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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Time slowly passed, and in the blink of an eye, several months had gone by. The situation in the Upper Realm had become increasingly stable and peaceful.
Peach Village was now located at the extreme north of the Divine Empire. Even the Land of Abandoned Celestials was moved. In fact, Gu Changge had used his powers to moved everything to Xianer’s palace.
Xianer’s palace was a vast and pristine land, stretching endlessly with no visible edges. It had mountains with swirling clouds and silver waterfalls and lakes, all covered in lush greenery.
The grand buildings were scattered, creating a magnificent and grand scene. Adjacent to Peach Village were lush green mountains.
One side of the palace housed the Boundless Lake, sourced from the vast starry sky. It was surrounded by a bamboo forest, creating a sea of emerald green, with pavilions and platforms scattered throughout.
Within the Boundless Lake were many rare Arowanas, their tails flickering as they swiftly swam by, possessing a stunning divinity within their crystal-clear bodies. Residing within the lake were also Kois with Kunpeng Bloodline.
While such creatures were difficult to find in the outside world, they could be found here in abundance. In addition, there were various primordial and otherworldly species, as well as those with Celestial Ancient Bloodlines from the myriad realms. They were either offered by different Forces or discovered in certain ruins…
Ultimately, all of them ended up in Gu Xianer’s possession, since her long-standing habit of coveting wealth remained unchanged.
The environment here was exceptionally tranquil. Aside was a field of divine herbs that Gu Xianer had extracted and exploited from Gu Changge over the years.
The mere sandy soil here held astonishing value, with a mix of spirit-nurturing soil, blood-immortal sand, and divine soil…
There were even faint traces of chaos qi permeating the air, filled with iridescent celestial mist.
Various medicinal herbs, some crystalline green, others radiant with sunlight or blazing with fiery red, were cultivated within, exuding a rich, earthy fragrance. Just a whiff of it made one feel as if they could ascend to become Immortals.
“Hey, you can’t take back a bad move in chess.” Next to the medicinal field, a clear emerald lake stretched out. Pavilions and platforms decorated the place with a palace as the key piece. It was where Gu Changge was playing a game of chess with Gu Xianer. He was still dressed in blue, hair left untied, giving him an extraordinarily lazy look.
Gu Xianer, on the other hand, propped her chin up, her small face mortified.
“When did you learn to play chess? Why did I not know?” Gu Xianer grumbled slightly upsettingly.
She had unexpectedly obtained an ancient chess manual from Hong recently, which recorded the changes of stars and constellations across the heavens. It was a vast and profound chess system. She became interested and had been practising, improving her skills based on this chess manual.
Coincidentally, Gu Changge came to visit her. So, she plotted to defeat him in chess to convince him of her skills.
However, despite comprehending the chess manual, Gu Xianer still couldn’t match Gu Changge’s skills. She had already regretted several moves.
“All paths in the world ultimately lead to the same destination. The Dao of Chess is just a minor one among them… Your understanding of the Great Dao is far inferior to mine. Even in the
Dao of Chess, you can’t gain the slightest advantage.” Gu Changge chuckled and rose from the cushion.
He could naturally see the profundity of this chess manual. However, with his current insight and strength, he had already surpassed the need for such a manual.
His words gave Gu Xianer a sense of clarity. Gu Changge’s power had become increasingly unfathomable recently. As the ruler of the Divine Empire, he commanded the myriad realms, and his influence and faith were unyielding. With a mere thought, Gu Changge could easily obliterate countless formidable foes.
“Hmph, fine. You’re great at everything. Happy? By the way, you haven’t come just to visit me, have you?” Gu Xianer snorted, then asked, sensing that Gu Changge seemed to have something on his mind.
Gu Changge never planned on hiding the true purpose of his visit. After all, it had to do with her.
“I came to find that big red bird of yours,” Gu Changge revealed. He had been attempting to reconnect the Immortal Domain to the Upper Realm. However, he encountered trouble. It was about the Celestial Ancient Continent.
Centuries ago, while cultivating at the Skyward Schloss, he learned from Yue Mingkong about the birthplace of the Immortal Spirits, the very place where the Immortal Path connected.
The Ancestors who had fallen there countless years ago had their Souls scattered, becoming extremely precious Immortal Spirits.
At that time, the Immortal Gate only appeared as a faint manifestation and had not truly descended, so it did not cause much commotion.
Gu Changge relied on the Grand Flask to withstand the pressure within and infiltrated it, seizing several jars of Immortal Spirits.
During that time, he was even struck by lightning, his body charred and in tatters, taking a while to recover. That was why Gu Changge always speculated that the true Immortal Path existed in the Celestial Ancient Continent.
Through his calculations using the Dao of Fate, he discovered that the place was indeed shrouded in mist, with a chaotic light revealing the faint power of creation. Moreover, what struck him as peculiar was that he could sense a familiar aura there.
Further verification through calculations revealed that the familiar aura actually originated from the mysterious big red bird by Gu Xianer’s side.
This aura wasn’t from ancient times but from this era. Its aura was still fresh and recent. If it weren’t for his extraordinary cultivation, Gu Changge probably wouldn’t have detected it.
Previously, Gu Changge had thought that the big red bird, despite its mysterious origins, wouldn’t be too astonishing. But little did he expect the avian to be connected to the Immortal Path.
“You came to find Hong?” Gu Xianer confirmed with surprise, to which Gu Changge nodded in affirmation. “You’re probably aware that your little friend has an extraordinary background.”
Gu Xianer agreed with him. Many of her opportunities were found thanks to Hong. Moreover, the future scenes she had witnessed at the Lake of Rebirth were also discovered with the help of Hong.
