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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Gu Changge spoke with a smile on his face. Standing tall, he looked incomparably handsome and youthful. There were waves of Celestial Energy lingering around his spotless white clothes. As the Sound of the Great Dao rang out, Dao flowers started appearing beside him, and they bloomed on his head. The wisps of Celestial Energy dripped and sank into his body before they came out from the top of the head, turning into a Dao flower again. It went round and round in an attempt to nourish his body.
Such a scene even felt like he was an Immortal, detached from worldly things as he stood above all.
Because of Gu Changge’s appearance, the two realms at war in front of Sky Deer City fell into a brief silence. Whether it was a person from the Upper Realm or a beast from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, all of them were watching everything unfold at this moment, their hearts trembling. No one expected to see someone standing on the wall of Sky Deer City not long after this great war ended. All the experts and True Daoists felt gloomy in that instant. Many turned pale as they tightly clenched their fists, their bodies trembling, while some were so frightened even their teeth chattered.
There was no doubt that Gu Changge was powerful and terrifying. He once fought against three True Daoists by himself, and yet he didn’t appear any weaker than them. Although he was young, his techniques and strength were unbelievable.
Many from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains felt that even the rumoured True Immortal was far less terrifying than Gu Changge at such an age. Now, he was calling out names as he proposed a fight with Zhao Yunze, the top Cultivator of his generation 60 million years ago.
There was no way anyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains could hold back the worry and unease on their faces. Although Zhao Yunze was strong, he had already fought against Gu Changge once when they were in the Aether Abyss.
Gu Changge was gravely injured then, but Zhao Yunze still ended up losing and almost sustaining serious injuries himself. However, now that Gu Changge had recovered from his injuries, he must be strong. Devastatingly so. In other words, there was no way Zhao Yunze could win.
Once Zhao Yunze fought with him, there would be more disasters than blessings. It was very likely that he would end up like the True Daoist just now, defeated and killed by Gu Changge in front of everyone in Sky Deer City.
Zhao Yunze could be said to be the most likely existence in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains to break through to become a True Daoist. If he succumbed here, it would be the greatest loss for the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains.
[How unexpected for Young Master Changge to participate in a fight. It seems like Zhao Yunze is doomed to die today. He’s nothing more than a mere ant. Anyone who hasn’t reached the True Daoist Realm will eventually turn into ashes. No one is an exception.]
Many True Daoists from the Upper Realm had a glint in their eyes before they finally let out meaningful smiles. They didn’t expect Gu Changge to get involved himself. In their opinion, there was no need for Gu Changge to do so with his current status. But come to think of it, Gu Changge probably wanted to deal with the person in front of him with his own hands.
Zhao Yunze’s figure was tall and straight. He was powerful as he was heroic. Surrounded by strands of divine light, he had clanging sword energy on his body as countless sword shadows appeared and shifted in his eyes.
He currently had an ugly look on his face. It caught him off-guard when Gu Changge took the initiative to challenge him to a fight. Furthermore, it was at a critical time when the two realms were at war.
It would be a heavier blow to the morale of the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains if he refused to retreat, but if he accepted it, he would most likely die.
He had already experienced Gu Changge’s power and terror. At present, Gu Changge was not someone he could defeat.
“Young Master Yunze, you mustn’t say yes!”
“Indeed, Young Master Yunze. It’s Gu Changge we’re talking about here…”
Many Elders tried to dissuade Zhao Yunze in their shaky voices when they saw this. Acting rashly was the last thing he should do now. He would only fall for Gu Changge’s scheme that way. The rest, including some of the younger generation who came to the city’s wall, also spoke out at this moment as they tried to talk Yunze out of it. They didn’t want him to make such a poor choice and end up dead for no reason.
Hearing the words of concern around him, Zhao Yunze also let out a look of struggle and unwillingness. “Argh… If only I had another hundred years, I would have had the chance to become a True Daoist. I wouldn’t have to fear him then.”
Zhao Yunze was born with immense talent. For Cultivators from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, reaching the Ninth-Order Quasi-Nirvana Realm, being one step away from achieving the Great Dao in only 60 million years, was already unimaginably fast.
There were many beings with extraordinary talents who, at this age, were no more than in the Sacred Emperor Realm. It was a pity that he had been stuck before the finishing line for hundreds of thousands of years.
