Chapter 1275
Chapter 1275: The greatest cruelty in the world, seeing beauty being torn apart
The dense Absolute Heavenly mist, seemingly finding an outlet, surged wildly toward the withered figure of the middle-aged Dao-building expert. Horror and disbelief widened his eyes. His neck constricted like someone strangling a chicken.
Despite not fully transforming into a corpse emperor, he remained a bona fide quasi-immortal emperor. Across eras and realms, such beings stood as renowned and supreme figures. They oversaw vast territories and commanded all living beings.
The young man before him held power over him, rendering him powerless as if his entire being were imprisoned.
In addition to this shocking revelation, the rapid collapse of the Dao fruit he had painstakingly cultivated for countless years left him incredulous and desperate. It was swiftly devoured by the young man, further amplifying the vast strength difference and intensifying his horror.
Attempting to roar, he discovered his soul was imprisoned, rendering him mute and incapable of expressing his thoughts. He felt bound to a singular point or line, a perpetual state of rebirth.
In the next instant, a deep and lifeless black divine fire enveloped Gu Changge entirely. Unfazed, he shook his head gently, lifting his palm. Countless laws and orders materialized, converging into a dazzling force that encased the entire area.
The Absolute Heavenly mist emitted a hissing sound, surging into the person’s body like a thousand rivers converging into the sea. Although expansive, the soul realm was connected to the original world. The surviving soul race within it ranked among the top ten races, with their ancestors presiding over the great sacrifice.
The middle-aged Dao-building expert failed to intimidate by revealing his soul realm background. Even formidable masters in the real world refrained from losing face when confronted by the soul race.
However, he underestimated Gu Changge’s intentions, failing to antic.i.p.ate that Gu Changge wouldn’t be concerned about the so-called soul race. The world gradually fell silent, and the dense Absolute Heavenly mist grew thinner. The dilapidated altar, originally designed to steal the luck of the mountains and seas, crumbled under Gu Changge’s attack. As a result, the corrupt luck dispersed into the Cangming realm.
Regarding this person’s Dao fruit, Gu Changge unabashedly claimed it for himself. With the demise of this individual, the Absolute Heavenly mist that blanketed the sky also dissipated. Outside the Cangming realm, Gu Changge discerned a faint pa.s.sage surrounded by a blood-like substance. Presumably, it was the path this figure had taken to arrive.
However, Gu Changge showed no interest in exploring it, waving his sleeve to collect the Dao fruit into the treasure vase of the great Dao. He intended to refine it later, after leaving this place.
The demonic energy in Cangming has dissipated.
The bodies of these demons are collapsing.
What happened there? Was there a major battle just now?
The many immortal kings from the City of No Return, who had not ventured deep into the Cangming Realm, were bewildered. Some found it challenging to believe what they were witnessing – the demonic energy that had influenced them for countless years was dissipating visibly.
Connecting the dots with the recent battle fluctuation in the Cangming Realm, an immortal king spoke with a complex expression, “Could it be that he took action to eliminate this demonic energy?” The mere thought left him pondering.
Cen Shuang also fell silent. Having battled demons outside the Cangming Realm for hundreds of thousands of years, she grasped the significance of the dissipating demonic energy.
However, Cen Shuang found believing and accepting everything she witnessed challenging.
“Why… Why did he take action to resolve the source of the demonic energy here?” she questioned, her gaze fixed on the depths of the Cangming Realm. Despite the thinning and dissipating demonic energy, it remained beyond their reach.
The rest of the elders fell silent. No one knew the answer to this question or comprehended Gu Changge’s motivations.
“Let’s go. It’s time to leave,” Gu Changge declared, the scent of lavender permeating the air as he glanced at King Luo, Immortal King Xue Xiao, and the others.
“Yes, my lord,” King Luo w.a.n.g, Immortal King Xue Xiao, and the others responded, unsure about Gu Changge’s actions in the depths of the Cangming Realm and hesitant to inquire further. They quickly followed him.
Gui Lao, Granny Yao, and many other immortal kings from the City of No Return were hesitant and needed clarification. They stood there, contemplating, until the figures of Gu Changge, King Luo, and others disappeared into the distance. This snapped them back to reality.
Nothing unfolded as they had expected. Gu Changge’s behavior and att.i.tude seemed unrelated to the evil demon they initially envisioned. Apart from the initial act of destroying surrounding star fields and forcing the Floating Realm to emerge. He appeared to spare the cultivators and creatures in Fuyan.
Initially prepared for a desperate fight, the City of No Return residents were baffled by the unexpected turn of events. Even the demonic energy source in the Cangming Realm had been eliminated. After leaving the Cangming Realm, Gu Changge departed with King Luo and others without returning to the Floating Realm.
Gu Changge’s departure left the residents of the City of No Return in disbelief. They had braced themselves for a fierce confrontation, antic.i.p.ating a battle against an evil villain.
However, Gu Changge’s actions suggested otherwise. He seemed unconcerned with the Floating Realm’s destruction. Instead, he focused on confirming Qing Yi’s whereabouts.
