[Atop a mountain, white clouds surged and filled with Immortal mist.]
As far as the eye could see, there were undulating waves of magnificent mountains.
However, Gu Xian'er wasn't here to appreciate the view.
Currently, she was curled up like a ball with her small, delicate, and flawless face like white porcelain. Her brows curved to a frown as she faced a dilemma.
Unfortunately for her, this was quite a complicated matter.
"Ah Hong, tell me… is it true that Gu Changge was seriously injured when he fought against the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts. If it's true, do you think I should go take a look at him?"
Gu Xian'er hugged her legs, propped her head on them, and asked the big red bird on her shoulder with an eager voice.
Ah Hong rolled its eyes with a look of "Why are you asking me?"
Gu Xian'er already knew; there was no reason for her to ask Ah Hong.
But she just didn't know what to do.
She'd heard the news about Gu Changge's pursuit of the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts and the subsequent fight against him.
At first, she didn't believe the news about Gu Changge's injuries.
She knew how terrifying Gu Changge's strength was.
'Apart from me, is there anyone in the younger generation who can compete with Gu Changge?'
Of course, she was referring to her future self.
In Gu Xian'er's eyes, at least in the current younger generation, no one would be Gu Changge's opponent.
However, Gu Changge's opponent at the time was none other than the rumoured mysterious and terrifying Inheritor of Forbidden Demonic Arts.
She hadn't really seen the terrible Forbidden Demonic Arts' Inheritor, but she heard many things about him.
Despite the pursuit of all the major powers and forces, he managed to safely flee before disappearing without a trace.
No one knows the strength of such a powerful existence.
It was not impossible for Gu Changge to be injured by the hands of the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts.
She thought of Gu Changge as invincible…
However, just like ordinary people, Gu Changge can be injured or even killed.
This worried her a bit.
According to the rumours, Gu Changge was seriously injured and even lost some of his Origin Essence.
He looked so weak that it seemed the very breeze could blow him away.
Upon hearing this, Gu Xian'er was stunned. At first, she just laughed it off. Even after Gu Changge was injured by the sword strike, he showed no weakness, showing not even the slightest reaction.
How could he be so badly injured just by facing the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts?
But the more she thought about it, the more she felt that something was not right.
'With Gu Changge's character and ability, will he let him run away if he can really kill the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts?'
'That means that neither Gu Changge nor the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts could land the finishing blow.'
'And ultimately, both of them gave up.'
'I'm afraid that the rumours may indeed be true.'
As she thought of this, Gu Xian'er found herself drained of the motivation to find more opportunities.
During this time, her cultivation broke through by leaps and bounds. Not only did she go back to pick the Eight Sacred Bananas, but she also encountered a Nirvana Fruit.
Furthermore, she'd fought and killed many Young Supremes of the Ancient Immortal Races.
Her Cultivation Base had successfully broken through to the late stage of the Conferred King Realm, which was several times greater than when she entered the Ancient Immortal Continent.
She was absolutely sure that if she met Gu Changge next time, she would definitely be able to hold one of his palms.
'Humpf! It's not like I'm worried about his injury or anything! It's just that, if he dies, my revenge will never be completed!'
It was at that moment that Gu Xian'er finally came to a decision.
She'd also managed to give herself a good reason.
This good reason would come in handy in the case that Gu Changge dismisses her and was unwilling to accept her visit.
Such an excuse would help her avoid losing face.
Now, she can go to see if Gu Changge was really injured or not.
'Is the Inheritor of Forbidden Demonic Arts really as scary as the rumours?'
"I got a miraculous healing medicine a few days ago, which I think he'll like. Of course, this doesn't mean that the grudge between us is settled. This is just the result of my generosity! Yeah… just my generosity."
As she spoke to herself, Gu Xian'er turned into a divine rainbow, harnessed her divine weapon, and shot up into the sky as she quickly left.
— — —
While all the major groups in the Ancient Immortal Continent and the outside world were busy making a lot of noise due to the Forbidden Demonic Arts' Inheritor…
Gu Changge led a group of followers and casually found an ancient set of ruins known for helping in cultivation and rejuvenation.
Secretly, however, he was using various means to incite the hatred of the various outside cultivators and natives of the Ancient Immortal Continent.
When their hate reaches its peak, it would be the best time for the big figures from both sides to interfere.
Gu Changge doesn't mind thoroughly muddying the water.
And during this time, he gradually faded out of everyone's vision.
