Time slipped by, and it had been nearly half a month since Gu Changge returned to Dao Prosperity True World.
During this period, he was uncharacteristically idle and had nothing to do; he had long stopped paying attention to the many affairs of Dao Prosperity True World.
Yin Mei and the others had also long since become hands-off managers, having already found successors. Before Gu Changge's return, they had spent every day cultivating in seclusion, trying their best to catch up with his pace.
After he came back, they were even more eager to stick to him every single day.
Even Su Qingge returned from Green Mountain Village to the Divine Kingdom, staying by Gu Changge's side.
Each day, Gu Changge either roamed scenic mountains and waters with them, or recounted the many cultures, geographies, and surviving histories of civilizations in the Vast Expanse, telling them interesting stories.
Eventually, this gave him a bit of a headache, not knowing what else to talk about. Wang Zijin, however, often asked with a meaningful smile, beating around the bush, wanting him to confess honestly whether he had provoked any beauties out in the Vast Expanse.
Like some civilization's saintess, some divine kingdom's goddess, an immortal dynasty's princess, an empress, and so on.
Even Yue Mingkong seemed very interested in this topic. Her beautiful eyes shimmered, the corner of her mouth curving upward in a magnanimous smile, telling him to speak frankly and not worry about them getting jealous.
Jiang Chuchu likewise blinked her eyes, looking at him with a trace of curiosity.
And though Yin Mei and Su Qingge pretended not to care, they would still put down whatever they were holding, their crystalline jade-like ears perking up slightly, wanting to hear Gu Changge talk about these things.
Compared to the Dao lineages and civilization forces out in the Vast Expanse, they were far more willing to listen to this kind of gossip.
Gu Changge could overturn and annihilate countless universes without hesitation and erase any space-time at will, yet faced with such questions, he was utterly helpless.
In truth, he bore no deep feelings for Ling Yuling, Mu Yan, and the others. If there was any, it was merely use.
But saying such words to Yue Mingkong and the others would sound somewhat cold and unfeeling. After all, they were women too, and back then, had Gu Changge not harbored similar thoughts toward them?
So, he merely laughed casually and told them to guess.
Unsurprisingly, such a perfunctory attitude drew a round of eye-rolls, and even Yue Mingkong couldn't help but gently pinch his waist.
If anyone from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance saw Gu Changge in such a state, they would absolutely widen their eyes and be struck dumb.
In their eyes before, Gu Changge had always been a lofty, unfathomable figure, as if separated from everyone by an entire world. Even with a gentle expression, it was difficult to approach him or feel any closeness.
Yet when he was with his beloved wives, he was so easygoing and natural, without any of the majesty or airs of the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, simply acting like a man doting on his wives.
This was rather unbelievable.
But, was this truly Gu Changge's innermost thoughts? Perhaps even he himself couldn't say clearly.
During the time Gu Changge had been away from Dao Prosperity True World, aside from Yue Mingkong breaking through to the Dao Realms, Jiang Chuchu, Wang Zijin, and the others were still at the Immortal Emperor realm, still some distance from the Dao Realms.
Yin Mei's talent was inferior to theirs. Although she had always been diligent and hardworking, she was still only at the Quasi-Immortal Emperor realm, and it was unknown how long before she could reach the Dao Realms in this life.
Gu Changge did not interfere too much, letting them go with the flow.
After all, even if they were at the Dao Realms now, they would be of little help to him. Whether or not they reached the Dao Realms was of no importance to him.
During this time, Gu Changge took the opportunity to visit Tianlu City. He still remembered that Tianlu Xiannu had broken through to the Immortal Realm long ago. Logically speaking, with the support of the heaven and earth fortune of the Eight Desolates and Ten Domains, if her accumulation was sufficient, she should have broken through to the Dao Realms long ago with accumulated momentum.
However, in his perception, Tianlu Xiannu had been stuck at the Immortal King realm for many years without making any further progress.
Of course, the moment he perceived this, he understood the reason for her cultivation stagnation.
Her physique was special, similar to Su Qingge's Mysterious Nine Maiden Physique; it was called the Nine Mysterious Lovesick Physique of Shared Life and Death.
The Nine Mysterious Lovesick Physique, this legendary constitution, derived from the lovesick red luan, was a symbol of unwavering fidelity.
The greatest peculiarity of this physique was that it bound life and death together, nearly without solution.
That is to say, once he took Tianlu Xiannu's virginity, their lives and deaths would be tied together.
Back when the Eight Desolates and Ten Domains were breached and Tianlu Xiannu was captured, she had tried to use her physique to tempt Gu Changge, thus binding their lives together to force the Upper Realm to withdraw its troops.
