Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Following Gu Changge's orders, the entire Heaven-Slaying Alliance mobilized with the thunder of war drums.
Ancient warships and war chariots rumbled in, crushing across the sky as they tore open space-time tunnels, converging from all directions.
Many high-ranking members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance set out from their various cave abodes and universes, gathering to accompany Gu Changge to attend the founding ceremony of the Immortal Dao Alliance.
To the senior members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, Gu Changge rarely made a move personally, but every time he did, it would send the entire situation of the Vast Expanse into upheaval.
Thus, many secretly looked forward, eager to see if the deadlock would be broken once more. The establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance this time held the significance of ushering in a new epoch for the entire Vast Expanse.
Meanwhile, Chu Heng, Hun Yuanjun, Zhuo Fengxie, and a host of existences from the Forbidden Zones, who had long received Gu Changge's orders, had already secretly assembled the great armies from the various universes of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, intending to give the Alliance of Righteous Unity no chance to catch its breath.
A surging undercurrent swept across the entire Vast Expanse. All true worlds and civilizations could distinctly feel an oppressive, suffocating sensation, as if a storm was about to descend upon the tower.
This period could truly be called an eventful autumn. Even the Divine Dao Civilization, which had always resided deep within space-time and never meddled in the grievances among the various true worlds and civilizations of the Vast Expanse, had fallen into great chaos.
The Taixuan Ancestral God appeared in various divine realms, leading numerous gods under his command in a bloody slaughter. According to the other ancient Ancestral Gods, the Taixuan Ancestral God had already fallen into darkness; the entire Taixuan Divine Realm had long been engulfed by darkness and strangeness.
That even an ancient and mighty being like the Taixuan Ancestral God would suffer such a calamity made the other Ancestral Gods tremble with fear and dread.
Dark matter was truly all-pervasive; one never knew when they would be infected and corrupted...
This served as a wake-up call for the other civilizations. The Dark Clans appeared to have ceased their activities, but in truth they were lying low. Even the Divine Dao Civilization had been infiltrated by them. There were truly not many safe places left in the current Vast Expanse.
Various civilizations and true worlds were already rallying and joining forces, intending to jointly resist the Dark Clans.
In their view, the establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance was all the more urgent. It was the trend of the times and no one could stop it.
Anyone who tried to obstruct it would be declaring war against all the civilizations and true worlds of the Vast Expanse.
The Land of the Dark Source was also rapidly approaching, about to crash into the Vast Expanse and connect with the myriad worlds. There was not much time left for the various true worlds and civilizations.
During this period, the various forces closely monitoring the movements of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance also noticed that the fugitive princess of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had surprisingly appeared within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
She openly appeared in an ancient city of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, strolling around with a few maidservants as if shopping for some resources.
Having restored her true appearance, she wore a gauze hat without the slightest attempt to hide her identity. She seemed unconcerned that her presence might invite covetous or prying eyes from certain interested parties within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Once this news spread, it naturally stirred up much speculation and shock among many interested parties.
The Alliance of Righteous Unity and the Heaven-Slaying Alliance were at each other's throats, having only just ceased hostilities and entered a brief truce. For the princess of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty to appear in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance like this—what did it signify?
One had to remember that her father, the Weiyang Emperor Lord, was currently the leader of the Alliance of Righteous Unity, personally commanding and overseeing all its member forces.
Could this be a message deliberately spread by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to make the leader of the Alliance of Righteous Unity hesitant to act rashly?
However, the matter of Jiang Weiyang fleeing her marriage was full of mysteries, and various forces were speculating whether there was some deeper implication behind it.
On the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's side, some beings also noticed that the princess of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty seemed to be highly regarded by the Alliance Leader. She could often be seen entering and exiting the courtyard where the Alliance Leader secluded himself, staying for half the day before leaving with a smile on her face.
This piece of news was even more explosive, causing a tremendous uproar and endless speculation.
