The surging black mist, like a tidal wave, engulfed the small gap, leaving many leaders and sect masters who failed to escape in despair and unwillingness. They fell to the ground, covered in blood, their appearances tragic.
Scattered corpses and blood mist floated in the void.
The moment the dark domain was torn open, almost everyone rushed toward it, but only a few managed to escape.
Even the sect masters of immortal orthodox forces like the Lord of Light were left behind, unable to escape at the last moment. They were struck by Gu Changge's palm, coughing blood as they were sent flying and fell to the ground.
Eternal Illumination Dao Lord's expression was grim. Unlike Shang Zhongming, he was not lucky enough to escape. He was also struck by Gu Changge's palm at the last moment and had to resist, or else he would have been crushed into paste.
Now, without the Saintess Xiyuan's Mirror of Reincarnation, it was almost impossible for them to tear open the dark domain again. They could only be trapped here, like fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of others.
Very few escaped, and the vast majority were left behind, severely injured and unable to recover in a short time.
"Alliance Leader, should we pursue them?"
The experts of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance stepped forward, asking for orders to capture those who had escaped. Although there were still forces of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance outside the Mountain of Myriad Wonders, they were no match for these leaders and sect masters.
"No need."
"They may have escaped, but their sects and forces are still here. The monk may run, but the temple remains."
Gu Changge waved his hand, his expression indifferent. He had intentionally let these people escape, including the Saintess Xiyuan.
Now that Ling Yuling was in his hands, the idea of using her to lure out bigger fish was no longer realistic.
So now, he could only place his hopes on the Saintess Xiyuan.
Moreover, the news of the Saintess Xiyuan escaping with the Mirror of Reincarnation would soon spread throughout the Prime-Origin Civilization and even to the many True Worlds in the vast expanse.
Soon, many powerful figures would come looking for her, causing trouble.
At that time, the Saintess Xiyuan's master, Sage Xi, and others of her level would be forced to appear.
These were the big fish Gu Changge wanted to catch.
"I won't kill you, but I won't let you leave easily either."
"If you want to live, you'd better surrender. My kindness and patience are limited."
Then, Gu Changge swept his gaze over the remaining people, his eyes cold and deep.
The sect masters and leaders of the various races and orthodox forces still here wore expressions of despair and unwillingness. The cultivators and beings were the same. The Saintess Xiyuan had escaped, but she hadn't taken them with her.
Even Xi Yin and others from the Xiyuan Sacred Hall were left here, awaiting their fate.
Without the Saintess Xiyuan using the power of the Mirror of Reincarnation, even if they joined forces again, they couldn't tear open this dark domain.
How much had they sacrificed to buy time for their leaders and sect masters? How many cultivators and beings had died?
They couldn't bear such consequences again.
The elders and disciples of the Imperial Immortal Palace looked despondent. After Ling Yuling was captured, they immediately chose to surrender without resistance.
Compared to the other orthodox forces, the Imperial Immortal Palace had almost no casualties. No elders or disciples had died in the chaotic battle.
Ling Yuxian knew this was the result of Gu Changge's mercy. Although the Imperial Immortal Palace had broken ties with him, he still showed some leniency based on their past relationship, not slaughtering them all.
Otherwise, with the shockwaves from his battle with the leaders and sect masters, how could the nearby elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace have survived, only suffering minor injuries?
Seeing the Imperial Immortal Palace's surrender, many sect masters, in helplessness, also led their forces to surrender, choosing not to resist further.
Gu Changge's gaze remained cold and calm, unmoved by their choices.
Then, he waved his hand, and streams of light appeared. Various divine materials surged, and Dao flames buzzed. A terrifying aura rolled forth, and one after another, pitch-black shackles and chains were forged, quickly piling up like a small mountain.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance stepped forward, following Gu Changge's orders, and began shackling the members of the various orthodox forces.
These chains were personally forged by Gu Changge, inscribed with terrifying Great Dao runes that could seal the cultivation of everyone, including Ancestral Dao Realm existences.
Once shackled, there was no way to break free unless Gu Changge allowed it or provided the key he had forged.
Seeing this, many sect masters' expressions turned grim. They were covered in blood, injured, and almost powerless to resist.
They knew that once shackled, they would lose their freedom completely. Though they would live, their lives would no longer be their own.
But if they refused, Gu Changge would have no reason to spare them and would surely kill them on the spot.
Should they live in humiliation or die with dignity?
This thought flashed through many minds, but seeing the scattered corpses and blood filling the void, many chose to surrender to their survival instincts.
