As the host of the banquet and the birthday celebrant, Chu Gucheng naturally had to toast each guest one by one. By the end, it was inevitable that he would reach the Imperial Immortal Palace's table.
At the moment, he didn't want to have too much contact with Gu Changge, but under these circumstances, he had no choice but to put on a natural smile and walk over.
Ling Yuxian, her face still flushed with anger, glared at Gu Changge. Seeing Chu Gucheng approaching, she had no choice but to suppress her emotions and compose herself.
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace also stood up and raised their glasses to toast Chu Gucheng.
Chu Gucheng, with a smile on his face, raised his glass and said, "Honored guests of the Imperial Immortal Palace, thank you for coming from afar. I apologize for any shortcomings in our hospitality."
He didn't know Ling Yuxian's identity, as she was completely different from the other young disciples, actually sitting at the same table as the elders.
"Please send my regards to your father, Daoist Ling Qiuhan," he said with a smile, raising his glass to Ling Yuxian, assuming she was the daughter of the Imperial Immortal Palace's palace master, Ling Qiuhan.
However, as soon as he said this, the expressions of the Imperial Immortal Palace elders changed slightly.
Ling Yuxian, however, remained calm and said, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Chu, but Ling Qiuhan is not my father."
Chu Gucheng didn't expect to have guessed Ling Yuxian's identity wrong. Being corrected so directly by her, his smile froze, and he felt somewhat awkward.
The people around him, including Chu Xinyue, also had their expressions change. No matter what, Chu Gucheng was the host of the banquet. Even if he had guessed Ling Yuxian's identity wrong, she shouldn't have been so rude as to correct him directly in front of everyone.
Wasn't this a blatant disregard for the Immortal Chu Dynasty's face?
The other guests also showed interest in this scene.
"Haha, my apologies. I've met Daoist Ling Qiuhan a few times before, and seeing the resemblance between you two, I mistook you for his daughter," Chu Gucheng said with a laugh, not letting this small matter shake his composure.
Ling Yuxian didn't mind and nodded slightly, raising her glass and drinking it in one go.
She had no particular feelings toward Chu Gucheng initially, neither liking nor disliking him. She had come to the Immortal Chu Dynasty on behalf of her sister, Ling Yuling.
But because of Gu Changge and the incident a few days ago, she felt somewhat uncomfortable with him. Her earlier words had been deliberate.
"Speaking of which, although this is my first formal meeting with Young Master Gu, I've heard his name many times before," Chu Gucheng said after toasting the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace. His gaze finally fell on Gu Changge, who was sitting beside Ling Yuxian.
He spoke with a smile on his face.
At this moment, all the guests in the hall turned their attention to Gu Changge, feeling as if chaos and destruction were unfolding in the void, with the imagery of universes collapsing.
Not far away, Saintess Xiyuan, tall and slender, with eyebrows like distant mountains and skin as smooth as jade beneath her veil, also looked over. Her black hair floated gently like tassels.
"Oh? What a coincidence. Before today, I've also heard Lord Chu's name many times," Gu Changge said, sitting casually with a calm expression.
He held a wine cup in his hand, his white robes as pure as snow, and his hair as dark as ink, each strand glowing faintly.
He looked like an immortal from an ancient painting, detached from the mortal world, wandering among mountains and rivers.
Chu Xinyue stared at him fiercely, her hands clenched tightly under her sleeves, barely containing her anger.
The mastermind behind her brother's death was right in front of her. She wished she could tear him to pieces.
"Haha, compared to Young Master Gu's reputation, what is mine worth? In the Prime-Origin Civilization, who hasn't heard of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? Even in other realms of the Vast Expanse, it is a famous name. To dare take the name 'Heaven-Slaying' requires immense courage to bear the backlash of such karma. Just this alone is enough to earn the admiration of countless cultivators," Chu Gucheng laughed heartily, waving his sleeve. In front of all the guests, he unhesitatingly revealed Gu Changge's identity.
