The main hall was vast and solemn.
The many ministers and esteemed guests who had hurried over all stood respectfully within the hall, holding their breath and focusing their minds.
Yue Mingkong wore a phoenix crown and a gold-red imperial robe, sitting quietly at the very head.
Her expression was calm, her immortal beauty like a painting, time having not left a single trace upon her. Only deep within her profound eyes did emotions stir.
Those who had once been familiar with her now felt a sense of estrangement. The instant her beautiful gaze swept past, it seemed as if the space-time before them would collapse under its weight. Such was her immense majesty, like a true female emperor surveying the myriad worlds and overlooking all under heaven.
Whether the Gu Family Ancestor, Wine Sword Immortal, Ming, or the others, all felt a pressure emanating from Yue Mingkong.
One must know that before her seclusion, Yue Mingkong was not even an Immortal Emperor. Yet after emerging this time, she was already at the Dao Realms level, her Dao Fruit solid, her mana boundless and inexhaustible, able to drain a universe of space-time at will.
This hardly seemed like the state of someone who had just broken through to the Dao Realms.
Even existences of the Void Dao Realm who had passed several Heavenly Decline Tribulations could not match the vastness of Yue Mingkong's mana at this moment.
The Gu Family Ancestor's expression grew solemn.
"And this aura truly feels familiar, as if I have seen it in ancient texts..." He did not know whether this transformation was a good thing or a bad thing for Yue Mingkong.
The other guests and visitors were equally shaken, especially the few Dao Realm existences, who found it utterly inconceivable.
In terms of age, Yue Mingkong and Gu Changge were actually similar. Many of those from their generation were still within the Immortal Dao domain, having only just broken into the True Immortal realm.
Jiang Chuchu, the former Saintess of the Hall of the Human Ancestor, could be considered the fastest cultivator in present-day Dao Prosperity True World, aided by great fortune. Yet even she had only just stepped into the Immortal Emperor domain and was still an unknown distance from the Dao Realms level.
As for Gu Changge's other beloved consorts, their cultivation still lagged behind Jiang Chuchu's.
In the years since Gu Changge left Dao Prosperity True World, almost no new Dao Realm existences had been born.
Of course, it was also possible that newly emerged Dao Realm existences were no longer in Dao Prosperity True World and thus unknown to the world.
Over these years, many cultivators had secretly left Dao Prosperity True World for the Vast Expanse beyond.
As Dao Prosperity True World gradually connected with the outside world, the existence of the Vast Expanse was no longer a secret. Many ancient clans and lineages had also begun planning their migration outward.
Back when the Immortal Spirit Civilization attacked, many clans who sensed danger had already left Dao Prosperity True World ahead of time.
The Vast Expanse's immensity was beyond the imagination of ordinary beings. The entire Dao Prosperity True World within it was as insignificant as a speck of dust in a boundless river of stars.
"These years, Dao Prosperity True World has truly undergone tremendous change..."
Suddenly, Yue Mingkong spoke, her heavenly voice calm yet carrying a trace of emotion.
Compared to before her seclusion, today's Dao Prosperity True World could be described as completely transformed. And, of course, her own transformation could also be described as earth-shattering.
Before her seclusion, she had never imagined her strength would undergo such a change.
Was it a dream, or not?
"All of this is thanks to the Alliance Leader. If not for the Alliance Leader orchestrating everything and seeking great blessings for Dao Prosperity True World, how could we have achieved what we have today?"
Within the hall, the many guests and visitors, upon hearing this, spoke with reverence and veneration.
The Divine Kingdom was the power Gu Changge established in the Upper Realm, while the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was the force he founded after renaming Dao Prosperity True World. Cultivators of the Upper Realm were accustomed to calling him the Divine Lord or Demon Lord, while those of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were used to calling him Alliance Leader.
"Changge's doing?" Yue Mingkong was slightly taken aback, then a smile appeared at the corner of her lips, though longing stirred within her heart.
Though at their level of cultivation, they were not bound by romantic trifles—no daily entanglement of passion and clinging affection—the period of seclusion without seeing Gu Changge had truly left her unaccustomed.
Especially after emerging, that longing in the depths of her heart began to spread and grow wild like weeds.
Moreover, the matter she had encountered during her seclusion left her with a faint unease, which she very much wished to tell Gu Changge about.
Only with Gu Changge by her side would her heart find peace and calm.
Pulling her thoughts back, an expression of wry tenderness appeared on Yue Mingkong's flawless, breathtaking face. They were an old married couple of many years; why was she still as clingy as in those early days?
"He is probably out in the Vast Expanse now, planning his affairs..."
"In the Upper Realm, I could not offer him much help. But now, I should be able to help him somewhat." Yue Mingkong whispered in her heart.
After becoming a Dao Realm existence, she no longer needed others to report to her. With a single thought, she knew all that had happened in Dao Prosperity True World over these years, including the series of actions Gu Changge had taken since leaving.
