Chapter 1716. Only then would he be able to see the true face—this was the crucial mission entrusted to him by the Alliance Master.

Ling Yuling was the first to step forward. Immediately afterward, a powerful force surged forth, sweeping Zhu Xuan and the others along with her, and they were quickly pulled inside, disappearing from sight.

Zhu Xuan wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but compared to before, he felt that at that moment, Ah Li and her snow-white True Hou mount seemed especially tense.

Very soon, the spatial passage before their eyes blurred. Their vision flashed, and when everything became clear again, they found themselves standing on a sunlit plain filled with birdsong and blooming scenery.

Towering mountain ranges rose all around them. Ancient trees stood tall and lush, orchids and spiritual grasses flourished, and radiant Xia Guang billowed through the air.

In the distance, jade-like lakes dotted the landscape. Several graceful divine deer lowered their heads to drink at the water’s edge, occasionally lifting their heads to glance at the newcomers without fear. The grass was verdant, a gentle breeze drifted by, and the entire scene radiated natural harmony.

From even farther away came a faint fragrance of peach blossoms. A splash of brilliant red entered everyone’s vision—a peach grove stretching for an unknown number of miles. The blossoms were in full bloom, each flower dazzling and enchanting, petals drifting through the air as they fell.

“The Alliance Master lives in seclusion here.”

Ling Yuling’s voice snapped everyone back to their senses. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, who would have believed that the master of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance lived in such a tranquil paradise?

Passing through the peach grove, a cluster of quiet, ancient courtyards appeared before them. Slender bamboo, lofty pines, thousands of old cypresses, and endless stalks of green bamboo created a serene, elegant view.

Inside the courtyard, a young man sat with his legs crossed, reclining lazily on a bamboo chair. He seemed to be brewing tea, resting his chin on his hand. Dressed in white robes and white socks, with ink-black hair loosely draped, he gave off an air of relaxed indolence.

“You’re here?”

As if sensing their arrival, Gu Changge lifted his gaze towards the courtyard entrance, a gentle smile curving at his lips.

“I’ve brought them all,” Ling Yuling said with a faint smile as she stepped forward.

Zhu Xuan and the others stood rooted in place, stunned. It was hard to reconcile this picturesque scene with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Master they had imagined.

In their minds, the Alliance Master should have been imposing and majestic, radiating authority without anger, every word and action carrying an overwhelming, mountain-and-sea-like pressure.

Yet the white-robed man before them was far too young and refined—more like a banished immortal stepping out of a painting, elegant as jade and gentle as flowing water.

Had they encountered him elsewhere, they would have thought him a noble young lord.

“You came just in time—the tea has just finished boiling.”

Gu Changge smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Xuan and the others.

Standing outside the courtyard, they felt uneasy. Though his gaze seemed to merely pass over them, they felt as if it never truly left them, as if they were being watched at all times.

This made them extremely nervous. Although the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Master’s appearance was far from what they had expected, he was still the existence who sat in that supreme position—someone who had shattered a dark being’s summoning passage with a single palm, unfathomably powerful.

How could they possibly presume to gauge him?

“Come in. There’s no need to stand outside. Yuling has already told me everything about the Floating Continent.”

Gu Changge straightened from the bamboo chair and waved for them to approach. The spring-breeze smile on his face eased much of their tension.

At that moment, Ling Yuling brought over several tea cups and poured tea for Zhu Xuan and the others.

The six great families of the Floating Continent had all sent representatives with Zhu Xuan, but they remained respectfully outside the courtyard, not daring to enter.

“Greetings, Alliance Master.”

Zhu Xuan stepped forward first, took a deep breath to steady himself, and then bowed respectfully.

Behind him, Ah Li and the others followed, also bowing before standing quietly to the side. Their primary purpose in coming was to beg Gu Changge to save Zhu Xuan’s grandfather. For that, they were willing to pay any price.

The people of the Floating Continent all held hope in their hearts. Elder Zhu had guarded the Sacred Ancestor Pavilion until the very end of his life, still resisting the dark beings in his final moments.

They couldn’t bear to see him corroded by dark matter and transformed into a dark creature.

“Your matter—Yuling has already told me about it. I can indeed help remove the dark matter corroding your grandfather…”

Gu Changge took the tea from Ling Yuling, sipped it calmly, and then looked at Zhu Xuan.

Zhu Xuan’s face lit up with joy, and the others from the Floating Continent also showed excitement and relief.

Yet beneath her bamboo hat, Ah Li stared fixedly at Gu Changge’s face, as if trying to see through him. But her usually infallible perception seemed completely blocked.

