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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
Despite its name, the City of No Return was more like an island floating in an ocean. There was no trace of a massive Array, but the city was capable of moving. Some places within it radiated a hazy glow, and in the far distance, one could see the shimmering lights of the Floating Nether Realm changing with the sun.
As Gu Changge, King Luo, and the others entered the city, they made their way towards its heart.
When a soft chuckle escaped Gu Changge’s lips, the faces of the Elders leading the way, including Elder Turtle, visibly tensed up. Cold sweat broke out on their backs, and their hands and feet turned icy.
In truth, the group was contemplating their decision to bring Gu Changge and his companions into the City of No Return. After all, a single moment of Gu Changge’s anger could easily result in the city’s destruction. Therefore, when Gu Changge spoke, they were at a loss for words and unable to discern his thoughts or intentions. It was as if they were treading on the edge of the abyss, where the slightest misstep could lead to their fall, leaving no trace of their corpses.
Everyone in the city trained their wary eyes on the scene before them. The street was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. The children’s eyes widened with fear and their mouths were covered by the adults.
“There’s even a school here. Looks like this is a home for generations to come?” A small smile graced Gu Changge’s lips as he ignored the crowd’s reaction and surveyed his surroundings.
Rows of ancient buildings stood tall, their architectures reminiscent of an era long gone, buried in the Forbidden Era. Towering pagodas radiated a soft glow, while faint cadence of prayer could be heard in the air.
Temples and shrines stood in the distance. Among the haze, maroon silhouettes were seen in those areas. Many cultivators usually gathered there to cultivate, but all of them were unusually pale with unease today. It was obvious that these people, who had called this place home for countless epochs, were treating Gu Changge like an invader.
Gu Changge could only shake his head. He truly had no intention of destroying this place. Otherwise, he would not have even appeared in person.
Elder Turtle, who was leading the way, respectfully explained, “To be honest, we have been living here for countless generations after the Forbidden Era, and we have never ventured beyond the Floating Nether Realm.”
He carefully worded his reply and refrained from mentioning the destruction of Immortal Palace to avoid any potential misunderstandings.
Before Gu Changge showed any real hostility, they were determined to avoid conflict with him and sought to communicate with him peacefully, answering all his inquiries.
Gu Changge’s question left some of the Elders somewhat perplexed and uncertain of his intentions. Nevertheless, they were prepared for the worst possible outcome, though they fervently hoped to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed.
Gu Changge did not ask any more questions and simply trailed behind them and ventured deeper into the City of No Return. Before entering here, Gu Changge could already sense the aura of the Boundless Expanse. As he arrived at the heart of the city, that aura only grew stronger and more concentrated.
“There should be a pathway here that connects to the Boundless Expanse, and perhaps also a passage to the Immortal Domain.” Gu Changge’s eyes glowed with this suspicion in his heart.
This reminded him of the Eternal Overcast, which he had encountered when he was in the Upper Realm.
The Eternal Overcast Source was actually a strange substance from the Source Realm with the power to corrupt all in its path. The Eternal Overcast Ancestors accidentally fell into a space-time rift and ended up in the outskirts of the Source Realm. There, they were tainted and corrupted, but bestowed with an Eternal and Immortal life. However, the cost of this gift was an unending agony, a torment that persisted for eternity.
After their physical form had crumbled, the ancient well of the Eternal Overcast had reshaped their bodies.
In the eyes of all, the Eternal Overcast was the most vicious force, capable of corroding any existence. Even an Immortal King was powerless against its destructive power.
Gu Changge could not help but wonder if the Mortal One from the Upper Realm truly stopped the scourge of the Eternal Overcast with his strength only being at most in the True Immortal Realm, or if there were hidden secrets at play.
Whatever secrets the Mortal One was hiding, they were of little importance to Gu Changge now. Even the Mortal One’s Symbol of Reincarnation held little significance to him now.