In fact, there was no need for Gu Changge to say it. The big red bird had already sensed his intentions and flew over, flapping its wings from the distant shores of the Boundless Lake. However, this time, it didn’t look disdainfully at the young man. Instead, Hong wore a sense of world-weariness.
“It seems like you have finally noticed…” Hong spoke, its voice childish yet tinged with a hint of sentimentality.
In a distant past, during their first encounter with Gu Changge, it sensed that he was incredibly dangerous, emitting an unsettling and chilling aura. So, Hong repeatedly advised Gu Xianer to stay away from Gu Changge. But the stubborn, foolish girl kept clinging to him and ignored its advice. It secretly remained cautious and vigilant, wanting to protect Gu Xianer.
Fortunately, Gu Changge treated Gu Xianer relatively well, only teasing her verbally. Gradually, the big red bird let go of its worries.
“Hong…” Gu Xianer was also astonished to see the big red bird in such a state and with such an expression for the first time.
Gu Changge quirked a brow, feeling a sense of peculiarity. He pondered for a moment, wondering why he had a feeling this big red bird was associated with more than just the Immortal Path. The fact that it would remain by Gu Xianer’s side for so long suggested that there was more than just Gu Xianer being a Fortuitous Lady.
[Could it be that there is something about Xianer’s background that I don’t know about?] Gu Changge pondered with a slightly puzzled expression.
The big red bird flapped its wings, having seemingly guessed the young man’s thoughts, and flew towards the sky.
“Some matters might be related to you as well,” Hong said.
It was obvious the big red bird didn’t want Gu Xianer to know anything about it, only relaying them to Gu Changge.
At that, Gu Changge followed after the avian. Soon, the two of them traversed through the land, crossing the vast starry sky, until they finally arrived on a vast and prosperous continent.
“The Celestial Ancient Continent…” Gu Changge’s gaze held a hint of realisation upon seeing this place. He wondered what the big red bird wanted to tell him.
The two of them had arrived at the continent outside of the Skyward Schloss, the Celestial Ancient Continent that Gu Changge had previously visited.
Here, he had eliminated Ye Ling, who had obtained the Inheritage of the Ancient Reincarnation Supreme Being. He had also defeated Long Teng, the Fortuitous One from the True Dragon Clan. He had left his mark here, ruling over the various Clans of the Celestial Ancient Continent. It was also here that Yin Mei devoted herself completely to him.
“Do you know about the Three Embodiments, Demon Lord?”
After arriving, the big red bird’s expression became even more desolate. It flapped its wings and landed in a ruin.
It had speculated about Gu Changge’s origins a long time ago, but only now had it been confirmed. As for why he was called the Demon Lord and where the title came from, the big red bird did not know. No one in this world seemed to know. It was as if the Demon Lord had appeared out of thin air.
Gu Changge recognised the ruin as the area had appeared when the Immortal Path was projected. His expression also remained largely unchanged when the big red bird referred to him as the Demon Lord.
“The Three Embodiments? The past, present, and future? Are you trying to tell me Xianer has had three lives?” He asked calmly.
Before the Forbidden Epoch, Gu Xianer had once assumed the identity of a cultivator from a sect where Sky King Zhi Yang resided. There, she fervently pursued immortality. However, she had unexpectedly perished in the catastrophe before the epoch collapsed, with her soul remaining intact, reincarnating as Gu Xianer. This was something Gu Changge was aware of.
“Not exactly…” The big red bird shook its head, its expression complex. It then explained, “This is Xianer’s third reincarnation. If this life ends, she will continue to reincarnate until she recovers her True Immortal Soul.”
“Her third reincarnation? Xianer had a previous life before that?” Gu Changge quirked a brow after recovering from his momentary stupefaction. He knew nothing of it, and he likely would be oblivious to it if the big red bird hadn’t brought it up.
“Before the Forbidden Epoch, there were many glorious and prosperous eras where Immortals shone brightly, and countless Primordial Deity emerged. There was great competition among the myriad Daos. However, it was also during that era that all the Immortals were buried, and all traces were laid to rest… Those eras were much more terrifying than the Forbidden Epoch itself. Apart from the Immortals, there were Primordial Deity and races that originated from the time of the universe’s creation, as well as countless True Primordial Worlds that existed from the beginning of time, beyond the vastness of the boundless expanse. Each True Primordial World can rival the vast heaven. Just imagine their immense scale. The so-called Celestial Ancient Era is actually a scene of partial decline that gradually recovered after the Immortal Burial Era. It is no longer what it used to be,” the big red bird said wryly as if it was relating a story in nostalgia but with more regret.
“The Immortal Burial Era is just one part…” Gu Changge whispered, and the clouds and mist in his mind dispersed at this moment, giving him a headache.
The big red bird, however, looked at him with a complex expression and said, “Although that era was extremely brilliant and dazzling, beyond the countless True Primordial Worlds, there were Three Supreme Ancestors overseeing everything. The Three Original True Ancestors. They drove the transition of epochs and dominated all. They are the incarnations of the will of the Heavenly Dao, wielding the Heavenly Authority and maintaining the operation of all the rules in the vastness of the heavens. They are the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao is also them. But before everyone knew it, they began developing their own emotions and desires…”
Gu Changge said nothing. He was experiencing a splitting headache. Within his originally empty Spiritual Sea, it now resembled a mirror, with much of the mist being wiped away.
Numerous memories resurfaced, including those from the Forbidden Epoch, the Immortal Burial Era, and some even older…
For a long time, indescribable memories surged forth, causing the entire world to change.
“Xianer is the Master of this True World…” Gu Changge murmured afterwards.
As for his previous persona as the Demon Lord, it was indeed one of his aliases, as he was one of the Three Original True Ancestors.
Once he realised this, a self-deprecating smile appeared at the corner of Gu Changge’s lips.
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Holy Shit! So badass!