Gu Changge's figure disappeared quickly, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
In the pavilion, Saintess Xiyuan sat slumped on the soft couch, her face still showing signs of panic, as if she hadn't yet recovered from what had just happened.
For a moment, she had truly believed that she would suffer unimaginable humiliation today.
Despite exhausting all her means, she was unable to resist Gu Changge. Before him, she felt as weak as an ant, a mere mortal.
The centuries of arduous cultivation seemed to have turned to dust in that moment, utterly useless.
Never before had Saintess Xiyuan felt so panicked, helpless, and even despairing.
There was no chance for mutual destruction, and all resistance seemed futile.
She deeply regretted her recklessness and impulsiveness, but there was no remedy for regret in this world.
However, Saintess Xiyuan never expected that Gu Changge would ultimately let her go and leave just like that. This was completely unexpected, leaving her both panicked and stunned.
The humiliation she had imagined never came. Instead, Gu Changge's teasing words, laced with a hint of laughter, still echoed in her ears.
Saintess Xiyuan didn't believe that Gu Changge was so kind-hearted as to let her off so easily.
From what she knew of him through the Mirror of Reincarnation, he was far from a good person—capricious, unpredictable, and willing to do anything for his own gain. He would never do something without a purpose.
"Perhaps all his actions just now were merely to intimidate me? To deliberately make me reveal a panicked and flustered state, satisfying his twisted sense of amusement?"
"After all, in the eyes of the world, I am always seen as transcendent and untouchable. Yet, he managed to scare me into a state of panic and humiliation. Thinking about it, this is exactly the kind of thing he would do."
Gradually, Saintess Xiyuan's mood calmed down. She glanced at the outer robe Gu Changge had casually draped over her.
Half of her snow-white, flawless shoulder was still exposed, a rather pitiful sight.
She took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and then adjusted her clothing, restoring her usual transcendent, aloof, and cold demeanor.
The events that had transpired in the pavilion today had left her thoughts in disarray.
She had originally thought that attending Chu Gucheng's birthday banquet would be a mere formality, something she could casually brush off. She never expected to encounter Gu Changge here ahead of time.
Moreover, as the mastermind behind the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, shouldn't Gu Changge be in the Immortal Spirit Civilization at this time?
Why would he appear in the Immortal Chu Dynasty and openly mingle with people from the Imperial Immortal Palace?
If that were the case, then the mysterious white-robed young master who had caused such a stir in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain must have been him?
Had he already arrived in the Xiyuan Civilization at that time?
Saintess Xiyuan's brows furrowed slightly as she suddenly thought of many things.
The conflict between the Demon Court and the Immortal Chu Dynasty had also intensified after the events in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain.
Chu Xia, Chu Gucheng's most beloved son, had been killed in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain by the Demon Court's Seventh Prince, Di Kun.
The incident had started because Chu Xia and a mysterious white-robed young master had clashed over a qin-playing courtesan in a pleasure house, leading to the exposure of his identity and his whereabouts being discovered by Di Kun.
Di Kun then went to kill him.
If that mysterious white-robed young master was Gu Changge...
"Then, could it be that the conflict and war between the Demon Court and the Immortal Chu Dynasty were all orchestrated by him behind the scenes?"
Saintess Xiyuan considered this possibility and felt it was highly likely.
Now that Gu Changge had appeared in the Immortal Chu Dynasty, he must be plotting how to destroy it.
Although the Mirror of Reincarnation could deduce the future trajectory of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, it couldn't change its fate. Moreover, with each deduction she performed, the future trajectory kept shifting and changing.
This made Saintess Xiyuan somewhat uneasy. The Mirror of Reincarnation wasn't an omnipotent treasure; it had its limitations.
Just like what had happened to her today.
If she encountered such a situation again in the future, the outcome might not be as fortunate as today.
After standing quietly in the pavilion for a long time, Saintess Xiyuan finally withdrew her gaze and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
She began to doubt whether her initial choice had been the right one.
The Immortal Chu Dynasty was currently at its peak, both in terms of power and influence, and it seemed poised to become the top force in the Xiyuan Civilization.
She had chosen not to interfere in the affairs of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, letting it rise or fall on its own.
This was largely because she had seen her own death in the future simulations of the Mirror of Reincarnation and felt fear and hesitation.
After all, although she was the Saintess of the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, she was not an emotionless saint. Like ordinary cultivators, she had her own desires and selfish thoughts.
She could die to protect the Xiyuan Sacred Hall left behind by her master, but she would never throw her life away by meddling in other matters.
"I'm far from reaching the state of impartiality in the Great Dao that my master spoke of. If my master were here, what would she choose?" she suddenly felt a sense of melancholy.
The fact that people from the Imperial Immortal Palace had met with Saintess Xiyuan didn't escape the notice of the other forces and factions in the capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Many were surprised. Saintess Xiyuan had been refusing to see anyone during this period, so why had that man and woman been able to meet her?
