Swoosh!
The spear light was cold and blinding, as if it had cut through the vast universe, sharp and overbearing.
Cold, crimson blood dripped down the spear shaft, falling into the void, accompanied by a strange, faint fragrance.
Ling Yuling's delicate figure trembled. A fist-sized hole pierced through her abdomen, the cold, black spear running her through and lifting her high into the air.
Her face was pale, her eyes dim, her long hair fluttering like a flower on the verge of withering.
The continuous flow of blood stained the robes beneath her shattered armor, making her appear utterly tragic.
"Senior…"
"Ancestor…"
This horrifying scene caused everyone's expressions to change drastically. The members of the Imperial Immortal Palace cried out in shock, and many elders and ancestral-level figures rushed forward without hesitation, trying to save Ling Yuling.
"Sister…" Ling Yuxian's heart also clenched. Her jade-like hands tightened, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry.
The Saintess Xiyuan, supported by Xi Yin, was also shocked. Despite her injuries, she was about to summon the Mirror of Reincarnation to act again.
She hadn't expected Ling Yuling to resolutely attack despite knowing she was no match, appearing as if she were bravely facing death.
The sect masters and leaders were filled with dread and fear, their bodies chilled. Would even the ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace perish tragically at Gu Changge's hands today?
If Ling Yuling died, could they still resist?
Eternal Illumination Dao Lord, Shang Zhongming, and other ancient existences had mixed expressions. They had held back, weighing the pros and cons. Now, if Ling Yuling died here, they had even less reason to help the various orthodox forces.
Boom!
A terrifying, surging force, like a raging tidal wave, swept through. With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Changge sent the elders and ancestral-level figures of the Imperial Immortal Palace flying, as if they had been struck by a monstrous mountain.
"Ugh…"
Elder Jiulin was sent flying, landing on a broken cliff. Though unharmed, he was covered in dust, looking utterly disheveled.
He was one of the few elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace who had interacted with Gu Changge. He had always thought of him as gentle, indifferent, and detached from worldly affairs.
The idea that Gu Changge would kill their ancestor, Ling Yuling, was something he found hard to accept.
"Elder Xianyun…"
"Don't!"
As Elder Jiulin got up from the cliff, he saw a figure ahead summoning a weapon, her Dao Realm energy boiling, her brows filled with anger and determination. It was Elder Xianyun from the Xianyun Dao Academy, charging toward Gu Changge.
He couldn't help but cry out, rushing to stop Elder Xianyun from doing something reckless.
Though Elder Xianyun was a Dao Realm existence, she was far from the Ancestral Dao Realm. If even Ancestral Dao Realm existences were no match for Gu Changge, how could she possibly harm him?
Moreover, if she attacked him, she might end up being slaughtered instead.
Now that the entire Imperial Immortal Palace stood against Gu Changge, he would no longer show mercy based on past relationships.
"Elder Jiulin, don't stop me. I must save our ancestor…"
"He broke his promise…"
"He clearly agreed to it…"
"None of this is our ancestor's fault. He knew this…"
Elder Xianyun was filled with grief and pain, her face streaked with tears.
Elder Jiulin was stunned, confused by Elder Xianyun's incoherent words. What did she mean? What wasn't the ancestor's fault? What was she referring to?
And what had Gu Changge promised her? Did he make some promise to her when he stayed at the Xianyun Dao Academy?
But now, he had no time to question her. Elder Xianyun's emotions were unstable, and he had to stop her from doing something foolish. Attacking Gu Changge would be like throwing an egg at a rock, courting death.
"Cough…"
Half of Ling Yuling's face was soaked in blood. She struggled to open her eyes, looking at the cold, emotionless Gu Changge. She coughed up blood weakly, not struggling.
She could feel her life force rapidly draining away, a sense of weakness and cold enveloping her. The shadow of death loomed over her like never before.
But she still chose not to struggle, as if calmly awaiting death.
Today's situation was her own doing, and she deserved this outcome.
"Knowing you're no match, yet still attacking me. Should I call you foolish or reckless?"
Gu Changge looked at her, his eyes still cold, as if devoid of any emotion.
"I'm sorry…"
Ling Yuling's eyes dimmed, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth as she spoke. Her injuries were severe. She had already been wounded by Gu Changge earlier, and this strike had nearly shattered her life source.
"If you think dying will prove your resolve, then you're both foolish and naive."
Gu Changge's cold gaze swept over the tense, fearful members of the various races and orthodox forces nearby, then returned to Ling Yuling. "Do you think these people will come to save you? Will they help you?"
