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Translator: Fate
Proofreader: Dhael Ligerkeys & Silavin
The beast swarm that broke out in the Ancient Sky Domain shocked a lot of the cultivators in the Middle State. Even the whole Sky Blue Realm was worried about the impending calamity. Demonic Energy was pouring from the domain, as if heralding the birth of an evil demon. Local records did say that a demonic weapon was sealed in the domain. Someone could have broken the seal and released the demon. It could be preparing to rain down disaster upon the world.
Countless cultivators lived in fear and worry for days. However, they eventually realized that it was just a false alarm. The Demonic Energy was getting thinner and thinner, as if someone sealed the demon once more. The news shook the land. Someone thought that the records were fake, but the signs said otherwise. The place was filled with ruins and ancient cities, and they were populated by nothing but mountainous remains of the dead.
The records were true, and everyone came to the conclusion that the young man from Beyond descended to their realm to seal the demonic weapon for them. A lot of cultivators saw him entering the domain and leaving it with his companions two weeks later. Coincidentally, that was when the Demonic Energy started to wane. There was no such thing as coincidence here.
The cultivators were grateful for his help, and they even erected statues of that man in the Middle State as thanks for what he did. Gu Changge had no idea what they did, of course. Even if he did, he would probably chuckle. If he were here, he would think, [Man, they’re so imaginative, it’s hilarious. I could have just broken the seal just to get the weapon.]
He, Ming Lao, and the ladies were on their way back to the Beyond.
A blinding light burst forth for a moment, and a spatial passage appeared before them. They could see an ancient and resplendent palace standing at the other end of that passage.
“Are we going to the Beyond?” Lin Qiuhan and Su Qingge were shocked. It was the first time they saw this passage, and it was different from what they had in mind. They thought they were supposed to go through a portal and endure a trial by lightning just like how most cultivators did when they first traveled to the Beyond. They never would have thought a passage would open for them. More precisely, it opened for Gu Changge.
“This is the Gu Family’s Sanctum of Reception. It’s mainly used to welcome the young master back to the clan. This passage can cross worlds and universes,” Ming Lao explained. He changed how he addressed Gu Changge after he left the Overworld. Now he was calling him ‘young master.’ It was all thanks to Gu Changge’s shift in status.
“The Sanctum of Reception can cross worlds and universes?” Su Qingge was floored. Gu Changge never explained any of this. He said she would understand what the Beyond was in time, and now she did, albeit only a little. It was nigh impossible for the Overworld cultivators to break through the barrier, let alone cross dimensions. It was impossible for them, but now Gu Changge just showed them the impossible.
“The master’s clan is incredible.” Lin Qiuhan was at a loss for words. She just had her horizons expanded, and all she could feel was astonishment.
Ming Lao approved of their praises. The Immortal Family, Cult of Immortality, Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, and Ancient Immortal Race were the top forces of the Beyond. There were a few who could rival them, but it was nigh impossible to find any force stronger than those four.
The four forces had existed since ages past, and they had accumulated immense power through the ages. None of the four had any idea how powerful their rivals truly were. The last time he was involved in an Immortal War, the warzone was so vast, they lost count of how many Overworlds were destroyed. All the residents in those Overworlds were pulverized, and that was just from the shockwaves of the war. Such was the power of the Beyond’s top forces. “I was lucky enough to run into an elder of the young master’s family when I first came to the Beyond. If I hadn’t met him, I would have been sent to work as a miner somewhere.”
Su Qingge and Lin Qiuhan paused for a moment to process what Ming Lao just said. [He would have been working as a miner? But he’s the ancestor of the Lin Family. He’s a legend! But he could have just been a miner in the Beyond? No wonder cultivators from the Beyond think that we’re trash.]
They realized that Gu Changge was beyond kind to them.
Ming Lao explained, “Prince Gu is the young master of the Immortal Family. The Sanctum of Reception is nothing. The young master is the elite of the elite even in the beyond. He’s also the Direct Disciple of the Skyward Schloss. None can be more noble than the young master here. It’s your honor to serve the young master. All the young nobles would kill to have this honor. Read up and find out more about the Beyond. Do not embarrass the young master.” Ming Lao told them about the dos and don’ts of the Beyond. Gu Changge should not waste his time explaining it to the ladies, so he thought it would be best if he did it himself.
The ladies quickly nodded, though they were still in awe. They could feel how powerful Gu Changge was even back in the Overworld. His word was law. Now that they were about to travel to the beyond, they realized that Gu Changge was even more powerful than that.
