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Translator: Fate
Proofreader: Silavin
*Thump!*
Gu Changge’s stomp left a serious bruise on Chu Wunian’s face. Despite the immense anger and humiliation, Chu Wunian could not do anything after using his ultimate move, which proved to be nothing against Gu Changge, who effortlessly repelled all of his attacks.
Once he finally felt the might and wrath of Gu Changge, all he could feel now was frustration and reluctance. This was especially after Gu Changge repeated his condescending phrase. And he was vexed by Gu Changge’s belittling, indifferent attitude.
Meanwhile, it was nothing but silence across the top of the mountain as the commotion was over. The fight began quickly and ended just as fast. Many assumed that Chu Wunian, as the Prince of Great Chu Celestial Dynasty and a youthful prodigy, possessed countless abilities to do much more. Even if he couldn’ beat Gu Changge, he should have been able to buy some time during the fight. However, reality was harsh. He was defeated without any way to defend himself. Truly, he had no way to defend himself.
During the fight, he was constantly suppressed. Even right after he used his ultimate move, he was effortlessly suppressed.
At that moment, many disciples felt a chill up their spine. [If Chu Wunian, as a youthful prodigy, couldn’t do anything to Gu Changge, then what are we supposed to do? He’s so powerful. Compared to him, we’re nothing but ants!]
“That’s indeed the man who broke the records of Skyward Schloss after ten thousand years. His strength is so terrifying that he can easily subdue another Direct Disciple. Besides, even if Chu Wunian were to break through to the Honoured King Realm—same as Gu Changge—he would still be unable to defeat him.”
“Indeed. After all, Gu Changge had always been a laid-back, indifferent man. Who knows what other secrets he holds…”
Overhearing the conversation of the nearby disciples, Yin Mei the Gifted Lady of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan subconsciously revealed a condescending smile underneath her veil.
[Ultimate move? Anyone who ever saw that is nothing more than a corpse, except for me, the sole survivor. Indeed, Gu Changge is definitely the most dangerous person I’ve ever known, be it his thoughts, intentions, and methods.]
“Evidently, Gu Changge is way ahead of us. No wonder Jin Zhou chose to shut himself. He must have seen this coming…”
“From now on, unless we’ve made a breakthrough, we shall retreat whenever we see Gu Changge.”
Direct Disciples Tian Yang and Zhong Tianyuan peered at each other with their eyes filled with amazement. With that, they left the crowd and silently fled. Although, as youthful prodigies, their hearts were filled with competitiveness, that didn’t mean they were ignorant. After all, Gu Changge had already ascended to the Intermediate Honoured King Realm. Thus, there was no way they could face Gu Changge.
Numerous disciples and elders noticed their retreat and wordlessly shook their heads, thinking that even if there were no longer competent disciples in Skyward Schloss, they would still have to avoid going up against Gu Changge.
“Xianer, are you moved by the fact that I, your brother, defended you from this dirty rascal?” At that moment, Gu Changge turned to Gu Xianer, who was still visibly dazed, and smilingly asked. At the same time, he exerted force in his leg and stomped on Chu Wunian’s chest.
*Thump!* Blood splattered in the air as Chu Wunian let out an agonized yell before passing out.
Indubitably, Gu Changge couldn’t afford to kill him. Essentially, with all eyes on him, someone would surely come forth and stop him from killing the Prince of Great Chu Celestial Dynasty. Besides, Gu Changge had no intention of getting blood on his hands. The reason he decided to engage Chu Wunian was to let the elders of Skyward Schloss understand that as long as he live, no one else was eligible to be the legend of Skyward Schloss.
All these years, Gu Changge was unquestionably aware that countless elders, including the Great Elder himself, were highly defensive against him. Yet, he wasn’t at all bothered by it as he had already predicted such a scenario when he first entered Skyward Schloss.
With that, upon Gu Changge’s assault on Chu Wunian, who had been annoying her, Gu Xianer momentarily felt touched for her brother, but after hearing his teasing words, the emotions instantaneously dispersed as her face was filled with vengeful coldness.
“Mind your own business!” Gu Xianer feigned no sympathy for Gu Changge, seeing there was no need to. If she wasn’t intensely holding herself back, she would have swung a punch onto his face. When she was around others, she had to remain composed at all cost. Nonetheless, being in front of Gu Changge, she had a palpitating impulse to get reckless and exasperated, which she could barely contain.
“Did you forget what I told you before?” Gu Changge revealed a disappointed look as he smugly quizzed, ignoring Gu Xianer’s rageous look. None in the world could be more shameless than him.
“What?” She coldly countered.
“Only I can bully you. No one else can.” He revealed a knowing look.
“This rascal Chu Wunian is probably here to make a joke out of you going up the Skyward Path. The Great Elder would only take you in under one condition—to break my record, isn’t that right? What a calculative brat Chu Wunian is. Not only does he intend to make fun of you, but he even spread the news and summoned the entire Sect here. What a devil! So how could I, Gu Changge, let my own sister be humiliated by him? If anyone, I shall be the only person that is allowed to do that. Who does he think he is?”
Saying that, his eyes grew emotionless while Gu Xianer, upon those words, felt a chilly sensation and goosebump all over her body.
*Crack!* Accordingly, a vivid sound of a bone cracking was heard.
With her beguiling eyes, she subconsciously stared as Gu Changge mindlessly stamped his foot, making Chu Wunian, who had passed out, to let out a shout of excruciating pain as the bone of his arm broke. Regardless, Gu Changge retained his indifferent look, as though he just stepped on an insignificant bug.
“Xianer, remember what I said. Don’t you forget it.” Gu Changge looked at her dumbfounded face as he slightly smiled. “Anyway, aren’t you going up the Skyward Path? I’m rooting for you. I figure it’s nothing difficult for you to reach where I once was.”
