"Sister, Senior Brother Gu is not the person you think he is."
Beside Ling Yuling, Ling Yuxian, who shared a spiritual connection with her sister, could faintly sense her sister's thoughts. She couldn't help but shake her head, her heart filled with complexity.
During this time, she had witnessed her sister Ling Yuling's methods and strategies in dealing with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. She wanted to stop her but didn't know how.
No matter how she tried to explain to Ling Yuling, her sister wouldn't listen, believing instead that Ling Yuxian had fallen into an emotional tribulation and was bewitched by Gu Changge's charm.
This Prime-Origin Covenant was, in a way, her sister's bold gamble, betting that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would reveal its true colors.
If the Heaven-Slaying Alliance refused to sign the Prime-Origin Covenant, Ling Yuling could then unite all the forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization to deal with the alliance, even if it meant mutual destruction.
The Imperial Immortal Palace might even be destroyed in the process.
This was the outcome Ling Yuling had long anticipated, and she was prepared to pay the price for it.
Of course, there was another possibility: the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would sign the Prime-Origin Covenant, coexisting peacefully with the various clans and traditions, adhering to their duties.
Although this was the outcome Ling Yuling desired, she knew the probability was slim, almost nonexistent.
However, in Ling Yuxian's view, this second outcome was the most likely. She knew Gu Changge's true purpose—he was walking a path filled with thorns and mud, a path that seemed impossible to reach the end.
The Prime-Origin Civilization was merely a passing scenery on his journey, or perhaps just a segment of the road he had to traverse.
"Signing the covenant is naturally not a problem."
"Miss Yuling, you've considered all living beings so meticulously and thoughtfully. It's a pity you haven't joined our Heaven-Slaying Alliance."
Gu Changge smiled faintly and shook his head, then slowly walked to the heavenly curtain. With a wave of his hand, a brush formed from the condensation of rules and order appeared.
"To receive such high regard from Young Master Gu, I am truly flattered. If there's an opportunity in the future, I will consider it."
Ling Yuling smiled gently, her demeanor as graceful and elegant as ever, but her gaze lingered on Gu Changge's hand holding the brush.
She felt that Gu Changge wasn't joking. He truly intended to sign the Prime-Origin Covenant without any ulterior motives.
Had she been overly cautious and distrustful, harboring too many prejudices and misunderstandings about Gu Changge?
Yet, there were too many suspicious points about Gu Changge. The ancestor of the Jing Clan, Jing Tianyun, was no longer himself.
In fact, he might have been possessed by the Eternal Spirit corrupted by the Dark Source.
The Eternal Spirit, corrupted by the Dark Source, had recognized Gu Changge as its master. How could his identity and origins be simple?
Yet, it was also Gu Changge who had helped her escape from that dark space and resolved the Dark Source within her.
Logically, Gu Changge had done her and the Imperial Immortal Palace a great favor.
So why couldn't she feel grateful toward him?
However, if the Prime-Origin Covenant was signed now, it might prove that Gu Changge bore no ill will toward the Prime-Origin Civilization.
After this, the various traditions and factions of the Prime-Origin Civilization could rest a little easier.
"Things are not simply black and white. Judging a person cannot be reduced to good or bad. I've been too obsessed."
Thinking this, Ling Yuling couldn't help but sigh softly, her emotions complex and indescribable.
"In that case, I'll wait for the day Miss Yuling considers joining us."
Hearing this, Gu Changge chuckled lightly. With one hand holding his sleeve, he raised his brush and prepared to sign his name on the heavenly curtain before him.
The curtain already bore the names of many traditions and factions, with Great Dao aura emanating from it. One after another, Great Dao symbols intertwined and flickered, exuding a terrifying aura.
Every moment, scenes of starry seas collapsing, universes crumbling, and chaos being born appeared, carrying boundless and vast power.
To leave one's name on it meant bearing immense karma and the power of heaven and earth. Breaking the covenant would have unimaginable consequences, ones that even Ancestral Dao Realm existences couldn't withstand.
In the grand hall, the representatives of the Temple of Light and Darkness, the Buddha Kingdom of Tathagata, the Divine Ascension Cavern, the Imperial Immortal Palace, and other traditions all watched Gu Changge's actions intently.
The Saintess Xiyuan stared unblinkingly at Gu Changge, trying to catch every subtle change in his expression.
Elder Xianyun of the Imperial Immortal Palace clenched her hands tightly under her sleeves, her knuckles turning white from tension.
Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her legs felt weak.
At this moment, almost everyone was watching Gu Changge as he prepared to sign the covenant. No one noticed her.
Many were shocked and surprised. They hadn't expected the signing of the Prime-Origin Covenant to go so smoothly, without any complications.