After all, even the high-ranking members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance found it difficult to request an audience with the Alliance Leader. For others, they needed to accumulate sufficient war merits just to seek a meeting.
To be able to freely enter that courtyard and meet Alliance Leader Gu Changge at any time was the best confirmation of one's status within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Many had begun to wonder if Jiang Weiyang's appearance was intentionally orchestrated by the Alliance Leader.
Because, with only a few maidservants, how could she have safely crossed the boundless distances of spacetime to reach the Heaven-Slaying Alliance while being hunted with full force by the various powers of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty and the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom?
Without the protection of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's leader, could she truly have made it here?
The group of experts sent by the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom to retrieve Jiang Weiyang came to a halt right at the border of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, not daring to venture even half a step further.
After learning that Jiang Weiyang had fled to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, naturally the most upset was the Ninth Prince Ye Wudao of the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom.
"Is the Weiyang Emperor Lord playing me for a fool? How could he let Jiang Weiyang escape here?"
On a steep, prominent mountain, a man in golden robes stood, accompanied by a number of experts, his expression dark and grim.
With a majestic bearing and ink-black hair flowing loose, he exuded a sharp, disdainful aura. A faint rhythm of the world's great Dao swirled around him, an innate, domineering presence unique across all ages. This was none other than the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom's Ninth Prince Ye Wudao.
"And on top of that, Jiang Weiyang is my fiancée! What is the meaning of her freely entering and leaving the courtyard of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's leader like this?" Ye Wudao's eyes narrowed, chaotic mist swirling within. His fists clenched tightly, an intense displeasure boiling in his heart.
"Your Highness, this is the border of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. Please be cautious with your words. The Alliance Leader's divine powers are vast. If he were to hear these words, I fear we would all perish here."
"For Jiang Weiyang to flee her marriage like this, without the tacit approval of the Weiyang Emperor Lord, I doubt she could have even escaped the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty. It would be best to first return to Nanzhao and report this matter to His Majesty, asking him to decide."
An expert beside Ye Wudao spoke respectfully.
"I want to see exactly what kind of game the Weiyang Emperor Lord is playing. When he betrothed the treasure of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty to me, I knew he was unwilling. But this was also Master's intention..." Ye Wudao's eyes narrowed further, his displeasure deepening. He felt like he was being treated like a monkey.
He gazed at the vast, majestic city wall ahead that sprawled like a true dragon, yet he dared not casually set foot past it.
Although from this vantage point, the area seemed almost uninhabited, he understood very well that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance dared to leave its border so blatantly undefended precisely because it feared no incursion from any outside force.
Even the Dark Clans, which wreaked havoc across the Vast Expanse and were deeply dreaded and feared by all true worlds and civilizations, did not dare to act recklessly against the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
And the sole reason for all this, the sole pillar of reliance, was that very Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
"How was Jiang Weiyang able to safely arrive at the Heaven-Slaying Alliance back then?"
Ye Wudao's knuckles cracked audibly. Having learned all the recent news about Jiang Weiyang, he felt more humiliated than ever, as if he, her nominal fiancé, had become the laughingstock of all.
Yet, he truly dared not harbor even the slightest hostility or jealous resentment towards the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
An existence of that level would sense even being casually thought about in daily conversation. If one were to generate malice towards him, a single thought from the unseen could likely cause one to die silently and without a trace.
"Forget it. This marriage alliance is not worth holding onto. Once I return to Nanzhao, I'll have Father personally come forward to annul the marriage with the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty." Ye Wudao's spirits were thoroughly dampened. He waved his hand dismissively, ready to leave.
Although his marriage contract had been arranged by Yinxu Cave and the Weiyang Emperor Lord had only agreed under duress.
In his view, as long as his father stepped forward, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty would now also be more than happy to annul the marriage.
Otherwise, he could only remain a laughingstock.
Regardless of how highly Jiang Weiyang was regarded by the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, and regardless of what their relationship was.