Till this day, when the two realms were at war, he had a vague feeling that the opportunity for his breakthrough would come soon. Unfortunately, the Upper Realm Army came charging in before he accomplished his goal.
With a smile on his face, Gu Changge regretfully sighed, “Is there no one who’s worthy of fighting me in the vast Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains? What a pity. Forget it if you aren’t brave enough to do it. But, I hope you still remember what you said the other day.”
Afterwards, with a wave of his sleeves, his robe aflutter, a crystal-like Celestial Energy fell from the sky, turning into a Golden Rune that appeared under his feet. He then started to leave Sky Deer City.
Hearing this, everyone in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains had aggrieved and angry expressions on their faces. Unfortunately, they couldn’t refute him. They understood that this was Gu Changge’s way of provoking Zhao Yunze, to get him to step out and fight, so that he would lose. Naturally, they couldn’t do what Gu Changge wanted.
It was true that no one from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was willing to fight Gu Changge. After all, there was no doubt they would get themselves killed. No one was stupid enough to do that.
However, Zhao Yunze’s voice suddenly rang out then. “Hold your horses!”
The turmoil evident on his face had already been replaced with indifference and calmness. He stared at Gu Changge’s figure with his fists tightly clenched one second, and relaxing the next. It seemed like he had given it a good thought.
If he avoided the battle, he might not be able to breakthrough his last threshold. Gu Changge obviously knew it too, which was why he deliberately said such words to provoke his Dao Heart.
“Oh? How brave!” Gu Changge stopped in surprise when he heard the words. However, his tone was casual and careless that it made him seem aloof and superior in the eyes of everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains. He already knew that Zhao Yunze wouldn’t be able to resist taking on the challenge, especially in front of hundreds of millions.
Him retreating now without putting up a fight would definitely be a heavy blow to his Dao Heart.
When everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains heard this, their faces immediately fell. Several True Daoists were also shocked by Zhao Yunze’s unexpected acceptance of the challenge. “You mustn’t, Young Master! Stepping forward now is no different from giving your life away! Your life isn’t only your own…”
[Is he not afraid to die?] The experts kept trying to talk him out of it, their faces glum and morale low. Instead of letting him die for no reason, they had to find a way to stop him.
“Yunze, you…” said the Domain Master of the Great Cloud Domain. He was an extremely heroic middle-aged man whose whole body was shrouded in the Mist of Chaos. There was a sense of majesty and invincibility behind his deep eyes. With every move he made, his surging and vast will filled this world. Anyone could see that this was a True Daoist with great cultivation, which the few who fought earlier couldn’t compare to.
“I’ve decided, Father. Please, don’t persuade me otherwise.” Despite hearing his father’s apprehensive voice, Zhao Yunze only calmly glanced at the people behind him. Amongst the crowd were his closest friend and lover. Even though they, too, were persuading him against his decision, Zhao Yunze had no choice but to disregard their advice.
Knowing that he couldn’t dissuade his son, the Domain Master of the Great Cloud Domain sighed softly, “This contains the Power of Faith gathered by hundreds of millions in the Great Cloud Domain throughout the years. It might be able to help you.”
He glanced coldly at Gu Changge who was outside the Sky Deer City, and with a wave of his hand, a three-legged purple cauldron appeared. There was a golden brilliance surrounding it, it was the Power of Faith that had been continuously gathered from all over the Domain.
It faintly seemed to resonate with Zhao Yunze, making his skin, bones, and internal organs all glow brightly. It looked as though he had been completely reborn.
[So, that is the power of the Great Cloud Domain…]
The looks on the True Daoists’ faces changed. The Domain Masters of the Ten Great Domains all had their own techniques and secret methods to use the power of their Domains. Among them, the Great Cloud Domain was said to have gathered the Power of Faith into their cultivation, resulting in both body and soul to be indestructible. Such a method could only be described as mysterious and unpredictable.
“This is our clan’s flag. It was once stained with the blood of an Immortal. Today, it shall be used by Young Master Yunze to defeat and kill the enemies from the Upper Realm.”
The Black Tortoise War God Clan’s Leader from the Four Powerful War God Clans came forward and handed over the imposing flag to Zhao Yunze.
This was the Black Tortoise Flag. Despite its tattered, blood-stained state, its unrivalled regality couldn’t be contained. The Four Powerful War God Clans all had their own flags, but they were shattered at some point during the first battle. Despite that, the power surpassed that of many Nirvana Grade Artifacts, and it seemed to shatter the sky as it waved in the wind.