Unfortunately, Gu Changge had seen through her abnormality at a single glance and did not fall for her scheme back then.
This even caused the then Tianlu Xiannu to mock him for lacking courage. In their subsequent interactions, Tianlu Xiannu never brought it up again, and naturally, Gu Changge paid it no mind.
Tianlu Xiannu was nominally his woman, but in truth, she still remained a virgin to this day.
And this became the reason for her cultivation stagnation. The reason this physique had been able to make Gu Changge wary back then was that the cold and still power it contained could assimilate an Immortal King's origin. When dormant, it was like the Milky Way, yet vast and boundless as the firmament, capable of erupting at any moment.
If the two were to unite, that power would also invade his body. If Tianlu Xiannu then committed suicide, he, having not yet awakened his later memories at the time, would have difficulty resisting it.
After so many years, now that Tianlu Xiannu's cultivation had reached the Immortal King stage, this instead became her obstacle. If it could not be resolved, it would be very difficult for her to take another step forward.
The moment Gu Changge appeared in Tianlu City, Tianlu Xiannu, who was in seclusion within the Tianlu Divine Hall, instantly sensed it.
On her flawless, glistening jade face, a trace of surprise appeared, and then she smiled.
After all, Gu Changge did not conceal his own aura.
As he walked forward, the many restrictions were as if non-existent and could not stop him. To break through the Immortal King realm, Tianlu Xiannu had already issued a death order, carrying a determination to succeed or die trying.
In truth, she herself did not understand why, with the grand era descending and fortune gushing forth, prodigies emerging endlessly, and so many new Immortal Kings appearing, despite her talent, she had been trapped at the Immortal King realm for so many years, unable to advance.
"It seems you have returned to Dao Prosperity True World, and even have the leisure to come see me."
Tianlu Xiannu, wearing a loose, wide robe, sat cross-legged on an enlightenment cushion, her black hair smooth, her flawless jade face delicate, and her skin as tender and snowy-white as flower petals.
She opened her beautiful eyes and looked at Gu Changge with interest.
"If I didn't come, you would probably be trapped at the Immortal King realm for a lifetime," Gu Changge said, shaking his head slightly.
Tianlu Xiannu was astonished, not understanding the meaning behind his words.
Gu Changge then smiled and explained the reason for the obstruction and stagnation of her cultivation.
After hearing this, Tianlu Xiannu was stunned for a moment, not expecting this to be the reason. Then her jade face flushed red, and she glared at Gu Changge, chiding, "It's all your fault. You were so timid back then, not even daring to take me..."
She recalled the past when she was defeated by Gu Changge before the Eight Desolates and Ten Domains and taken captive.
At that time, she had teased Gu Changge for being an upright gentleman, his heart like a rock, unmoved even with a beauty before him.
Scene after scene of the past passed before her eyes. Although so many years had slipped by, it seemed as if it had happened just yesterday.
Yet now she was only at the Immortal King realm.
As for Gu Changge, she had no idea what realm he had reached. Though he stood before her, he seemed as if he did not exist in the same space-time, vast and profound, boundless and infinite.
Tianlu Xiannu's gaze suddenly became complicated, and then she felt a bit of envy for Yue Mingkong and the others. Back then, they were still of the younger generation, far from becoming accomplished cultivators.
But in the blink of an eye, she had been surpassed by everyone, stuck in place, trapped by self-imposed limits.
If she had always stayed by Gu Changge's side, would her circumstances have been different?
"Ah..."
Suddenly, Tianlu Xiannu let out a soft cry, the blush on her face deepening.
"It's not too late to take you now," Gu Changge said with a faint smile.
...
Several days later, the clouds dispersed and the rain stopped, the sound of the brook gradually ceasing.
Tianlu Xiannu, wearing only a thin garment, forced her sore and weak body upright and sat cross-legged on the bed draped with mist-like curtains.
Her entire body glowed; every inch of her skin seemed to exude a delicate fragrance, becoming lustrous like jade.
Her jade body was slender, her full head of beautiful hair draped loose, her appearance utterly bewitching.
A vast and surging power filled her body, as if a boundless universe was being born and evolving.
Without any surprise, she smoothly broke through to the Quasi-Immortal Emperor realm. With Gu Changge's help, she even condensed the radiance of a Quasi-Immortal Emperor.
Once this long-accumulated power was refined, she should be able to begin assailing the Immortal Emperor realm.
With her talent, once the hindrances and bottlenecks were removed, becoming a Dao Realms existence was only a matter of time.
"Leaving just like that, without even staying a little longer..."
When Tianlu Xiannu finished stabilizing her realm and opened her eyes, Gu Changge was no longer before her.