Many ancient existences, including Eternal Illumination Dao Lord, also surrendered immediately, not daring to resist recklessly. They could see that Gu Changge didn't want to cause too much slaughter and had already done his best to spare their lives.
They couldn't afford to be ungrateful.
Hum!
The black lotus slowly descended, each petal now blooming. Thick Great Dao veins intertwined within, forming one dark prison after another.
Each prison seemed to be forged from dark Dao metal, cold and profound, exuding a terrifying dark aura. Inside, it was vast and empty, as if one were in the depths of a cold universe.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance stepped forward, shackling everyone one by one.
The members of the various orthodox forces were separated, each imprisoned in a dark cell. Leaders and sect masters whose cultivation surpassed the Ancestral Dao Realm were placed in individual cells.
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace, including Jiulin, Xianyun, and Ling Yuxian, were no exception and were also imprisoned in dark cells.
The female disciples and elders of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, including Xi Yin, were also imprisoned together in a dark cell.
Gu Changge watched all this calmly and coldly, never intervening.
Finally, he flicked his sleeve, and the black lotus rooted in the vast void began to shrink. The enormous petals folded in, and the entire dark domain vanished from the heavens and earth, transforming into a beam of light that flew back into his hand.
This black lotus was an evolution of the power of the Gate of Eternal Life. Those imprisoned within were actually trapped inside the Gate of Eternal Life.
However, for the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the cultivators of the smaller orthodox forces intercepted at the Mountain of Myriad Wonders, this near-miraculous scene filled them with even greater fear and awe.
To wield such power, to easily create such an unimaginable scene, and to effortlessly imprison Ancestral Dao Realm existences—this was beyond comprehension.
After this chaotic battle, the area was in ruins, and the Mountain of Myriad Wonders was almost destroyed.
Everywhere bore the scars of battle. Immortal mountains and ancient peaks had collapsed, and the corpses of stars littered the ground. The surrounding universes were shattered, a horrifying sight.
Knights mounted on ferocious ancient beasts, wielding heavenly blades and halberds, surrounded the entire Mountain of Myriad Wonders, preventing any cultivators or beings from escaping.
Although many hadn't seen what happened inside the Mountain of Myriad Wonders, they could sense the earth-shaking battle that had taken place.
In the end, only ruins and blood mist remained. It wasn't hard to guess what had happened, and it filled countless hearts with fear.
"Alliance Leader, how should we deal with these people?"
A beam of light streaked across the sky. A Dao Realm expert from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, riding a mount, circled the area, scanning the cultivators of the smaller orthodox forces who had been intercepted. He approached Gu Changge and respectfully asked for instructions.
"This matter has nothing to do with them. Let them leave peacefully."
"They were merely used. The Heaven-Slaying Alliance has already caused enough slaughter."
Gu Changge spoke calmly, still gazing at the ruined Mountain of Myriad Wonders, as if no one could guess what he was thinking.
"Understood, Alliance Leader."
The Dao Realm expert's eyes filled with even greater respect and awe. He then transformed into a beam of light and left, allowing all the intercepted cultivators and beings to depart safely.
Gu Changge's words also eased the anxious hearts of these cultivators and beings.
Many looked at him with gratitude and admiration. Their previous fears and negative views of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were completely overturned, and some even began to consider joining the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
In such a situation, the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance still didn't trouble them, not treating them as ants or cannon fodder, but as equals.
In contrast, the leaders and sect masters of the immortal orthodox forces, though they spoke of righteousness, were cold and cruel, treating all beings outside their circles as ants, indifferent to their lives.
Though Gu Changge appeared cold and ruthless, he was the one who truly treated everyone as living beings.
"What a magnificent drama. It left me in awe and admiration."
"Not only did you easily take control of the entire Prime-Origin Civilization, but you also won over the hearts of the people, making the Heaven-Slaying Alliance the rightful authority in their eyes. This lays the most solid foundation for replacing the Xiyuan Sacred Hall and unifying the Prime-Origin Civilization."
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined such methods…"
"If I had even a fraction of your skill when I ruled the immortal kingdom, I wouldn't have ended up like this."
A wisp of faint smoke twisted and materialized beside Gu Changge, forming a graceful figure. It was the spirit of the Book of Scavenging, another supreme treasure of civilization in Gu Changge's possession.
She sighed meaningfully, as if trying to peer through the hazy mist to see the depths of Gu Changge's eyes, to understand his emotions and thoughts.
"Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to achieve all this."
