Outside the courtyard, peach blossoms bloomed in vibrant splendor. A coldly elegant woman with hair styled like flowing clouds and dressed in a dark, gauzy gown stood there, her hands clasped nervously in front of her.
The commander who had escorted her had already bowed and retreated, leaving her alone.
Chen Yi didn't understand why she, of all people, had been summoned by the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Decades ago, she had traveled millions of miles with envoys from other factions of the Alliance of Righteous Unity to meet the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, hoping to discuss strategies against the Dark Beings.
However, the moment they stepped into the hall, before even catching a glimpse of the Alliance Leader's face, they were arrested on charges of assassination and thrown into the dungeon for several years.
Although they were later released under a general amnesty by the Alliance Leader, they lost their freedom as a result of the assassination charges.
Everyone was confined to the city, under strict surveillance, and forbidden from leaving without permission.
From initial helplessness and despair, Chen Yi eventually came to accept her situation. Compared to being imprisoned in the dungeon for life, this limited freedom wasn't so bad—at least she was alive.
Still, to this day, she wasn't sure whether the assassination plot against the Alliance Leader was real or fabricated.
Had there truly been someone among the envoys with ill intentions, seeking to sabotage the relationship between the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the Alliance of Righteous Unity? Or was this merely a pretext created by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?
In the past, Chen Yi's suspicion of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would have been unwavering.
But after witnessing the actions of the Alliance of Righteous Unity, she couldn't help but question their sinister motives as well.
Over the years in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, Chen Yi had gradually come to understand certain things.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance wasn't as mysterious, terrifying, or treacherous as the outside world made it out to be—a den of dragons and tigers, a realm of demons and ghosts.
In fact, it was likely due to these rumors that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was shunned and feared by the myriad worlds.
From what she had seen with her own eyes, the factions living under the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's rule could be described as thriving and peaceful, with no signs of chaos or turmoil.
The order was strict, and everything was well-organized.
She also saw no fear or anxiety among the various factions regarding the Dark Beings.
No matter how turbulent and chaotic the outside world became, it seemed to have no effect on the tranquility of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
In the eyes of the Alliance's inhabitants, she never saw any trace of fear or unease.
Even when discussing the various conflicts and wars raging outside, everyone appeared indifferent, as if they were completely unconcerned about being affected—detached from it all.
All of this was due to the presence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's leader. External enemies dared not invade, making the Alliance one of the few remaining paradises in the Vast Expanse.
Chen Yi had once lamented and regretted: If only she had known the true state of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance earlier, would the outcome have been different if the Crescent Moon Sect had allied with them sooner?
She had long known about the Alliance of Righteous Unity's humiliating peace treaty with the Dark Beings. She also knew that many factions, including the Crescent Moon Sect, had been abandoned by the Alliance of Righteous Unity, used as cannon fodder to resist the Dark Beings, and ultimately wiped out by the tides of time.
Her former comrades, her former disciples, had all become part of the countless souls lost to the ages.
Though her heart ached with grief, Chen Yi knew there was nothing she could do to change the past.
When the Dark Beings attacked, the Alliance of Righteous Unity, which had promised to protect everyone, chose to retreat and abandon them. Only the Heaven-Slaying Alliance sent reinforcements to aid them.
Under such circumstances, many factions and sects were forever destroyed, including her former Crescent Moon Sect.
Time was the greatest force, capable of smoothing over the pain in one's heart. Over the years, Chen Yi had gradually emerged from her overwhelming grief and begun to face her current life.
The former envoys of the Alliance of Righteous Unity, though stripped of their freedom and confined to the ancient city, had each found their place within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Even she was no exception, becoming a mentor at one of the Alliance's academies. After all, she was a Dao Realm existence who had survived multiple Heavenly Decline Tribulations, her insight and strength far surpassing that of ordinary cultivators.
"Since you're here, come in."
As Chen Yi's thoughts swirled in her mind, filled with anxiety and tension, a calm and gentle voice suddenly came from the small courtyard before her.
Hearing this voice, Chen Yi froze, her eyes widening in surprise.
The voice felt familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
The next moment, the courtyard gate silently opened, and the faint aroma of tea wafted out. By the clear pond, a young man lounged lazily in a wicker chair.
Beside him, a stunningly beautiful woman was brewing tea, gently fanning a small red-clay stove where the flames burned brightly, the charcoal crackling softly.
Chen Yi's widened eyes grew even larger as she stared in disbelief at the scene before her, her entire body frozen like a statue.
"How... how is this possible?" she murmured.
How could she forget? During their journey to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, when they were attacked by the Dark Beings, it was this person who had saved them.
That elegant and noble young man had handed her a bottle of pills. Though the bottle was now empty, she had kept it all this time.
