The many disciples of the Immortal Chu Dynasty royal family, as well as some close confidants of Chu Gucheng, now wore expressions filled with deep sorrow, anger, and unwillingness.
In a single day, the vast Immortal Chu Dynasty had collapsed and been destroyed.
Their relatives and subordinates, who had helped them escape, had all perished along the way, meeting their end.
Everywhere they looked, there were ruins and debris, broken walls and shattered remnants. Once high above, looking down upon countless cultivators and living beings, they had now been reduced to stray dogs, forced to flee in all directions.
"Brother Ji, from now on, we can only rely on you. At present, we probably cannot stay in the Prime-Origin Civilization any longer. We can only hope to go to the Dawn Civilization and seek refuge in the Carefree Heavenly Palace."
"The various factions and powers of the Prime-Origin Civilization will surely try to exterminate us, to uproot us completely."
On the flying vessel, Chu Xinyue tightly held a jade bottle in her hands. She glanced at the many brothers and sisters behind her, as well as the other descendants of the Chu Family, before turning to Ouyang Ji beside her and speaking with a hint of apology.
This was the only solution she could think of. This calamity had come too quickly, leaving them no time to prepare.
As the second princess of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, she had long been targeted by others.
Thus, Chu Xinyue could only think of a way to have everyone split up and flee. She took some people with her, including Ouyang Ji, and fled towards the Dawn Civilization, seeking refuge in the Carefree Heavenly Palace.
As long as they survived, there would be a chance for revenge.
"These people came too quickly. What I fear now is that we might be intercepted before we even reach the Dawn Civilization."
Hearing this, Ouyang Ji also showed a trace of worry on his face, speaking in a helpless tone.
Chu Xinyue gritted her teeth and said, "If it really comes to that, we can only have some people stay behind to cover our escape, allowing those with stronger talents to flee. Here lies the majority of the Immortal Chu Dynasty's seeds of hope. They are the future of the Immortal Chu Dynasty and must not perish easily."
As she spoke, Chu Xinyue's gaze swept over the people she had taken with her.
Many of them were individuals with formidable talents and great fortunes. As long as they did not perish, they had a high chance of becoming Dao Realm existences in the future.
This would be her foundation and capital for future revenge.
Ouyang Ji shook his head.
Chu Xinyue also knew that they would now face a situation of relying on others for shelter, so she did not press Ouyang Ji further.
She could also guess that the Carefree Heavenly Palace might not be willing to take in these people from the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Once the reckoning began, even the Carefree Heavenly Palace would likely be implicated.
But now, apart from the Carefree Heavenly Palace, she had nowhere else to go, no other choice.
Could they seek refuge in the elusive Yinxu Cave?
When the war broke out, the Elder Xingying from the Yinxu Cave had vanished without a trace.
The White-Browed Star Lord might still have some lingering sentiment for old times and did not choose to flee immediately. Instead, he joined forces with many ministers and divine generals to resist the enemy. But whether he was alive or dead now was unknown.
Chu Xinyue herself had other plans. She did not intend to stay in the Carefree Heavenly Palace indefinitely. Once the situation stabilized somewhat, she would take everyone and leave, seeking another place.
The Carefree Heavenly Palace was merely a temporary refuge she had chosen.
"Brother Ji, my father left behind several Spatial Secret Treasures, sealing within them many rare accumulations of the Immortal Chu Dynasty over more than a hundred epochs. This was to prepare for the worst, to serve as capital for a comeback."
"This time, I have also taken many of the Immortal Chu Dynasty's treasures with me during our escape. Once we safely return to the Carefree Heavenly Palace, if we marry, it will be my dowry."
"I know that asking you to help the Immortal Chu Dynasty through this crisis is somewhat unfair, but my feelings for you are truly sincere."
Chu Xinyue's gaze softened as she looked at Ouyang Ji beside her, her tone filled with tenderness.
Her beauty was peerless, her skin as white as snow, her figure tall and graceful. As she spoke, her delicate hand lightly brushed aside a few strands of hair from her forehead, adding to her charm.
Ouyang Ji seemed moved by her words, his expression softening.
"Xinyue, don't worry. I've said it before: the matters of the Immortal Chu Dynasty are my matters. I will definitely do my utmost to help you," he assured her, almost pounding his chest in promise.
Hearing this, Chu Xinyue revealed a sweet smile.
"With your words, Brother Ji, I am completely at ease."
She deliberately said this to test his sincerity.
Human hearts are not easily understood, and Chu Xinyue did not expect Ouyang Ji to help her indefinitely.
Once the Carefree Heavenly Palace coveted those Spatial Secret Treasures, they would surely guarantee their safety. Until they obtained those treasures, they would continue to help conceal their traces and evade pursuit.
Chu Xinyue had calculated this precisely. The Carefree Heavenly Palace was in decline, so how could they pass up such a readily available feast?
"Uncle Fu, I must trouble you to calm everyone's hearts. Now that the Immortal Chu Dynasty has fallen, my father and the others have likely perished in battle. The last embers of the Immortal Chu Dynasty are here. I must trouble you, Elder, to take care of them."