Gu Changge soon met the person he wished to meet in the heart of the city. Unfortunately, it was not someone related to Qingyi.
“Greetings, Demon Lord.” The Old City Lord of the City of No Return was being assisted in sitting up from his bed, his feeble voice barely audible. He could no longer open his eyes and appeared to be nearing the end of his lifespan, hanging by a thread.
He had existed since the Forbidden Era and had faithfully served an Immortal Star King as his loyal attendant. Undoubtedly, the Old City Lord of the City of No Return was the oldest being that Gu Changge had encountered in the current Immortal Domain.
Gu Changge’s objective in locating the remnants of the Immortal Palace was not to settle the score with them over their attack outside the Queen Lunar Residence. Such trivial matters were akin to ants biting at his feet, unworthy of his attention.
Beside the Old City Lord, Cen Shuang tightly clutched her spear with deadly force, causing her fingers to turn white. She was trying her best to conceal her intense hatred towards Gu Changge, fearing that she might lose control and endanger the entire City of No Return.
Despite not understanding why Gu Changge ceased his attack on the city after breaching its Array, Cen Shuang was just grateful that the city was unharmed and wished nothing more than its safety.
Grandma Medicine, Elder Turtle, and other Elders stood silently, waiting for Gu Changge to speak. Likewise, King Luo, the Blood Owl Immortal King, and the others respectfully stood behind Gu Changge.
With a gentle smile, Gu Changge remarked, “It appears that had I arrived even a moment later, you may already be dead and I might not have seen you again.”
It was evident to him that the Old City Lord had reached the brink of exhaustion. His body was devoid of any trace of vitality. Typically, the blood of Immortal Kings should flow with such vigour that it could shatter a universe with its power alone. But alas, the Old City Lord’s body had been completely depleted, beyond even the salvation of Immortals that attained the Great Immeasurable.
“My days are certainly numbered. I’m merely holding on by a thread. With the Floating Nether Realm on the brink of destruction, it is really difficult for me to go in peace,” the Old City Lord replied weakly, with a bitter smile. He had caught a glimpse of Gu Changge in the past, while serving under his Master, an Immortal Star King. Even his Master treated Gu Changge with utmost respect and formality, acknowledging his Seniority.
To his surprise, Gu Changge remembered him, despite being an inconspicuous old servant in the company of an Immortal Star King.
Gu Changge and the Immortal Palace had always been on friendly terms. He had even been invited to several banquets in the past. Therefore, the Old City Lord often wondered why the Demon Lord would ultimately destroy the Immortal Palace, despite their friendly relationship.
As a result, the Immortal Domain lay shrouded in darkness and silence that spanned across many epochs, severing it from the future generations. For countless years, the Old City Lord pondered about what had caused Gu Changge to turn his back against the Immortal Palace, yet no answers had emerged.
Gu Changge simply smiled and turned to look at Cen Shuang. His eyes held a mysterious glint as he said, “This is your Master’s Daughter, right? I recall her as a spirited young girl back then. She has indeed grown into a fine woman in just the blink of an eye.”
The Old City Lord could not help but smile wryly. Cen Shuang was indeed a spirited young girl who was known for her antics throughout the Immortal Palace. None of the other children of the Immortal Star Kings were as naughty as her.
Time had passed since those days, and it had been so long that the Old City Lord’s recollections had grown hazy. Gu Changge’s mention of Cen Shuang brought everything into sharp focus again. He was surprised to learn that not only did Gu Changge remember him, but he also remembered Lady Cen Shuang.
Cen Shuang was not only taken aback by the Gu Changge’s sudden comment, but also the nostalgia in his tone. She gripped her lance tightly, causing it to emit a cracking noise. Her eyes were tinged red as she gnashed her teeth in frustration.
Despite her antics, she was an extremely innocent and pure-hearted little girl. She often questioned her Father’s respect for Gu Changge. It was well-known that her Father was an Immortal Star King and a famous supreme expert within the Immortal Palace, holding a position of great power and influence that no one dared to challenge. With the exception of a few others, there was no one who could rival him.
