Several decades had passed since the Land of the Nine Heavens emerged into the world and the Dark Clans ceased their activities.
Many scenes flashed by in an instant.
The situation in the Vast Expanse, however, did not change at all. The momentum of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance still surged like a tide.
Within the span of ten years, many remarkably talented figures emerged once again. In the universes and worlds under its jurisdiction, many people of great fortune rapidly grew, their strength undergoing earth-shaking transformations every day.
During this process, many ancient existences who had returned from the endless spacetime also came to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to personally meet its Alliance Leader, wanting to join it.
Those ancient existences who had been hiding in the endless spacetime to evade the Heavenly Dao's Will's detection had all foreseen that the Epoch Cataclysm was about to descend once more. The current Vast Expanse was like a pool of thoroughly muddied water; whether big fish or small shrimp, they all had to surface, and even those great crocodiles could not hide either.
Even End of the Path existences came forth one after another.
Among these existences, there was the Tathagata Buddha Lord, who established the Buddha Dao system, abolished all other laws, and solely revered Buddhist arts. There was also the Three Pure Ones Dao Lord, who rode a green ox, whose purple qi spread across the myriad heavenly realms, who founded the Ten Great Daoist True Mansions, and left behind Daoist law legacies. There was the Great Luo Dao Lord, who created the Wuji Immortal Realm, expounded the Great Luo Law, and whose disciples spread throughout the myriad worlds. And there were the forerunners of the Yuan Dao Civilization, the Shamanic Dao System, the Barbarian Dao System, and so many more...
Such a spectacle was far too rare. Each of these existences was a figure who had left a profound mark in the annals of past epochs and had stepped into the End of the Path Realm.
Of course, not everyone wished to join the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
With the emergence of the Land of the Nine Heavens, the Palace of Fate Defiance also revealed itself in the Vast Expanse, its name and origins becoming known to countless living beings.
Among those returning ancient existences, there were quite a few members of the Palace of Fate Defiance, who for various reasons had been hiding in the ancient spacetime all along.
Compared to the aggressive expansion of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, the Palace of Fate Defiance had instead become a better choice at this time.
As for the Dark Clans overseen by the Lord of Heaven's Proxy, they were not within the considerations of those returning End of the Path figures.
"The emergence of the Palace of Fate Defiance has shattered our Heaven-Slaying Alliance's previous monopoly. As the situation has been turbulent these years and the number of returning End of the Path existences increases, the Palace of Fate Defiance's reserve strength is gradually being revealed."
"Besides the two End of the Path figures who appeared outside the Land of the Nine Heavens that day, in this period, two more End of the Path figures have been active in the Palace of Fate Defiance. One of them is called Yuan Zhu, and the other is very mysterious, with unknown origins."
Inside the central palace of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, many high-ranking members were discussing this matter, feeling that if things continued this way, the existence of the Palace of Fate Defiance might hinder the development of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Of course, this was only the opinion of some. Currently, the Vast Expanse had few upheavals and was rarely at peace, which was precisely what many people wished to see.
As for the Heaven-Slaying Alliance ceasing its expansion and merely maintaining the current situation, in their view, it was already sufficient. Moreover, apart from the Alliance Leader, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance indeed could not produce any other End of the Path-level existences.
On the other hand, the number of Ancestral Dao Realm existences was not small.
But the gap between the Ancestral Dao Realm and the End of the Path Realm was not just a slight difference. Frankly speaking, if an End of the Path existence wanted to kill an Ancestral Dao Realm cultivator, they wouldn't even need to lift a finger. By imperceptibly sensing their location and sending down a single thought, they could kill them. The two were simply not on the same level.
Under such circumstances, it was completely unrealistic for the Heaven-Slaying Alliance to try to annex the Palace of Fate Defiance.
During this period, Gu Changge as the Alliance Leader rarely showed himself; only the Deputy Alliance Leader Ling Yuling was handling the many affairs and developing the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
A group of high-ranking members was very worried about this.
What the Heaven-Slaying Alliance lacked was indeed the most supreme battle strength.
Any single End of the Path existence could easily change the situation. No matter how vast the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's territory, how abundant and dense its fortune, or how flourishing its development, its End of the Path figures were only the two by the Alliance Leader's side: the Eternal Primordial God and Luo Zhu.
This was simply a fatal flaw.
Even the Deputy Alliance Leader Ling Yuling was merely at the Ancestral Dao Realm level. As for the Ethereal Sacred Ancestor, he still had some distance from the End of the Path Realm.
"As those End of the Path existences return, they will certainly think of ways to occupy advantageous territories and carve up the fortune that is currently flourishing in the Vast Expanse..."
"In the Lesser Western Sacred Domain, an existence calling himself the Tathagata Buddha Lord has appeared in this period..."