Then, Chu Xinyue looked towards an elderly, hunched figure among the crowd.
Uncle Fu had followed her father since his humble beginnings, witnessing countless myths and miracles as he rose to become the ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Thus, when fleeing, Chu Xinyue had brought him along, hoping he could assist her.
"Miss Xinyue, don't worry. Leave these matters to me," Uncle Fu replied, his aged face full of wrinkles, as if he had aged significantly in a short time.
Chu Xinyue felt somewhat comforted. Then, she looked at the others on the flying vessel.
"This time, the Immortal Chu Dynasty has faced an unprecedented calamity. The ruler and the others resisted the enemy, buying us time to escape. Now, they have likely perished. This national tragedy, we will remember in our hearts. One day, we will make all our enemies pay and restore our homeland."
"Today, I, Chu Xinyue, hereby swear a Great Dao Oath: If this vengeance is not fulfilled, may I be struck by Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, my true soul cast into the Nine Nether Hell, never to be reincarnated."
Her voice, filled with deep hatred, carried an iron resolve.
In the void, it seemed as if layers of the Great Dao resonated, and Chaos True Thunder roared, echoing her Great Dao Oath.
Those who had been immersed in despair and hatred, mourning the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, now felt their spirits lift, their emotions stirred.
"This enmity is irreconcilable. We will repay tooth for tooth, blood for blood."
Many even followed suit, swearing oaths in a similar manner.
Chu Xinyue nodded slightly, feeling somewhat comforted, while clutching the jade bottle tightly.
Their escape was swift. Once they left this region, they would soon be beyond the borders of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, beyond the reach of civilization.
Ouyang Ji, watching the confident Chu Xinyue, shook his head imperceptibly.
If one ignored many factors, Chu Xinyue was indeed an extraordinary figure, even comparable to her father, Chu Gucheng.
Even in such a life-and-death situation, she could still devise methods to stabilize everyone and secure the Carefree Heavenly Palace.
However, Ouyang Ji saw through Chu Xinyue's intentions.
Whether the Spatial Secret Treasures she mentioned were real or not was unknown.
In the past, he might have been tempted, trying to extract their location from her and seize them.
But now, Chu Xinyue was barely holding on, still dreaming of revenge. It was nothing but a pipe dream.
A trace of mockery flashed in Ouyang Ji's eyes.
Whoosh!
The flying vessel cut through the cosmos, speeding through the vast currents of time and space, leaving countless starfields behind.
"From this day forward, the Immortal Chu Dynasty shall no longer exist in this world."
Suddenly, a calm, emotionless voice echoed through this space, as if a deity had pronounced judgment.
From the depths of the cold void, a streak of light shot towards them.
The dazzling, radiant light, like an arrow, illuminated the dark, deep cosmos.
Chu Xinyue, having just calmed everyone, felt a sudden change in her expression, her face filled with disbelief.
"How is this possible?"
She abruptly stood up, moving to the front of the flying vessel. Divine light shone from her palms as she flew out to intercept the streak of light.
Boom!
A terrifying energy wave instantly surged through this space, as if billions of strands of Chaos Qi had exploded.
Chu Xinyue was instantly overwhelmed, spitting out blood and being sent flying. Her body crashed into the flying vessel and fell to the ground.
The arm she had used to intercept the attack hung limply, soaked in blood.
"Second Princess!"
Everyone on the flying vessel was shocked. Many of the stronger cultivators rushed forward, wanting to help Chu Xinyue.
"Run!"
Chu Xinyue, pale-faced, struggled to stand. But with just one strike, her arm had been crippled, and this was the result of the enemy holding back.
Such a foe was undoubtedly at least at the Ancestral Dao Realm, far beyond her ability to contend with.
Her heart was filled with unwillingness and despair.
They had already fled this far. How could they still be caught?
Moreover, this flying vessel was supposed to obscure the heavenly secrets, preventing enemies from divining their location. How had their trail been exposed?
Was it truly heaven's will to destroy the Immortal Chu Dynasty, leaving them no hope?
"From this day forward, the Immortal Chu Dynasty shall be erased from the myriad worlds. No one can escape."
On the flying vessel, a figure silently appeared, his gaze calm as he looked at Chu Xinyue.
"It's you?"
Chu Xinyue's eyes widened as she stared at this figure, her face filled with disbelief.
The very enemy who had caused her younger brother Chu Xiao's death, the one she had dreamed of killing, had actually appeared here.
"It seems you're quite surprised."
Gu Changge's gaze remained calm, utterly indifferent.
"I truly didn't expect..." Chu Xinyue suddenly laughed bitterly. She looked around at everyone who had just been filled with determination to avenge the Immortal Chu Dynasty, now looking as if they had been struck by frost, their faces filled with fear and trembling.
This enemy, whom her father, Elder Jin, and others had joined forces to fight, using all the strength of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, had actually appeared here to annihilate them.
Who could have imagined such a thing?
