Boom!
Wei Guyun completely exploded!
His eyes instantly turned blood-red, his psychological defenses utterly shattered by those two words.
"You defiled the Dark Emperor!" A beast-like roar erupted from Wei Guyun's throat.
Gu Qingfeng feigned confusion. "Defiled? I married her properly—a perfect match, a joyous union. How is that defilement?
You’re quite the character. If you ever take a wife, would that also count as defilement? Or would you call it 'enlightenment'?"
"Shut up! I’ll kill you!"
Clang!
A sword's cry rang out as overwhelming sword energy erupted from Wei Guyun’s body.
Gu Qingfeng smirked and activated his Heavenly Fox Eyes, instantly teleporting to the main hall of the Dark Realm, where most of its members gathered for discussions.
Wei Guyun, now consumed by rage, didn’t care where Gu Qingfeng fled—he chased after him blindly.
When he arrived, he found Gu Qingfeng shouting at a crowd of divine-realm experts.
"Fellow Daoists, Wei Guyun has gone mad! He’s trying to kill someone—stop him!"
His words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
"Daoist Wei, what are you doing? Lower your sword!"
"Daoist Wei, our Dark Realm has always stood united. Don’t let conflict divide us!"
"Yes, yes! Daoist Wei, please prioritize harmony!"
Wei Guyun was beyond reason. Ignoring the crowd shielding Gu Qingfeng, he lunged forward to attack.
And then...
"Let me go! Release me! I’ll kill him!"
Pinned to the ground, Wei Guyun howled in fury.
Seeing him subdued, Gu Qingfeng approached with a face full of feigned concern, like a master manipulator.
"Daoist Wei, calm down. I know yesterday’s events were hard on you, but this is for the sake of humanity. You must consider the bigger picture."
"Ah! Gu Qingfeng! Stop pretending to be righteous, you vile worm! I’ll kill you!!"
Gu Qingfeng sighed deeply, his expression a picture of misunderstood sorrow.
"Yesterday, I saw Daoist Wei leave in despair, so out of compassion, I visited him this morning. Yet the moment he saw me, he tried to kill me.
But I don’t blame him. This is all because of me.
I understand his hatred—love turned to resentment. Please, everyone, go easy on him. He’s one of us. I believe in his character. He’s just acting on impulse now, but once he calms down, he’ll see reason.
Right, Daoist Wei?"
"I’ll you! Aaaah!!! Gu Qingfeng, I’ll kill you! Kill you!"
Wei Guyun was so enraged that blood seeped from his seven orifices. His primal energy raged wildly as he struggled violently, even injuring himself in the process.
The divine-realm experts restraining him were alarmed. They quickly sealed his meridians and knocked him unconscious with a spell.
Gu Qingfeng watched his suffering with a pained, guilty expression. "Forgive this disgrace, fellow Daoists. Alas, it’s all my fault."
The experts reassured him, "Daoist Gu, don’t blame yourself. We never imagined he’d be so narrow-minded, willing to kill his own kin.
We’ll report this to the Dark Emperor and have him imprisoned for a year to cool off."
"Then I leave it to you," Gu Qingfeng said with a bow.
After some polite exchanges, the crowd dispersed.
Once alone, Gu Qingfeng’s remorseful act vanished instantly.
"Hehehe... Daring to poison me? Then I’ll make your life a living hell!"
He could easily crush Wei Guyun, but he refused to strike. Instead, he’d let the man fester in rage—his fury never vented, forever burning in torment.
For someone who sought his life, no punishment was too cruel.
Murderous intent was an unforgivable sin!
But Gu Qingfeng’s scheme had another purpose.
He wanted Wei Guyun to sabotage the 108 Heavenly Demon-Slaying Array!
First, he’d stoke Wei Guyun’s hatred. Then, he’d arrange for a divine-realm demon to lure him into betrayal. A seamless, natural progression.
Since Shang Xinyan was now his wife, he couldn’t personally do anything to strain their relationship. He needed a proxy.
The array had to be destroyed. The Holy Clan must descend, and the passage must remain open.
Though his methods seemed villainous, Gu Qingfeng knew he was a good man.
The Holy Clan had slaughtered countless humans. Did they deserve mercy just because the Dark Emperor wanted to sever the connection?
Blood debts required blood repayment!
So Gu Qingfeng resolved to avenge humanity by luring the Holy Envoy down. Since the envoy would descend in the Ten Thousand Demon Nation, the ensuing battle would wipe out both the demons and the envoy. Then he’d storm the Cangming Realm and annihilate the Holy Clan itself.
Avenging humanity while growing stronger—was there anything more satisfying?
Even if the world misunderstood him, Gu Qingfeng would press on without hesitation!
......
Nightfall.
The night Gu Qingfeng had been eagerly awaiting finally arrived.
He sat in the bridal chamber, waiting for Shang Xinyan.
Soon, she arrived as promised, having vanished all day.
With graceful steps, she entered the room. Their eyes met, and no words were needed.
She understood his devotion; he saw through her feigned reserve.
"Xinyan, come to my... arms."
"Wait."
"Wait for what? Time is running out for humanity. You don’t think I’m just a lustful man, do you?" Gu Qingfeng declared righteously.
Shang Xinyan studied his solemn expression and felt a pang of guilt.
She knew he, like her, lived for humanity’s sake. Yet she kept acting coy—she truly wasn’t as free-spirited as him.
But this time, she had something serious to say.
"I need to tell you something."
"Fine. Sit here and say it."
"Alright."
She sat beside him, and a delicate fragrance enveloped him.
"Take off the mask. It’s awkward like this."
After a brief hesitation, Shang Xinyan removed it.
Today, she seemed even more radiant than yesterday—perhaps nourished by love, like a flower after rain.
Truly, her eyes held the warmth of spring; her smile—or lack thereof—was intoxicating.
"It’s quite hot today. Let’s remove your robe first."
"I’m not hot. Actually, there’s something I’ve kept hidden for a long time. I’ve never told anyone this, but... the 108 Heavenly Demon-Slaying Array wasn’t my creation. It was—"
"Actually, I have something to tell you too," Gu Qingfeng interrupted.
Shang Xinyan looked at him curiously.
"You know the art of avatar manifestation, right? Could you demonstrate it for me? I’d like to learn."
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