Su Qingge felt even more than anyone about that. She noticed that her second soul had regained a lot of her memories, and most of them held vague information about the Beyond. She seemed to be closely related to the Beyond, and she would find a chance to tell Gu Changge about it.
Gu Changge was also surprised that his clan was so powerful. He said, “Let’s go. It’ll be some time before I get back to my clan.” He went into the Sanctum of Reception.
A moment after they entered the passage, it quickly slammed shut. The Sanctum of Reception was spacious, and they could watch as it traversed space. The space-time continuum raged outside the sanctum, and a hole was torn in the universe itself as the sanctum shot upward to the center of the Beyond.
Gu Changge looked outside and sorted out his memories of the Beyond. The Beyond was huge, and that was an understatement. It was the fusion of countless worlds. Countless sects, families, and races lived together in the center area, and it was a glorious place. Almost every single ancient family or race ruled over countless dimensions and worlds.
They were traveling through the Beyond, but the area they were in was just the outskirts. It was still filled with World Energy. Countless worlds attracted and repelled each other. Cultivators would be pulverized if they tried to travel across dimensions, unless they had enough power to rival a god. That was why the Overworld cultivators found it so hard to progress in their quest for supreme power. Only powerful items like the Sanctum of Reception could allow someone to travel between worlds.
They went past many worlds on their way to the center of the Beyond, and those worlds were on a higher dimension than the Sky Blue Realm was. They were also closer to the Beyond’s center. The stronger a family was, the more Overworlds they had. Gu Changge thought they were like colonists who were conquering other lands.
The top forces like the Immortal Family and Cult of Immortality were on the apex of the pyramid, and countless ancient forces worked for them. At the same time, the same ancient forces had countless colonies who toiled under them. It was a complex relationship, and that was why all the cultivators who were born and raised in the Beyond thought less of the powerful cultivators who ascended from the Overworlds. The difference in class was deeply entrenched in them. Though it was a different story when it came to the ancient worlds residing in the center of the Beyond.
[Well, it’s the usual trope of cultivating novels. The difference is that I have a family that’s at the apex of the hierarchy.] Gu Changge was happy with his situation. His talent, background, and power were the cream of the crop, and it was great. On top of that, he managed to reap a lot of rewards in his trip to the Overworld. He would turn those rewards into his own power after he returned to his clan.
…
Celestial City, Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty, the Beyond.
The Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty was the oldest celestial dynasty in the Beyond. It had stood against the test of time and ruled an almost infinite land. It was also called the best celestial dynasty.
As with all dynasties, the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty had a gigantic, resplendent palace. A gorgeous, noble woman in golden robe stood in the palace, her hands behind her. She looked like a goddess who came out of a painting. Her robe billowed in the air, and its sleeves were oversized, but it did not cover her perfect figure. Her hair covered half her face, but even so, the lady’s looks were captivating enough to perhaps stop time itself. She was quiet, and the look on her face was icy. It felt like she could topple the land just by standing there.
The ground beneath her had turned into a starry sky. The universe and stars themselves bowed before her, She could destroy them if she so wanted. The woman was none other than Yue Mingkong, the Fourth Princess of the Unrivaled Celestial Dynasty.
“I shall be the heir now, brother,” Yue Mingkong said calmly. She looked at the man before her, who looked exhausted and pale, but she had no mercy for him.
The ministers beside the men had looks of horror on their faces, and beads of sweat drenched their forehead, but they said nothing. It had only been six months, but she had taken her own brother down and forced him to give her the position of heir. Every step she took was perfect and immaculate, though also terrifying enough to strike fear into everyone’s hearts. Even the current Saint Emperor himself praised her.
Yue Mingkong managed to make everyone see that she could stand on equal grounds with men. She could take the position of heir from her brother and stand out in this dog-eat-dog world. Her talent was unprecedented, and her strength overwhelmed her brothers and sisters. She would become the empress of the dynasty, or at least that was what the ministers thought.
“Guards, take my brother away.” She looked at the defeated man coolly. “Henceforth, I am the heir to the throne, and everything the light shines on belongs to the dynasty. Meeting adjourned!” Yue Mingkong stared down, the look in her eyes cold enough to freeze someone.
The ministers retreated in fear. They had no idea what the princess was thinking. The aura she radiated grasped their hearts with fear. “It’s been six months. You should be back from your trip now, shouldn’t you, ‘my dear’?” she muttered to herself. There was love in her voice but murder in her eyes.
Frick!! A brutal arranged marriage? A scary but fortuitous lady!? The games a foot!
Many thanks!
Looks like he’s about to meet a fortuitous villain ^^