In the past, the Saintess Xiyuan would have disdained to consume the elixirs and immortal materials she now stuffed into her mouth without regard for her appearance or dignity.
Although Ling Yuling knew much about the Mirror of Reincarnation and its divine might, she was not its master. Now, she could only do her best to protect the Saintess Xiyuan from disturbance.
The hazy light barrier, like a transparent shield, was constructed from ancient runes, becoming the only source of light in this dark domain, resisting the invasion of the dark mist.
Members of the various orthodox forces were doing their best to gather toward the center, seeking protection.
In the sky, the whistling sound of sword energy overwhelmed everything. The sword light crisscrossed the heavens and earth, finally crashing down onto the light barrier with a thunderous roar.
Everyone watched with trembling hearts as the light barrier twisted and seemed on the verge of shattering. Their hearts clenched, but fortunately, it held firm and did not break.
However, the Saintess Xiyuan suffered a backlash, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. Her originally pure white robes were stained red, and her face turned pale.
After all, she was protecting the vast majority of people here, not just a few individuals. The pressure she bore was immense. It was only thanks to the Mirror of Reincarnation's immense power that the barrier held. Any other Dao Artifact would have shattered under such an attack.
Many watched with lingering fear. This was just a casual strike from Gu Changge. If he were to attack with full force, could the Saintess Xiyuan still protect them?
The appearance of the Mirror of Reincarnation had initially given them a glimmer of hope, but now that hope was shattered.
"You can protect them for a moment, but can you protect them forever?"
Gu Changge continued to watch everyone coldly. With a sweep of the seven-colored treasure tree in his hand, divine radiance and thunder surged forward, as if the chaos of the universe was giving birth to the destruction of worlds.
Terrifying scenes unfolded: the heavens and earth cracked, gods bled, and Dao Ancestors fell. The divine radiance was like heavenly thunder, or a tribulation descending from the sky, endless and unrelenting, crashing down upon the light barrier.
Before the Saintess Xiyuan could catch her breath, she had to steel herself and once again take control of the Mirror of Reincarnation to resist this attack.
The Mirror of Reincarnation trembled, and a layer of hazy light surged forth, expanding the light barrier further.
Many ancient existences watched with trembling hearts as the terrifying scenes descended, crashing onto the light barrier. The barrier twisted and cracked under the unimaginable force of the attack.
Those closer to the front coughed up blood, their qi and blood churning from the shockwaves. Many had their skin split open, blood seeping out, as if their bodies were on the verge of collapse.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance watched this shocking scene with trepidation. Such power, if unleashed upon the greater universe, would undoubtedly be world-destroying, capable of annihilating any universe or timeline.
The Mountain of Myriad Wonders, originally a place of special terrain with natural formations, was now in ruins. Massive cracks and craters scarred the land, and the ancient divine trees were destroyed, crumbling like dry twigs under the force of the shockwaves.
Boom!
Endless roars echoed through the area, as if true divine punishment had descended to judge the world. All rules and order were annihilated and shattered.
With each swing of the radiant silver immortal sword in Gu Changge's hand, it was as if he wielded the power of the nine heavens. Each sword light blotted out the sky, and every strike was like wielding a galaxy that spanned the universe. Such a sight alone was enough to terrify cultivators, causing even the most powerful existences to tremble.
Before the Mirror of Reincarnation, the Saintess Xiyuan's figure trembled. She coughed up more and more blood, her originally pure white robes now soaked red. Even the light in her eyes dimmed.
Ling Yuling, who was close to the Saintess Xiyuan, could clearly see the fine cracks beginning to appear on her jade-like skin. She resembled a flawless jade vessel on the verge of shattering.
Even Ling Yuling's heart clenched.
If even the Saintess Xiyuan, who had survived eight Heavenly Decline Tribulations, struggled so much while wielding the Mirror of Reincarnation, it was clear how terrifying and unimaginable Gu Changge's attacks were.
At this moment, if it were any other Ancestral Dao Realm existence, they would likely be annihilated in an instant, leaving no trace behind.
In the past, Ling Yuling had never seen Gu Changge truly fight or lose his temper. Although his expression was cold, even calm, she knew he was truly determined to kill.
Back when Gu Changge battled Chu Gucheng in the Immortal Chu Dynasty, if he had displayed even a fraction of his current strength, Chu Gucheng would not have survived, and the entire Immortal Chu Dynasty would have been obliterated in an instant.
A sense of bitterness and helplessness rose in her heart. Perhaps, as her sister Ling Yuxian had said, her initial thoughts had been wrong from the start?
She had greatly overestimated her own abilities, causing Gu Changge, who could have peacefully conversed and even shared drinks with her, to become an enemy of the entire Prime-Origin Civilization.
This entire situation had been caused by her.
