"My Lord…"
In front of the Heaven-Slaying Shrine, Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest wore expressions full of respect and awe, not daring to make a sound to disturb Gu Changge.
The rest of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had long left this area, following Gu Changge's instructions, and returned to the alliance's headquarters in the Prime-Origin Civilization.
"Do you have something to say to me?"
After a long silence, Gu Changge slowly opened his eyes and casually asked.
He knew that Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest might have already guessed his identity, which was why they had been so proactive at the Imperial Immortal Palace, immediately pledging their loyalty.
"My Lord, have you truly returned?"
Old Man Cold Crow's eyes were filled with fanaticism, his voice trembling slightly.
Beside him, the old Taoist priest also held his breath, his heartbeat pounding like a drum.
He hadn't expected Old Man Cold Crow to ask such a direct question.
However, this was indeed the answer he desperately wanted to know.
"Is the answer to this question important?"
Gu Changge did not turn around, still facing away from the two, his tone indifferent.
"No… it's not important. We've just been waiting for this day for far too long."
"All of us have been waiting for you, waiting for the day you would reclaim the darkness."
Old Man Cold Crow spoke with excitement and trembling.
Gu Changge let out a vague chuckle, then turned to look at him, his gaze calm and unreadable. "Oh? But I have no interest in reclaiming the darkness right now."
"No matter what you wish to do, My Lord, we will always be your most loyal and fervent followers, willing to offer everything to you."
Old Man Cold Crow spoke urgently. "We cannot be without you, My Lord, just as the vast expanse of the myriad worlds cannot be without your rule."
"We, The Eight Follower Tribes, will forever swear to follow you to the death."
The old Taoist priest beside him also spoke with reverence and awe, his attitude utterly devout. Then, without hesitation, both of them prostrated themselves on the ground.
If there were bystanders present, they would undoubtedly be shocked speechless.
Ancestral Dao Realm existences were figures standing at the pinnacle of the boundless vast expanse, their divine might vast and incomprehensible. A single word from them could determine the life and death of countless universes and timelines. They were not to be disrespected lightly.
Even if killed, they would never kneel before another.
The strength of Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest far surpassed that of ordinary Ancestral Dao Realm existences. Yet now, they were prostrating themselves with such reverence and devotion.
This was truly unbelievable.
For Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest, the shock and impact they felt at this moment were greater than anyone else's. It was as if an ancient myth had come to life, a deity descending before them.
The divine miracles they had only read about in ancient texts were now unfolding before their eyes.
Whether it was the Heavenly Faction or The Eight Tribes, they all shared a common faith.
And now, that faith stood so close before them, even speaking and conversing with them.
How could they not be excited and exhilarated? If not for their minds being as steady as immortal gold and unyielding stone, they might not even be able to speak coherently now.
"The Eight Follower Tribes? So The Eight Tribes of old have evolved into The Eight Follower Tribes?"
Gu Changge, however, paid no attention to the two prostrating figures. Instead, he frowned slightly, deducing some information from the old Taoist priest's words.
He did not believe that the Heaven-Warring Organization he had established back then could decay so easily.
Even if he had left no backup plans, the Heaven-Warring Organization possessed the most terrifying and formidable foundation in the vast expanse.
Even after countless eras of erosion, it should not have decayed so easily.
"My Lord, after the Heaven-Warring Organization collapsed, the ancient Eight Tribes ceased to exist. What remains of us, The Eight Follower Tribes, are merely evolved from The Eight Tribes. We are nothing compared to The Eight Tribes of old."
"Moreover, the Heavenly Faction, which inherited the majority of the Heaven-Warring Organization's foundation, has claimed to be the rightful successor of the organization over these epochs. They have been trying to exterminate us, The Eight Follower Tribes, to root us out completely."
"The Coffin of World Burial, one of the supreme treasures of civilization, is also in their hands. With this treasure as their reliance, they have become even more brazen and reckless, stirring chaos and turmoil across the realms. This has forced us, the remnants of the Heaven-Warring Organization, to hide and dare not show ourselves openly…"
Having no doubt about Gu Changge's identity, the two began to explain everything in detail.
The old Taoist priest's face was full of bitterness, as if pouring out his grievances, informing Gu Changge of the current plight of The Eight Follower Tribes.
If not for the fact that they had received advance notice to search for the Gate of Eternal Life, the two would not have appeared here together, let alone joined forces.
Generally, The Eight Follower Tribes were scattered and did not know each other's whereabouts.
Only the most respected and ancient figures within each faction had the means to contact the others.
The current Eight Follower Tribes were indeed far from The Eight Tribes that once shook the vast expanse.
Moreover, each faction hid deeply, rarely revealing themselves to the world. This also meant that even they themselves were unsure how many members of The Eight Follower Tribes remained.
"If you've fallen to such a pathetic state, then what use are you to me?"
After listening to the old Taoist priest's explanation, Gu Changge's eyes grew deeper. He turned around again, gazing at the statues within the Heaven-Slaying Shrine, lost in thought.
