Chapter 455: Unwasted Lessons, Pain Again And Again

In the palace, everyone else was dismissed, leaving only silence behind.

Traces of hostility leaked out from the Inner World and resembled crimson illuminance bore a dense scent of blood.

Gu Changge subconsciously furrowed his brows.

Although the aura was faint, he could easily sense it as the Inner World was entirely in his control. Initially, he figured that he should be able to suppress the aggression for at least three months. Yet, it was speedily cut to one month. In other words, Chan Hongyi's recovery rate was excessively faster than he had expected.

Indubitably, the Life Forces he had gathered all this time might also have contributed to her recovery. Therefore, he was now considering whether to enter his Inner World and pay her a visit.

All this time, Gu Changge had resorted to countless means to amass Life Forces for her to absorb in order to help her recover and contain that other side of hers. He also stored her in his Inner World so that he could effectively deal with her. However, if he were to fight her now, the disturbances would surely leak and draw the attention of other forces present.

[The level of hostility is lesser than last time. It seems suppression isn't useless after all. She may now be more conscious than before.] Thinking that, Gu Changge squinted his eyes and came up with a plan.

With that, space ripples occurred before him as a door emitting silver gleams appeared. It seemed to lead to another divine world. Right away, Gu Changge walked in and his body vanished into it.

Ever since his Inner World had evolved, the space had undergone massive changes.

Surrounded by spectacular Divine Mountains and dazzling Celestial Islands, the vast ancient foret expanded into infinity. There were old and rich Celestial Trees with endless vines that seemed to have existed for innumerable epochs.

As thick Celestial Energy drifted about, there seemed to be an ancient Heaven in the depths of this place. Magnificent palaces shone in the sky, extravagant and splendid as tall sturdy pillars stood across four directions of the universe. Glowing and sturdy, the pillars seemed to be holding up the sky, preventing it from crumbling.

In the depths of the universe, the stars were whirling, and ancient universes could be seen rotating, emitting grand and vast sounds. Any living beings that stepped into them would instantaneously disintegrate into dust and ashes. That was the real, absolute Force of the World, surpassing any kind of power in the world.

After entering his Inner World, Gu Changge did not stop moving. Upon his will, he reappeared at the top of a mountain. The mountaintop was flat, where chilly breezes would blow over.

Not far away, simple houses were being built with bamboo, unique and tranquil, as boulders floating in the air formed into steps. Nearby the houses, there was a chilly pond. The water plunged from the silver waterfalls high above, leaving silver ripples on its surface.

Rare divine fishes could be seen wagging their tails in the chilly pond. Delicate and crystalline, their bodies were the size of a palm, containing a shocking amount of vigour.

Somewhere further, there were herb farms and bird habitats filled with harmony, as though it was paradise.

Somewhere on top of the mountain, there was a simple boulder and a peach tree of moderate height.

As soon as Gu Changge reached here, what he saw evoked a complicated sensation in his eyes.

"M—Master..."

In one of the houses, a woman in red seemed to have detected his arrival. Pleasantly surprised, she pushed the door open. Her body was glamorous and her hair was silky. Snowy and fine, her face resembled an exuberant jade. Her petite face was beautified by her impeccably flawless features. Her captivating eyes resembled glistening onyxes.

At that moment, she was rolling up her sleeves, revealing her lotus-like pale, perfect wrists, as she was cleaning a wild chicken.

"Did you decorate, all of this?" Gu Changge nodded and calmly asked as he gazed across the houses, the boulder, and the peach tree. Then, his deep gaze eventually fell upon Chan Hongyi, as though he could see through her.

Seeing the look on his face, Chan Hongyi thought she somehow upset him. As she timidly stepped backwards, she hastily explained, "I... I remembered the past... how the two of us used to live together... just like this..."

Gu Changge nodded and praised, "Very thoughtful of you."

He didn't seem to be blaming her, and Chan Hongyi was relieved by that. Accordingly, she cutely carried over the wild chicken she was cleaning with a gleeful smile on her little face. "M—Master, I... want to make roasted chicken for you..."

"When did you learn how to do that?" Gu Changge walked upon her and reached out his hand to brush off the ash stain on her nose.

"The hunter at the foot of the mountain taught me..." Suddenly, Chan Hongyi felt somewhat uneasy, fearing that Gu Changge might rebuke her.

"Why have you never told me about this?" With a grin, Gu Changge pinched her nose and asked.

"M—Master, you never allow me to learn these... So I was worried that you might... scold me..." Chan Hongyi lowered her face and explained. There were subtle gleams on her snowy face.

"So, that is how you perceive me, huh?" Gu Changge sounded somewhat playful.

"N—No, Master! You're the absolute best in my heart..." Chan Hongyi quickly shook her head like a pellet drum.

"Really? I shall indulge in your delicacy, then." Gu Changge chuckled with a warm expression.

"Mm... Yes, please..." Happiness surged on Chan Hongyi's face. She then turned around to build a fireplace.

The swaying hem of her garment accentuated the slenderness of her figure. As she turned her head, her silky hair rested downwards on her shoulder, underlining the flawlessness of her elegant, snowy face. Her beauty was simply indescribable by words in this world.