Seeing this, everyone from the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains was shocked before they suddenly felt hopeful. With these two supreme treasures, Zhao Yunze’s strength would definitely be greatly improved. He just might be able to take on Gu Changge.
“Thank you, Senior.” Zhao Yunze nodded and took the Black Tortoise Flag. His figure then flashed through the teleportation altar. As a bright glow took place, he eventually appeared outside Sky Deer City. The fighting spirit and Sword Qi dripping off of him soared into the sky, breaking through the clouds, and seemed to be able to shatter the universe.
None of the experts in the Upper Realm had many changes in their expressions when they saw this. Although Zhao Yunze had the Great Cloud Domain’s Faith Artifact and the Black Tortoise Flag, the experts didn’t think Zhao Yunze was Gu Changge’s opponent. Gu Changge had come a long way. His strength and invincibility were already deeply rooted in the people’s hearts.
“Let me guess how long it will take for Young Master Changge to take care of this person.”
“That person will surely perish before Young Master Changge even reaches a hundred moves.”
“He’s nothing but an ant, and yet he dares think of defeating the leader of our army?”
As they chattered, their silhouettes were like the Ancient Devil Mountains, standing in the fog for all eternity. Their eyes were indifferent while they mocked Zhao Yunze, but their voices resounded throughout the world, making everyone in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains turn stiff. The feeling of surprise just now hit them like cold water that turned their whole bodies icy. They would have reciprocated if they were being ridiculed by ordinary people, but this was a group of supreme experts from the Upper Realm. They have watched over the world for several epochs now, they were invincible existences. Even just standing there was horrifying to the point the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains couldn’t help but drop to their knees.
“A Faith Artifact and a tattered piece of battle flag? This is what’s giving you the confidence?” Gu Changge stared at Zhao Yunze who appeared with intrigued eyes, his body was surrounded by Celestial Energy as a thick white mist filled the air. He was only standing there, but it looked as though three thousand ancient worlds had emerged, and were revolving there as they pushed forward. The vast and terrifying pressure came down on the sky, wanting to make all living beings tremble and kneel.
This was an unparalleled power. Even the stars outside the sky trembled because of his one thought, and they undulated like an ocean which turned into a rain of combusting, falling stars. Zhao Yunze looked at him coldly with unadulterated hatred and a murderous aura while wisps of sword glow rose around his body, ready to cut down planets and stars.
“It’s too early to be celebrating now. Who knows how this battle will turn out…” Zhao Yunze was not afraid. Since he had dared to stand up, he was naturally not afraid to fight Gu Changge. While speaking, a Nirvana Grade Sword appeared in his hand. It was a terrifyingly lethal treasure he had cultivated for many years.
…
“Oh, I should take the chance to get rid of you.” Gu Changge smiled lightly. The world seemed to be turned upside down when his eyes fell on Zhao Yunze. The moment his gaze flashed across, it was as if a thunderbolt descended into the world, causing the void to explode as a storm erupted.
Zhao Yunze’s expression changed slightly, but still, he charged towards Gu Changge with the Nirvana Grade Sword. The petrifying, boundless sword energy struck down instantly with force, trying to cross time and space. As sand flew, the army outside Sky Deer City was all affected by this power that aroused the Universal Great Shi, and the soldiers ended up trembling.
“How strong! This is the power of the greatest of my generation 60 million years ago!”
“Kill him, Young Master Yunze! I’ve always hated that bastard. He looks like an untainted Immortal, but he is cruel as the Devil!”
This scene uplifted everyone in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, and they were loudly cheering with their fists clenched as excitement took over. them. They felt that Zhao Yunze’s strength was no weaker than any other True Daoists. Today’s battle was actually an opportunity for him.
However, Gu Changge remained unbothered by the provocation. Not even the look on his face or in his eyes had changed the least bit. All he did was stretch out his right hand, and the Fragments of Time began to fly between heaven and earth. As the Dao Principles and Chaos Qi surged, all traces in the world began to slow down. This was the manifestation of the unparalleled Dao and Dharma. In the eyes of ordinary people, Gu Changge simply pointed out two fingers without making any unnecessary movements. The supreme experts, on the other hand, couldn’t help growing wary, with worry evident on their faces.
They saw the Fragments of Time and the Dao Principles flying behind Gu Changge, which made it seem as though the world behind him had become his domain, and just one thought anything in it could remain here forever.
