Chapter 1640. The Art of Substituting the Pillar, How Did the Saintess End Up in Such a Miserable State?

“Father, don’t worry.”

“My daughter knows what to do next.”

As soon as these words left Chu Gucheng’s mouth, Chu Xinyue’s figure appeared out of thin air.

However, as she walked toward them, her face, tone, demeanor, and even her aura began to blur, with strange mist swirling around her, making her look mysteriously enigmatic.

The next moment, as the mist gradually dissipated, she completely transformed into the appearance of the Xiyuan Saintess.

From her expression, posture, and actions, she was no different from the Xiyuan Saintess they had known before.

This wasn’t just a simple disguise or change in appearance, but a complete remaking of her foundation, a rebirth, as though she had been reincarnated and grown into a new body. Even the most skilled of ancient sages, who were experts in deduction, would be unable to trace the origin or fate of Chu Xinyue at this moment.

“Indeed, the pill given by Senior Xing Ying is as miraculous as expected. Now, with the Xiyuan Saintess and Xinyue standing together, we can hardly tell who is real and who is fake. It’s impossible to distinguish them.”

Looking at this almost divine transformation, Chu Gucheng, the Law Saint, and others couldn’t help but express their admiration.

“I really became the Xiyuan Saintess?”

At this moment, Chu Xinyue also showed a look of amazement, as she could feel many vague memories rushing into her mind.

Although these weren’t the true memories of the Xiyuan Saintess, they would help her create the illusion that she was the real one, making it impossible for others to see through her.

At that moment, she truly felt as though she had become the Xiyuan Saintess. Her gestures, expressions, and actions were all identical to the Xiyuan Saintess, and she had become the supreme being of the Xiyuan Civilization.

“The Easy Rebirth Creation Pill given by my Master naturally has no issue. It was refined from the Dao Fruit of the Scaly Ancestor, a rare treasure. Even in my Yin Xu Cave, there are only a few of them,” the old woman Xing Ying said, nodding with satisfaction.

“How is this possible?”

At that moment, the Xiyuan Saintess, who was sealed and trapped at the center of several Lock Dragon Pillars, was shocked beyond belief.

She had just thought that this was merely an illusion created by Chu Xinyue, a simple change of appearance and so on.

After all, no matter what kind of disguise or transformation method was used, it could never change one’s essence. Even if the aura, demeanor, and appearance were perfect, there would still be some flaw.

For an existence at the Ancestor Dao realm, just a single thought could trace the causal relationships and aura, and identify the true identity and origin of the person.

But now, Chu Xinyue, standing before her, seemed to be the true Xiyuan Saintess.

How could this not shake the Xiyuan Saintess, causing her disbelief?

Could this be the true purpose of Chu Xinyue’s recent interactions with her? She swallowed the pill given by the blind old woman, and after a few days of mimicking, she had almost perfectly transformed into the Xiyuan Saintess?

Looking at that woman who was nearly identical to her, the Xiyuan Saintess suddenly grew worried. While she was trapped there, Chu Xinyue, impersonating her, had walked through the worlds, which could cause great disruption and harm to the entire Xiyuan Civilization.

Especially now that Chu Gucheng was desperately trying to obtain the Mirror of Reincarnation.

The “Xiyuan Saintess” impersonated by Chu Xinyue only needed a few words to easily change the situation, and could even potentially allow Chu Gucheng to acquire the Mirror of Reincarnation.

Seeing the worry in the Xiyuan Saintess’s eyes, Chu Gucheng laughed heartily again and said, “Don’t worry, Xiyuan Saintess. Xinyue will only borrow your identity for a while. She will return it to you later. This won’t affect you at all. In fact, it will be a great thing for the Xiyuan Holy Hall.”

“Perhaps, later, you might even thank me, thank Xinyue.”

The Xiyuan Saintess regained her calm. After hearing this, she merely cast him a cold glance and said nothing. She then closed her eyes again, sitting cross-legged, and continued to recover from her injuries.