She did not blame everyone for their despair and fear, for not daring to fight back.
Such a hopeless situation could not be resolved, even if her father were still alive.
"This bottle seems to contain the last trace of Chu Wushang's true soul? You still want to rebuild his body and bring him back to life?"
"I thought Chu Gucheng could truly be ruthless enough to kill his own kin for the greater good. It seems I overestimated him."
Gu Changge's gaze fell on the white jade bottle Chu Xinyue was clutching, instantly seeing through what it contained.
Before this, he had not been certain whether Chu Gucheng had truly killed Chu Wushang in the great hall.
Although Chu Gucheng had some of the qualities of a ruthless ruler, he had gone to war with the Demon Court for the sake of his youngest son, losing sight of the bigger picture.
He likely could not bring himself to kill his own child.
Struck by Gu Changge's words, Chu Xinyue's expression turned even more desolate.
Before the allied forces of the various factions arrived, Chu Gucheng had prepared an escape route for Chu Wushang, extracting a trace of his true soul and sealing it in a container.
Then, he had staged a grand act of killing his own kin in the great hall, deceiving everyone.
The container holding Chu Wushang's true soul had been entrusted to Chu Xinyue, to be safeguarded until the time was ripe to rebuild his body.
Everyone on the flying vessel was stunned. They had not expected that the eldest prince, Chu Wushang, was not truly dead and still had a trace of his true soul.
Did this mean that Chu Gucheng's act of killing his own kin in the great hall had been a deception to fool everyone?
"Is this the Immortal Chu Dynasty you wanted to protect, the ruler you wanted to serve? Have you finally seen his true face?" Gu Changge noticed the change in the emotions of those on the flying vessel, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
With a wave of his hand, the white jade bottle Chu Xinyue was clutching was pulled into his grasp.
Seeing the expressions of everyone, Chu Xinyue felt bitter and powerless. She knew that no explanation would suffice now.
Moreover, even if she explained, what use would it be? Gu Changge could kill them all with a single thought.
"Lord Gu..."
Ouyang Ji bowed slightly, not surprised by Gu Changge's arrival. He had already witnessed Gu Changge's immense power and held a trace of awe and reverence for him.
If he had followed the orders of the elders of the Carefree Heavenly Palace and continued to maintain good relations with the Immortal Chu Dynasty, even the Carefree Heavenly Palace would likely suffer collateral damage, living in constant fear.
Seeing Ouyang Ji's respectful attitude towards Gu Changge, Chu Xinyue was momentarily stunned, unable to react.
If Ouyang Ji wanted to survive, shouldn't his attitude be different?
Suddenly, she trembled, realizing the truth. Her face turned even paler, and her entire body shook with extreme anger and unwillingness.
"Ouyang Ji, you... you've been deceiving me all along..."
She pointed a trembling finger at Ouyang Ji, her eyes filled with deep resentment and fury.
If she hadn't realized it by now, she wouldn't deserve to be the second princess of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
All this time, she had thought Ouyang Ji admired her and was willing to do anything for her, which was why she had treated him as one of her own and told him many things.
But who could have known that Ouyang Ji had been deceiving her, that all his admiration had been an act?
Hearing this, Ouyang Ji merely glanced at her indifferently, showing no intention of responding.
Chu Xinyue had thought herself clever, but she had been sowing the seeds of her own downfall.
Today's retribution was nothing but the fruit of her own actions.
"I have a merciful heart and do not wish to cause unnecessary slaughter. If you wish to avenge the Immortal Chu Dynasty and insist on opposing me, then you can join her in death," Gu Changge said calmly, sweeping his gaze over the others on the flying vessel.
His words caused the cultivators who had little blood relation to the Immortal Chu Dynasty royal family to change their expressions.
Many felt tempted. At this point, was it really necessary to sacrifice their lives for the Immortal Chu Dynasty?
Chu Gucheng had deceived them until the very end. Rather than dying in vain, wouldn't it be better to live on? Would a being like Gu Changge really deceive small figures like them?
Thus, after some hesitation, many began to speak up, choosing to surrender.
Even some disciples with blood ties to the Immortal Chu Dynasty royal family did the same, wanting to survive.
"Second Princess, this old servant has failed you. I have served the Immortal Chu Dynasty my entire life, but in the end, I didn't even earn a good reputation. Now, I just want to live for myself."
Uncle Fu showed a trace of guilt on his face but ultimately chose to surrender as well.
Seeing even this loyal old servant of the Immortal Chu Dynasty choose to surrender, the others who were still wavering felt even more conflicted. After some internal struggle, they succumbed to their desire to survive.
"The Immortal Chu Dynasty had no enmity with you. Why are you doing this to us?"
Watching this scene, Chu Xinyue was filled with despair, her voice trembling as she spoke bitterly.
"No enmity? To me, it stood in my way. That reason is enough," Gu Changge said indifferently.
With those words, he pointed a finger, and Chu Xinyue's brow split open. Her body and soul were annihilated, leaving nothing behind...