Only some Young Creatures, who wanted to inquire about him, approached this area before suddenly disappearing without a trace.
Gu Changge took advantage of this moment in time and fiddled with many treasures he obtained from the system's shop function.
Currently, he'd bought 3 more pieces of Transcendent Bone, granting him the bones of a hand, a foot, and a phalanx[1] on the right side of his body.
[1. bones which make up the fingers of the hand and toes.]
It was within this phalanx that Gu Changge refined the rules of Gengjin and the Endless Immortal Judgement.
Individually, these two held extreme attacking capabilities, but – joined together – they would naturally achieve a greater effect.
The bones of the phalanx were refined into a peerless sword by Gu Changge.
His idea was very simple.
And he would look very dashing while he was at it too.
In combat, he would be able to generate peerless sword intent with a mere flick, as he instantly slaughters his enemy.
Additionally, he managed to smoothly raise the Heavenly Immortal Dao Codex to the next level as his surface-level cultivation now reached the middle stage of the False God Realm.
And in secret, he became even more unscrupulous, using the Immortal Devouring Demonic Arts to frantically hunt down a few powerhouses.
Because of this, traces of the Inheritor of the Forbidden Demonic Arts reappeared and caused panic everywhere. Many creatures and cultivators felt that they were in grave danger.
Of course, Gu Changge believed that this train of thought could only come from people who overestimated themselves.
Even if a group of Young Creatures appeared in front of him and offered their Origin Essence, he might not care at all.
As of now, devouring existences in both the Heavenly God Realm and the God King Realm have shown negligible improvements to Gu Changge's true Cultivation Base.
The more his cultivation rises, the more essence he needs.
Of course, it was different for those with strong physiques and bloodlines.
That aside, Gu Changge was currently considering collecting the fish caught in his net.
He used the Immortal Binding Technique to lay a large net specifically for the Black Heavenly Eagle Clan. He had caught a lot of fish by now.
From his point of view, the entirety of the Black Heavenly Eagle Clan was caught in a large spider's web, allowing for their annihilation at any moment he pleased.
This was far more terrifying than any slave seal.
In a blink of an eye, time passed.
A few days later…
— — —
[In a magnificent Ancient Temple]
"It turns out you were just an Old Turtle…"
"All this time, I had been thinking it was some sort of Godly Tortoise.."
[Note: He is mocking him by saying Tortoise is better than Turtle. Worth noting that every Tortoise is a Turtle but not every Turtle is a Tortoise.]
Gu Changge spoke casually but did so with a hint of disdain.
He carried a white jade pendant in his hand from which a brilliant light came as the Old Turtle appeared.
The Old Turtle was white, and – like jade – was crystal clear and translucent. It even emitted a strange fragrance.
This was a kind of fragrance that can't be smelled by others.
But Gu Changge, the Inheritor of Immortal Devouring Demonic Arts, could easily perceive it, for this breath… was the fragrance of Divine Souls.
'Perhaps this Old Turtle's soul is some kind of immortal medicine.'
"Gu Changge, don't humiliate this Old Turtle. Just kill me if you want to!"
"If you try anything, this Old Turtle will break his true spirit!"
The Old Turtle that appeared on the pendant held a stiff look.
It witnessed Gu Changge's secret.
With Gu Changge's temperament, it was absolutely impossible to let the Old Turtle go.
At this time, 9 out of 10 people would use threats, intimidation, and other means to force it to tell some of the Ancient Deity of Reincarnation's secrets. Then, they would try to make it surrender.
The Old Turtle thought through these things very thoroughly. It had seen things it wasn't supposed to, and yet Gu Changge's methods remain a mystery
As such, the Old Turtle acted tough.
There was a look of righteousness in its pair of green bean-like eyes, shining with the will to persevere.
Although Ye Ling had many flaws in his character, he was a kind person.
There were also wicked people like Gu Changge. With such a demonic aura about him, how could he allow himself to surrender? To help him, to confess everything to survive would simply be unrighteous.
This contradicted its way of the Dao.
Who would guard this world if even someone such as the Old Turtle only thought of their own survival in the face of a villain as monstrous as Gu Changge?
"Since when did I humiliate you? Is calling you 'Old Turtle' considered a humiliation?"
When he heard the Old Turtle, Gu Changge slightly smiled with the look of finding it idiotic.
"Or perhaps you've lived for so long that you've forgotten what you are."