Whether she opened or closed her eyes, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Master before her felt nonexistent—as if all that sat there was an invisible void, a boundless darkness, a bottomless deep sea.

The sensation sent chills down her spine, cold sweat seeping from her back as her limbs grew cold. She even felt that Gu Changge’s gaze had been fixed on her all along, silently examining her, seeing through every truth and falsehood.

“As long as you’re willing to save my grandfather, Alliance Master, I’m willing to pay any price!” Zhu Xuan spoke excitedly, interrupting Ah Li’s chaotic thoughts.

She looked up just in time to see him about to kneel, when an invisible force suddenly appeared and held him up, preventing him from doing so.

“Saving your grandfather isn’t difficult, and I don’t need you to pay any price. Since Yuling has already come to me about this, how could I possibly refuse?”

Gu Changge smiled faintly and gestured for Zhu Xuan to stand.

Hearing this, Zhu Xuan and the others froze briefly, then looked at Ling Yuling with boundless gratitude.

They could all tell that Ling Yuling’s relationship with the Alliance Master was extraordinary—otherwise, how could she come and go freely, meeting him at will?

“……”

A faint blush appeared on Ling Yuling’s face. She glanced at Gu Changge and said calmly, “The Alliance Master is kind-hearted and benevolent. Even if I hadn’t asked, he would still have helped you.”

She had never actually asked Gu Changge to save Zhu Xuan’s grandfather.

Why was he saying this now—was he simply trying to make them grateful to her, or did he have another motive?

Gu Changge smiled and continued sipping his tea without comment.

Seeing this, the people of the Floating Continent finally breathed a sigh of relief, their faces filled with joy and excitement as they repeatedly expressed their gratitude to both Gu Changge and Ling Yuling.

Zhu Xuan’s heart overflowed with gratitude and excitement. Before coming, he had already prepared himself to pay any cost, yet everything had gone far more smoothly than he had ever imagined.

Whoosh!

A faint glow flashed as Zhu Xuan released his grandfather from his spatial ring. Elder Zhu lay unconscious, his body shrouded in black mist.

Since being corroded by dark matter, he had remained in a semi-comatose state. Only the sea of consciousness in his brow remained untainted.

“The method you used to stabilize his sea of consciousness was quite good—it bought him at least half a year.”

Gu Changge glanced at Elder Zhu’s condition and nodded in approval.

Hearing this, sorrow surfaced on everyone’s faces as they recalled the Azure Fairy, who had sacrificed herself to save them.

As Gu Changge spoke, he extended a finger and tapped Elder Zhu’s brow. Instantly, a tiny black hole formed there.

A terrifying suction force erupted, as if space-time itself were collapsing. Wisps of black mist twisted and surged out from every pore of Elder Zhu’s body like thick fog, rapidly converging toward the black hole and being continuously extracted.

“What?!”

Everyone was stunned by the unbelievable sight, eyes wide with shock. The dark matter that all beings feared and avoided had no resistance at all before the Alliance Master—drawn out as easily as ordinary mist.

“When we were on the Floating Continent, the Azure Fairy once said that the Sacred Ancestor had tried countless methods to drive out the dark matter from her old companions, but none succeeded. The origin of dark matter likely involves the legendary True Land. Ordinary methods don’t work—in fact, the more one tries to expel it, the faster it spreads. Mana, consciousness, willpower, faith, even a single thought can become a medium for its spread…”

“But now…”

Shangguan Qing of the Shangguan family muttered in disbelief.

Such a method was simply inconceivable. If word of this spread, it would cause an unprecedented upheaval.

As the dark matter was removed, Elder Zhu’s originally ashen face gradually regained healthy color.

Zhu Xuan trembled with excitement, gripping his grandfather’s hand tightly, tears reddening his eyes.

“Alliance Master, your great kindness—I truly can never repay it in this lifetime…”

With a thud, he knelt before Gu Changge, his voice trembling with emotion.

The others from the Floating Continent also knelt, expressing heartfelt thanks. Though still stunned, Ah Li had no choice but to kneel with them, lest she appear too conspicuous.

“How is this possible…”

The shock in her heart was beyond words.

Dark matter… could be expelled so easily?

Just who exactly was this Heaven-Slaying Alliance Master?

“The dark matter has been completely removed. With proper rest, he will recover.”

Gu Changge shook his head lightly and flicked his finger. The black hole instantly vanished, dissipating without a trace, as if it had never existed.

“That’s wonderful…”

“Thank you, Alliance Master.”

Zhu Xuan looked at his grandfather, whose condition was now hundreds of times better, his gratitude immeasurable.

To him, this was nothing short of a rebirth. Even if the Alliance Master asked him to work like an ox or a horse, he would not hesitate.

