However, even if Gu Changge had not forcibly altered Chen Jinhan's fate, she would not have died in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons.
Now, she had simply returned to her original fate. Due to Gu Changge's interference, a small turning point had been added to her original fate line. Now that she had passed that turning point, Chen Jinhan had once again reclaimed her script.
Inside the Heaven-Slaying Shrine, which resembled a celestial palace, Chen Jinhan still stood in a daze, as if unable to comprehend the situation before her.
Ethereal white mist once again filled the shrine, and a faint glow seemed to flow over the statue, which had been covered in fine cracks.
The cracks were healing, and countless strands of faith power surged like rivers and seas.
"The statue has healed, but I can no longer feel the presence of the gods..."
"I have been abandoned by the gods."
Chen Jinhan murmured, her slender hands tightly clutching the scattered clothes on the ground.
She didn't know what had been going through her mind at that moment. It was as if some strange, uncontrollable force had driven her to commit that blasphemous act.
When she regained her senses and realized what she had done, she was filled with regret and terror, unable to understand why she had done such a thing.
Now, even if she knelt before the statue, repenting and lamenting her blasphemy, it would be of no use.
Gu Changge looked at Chen Jinhan, who was kneeling before the statue, his gaze calm and indifferent.
No matter what, Chen Jinhan was just an insignificant figure to him, no different from any other follower.
No matter how special she was, she could not affect him in any way.
What Gu Changge was more concerned about now was the Taixuan Ancestral God, who had left a mark on Chen Jinhan.
With the reappearance of the Divine Dao Civilization, the entire Vast Expanse would undergo unexpected changes and turmoil.
Before leaving, a wisp of pale golden immortal light descended and also landed on Chen Jinhan.
Buzz!
In the void, golden light scattered, and his figure dissipated, leaving no trace.
In the Immortal Spirit Civilization, within the quiet courtyard, Gu Changge opened his eyes again. He ignored Mu Yan, who was looking at him curiously, and continued to ponder his next steps.
Mu Yan did not disturb him, turning her attention back to the chessboard before her, studying it intently.
Gu Changge had told her that once she solved the chessboard, her opportunity to become an Immortal Emperor would arrive. However, after so many years, Mu Yan had made no progress, still pondering how to break the game.
To an ordinary person, this might just be a simple chess game, but in her eyes, it contained the myriad Daos of the universe, constantly evolving and changing.
Several decades passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Prime-Origin Civilization, deep within the Imperial Immortal Palace, Ling Yuling rose from the peak of a mountain. She was ethereal and serene, radiant and transcendent, with countless Great Dao runes swirling around her delicate fingertips.
After thousands of years of recuperation, she had finally recovered 70% of her peak strength.
Although this 70% was not enough to contend with End of the Path existences, it was more than sufficient to stand at the pinnacle of the Prime-Origin Civilization, overlooking all.
"It's about time to re-emerge. Given the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's rapid growth, if we don't act soon, the entire Prime-Origin Civilization will be devoured."
Ling Yuling murmured softly.
Although she had not left the Imperial Immortal Palace, she was aware of everything that had happened in the Prime-Origin Civilization and knew just how terrifying the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's growth had been.
After the Demon Court, the Jing Clan, and other factions joined the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, even behemoths like Purple Mist Mountain had submitted, becoming part of it.
Even within the territory of the Imperial Immortal Palace, many ascetics spreading the teachings of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had appeared. Many factions and clans had spent vast resources to build Heaven-Slaying Shrines.
Although the Immortal Chu Dynasty had fallen, an even more terrifying force was rising from its ruins.
She had been worried about this from the beginning, and now her fears had been confirmed.
If left unchecked, within a few thousand years, the Prime-Origin Civilization would truly become the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
If the Heaven-Slaying Alliance truly lived up to its teachings, upholding the will of heaven and supporting humanity, she would not stop it.
But judging by its rapidly expanding scale and form, it seemed intent on reviving the ancient Heaven-Warring Organization, unifying the Vast Expanse, and plunging the world into darkness once more.
Ling Yuling still did not know Gu Changge's origins, but before the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, he had alarmed the Land of Truth, drawing their attention, and was hiding from something.
From these clues, Gu Changge was undoubtedly connected to the former Heaven-Warring Organization.
In fact, Ling Yuling had an even more terrifying and unbelievable suspicion.
Soon, the elders and disciples of the Imperial Immortal Palace received news that their founder was about to re-emerge and make a proclamation to the world. They were all overjoyed and excited.
Divine rainbows streaked across the sky, flying over immortal mountains and divine islands, spreading the news far and wide.