Dao Prosperity True World's fortune was flourishing, prosperous and at peace. Countless clans stood strong. The Divine Kingdom sat deep within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, ruling over the myriad heavens; the entire world came to pay homage.
She truly had nothing to worry about.
The foundation Gu Changge had left behind was as solid as impregnable gold and would endure for countless ages.
"Today, a banquet for all under heaven."
After leaving these words, Yue Mingkong's figure vanished. She did not explain anything to the crowd, nor did she care for any elaborate formalities.
To her, breaking through to the Dao Realms was merely a matter of course. Because before Gu Changge left Dao Prosperity True World, he had left a Dao Realm seed within each of his beloved wives and consorts.
Yue Mingkong's rapid breakthrough owed a great deal to that Dao Realm seed.
Of course, another major reason was the technique she had cultivated and created herself:
Grand Dream Return to Immortality.
Even now, Yue Mingkong was somewhat at a loss. Who was she, really? She dreamed back to primordial times, to the dawn of the Innate Period. Who transmitted the Dao to her? And who was she?
In the past, she had believed she had been reborn from the future. But with her current cultivation, Yue Mingkong actually understood that it might have been merely an instant in which she had an epiphany, connecting to a timeline related to her future self.
As for whether the events on that timeline would actually happen, no one could say for certain.
In every single instant, there were tens of millions of possibilities, and every decision caused changes in the events on the future timelines.
However, in every future timeline she had observed while dreaming back to primordial times, she always married Gu Changge and became his wife.
That outcome was already predetermined, and would not change with any choice she made.
This made Yue Mingkong very happy and filled with sweetness, because no matter what happened in the future, she would become Gu Changge's wife.
Regrettably, Gu Changge was not currently in Dao Prosperity True World; otherwise, she would have wished to share this joy and sweetness with him.
"Perhaps it will only be when the Demon Lord returns that he will know what has happened..."
Watching Yue Mingkong vanish from the great hall, the Gu Family Ancestor shook his head. He still habitually referred to Gu Changge as the Demon Lord.
The tremendous transformation in Yue Mingkong reminded him of a certain era.
That era was incomparably ancient, far predating the eras familiar to the masses. If not for the scattered remnants of records in ancient texts, even he might not have known of it.
After Yue Mingkong's departure, the numerous guests and visitors in the hall also took their leave.
The news that the Empress had emerged from seclusion and broken through to the Dao Realms soon swept across the entire Dao Prosperity True World like a hurricane, causing a tremendous stir.
And to celebrate this event, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance held a banquet for all the heavens and worlds; every clan and lineage received an invitation.
Inside the Divine Hall of Fate, Xiao Ruoyin learned of the news and fell silent for a long time. If it had merely been Yue Mingkong's emergence from seclusion, she had not actually planned to go congratulate her. But she had not expected that Yue Mingkong had actually broken through to the Dao Realms.
Among Gu Changge's wives, she could be considered the first to break through to this realm.
"Wu Qi, accompany me for a walk outside." Xiao Ruoyin said. Her light veil like mist, and covered by a plain, snow-white outer robe, she slowly walked out of the hall.
Deep within the Hall of the Human Ancestor, iridescent light overflowed with color. The fortune of the myriad heavens converged here, like a skyful of misty haze, silver and resplendent, shrouding the void with unparalleled sanctity.
On the white jade corridor outside the hall, dozens of women carrying lanterns stood in silent attendance. A woman, as clear and cold as the moon, serene and transcendent, stunningly beautiful, walked over. All the women bowed respectfully when they saw her.
Jiang Chuchu gently waved her hand, a smile revealing itself on her flawless, peerless immortal face, and then she softly stepped into the hall.
Wang Zijin, dressed in a pale green, flowing immortal dress, was dozing off beside a writing desk. The jade hairpin tucked askew in her hair bun occasionally bumped against the purple-gold inkstone on the desk, staining it with traces of dark ink.
Because she was tall and slender in stature, if one looked from the side, they would see her legs curled up on the cushion, a section of her calf dangling outside, looking utterly languid.
"I knew you would be slacking off..."
Seeing her like this, with starry eyes half-open, her red lips gently exhaling, like a lazy cat, Jiang Chuchu couldn't help but smile. She walked over, her jade-like hand pinching Wang Zijin's slender, graceful nose.
Having her doze interrupted, Wang Zijin was immediately displeased. She widened her beautiful eyes and glared at her.
"You're only peaceful when you're in seclusion. Now that you're out, every day you just disturb my sweet dreams." She muttered, stretching her tender, slender waist lazily.
"If you don't train diligently, your cultivation will fall behind. I came today to ask you to accompany me somewhere." Jiang Chuchu's normally cool face showed a rare smile.
Wang Zijin glanced at her, "Where to?"
Both had been Saintesses of the Hall of the Human Ancestor before, and their relationship had always been very close. Every time Jiang Chuchu finished a seclusion session and emerged, she would seek Wang Zijin out for a drink or two.