The primordial creatures in human form, such as the Ancient Crocodile, expressed astonishment and confusion. They had steeled themselves for a life-or-death struggle, ready to face the worst. Yet, Gu Changge departed without uttering a word, leaving the inhabitants of the City of No Return in a state of disbelief.
In the city, rumors spread like wildfire. The residents, who had prepared for the worst, found comprehending the sudden turn of events challenging. Some questioned whether Gu Changge considered them insignificant, akin to ants beneath his notice. Others speculated that he perceived no threat from them and did not deem their destruction necessary.
The prevailing confusion and uncertainty left the people of the City of No Return grappling with their emotions. The tragic atmosphere enveloped the city before it began to lift, replaced by an air of surreal disbelief. In retrospect, the previous sense of impending doom seemed like an overreaction.
“Why did he just leave?”
“He didn’t say anything about destroying the City of No Return?”
“Maybe to him, we’re just inconsequential. He doesn’t care about us at all?”
The residents pondered these questions, searching for explanations that remained elusive. The enigmatic departure of Gu Changge left the City of No Return in a state of bewilderment, questioning the validity of their previous fears and anxieties.
The inhabitants of the City of No Return grappled with the perplexing departure of Gu Changge. Some speculated that he considered them inconsequential, easy to trample like ants, and hence did not bother with their destruction.
However, a lingering question arose among the Immortal Kings and elders. Why did Gu Changge eliminate the source of demonic energy in the Cangming Realm?
One Immortal King elder expressed his confusion, shaking his head in puzzlement. The uncertainty also troubled figures like Gui Lao, Granny Yao, and the old city lord, Cen Shuang, who questioned the motives behind Gu Changge’s actions.
Another Immortal King elder provided some context, revealing that Gu Changge’s actions benefited the Immortal Domain. Under his rule, there were signs of recovery in the Realm of Origin and the Immortal Domain, with plans to unify foreign realms and restore the glory of the World of Mountains and Seas. The Immortal Domain, once silent, showed signs of rejuvenation.
Despite these positive changes, doubts lingered. Why did Gu Changge destroy the barrier outside the Floating Realm and force their exposure? Cen Shuang, though conflicted, acknowledged that it might have been the only way to draw them out.
While defending Gu Changge, another Immortal King elder questioned whether, despite the positive changes, the underlying reason for the initial destruction could ever be fully understood. This destruction caused the City of No Return to end up in its current state.
Cen Shuang, recognizing the complex situation, expressed her understanding. She believed that, given the circ.u.mstances, the best possible outcome was the fact that Gu Changge harbored no malice and spared them from destruction.
The Immortal King elder acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the events and accepted the current state of affairs.
The City of No Return inhabitants grappled with conflicting emotions regarding Gu Changge. Some believed that fear and the desire for self-preservation motivated their consideration of Gu Changge, while others grappled with the contradiction of his actions. The initial a.s.sumption that Gu Changge sought revenge against the survivors of the Immortal Palace perplexed them.
Questions arose about Gu Changge’s true intentions. If revenge was his goal, why did he not quickly destroy the Floating Realm?
The fact that he came to the Floating Realm and took action to eliminate the demonic energy’s root added to the mystery.
Unaware of Gu Changge’s true motive to obtain the Dao Fruit, the inhabitants speculated on his character. One elder entertained the notion of guilt as a possible motivator, but the suggestion seemed unlikely and prompted some self-mockery.
Amidst the confusion, Cen Shuang could not accept Gu Changge’s actions. Despite his villainous reputation, she questioned why he acted differently than antic.i.p.ated. The inner conflict stemmed from the deep-seated hatred she harbored for the Unrivaled Demon Lord. According to her father’s words, the Demon Lord held a position that deterred invasion from the rest of the real world. The unexpected events left her grappling with the contradictions of Gu Changge’s actions and her preconceived notions.
The memory of the Grand Palace Master left a lasting impression on Cen Shuang’s young mind. All Star Lords and ministers respectfully addressed the Grand Palace Master as seniors.
She vividly recalled visiting the immortal palace with her father, where the tranquil courtyard, floating immortal mist, and ripe flat peaches created an enchanting scene. However, the most unforgettable moment was the presence of the Great Palace Master and the Unrivaled Demon Lord, who walked together like lovers, sharing a moment of intimacy under the flat peach tree.
The memory painted a picture of refinement and beauty, with petals falling and landing on the Grand Palace Master’s hair. With a gentle smile, the Demon Lord reached out to remove the petal, and the Grand Palace Mistress responded by holding his palm.
At that moment, it seemed as if no one else was in the world. Young Cen Shuang was captivated by the scene’s beauty, yearning for such idyllic moments.
However, the cruel twists of fate shattered this beauty. Learning of the Grand Palace Master’s demise at the hands of the Demon Lord was a devastating blow for Cen Shuang. The revelation left her frozen, as if struck by multiple thunderclaps, unable to comprehend the unfolding tragedy.
Now, contemplating Gu Changge’s recent actions and apparent lack of malice, Cen Shuang grappled with conflicting emotions. She couldn’t reconcile the kind thoughts displayed by the villain who had once torn apart the beauty she had admired—the complexities of emotions and the contradictions in her perceptions added to the inner turmoil Cen Shuang experienced.