She vividly recalled a moment when an Immortal Emperor challenged him, only to be swiftly single-handedly subdued by her Father. This awe-inspiring display left a deep impression on her. She revered her Father, but also wondered why someone as powerful as him would show so much respect towards a person known as the Demon Lord.
Cen Shuang clearly remembered the undisguised admiration and reverence in her Father’s eyes as he answered her question. He explained to her that the Demon Lord was the epitome of invincibility, a trait that he aspired to possess in life. He also revealed that the Demon Lord had saved the Mountains and Oceans True World, and his mere presence kept threats from other True Worlds at bay.
This was before the Immortal Domain came into existence, and the entire world was collectively known as the Mountains and Oceans True World. Back then, Cen Shuang was an ignorant child who could not understand the meaning of his Father’s words. All she knew was that the Demon Lord was being far superior to her Father.
The once magnificent and vast Immortal Palace later crumbled in a single day, destroyed by a golden palm that swept across the sky. The sheer size of the palm made everything in its path appear minuscule.
The Palace Masters flew towards it and tried to stop it, but alas, they were disintegrated into blood mist in the sky.
The palm shattered the universe, causing endless territory to crumble, stars to break apart, and the world plunged into darkness.
Cen Shuang cowered in fear within the Immortal Star King Residence, bewildered by the chaos that had erupted. Flames rained down from the sky, engulfing everything in their path with a fierce inferno.
The air was thick with the deafening cries of those desperately fleeing for their lives. In the end, those people were extinguished by the unforgiving wave of destruction, like a colony of ants.
The maid who had been Cen Shuang’s companion since childhood was mercilessly incinerated, reduced to nothing more than black ashes amidst her miserable cries. The memories of these harrowing scenes were forever etched in Cen Shuang’s mind.
The Immortal Star King Residence lay in ruins, reduced to ashes. Cen Shuang watched as darkness and blood engulfed the world, and flames of destruction mercilessly consumed it.
In the distance, she saw her Father, accompanied by a legion of Immortal Soldiers from the Immortal Palace, charging towards the source of the darkness with a fierce determination to vanquish the looming threat.
Before they could even draw near, the figure standing there turned to face them with an icy glare, his eyes devoid of any emotion. With one swift sweep of his Demon Halberd, Cen Shuang’s Father and the Palace Masters were obliterated, their bodies reduced to a crimson mist that covered the sky.
Her invincible Father, who once single-handedly suppressed even an Immortal Emperor, had fallen just like that. The person who killed him was none other than the Demon Lord whom her Father had always revered and respected!
Cen Shuang had fainted and when she woke up, countless epochs had passed. The past was buried deep within the River of Time, a dark era that no one dared to speak of.
A new era had arrived, but it felt strange to her. She had been given a second chance at life after sleeping for hundreds of millions of years. However, the memories lingering in her mind were not mere illusions but real events that had transpired. The Demon Lord had destroyed the Immortal Palace and killed her Father.
The palace where she had spent her childhood was now nothing more than a legend, with no remnants left behind. The world outside was in chaos, and everything had changed. No one knew what caused the beginning of this catastrophic event, and even Heaven seem to have rejected that era, leaving it as a forbidden tale that no one dared to speak of. How could Cen Shuang not feel sorrow and anger?
She made up her mind to surpass her Father, to seek out her enemy, and to avenge everyone from the Immortal Palace. With that thought in mind, she embarked on a journey of cultivation spanning hundreds of thousands of years.
One fateful day, she received word that the man responsible for the destruction of the Immortal Palace still existed in the world, and had emerged in the outer reaches of the Immortal Domain.
Cen Shuang was left frozen in shock upon receiving this news, standing atop a mountain for an entire day. The Immortal Palace had been destroyed and its ancient history buried as a forbidden tale, yet he still remained?
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