Amidst the endless sword lights, terrifying dark divine light surged down like a tidal wave once more. Gu Changge remained cold and calm. The Orb of Great Vow before him emitted another beam of light, transforming into a pitch-black heavenly blade.
He released the immortal sword in his hand, gave a light shout, and flicked his sleeve. The heavenly blade and immortal sword shot forward, like two suns, one yin and one yang, rumbling as they descended. The void cracked, and time and space seemed to freeze.
The unparalleled force crashed down, striking the light barrier as if the entire ancient sky had fallen.
Even the shockwaves from the impact shattered many cultivators who were too close, leaving them no time to scream.
This time, even hiding under the protection of the Mirror of Reincarnation was useless. The black divine light blotted out the sky, surging and crashing down relentlessly.
The pitch-black heavenly blade cracked, and the immortal sword chipped, but they continued to descend.
The Orb of Great Vow rumbled as it slowly pressed forward, containing countless scenes and encompassing infinite phenomena. It hovered above the Mirror of Reincarnation, its countless beams of light pressing down, each one heavy and vast, as if containing the mysteries and truths of all worlds, unleashing unimaginable divine might.
The light barrier expanded like a sphere, encompassing the heavens and earth. But as the divine light pressed down, it began to deform.
Everyone within the barrier, from the various orthodox forces, felt their hearts tremble with fear. They could sense the overwhelming pressure, as if ten thousand mountains loomed above them, ready to crush them into paste at any moment.
"This is bad…"
Suddenly, the Lord of Light from the Temple of Light and Darkness noticed a tiny crack appearing on the light barrier. His expression changed.
The other leaders and sect masters around him also turned pale.
"Ugh…"
In the next moment, the Saintess Xiyuan let out a muffled groan, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her delicate figure swayed, on the verge of collapsing.
Ling Yuling hurriedly reached out to support her, while the other ancient existences stepped forward, their eyes filled with shock. Many immediately prepared for battle, never expecting the light barrier protecting everyone to last only this long.
The Mirror of Reincarnation let out a violent tremor. The light barrier outside shattered with a crash, disintegrating into countless fragments. The Saintess Xiyuan could no longer protect everyone. Her robes were stained with blood, and she suffered severe backlash.
"He's too strong. Even with the Mirror of Reincarnation, it's difficult to protect everyone. In just this short time, my heart meridians have been shattered multiple times…"
"I'm afraid I won't be of much help to you for a while."
The Saintess Xiyuan's mouth was full of blood as she struggled to stand. Her beautiful eyes were filled with complexity as she looked at the distant, cold Gu Changge.
She had thought that Gu Changge might show her some mercy, given their past relationship.
But from the current situation, it seemed Gu Changge viewed her as being in league with Ling Yuling, conspiring to plot against him. Naturally, he would no longer care about their past friendship.
This reminded her of the time she was trapped in the temporal prison by Chu Gucheng's schemes.
Back then, Gu Changge had been able to chat and laugh with her like a close friend.
The Saintess Xiyuan sighed inwardly. She knew she had lost the bet. Back when she spoke with Ling Yuling, she had made a bold decision, deciding to take a huge gamble.
She didn't believe in the omens and future shown in the Mirror of Reincarnation. She wanted to rewrite the fate of the Prime-Origin Civilization and the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
But clearly, she had failed. In the face of the unstoppable torrent of fate, she, a fish trying to swim against the current, had been battered and bruised, paying a heavy price.
"He is indeed too strong. We both lost this gamble."
Ling Yuling also sighed softly. She handed the Saintess Xiyuan over to Xi Yin beside her, then gripped her Dao Sword and soared into the air. Her armor outlined her graceful figure, glowing with an eternal, indestructible light.
She once again faced Gu Changge, her sharp sword intent filling the heavens and earth. The entire space seemed to freeze under her sword intent.
At the same time, her aura surged once more, her battle intent fierce and blazing. An ancient mark appeared between her brows, radiating a brilliant, blazing light, exuding an ancient and supreme aura.
One after another, Great Dao manifestations appeared beneath Ling Yuling's feet. At this moment, she seemed to stand at the pinnacle of all Dao, revered by the myriad heavens and worlds. Ling Yuling once again displayed her terrifyingly powerful strength. With a light cry, she swung her Dao Sword and charged forward.
Gu Changge watched her coldly. With a wave of the treasure tree, heavenly winds swept forth, and chaotic mist spread, instantly engulfing Ling Yuling's figure. Sword lights flickered, piercing and slashing, trying to break through.
Seeing this, the other ancient existences and sect masters also revealed their determination, following behind Ling Yuling and charging forward.
They all knew that if they didn't join forces now, once Ling Yuling was defeated or killed, they would have no chance left.
Many Dao Realm existences also roared and charged forward. Without the protection of the Mirror of Reincarnation, everyone was once again suppressed by the dark divine light. However, this did not diminish their resolve or killing intent.
Boom!