Unsurprisingly, this news caused a sensation in the Prime-Origin Civilization.
The founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace was a figure who had participated in resisting the Lord of the Dark Calamity, one of the most ancient sages of the Prime-Origin Civilization.
And now, she was still alive?
On another mountain peak, Ling Yuxian also received the news. She and her sister were deeply connected, and she faintly guessed Ling Yuling's intentions, her emotions somewhat complicated.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance's rapid growth had made her sister anxious.
This re-emergence and proclamation to the world were likely meant to curb the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's expansion and establish a covenant with various factions.
Although she understood her sister's concerns, she could not fully accept them.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance had not done anything to harm the Prime-Origin Civilization. Although it had been expanding its territory, absorbing many factions and clans into its fold, there had been no large-scale conflicts or wars.
What exactly was her sister worried about?
If she was worried that Gu Changge would act against the Prime-Origin Civilization or the myriad worlds, why had she accepted his favor in the first place?
"Senior Brother Gu, where have you been all these years, and what have you been doing?" Ling Yuxian murmured, her emotions complex.
In the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, on the mirror-like surface of the lake, the Saintess Xiyuan sat before the Mirror of Reincarnation, her entire mind immersed in it, as if she were in a vast, mist-shrouded universe.
"The founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace has re-emerged. Is this what that woman Ling Yuxian mentioned back in the Immortal Chu Dynasty?"
She suddenly opened her eyes, her clear, moonlit gaze shimmering with light.
"Master has not yet returned. If she were here, she would surely be pleased, as this is a figure from her era," Xi Yin said softly as she approached.
They had learned of the news immediately.
Now, both of them were speculating about the intentions behind the founder's re-emergence at this time.
Could it also be related to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?
"As the current master of the Mirror of Reincarnation, you must know something. What do you think about this?" Xi Yin asked, her gaze falling on the ancient, crystalline mirror.
She had almost become the master of the Mirror of Reincarnation but had ultimately failed, missing by a hair's breadth.
However, she was aware of the mirror's profound mysteries. It could predict and deduce future movements, even allowing one to experience the future firsthand, ensuring the most correct decisions.
The Saintess Xiyuan had chosen not to aid the Immortal Chu Dynasty, allowing it to fall, likely because she had foreseen its fate through the mirror and did not want to get involved.
Thus, when they went to rescue her, she had been calm and composed, unafraid, clearly knowing she would not be in danger and that someone would come to save her.
Moreover, the Saintess Xiyuan had expected Gu Changge to be the one to rescue her, not them, which was why she had been slightly surprised at the time.
This had led Xi Yin to wonder about the relationship between the Saintess Xiyuan and Gu Changge.
"The founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace is a sage like Master. Since she has chosen to make a proclamation to the world, she must have something important to announce. As her juniors, we should pay her a visit."
The Saintess Xiyuan flicked her sleeve, and a brilliant silver light emerged from the Mirror of Reincarnation, revealing a blurry scene.
She stared intently at the image.
"The Prime-Origin Civilization will likely become even more chaotic than it was a thousand years ago..."
She spoke softly, and the previously calm surface of the lake rippled slightly. She stood amidst it, transcendent and serene, elegant and peerless, as if draped in moonlight and mist.
Xi Yin was silent for a moment before nodding. "Since the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, I've had a vague sense of unease. During this time, I've been trying to investigate the Yinxu Cave. What the White-Browed Star Lord said cannot be ignored."
"The Immortal Chu Dynasty did not collude with the remnants of the Black Calamity. It was just that Chu Gucheng's ambitions were too great, and someone seized the opportunity to strike him down."
The White-Browed Star Lord was still imprisoned in the Void Prison of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall.
Xi Yin and the others had not mistreated him, waiting for their master, Sage Xi, to return and decide his fate. Perhaps their master would know the origins of the Yinxu Cave.
The Saintess Xiyuan nodded slightly and said nothing more, though a glimmer of light flickered in her eyes, as if she were pondering something.
Outside, the news of the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace re-emerging caused a sensation throughout the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Many factions and clans were shocked and awed.
Among these factions, the most ancient existences also chose to re-emerge upon hearing the news.
Since the Imperial Immortal Palace had announced this to the world, it was clearly planning to convene a meeting of all factions and clans to discuss important matters.
The Prime-Origin Civilization appeared calm on the surface, but beneath it, undercurrents were swirling.
Many factions and clans were secretly worried, unsure how the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had so quickly subjugated immortal factions like the Demon Court, the Jing Clan, and Purple Mist Mountain.