After all, according to a typical plotline, Chu Wunian bore no kindness, which was eventually discovered by Gu Xianer. Malicious, he would then turn Gu Xianer into a laughing stock after she took on the Skyward Path, which was why he had the entire Sect members over—to ridicule her. Ultimately, Gu Xianer’s exceptional result would leave the crowd as well as Gu Changge embarrassed, after which she would declare a challenge against him.
Nonetheless, such a cliche plotline was no stranger to Gu Changge. At the end of the day, it was merely a game of manipulation, and all he needed was to pull the right string, which evidently left Gu Xianer confused.
“Gu Changge, do you really think I can beat your record?” Hearing that, Gu Xianer regained her senses, and her attitude was obviously softer. Thanks to Gu Changge’s previous gesture, she was thinking if the past hadn’t happened, she would be the luckiest girl in the world to have such a caring yet formidable brother. Nevertheless, she was still baffled as to the answer to the most important question.
Chu Wunian, along with the crowd, was highly doubtful that she could beat Gu Changge’s record, yet Gu Changge, as though he had utmost confidence in her, stated such a thing. And Gu Xianer was deeply perplexed. She was expecting Gu Changge to be condescending and telling her to stop dreaming about how she could achieve what he once had.
As a matter of fact, the dilemma in her heart was rather overwhelming. All these years, thanks to the teachings of her three masters, she grew to be much more intelligent than the individuals of her age, and she managed to figure out the truth within countless matters. As one who offered unconditional kindness must also bear ill intention, she reckoned Gu Changge must be after her body, but for him to unsolicitedly believe in her, she was thoroughly baffled.
Hearing that, with an earnest look, Gu Changge lightly shook his head. “If I, as your brother, don’t believe in you, who else in the world would? Your years of diligence don’t go unnoticed by me.”
Upon those words, Gu Xianer’s heart wavered. [What did he mean by that? He even knows about my years of hard-work. But then why did he take away my Daoist Bone? Why did he do that?]
Thinking that, she was in disbelief. [Was there an untold atrocity that forced him to resort to such means?]
Shaking her head, she immediately dispersed such thoughts. No matter how atrocious things were, no one in their right mind would seize another’s bone. It was an ‘untold atrocity’ which by no means could be defended.
“Stop dreaming. Everyone’s awaiting your show.” At that moment, Gu Changge subtly smiled at her as he interrupted her contemplation.
She glanced at Gu Changge before coming back to her senses. [I still have the Skyward Path to conquer and a record to beat!]
Immediately, she summoned an Arcane Bridge without hesitation and walked onto the Skyward Path.
Instantly, radiant light illuminated the Skyward Path. Every step emitted ambiguous celestial energy as if they were awakened while various godly anomalies surged in the sky.
*Whoosh!* Gu Xianer landed her foot on the first, and blinding, golden beams followed, as though a golden flower bloomed. She then continued to walk up the Skyward Path.
Second step. Third step. Fourth step…
…
Without any obstacles, she swiftly arrived at the tenth step. All kinds of radiant beams shone as heavenly sounds echoed through the skies while beatific flowers blossomed, as though Gu Xianer was a goddess touched by the grace of the world.
Seeing that, all the disciples and elders were stupefied. The tenth step was the limit to many Sect Disciples as they couldn’t get any further. In fact, each of them was a prodigy carefully selected from the Outer Realm. Even Direct Disciples like Chu Wunian, who was a celebrated youthful prodigy, barely reached the fourteenth step while Gu Changge reached the eighteenth step back then.
Eleventh step, twelfth step…
…
Very soon, Gu Xianer found herself on the fifteenth step. Wondrous anomalies wafted as godly lights shone. Covered in whirling celestial energy, Gu Xianer, who was constantly breaking through the steps, seemed like the daughter of gods, as though she had wings behind her.
At once, the silence was interrupted by a deafening sound of explosion. Disciples and elders were absolutely shocked by her Talents which exceeded those of ordinary youthful prodigies, wondering if Gu Xianer could actually break Gu Changge’s record.
Shortly after, Gu Xianer reached step sixteen. There were drops of sweat on her forehead, yet her eyes remained resolute. She swept her passionate eyes across the steps behind her and looked at Gu Changge who seemed to have utmost confidence in her. For some reason, a tremendously intimidating and terrifying force came from the sudden explosion. Dense Daoist surged and surrounded her like new lives were born.
Seventeenth step! Eighteenth step!
Eventually, she arrived at Gu Changge’s limit back then. At that moment, a trembling sound that resembled that of a tsunami could be heard. Many opened their eyes wide in dismay as they almost fell from the quake.
“Gu Changge’s record back then has actually been broken…”
“So our trip here didn’t go in vain!”
“Who would have expected her to go so far! This is shocking! Unimaginable, unbelievable, dreamlike!”
The disciples who were once doubtful almost had their eyes popped out.
Gu Xianer, who was standing on the eighteenth step, was pale. Her forehead was drenched in sweat as she felt the frightening pressure. Obviously, she arrived at a tremendously draining step. Nonetheless, she still had power to spare and was able to advance.
In that instant, the crowd assumed Gu Xianer would continue advancing and beating Gu Changge’s record of reaching the eighteenth step.
Nonetheless, Gu Xianer did something that dropped all jaws. She retained the calmness on her face and halted her steps. Accordingly, she turned around from the Skyward Path instead of advancing further.
There was nothing but dead silence across the hilltop. None had expected her to be so selective at such a critical moment.
[That was her opportunity to break Gu Changge’s record that has persisted for ten thousand years and rise to fame! But why did she give that up?]
She’s a smart one! Many thanks