Translator: Fate Proofreader: Silavin Dense Chaos Qi gushed in the centre of the massive lotus, as if it was another world. Sitting on it, Gu Changge revealed an uncanny grin as he condescendingly gazed at Jiang Yang who just entered the room. His sleeves were glowing with lights of the stars with a terrifying aura. Starlight was glowing around his sleeves with a terrifying aura that emitted thundering noises and carried the might of all wonders of the world. In that instant, it was if each of his cells turned into ancient, vast worlds as they were frighteningly rumbling. Now that he finished refining the World Purifying Green Lotus, with the protection of his Demonic Heart, the energies around him didn’t interweave in disorder, and instead, they seemed strangely organised. Despite the overflowing Demonic Energy, Gu Changge remained still. Seated amidst traces of lights of the universe, he was imperishable by all destruction, unscathed while all entities crumbled, as though the strength of his flesh was enough to resist the forces of worldly devastation, and such physical invincibility was granted to him by the World Purifying Green Lotus. Over his skin, wafts of Mists of Chaos Qi were intertwining, shielding him from any external harm. Seeing that, Jiang Yang grew even more horrified as he was shuddering at the intimidation so violently as if his head was about to explode. Having handed his biggest hand, the Celestial Seal, to Zhao Yi, his sole ultimate card left now was his Symbol of Reincarnation and to make things worse, Gu Changge was waiting in the room to kill him as if he was a prey. Growing even more depressed, Jiang Yang was absolutely devastated. Despite his countless reincarnations, it was his first time facing such a situation. It was the most dangerous one yet. He expected Gu Changge to be dead in Sky Pool of Death where the latter’s entire body was disintegrated and not even ash was to be found. Alas, Gu Changge now appeared unharmed, and even seized his belonging, taking over the World Purifying Green Lotus that supposedly belonged to him. Furthermore, Gu Changge seemed to have waited here for quite a while. Perhaps the figure everyone saw in the outside world back then was deliberately displayed by him as a deception to trick everyone else, including Jiang Yang himself. Having reincarnated so many times, Jiang Yang was no fool, and given his immense experience, he could instantly tell something was off. He was deceived by Gu Changge, or more precisely, Gu Changge turned the tide on him. Despite having lived for so long, Jiang Yang hadn’t the slightest clue that he was set up. Soon, Jiang Yang forced himself to calm down, knowing that he must maintain his composure at such a critical moment. “I’ve waited for you for so long, Mortal One.” However, the next second, at Gu Changge’s teasing tone, Jiang Yang was once startled again. As if his skull was cracked open and filled with ice, his entire body, overwhelmed by the terrorizing chilliness, was frozen. “H-How did you know who I am… How is that possible… Since when have you known?” He asked with his shaky voice as he was shocked by how Gu Changge directly stated his identity and claimed that he had been waiting for him for a long time. In that instant, his head rang as his mind went blank. [D-Does that mean he knew about my identity from the very beginning and was only pretending to be clueless, keeping the truth to himself? And he even knew everything I’ve been doing up until now?] Bearing that in mind, Jiang Yang uncontrollably shivered, failing to notice that his hands were also trembling. Prior to that, he noticed not nothing strange about Gu Changge and was only treating him as an ordinary cultivator from the Upper Realm who possessed, at most, some unremarkable tricks, but little did he know, Gu Changge was the strongest one among the people from the Upper Realm. “Does it matter since when I’ve known? What, why do you look so surprised? I thought you knew? Oh, you truly disappoint me, Mortal One. Now, aren’t you supposed to be the belittling, boastful Jiang Yang as you did back then?” Gu Changge then continued as he grinned at the dumbfounded Jiang Yang, and his tone was ever so condescending. As Gu Changge slowly got up, a suppressing aura whirled like a vortex as the raging grey whirling storm howled. The abysmal phenomenon even left the ground quaking as the stars outside the realm imploded like the ocean before turning into dust; everything was shifting according to Gu Changge’s breath. “What’s happening inside? Why is Jiang Yang’s power weakening?” Meanwhile, Yue Mingkong was gazing at the storm, feeling irritated. From what she detected, Jiang Yang disappeared into the depths, so his target must be the World Purifying Green Lotus. Nonetheless, she couldn’t resist the powerful figure. [Did something happen to Jiang Yang? Judging by his waning power, it looks like he’s under pressure as well… Is there perhaps an accident? He laid down his backups here so confidently, yet