Ling Yuling's eyes grew even dimmer. She knew they wouldn't.
Aside from the members of the Imperial Immortal Palace, no one cared about her life or death. Some might even hope she and Gu Changge would perish together here.
After all, her existence could shake the current status of the other orthodox forces and affect the future of the Prime-Origin Civilization.
But this was her own choice, and she wouldn't blame anyone.
"A purely good person is meaningless. The principles you uphold have long been trampled into dust."
"Aside from me, who still cares about your life or death?" Gu Changge's tone was utterly indifferent.
With a bang, he lightly shook his hand, and the spear in his grasp turned into a cloud of dust and smoke. Without support, Ling Yuling's body fell to the ground.
She hadn't expected Gu Changge to spare her in the end. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions as she struggled to stand.
However, the fist-sized hole in her abdomen was still horrifying to behold, surrounded by a terrifying aura of destruction. It would take time to heal.
With such injuries, she had essentially lost her combat ability and could no longer attack Gu Changge.
Gu Changge glanced at Ling Yuling indifferently. With a flick of his slender finger, two beams of black light shot toward her. One coiled around her ankle, transforming into a heavy, black shackle.
The other landed on her snow-white neck, forming a black collar that shimmered with an eerie, profound light.
"This…"
Ling Yuling was momentarily stunned, feeling her cultivation and spiritual energy rapidly vanish.
She could no longer sense her five senses, her divine consciousness, or her perception. In that instant, she felt like an ordinary person, powerless.
After a brief pause, she understood. Gu Changge had spared her life, which was already an act of mercy. Restricting her cultivation and freedom was only natural.
Seeing that Gu Changge had not killed Ling Yuling, many members of the Imperial Immortal Palace breathed a sigh of relief. However, the members of the various orthodox forces wore grim expressions. Gu Changge's mercy toward Ling Yuling did not mean he would spare them.
They did not have Ling Yuling's luck or strength, nor her capabilities.
In their eyes, Gu Changge had spared Ling Yuling because she was still useful to him. The Heaven-Slaying Alliance needed someone like her.
"Rather than waiting to die, we should fight to the death. He won't let us go easily."
"At this point, are you still hoping for some other outcome?"
"Let's join forces and open a path to survival. Otherwise, we'll all perish here."
Several sect masters exchanged glances, their expressions shifting between uncertainty and resolve.
They knew that delaying further would only make them sitting ducks. The only way out was to work together and create an escape route.
Though Gu Changge was terrifyingly powerful, it wouldn't be easy for him to quickly eliminate all of them.
After a brief discussion, they quickly issued orders, instructing their subordinates to buy them time while they worked together to break the seal and create an escape route.
At the same time, they sent messages to the Saintess Xiyuan and Xi Yin, hoping to use the power of the Mirror of Reincarnation to open a path. How many could escape would depend on fate.
"Kill!"
In the next moment, the experts from these forces did not hesitate. Upon their leaders' orders, they charged forward, their vast numbers unleashing their most powerful techniques.
The heavens and earth were once again filled with divine weapons and treasures: ancient pagodas, incense burners, bronze mirrors, yin-yang mirrors… All radiated with the light of the Great Dao, releasing countless chains of order.
Numerous ancient Dao techniques and divine abilities were also unleashed.
Divine light shimmered, and vast clouds of mist rose. The area became a chaotic, primordial world, with terrifying runes intertwining and evolving.
"We must open a path to survival."
Hearing the words of the sect masters and leaders, the Saintess Xiyuan did not hesitate. Despite her weakened state, she summoned the Mirror of Reincarnation once more.
After seeing Ling Yuling's fate, she knew her own fate at Gu Changge's hands would be no better.
He would no longer show her mercy based on their past relationship.
Their only hope now was to use the power of the Mirror of Reincarnation to pierce through and create an escape route.
Hazy reincarnation light gathered, bright and blazing, like an eternal, unextinguishable divine light. It pierced through the heavens and earth, striking at the black lotus in the sky.
The black lotus slowly rotated, emitting rumbling, vast sounds. Each petal was enormous, with runes intertwining and chains of order spreading, forming dark cages, as if prepared for everyone here.
Boom!
An unparalleled collision erupted. Various substances and mist dispersed, as if billions of stars had exploded simultaneously. In an instant, scenes of universe creation and chaos annihilation unfolded.
