The strength of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has made many True Worlds within the Vast Expanse wary.
At this time, some True Worlds are also attempting to take advantage of the chaos and turmoil in the Prime-Origin Civilization to infiltrate their forces, intending to support the clans and orthodox forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization to oppose the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
This also brings many benefits to those True Worlds.
Not to mention that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance is now based in the Prime-Origin Civilization, and any conflicts or battles with the local clans and forces would deplete the Prime-Origin Civilization's resources.
Simply by infiltrating their forces into the Prime-Origin Civilization, they could potentially establish a foothold, carve out territories, and gradually consume the Prime-Origin Civilization's vast resources.
The depth and breadth of a Supreme True World with a First-Generation Civilization Artifact as its foundation need no further explanation.
This is enough to make any True World envious and willing to take risks.
However, at this time, many local clans and forces in the Prime-Origin Civilization are more concerned about the Mirror of Reincarnation and have been investigating the whereabouts of Saintess Xiyuan.
If it weren't for the emergence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, which caused turmoil in the Prime-Origin Civilization and led to the Mirror of Reincarnation being taken away from the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, other orthodox forces wouldn't have had the opportunity to act.
After all, forging a Civilization Artifact is no easy task. It requires the combined efforts of an entire civilization, and only during times of unimaginable calamity or the collapse of a civilization is there a slim chance of success.
The Mirror of Reincarnation is one of the six First-Generation Civilization Artifacts that were used to seal the Heaven-Warring Organization's leader. Its power and mysteries are beyond description.
If any civilization were to obtain it and revive it with the full power of their civilization, its divine might could easily awe the heavens and the ages.
In the past, the Mirror of Reincarnation was safely enshrined in the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, serving as the foundation of the hall's deterrence in the Vast Expanse and stabilizing the True World's fortune.
No civilization dared to underestimate or invade it.
Now, with Saintess Xiyuan taking the Mirror of Reincarnation and disappearing, the Prime-Origin Civilization has completely lost the protection of the Mirror of Reincarnation.
Given Saintess Xiyuan's strength, she is utterly incapable of fully reviving the Mirror of Reincarnation.
With the Mirror of Reincarnation in her hands alone, it's like a young girl holding a fortune that could rival a nation, yet she is away from home with no adults to protect her.
Moreover, many orthodox clans have learned that during the battle at the Mountain of Myriad Wonders, Saintess Xiyuan paid a heavy price to escape, even taking a direct blow from Gu Changge, leaving her severely injured.
How could she possibly protect the Mirror of Reincarnation from being seized?
"Without the Mirror of Reincarnation, the Xiyuan Sacred Hall is just a tiger without teeth or claws. It can neither deter nor harm anyone."
"If the old folks from the Xiyuan Sacred Hall want their people back, let's see if they have the courage to come to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance," Gu Changge said indifferently.
Saintess Xiyuan was deliberately released by him to lure out the ancient figures behind the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
But now, it seems he overestimated the Xiyuan Sacred Hall's foundation. Aside from Saintess Xiyuan's master, Sage Xi, there is almost no one else who can hold the fort."
Perhaps not even someone who has survived the Nine Heavenly Decline Tribulations.
And Sage Xi has never shown herself.
"Alliance Leader, should we take action against the Xiyuan Sacred Hall? Many clans and forces are waiting for the Xiyuan Sacred Hall to make a move. If the Xiyuan Sacred Hall continues to obstruct us, it will still have a significant impact on the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's expansion…" In the main hall, Hun Guangjun pondered and cupped his hands to ask.
The members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were actually aware of Gu Changge's decision to spare the Imperial Immortal Palace.
Clans and orthodox forces like the Demon Court and Purple Mist Mountain felt a sense of regret, thinking it was the best opportunity to destroy the Imperial Immortal Palace.
However, no one dared to question Gu Changge's decision.
Moreover, complete annihilation didn't align with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's principles.
Many clans and forces that joined the Heaven-Slaying Alliance did so seeking protection and a period of peace to recuperate, not necessarily to gain benefits.
Once war breaks out, there will inevitably be losses and sacrifices.