that man escaped from his grasp so easily. Why does this feel so awfully similar to Gu Changge’s methods? This odd familiarness… Did he sneak to this Lower Realm as well?] Yue Mingkong tensed her brows as she wondered. Afterwards, waving her delicate hand, she ordered her followers to keep watch over the area to prevent any infiltration. In the meantime, upon Gu Changge’s reply, Jiang Yang scowled even tenser. Compared to Gu Changge’s condescension, he was more infuriated by his mockery, yet he could do nothing about it. Back at Celestia Holy Land he thought Gu Changge was so smug only because he wasn’t aware of his identity. Little did he expect, Gu Changge had always known it and was only playing dumb in order to draw him to the bait. “Who the hell are you?” At that moment, Jiang Yang sounded more composed. His will was strong, since his final ultimate card, his Symbol of Reincarnation, was still in hand. He was certain that Gu Changge couldn’t kill him and could only foil his plans in this lifetime at best. Regardless, he could simply reincarnate once more. “It doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is that you’re about to die. So before that, I shall give you a chance to say your last words.” Gu Changge faintly grinned, knowing what Jiang Yang was thinking in his heart, so he wouldn’t mind stripping him of his hopes in order to maximise the success rate of his Fortuity Plundering Talisman. [Antagonists have always died due to their talkativeness. Well, that and because they’re not as strong as they think!] In Gu Changge’s eyes, the Mortal One’s Fortuity was exponentially decreasing, especially after how it drastically plunged after his fought with Yao Yao Essentially, thoroughly falling apart with Yao Yao, who was supposed to be on his side and assist him as he grew, was enough to shatter Jiang Yang’s biggest pillar of support. Furthermore, Gu Changge predicted that the backups Jiang Yang set up across Heavenly Star Realm were now nothing but dust in the winds. Therefore, it was undoubted that Jiang Yang didn’t have much Fortuity left as he was even foolish enough to take down his sole ally, the Celestia Holy Land. He was too overconfident in believing that the power within Sky Pool of Death could grant him invulnerability and dominance over all lives. In other words, his pride and ignorance truly betrayed the countless lives he had lived through. Nonetheless, Gu Changge did not engage Jiang Yang right in front of Yao Yao and the mass, or his image as her mentor would fall to pieces. By then, thanks to his impeccable timing, he would only need to claim that he was trapped inside Sky Pool of Death. Besides, Yue Mingkong was still outside Sky Pool of Death, strictly observing everything that was happening. Hence, Gu Changge used his Celestial Chant as a warning to prevent her from barging in and foiling his plan. More importantly, judging by her methods, Gu Changge thought she might get harmed by the Mortal One should she enter the Sky Pool of Death. Since she fulfilled her role, the rest was now up to Gu Changge. “Last words? You sure are the first person to say that to me. Since you already knew I am the Mortal One, you should also know that you won’t be able to kill me. No matter how many reincarnation it takes, I will always return.” Jiang Yang’s face grew absolutely calm as he blandly stated. Realising his abilities in this lifetime were no longer helpful, he stopped resisting. Although it was certainly an aberration among all his reincarnations, he never once expected to fall to the hands of Gu Changge, but that was no longer important as he was already planning to break his Symbol of Reincarnation and return to the cycle of reincarnation. By then, when his old memories reawakened, he could remember everything that took place today so that he could let Gu Changge savour the taste of regret and have him know that the methods of the Mortal One was nothing fathomable to his puny mind. “Still putting up an act even at this point, huh? Have you forgotten what I told you before? Drop the tough man act, young man, especially in front of me.” Unsurprised, Gu Changge let out a snicker. He swung his hand forward, shining runes and Principles which governed the World erupted, emitting sounds resembling the roar of a tsunami before morphing into an incomparably solid palm plummeting onto Jiang Yang. Thump! “D*mn it…” Jiang Yang glowered as he failed to hop backwards to evade the blow. Under the overwhelming force, he immediately spewed a mouthful of blood as his organs burst while half of his body exploded. That was the result of Gu Changge holding back his power as he had no intention of letting Jiang Yang die so easily. [Every Fortuitous One always comes with unbelievable confidence, and the Mortal One really believes that I can’t kill him? How ridiculous!] “It’s pointless to kill me now. I’ll come back eventually, and nobody can stop that. You may stop me in one lifetime, but you can’t do it forever.” Jiang Yang’s eyes grew darker as