"So, what do you plan to do next?"
In the courtyard, a gentle breeze blew, and several bamboo stalks swayed gently under the glow of the setting sun, rustling softly.
Mu Yan tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and refocused her attention on the chessboard.
Although she was the World Son of the Immortal Spirit Civilization, she had little interest in cultivation. Over the years, she had lived a rather leisurely life within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
In contrast, Mo Tong and Ling Huang were busy managing the affairs of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
However, as the future Pingtian Empress, Mu Yan's cultivation talent was naturally exceptional. Even without focusing on cultivation, her progress far surpassed that of ordinary people.
When she first met Gu Changge, she was only at the Immortal King level. Now, she had reached the Quasi-Immortal Emperor realm, nearing the Immortal Emperor level.
Given another ten thousand years, she would undoubtedly become a Dao Realm existence.
"Those who dare to scheme against me will pay the price."
Gu Changge shook his head slightly, his thoughts refocused. His gaze followed the strand of faith power, piercing through to the Kunxu True World.
The Divine Dao Civilization system was different from the Immortal Dao Civilization system, which was divided into sects and factions.
Each deity was an independent entity, with their own followers and divine kingdom. The divine authority and duties of each deity were also different.
Aside from many Innate Gods, the weaker deities born later were often no match for even Immortal Kings.
This was because the establishment of a divine position required a vast number of followers. Whether it was a small world condensed by the deity themselves or the spread of faith across various universes, it all relied on external forces. Without a solid foundation, it was easy for it to collapse.
Cultivators, on the other hand, relied mostly on themselves. An Immortal King already had the power to destroy a world with a single hand, let alone an Immortal Emperor, who could obliterate a universe with a thought.
Thus, only deities with true divine authority, who controlled a portion of the authority of heaven and earth, could rival Dao Realm existences in the Immortal Dao Civilization.
Such deities, like Dao Realm existences, had various titles: False God, True God, and Ancestral God, corresponding to the Void Dao Realm, True Dao Realm, and Ancestral Dao Realm.
False God, True God, and Ancestral God were not terms for the realms of the Divine Dao Civilization but rather corresponded to the divine authority a deity possessed and the amount of heavenly and earthly authority they controlled.
The Divine Dao Civilization had long since faded from the Vast Expanse, and the number of False Gods born in later eras had dwindled.
However, the number of Innate Gods born from the heavens was not small. They hid in the depths of the vast time and space, each with their own condensed divine kingdoms.
In ancient times, there had been an era when the Divine Dao Civilization flourished, with various Innate Divine Systems and countless deities dividing the authority of heaven and earth, condensing it into divine authority and duties.
Powerful Ancestral Gods sat high above the clouds, overlooking the myriad worlds, while weaker deities spread their faith across various worlds and universes, developing followers. The Immortal Dao Civilization was oppressed and reduced to a minor role.
However, the Vast Expanse had an infinitely rich history. Even the Divine Dao Civilization was like a fleeting meteor, briefly illuminating a glorious era before vanishing in an instant.
The emergence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, which amassed followers and harvested faith on a large scale, naturally drew the envy and covetousness of some deities lurking in the shadows. Gu Changge was not surprised by this.
These deities were nothing more than remnants of a bygone era.
Now, the Immortal Dao Civilization was flourishing, overshadowing the former glory of the Divine Dao Civilization.
Even powerful Ancestral Gods dared not descend casually, fearing that their divine kingdoms would be exposed and targeted by Ancestral Dao Realm existences.
Buzz!
Above the Tai Xu Realm in the Kunxu True World.
The gaze that had been watching from the void looked at the cracks that had appeared on the statues in the Heaven-Slaying Shrines with satisfaction.
Although she had briefly taken control of Chen Jinhán's body to make her commit such a blasphemous act.
In the end, it was Chen Jinhán herself who had done it.
Her faith had never been pure, and her desires had long been tainted.
The thought of blasphemy had been there for a long time. It was only a matter of time before she acted.
She had merely given it a push, accelerating the process.
For most deities, such an act of blasphemy by a follower would surely provoke fury.
Because corrupted faith power would not only pollute the source of faith but also cause the divine avatar to suffer backlash.
While it wouldn't lead to collapse, it would still have some impact.
"This portion of the time-space domain shall be my compensation to you. With blasphemous thoughts in your heart, you were never destined to remain a mere follower."
Her true form stood in the void beyond multiple dimensions, a place unreachable by ordinary beings and cultivators.
To her, this act was not only a warning to the Heaven-Slaying Lord but also a test.
She believed that with the Heaven-Slaying Lord's capabilities, he would surely see through it.
In the Tai Xu Realm, Chen Jinhán stared blankly at the cracked statue before her, as if unable to comprehend what had happened.
However, she did not notice that a crystalline, prismatic light was faintly glowing on her brow, enveloping her in a mysterious aura.