Since the time she had exposed her alcohol tolerance in front of Gu Changge, Jiang Chuchu no longer hid it. Whenever she wanted a drink to dispel boredom, she would come find Wang Zijin.
Wang Zijin herself had little interest in cultivation and rarely went into seclusion. The many trivial and important affairs of the Hall of the Human Ancestor now fell onto her shoulders.
However, she liked to slack off and shirk duties. Matters she couldn't solve were all tossed to the elders of the Hall of the Human Ancestor.
Yet despite this, her cultivation still advanced rapidly. Even Jiang Chuchu, who was always in seclusion and aided by great fortune, was not necessarily much more profound than her.
"You truly are wholeheartedly devoted to leisure, deaf to the affairs of the world." Jiang Chuchu said with some exasperation. "Sister Mingkong has come out of seclusion, and she broke through to the Dao Realms."
"Ah..."
Wang Zijin was immediately shocked, her beautiful eyes widening. What little drowsiness remained vanished in an instant.
Her brows furrowed as she began pacing back and forth in the hall. "Not good, not good. This is a big problem. How could she have broken through so quickly? Could it be that fellow Gu Changge was partial, leaving her good things on purpose?"
Jiang Chuchu was speechless, and stretched out her white jade-like slender hand to tap her lightly.
"What are you thinking? How could Changge possibly be partial? He left each of us a Dao Realm seed."
Her clear eyes were lustrous, as if shimmering with light. As she said this, she cast a sidelong glance at Wang Zijin. "Even you have one."
Although Wang Zijin had never said so, Jiang Chuchu could in fact tell that there was definitely a relationship between her and Gu Changge.
The last time, when she had been schemed against by Wang Zijin and gotten drunk in front of Gu Changge, she could guess what had happened between the two afterward.
When she woke from her drunkenness the next day, she saw how Wang Zijin walked unsteadily and seemed unnatural. Who knew how wild the two had been that day.
Wang Zijin was somewhat guilty and lacking in confidence, but still wore a smiling expression as she said, "I'm just worried about you, considering things for your sake. Don't forget, even if you don't compete now, you will have to compete in the future. Now that your cultivation has fallen behind, if you don't gain ground in other areas, you'll fall behind step by step."
She was also curious. Jiang Chuchu's talent was clearly so outstanding, and she had the aid of the Hall of the Human Ancestor's power of fortune and power of faith, and was so hardworking—so why was it still Yue Mingkong who broke through to the Dao Realms first?
Could it be that the title of Empress truly kept her a step above them all?
"With Sister Mingkong having broken through this time, Changge should return."
Jiang Chuchu shot her a light glare, telling her not to speak nonsense. "The last time he returned, I was in seclusion, and he didn't wake me."
Wang Zijin's red lips were glossy, her smile meaningfully wide. "I really thought your eyes were truly empty of desire, that you were indifferent to fame and fortune and contended for nothing. I didn't expect you to have your own little schemes too..."
As if suddenly recalling something, Jiang Chuchu's fair, flawless jade-like face suddenly blushed slightly.
"Let's go, no more dawdling." Wang Zijin said with a laugh, no longer teasing her.
Among Gu Changge's wives, the Empress Yue Mingkong and the Divine Consort Yin Mei were closer in relationship. Jiang Chuchu, also a Divine Consort, was not very familiar with Yue Mingkong.
This was also related to the identities between the two. One was the princess of the Peerless Immortal Dynasty, Gu Changge's betrothed.
And Jiang Chuchu was the transcendent Saintess of the Hall of the Human Ancestor, the representative of sanctity and otherworldliness in the hearts of the world, yet secretly involved with Gu Changge.
This put Jiang Chuchu in an awkward position, and she felt somewhat embarrassed to meet Yue Mingkong face to face.
Though she had also been lawfully wedded to Gu Changge, married in a grand procession with bridal red stretching hundreds of millions of miles, Jiang Chuchu always felt a sense of guilt towards Yue Mingkong.
At the same time, within the Vast Expanse, in a void of turbulent space-time ripples and chaotic order.
Jing Tianyun, the Ancestor of the Jing Family, stood respectfully and reverently before Gu Changge, carefully receiving a hazy sphere of light handed over to him.
This place was his cultivation sanctuary. Because his current true body was an Undying Spirit corrupted by Dark Matter, he could not cultivate in the Jing Clan's territory. Otherwise, the commotion would easily attract considerable unnecessary attention and trouble.
"Rest assured, my lord. I will absolutely accomplish the task you have entrusted to me," Jing Tianyun vowed solemnly. The moment Gu Changge passed the hazy light sphere, it instantly transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into his mind.
Gu Changge nodded slightly. The reason he had left the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was precisely to condense this sphere of light, and to have Jing Tianyun bring it into the Nightmare Demon Domain.
Jing Tianyun's true body had long been corroded by Dark Matter, indistinguishable from a Dark Being. Thus, even if he openly entered the Nightmare Demon Domain, it would not pose any problem.