his hair pettily scattered; his body was drenched in blood as he lay on the ground immovable, yet his humiliated, prideful face remained. “You’ll return no matter how many reincarnation it takes? That’s kinda childish, don’t you think?” Gu Changge faintly smiled and responded in a manner foreign to Jiang Yang, but the expression was certainly not a complimenting one. With a hideous glower, Jiang Yang was about to talk back. Although he was unable to resist the constriction, that didn’t stop him from taunting Gu Changge. Boom! Gu Changge did not allow Jiang Yang the chance to speak, casting a giant palm and slamming it down on him before grasping him as if he was tweezing a struggling ant. “Just give up already! It’s futile even if you disintegrate my True Spirit. My immortality and my name are praised and chanted across the world! You’re a thousand years too young to kill me!” Thinking that Gu Changge was enraged and wanted to squeeze him dead, Jiang Yang revealed a mocking grin. After all, that was the only trace of confidence he could find in front of Gu Changge, regardless of how he was deceived or how his current life was about to die, as his unwavering pride would give in to no adversity. “Oh, look at you, you look like a total moron. Don’t you want to know who I really am? At the brink of death, you still think you have a chance of survival. How dumb are you, really?” The grin on Gu Changge’s face remained subtle. As he spoke, Jiang Yang thought something was off, scowling as the scornful words halted at the tip of his tongue. All of a sudden, he hesitated. [Have I gotten something wrong? Why is he still so confident? Does he actually have ways to kill me?] Jiang Yang was in disbelief. Whoosh! However, the next second, he scowled even more as his eyes almost popped up; his face speedily turned pale as shock and dismay were all over it. Dense black gleams gushed out along with frightening Principles, forming an alarming fountain-like sight. It was the Grand Flask floating above Gu Changge’s palm, as if Its dark gleam was able to engulf the entire world. “The Grand Flask? How can this be… You are the Successor of Demonic Arts!?” Jiang Yang subconsciously shivered and his voice was obviously trembling in fright, as if it was his first time experiencing fear. He couldn’t be more familiar with the Grand Flask as it was the reason why he would always scour for Successors of Demonic Arts to ‘retain peace and restore balance to the world.’ Essentially, the Grand Flask was the kryptonite to his reincarnation abilities, and it was, in fact, his only weakness. Truth be told, defending the beings of the world was merely a front for him to eliminate any forces which were a threat to him. “Now, do you know who I am?” Gu Changge continued smiling. Upon a deafening ring, the Grand Flask surged and fell from the sky before surrounding Jiang Yang, followed by a thick terrifying aura that resembled a dark godly light engulfing the universe. “Impossible… You’re the Successor of Demonic Arts.” Jiang Yang’s face grew absolutely pale with stupefaction all over it. Losing his confidence from earlier, he started to doubt that he could return from reincarnation as he finally took a glimpse at death for the first time. Never had he expected Gu Changge’s true identity to be the Successor of Demonic Arts. He then figured that the powerful figure outside Sky Pool of Death was also a certain demonic technique of Gu Changge. In that instant, he finally understood why Gu Changge had been planning to murder him from the beginning. “How? How is this Successor of Demonic Arts so strong…” Jiang Yang’s voice trembled as he was in dismay. None of the Successors of Demonic Arts he had encountered was half as strong as Gu Changge, whose strength he was completely suppressed by. “I’m not strong. You’re simply too weak,” Gu Changge casually stated. Stomping his feet, he instantly stepped on Jiang Yang. “No way. Y-You mustn’t be the Successor of Demonic Arts…” Reluctance surged in Jiang Yang’s eyes, along with rapid flashes of vibrant lights. Given his current state, it was awfully strenuous for him to talk, let alone resist. Under such daunting pressure, his Symbol of Reincarnation emitted mystical lights, but due to the overpowering repression of the Grand Flask, the glow on the Symbol of Reincarnation began to dim and there were even cracks on the symbol as if it was about to collapse. “So this is the actual Grand Flask, not ones forged with magic… So, that’s how it is… I see it now, I see it now… I know who you are now.” Jiang Yang’s eyes were fixated on the Grand Flask that was about to engulf him. He chortled aloud as if he just noticed what was happening. In that instant, reluctance and incredulity no longer persisted in his eyes, as if everything made sense and he could now readily accept the truth. “So you’ve been alive all along.” Having lost all hope, Jiang Yang laughed miserably. “Why should I die?” Gu Changge furrowed his brows as he remained grinning, unbothered by Jiang