Moreover, it wasn't the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace who had gone, but two seemingly young individuals.
Many forces began to investigate the identities and backgrounds of Ling Yuxian and Gu Changge.
However, no matter how they investigated, the origins of the two remained unclear. Even people within the Imperial Immortal Palace couldn't provide a clear answer.
Ling Yuxian was easier to understand, as she had been famous in the Imperial Immortal Palace for a long time. Many disciples knew her background and speculated that she might be the daughter of the palace master.
Of course, many elders now knew that Ling Yuxian was a figure of high status and seniority, a "little ancestor."
She was from the same era as the founding ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace and was her younger sister. Due to certain reasons, she had been forced to reincarnate and cultivate anew.
However, the Imperial Immortal Palace had not publicly announced that the founding ancestor was still alive. Some elders who were unaware of the truth still believed that Ling Yuxian was the descendant of the founding ancestor.
Thus, the various forces investigating Ling Yuxian's identity received two completely different results.
Either she was the descendant of the current palace master, Ling Qiuhan, or she was the descendant of the founding ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace?
After analysis, many leaned toward the second possibility, speculating that Saintess Xiyuan also knew Ling Yuxian's identity, which was why she had agreed to meet her.
This also explained why the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace held such a young junior in such high regard.
Ling Yuxian's identity had been uncovered, but Gu Changge's origins remained a mystery.
Many disciples only knew that he was the mysterious senior brother of the Cloud River Dao Academy, possessing unparalleled talent and a celestial demeanor. He was also very close to Ling Yuxian. But why even the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace treated him with such respect was unknown.
The various factions and forces were extremely curious about this enigmatic young man. Could it be that he, like Ling Yuxian, had an extraordinary background, which was why the two were so close?
This speculation was soon confirmed.
Among the young talents from the Temple of Light and Darkness who had come to attend the banquet, there was a prodigy named Cangti Maiden.
She had once met Gu Changge in Purple Return City in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain and had some interaction with him.
Originally, she hadn't known that Gu Changge had also come to the Immortal Chu Dynasty. It was only when her elders mentioned it that she suddenly remembered.
"We don't know his origins. At that time, he appeared together with Zi Yunchuan from Purple Thunder Mountain and even saved Zi Yunchuan's life. According to Zi Yunchuan, this mysterious white-robed young master has a shocking background and likely hails from the legendary Forbidden and Mysterious Lands," Cangti Maiden informed her elders, not daring to hide anything.
Because of this matter, her elders had questioned her multiple times and even probed her sea of consciousness to determine Gu Changge's identity and whereabouts, but they had found nothing and had to give up.
Meeting Gu Changge again in the Immortal Chu Dynasty this time was purely coincidental.
Cangti Maiden felt that her memories of Gu Changge were becoming increasingly blurry. Unless she saw him in person, she couldn't even recall his face in her mind.
"So, the white-robed young man accompanying the little ancestor of the Imperial Immortal Palace is actually the mysterious young master who appeared in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain?"
The higher-ups of the Temple of Light and Darkness were shocked, their expressions shifting between uncertainty and unease.
Subsequently, Mingying Daoist from the Jade Void Hall and Fairy Caiyun from the Fragrant Dao Academy, along with other young prodigies, also confirmed Cangti Maiden's words.
In an instant, this news caused an uproar in the capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Aside from the guests, many ministers, generals, and aristocratic families of the Immortal Chu Dynasty were also left speechless by this revelation.
Back in Riverside Pavilion in Purple Return City, Chu Xia, the son of Chu Gucheng, had clashed with Gu Changge over a qin-playing courtesan, leading to the exposure of his identity.
At that time, many of them had received orders from Chu Gucheng to thoroughly investigate Gu Changge's identity and whereabouts.
However, in the end, they had found nothing. After the events in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain, Gu Changge seemed to have vanished into thin air. No one could trace his whereabouts or figure out where he had gone.
Who could have imagined that several months later, he would openly appear in the capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, among the guests attending the banquet?
Did he not fear retaliation from the Immortal Chu Dynasty?
The disciples of the Imperial Immortal Palace were also shocked by this news.
Who would have thought that the mysterious senior brother of the Cloud River Dao Academy had once appeared in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain and was directly involved in the death of Chu Xia, the son of Chu Gucheng, the ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty?
"The death of Chu Xia, the son of Chu Gucheng, the ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, is actually related to you?"
When Ling Yuxian learned of this news, she was also shocked. She immediately went to find Gu Changge, her tone filled with disbelief.
Gu Changge remained as calm and composed as ever, sipping tea in the courtyard. Upon hearing her question, he simply smiled and said, "What do you mean, related to me? Wasn't Chu Xia killed by the Demon Court's Seventh Prince, Di Kun? What does that have to do with me?"
After leaving Saintess Xiyuan, he had returned to the courtyard. He was well aware of the rumors and news circulating in the capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, but he paid them no mind.