She was stunned for a brief moment, her gaze dimming slightly, then finally gave a faint sigh.
"I didn't expect you would still think of staying for me..."
Suddenly, Gu Changge's voice, tinged with a smile, rang in her ear.
He was sitting on a jade stool in the distance, leisurely sipping clear tea, looking quite relaxed.
Tianlu Xiannu was stunned again, then her face flushed slightly as she shot him a sidelong glare.
"I still need you to help me with my cultivation."
Then, she slightly straightened her expression and spoke in a serious tone, but by the end, her ears were already completely red.
The spring breeze understands not the taste of sorrow; about to speak, then stopping, again about to speak, again stopping.
A few days later, Gu Changge left.
Tianlu Xiannu did not plan to go to the Vast Expanse. To her, Tianlu City was the best place, for it was the place her master had entrusted to her before passing away, and she had always abided by the pact with her master.
Gu Changge did not intend to force her either; everyone had their own choices, just like Su Qingge, who even now was still very resistant to cultivation and had the lowest cultivation among them.
He respected everyone's choices.
When leaving Tianlu City, he noticed that one of his former followers had passed away in meditation several years ago. What that follower's name was, Gu Changge could no longer remember clearly; he only learned of it through the discussions of cultivators in the surrounding regions.
That follower had built a powerful family, and the news that he had once followed Gu Changge had spread among the surrounding Dao lineages and forces, becoming known to the world, so that no one dared to slight or provoke the family he founded.
Gu Changge shook his head slightly. His gaze pierced through the River of Time in an instant, seeing the appearance of that follower from many years ago.
He couldn't help but laugh silently.
So long as one followed by his side, joined the army he led, and fought into the Eight Desolates and Ten Domains, they could claim to be his follower.
His figure flickered, and Gu Changge disappeared from this place.
With matters in Dao Prosperity True World concluded, he should now begin his final plans. Although it was still uncertain whether the other two Progenitors were also scheming, Gu Changge was completely sure that other existences were interfering with the situation of the Vast Expanse, and they had been laying plans since long ago.
It could even be traced back to the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth.
Before leaving Dao Prosperity True World, Gu Changge intended to take the entire Divine Kingdom with him and also remove the heavenly secret visions that obscured Dao Prosperity True World, integrating it into the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
However, just before he began to take the Divine Kingdom, news suddenly came from Yue Mingkong, informing him of something.
"The former Empress Xi Yao of the Demon Realm passed away in meditation several hundred years ago. She left a letter, entrusting a trusted female official to deliver it to you in person." Upon learning this, Gu Changge was indeed slightly taken aback for a moment, then thought carefully. In his mind appeared the image of a noble woman in a grand phoenix robe, with a dot of red makeup at her brow.
Empress Xi Yao?
When was their last meeting? It seemed to be on the day of his and Yue Mingkong's wedding.
Gu Changge's thought swept across the entire Dao Prosperity True World in an instant, and indeed, he did not detect her aura.
The next moment, he returned to the Divine Kingdom. Yue Mingkong personally handed him the as-yet-unopened letter.
Standing to the side was a woman with a scholarly air, her face gentle and elegant—precisely Empress Xi Yao's most trusted female official, Song Youwei, who was also the daughter of the former Grand Tutor of the Demon Realm.
"Greetings, Lord Alliance Leader..." Song Youwei saluted respectfully.
Back when Gu Changge descended upon the Demon Realm, he was already the existence she looked up to, and now, he stood at a height they could not even imagine.
Gu Changge nodded slightly, accepted the letter, opened it, and scanned its contents.
"I was born before you, you were born when I was already old, how I regret we were not born at the same time..."
In a daze, he seemed to see that woman in the phoenix robe sitting before the desk, her brows slightly furrowed, gently biting her lower lip, deeply pondering.
The Demon Domain had once been in great turmoil. Though she was a noble empress, seemingly formidable and ruthless in her methods, she was actually pure-hearted and simple-minded.
Had it not been for the deterrent and suppression of her mother, the Demon Emperor You Yue, she would probably have been overthrown long ago by the great demons running rampant everywhere.
She had not even noticed a former enemy approaching, attempting to assassinate her...
Many thoughts flashed through Gu Changge's mind, finally coalescing into a single thought: Did she know that he only regarded her as a tool?
Harboring admiration and affection but receiving no response—what meaning was there in such waiting?
Yue Mingkong tactfully left, not staying here. She knew that Song Youwei probably had something to say to Gu Changge, or rather, to convey Empress Xi Yao's words.
"How did she pass away?" Gu Changge put the letter away and asked.