The sect masters and leaders of the various orthodox forces joined forces with the Saintess Xiyuan, using the power of reincarnation to try and open a path to the outside world. Many ancient existences also joined in, unwilling to sit idly by.
Meanwhile, more cultivators and beings charged at Gu Changge, buying time for the others.
"Alliance Leader…"
Many experts of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance frowned, wanting to act. They hadn't expected these people to be so reckless even at this point.
Gu Changge's gaze was cold. He reached out with his hand, and in an instant, the entire dark space was enveloped. The sky seemed to rain blood as countless figures were sent flying, many exploding into bloody mist before they could even get close.
The divine edicts and ancient treasures hurled at him trembled and fell, shattering into dust.
This was a terrifying and horrifying scene. Even the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance felt a chill. Gu Changge alone could easily sweep through the various orthodox forces. He didn't need their help.
If he truly wanted to unify the Prime-Origin Civilization by force, he wouldn't need to go through so much trouble.
This place had gathered all the notable orthodox forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization. Dao Realm existences, rarely seen before, were now everywhere.
Under the orders of their leaders, these elders and high-ranking figures charged forward fearlessly, trying to buy time and seek a chance to escape.
The scene was both tragic and heroic. Gu Changge stood in the darkness, his eyes cold and deep. The Orb of Great Vow hovered in the sky like a blazing sun, its golden light radiating in all directions. The cultivators and beings charging at him were instantly annihilated.
The Orb of Great Vow, a supreme treasure of civilization, had the power to condense the fortune of all living beings. Yet in Gu Changge's hands, it annihilated all tangible things, like a treasure of world destruction, filling everyone with fear.
The black lotus was vast and boundless, each petal deep and profound, as if containing infinite ancient universes. Despite the combined attacks of the ancient existences and leaders, it continued to slowly descend.
Wisps of chaotic energy leaked out, accompanied by boiling fragments of time, as if trying to freeze this space completely.
Boom!!!
The sect masters and leaders roared, unleashing their most powerful techniques. Their attacks seemed to recreate the beginning of the world, so powerful it shook the heavens. Such terror had never been seen before.
The Saintess Xiyuan, using the Mirror of Reincarnation, transformed reincarnation energy into a flawless, jade-like hand that stretched across the sky, trying to tear a hole in the dark domain formed by the black lotus.
However, dark mist quickly surged, carrying a corrosive, destructive force that left horrifying scars on the hand she had created.
She let out a muffled groan, her face quickly turning pale. But at this moment, she felt the dark domain beginning to give way. She bit her tongue, and a surge of bloody energy rushed forth.
In the next moment, her forehead and brow glowed brightly. Her clear, flawless eyes reflected scenes of ancient times, and the vast divine might of a shattered universe emanated from her.
Finally, the Mirror of Reincarnation showed signs of awakening. The ancient mirror surface radiated an eternal, immortal light, overwhelming the vast expanse of the universe as it pierced forward.
The dark mist dispersed, much of it evaporating. The blazing light of reincarnation suddenly pierced through the outer domain, connecting to a distant universe.
"We've succeeded…"
"We've finally succeeded."
"We can escape…"
Many leaders and sect masters were overjoyed. Some even caught a glimpse of the outside world. The dark domain had been pierced, and a path to the outside had been opened.
Many of them immediately rushed toward it, desperate to escape.
The Lord of Light, Eternal Illumination Dao Lord, and Shang Zhongming moved even faster, transforming into beams of light and charging ahead. The Saintess Xiyuan, her face pale, turned back to bring Xi Yin and others from the Xiyuan Sacred Hall with her.
But as she turned, Gu Changge let out a cold laugh in the distance. With a boom, he repelled all those charging at him. His hand, vast enough to blot out the sky, reached out.
His fingers were shrouded in terrifying chaotic mist, with countless universes swirling within. Billions of stars and endless time and space seemed to be encompassed.
The Saintess Xiyuan had no time to react before an indescribable pressure crashed down on her. She was struck, letting out a pained groan as countless bones shattered.
Fortunately, the Mirror of Reincarnation blocked the blow at the last moment. Otherwise, her fate would have been far worse than just severe injuries. The other leaders and sect masters near her were not so lucky.
Many screamed as they were grazed by the shockwaves, their bodies exploding on the spot. Others, in despair, fell through the torn gap.
The Saintess Xiyuan, her face pale, nearly fainted from the intense pain. But now, she could only force herself to hold on. She could no longer care for the others, clutching the Mirror of Reincarnation as she rushed through the closing gap, escaping to safety.