Some cultivators even suspected that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had some secret method of brainwashing people, making them submit unconsciously.
As the Heaven-Slaying Alliance grew, rapidly devouring surrounding universes and worlds, it made many people uneasy.
Meanwhile, deep within the Chaotic Time Sea, a vast floating island stood.
Strong winds blew, and the pine forests swayed like waves. This was a vast, primordial forest.
The wind carried rain and mist, rolling over the pine forests like clouds, drifting among the mountains and crashing against a majestic peak.
On the mountain, majestic buildings stretched endlessly, shrouded in immortal mist. Three ancient, bold characters were inscribed on it, exuding an indescribable Dao charm.
Holy Ancestor Mountain.
Ling Yuling stepped onto the mountain once more. A slender, cold woman in green, resembling bamboo, seemed to have anticipated her arrival. She was brewing tea on the mountainside, gently fanning the rising steam with a palm leaf.
"What you told me before has all come true," Ling Yuling said as she sat down at the stone table.
"So, you want to stop all of this? With your current strength, you cannot do it."
Nan Qing glanced at her, her slender, jade-like hands playing with a teacup, her tone somewhat enigmatic.
"But I still want to try. If we don't act, within ten thousand years, the Prime-Origin Civilization will likely fall under the control of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance."
Ling Yuling spoke stubbornly, her beautiful face filled with unwavering determination.
"If that's your choice, then you should not come here again. This floating island is a rare sanctuary, and I do not want you to bring trouble here."
Nan Qing shook her head, speaking as she lifted the teacup and gently blew on the steam.
Her clear, calm eyes showed no emotion, as if she were discussing something trivial.
Ling Yuling sighed imperceptibly.
She had visited this floating island many times recently, either to consult ancient texts or to talk with Nan Qing about past events.
She felt a genuine closeness to this daughter of an old friend, even treating her as a junior and hoping she would call her "Aunt Ling."
But for some reason, Nan Qing had always refused her requests to join forces and leave the island.
In Ling Yuling's view, Nan Qing either did not want to get involved in worldly affairs or was truly afraid of the terrifying force lurking in the shadows.
Of course, it was also possible that she simply wanted to protect this sanctuary and its inhabitants.
"You have survived at least eight Heavenly Decline Tribulations. With your strength, you are among the top existences in the Vast Expanse. If you help us, our chances of success will be much greater."
Ling Yuling thought for a moment and then spoke softly.
"Your mother paid a heavy price to resist the Black Calamity. Of course, for those of us who were allies back then, sacrificing our lives was worth it. Everyone fought bravely, willing to die for righteousness. Even on her deathbed, your mother tried to rescue captured allies..."
"I will always uphold my mother's wishes, but for now, I just want to quietly protect this sanctuary and not let anyone disturb it."
Nan Qing seemed to understand Ling Yuling's intentions and gently refused her.
Ling Yuling sighed inwardly but did not press further.
"In a few days, I will unite the various factions outside to establish the Prime-Origin Covenant to restrain the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. If the covenant is successful, the situation will improve. If not, I fear the Imperial Immortal Palace and the Prime-Origin Civilization will follow the fate of the Immortal Chu Dynasty..."
She looked at the verdant mountains, her eyes filled with worry.
"Are you gambling?"
Hearing this, Nan Qing put down her teacup and looked at Ling Yuling with slight surprise. "You want to test the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's ambitions? If you lose, are you prepared to go to war with them?"
Ling Yuling nodded. "There is no more time to wait. If we allow the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to continue expanding and take over the entire Prime-Origin Civilization, the Vast Expanse will face its greatest challenge in countless epochs..."
Nan Qing fell silent for a moment, her eyes showing a hint of admiration. "Even if it means sacrificing the entire Imperial Immortal Palace, you are willing?"
Ling Yuling smiled gently. "Just as you have your own convictions and stubbornness, this is mine. As cultivators, when our Dao hearts are clear, our thoughts are clear. Back then, your mother and I could have..."
Nan Qing sighed imperceptibly, seeming a bit troubled. She then extended her slender, jade-like hand and rubbed her brow. "If that's the case, then take this ancient manuscript. It contains some records about the Supreme Treasures of the First Civilization. With the Mirror of Reincarnation, you should have a better chance. This is the last thing I can do to help you."
As she spoke, she took out an ancient, gray manuscript from her robes and handed it to Ling Yuling.
"Why do you have so many ancient texts with you?"
Ling Yuling was somewhat surprised but accepted it with a smile. "However, the way you speak and your demeanor remind me of someone..."