded.
With a smile, the Bone Ancestor replied, “You flatter this old one, Young Master Gu. This old one is only doing what should be done.”
“Worry not, my Family will naturally fulfil what we promised you.” Gu Changge revealed a subtle grin.
“This old one has never doubted the Master Family,” the Bone Ancestor reverently answered.
He was aware of the terrorising powers of the Immortal Gu Family. If it weren’t for the opportunity thanks to Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, there was no way the Bone Clan would ever come in contact with the Immortal Gu Family in their entire lifetime. Besides, the Immortal Gu Family would never renege on their promises.
With that, the Bone Ancestor reappeared after having summoned all of the higher-ups of his clan as he was about to announce a huge news.
White Bone Castle was the place where conferences between Elders of the Bone Clan were usually held.
However, following the reawakening of their Ancestor, the higher-ups were gathered in the castle. Even the leader of the Bone Clan was standing deferentially in the back. According to seniority, there were many more beings in the castle that were much older than him.
The castle was filled with Chaos Mists. Within, there was an enormous star that resembled a vast world.
The faces of the members of the Bone Clan were ever so stern, as if something great was about to happen. Essentially, for the past countless years, their Ancestor’s number of reawakening had been very limited. In fact, it had been fifty million years since he last reawakened. Even during the last Upper Realm invasion, no one had ever seen the Bone Ancestor reawakened.
“It seems the Upper Realm’s invasion this time has drawn Bone Ancestor to reawaken. Preparations must be made promptly…”
“The situation is dire. The other forces in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, especially those of Great Cloud Domain and Crimson Shack Domain, are looking for opportunities to flee.”
“Has Bone Ancestor perhaps reawakened to tell us about this?”
Many old ones were standing in the palace. Regardless of gender, their auras were all vigorous. In that instant, they couldn’t help but voice their guesses.
“Where is Ni Shang? Why can’t I find her?” A highly ancient Senior of the Bone Clan scanned across the crowd in the palace and curiously asked.
“It was said that Ni Shang visited Bone Ancestor previously and was ordered to tend to another matter,” another ancient being answered as his eyes glistened with a strange gleam. Judging by his appearance, he bore not much difference from the human race, but his current appearance wasn’t his true one.
Ni Shang, on the other hand, was a peerless prodigy of the Bone Clan who had achieved the Great Dao eighty million years ago. The clan assigned her to countless crucial missions, and even the current leader once received her teaching.
“I see.” The members of the Bone Clan nodded in realisation.
Right as they were discussing and making guesses, they suddenly heard footsteps approaching White Bone Castle.
As soon as the people in White Bone Castle sensed the Bone Ancestor’s aura, they immediately prepared to turn over to take a respectful bow. Nonetheless, when the approaching figure came into sight, their expression instantly froze as their pupils contracted. Some of them even widened their eyes in disbelief, doubting their eyes.
“I—It’s him! Gu Changge! Why has he come… Has the Upper Realm Army already arrived?”
One of the members stuttered with their trembling voices as they recognised the young man who walked into the palace. Clearly, he had gone to Sky Deer City and witnessed the war between the Upper Realm Army and Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, hence had personally seen Gu Changge’s face.
As Gu Changge’s image was deeply imprinted in his mind, he could instantly recognise him. However, he couldn’t fathom why the Bone Ancestor would be walking by Gu Changge’s side—even a step behind him.
At that moment, every member of the Bone Clan had their bodies tightened up, growing absolutely wary and fearful as horrifying auras intertwined in the palace.
“Young Master Gu, please!”
Regardless, Gu Changge and the Bone Ancestor weren’t at all bothered by the gazes of the crowd in the palace.
The Bone Ancestor scanned across the clan members with his prideful gaze—signalling them not to be rude—before leading Gu Changge to the primary seat.
Upon the sight, the members of the Bone Clan were thoroughly dumbfounded as they were unable to process what just happened, wondering why their Ancestor would be so respectful towards Gu Changge.
As a commander of the Upper Realm, Gu Changge was an enemy of Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, and the number of people from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains who got, directly or indirectly, killed by him were innumerable.
Gu Changge slightly nodded as he leisurely sat on the primary seat before scanning across those below him.
Meanwhile, the Bone Ancestor stood beside him. He was aware of the crowd’s thoughts, but he did not blame them for having such ideas. After all, he only told a few about the origin of the Bone Clan, so their cluelessness was understandable.
“Bone Ancestor, what is happening?”
