Chapter 993, The Aura From the Nine Heavens; Break Out in a Cold Sweat

Translator: Fate

Translation Checker: Silavin

 

Gu Changge’s gaze was deep and profound. He instantaneously ran through hundreds and millions of thoughts in just a single moment; his thoughts covering every little corner of Spacetime to deduce the culprit behind the conspiracy against the Prosperous Dao True World.

 

The truth was that he had actually noticed the anomaly when he first encountered Ah Man in the Prosperous Dao True World. It was just that he had not paid much attention to the matter. He had assumed that the incident was merely an accident and that Ah Man’s sudden appearance in the Prosperous Dao True World was purely by coincidence.

 

After all, anomalies existed even though they were rare. If Ah Man was a genuine anomaly, then how could she be allowed to appear in other True Worlds?

 

That was especially true since she was currently experiencing a reincarnation trial that resembled a dream within a dream in her eyes. If he did not reveal the truth to her, she would probably continue to sink deeper into the dream that she could never wake from. In the end, she would forever be stuck searching for the unbreakable truth.

 

He was not particularly surprised by the trial she was undergoing. At the time, he simply surmised that she came from an extremely powerful background. There was also a high likelihood that she had accidentally wandered from another True World and eventually underwent a trial in the Prosperous Dao True World.

 

Disciples of Forces from certain Immortal True Worlds in the Boundless Expanse were often required to travel to various remote places for training. Only by passing these trials would they obtain the right to enhance their status to become an Inner Disciple or Direct Disciple and learn the Force’s true Divine Dao abilities.

 

Back then, Gu Changge had taken notice of the situation and deliberately placed a mark on Ah Man. His actions were meant to confirm her origins, just in case she would be useful to him one day.

 

Ah Man was neither from the Prosperous Dao True World nor touched by the Prosperous Dao True World’s aura. The land where she was found was known as the Primeval Continent. It was originally one of the Primeval Clan’s birthplaces and had no connection with her. However, she had forgotten her past after going through many reincarnations and mistakenly believed that she was part of the Primeval Clan.

 

As the last princess of a Primitive’s settlement, she shouldered the important task of saving her people and fighting against the Immortals. At the same time, she was determined to search for the truth behind the disappearance of the Primeval Deities.

 

Unbeknownst to her, the true generation of Primeval Deities were coldly watching them from another Realm. These Primeval Deities considered the those form the Primeval Continent as food. Even other Primeval Deities, who had been searching for the truth across the generations, would also be considered as food to them. Naturally, that also included her current Adoptive Father, who a tribe leader.

 

On the other hand, the Grandfather, whom she had always respected, turned out to be the true Master behind the current generation of Primeval Deities. He was also one of the culprits who had weaved this beautiful dream for her. She had repeatedly gone through the reincarnation process, experiencing death and rebirth in an endless loop until she gradually forgot her past and her origins.

 

When Gu Changge first encountered Ah Man, he did not have much sympathy for her. On the contrary, he simply regarded the young woman with a tragic fate and decided to nurture her for his own use so that she could help him harvest Fortuity in the future.

 

However, he later saw a shadow of the former Chan Honyi in her. She was just as stubborn, unyielding, and forbearing as Chan Honyi. It was only then did he felt some compassion for her. Hence, he helped her see through some of the truths and carefully taught her some cultivation techniques to help her break out of the situation.

 

In addition, Ah Man possessed a Demonic Heart. If things went according to plan, she was bound to become a Demoness one day. The reason Gu Changge had awakened her Demonic Heart in advance was so that it would be easier for her to take that step when the time came.

 

In any case, even if he did not point out the truth, it was only a matter of time until she figured out everything and experienced the pain of betrayal. Only absolute hatred could truly make the Demonic Heart transform and awaken. Unfortunately, that might be the real purpose of the person who was secretly conducting the trials from the shadows.

 

At the time, he did not think too much about the situation. He had simply regarded Ah Man’s trial as a coincidence. Now that he thought back on the matter, he suddenly realised that the intention of the mastermind could not be that simple. Ah Man’s appearance in the Prosperous Dao True World was most likely the result of the mastermind personally sending her there.

 

“Aside from that person, how many others are currently scheming against the Prosperous Dao True World? Could it be that the Prosperous Dao True World contains some other secrets that I’m unaware of?”

 

Many thoughts passed through Gu Changge’s mind. From Ah Man’s incident, he connected the situation to the Dao Realm ancient monk who emerged outside the Prosperous Dao True World.

 

When he travelled the world as the Demon Lord, it was pure coincidence that he took action to rescue Qingyi, the True Spirit of the Mountains and Oceans True World.

 

At the time, he had yet to choose a suitable True World to live in seclusion or started scheming his plans. It was only when he happened to witness Qingyi leading the army to repel the Great Purge that the idea came to him. As for why he later became closer and closer to Qingyi and continued to stay in the previously known as Mountains and Oceans True World, he had simply been going with the flow and allowing nature to take its course.