At this point, even if he had personally killed Chu Gucheng's son, Chu Gucheng wouldn't be able to do anything to him.
After all, this was the time of his birthday celebration, and many distinguished guests were watching.
Moreover, what seemed like a dragon's den or tiger's lair to ordinary cultivators was as easy to navigate as flat ground for Gu Changge.
He could come and go as he pleased. Who could stop him?
"Even so, Chu Xia's death is somewhat related to you. Aren't you worried that Chu Gucheng will seek revenge? You must know that even my sister doesn't dare to casually enter the Immortal Chu Dynasty. Chu Gucheng is favored by heaven, blessed with great fortune, and has the aura of a ruler who has stood for millennia. Under the right circumstances, he is practically invincible within the Immortal Chu Dynasty. Even those ancient sages who have lived for countless years might not be able to defeat him." Ling Yuxian's expression was unusually serious.
Before coming to find Gu Changge, she had already investigated the cause and effect of the matter.
Chu Gucheng's son was indeed arrogant and domineering, but who could blame him? He was Chu Gucheng's beloved son.
"Can I take this as you worrying about me?" Gu Changge smiled and said, "Chu Gucheng is just one man. Don't take him too seriously."
Ling Yuxian stared at him intently, seeing that he wasn't joking and still appeared completely unconcerned. She couldn't help but snort coldly and say, "I'm just meddling in others' affairs and being presumptuous."
With that, she turned and left.
She had been genuinely worried about Gu Changge when she first heard the news, but it turned out he didn't care at all.
"The Immortal Chu Dynasty can be destroyed with a wave of my hand. Why should I care so much?"
Gu Changge shook his head lightly and set down his teacup.
A wisp of black mist coalesced in the void, taking on the form of the shrunken figure of Uncle Fu.
"Master, everything has been arranged according to your instructions. I must say, this identity within the Immortal Chu Dynasty is quite useful. Almost no one dares to question me."
"The armies of the Turbid Clan, the Deep Clan, and other civilizations near the Immortal Spirit Civilization have already infiltrated the territory of the Immortal Chu Dynasty and are ready to strike at any moment."
The black mist emitted a cold, sinister laugh.
"It seems everything is ready. All we need is the final push," Gu Changge said with a faint smile.
Although Uncle Fu had been sidelined by Chu Gucheng, over the epochs, he had done many things for the Immortal Chu Dynasty and held significant influence in various regions.
The reason Gu Changge had allowed the Eternal Life Spirit to possess Uncle Fu's body was partly due to this consideration.
Rather than engaging in a back-and-forth battle with the Demon Court at the border, it was better to strike from within and catch the Immortal Chu Dynasty off guard.
Of course, Gu Changge's hidden move wasn't solely for coordinating with the Demon Court to deal with the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
It was also to ensure that, after the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, he could quickly stabilize the situation and consolidate his control over the region through this army.
"The mastermind behind Xia'er's death is now in the capital. Why are you turning a blind eye to this? Xia'er's spirit in heaven has not yet found peace."
At this moment, in the Chu King's Hall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, a graceful and beautiful woman stood before Chu Gucheng, her eyes filled with tears as she pleaded.
Beside her, several men and women supported her, their faces filled with hatred and anger.
"Father, if you have other concerns, why not let us avenge Xia'er? Whatever punishment you have in mind, you can deal with us afterward. This way, we can at least give an explanation to the many guests."
A tall and slender woman spoke. She was strikingly beautiful, bearing some resemblance to the weeping woman.
She was Chu Gucheng's second daughter, named Chu Xinyue, and the very sister who had doted on Chu Xia.
"With so many guests watching, how can I avenge Xia'er? Moreover, this matter began with Xia'er provoking others, which led to the exposure of his identity. I have no evidence to prove that this person deliberately plotted to kill Xia'er."
Chu Gucheng's expression was also grim. He had only just learned of Gu Changge's identity.
No wonder, when they had met on the city walls that day, that white-robed young man had looked at him with such an interested gaze.
He clearly knew that it was because of him that Chu Xia had been killed by the Demon Court's Seventh Prince, Di Kun. Yet, he had openly come to the Immortal Chu Dynasty and appeared before him?
Although Chu Gucheng didn't say much now, he couldn't help but feel a burning anger, as if he were being casually provoked by Gu Changge.
"How could it be such a coincidence that the Demon Court's Seventh Prince, Di Kun, appeared in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain at that time? Clearly, there was a force or someone behind him assisting him. Moreover, Father, you saw it yourself—the strange ancient formation Di Kun set up a few days ago was terrifying. That was not something the Demon Court could possess," Chu Xinyue said calmly.
She was highly valued by Chu Gucheng. Even among his many talented children, she stood out, having broken through to the Dao Realm many years ago. She had even crafted Dao Realm-level artifacts for Chu Xia to protect himself.
When Chu Xia died in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain, she had been the first to sense something was wrong. Unfortunately, by the time she tried to rescue him, it was already too late.