He had thought that Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest coming to find him would be of use.
But now, it seemed The Eight Follower Tribes had been reduced to filthy rats hiding in the sewers, constantly on the run.
Not only did they have to worry about their old enemies finding them, but they also had to fear being purged by the Heavenly Faction.
The original purpose of establishing the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was not to shelter these pitiful remnants.
"We beg you, My Lord, to take charge of our affairs."
Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest also wore bitter expressions. They knew that the current Eight Follower Tribes had disgraced the reputation of The Eight Tribes of old.
But this was an unavoidable outcome. After the Heaven-Warring Organization collapsed, there was no leader, and The Eight Tribes were no exception. No one could control them.
When the Lord of the Heaven-Warring Organization was still present, his might alone could suppress everyone, and no one within the organization dared to disobey or disrespect him.
But this also meant that once the Lord of the Heaven-Warring Organization disappeared, the situation he had suppressed would inevitably collapse.
The Eight Tribes would fall apart, and so would the Heavenly Faction, for no one but the Lord of the Heaven-Warring Organization could control such power.
"How much foundation do the Lesser Yin Faction and the Heavenly Decline Faction behind you still have?"
After a moment of silence, Gu Changge did not say much more. In truth, no matter what state the Heaven-Warring Organization ended up in, it would not affect him.
Moreover, the collapse of the Heaven-Warring Organization was within his expectations.
To be precise, the Heaven-Warring Organization was destined to collapse.
The fact that The Eight Follower Tribes and the so-called Heavenly Faction still remained was already a pleasant surprise.
He naturally would not demand more.
As for what The Eight Follower Tribes had originally been, this had little impact on the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
"My Lord, the Heavenly Decline Faction is now mostly hidden within the Heavenly Decline Realm, a place without form, desire, or color. It exists in the boundless heavens, where no living being can find or see it."
"Under the Heavenly Decline Realm, there are countless subjects, ruling over many nations and divine dynasties. In terms of foundation, although it cannot compare to the Supreme True Worlds, it is certainly not inferior to some immortal traditions."
The old Taoist priest spoke respectfully.
Old Man Cold Crow also spoke respectfully, "The Lesser Yin Faction resides in the Lesser Yin Land, surrounded by billions of time and space, all of which are its territory. Without the guidance of Eternal Yang Qi, even those with heaven-defying cultivation would fall into confusion and be lost."
In any case, the Heavenly Decline Faction and the Lesser Yin Faction evolved from The Eight Tribes that once terrified the myriad worlds. No matter how much they have declined, they are still far beyond what ordinary immortal forces can compare to.
Gu Changge nodded slightly.
If the remaining six factions of The Eight Follower Tribes had foundations similar to the Heavenly Decline Faction and the Lesser Yin Faction, then combining their forces would still be quite considerable.
However, countless years had passed, and it was hard to guarantee that the current Eight Follower Tribes would not have other intentions.
The Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest before him could not represent the entire Eight Follower Tribes.
Gu Changge certainly would not let go of such a considerable force.
At the very least, the current Prime-Origin Civilization would find it difficult to contend with a united Eight Follower Tribes.
Of course, the Prime-Origin Civilization still had many hidden forces that had not yet surfaced, and some deeply hidden figures had yet to appear.
From the current perspective, the founder of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, Sage Xi, as well as the forces behind the Temple of Light and Darkness and the Buddha Kingdom of Tathagata, were still observing and hiding, not yet ready to reveal themselves.
Gu Changge had originally planned to use Ling Yuling as bait.
However, he had underestimated the patience of those big fish, who were still holding back.
And Ling Yuling had information about the Celestial Abyss, which was still useful to Gu Changge, so he was not yet ready to act against her.
This time, Ling Yuling had used the Prime-Origin Covenant to make a grand gamble, which actually suited Gu Changge's intentions.
He also wanted to use this opportunity to lure out the snakes and deal with the many hidden forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization.
Seeing Gu Changge remain silent, Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest became uneasy again. They had always been worried that the current Eight Follower Tribes would disappoint Gu Changge and be abandoned.
At this moment, not only them, but even the more ancient existences behind them would not dare to breathe loudly in such a situation.
In their eyes, the emergence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was undoubtedly a sign that Gu Changge intended to rebuild the Heaven-Warring Organization.
And if they, the remnants of the Heaven-Warring Organization, were of no use, they would likely be mercilessly discarded.
The cold and ruthless nature of the Lord of the Heaven-Warring Organization had been engraved on the bronze relics and jade books of The Eight Tribes..
"I don't want to ask how you came to the Prime-Origin Civilization, nor do I want to hear anyone from The Eight Tribes other than you two mention anything about me."
"If you stand in my way, even if you are remnants of the Heaven-Warring Organization, I will not hesitate to kill you." Gu Changge's calm and emotionless voice interrupted the thoughts of Old Man Cold Crow and the old Taoist priest.