He was tall and imposing, wearing a dark golden robe that billowed around him. His demeanor was majestic, exuding an aura of dominance over all living beings.
His voice was like a booming bell, carrying a terrifying force.
Not only did it echo through the hall, but it also spread far beyond, causing a huge stir.
All the guests, whether inside the hall or outside, were shocked.
"The Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
The Withered True Monk from the Buddha Kingdom stared intently at Gu Changge, his eyes flickering with Buddha light.
"Lord Chu, are you referring to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance that was rumored to have ties to the Remnants of the Black Calamity?" A Dao Realm elder from the Divine Ascension Cavern stood up abruptly, his eyes sharp and cold.
The elders from the Divine Ascension Cavern, the Temple of Light and Darkness, and other factions also looked over in shock.
If someone else had said this, they might have doubted it. But since Chu Gucheng had spoken these words at this moment, he must have had solid evidence. He wouldn't speak carelessly.
Guests from other civilizations were also astonished.
Some regions were too far from the Immortal Spirit Civilization to know much about the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
But the Prime-Origin Civilization was different. At that time, Chu Gucheng had even warned the various forces of the Prime-Origin Civilization about it, hoping to jointly suppress the war in the Immortal Spirit Civilization.
However, at that time, the various forces had remained unmoved, preferring to wait and see how things developed. Later, the Immortal Chu Dynasty had also given up, unwilling to take the risk.
Who would have thought that the mysterious master behind the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, which had caused panic throughout the Prime-Origin Civilization, would be the Gu Changge before them?
Everyone was shocked, their eyes filled with awe and wariness as they looked at Gu Changge.
Even the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace were stunned.
Ling Yuxian also looked at Gu Changge beside her in surprise. She hadn't known much about the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
But she had heard the elders discuss it before, speculating whether this mysterious and suddenly rising force had ties to the Remnants of the Black Calamity.
"It's just a name. Lord Chu, you're overpraising me. On the contrary, I've heard that the Immortal Chu Dynasty once wanted to change its name to the Heavenly Court. I wonder why Lord Chu gave up on that idea?" Gu Changge said with a faint smile, still sitting calmly, unfazed by the gazes of everyone in the hall.
He didn't deny it, which was equivalent to admitting Chu Gucheng's earlier statement. He was indeed the one who had established the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The guests who had still been skeptical were even more shocked.
Chu Gucheng could hear the mockery in Gu Changge's words but laughed it off. "I don't have the courage or ability that Young Master Gu possesses. To dare take the name 'Heavenly Court' would likely bring about retribution before I could even face the backlash."
Such matters involved taboos of the world and couldn't be discussed in detail.
The guests also understood that even establishing a Heavenly Court would bring about terrifying karma.
Not to mention taking the name "Heaven-Slaying." The fact that it had actually been established was the most unbelievable part.
In the Nine Heavens, there was a force called the Heaven-Slaying Sect, but that was because the Nine Heavens were a special place, often referred to as the Grassland of Heaven.
"But I think Lord Chu's courage is not small either," Gu Changge said with a faint smile.
Chu Gucheng waved his hand and laughed. "In front of Young Master Gu, what is my courage worth? If I had your courage, I would have already renamed the Immortal Chu Dynasty to the Chu Heavenly Court."
In fact, when the incident in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain had occurred, Chu Gucheng hadn't been sure that Gu Changge was the master behind the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
At that time, he had sent his subordinates, such as the Eight-Headed Divine General, to investigate the Immortal Spirit Civilization, but they hadn't found out much.
They only knew that the mysterious figure who had established the Heaven-Slaying Alliance was of unknown origin.
But in a short time, he had unified the entire Immortal Spirit Civilization.
Ancient clans like the Turbid Clan, the Deep Clan, the Monkey Clan, and others had either submitted or been destroyed. The entire Immortal Spirit Civilization had become his backyard, with no force daring to resist.