Chu Gucheng didn’t care at all. He sneered and waved his hand. Immediately, the several Lock Dragon Pillars around them emitted a faint, colorful glow, forming a mysterious, blurry domain that completely obscured the area.

Then, he tore through the void and left with the Law Saint, Elder Jin, and the old woman Xing Ying.

“What a brilliant substitution method. No wonder the Lord of Xianchu Haotu is so renowned. This scheme is truly flawless.”

At that moment, in the quiet courtyard of the imperial capital of Xianchu Haotu…As the image on the golden paper gradually faded and disappeared, Gu Changge let out a sincere exclamation of admiration.

However, beside him, Wu Xuan, Chu Bai, Chu Kui, and the others were frozen, like statues, unable to recover from what they had just witnessed.

Their hearts were in turmoil, almost unable to believe their eyes.

At first, when they saw Chu Gucheng and the others trying to attack the Xiyuan Saintess, they thought it was too unbelievable and even doubted whether it was an illusion. But now, they were utterly shocked.

They never imagined that they would witness such a terrifying scene with their own eyes.

Once this matter spreads, it will likely plunge Xianchu Haotu into an irreversible state of catastrophe.

Who would believe that the Lord of Xianchu Haotu, Chu Gucheng, was so daring as to imprison and capture the true Xiyuan Saintess, and then have his second daughter, Chu Xinyue, impersonate her and walk through the worlds?

This was no longer a simple act of rebellion or a provocation against the Xiyuan Holy Hall; this was an attempt to control the situation in the Xiyuan Civilization, to manipulate various factions and large clans.

Such a move was like dancing on the edge of a blade, where a small misstep would result in eternal damnation.

“Gu… Gu Gongzi, why don’t you step in to save the Xiyuan Saintess?”

However, compared to the shock and horror at Chu Gucheng’s audacity, Wu Xuan and the others were even more shaken by Gu Changge’s methods.

Just with a single, seemingly ordinary golden sheet of paper, he easily discerned Chu Gucheng, the Law Saint, and others’ plans and schemes.

What was even more shocking was that, up until now, Chu Gucheng and the others had no idea that a pair of eyes were already secretly watching them, observing their every move with great interest.

Such a method was truly unbelievable. For Wu Xuan and the others, who already greatly respected and feared Gu Changge, this made them tremble even more.

“Why would I save her?” Gu Changge put away the golden sheet and smiled faintly in response to the question.

“But didn’t the Xiyuan Saintess stand on your side?” Wu Xuan asked hesitantly, a bit anxious.

He recalled how at the birthday banquet of Chu Gucheng, the Xiyuan Saintess had clearly stated that the Fatian Alliance and the remnants of Black Calamity had no connection, which indirectly defended Gu Changge and seemed to imply that she was on his side.

Gu Changge smiled and replied, “She has never stood on my side. If it weren’t for her lack of options, do you think she would have said such words? What happened today is just the result of her own actions. A person who is arrogant will eventually pay the price for their behavior.”

Indeed, Gu Changge could have helped the Xiyuan Saintess, but he had no intention of doing so.

To him, the fact that the Xiyuan Saintess was captured and imprisoned in that void prison actually worked to his advantage.

Wu Xuan and the others didn’t know Gu Changge’s true intentions and didn’t dare to speculate. What they had witnessed today made them realize just how mysterious and unfathomable his methods were.

They weren’t foolish, and from all the signs, it seemed that Xianchu Haotu’s fate had already been sealed.

The invisible catastrophe was already quietly looming and approaching them. Although the situation in Xianchu Haotu seemed stable and prosperous on the surface, it was merely an illusion. Beneath that, they had no idea how treacherous the situation had already become.

The actions of Lord Chu Gucheng had been causing him to lose the trust of the people.

Once they returned to the mansion of the capable people and strange talents, they would definitely tell those they trusted about everything that had happened tonight.