Their expressions changed drastically, and they quickly kowtowed in agreement, their hearts filled with fear and trembling.
Only the true Eight Tribes could truly understand the terror and dread of the Lord of the Heaven-Warring Organization. The myriad beings of the past had only glimpsed a fraction of his terrifying might.
At the same time, outside the Prime-Origin Civilization, in the vast expanse.
In a region filled with dense dark energy, a crack silently appeared.
Then, an enormous head emerged from the crack.
It was dry, resembling a human head but not quite, with little hair and deep, hollow eye sockets that were pitch black and devoid of light.
On top of this enormous head sat a slender, blurry figure wearing a bamboo hat, their face obscured, with only a pair of cold eyes visible.
"A'Li, it's been so long since we left that cursed place. This is truly a long-lost breath of life."
The enormous head looked toward the Prime-Origin Civilization, letting out a grating laugh that sent shivers down the spine, like the mutterings of some demonic creature.
"Yes, a long-lost breath of fresh life," the slender figure sitting atop it responded coldly.
"Hehe, the priests have been searching for the Supreme Treasures of the First Civilization for so many epochs. Finally, they are about to reveal themselves to the world."
"Once we gather enough treasures, we can break the seal there and welcome the return of the great Lord of the Black Calamity. The world will once again be ruled by darkness."
The enormous head's mouth split open in a horrifying grin, as if laughing.
"Shut up. This has nothing to do with us."
"What we're here to do has nothing to do with this."
The slender figure wearing the bamboo hat reached out and slapped the head beneath them. With a bang, the black energy dissipated.
The originally ugly and ferocious head was instantly enveloped in a misty glow, transforming into a snow-white, slender creature resembling a divine beast.
"Let's go. This looks much better." The slender figure patted the creature beneath them again, their tone still cold.
The creature beneath them seemed accustomed to this. With a whoosh, it turned into a beam of divine light, piercing through the fabric of space and disappearing in an instant.
Time passed quickly, and several months later, in a place called the Mountain of Myriad Wonders within the Prime-Origin Civilization.
The sky rumbled as countless divine light ships and figures arrived from various great universes, descending upon this place.
Looking around, the sky was filled with streams of light, ships, and all kinds of auspicious beasts and immortal birds, flying swords, towers, and jade boats, creating a lively scene.
Leaders of various sects, clans, and factions brought their core members to this place to jointly sign the Prime-Origin Covenant.
After months of revisions and discussions, Ling Yuling, the ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace, had finally worked with many ancient existences to draft a new Prime-Origin Covenant.
The Mountain of Myriad Wonders was chosen as the signing location for the covenant. Almost all sects, clans, and factions within the Prime-Origin Civilization, big and small, had rushed here upon receiving the news to leave their mark on the covenant.
The Mountain of Myriad Wonders was an extremely special place within the Prime-Origin Civilization, once known as the Land of Myriad Wonders.
It was said that in ancient times, a Dao Lord had comprehended the myriad wonders of heaven and earth here, receiving the call of the Great Dao and manifesting a Gate of Myriad Wonders.
From it flowed the profound truths of the myriad worlds and countless mysteries. Many cultivators and beings benefited from this, comprehending the truths of heaven and earth here and ascending on the spot.
In later eras, this place became a holy land for many cultivators and beings. Even some Dao Realm existences would come here to meditate, seeking enlightenment and breakthroughs.
The towering mountain range resembled a crouching true dragon, with steep peaks extending into the clouds. Multicolored mist and divine light swirled around, and the Dao principles and order condensed into streams flowing down from the mountain peaks.
From a distance, the mountain seemed bathed in a radiant, multicolored divine light. Even ordinary cultivators and creatures here appeared holy and serene.
Deep within the mountain, chaotic energy swirled, and ancient divine trees that had lived for countless epochs towered into the sky.
Some of the more ancient divine trees possessed boundless vitality, their enormous leaves blocking out the sky and hanging with stars. When the wind blew, they emitted a rumbling sound like the collision of worlds, with chaotic energy splashing like the birth of universes.
Before these divine trees, cultivators seemed as small as ants. Without the guidance of a Dao Realm existence, they would not even have the right to set foot here.
The choice of the Mountain of Myriad Wonders as the signing location for the Prime-Origin Covenant surprised many, but it also made sense.
The rules of heaven and earth in the Land of Myriad Wonders were different from other places, influenced by various substances. Some of the divine trees' power could even suppress Dao Realm existences.
In this place, no matter who acted, they would face suppression, even expulsion by the divine trees.
The elders and disciples of the Imperial Immortal Palace had long arrived and were waiting within the Mountain of Myriad Wonders for the others to come.
The Mountain of Myriad Wonders was located in the central region of the Prime-Origin Civilization, so many clans and sects needed time to travel here. Since the signing of the covenant concerned all clans and factions, they naturally wanted to arrive as soon as possible.
Some nearby clans and sects had already arrived and were gathered in small groups, discussing the Prime-Origin Covenant…