After the events of the Prime-Origin Covenant, the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance felt that Gu Changge was someone who disliked killing and slaughter. If they could subdue their enemies without resorting to force, that would be ideal.
"There's no need to worry about the Xiyuan Sacred Hall. I have my own plans."
Gu Changge shook his head, his gaze profound. "All you need to do is keep an eye on the movements of the various orthodox forces. If they remain obstinate, then lead the troops to suppress them without worrying about the consequences."
The grand play he orchestrated during the Prime-Origin Covenant has planted a seed in the hearts of all living beings in the Prime-Origin Civilization.
What is this seed? It is prejudice, bias, and stubbornness.
Originally, the myriad beings of the world had no favorable impression of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
In the eyes of many clans and forces, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance represented evil and chaos, the root cause of the turmoil in the Prime-Origin Civilization.
This preconceived notion has existed since the establishment of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and has become deeply ingrained in the hearts of many clans and forces.
Gu Changge never intended to change the myriad beings' perception of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
All he needed to do was leverage this prejudice at a critical moment, making the myriad beings and clans realize how deeply ingrained their bias and stubborn views of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance might not be as despicable, chaotic, or evil as they thought.
A good person who has done countless good deeds will face endless slander and defamation the moment they commit a single wrong.
But a bad person is different. Even if they have done many evil deeds, they only need to do one good deed to easily earn praise and acclaim from others.
This is the power of preconceived notions.
The Xiyuan Sacred Hall was established at the dawn of the Prime-Origin Civilization. Over countless epochs, it has protected numerous clans and forces. However, after the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, the Xiyuan Sacred Hall failed to intervene in time and instead allowed the events to unfold, causing its reputation to plummet.
After the Prime-Origin Covenant, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance received countless praises and admiration for not troubling innocent clans and forces, with its influence and status rivaling that of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
"Lead troops to suppress without considering the consequences?"
Zhuo Fengxie, Hun Guangjun, and the others were stunned and couldn't help but ask, 'Alliance Leader, won't this easily lead to backlash, damaging your reputation and that of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? Excessive slaughter might cause panic and unease among the various clans.
"The Heaven-Slaying Alliance was never a benevolent force. My reputation has long been set. How much worse can it get? You don't need to worry too much about this," Gu Changge said with a faint smile, completely indifferent.
The grand play was merely for show. Now that the play has concluded perfectly, why waste time continuing the act?
As for causing backlash, there's no need to consider it. Someone will always step in to justify everything as "righteous."
"We understand."
Gu Changge's words made Zhuo Fengxie, Hun Guangjun, Chu Heng, and others straighten their expressions. Many of them exchanged glances, their eyes filled with excitement.
War and conquest are inevitable. Earlier, they had thought they might need to find ways to avoid these conflicts.
But it seems that after the Prime-Origin Covenant, the Alliance Leader has changed his mind. Excessive benevolence will only lead to self-inflicted losses.
Now, with the lives of the leaders and sect masters of various immortal orthodox forces in the hands of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, why fear those forces not submitting?
After receiving Gu Changge's approval, the members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the hall withdrew.
Outside the hall, Zi Wanhe, the master of Purple Mist Mountain, took a few steps before stopping. He glanced back at the hall with a troubled expression, thinking of the transaction, but in the end, he sighed helplessly, not daring to defy it. He could only follow the others and leave.
Those people had asked him to get close to Gu Changge and investigate his origins.
It sounded simple, but in practice, it was extremely difficult—almost impossible. It seemed no one in the entire Heaven-Slaying Alliance knew Gu Changge's identity or origins.
Even Ling Huang and Mu Yan, who had been by his side from the beginning, were completely in the dark.
Zi Wanhe had tried to subtly inquire from them but received no answers. Gu Changge's origins remained a complete mystery.
The prevailing speculation was that he might be connected to the former Heaven-Warring Organization.
The Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist with the Heavenly Decline Tribulation aura who had recently appeared by Gu Changge's side might hold the answers.
Inside the hall, Gu Changge glanced at Zi Wanhe, who had lingered for a moment, but did not call him back.