Yang’s words. Although he was confused, he, at the very least, knew that the Grand Flask was highly related to his origin. After all, many of his memories implicated that the Grand Flask was sealed by his former self, so even he was clueless to the precise functionalities of this Grand Flask. Nonetheless, judging by the Mortal One’s words, he must have sensed that the Grand Flask Gu Changge possessed was the actual Grand Flask that was forged with infinite godly powers and celestial energy, a true Condensation of the Great Dao. Regardless, at that moment, Gu Changge was in no mood for explanation. “It seems like the Successor of the Mortal Palace has also fallen into your hands.” Jiang Yang continued laughing in despair. Remembering the incident where he was lured out from Celestia Holy Land, he grew certain that the secret technique and aura only the Successor of the Mortal Palace could produce, which he had detected. was a trick pulled off by Gu Changge. “Oh, you mean her?” Hearing that, Gu Changge slightly grinned and swung his arm. Before him, a rift occurred, and Jiang Chuchu was drawn out from his Inner Universe. Currently, she was cultivating on a boulder. All this time, she had been highly anxious and restless as she felt that something terrible happened to the Mortal One, but she wasn’t sure about it. To her, every day was hell as she was haunted by the perturbation constantly raging in her heart. Yet, she was frustrated by the fact that she could do nothing to find things out. Now that she was suddenly dragged out by Gu Changge from the Inner Universe, Jiang Chuchu was nothing but absolutely puzzled, after which she turned to look at Gu Changge with her beguiling eyes that were filled with bafflement, wondering if the man actually chose kindness and decided to release her. “Gu Changge…” Jiang Chuchu was about to question Gu Changge. Nevertheless, before she could do that, Gu Changge cut in and leisurely wrapped his arm around her waist before saying with a grin. “Meet your beloved Mortal One. This is the first and the last time you’ll ever see him, so don’t go saying I never gave you the chance.” At once, Jiang Chuchu was startled, wanting to verify his words as she was sceptical. She then turned to Jiang Yang, who was subdued by Gu Changge. His whole body was soaked in blood and his face was unrecognisable, leaving her in dismay. [This man… miserably stepped on by Gu Changge… he is the Mortal One?] “H-He’s the Mortal One…” Jiang Chuchu stuttered with her trembling voice, unable to remain calm. According to the teachings of Mortal Palace, the Mortal One was a being of utmost might, and his worldly contribution was celebrated by all beings while his portrait that was hung in Mortal Palace was deeply etched in the minds of every disciple of Mortal Palace. If such an almighty figure were facing the world with his back, no being would be worthy enough to turn him around. Yet, that figure was being stepped on by the Successor of Demonic Arts, unable to keep his head up. However, Jiang Chuchu was the Successor of Mortal Palace who cultivated the techniques of Mortal Palace. Thus, she could tell that the person before her eyes was the Mortal One. Even his aura indicated so. Instantly, Jiang Chuchu felt as though her world was about to collapse. She knew that although Gu Changge had the upper hand, the Mortal One wouldn’t be beaten so easily. Essentially, given the backups he had planted along his numberless reincarnations, his strength and abilities were not to be rivalled by Gu Changge. Yet, the truth didn’t go as she inferred. Even the Mortal One was no match for Gu Changge as he was completely annihilated. “Impossible… this is just impossible” She muttered as her face grew as pale as the snow. She was deeply devastated. She wanted to save the Mortal One, but since even the Mortal One was unable to beat Gu Changge, there was essentially nothing she could do. Hence, she grew hopeless. “Why not? He’s just another lowly cheat. Look, he’s right under my feet. The person, who you Mortal Palace worshipped so reverently is right here, but do you dare to save him?” Gu Changge mindlessly grinned at Jiang Chuchu. However, the poor woman was absolutely traumatised. With her pale face and trembling body, she would have fallen to the ground if Gu Changge didn’t hold on to her. At that moment, Jiang Yang finally got to take a good look at Jiang Chuchu. [So she’s the Successor of Mortal Palace. She should have been my guardian, but it seems like she, too, has fallen into Gu Changge’s hands. Even her purity has been stripped away from her…] Thinking that, Jiang Yang grew exasperated and hopeless. “You—” He wished to insult Gu Changge as much as he could before he died. At the same time, Gu Changge squinted his eyes as he figured it was about time. “No more reincarnations, no more chances.” Gu Changge broke out a light smile. Whoosh! Followingly, the Grand Flask began to shake and fall as its frightening dark gleam instantaneously engulfed Jiang Yang’s body.