"The Buddhist sects also want to spread their teachings and faith, which conflicts with our Heaven-Slaying Alliance. In my opinion, that Tathagata Buddha Lord's sudden appearance is definitely because he covets our Heaven-Slaying Alliance's current vast fortune and faith power."
The Lesser Western Sacred Domain was a vast region in the Vast Expanse, composed of many Great Thousand Worlds, and also encompassing numerous Lesser Thousand Worlds and Medium Thousand Worlds, as well as various Multiverses that could accommodate Dao Realm-level power.
However, in the Lesser Western Sacred Domain, Buddhism was the principal sect. The most powerful orthodox force was called Lesser Western Heaven, which encompassed all Buddhist sects in the world and various Buddhist traditions, its foundations not inferior to some supreme civilizations.
But in this period, that Tathagata Buddha Lord appeared, displayed supreme Buddhist arts, commanded all Buddhist sects, and established a transcendent pure land called the Tathagata Buddha Kingdom in the depths of Lesser Western Heaven.
His followers spread across those starry domains and universes that were vast beyond trillions of light-years. In just a matter of days, brilliant Buddhist light illuminated the myriad worlds, sweeping through grandly and cleansing the hearts of all followers.
Many high-ranking members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance could clearly notice that the Tathagata Buddha Lord was trying to fathom the profound subtleties within faith power. During this period, in some true worlds and civilizations, similar sects also appeared, all using various methods to develop followers and gather faith power.
The Heaven-Slaying Alliance's use of faith power to nurture all living beings had already attracted the attention of many ancient existences in the Vast Expanse.
But the many high-ranking members of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, after all, only had the strength of the Ancestral Dao Realm, making it difficult to understand why. However, they could clearly perceive that in this period, many religious forces centered on faith had increased.
Similarly, there were some remnants surviving from the Divine Dao Civilization. After the former several great Divine Kingdoms were annexed and devoured by the Dark Clans, in the current Vast Expanse, beings of the Divine Dao Civilization system were even rarer, almost extinct.
And absorbing and condensing faith power had always been a method of the Divine Dao Civilization system.
"Faith power, in fact, all comes from the heart. Does this not mean that if the power of the heart is developed to its extreme, it can break some kind of rule?"
People like Zhuo Fengxie and Hun Yuanjun from the Immortal Spirit Civilization were also studying and contemplating these matters.
However, no matter how they contemplated, they always felt as if separated by a layer of gauze they could not understand, making it difficult to truly grasp the essence.
"In this period, the winds of change in the Vast Expanse are shifting. The return of End of the Path figures has pushed the power of fortune in the Vast Expanse to a certain limit. Imperceptibly, even an old fellow like me who has survived nine Heavenly Decline Tribulations can feel a kind of celestial phenomenon will..."
"The Heaven-Slaying Alliance is not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao. This could form a great momentum opposing heaven and earth, bringing down unknown tribulations and disasters." The Ethereal Sacred Ancestor inwardly frowned. Around him were many ancient existences from the former Ethereal Sacred Domain, including quite a few Ancestral Dao Realm characters.
When he spoke these words, these Ancestral Dao Realm figures all nodded in agreement.
Even they could feel an imperceptible great momentum. Previously, the existence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had probably been concealed by Alliance Leader Gu Changge using supreme methods, causing the Heavenly Dao in the Vast Expanse to have no perception of it whatsoever.
After all, something like "Heaven-Slaying" was an even greater taboo than defying heaven and would inevitably be detested and spurned by heaven and earth.
And those figures who had already entered the End of the Path Realm generally, apart from evading the Cataclysmic Tribulation, would also try their utmost to hide from the Heavenly Dao's senses, concealing all their karma and aura.
Because at their stage, they had already reached the so-called end of the Dao. Their beings were no different from the Dao itself; they would be attracted by the Heavenly Dao, regarded as a certain part of it, becoming a part of the rules that perfected the Heavenly Dao...
This process was also called Dissolving into the Dao. Of course, at that time, they would no longer be themselves; they would already be parts of the Dao, completely dissipating between heaven and earth.
And now, the return of those End of the Path figures was very likely because they had been imperceptibly summoned by something...
This made the Ethereal Sacred Ancestor and others somewhat worried that perhaps next, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance would become the target of all. Even if it was merely "pseudo-heaven", it still represented the Heavenly Dao.
In the central region of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, the World Orb hung high. Endless faith power converged and poured into it, then under the condensation of the countless supreme rules inscribed within, it transformed into pure and profound Creation Substance and Immortal Substance.
And during this period, Gu Changge's figure had been seated cross-legged here all along, the vast and mighty steam of these two substances surging like tides and completely enveloping him.
At this moment, as if sensing something, his eyes suddenly opened and he looked toward the courtyard where he had been resting.