Gu Changge's eyes deepened as he looked at her tending to her work.

Followingly, he gently shook his head and swung his arm. As his eyes glistened, a set of stone furniture appeared before his eyes, followed by a wine glass and a waft of wine's aroma.

Very soon, embers sparked into a flame. Chan Hongyi then rotated the chicken on a bamboo stick over the fire. Golden tallow of the chicken dripped down and sizzled under the heat, emitting a thick, salivating fragrance.

She was focused as she was constantly staring at the chicken. The light of the fire was reflected on her tiny face, along with its subtle, warm halo.

In the meantime, Gu Changge wordlessly looked at her, as he was also waiting for her to finish cooking the chicken.

"M-Master, the chicken is done."

Finally, Chan Hongyi revealed a delightful smile as the chicken had been cooked, after which she quickly carried it over. Evidently, she roasted the chicken with utmost delicacy. The grease on the chicken was still sizzling, with gleams on its skin and a salivating aroma.

"Looks pretty good," Gu Changge remarked with a smile as he accepted the food from Chan Hongyi's hands, but he did not start tasting it just yet. Instead, he turned to her and asked, "Do you have nothing to say to me?"

Bafflement arose in her eyes, as if she was puzzled by his question.

"M—Master, what do you mean?" She confusedly asked as she shook her head.

Nevertheless, Gu Changge refrained from explaining himself and simply smiled instead before starting to taste the roasted chicken she made for him. Taking his time, he ate it meticulously, as though he didn't want to waste her strenuous effort.

"I've never expected you to be such a good cook, Hongyi." As he was eating, he raised the glass of White Jade Wine to his mouth with a look of astonishment.

At that moment, watching as he finished the roasted chicken thoroughly without leaving one bit of meat, Chan Hongyi grew silent.

"Master, was it good?" she asked.

"It's good as long as you're the one who cooked it." Gu Changge let out a chuckle before slowly pouring himself another glass of wine.

However, before the glass reached his mouth, black blood started flowing from the corner of his lips. Yet, he didn't seem affected by it, as he retained his serene look. It was as though he had seen this coming. Calmly, he pulled out a handkerchief from his chest and wiped off the blood on his mouth. Nevertheless, the blood wouldn't stop flowing, as though it was gushing from a massive dam.

With that, he spat mouthfuls of blood, rinsing the clean, white handkerchief in absolute blackness. Even his clothes were stained by his blood. There was a rotting aura within the blackness of the blood.

"You knew all along?" Upon that sight, the innocent look on Chan Hongyi's face instantaneously vanished, replaced by an icy expression as she was glaring at him.

Gu Changge nodded with an ever so casual smile. He wasn't surprised, nor was he bothered. "Do you think this little trick of yours could deceive me? Though, I'm comforted by your assiduity. A predator always gives everything it can to hunt down a prey. Given your current strength, you'd kill me by poisoning me. It seems years of lessons didn't go wasted."

As he was speaking, he heaved a sigh, yet he was unable to stop the uncontrollable bleeding. He seemed fatally injured.

"That was Qi Extinguishing Water accumulated in the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss. Even with your powerful abilities and skills, once you consume it, your life force will very soon fade away."

Feigning no emotions, Chan Hongyi apathetically spoke as coldness surged in her eyes. She was completely different from how she was seconds ago.

"Qi Extinguishing Water, is it? No wonder it hurts this much..." Gu Changge smiled with his usual casualness on his face, as if he couldn't at all sense the pain.

"The pain you are feeling is far from what I have experienced all these years." Unchanging, Chan Hongyi's face was as cold as ever.

As usual, Gu Changge merely chuckled and breezily asked, "Aren't you going to take revenge on me? I am poisoned and now vulnerable right in front of you. Why don't you do it? Why do you hesitate? Don't worry. I have not arranged for any backup."

Shocking aggression arose deep in Chan Hongyi's eyes. "You want me to kill you that badly? You knew the food was poisoned, yet you finished all of it." Her voice bore piercing coldness.

Gu Changge blandly answered, "Your wish is granted once you kill me. What's not to like?"

"Do you think my hatred for you will cease right after I murder you? I assure you that's impossible. I knew my hopeless path was full of darkness, yet you continuously came to give me hope, only to shatter it, again and again."

There was nothing but intense hatred in Chan Hongyi's eyes, as expanding veins reddened them. Her hair flew along the winds, and it was a horrifying sight to see.

"Really? Hope and darkness may not always be opposite each other." Gu Changge remained unaffected.

"I will kill you, but not yet. I will give you the taste of the pain I went through, again and again. I will have you understand what I have gone through over these countless years."

Chan Hongyi's voice bore immense coldness. Suddenly, she drew her snowy hand and swung it forward, tearing open Gu Changge's chest.

Upon a spine-chilling sound, black blood began to gush out of the wound. Every bone of his was clear to see, as Dao Energy and Chaos Qi could be seen intertwining around his crystalline, divine-looking fibres.

Serenely, Gu Changge looked at her without resisting. His eyes were as deep as the eternal sea of abyss.