A number of Senior, ancient beings asked with their shaking sound. They couldn’t understand what just happened, wondering if the Bone Clan, too, was to submit to the Upper Realm.
“To be frank, this old one summoned all of you to talk about the origin of our clan. As a matter of fact, our clan was once a subservient clan to the Immortal Gu Family of the Upper Realm. Due to a grave mistake, we were exiled to the Barren Realm, which is what we now call the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. Now, the Master Family decided to give us another chance to return to the Upper Realm—to our home.”
The Bone Ancestor’s face was stately. His voice was cold but not loud. Yet, the moment he spoke, his voice thundered and exploded by the people’s ears.
At once, everyone else was stunned and stupefied.
“What? That is the background of our clan…”
The news was truly shocking and one that they would never dare imagine. The revelation of the Bone Clan’s history was definitely stupefying, yet they didn’t doubt the Bone Ancestor’s words. After all, the Bone Ancestor was the master of the Bone Clan, and also considerably every clansmen’s Prime Ancestor. Naturally, his speech could not be doubted.
As such, the clansmen grew to understand why the Bone Ancestor would feign such a reverent attitude towards Gu Changge.
Very soon, silence filled the palace. As soon as the crowd accepted the truth, their attitude towards Gu Changge notably changed. For some reason, they felt that the Upper Realm’s invasion on Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains would soon be irrelevant to them.
As long as they rely on the Immortal Gu Family and Gu Changge, they wouldn’t need to care about the Upper Realm’s invasion.
Furthermore, they had always been people of the Upper Realm, that was where their homeland was. Moreover, they had been hiding across Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains as secret pawns, which certainly gave them heavy pressure.
“And Young Master Gu’s arrival here is a timely opportunity for us to prove ourselves worthy. You must not forgo such an opportunity. Should you manage to pique Young Master Gu’s interest, you may just win yourselves a shortcut to power.”
The Bone Ancestor was quite pleased by the reactions of his clansmen.
After the motivating speech, he proceeded to give commands, to target the Family of Protectors.
After all, the Bone Ancestor didn’t just take over the Great Bone Domain all these years in Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. He had spies laid down that could now be of great use. Therefore, the Immortal Gu Family’s conquest on the other Great Domains would prove significantly more convenient.
Nonetheless, after excusing himself, Gu Changge disseminated the tasks for the conquest on other Great Domains to the rest of the clansmen.
“According to the message of Ni Shang, who is one of our clansmen, she found the remnants of the Family of Protectors residing in the Westwin Domain. Twenty years ago, this old one instructed Ni Shang to take down the entire Family, but quite a number of them managed to escape. Some time ago, inspired, this old one made a divination, to sense where they were but due to some mysterious unknown force, and I was almost hit with a backlash.”
After dismissing the rest of the clansmen, the Bone Ancestor revealed a stern face and told Gu Changge of another matter.
Lately, he tried to make another divination, like he did in the past, but only to no avail and he was also almost crushed by the backlash. Therefore, he inferred that the remnants must be protected by a powerful force. However, even now, he was still unable to recognise what kind of force that was.
“Some unknown force?” Gu Changge tensed his brows.
As far as he knew, except Xiao Yang, none of the Protectors had ever shown themselves. On the other hand, Xiao Yang’s support, the Second Mountain Elder of Nine Great Mountains, was now in his custody.
According to Gu Wudi’s message, Xiao Yang had yet to locate the Supreme Mountain Elder. In other words, the unknown force foreseen by the Bone Ancestor was most likely someone powerful in the Family of Protectors.
“Indeed. This unknown force is a huge mystery. It seems, at their full power, they could easily overwhelm this old one.” The Bone Ancestor nodded as his eyes grew warier.
“Perhaps one of Xiao Yang’s kins in Westwin Domain?”
Gu Changge was clearly fascinated. If he predicted correctly, the matter must be related to the Fortuitous One.
Right now, two Fortuitous Ones surfaced in Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains—Lin Wu and Xiao Yang. Zhao Yunze, who was slaughtered by Gu Changge previously, was merely a person with high Fortuity and was by no means comparable to Fortuitous Ones.
“Ni Shang has already commenced her investigation of the Westwin Domain and gathered quite a number of clues. Shall we head there, Young Master Gu?” The Bone Ancestor respectfully asked.
Among the Eight Great Domains, Westwin Domain was considered one of the more superb domains, harbouring countless ancient races in its vast territory.