Across the vast land, Heaven-Slaying Shrines stood everywhere, and now panic and fear spread among the people.
This day was supposed to be the grand sacrificial day for the Tai Xu Realm, where all living beings would worship at the Heaven-Slaying Shrines.
But suddenly, the statues in the shrines cracked, covered in large fissures.
How could this not cause panic and worry? They believed someone had angered the Heaven-Slaying Lord, provoking divine wrath and bringing punishment upon them.
Over thousands of years, the majestic divine might of the Heaven-Slaying Lord had deeply rooted itself in the hearts of every being in the Tai Xu Realm, filling them with awe and reverence.
"Who has angered the gods? The gods are furious!"
"We are all sinners, destined to face divine punishment."
In the Heaven-Slaying Shrines, the temple priests responsible for accumulating incense and wish power were filled with terror and rage.
Many were trembling with worry, their voices shaking, "I can no longer feel the presence of the Heaven-Slaying Lord. The divine power bestowed upon us is fading. The gods have abandoned us..."
Panic and unease spread across the land. "When divine power is tainted and faith is impure, your gods will naturally abandon you."
Seeing this scene, the gaze from the void was finally satisfied and prepared to withdraw.
Although the Divine Dao Civilization had long since faded, it did not mean it would allow its territory to be encroached upon by other civilizations.
The authority of heaven and earth was like a giant cake. The Immortal Dao Civilization parasitized it, relying on it to comprehend the Great Dao, control laws, and achieve transcendence.
The Divine Dao Civilization, on the other hand, occupied the authority of heaven and earth, claiming it as its own. Throughout the ages, the fall of many gods was related to the struggle for this authority and the coveting of each other's divine authority.
For the Divine Dao system, the authority of heaven and earth would never disappear, nor would it change with the rise or fall of any civilization.
It would always remain there, constant and unchanging, like the beginning and end of all things, the cycle of life and death, and the evolution of worlds.
The operation of the entire Vast Expanse, the birth and development of True Worlds, were all related to the authority of heaven and earth.
Its existence established the rules and order of the myriad worlds, defined the meaning of matter, and set the laws of reincarnation, life and death, heavenly decline, and exhaustion. Fate, time, causality, and the passage of years all originated from the authority of heaven and earth.
Because there was heaven and earth, there were various forms of matter and life.
To put it bluntly, everything in the Vast Expanse was connected to the authority of heaven and earth.
The strength of the Divine Dao Civilization system was tied to its division of the authority of heaven and earth and the establishment of its unique divine system.
Of course, for the Immortal Dao Civilization or other civilizations, their understanding of the authority of heaven and earth would be entirely different.
"Are you meddling too much?"
Suddenly, a calm voice echoed through this calm time-space domain.
The figure who had been about to withdraw her gaze felt a massive black hand reaching toward her.
The vast, endless palm was draped in Chaos Qi and stars, with worlds orbiting around it. The surrounding time and space trembled, as if on the verge of collapse.
"You actually found your way here? Perfect, let me test your abilities."
She let out a light exclamation, showing no fear.
Her previously blurry and shifting face suddenly solidified into a faint goddess's visage, with a golden vertical mark on her brow and a closed eye within it.
The divine halos behind her overlapped and radiated a deep purple glow, like the halo of the moon. The rumbling sounds of countless universes colliding could be heard.
Vast divine power surged, filling every inch of time, space, and dimension. The prayers, sacrifices, and sounds of countless worlds echoed.
A river of wish power appeared, churning and boiling, with bubbles rising and bursting. From these bubbles, deities emerged one after another, sitting solemnly and majestically.
Terrifying divine power gathered like an ocean, rushing to meet the colossal hand descending upon them.
This dimensional space erupted like boiling water, with energy surging and obliterating everything.
The deities chanting prayers were continuously destroyed, but they reappeared from the river of wish power, as if endless and indestructible.
"As long as my divine kingdom remains, my divine body is immortal. You cannot harm me." (Read exciting novels, go to Feilu!)
A majestic voice resounded through this dimensional space. All the deities echoed it, enveloped in radiant divine light, as if bathed in an infinite divine source, never to weaken.
"The deities I slaughtered in the past also said the same. Do you wish to follow in their footsteps?"
Gu Changge's faint figure was projected from a distant time and space.
His expression was calm as he looked at this Innate God. With a single step, he crossed the boundaries of time and space.
"Hmph, I merely wanted to warn you not to overstep your bounds. It was just a joke. Why so serious?"
The blurry face of the goddess suddenly took on a charming and alluring expression, as if ten thousand stunning beauties of all shapes and sizes were laughing seductively, their voices enchanting enough to make even Dao Realm existences weak at the knees.
Gu Changge said nothing more. He simply reached out with another palm strike.
Rivers of time and fate appeared before him, countless Great Dao orders twisted and shattered, carrying the power to destroy worlds, sweeping across the cosmos.