An Ancestral Dao Realm existence moved his hands, and Great Dao rules flowed. The dark mist in the distance was dispersed as he summoned an ancient, broken banner. With a sudden throw, the small black banner rapidly expanded in mid-air, becoming as vast as the sky, rushing toward Gu Changge.
It was terrifying, its energy earth-shaking. As it descended, its divine might transformed into countless mushroom clouds, annihilating everything in its path.
Clearly, this was an incredibly powerful treasure. Even a wisp of its divine might could destroy an ancient True World.
At this moment, the other Ancestral Dao Realm existences also unleashed their ultimate techniques, holding nothing back in their desperate bid for survival.
The scene here was chaotic and world-shaking, as if the heavens and earth were on the verge of collapse.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance also roared and charged forward, engaging in a fierce battle within this dark domain.
Above the sky, the black lotus slowly descended once more. The lotus seeds at its center spewed forth dark divine light, surging like a tidal wave. The scene was horrifying, with dark mist boiling and rolling like a storm.
All sorts of strange mists appeared, carrying boundless energy, continuously surging forward.
Clang!
Another beam of light descended from the Orb of Great Vow. It was an ancient spear wrapped in the light of order. Gu Changge discarded the broken heavenly blade and immortal sword, grasping the spear and pointing it toward the south. With a sweep, the ancient banner was torn apart, its surface covered in cracks before shattering into dust.
The Ancestral Dao Realm existence who had summoned the banner was horrified. Struck by Gu Changge's spear, his chest exploded, scattering bone fragments and blood. He was sent flying, severely injured and unable to fight.
The other Ancestral Dao Realm existences were both shocked and terrified, but they had no other choice. They combined their power to unleash a terrifying energy, as if drawing from the countless universes and timelines, trying to break through this dark domain.
However, as the dark tide from the lotus seeds surged forth, endless mist and energy were assimilated, becoming pure flowing energy. Instead of breaking the dark domain, it made it even more indestructible.
"The seal of the Gate of Eternal Life is growing stronger. It cannot be forcefully destroyed…"
Ling Yuling's figure closed in. She broke through the chaotic mist, her Dao Sword slashing down and clashing with Gu Changge's sweeping spear.
In an instant, everything was annihilated in silence. The Great Dao roared, and the heavens trembled. The terrifying shockwaves nearly caused her to lose her grip on her sword, but her strong willpower kept it in her hand.
However, the shockwaves instantly spread. The spear tip pierced through, directly penetrating her armor and leaving a horrific wound on her shoulder, nearly piercing through.
Ling Yuling let out a muffled groan and quickly retreated. Her broken armor was stained with blood, and droplets of blood spilled into the sky. But Gu Changge did not stop. His eyes were cold and merciless as he flicked his wrist, sending the spear flying like a cold, piercing light, aiming straight for Ling Yuling's brow.
Swoosh!
The cold spear light cut through the darkness, carrying a tragic beauty. Ling Yuling's pupils contracted.
At the critical moment, she tilted her head to avoid it, but the spear tip still grazed her scalp. The faceplate of her helmet shattered, scattering into pieces. Her long hair cascaded down, stained with blood, a tragic sight.
Ling Yuling's face was pale, and drops of blood flowed from her forehead, covering half of her eye. The wound on her forehead was deep enough to reveal bone.
Her hand holding the Dao Sword trembled slightly. For a moment, she had truly felt the despair and fear of facing death.
But she felt that Gu Changge had shown her some mercy. Otherwise, she might not have been able to dodge at all.
"Ancestor…"
"Senior…"
Many cried out in alarm at this sight. The elders and disciples of the Imperial Immortal Palace were filled with fear and unease.
No matter how much Ling Yuling's aura surged or what techniques she used, she could not last more than a few rounds against Gu Changge.
"Sister…" Ling Yuxian was also extremely worried and anxious. No matter what, Ling Yuling was her sister. How could she not worry when she saw her in danger?
"I'm fine." Ling Yuling glanced at everyone, shook her head, and took a deep breath, regaining her composure as she quickly healed her wounds.
Although her armor was broken, she had no intention of stopping. Her beautiful, gentle face once again showed determination and coldness as she gripped her sword and charged at Gu Changge.
"Still unwilling to give up, even at this point?"
Gu Changge watched her coldly as she charged. The spear returned to his hand, and with a light shake, Ling Yuling's Dao Sword was knocked from her grip, falling into the dark mist in the distance.
Injured by him, it was not so easy to recover. Ling Yuling was no longer in her peak state, merely doing her best to suppress her injuries.
But Ling Yuling still did not stop. Even without her weapon, she continued to charge forward like a moth to a flame.
Splat!
Blood splattered across the sky. Gu Changge's eyes were cold and merciless as he pointed the spear toward the south. This time, the spear directly pierced through Ling Yuling's body, lifting her high into the air.