*Boom!* Terrible fluctuations erupted here in an instant, and all the Principles surged as if they had been shattered, and the Sword Qi broke apart.
“You’re too weak.” Gu Changge lightly shook his head, the look in his eyes cold.
*Boom!* As soon as he pointed, a dazzling sword glow appeared on his finger like the Milky Way pouring down and illuminating the sky. The sound shook the sky and earth. The unimaginable force instantly blasted Zhao Yunze away. Countless stars exploded under this fluctuation, turning into ashes as they quietly died away.
At this moment, the person who was as strong as a True Daoist was on guard, and he felt chills all over his body as his hair stood on end. As for the rest, they were frightened down to their soul,. even when they were separated by the barrier outside Sky Deer City. They ended up prostrating themselves on the ground while they trembled.
“Ugh…” Shivering, Zhao Yunze kept coughing up blood as he turned ashen. The sword in his hand was shaking slightly. He had been blasted hundreds of thousands of kilometres away and almost exploded.
A terrifying sword mark was visible. It had reached deep into his bone. If it weren’t for the Black Tortoise Flag, which protected him from most of the damage, floating above his head, his entire body would have been cut into a cloud of bloodmist, and his body and soul would have been blown to pieces.
Watching this made everyone in front of Sky Deer City fall silent as if a basin of cold water had been poured over them. A majority of them gritted their teeth and shivered all over in fear and anger. They didn’t think that Zhao Yunze would be defeated, and was sent flying backwards while he spat blood almost immediately after the fight started. He might have died if he hadn’t been protected by the Black Tortoise Flag.
Gu Changge was too strong! He was so powerful it was devastating for everyone else. It was no wonder the supreme experts from the Upper Realm had such looks on their faces. They knew Zhao Yunze stood a chance against Gu Changge.
“I don’t believe it… Again!” Zhao Yunze was almost gritting his teeth when he growled. As he had swallowed many heavenly pills to recover, the Life Force from his body turned into a thick fog that enveloped him. He couldn’t believe the blow he had put his all into was so easily offset by Gu Changge. With a shout, Sword Qi hummed and clanged. His whole body was like an unsheathed, perfectly straight divine sword.
At the same time, he activated the Black Tortoise Flag, and a rumbling momentum erupted and reverberated everywhere under the sky. It emitted a vast power of the gods amidst the commotion. Even though it was tattered, it was stained with the blood of an Immortal, which was the reason it seemed like an ancient War God had been revived, and was now engulfing the world.
Filled with fighting spirit, one silhouette after another came wielding Heavenly Swords and tridents among many other godly weapons as they, alongside Zhao Yunze, rushed towards Gu Changge. Through the Power of Faith from the entire Great Cloud Domain, Zhao Yunze was now enveloped in endless divine light. When the war broke out, the place became a chaotic mess, and even the Principles of the World were shattered into ashes.
“Kill him!” Zhao Yunze roared, and his Sword Qi turned the clouds into thousands of Daos. The scene shook the world, causing the whole world to resonate because of him. At this moment, his aura even underwent a substantial transformation as he grew ten times stronger than before. The endless brilliance flooded in Gu Changge’s direction, and a rift broke out in the sky.
Everyone watched this in shock. Zhao Yunze’s current power was even more astonishing than the True Daoists from before. After the activation of the Black Tortoise Flag, not only did many figures start appearing, but it also morphed into an unimaginably terrifying Black Tortoise that reached out to grab Gu Changge.
However, there was a puffing sound as glittering, multicoloured blood rushed up at the next moment.
“This must be what people mean by a fearless resistance…” Gu Changge’s eyes were still indifferent as if he was in another world where nothing could touch him. There seemed to be a never-ending invisible gulf between him and Zhao Yunze, one which the latter would never be able to cross.
His sleeves were rolled up as an endless glow surrounded him. It felt as if he could tear apart the blue sky and wash away the River of Time. In an instant, all the stars outside the region were shaking, and the entire universe was in turmoil.
A large golden hand slapped down across the sky, causing the phantom in the Black Tortoise Flag to shatter as it turned into ashes and dissipated. At the same time, there was an endless crimson glow in it. Hundreds of millions of Principles lingered around before they finally turned into a red spear, piercing through the air in Zhao Yunze’s direction, and then shattering into pieces with a bang.
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