During the years she was imprisoned in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's dungeon, Chen Yi had even fantasized about someone coming to rescue them.
Would that white-robed young man who had shown them kindness in the darkness reappear?
She had imagined many possibilities, but she had never once thought that the young man in white would turn out to be the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance—a figure feared and dreaded throughout the Vast Expanse, whose very name struck terror into the hearts of all.
"Miss Chen Yi, please have a seat."
Gu Changge's voice broke through the chaotic and incredulous thoughts swirling in Chen Yi's mind.
Her mind went blank, as if it had short-circuited. She didn't even know how she managed to walk over and sit down at the stone table.
She didn't even notice when a cup of hot tea was placed in front of her.
Gu Changge left the fishing rod at his feet, not in a hurry to disturb Chen Yi, waiting for her to collect her thoughts.
Ling Yuling, meanwhile, observed Chen Yi with a scrutinizing gaze, curious as to why Gu Changge had suddenly summoned this woman.
Was there something special about her?
"Greetings, Alliance Leader."
Chen Yi finally snapped out of her daze, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. The situation before her was simply too surreal.
So, she had met the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance before, and she had even spoken to him about her purpose in coming to the Alliance.
But at the time, Gu Changge had not revealed even a hint of his true identity.
She had never imagined that Gu Changge was the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Originally, Chen Yi had many questions and things she wanted to say, but now that she was face-to-face with Gu Changgoe and knew his true identity, she found herself at a loss for words.
"You must be wondering why I called for you," Gu Changge said with a smile, gesturing for her to relax. "Recently, many members of the Alliance have encountered scattered survivors of the Crescent Moon Sect and brought them back to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. I thought, since you were once a elder of the Crescent Moon Sect, perhaps you could help settle these disciples."
Chen Yi was stunned, rooted to the spot, almost doubting whether she had heard correctly.
The leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had personally summoned her... for something like this?
Given his status, shouldn't such a trivial matter be beneath his notice? Why would he think to call her here and personally ask her about it?
"Alliance Leader, is there... anything else?" Chen Yi asked instinctively, still unable to believe it.
Gu Changge gave her a strange look, then shook his head with a chuckle. "No, nothing else. I just happened to hear a report from my subordinates about the Crescent Moon Sect disciples and thought of you. After all, you once told me that you were a elder of the Crescent Moon Sect."
"By the way, how have you been during your time in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? Due to certain circumstances, you can't leave just yet, but once the matter with the Alliance of Righteous Unity is resolved, the world should be at peace. By then, if you wish to leave the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, no one will stop you."
Chen Yi continued to stare at him blankly, feeling utterly at a loss.
This feeling was akin to being an inconspicuous weed by the roadside, only to realize that someone had been quietly paying attention to you all along.
"Thank you for your concern, Alliance Leader. During my time in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, I've been doing well, free from the disturbances of the outside world. The lingering injuries I had were also healed thanks to the pills you gave me," Chen Yi explained softly. "Back then, in the great hall, we truly didn't expect that someone among us would harbor such ill intentions, daring to attempt an assassination on you…"
Now, she was certain that someone in the envoy group had indeed plotted against Gu Changge, rather than it being a fabricated charge as the outside world had speculated—that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had simply concocted an excuse to target the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
At the time, she had found it strange that such a grave crime as attempting to assassinate the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had only resulted in their imprisonment, rather than immediate execution.
Now, it all made sense. After all, Gu Changge had been their savior, and they shared some semblance of a connection. How could he indiscriminately kill innocent people without understanding the full story?
A man of such integrity and grace, how could he be as terrifying as the rumors suggested, the kind of figure who could silence a crying child with his mere presence?
The outside world's misunderstanding of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's leader ran deep indeed.
"It's fine. That matter is in the past. Such petty schemes couldn't harm me," Gu Changge waved his hand dismissively, then sighed regretfully. "It's just a pity that when I learned of the Crescent Moon Sect's plight under the Dark Beings' attack, I immediately sent reinforcements. But alas, by the time they arrived, the sect was already in ruins."
"Alliance Leader, there's no need for you to feel guilty or blame yourself. If not for the Alliance of Righteous Unity's betrayal, the Crescent Moon Sect would not have fallen," Chen Yi said, her voice tinged with sorrow as she thought of her former comrades and disciples.
"You need not grieve too deeply. From what I know, before the Crescent Moon Sect fell, its elders led many disciples to flee in different directions. They are now scattered across the world, and one day, the Crescent Moon Sect may yet be rebuilt," Gu Changge comforted her.
Hearing this, Chen Yi felt an indescribable warmth welling up in her heart.