Because only by letting the situation escalate would they attract attention, and then the hidden enemies would hesitate and would no longer dare to act so freely.

In addition, the consequences of Chu Gucheng’s audacity in capturing the Xiyuan Saintess and imprisoning her were too unimaginable for them.

Gu Changge could tell from the expressions on Wu Xuan and the others’ faces that the situation was already beyond his control.

The impending turmoil in Xianchu Haotu had already become a foregone conclusion, irreversible.

“The Xiyuan Saintess’s master is the Xiyu. The fact that she hasn’t appeared for so long is likely due to some other plan. On the other hand, the Yin Xu Cave, its origins are worth investigating,” Gu Changge mused, sipping his drink.

At that moment, Han Feng and the others, now calm, exchanged glances. In their eyes, they saw helplessness and a deep sigh.

They came from the mansion of capable people and strange talents and had been raised by Xianchu Haotu since childhood. It was impossible for them not to have any feelings for Xianchu Haotu.

Now, seeing that Xianchu Haotu was facing such a great disaster, they couldn’t help but feel uneasy. However, they weren’t blind loyalists. Just moments ago, the royal family of Xianchu Haotu had wanted their lives.

If the royal family was unjust, they couldn’t be blamed for being heartless.

“The Marquis gave me the pair of mandarin duck jade pendants that he and his wife exchanged to pledge their love. As long as we find the matching pendant, we can restore the scene of the night the madam was killed and determine the real identity of the murderer.”

Then Han Feng glanced at a few of them and whispered.

“After the madam’s suicide, her body was not buried. It is still kept in the former Grand Tutor’s mansion. Perhaps that jade pendant is now in the former Grand Tutor’s hands,” Chu Bai speculated.

Madam Qing Lan, the wife of the Champion Marquis, was the daughter of the former Grand Tutor. Though the former Grand Tutor no longer held office, his influence in Xianchu Haotu still couldn’t be ignored.Many of the ministers, generals, and even the Champion Marquis, among others, were his disciples.

“I’m now worried about the enemies behind us. After tonight’s failure, they may target the former Grand Tutor, trying to destroy that jade pendant…” Han Feng said with concern.

After tonight’s events, he had realized just how vicious and unscrupulous the enemy behind them was. The power of the enemy was beyond imagination, and it wasn’t impossible for them to attack the former Grand Tutor.

At that point, he felt a bit tempted to ask Gu Changge for help. After witnessing Gu Changge’s methods tonight, he became more and more convinced that Gu Changge’s origins were astonishing, and his power immeasurable, far surpassing even the Ancestor Dao realm.

This was why he had mentioned it in front of Gu Changge.

“I can guess what you’re thinking, but that’s the feud between your Marquis and Xianchu Haotu. I’ve already stepped in to help you tonight. It’s enough that I’ve done so without asking for anything in return,” Gu Changge said with a faint smile, glancing at Han Feng and the others.

Han Feng’s expression turned awkward. He hadn’t expected his intentions to be so easily guessed by Gu Changge.

However, as someone trusted by the Champion Marquis, Han Feng quickly regained his composure and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, “If Young Master Gu could lend a hand in helping the Marquis out of this danger, the Marquis and all of us would be forever grateful. If you have any need, just give us a command. We’ll go through fire and water without hesitation.”

Gu Changge smiled lightly and asked, “When you say this, can you really speak for the Champion Marquis?”

Han Feng froze for a moment. After thinking for a while, he answered, “If the Marquis knew about what happened tonight in the capital, he would certainly say the same, because I know the Marquis very well.”

“Let’s put this aside for now. When your Champion Marquis says this to me in person, I’ll consider it,” Gu Changge waved his hand and smiled. “Besides, how are you so sure I can help you? Right now, I’m barely able to protect myself.”

Han Feng, Chu Bai, and the others’ expressions changed. They didn’t understand what Gu Changge meant by this.

How could someone with such strength be unable to protect themselves?