"How could it be so smooth?"
"This shouldn't be happening."
The sect master of the Prime Sun Heavenly Sect frowned deeply, his expression shifting between light and shadow, unable to hide his shock.
Outside the grand hall, countless beings and cultivators watched this scene with excitement, as if witnessing a historic moment.
Throughout the Mountain of Myriad Wonders, countless gazes were fixed on the scene unfolding before them.
"Perhaps we've truly misjudged the master of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance…"
"Perhaps it's precisely because of such courage and magnanimity that so many powerful individuals follow him."
Many leaders of clans and factions couldn't help but murmur, their eyes filled with admiration.
Before coming, they had prepared for a great battle. Who would have thought the master of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would be so open and magnanimous?
Even though the terms of the Prime-Origin Covenant were unfavorable to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, he agreed to sign it without hesitation.
Such decisiveness and magnanimity earned everyone's admiration.
As for the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, they showed no surprise, as if they had expected this outcome.
Whether it was Chu Heng, Hun Guangjun, Zhuo Fengxie, Demon Emperor Di Kun, or the other Ancestral Dao Realm existences, they all remained calm.
Boom!
However, just as Gu Changge wrote the character "Slay" (伐) on the heavenly curtain and was about to write "Heaven" (天), a terrifying and overwhelming force suddenly erupted, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing.
A boundless and destructive aura emerged from the depths of the cosmos, where the Covenant Golden Book floated. The ancient characters on it shone with dazzling light, as if coming to life. Within each character, a figure seemed to be sitting in meditation.
The Covenant Golden Book tore through space and time, radiating billions of divine lights that descended like a heavenly curtain. The sky seemed to split open, and the surrounding cosmic regions shattered.
No force could withstand this destructive power.
Even Ancestral Dao Realm existences paled in fear, feeling their souls on the verge of shattering. Being struck by this power would mean certain death.
At the edge of the heavens, thick and boundless Great Dao order intertwined, drawing upon the vast power of the cosmos.
This power then merged into the Covenant Golden Book, transforming it into an eternal holy light that descended from the heavens, following the heavenly curtain and crashing toward Gu Changge in the grand hall.
Boom!
The shockwaves caused the entire Mountain of Myriad Wonders to tremble violently, as if it were about to collapse.
The divine trees swayed and shook, their branches and leaves trembling. Cracks appeared on their trunks, and many floating stars were destroyed, falling to the ground and shattering into countless fragments.
At this moment, everyone was stunned, terrified by the sudden turn of events.
Ling Yuling, the Saintess Xiyuan, Eternal Illumination Dao Lord, Shang Chongming of Jiekong Ridge, and many other ancient existences were also dumbfounded and shocked, completely unprepared for what had just happened.
They only saw a divine light, filled with unimaginable destructive intent, enveloping the Covenant Golden Book and piercing through the cosmos, crashing down and engulfing Gu Changge, who had been in the process of signing the Prime-Origin Covenant.
The oppressive force made hearts tremble and souls shudder, as if it were about to destroy all realms and plunge the world into eternal darkness.
The area was instantly filled with an indescribable destructive aura. Everything turned to dust and void, ceasing to exist.
Countless cultivators and beings felt their vision go white. They could neither hear nor see anything.
Both their senses and spiritual awareness were overwhelmed by a blinding white light, leaving them in complete confusion.
The terrifying shockwaves continued to reverberate. Although they didn't directly affect the onlookers, many still felt their blood churn, their noses and mouths bleeding as they were sent flying.
"What just happened?"
Many sect masters and leaders were equally stunned, looking at Ling Yuling in confusion and shock.
The Lord of Light from the Temple of Light and Darkness was filled with fear and dread. If even an Ancestral Dao Realm existence were struck by that power, they would surely perish.
"How could this happen…"
Ling Yuling was also filled with shock and disbelief. She stared blankly at the area still engulfed by the destructive aura, completely at a loss.
Although she had brought out the Covenant Golden Book, it was an ownerless artifact, not controlled by anyone.
She hadn't expected the Covenant Golden Book to suddenly descend and suppress Gu Changge, unleashing such unimaginable destructive power.
Who was secretly controlling the Covenant Golden Book, causing such a drastic change?
"How dare you!"
"The Alliance Leader kindly agreed to sign the covenant, seeking peaceful coexistence, yet you all conspired to trap and harm him."
"Despicable and shameless, your hearts are truly vile!"
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed, accompanied by overwhelming killing intent, snapping Ling Yuling, the Saintess Xiyuan, and the others out of their daze.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, who had also been stunned moments ago, now approached with anger and killing intent, determined to seek revenge…