Gu Changge had full confidence in his ability to draw out the hatred of others, and he was sure that the Old Turtle felt the same.
"Gu Changge, you deceitful b*****d…"
As expected, Gu Changge's words made the Old Turtle's face turn blue as it couldn't help but retort.
Although it was called as such, it wasn't really an Old Turtle.
That was merely the name bestowed upon it by the Ancient Deity of Reincarnation.
'Just a Turtle?!'
The statement hit a sore spot, for though Ye Ling referred to him as such, he had never prodded on the hows and whys…
But as of this moment, Gu Changge mercilessly prodded at it.
If for its complete inability to put up any resistance, the Old Turtle would've fought Gu Changge however desperate such an endeavour may be.
"A deceitful b*****d? Can't you at least change it to something else?"
Gu Changge shook his head as he casually replied.
In his eyes, one could almost see the flow of black and white colours as the faint echoes of time rippled in the void.
"The Rules of Reincarnation…" The Old Turtle couldn't help but be astonished at this development.
The Old Turtle's divine soul gradually blurred, as if it was about to evaporate under the light emitted by the black and white lights.
Unexpectedly, in just a few short days, Gu Changge's control over the Samsara Talent had far surpassed Ye Ling's.
'This guy is simply too terrifying… no, I'm afraid the word doesn't come close to describing how it feels to face Gu Changge.'
"Where did you come from? If I'm interested, you might just survive."
It was then that Gu Changge came up with an offer.
'Fortunately, I've got nothing better to do, and that leaves me with enough time to deal with this Old Turtle.'
The Old Turtle was one of those 'portable grandparent' figures that Favoured Sons of Heaven usually have. Unfortunately for the Old Turtle, he was far weaker than other similar figures.
At most, it was a mere guide for the Favoured Son of Heaven.
"Don't even think about it! This Old Turtle will never surrender to you and help you in your wicked goals, Gu Changge…"
It seemed that the Old Turtle had already anticipated Gu Changge's offer, sneering in response.
The Old Turtle had already decided that Gu Changge had other plans in store for it, plans that required him to be kept alive.
After all, it was a creature that had followed the Ancient Deity of Reincarnation, and it knew many secrets of the Ancient True Immortals.
Unless Gu Changge was stupid, he would know that the Old Turtle had far more value alive than dead.
"I can't believe I have to repeat myself, but you really shouldn't overestimate your value."
When he heard this, Gu Changge sneered as well.
'Does this Old Turtle really think all that? It's in for a treat if it thinks I'll play my cards in line with the usual idiotic tropes.'
Buzz!
With a raise of his hand, a black Dao Rune floated in the air as it condensed into a Black Dao Bottle.
With a boom, wisps of black light fell from the void as it smothered the Old Turtle.
"Ahhh!"
At that moment, it let out a miserable cry, struggling to resist as the Black Dao Bottle buried itself deep into his soul.
Gu Changge had no interest at all in knowing the many secrets of the Ancient Deity of Reincarnation.
He was only interested in the alluring divine fragrance that the Old Turtle emitted.
The long-awaited and excellent sensation of devouring a divine soul…
Lin Tian, the trash leek who was actually a God King reborn, also possessed a unique fragrance. Perhaps it was due to the Old Turtle's proximity to Ye Ling that he became contaminated with the fortune that Favoured Sons of Heaven usually had.
Whether the Old Turtle recognized it or not was a trivial matter.
"Gu Changge, do you really want to kill me?!" The Old Turtle screamed, unable to believe that Gu Changge truly wished for its death.
"I wouldn't shed a tear without seeing the coffin first."
Gu Changge's eyes narrowed slightly.
Without mercy, the terrible power of the Immortal Devouring Demonic Arts surged from the Black Dao Bottle. Much to the despair of the Old Turtle, the power manifested into a large black rune as it drowned.
'It really was an immortal medicine. Unfortunately, it was a mere one third of the genuine immortal medicine.'
The vast medicinal essence seeped into his limbs and bones, like a raging galaxy of light that flowed through his body.
Immortal intent surged, giving the temple a divine and heavenly appearance for a brief moment.
As if miniature Black Dao Bottles had appeared in all 60 trillion cells of his body as they trembled, trying to absorb the seemingly infinite medicinal power.
At the same time, bits and pieces of information appeared in his mind, giving Gu Changge a slight surprise.
Coincidentally, he'd also broken through to the peak of the God King Realm.
And now, he was but a step away from the Sacred Realm…