 

“This aura… It seems to be just as I expected. They are indeed from the Nine Heavens…” Just when Gu Changge was reminiscing about the past, he finally captured the causal connection and determined the identity of the person plotting against the Prosperous Dao True World.

 

If the other party came from the Nine Heavens, then he could ignore their actions for the time being. That was because he had another game of chess with even greater depth and intrigue in the Nine Heavens. Regarding the affairs of the Nine Heavens, although he had no plans to intervene for the time being, it was only a matter of time before he took action against the Nine Heavens.

 

The Nine Heavens seemed to hold a transcendent position in the Boundless Expanse. There were legends reflecting its position in every single world. In fact, it was the source of the legendary Immortality.

 

Contrary to popular belief, Gu Changge believed that the Nine Heavens was more like the burial place of the Incarnations of Heavens that were destroyed in the previous Great Purges. It was quite a special place. In terms of strength and heritage alone, the Nine Heavens was far inferior to the Immortal True Worlds.

 

After confirming the identity of the person plotting against the Prosperous Dao True World, he came up with another plan. He could take advantage of the situation, which would save him a lot of trouble when he finally decided to crack down on the Nine Heavens.

 

Once the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s army finished gathering, he planned to dispatch them against the Immortal Spirit Civilisation.

 

The Immortal Spirit Civilisation might not be as powerful as the Supreme Civilisation, but it was ranked among the middle and upper reaches of Ancient Civilisations. It was definitely not something the Spirit Ruin Civilisation could compare with.

 

After he seized control of the world where the Immortal Spirit Civilisation was located, he could significantly save on the time needed to collect the necessary resources and information. After all, he wanted to carry out a plan that was tantamount to a groundbreaking event for the entire Boundless Expanse. How would he succeed without the support of adequate resources and information?

 

The matter regarding Chu Lian was just an insignificant sideshow, which he did not intend to pour much energy into.

 

…

 

On the other side, inside the Talent Gathering Village. The Spirit Empress personally came to Chu Lian’s courtyard and sat primly on the stone bench. She was acting on Gu Changge’s instructions to inform Chu Lian about his intention to recruit the other party.

 

“My Cousin has great admiration for you, Young Master Chu Lian. He believed that you have the talent and qualifications to become a capable general who will achieve great feats in the future. If we receive your help, Young Master Chu Lian, then it will be easy for us to overthrow the rule of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family.”

 

Speaking with a slight smile, she sat with an elegant and dignified posture. Her sleeves were wide and loose; her hair fell down her back like clouds; her neck was slender and fair; her legs were slim and straight; and her skirt was long enough to touch the ground. Every word she spoke and every gesture she made revealed her excellent upbringing as a noble young lady.

 

Chu Lian had been staring at the Sphere of Ambition’s Artifact Spirit, which had not responded to him in a long time, with a deep frown on his face. Therefore, The Spirit Empress’s unexpected visit not only surprised him but also caused his mood to brighten immediately for some reason.

 

There was no denying that having a gentle and soft-spoken beauty in front of him was certainly a pleasant sight to behold.

 

“Senior Brother, look! Lady Huang has personally come to recruit you! That’s enough to show just how much Young Master Gu values you!” Beside him, his Junior Sister, Ming Xiu, announced with a grin.

 

She could tell that her Senior Brother was infatuated with Lady Huang. During their travels, he would even take special notice of Lady Huang’s actions from time to time.

 

“Get lost. I have something important to discuss with Lady Huang.” Chu Lian waved his hand dismissively, indicating for his annoying Junior Sister to leave quickly. It was a rare opportunity for him to have a private conversation with Lady Huang and inquire about certain things.

 

The Spirit Empress maintained her slight smile the entire time. Her behaviour was always graceful and calm. There was a stone table between her and Chu Lian, which allowed her to maintain a distance that was neither too close nor too far between them.

 

After Ming Xiu left, Chu Lian took a seat on the stone bench and could not help saying, “Lady Huang, we have shared many pleasant conversations along the way. I’m sure you must have gained some understanding of my character. As you know, I am not the kind of person who will serve under or depend on others. I’m afraid I can only say that I have received Young Master Gu’s kind intentions. I also admit his actions are something I personally wish to strive for. After all, he has managed to do what I’ve always wanted but did not have the power to do. I hope that you will help me thank Young Master Gu for his kindness on my behalf once you’ve return, Lady Huang.”

 

Now that the Sphere of Ambition’s Artifact Spirit was being unresponsive, he did not know whether this place was safe or not. Furthermore, was the Black-Robed Elder the person he should be worried about?