The day Zi Wanhe delivered the replica of the Coffin of World Burial, Gu Changge had already started paying attention to him. According to Old Man Cold Crow, the Coffin of World Burial was now in the hands of the Heavenly Faction.
Thus, Zi Wanhe was likely secretly in contact with the Heavenly Faction.
However, Gu Changge was in no hurry to make contact with the Heavenly Faction. Premature contact would mean his identity would soon be exposed.
But there were still many things he needed to accomplish, and exposing his identity early would only bring more trouble.
In the following period, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, following Gu Changge's orders, began to reveal its sharp claws to the entire Prime-Origin Civilization.
To truly create an era of peace for all living beings, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance forcibly required all clans and forces in the Prime-Origin Civilization to abide by the rules and laws set by the alliance and to heed its commands.
Under such overwhelming pressure, despite the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's strength and its claim to righteousness, it still faced opposition and resistance from many clans and forces.
Protests and voices of discontent emerged across various cosmic regions, with many claiming that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was too overbearing and that its so-called righteousness was merely a cover for its own ambitions.
Such voices were particularly strong in the Xiyuan Sacred Hall. However, after Gu Changge personally visited the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, these voices gradually faded.
Many ancient existences trembled in fear, realizing that many auras had disappeared from the Xiyuan Sacred Hall in a single day.
The ancient figures who had been in secluded cultivation deep within the River of Time and Space seemed to have been captured and taken away by Gu Changge.
This discovery filled many orthodox clans with terror and unease.
Gu Changge had already grown powerful enough to act freely within the Prime-Origin Civilization, even venturing deep into the Xiyuan Sacred Hall to capture its most ancient figures.
If even the Xiyuan Sacred Hall couldn't stop Gu Changge, did that mean he could descend upon their territories at any time and forcibly take away their elders and foundational figures?
Several years later, the severely injured "Saintess Xiyuan" returned safely.
Her first act upon returning to the Xiyuan Sacred Hall was to visit the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's headquarters and bring back the ancient figures Gu Changge had captured. She then led the Xiyuan Sacred Hall to join the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
This event caused a massive uproar in the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Countless cultivators and beings were shocked and found it unbelievable, unable to accept that even Saintess Xiyuan had made such a decision.
Initially, the Prime-Origin Covenant had been spearheaded by Ling Yuling, the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, and Saintess Xiyuan.
Yet now, it was the Imperial Immortal Palace and the Xiyuan Sacred Hall that were the first to join the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Many clans and orthodox forces speculated that this was a desperate compromise by Saintess Xiyuan.
To rescue the ancient figures of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, she had no choice but to submit.
From the day the Xiyuan Sacred Hall joined the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, its influence began to decline rapidly.
Many clans, forces, and living beings secretly despised and cursed, believing that the Xiyuan Sacred Hall had betrayed the Prime-Origin Civilization, clinging to survival in disgrace, and disregarded the trust of all.
Of course, some suspected that this might be a trick. Was the returning "Saintess Xiyuan" truly the real "Saintess Xiyuan"?
After all, Chu Gucheng, the ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, had once used this very trick to deceive various clans. Who's to say Gu Changge wouldn't employ the same tactic?
In the following centuries, war and chaos swept across the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Led by immortal orthodox forces and civilizations from beyond the Vast Expanse, many clans and forces within the Prime-Origin Civilization began to unite, forming organizations to resist the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
However, faced with the terrifying foundation and ruthless suppression tactics of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, these organizations and alliances, both large and small, ultimately fell apart.
Many clans and forces fled like stray dogs, scattering in all directions.
During this period, a chaotic war lasting thousands of years erupted across the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Every so often, turmoil would break out in various regions.
Some clans and forces, unable to endure the situation, chose to migrate out of the Prime-Origin Civilization, sneaking into other True Worlds.
Even within the territories governed by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, such situations occasionally occurred.
The entire Prime-Origin Civilization was plunged into turmoil and chaos. Many historians referred to this period as the Chaotic Era of the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Some of the sect masters and leaders imprisoned in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's dark cells, in order to survive, had no choice but to submit and began following the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's orders.
Some even personally led troops to conquer their former clans and forces, expanding the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's territories.