“You’re joking, Young Master Gu. With your strength, you can freely traverse endless time and space, coming and going as you please. Who in this world could threaten you?” Han Feng cupped his hands and said.

“Heh, Chu Gucheng has the Xiyuan Saintess’s help. He will certainly make a move against me the first chance he gets. I was hoping for a few more peaceful days in Xianchu Haotu, but it seems like I can’t avoid it now…” Gu Changge chuckled lightly, taking a sip of his wine.

Seeing how casually he spoke, Han Feng and the others understood that Gu Changge’s earlier remark was just a joke.

If Gu Changge truly couldn’t protect himself, then the current power of Xianchu Haotu would be able to sweep through the entire Xiyuan Civilization.

Perhaps it was the sight of Gu Changge using a seemingly ordinary golden sheet of paper to easily uncover the conspiracy of Chu Gucheng, the Law Saint, and the others that gave Han Feng, Chu Bai, and the others an unshakable confidence in Gu Changge.

Afterward, Han Feng, Wu Xuan, and the others, realizing they couldn’t persuade Gu Changge to help them, thanked him once more and then left.

They planned to return to the mansion of capable people and strange talents and then seek refuge with the former Grand Tutor’s mansion to determine the real murderer of the Champion Marquis’s wife.

The situation in Xianchu Haotu was currently unpredictable, and no one knew what would happen the next day.

After Han Feng and the others left, Gu Changge finished the last sip of his wine, then slowly stood up.

“With tens of thousands of small and large void prohibitions set up, it seems Chu Gucheng is determined to imprison the Xiyuan Saintess for hundreds of years.”

He lightly flicked his hand, and the golden sheet reappeared. A faint glow shimmered on it, and a black vortex, large enough to encompass half a person, began to form.

Then, Gu Changge stepped forward and walked into it, his figure vanishing like a wisp of black mist in an instant.

At the same time, deep within the void prison, where the Xiyuan Saintess was bound by several Lock Dragon Chains in the central area, she suddenly felt something and displayed a trace of confusion on her usually calm face.

“What’s going on?”

She murmured to herself in doubt, sensing a vast aura coming from deep within her space.

The Xiyuan Saintess furrowed her brows slightly and extended her divine sense. She saw dazzling golden light pouring out, like the morning dawn, sacred and brilliant.

The golden sheet that she had sealed earlier became transparent and holy. The blurred words within it began to manifest, seemingly opening a faint time-space passage.

“I sealed this golden sheet of paper, didn’t I? Why isn’t it working?”

The Xiyuan Saintess grew more and more puzzled, feeling as though the golden paper was about to break free from within.

She hadn’t discarded the golden sheet left by Gu Changge. Instead, she had sealed it with numerous prohibitions, using multiple ancient artifacts to suppress it. Only when she felt secure did she store it deep within her Xumi space.

But now, this golden sheet was emitting a vast and overwhelming aura, causing the Lock Dragon Pillars around her to tremble slightly.

“Could it be that he actually intended to help me when he left this golden sheet behind?”

As this possibility crossed her mind, the Xiyuan Saintess’s emotions became difficult to control. Her usually calm and unmoving demeanor was now like a still lake suddenly shattered by a stone.

The next moment, a faint passageway was formed, and a blurry, tall figure, like smoke, appeared deep within her Xumi space, stepping directly towards the Xiyuan Saintess.

“You…”

Seeing Gu Changge step out from her Xumi space and appear right in front of her, the Xiyuan Saintess’s eyes widened in surprise. The words she had planned to say were immediately swallowed back down.

“It’s been a few days. Saintess, how did you end up in such a sorry state?”

Gu Changge stood before the Xiyuan Saintess, slightly lifting his hands behind his back, observing her with a hint of interest. He teased, clearly asking with a touch of mockery.

“You truly have ill intentions, making alterations to the golden sheet of paper you left for me,” the Xiyuan Saintess raised her eyes, meeting Gu Changge’s gaze. She spoke coldly, her tone neutral and indifferent.

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