This palm strike was crystal clear, spanning vast stretches of time and space, covering multiple dimensions. Every inch of the void trembled, on the verge of collapsing.
This was no longer mere physical force but a collision of Dao, rules, and order.
Without a doubt, the deities formed from condensed divine power were destroyed once more, unable to withstand Gu Changge's strike.
Even the churning river of wish power began to crack and dissipate.
Boom!
This dimensional space completely shattered, and the surrounding universes silently disintegrated.
An ancient and vast divine kingdom was revealed in the depths of the shattered void. But as Gu Changge's hand reached out.
The territory of that divine kingdom silently dissolved into a rain of light, and billions of followers vanished in an instant.
These followers didn't even know what had happened. They only saw a terrifying hand sweep across the heavens, and then their world crumbled.
"You actually destroyed one of my divine kingdoms?"
The originally majestic and ancient voice suddenly became flustered and pained.
Even for an Ancestral God, nurturing a divine kingdom of such scale was no easy feat. To have it destroyed in an instant by Gu Changge was naturally heartbreaking.
The existence of a divine kingdom was not only related to the number of followers and the purity of faith but also to the amount of divine power she possessed.
The more divine kingdoms, the larger their scale, the greater her divine power.
Seeing that Gu Changge remained unmoved and continued to press forward, she had no choice but to retreat.
If her other divine kingdoms were exposed, they too might be destroyed by Gu Changge, making this move a losing proposition.
This time, her rash attempt to test Gu Changge had been too careless, allowing him to easily locate her hiding place.
Now, with Gu Changge's true form not yet fully descended, she could only choose to retreat.
Continuing to fight Gu Changge would bring her no benefit.
If other Innate Gods discovered her hiding place, they might also attack her, coveting her divine authority and duties.
Soon, the vast divine power in this dimensional space receded like a tidal wave.
"Do you think you can leave just like that? Did you ask for my permission?"
Gu Changge's tone was indifferent. He naturally understood her intentions.
After scheming against him, she thought she could leave unscathed? That was nothing but a pipe dream.
Although her strength far surpassed that of ordinary Ancestral Gods, giving her the confidence to act recklessly, it was still far from enough to act so brazenly before him.
Boom!
Gu Changge raised his hand and pointed, a blinding light bursting forth like a roaring immortal sword. In an instant, the entire space was filled with the terrifying sound of sword cries.
This sword strike split time and space, cleanly severing the Great Dao rules.
The Innate God who was trying to flee raised her slender arm and pointed in the same direction. A sword light flew out, splitting everything in its path.
However, her hurried counterattack was useless. With a muffled groan, her entire arm was severed, the wound smooth as a mirror, with no blood flowing.
At the same time, one of the divine halos behind her let out a crisp cracking sound, nearly shattering.
"I will return for you..." She glared hatefully at Gu Changge.
Gu Changge watched her calmly and indifferently, choosing not to pursue her further.
Seizing the opportunity, the space before her rippled like layers of distorted mirrors, forming a labyrinthine passage. She stepped into it and vanished without a trace.
"Taixuan?"
"So, this is her divine name."
Gu Changge waved his hand, and the severed arm was drawn to him.
The arm was slender and pale as snow, its skin still exuding an astonishing vitality and divine power, smooth and delicate, like jade. No blood flowed from it, only a faint, refreshing fragrance.
Through the dissipating divine power, Gu Changge captured the true name of this Innate God.
Taixuan Ancestral God—this was likely her name.
Then, he left this chaotic and shattered space. This place was too far from the Immortal Spirit Civilization, and he had only projected a thought here, not his true form.
If it had been his true form, even if she had used the tactic of a lizard shedding its tail, she would not have escaped.
This time, the interference of an Ancestral God from the Divine Dao Civilization in the affairs of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance served as an early warning.
Many things needed to be put on the agenda sooner.
Gu Changge had originally planned to leave the Prime-Origin Civilization alone for a while, but the reappearance of the Divine Dao Civilization system meant that other civilizations' existences might also emerge.
Previously, when he interfered with Chu Gucheng's Heavenly Decline Tribulation, it had already alerted the shadows of the Land of Truth. They must have sensed something by now.
"To give all living beings a sense of urgency, it seems it's time to bring the Great Sacrifice of the Cataclysmic Tribulation forward..."
Gu Changge's gaze was profound. With a thought, his figure appeared above the Tai Xu Realm.
In the Heaven-Slaying Shrines, the cracks on his statues began to heal as he appeared, once again shrouded in mist and incense.
Amidst the swirling incense, the divine nature of the shrines was restored.
Gu Changge looked at Chen Jinhán, his brow slightly furrowed.
In the original script, this Destined Daughter had relied on a wisp of Void Fate Qi to reverse her fate and rewrite her ending.
After he forcibly altered her fate, preventing her from perishing in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons, she was supposed to follow the script of her previous rebirth...