 

Under the current circumstances, his best option was to temporarily reject the offer and do his best to leave this place even though he seeks to achieve great feats. It was his lifelong dream to overthrow the brutal rule of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family, purge the world of evil, and restore peace to the world.

 

“There’s no need to refuse the offer so quickly, Young Master Chu Lian. Please take your time to consider. My Cousin’s strength far exceeds your imagination. If you become his Honorary Guest, he can offer you many unimaginable benefits. Be it in terms of power or resources, he will be of great help to you and your ambitions. Besides, it is my personal opinion that you are currently in urgent need of resources, Young Master Chu Lian. Even if not for yourself, I’m sure your Junior Sister needs them. Not to mention, you probably have other relatives too…”

 

“In any case, it’s alright to take your time to consider the offer.” The Spirit Empress persuaded with a smile.

 

She was not surprised by Chu Lian’s immediate refusal. That was because his reaction was within Gu Changge’s instructions and expectations. Her main purpose at this moment was to inform Chu Lian about Gu Changge’s intention to recruit him. In essence, she was supposed to make Chu Lian trust them and lower his guard.

 

Chu Lian was honestly tempted by her words. Although he had help from the Sphere of Ambition, the cultivation resources he required remained an immense expense that he could not avoid. In addition, she was right about the fact that his Junior Sister needed cultivation resources. Was he supposed to disregard these factors in his consideration? As for the other matters… There was no need to elaborate further.

 

“Since you’ve gone so far as to say that, Lady Huang, please allow me more time to consider.” Chu Lian answered, and then he turned his gaze toward The Spirit Empress. “But, compared to that matter, I am more curious about the relationship between Lady Huang and Young Master Gu. In my opinion, you are not Cousins. You were extremely respectful toward him throughout the journey. Not to mention, you always took off your veil in front of him…”

 

If not for his meticulous observations, it would have been difficult for him to discover these details.

 

Every time the Spirit Empress came out of the carriage, the veil covering her face would change slightly. The minute changes indicated that she removed her veil every time she went back into the carriage. Be that as it may, she had always worn the veil in front of them and never showed her true appearance

 

The Spirit Empress was slightly taken aback by his statement. She did not expect Chu Lian to be so blunt with his words. Besides, how did he notice these details? She dared to confidently declare that her performance had been excellent. Nothing unusual had been revealed along the journey.

 

Nevertheless, he was right on the second point. She had always worn a veil, with the only exception being when she was in front of Gu Changge. After all, she was the Queen of the dignified Spirit Ruin Royal Family and the youngest Dao Realm expert. How could she carelessly show her true appearance to outsiders?

 

“You are very observant, Young Master Chu Lian. I can’t believe you even noticed such a minor detail. But, regarding the relationship between my Cousin and me… That information is not something I can share with you. I hope my words do not offend you. My Cousin’s identity and status are beyond my reach and admiration. Although he generally has a gentle demeanour, the necessary respect and etiquette must still be upheld at all times.” The Spirit Empress smiled and shook her head without revealing too much.

 

Listening to her response, Chu Lian realised that the truth was not very different from his speculations. After all, the strength of the Black-Robed Elder was completely unfathomable. It was just that hearing these words from the woman whom he has a crush on made him rather uncomfortable.

 

Afterwards, they turned their conversation toward other matters. Only then did the Spirit Empress take her leave and return to carry out her orders.

 

Chu Lian could not help feeling slightly regretful. He had a crush on Lady Huang, but she seemed to only consider him as a platonic friend. On the contrary, she seemed to hold great respect and admiration for Young Master Gu during their conversation. The realisation filled him with jealousy. However, he was not somebody who cared much for romance. There were more important matters in his heart.

 

Not long after the Spirit Empress’s departure, he was delighted to discover that the Sphere of Ambition’s Artifact Spirit seemed to have awoken and started responding again. He hurriedly activated the Eight Directional Cloud and Rain Flags and concealed the Heavenly Secrets in his surroundings to prevent anybody from spying on him.

 

He quickly fired a barrage of questions. He dumped every single doubt and question he had during the recent period on the Sphere of Ambition’s Artifact Spirit.

 

The Sphere of Ambition’s Artifact Spirit had sealed off its contact with the outside world during this period, so it did not know what had happened recently. Hence, it was not until Chu Lian explained everything that it finally understood the situation.

 

<Back at your Clan’s Ancestral Land, the terrifying aura that suddenly disappeared abruptly came back again. It seemed to have noticed something unusual and turned around once more. Therefore, I was frightened. Knowing that the situation was not optimistic and worried that something might go wrong, I decisively severed connection and perception with the outside world to prevent the owner of that terrifying aura from detecting me.>

 

The Sphere of Ambition’s Artifact Spirit began to explain its side of the story, which caused Chu Lian to break out in a cold sweat when he finally understood the situation. If not for its explanation, he would never have known how dangerous and terrifying the situation had been at the time.