Chu Gucheng had left a token with the Turbid Clan, and through that token, he had maintained some contact with them.
Therefore, he had asked the Turbid Clan to investigate Gu Changge's true strength, wanting to know if he was still in the Immortal Spirit Civilization. If he wasn't, Chu Gucheng planned to send the Eight-Headed Divine General and others to investigate again.
Unfortunately, his plan had been seen through by Gu Changge at the time.
Gu Changge had deliberately created the illusion that he had left the Immortal Spirit Civilization, causing the Turbid Clan and other forces to grow restless. Then, he had suddenly reappeared, decisively and ruthlessly destroying all the forces and clans that dared to resist.
It was from that moment that Chu Gucheng had felt a strong sense of urgency and danger, no longer daring to casually probe the Immortal Spirit Civilization.
He only knew that the mysterious master behind the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had the surname Gu. Beyond that, he knew nothing.
After Chu Xia's death, Chu Gucheng had sent people to investigate the identity of the mysterious white-robed young master in Purple Return City in the Southern Wilderness Ancient Domain.
But they had found nothing. It was only recently, from the words of young prodigies like Cangti Maiden, that he had learned of their address to Gu Changge.
At that moment, Chu Gucheng had a sudden realization and almost instantly concluded that the mysterious white-robed young master who had caused Chu Xia's death was the same Gu who had established the Heaven-Slaying Alliance in the Immortal Spirit Civilization.
Originally, he had still been suspicious about whether there had been any plotting behind Chu Xia's death. But at that moment, Chu Gucheng was almost certain that it had been Gu Changge's doing. Otherwise, how could such a coincidence have occurred?
The guests in the hall listened to the conversation between Gu Changge and Chu Gucheng, each with their own thoughts.
Many were secretly on guard, worried that something unexpected might happen.
If they hadn't known about the long-standing grudge between Chu Gucheng and Gu Changge, many people here might have been deceived by this scene, thinking that the two had a good relationship and were chatting happily.
Before this, they had thought that Gu Changge was just someone with a special status in the Imperial Immortal Palace.
But who would have thought that he was also connected to the mysterious and bizarre Heaven-Slaying Alliance?
Could it be that even his identity as the senior brother of the Cloud River Dao Academy in the Imperial Immortal Palace was also questionable?
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace couldn't help but think this way, looking at Ling Yuxian with concern.
If Gu Changge was the mysterious master behind the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, how could he also be the senior brother of the Cloud River Dao Academy? There must be something wrong here.
She had been so close to Gu Changge recently, even sitting with him at the banquet. Could she have been deceived and used by him?
"I came empty-handed this time and didn't bring a suitable gift. I hope Lord Chu won't mind," Gu Changge said with a faint smile, as if sensing something.
"Young Master Gu, your presence alone is more than enough. What need is there for a gift?" Chu Gucheng laughed heartily, seemingly not caring at all.
Boom!
Suddenly, as Chu Gucheng's words fell, a terrifying roar echoed, as if the heavens and earth had been torn apart.
The entire space-time trembled, as if countless stars had collided and exploded in the depths of the sky.
"What's happening?"
Many guests in the hall were shocked, sensing a powerful and terrifying aura coming from the capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Beams of divine light quickly flew out, leaving the hall and arriving in the sky outside.
Chu Gucheng's expression changed, also sensing this aura. He had no choice but to leave the hall and step outside.
In the distant sky, everyone saw a blood-stained black coffin appear, enormous, spanning tens of thousands of miles, larger than many stars. It tore through space-time, descending from a terrifying crack in the sky, heading toward the capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
"A blood-stained black coffin?"
The guests were shocked, unable to believe what they were seeing. On Chu Gucheng's birthday, a blood-stained black coffin was descending from the sky, heading toward the royal palace.
"This is outrageous!"
Many generals were furious, flying out with their bodies glowing, Dao principles boiling like oceans, and countless chains of order. They activated their magical tools, trying to destroy the descending coffin.