Despite Gu Changge's lofty status, he had taken the time to console her over such a seemingly trivial matter. In this unfamiliar territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, she felt a sense of belonging and warmth she hadn't expected.
Afterward, she didn't linger to disturb Gu Changge further. Collecting her thoughts, she bid farewell and left, escorted by a high-ranking officer.
Flowers may wither, but they will bloom again. The Crescent Moon Sect, too, may one day rise from its ashes. There was no need for her to wallow in grief and nostalgia. Now, there were former disciples waiting for her care and guidance—perhaps even her own students, like Lan Xin and Gu Xian'er.
"The tea is still warm…" Ling Yuling glanced at the cup she had poured for Chen Yi, shaking her head slightly.
She didn't believe Gu Changge had summoned Chen Yi and spoken so much simply out of concern for the Crescent Moon Sect.
Moreover, she knew full well that the assassination attempt by the Alliance of Righteous Unity's envoys was nothing more than a pretext Gu Changge had casually fabricated. There had been no such incident.
Nor had he ordered the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's forces to rush to the Crescent Moon Sect's aid.
His earlier words were likely just a ploy to deceive the woman named Chen Yi.
What is his true purpose? What is he after? The Crescent Moon Sect?
"Hmm? A fish has taken the bait?"
Gu Changge ignored Ling Yuling's confusion, his gaze shifting to the fishing rod at his feet, which had begun to tremble slightly. With a flick of his finger, the rod sliced through the water's surface, the fishing line tightening instantly.
The once-calm pond suddenly churned with mist and chaotic light, golden radiance bursting forth as if a terrifying creature on the other side of the water was struggling to break free.
Ling Yuling also focused her attention.
"Roar…"
A deafening roar, capable of splitting the heavens and shaking the cosmos, erupted. A massive creature covered in golden scales, surrounded by divine light, and exuding an ancient, majestic aura was yanked out of the pond by the fishing line. It soared into the air before being unceremoniously flung to the ground by Gu Changge, where it writhed and struggled.
This fearsome creature resembled a true dragon, its body covered in dragon scales and crowned with majestic horns. Its originally colossal form shrank to the size of a small snake as it landed in the courtyard, its eyes filled with terror and dread.
It was only then that Ling Yuling noticed the other end of Gu Changge's fishing hook. Attached to it was a slender, jade-like arm, smooth and flawless, as if it had been cleanly severed at the shoulder.
The wound was as smooth as a mirror, exuding a fragrant aroma, almost like a lotus root.
"Divine essence… This is the arm of an Ancestral God?"
Ling Yuling, with her vast knowledge, recognized it immediately, her beautiful face filled with shock and astonishment.
Her gaze shifted to the creature bound by the fishing line, unable to move by the pond. It, too, was a deity, though its divine essence was far less potent than that of the arm.
In this era, few beings followed the path of divinity, let alone achieved the status of a deity.
The innate gods had long vanished, and the remaining deities were mostly those who had cultivated their way to this level through the divine path.
However, it was clear that the arm Gu Changge had used as bait belonged to an ancient Ancestral God, not a deity born in later eras.
"I thought I'd caught something big, but it's just a small fry," Gu Changge remarked with a slight shake of his head.
"You… you're the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
The bound creature looked at Gu Changge with terror, its voice trembling.
"Good, you recognize me. Where is that Ancestral God named Taixuan? If He wants His arm back, He'd better come and retrieve it Himself," Gu Changge said indifferently.
"Alliance Leader, spare me! How would a minor deity like me know the whereabouts of an Ancestral God? I merely sensed a strong concentration of divine essence in the void and thought it was a fragment of a deity's body lost during a battle. I approached out of curiosity…" The creature stammered in fear.
"Do you really think I'm so easily fooled? Since you won't talk, then don't bother."
Gu Changge shook his head lightly, his eyes devoid of emotion. With a flick of his finger, the creature's pupils contracted in terror and despair before it exploded with a pop, transforming into a mass of golden divine essence.
Ling Yuling looked at him, puzzled, but Gu Changge offered no explanation. He casually tossed the divine essence into the teapot, where it dissolved into a radiant golden glow as the tea bubbled and boiled.
Long ago, after the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, an Ancestral God named Taixuan had tried to scheme against him, using his follower Chen Jinhán to corrupt his faith power and taint his divine avatar.
Chen Jinhán, her mind polluted by the Taixuan Ancestral God, had been consumed by desire and madness, nearly committing sacrilege in the Heaven-Slaying Shrine.
Gu Changge had sent a fragment of his consciousness to locate the Taixuan Ancestral God in the void, severing one of His arms.
Since then, the Ancestral God had vanished into the endless void, erasing all traces of His existence, as if He had evaporated from the Vast Expanse entirely.