In a mist-shrouded pool, spiritual resonance intertwined, and an astonishing sense of creation seemed to emerge. A brightly colored, crystalline fish within suddenly leaped up. In the void, thunder rumbled, and a Dragon Gate materialized. In an instant, that fish leaped through the Dragon Gate, its figure enveloped and wrapped by a cloud of rosy mist.
Watching this, Gu Changge raised his hand and waved. A dense mass of Creation Substance descended, completely shrouding it.
After half a day, all the scenes within the rosy mist dissipated, transforming into a slender and exquisite jade body draped in a golden feathered robe, with eyes like golden clouds, dazzling and unparalleled in beauty.
Her expression still seemed somewhat dazed and lost. It was not until a moment later that a reincarnation mark between her brows glowed, then shattered with a crack, transforming into a sky full of golden clouds that merged into her divine soul, that she abruptly came to her senses.
Countless memories tumbled through her mind, finally freezing at that dreamlike vision in the Demon Realm before she passed away in meditation.
She had thought that upon death and passing, her soul would return to nothingness, but Gu Changge had used heaven-defying means to grant her another lifetime.
In this life, she transformed from a fish into a dragon, yet she had remained by his side for a very long time.
"Xi Yao greets the Alliance Leader." Her thoughts returning, the woman in the golden feathered robe had a complicated expression as she bowed gracefully.
Gu Changge appeared in the courtyard. Hearing her address, he merely laughed carefreely.
"Back then, I did not follow your wish. You might resent my selfishness, but I have always been this way—domineering, overbearing, and unreasonable..."
"You may resent me or be angry with me, but the matter is already settled. Now you are no longer the Empress of the Demon Realm. No one will stop you from doing whatever you wish. I cannot let you become a truly free and unfettered fish, but I will do my best to fulfill you." he said.
"I... actually guessed you would do this. You are someone who never truly cares about others' feelings or concerns, so I have no way to resist you."
Xi Yao looked at him with a melancholic gaze, recalling how she had told him she wanted to become a free and unfettered fish in her next life, and he really did make her into a fish. This was indeed something only he could do.
"Since you said so at that time, I naturally would think of a way to fulfill you." Gu Changge smiled.
"You fellow... truly make one love and hate you at the same time, and leave one speechless."
Xi Yao bit the corner of her lip, gazing fixedly at him, and then suddenly threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, murmuring, "Is all this real right now?"
"Real beyond a doubt." Gu Changge gently stroked her dark hair.
"Then why can't you hold me?" Xi Yao lifted her face.
Gu Changge smiled and reached out to embrace her. Regardless of what she was thinking in her dying moments, women were always duplicitous. The emotions of that moment might indeed have been like that, but no one could tell what would happen afterward.
He could also, when making a choice at that time, see what would happen in the future and then decide. But if everything in the future had traces to follow and everything was clear, many things would appear far too dull.
"I never thought there would be such a future, but now it seems quite nice..." Xi Yao said softly.
"No one can truly decide the future. Even the future seen in this moment, when it becomes the future, will no longer be the current future. Therefore, the future is infinite, disordered, and chaotic, containing endless possibilities..." Gu Changge said.
"You're digressing." Xi Yao did not understand these things he said. She didn't care what the future would be like; she only felt that this moment of the present was very beautiful.
Gu Changge smiled and said nothing more.
Xi Yao had reconstructed her body and regained many of her former memories. At this moment, she had many words she wanted to talk and recount with Gu Changge.
In the courtyard, the peach blossoms were brilliant, each petal crystalline, and the air was filled with fragrance. At this moment, Xi Yao was no longer the Empress who once ruled the Demon Realm; she was like an innocent young girl who had cast aside all worries.
Gu Changge was patient, keeping her company and recounting many stories and interesting tidings. Xi Yao was indeed very interested in the current Vast Expanse, like a fish that had left the bottom of a well and come to a vast river, where everything was novel to her.
"The Vast Expanse, True Worlds, the Land of Truth, and the Cataclysmic Tribulation..."
"So, the calamity that befell the Dao Chang True World in the past was also because of the Cataclysmic Tribulation." It was the first time she had come into contact with these things.
What were almost universal knowledge in the Vast Expanse were, to her, each a novelty.
After all, no matter how one put it, the Demon Realm was at most a lower realm even within the Dao Chang True World. Neither its scale nor its world level could compare to a true True World.
The difference between the two was like a speck of dust compared to a star.
But now, the Heaven-Slaying Alliance created by Gu Changge had the scale and momentum to unify the entire Vast Expanse.
Xi Yao was indeed incomparably shocked and shaken. However, very soon, astonishing brilliance bloomed in her eyes, and she was filled with yearning for such an expansive world.
When she was the Empress of the Demon Clan, many things were not up to her. She could not leave the Demon Realm, and she had never even measured the Dao Chang True World with her own two feet.