“There’s no need to thank me. I helped you for my own reasons. Perhaps in the near future, you’ll help me as well.”

Gu Changge smiled faintly and gestured for them to rise.

Zhu Xuan was stunned.

Help the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Master?

He smiled bitterly, thinking these were merely comforting words. He knew his limits. Even if he could contend with quasi-Immortal Emperors, his strength was insignificant before Gu Changge.

How could he possibly help him?

The others from the Floating Continent were equally shocked and puzzled.

“The Black Calamity is descending once more upon the world. All realms of the vast cosmos will face this trial and disaster. You are a descendant of the Pan Clan and carry the key to the Pool of Creation.”

“Your current strength may be insufficient to influence this turmoil—but who can say about the future?”

Gu Changge smiled calmly, then looked around at the others.

“You should already have guessed the purpose behind the sudden attack by the dark beings. As descendants of ancient sages, you should be well acquainted with the Six Primordial Civilization Artifacts.”

“Now, one of the civilization artifacts has already emerged…”

Even Ling Yuling was shaken by this, unconsciously turning to Zhu Xuan.

He was a descendant of the Pan Clan?

“Central Lord, Southern Venerable, Eastern Emperor, Western Saint, Northern Sovereign—Zhu Xuan is actually a blood descendant of the Eastern Emperor?”

She knew well the existence once honored as the Eastern Emperor.

The lord of the Pan Clan had been revered as the Eastern Emperor, leader of the Pan Clan—known in that era as the God-Opening Divine Clan, unrivaled across all worlds.

And the clue to the Pool of Creation was actually on Zhu Xuan?

Has the Pan Clan already been annihilated?

Ling Yuling was deeply shaken. Gu Changge had known all this from the start—even Zhu Xuan’s origins.

No wonder he had agreed to save Elder Zhu.

Zhu Xuan and the others were equally stunned.

Without further explanation, they understood how chaotic the current state of the cosmos had become.

Everywhere was fear and turmoil. Many civilizations were already plunged into despair and devastation.

What shocked them most was how Gu Changge knew Zhu Xuan’s origins and his connection to the Pool of Creation. They had never told anyone—not even Ling Yuling.

Seeing their confusion, Gu Changge smiled casually.

“If I wish to know something, I naturally will. There’s no need to be puzzled. The Gate of Immortality—one of the Six Primordial Civilization Artifacts—is currently in my possession. That’s no secret.”

“The Mirror of Reincarnation is with Saintess Xiyuan, and the Coffin of World Burial has fallen into the hands of the dark beings.”

“Next, the dark beings will certainly attempt to seize the Mirror of Reincarnation and search for the Pool of Creation, the Calamity-Crossing Disk, and the final civilization artifact…”

“If given the chance, they will also try to destroy all the primordial civilization artifacts, ensuring none remain.”

“If the realms and civilizations of the vast cosmos do not unite, then time is running out for all living beings. Compared to what comes next—the great reckoning—the return of the Black Calamity is nothing.”

At this point, Gu Changge sighed softly, his gaze becoming deep and boundless, as if seeing countless future tragedies.

“Great reckoning?”

“Has the situation truly become this urgent?”

Zhu Xuan and the others felt immense pressure, almost suffocating. They seemed to glimpse a future where darkness engulfed all realms—blood and fire erupting from the void, endless dark beings descending, heavens overturning, universes collapsing, and order shattering.

Ling Yuling’s heart tightened as well. Watching Gu Changge, she frowned slightly—he wasn’t joking. He had truly seen something.

“However, there’s no need to worry. Before that day arrives, I can still buy the world a period of peace.”

Gu Changge smiled lightly, dispelling the heavy atmosphere.

Zhu Xuan and the others snapped back to reality, though their hearts remained heavy.

In this chaotic era, no one could truly remain detached.

Yet Gu Changge’s words only deepened their respect and admiration—this was the true bearing of one revered by all living beings.

“The most urgent matter now is to retrieve the Pool of Creation before the dark beings—and prevent them from destroying it.”

“Back then, the Sacred Ancestor and the other sages relied on the six civilization artifacts, paying a tremendous price, to barely seal that existence.”

“If the artifacts are destroyed, then the vast cosmos will no longer have any power capable of threatening the dark beings. I fear this Black Calamity is actually a grand sacrifice prepared for the revival of that existence…”

Shangguan Qing said heavily.

Gu Changge nodded and looked at Zhu Xuan.

“Zhu Xuan, you carry the key to the Pool of Creation. The task of reclaiming it before the dark beings falls to you. I cannot leave the Xiyuan Civilization for now.”

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