Even if, in the end, Jiang Weiyang was truly taken by that Alliance Leader, he, as her nominal fiancé, would just have to swallow his pride and accept it. And he could not even allow himself to harbor any thoughts of jealousy or unwillingness.
What man could bear such a thing?
Now Ye Wudao strongly suspected that the Weiyang Emperor Lord had long foreseen this day. He alone had been all too happy back then, thinking he could obtain this treasure of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty.
"The only worry now is that Master might not consent. Since the Weiyang Emperor Lord is connected to Yinxu Cave, why would he pull a stunt like this?"
And as Ye Wudao and his group departed, in a distant stretch of void, space contorted, revealing a figure with a face covered in knife scars, a terrifying and sinister visage.
A large black dog followed at his side.
"That Ninth Prince of the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom is actually quite smart and tactful, not as foolish as I imagined. But that Jiang Weiyang truly fled to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance—that is quite unexpected."
"I thought she would at most stop at the outskirts. I never imagined she would really follow that red-skirted young girl and go all the way to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, and even get involved with the Alliance Leader."
"I suspect that the one who frightened away State Preceptor Xingming back then was precisely the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. That girl in the red skirt is very likely that little demoness from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. It is said that she is the Alliance Leader's disciple..."
The big black dog's dark green eyes stared fixedly at the distant border of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, likewise not daring to overstep even half a step, as if it were a forbidden pool where gods dared not tread.
Its eyes took on a humanized glint as it spoke in human tongue, speculating.
"We've followed that Jiang Weiyang the whole way. We can't possibly still be trying to find a way to sneak into the Heaven-Slaying Alliance now, right? The Heaven-Slaying Alliance is not like the Nine Heavens, where you can leave at any time. Once we sneak in, I'm afraid the two of us would be detected by the Alliance Leader the very first moment. Then it would be very difficult to leave..." The man beside the big black dog frowned as he spoke.
The man and the dog had discussed leaving long ago and no longer continuing to spy on Jiang Weiyang's movements.
But the message from the other side still had them continuing to keep watch, monitoring Jiang Weiyang's whereabouts, until after they confirmed she had truly reached the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, they no longer dared to follow.
"This concerns that fellow Ji Yu's restoration plan. Looks like it's probably going to fall through now. Neither the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty nor the Heaven-Slaying Alliance is a place we can casually set foot in at the moment." The scar-faced man shook his head, looking somewhat troubled.
"Ji Yu should have returned to the Nine Heavens by now. He went by the alias Song Yu and spent so many years in that Crescent Moon Sect. I wonder what he was plotting..."
"And now, as luck would have it, the Crescent Moon Sect was directly wiped out by the Dark Clans. He essentially wasted all those years there for nothing."
At this, the scar-faced man had a look of schadenfreude.
The big black dog shot him a glance and shook its head. "After all, Ji Yu is the candidate the master has set his sights on. The master told us to help him, so let's not worry about all that."
The Ji Yu it spoke of was a legitimate bloodline descendant of the Radiant Ancestral Court.
For all these years, he had been planning to revive the Radiant Ancestral Court.
As Jiang Weiyang was Jiang Yun's daughter, she was the best target for Ji Yu to make contact with. He intended to gradually infiltrate and control the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty through getting close to Jiang Weiyang.
But unfortunately, back in the Radiant Ancient Domain, his eager advances were met with a cold shoulder. From beginning to end, he never managed to exchange a single word with Jiang Weiyang.
Afterward, he had no choice but to return to the Crescent Moon Sect, only to encounter the emergence of the Dark Clans, sweeping across and wreaking havoc everywhere.
Sect forces like the Crescent Moon Sect were the first to bear the brunt and were annihilated by the Dark Clans.
Ji Yu was forced to abandon his original goals and plans and could only flee all the way back to the Nine Heavens first.
And after learning that Jiang Weiyang had fled her marriage and left the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, Ji Yu specifically contacted them, asking them to help keep an eye on Jiang Weiyang's movements, saving her for future plans.