Gu Changge glanced at her, his tone still devoid of emotion, unmoved by her words.
"I didn't do much. In truth, Elder Xianyun should be your greatest contributor. Instead of thanking her, you imprisoned her."
"When it comes to ruthlessness, no one can match you. This self-directed drama not only manipulated the entire Prime-Origin Civilization but also nearly drove the ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace to take her own life to prove her innocence…"
The spirit of the Book of Scavenging laughed, but when Gu Changge's eyes calmly turned to her, she felt uneasy and could only force a dry laugh, swallowing the rest of her words.
She knew that staying by Gu Changge's side and knowing too much about his affairs was not a good thing.
Not only had he schemed against the Immortal Chu Dynasty, causing Chu Gucheng's death, but he had also orchestrated this entire drama to manipulate the Prime-Origin Civilization. She knew all this and had even assisted Gu Changge.
Given Gu Changge's ruthless nature, he might very well discard her after crossing the river, ensuring these secrets were buried forever.
The agreement between them was not foolproof and couldn't guarantee her safety indefinitely.
"You're smart. You should know that knowing too much isn't always good for you."
"Some things shouldn't be said carelessly. I will honor our agreement and help you escape the Book of Scavenging, even help you seek revenge and reclaim what you once had."
"But until then, you'd better behave. I like smart people, but not those who overestimate their intelligence." Gu Changge glanced at her calmly, his tone casual.
The spirit of the Book of Scavenging had indeed learned much by staying by his side.
But if she overstepped, Gu Changge wouldn't mind making her the eternal spirit of the Book of Scavenging or ensuring she disappeared from the world along with those secrets.
In contrast, the spirit of the Orb of Great Vow, after separating from its original host, had almost never interfered with external matters.
Instead, it chose to enter a deep slumber, handing over all the Orb of Great Vow's functions and authority to Gu Changge to preserve its true soul and wisdom.
"I… I understand. I got carried away today…"
The spirit of the Book of Scavenging said with a hint of fear, then transformed into a wisp of smoke and retreated into the Book of Scavenging.
Gu Changge didn't say more. He was only warning the spirit of the Book of Scavenging, not actually planning to take action against her.
Though he wasn't a good person, he wasn't the type to casually discard allies or break agreements.
Moreover, the spirit of the Book of Scavenging wasn't wrong. The success of this self-directed drama was indeed thanks to Elder Xianyun of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
When Ling Yuling and the ancient existences jointly refined the Alliance Golden Tome, the various materials required were gathered by the orthodox forces and sent to the Imperial Immortal Palace, where Elder Xianyun and others inspected them before delivering them to Ling Yuling.
During that time, Gu Changge personally approached Elder Xianyun and gave her the materials needed to refine the Alliance Golden Tome.
Elder Xianyun, suspecting he had ulterior motives, refused to accept them. Though her life was in Gu Changge's hands, she refused to compromise, adopting a stance of宁可玉碎不为瓦全 (rather be shattered jade than intact tile).
She didn't know Gu Changge's plans, but she could guess that the materials he provided were definitely problematic.
Gu Changge didn't beat around the bush. He stated his intentions clearly: during the Prime-Origin Covenant, he would target all forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization. Though he had some ties to the Imperial Immortal Palace, that wouldn't stop him from annihilating them.
After all, Ling Yuling, the ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace, was determined to oppose him. For enemies who stood against him, he never showed mercy.
He wasn't here to ask for her help but to give her a chance—a chance for the Imperial Immortal Palace to survive.
If she failed, the Imperial Immortal Palace would have no chance of survival.
Gu Changge was concise, and Elder Xianyun was left stunned, her face pale and trembling.
If she didn't want the Imperial Immortal Palace to be destroyed, she had to follow Gu Changge's orders without error.
The lives of the entire Imperial Immortal Palace were in her hands. She knew Gu Changge's strength and that he could absolutely do as he said.
She wept and cursed Gu Changge for being despicable and shameless, even considering shattering her Dao Fruit.
But Gu Changge's tone remained calm and cold throughout.
He told Elder Xianyun directly that if she died, this opportunity would vanish, and the fate of the Imperial Immortal Palace would remain unchanged.
Elder Xianyun wept and remained stunned for a long time.
Finally, she made Gu Changge swear not to harm anyone in the Imperial Immortal Palace. Only after he agreed did she deliver the materials to the depths of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
The Book of Scavenging could deduce the causal events related to an object. It was through this ability that Gu Changge learned in advance the materials Ling Yuling needed to refine the Alliance Golden Tome.