This was a blatant insult to the Immortal Chu Dynasty. On the day of the ruler's birthday, to send a coffin in front of all the guests? What kind of malicious intent was this?
This was a complete disregard for the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Chu Gucheng's face also showed anger and killing intent. His first suspicion was that Gu Changge was behind this.
After all, he had just said he hadn't brought a gift, and the next moment, a blood-stained black coffin descended from the sky.
What did this mean? Was it deliberately mocking him?
Today, on his birthday, he had tried to avoid trouble, enduring so much.
Facing a great enemy who had killed his son, he had remained calm and friendly, showing no hostility or killing intent.
But Gu Changge still humiliated him like this? This was simply too much!
Many guests also looked at Gu Changge with strange expressions, suspecting that this suddenly descending black coffin was related to him.
However, at this moment, Gu Changge also looked surprised.
He stood up and walked outside, saying with interest, "Who is so bold as to send a coffin on Lord Chu's birthday, in front of everyone? Isn't this deliberately humiliating him?"
The children around Chu Gucheng wanted to glare at him angrily.
Chu Xinyue's gaze was especially icy, wanting to take action, thinking that Gu Changge was playing the victim.
Many guests also felt that Gu Changge was really pushing his luck, openly disrespecting the Immortal Chu Dynasty. Knowing that Chu Gucheng wanted nothing more than to eliminate him, he still deliberately said such things.
"Young Master Gu..."
Chu Gucheng, no matter how much he could endure, now had a cold expression and was about to speak.
A vast and terrifying aura suddenly emanated from the blood-stained black coffin.
All the generals who had rushed forward coughed up blood and exploded in mid-air, as if crushed by an invisible force.
A blurry figure appeared, standing on the black coffin, wearing a purple-gold star crown and a robe adorned with stars. His eyes were deep, and his aura was terrifying.
His entire figure seemed as tall as the heavens and earth, his robes billowing, with Dao principles intertwining and fragments of time extending beneath his feet, like a monarch walking through the world.
"Chu Gucheng, I wonder if you like today's gift?" he laughed heartily, his voice filled with joy and mockery.
"It's him?"
"The master of Purple Thunder Mountain, Zi Wanhe?"
Seeing this figure, many elders from the Prime-Origin Civilization recognized him, filled with shock and disbelief.
The entire place was in an uproar.
The master of Purple Thunder Mountain, one of the top figures in the Prime-Origin Civilization, had actually appeared at Chu Gucheng's birthday celebration and personally delivered a black coffin?
What did this mean?
However, some noticed that this wasn't Zi Wanhe's true body, but a Dao principle avatar.
His true body must still be stationed in Purple Thunder Mountain and couldn't have come in person.
But as the master of Purple Thunder Mountain, one of the top figures in the Prime-Origin Civilization, to do such a thing at Chu Gucheng's birthday celebration? What kind of deep hatred was this?
"Zi Wanhe? You've gone too far."
Chu Gucheng was furious, his face icy cold, his voice filled with killing intent.
He had never expected that this black coffin would be personally delivered by Zi Wanhe.
The two had a deep grudge. Back when Chu Gucheng hadn't yet broken through to the Ancestral Dao Realm, Zi Wanhe had schemed against him, trying to steal his Dao fruit.
If it hadn't been for Elder Jin, who had intervened due to his past friendship with the Law Sage, Chu Gucheng might have been severely injured by Zi Wanhe.
After becoming the ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, Chu Gucheng had never forgotten this grudge, waiting for the right opportunity to take revenge on Purple Thunder Mountain.
Many forces in the Prime-Origin Civilization knew of the enmity between the Immortal Chu Dynasty and Purple Thunder Mountain, but for things to escalate to this point was beyond everyone's expectations.
Who would have thought that the master of Purple Thunder Mountain, one of the strongest figures in the Prime-Origin Civilization, would send a coffin to Chu Gucheng's banquet? Did this mean that a life-and-death struggle was about to begin?