*Whoosh!* The space of the Inner World was torn apart, revealing a terrifying rift in the sky.

Then, Chan Hongyi stepped into the rift and disappeared into thin air. The unrelenting aggression followed her into disappearance, leaving behind nothing but silence. The gigantic, frightening rift then closed, followed by a deafening silence.

"In the end, she chose not to kill me, huh? What a surprise."

Gu Changge watched as Chan Hongyi vanished with his deep, tranquil eyes. Accordingly, he looked at the massive wound that split his whole torso apart without a change on his face, as though he wasn't injured at all.

If Chan Hongyi were to murder him just now, he could ensure that she wouldn't be the last person to leave the Inner World.

Swiftly, traces of divine light surged on his wound and stitched his body back up, as if they were the threads of life. Regardless of the severity of the wound, it was quickly healed. After consuming the World Purifying Green Lotus, he could easily restore his state. He was practically invincible. No matter how seriously he was injured, he only needed time and he would very soon return to his initial state.

However, what he found troublesome was the toxicity of the Qi Extinguishing Water.

Chan Hongyi knew that he could engulf all things in the world, including all kinds of poison. Yet she still chose to poison the roasted chicken. Evidently, the effect of the Qi Extinguishing Water was truly devastating. After all, it was made of the poison within the Demon Lord's True Blood. Although it wasn't exactly effective on Gu Changge, it could still damage his Source.

After pondering for a while, Gu Changge left his Inner World.

"There's no traces of destruction on the palace's barrier. It seems Chan Hongyi didn't leave from here." Gu Changge gazed across the setups in the palace and saw that the runes he previously cast did not show any changes.

In other words, Chan Hongyi must have left by tearing up another space without startling anyone else. As such, it was apparent that her Soul had recovered by a remarkable degree, given that she was no longer as reckless as she was. Otherwise, no matter how strong she was, she would eventually be surrounded and killed, similar to what happened back in the Divine City.

"Ah Da." After changing into new clothes, Gu Changge summoned Ah Da, intending to have him capture some individuals.

"Master. Are you perhaps injured?" Ah Da swiftly appeared and reverently asked. Thanks to his heightened senses, he could sense that something was off with Gu Changge's body, which he was stunned to find.

As of now, he had grown much bigger. Blinding light flowed along his battle suit made of Hell Iron, making him seem like a terrorising War God. After all, his unparalleled strength of the First-Order Nirvana Realm would be hard to find even in the entire Boundary Marker Sea.

Gu Changge nodded. "There was an accident. Get me ten people in the Sacred Emperor Realm. No need to be picky about their Sources."

"Right away, Master." With a solemn expression, Ah Da immediately departed after receiving the order. His body was covered by black lights as he entered the void before speedily disappearing.

"The Sources of ten Sacred Emperors should suffice. Now that various forces of both the Upper Realm and Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains have been gathered, it shouldn't be hard to find them." Gu Changge muttered. With that, he moved on from the matter. The Qi Extinguishing Water didn't greatly affect him but he still didn't want it to burden his body.

Days later, battles erupted once again at the shores of the Boundary Marker Sea as the armies of Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains attacked. Numerous experts with ambiguous yet horrifying figures appeared in the sky with their artifacts. Overbearing and lethal, beams formed by Principles bombarded the lands like terrorising blades from the sky.

The people of Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains intended to set up an ambush during dusk and deal a deathly strike against those from the Upper Realm's forces at night.

The individual leading them was an Ancestor in the Sacred Emperor Realm from the Lu Family. He wanted to rescue Lu Luo, who was captured by Gu Changge.

Nonetheless, the battle finished as soon as it commenced as the Upper Realm Army from various forces united into a packed. Upon such an overpowering force, even an attempt to ambush would instantly be rendered futile.

In the end, the Sacred Emperor Realm leader and the rest were all subdued.

However, some noticed that something was off about this battle. It was as though there was another force concealed in the dark. After all, Sacred Emperor Realm experts of various factions from the Upper Realm got assassinated without leaving a single trace behind.

"The ambush was a diversion! They are plotting against those in the Sacred Emperor Realm!"

"Damn it! The Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains can hide their troops in the dark! Do they think our army is unable to take them down?"

At once, the forces that set camp at the shore of Boundary Marker Sea were enraged as they realised that the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains approached with a devious plan. They plan to deceive them with an ambush while they secretly assassinate those in the Sacred Emperor Realm.

In other words, Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains must have been hiding a formidable expert that even surpassed the Sacred Emperor Realm, who had yet to show themselves.

Upon such news, the entire Upper Realm was instantly infuriated.

Meanwhile, Chu Hao the Sect Master of Supreme Cave Heaven and the rest's peril in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, too, stirred up a great turbulence.

Some claimed that they had secretly partnered up with Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains in an attempt to annihilate the forces from the Upper Realm. However, those from Supreme Cave Heaven got the short end of the stick in the end. While they were hunting down those searching for the Supreme Dao Diagram, their scheme got exposed and they got themselves killed.

Naturally, others claimed that they encountered an ambush by the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, and ultimately died.

There were too many rumours and no one could tell which was the truth.

The death of the new Sect Master of Supreme Cave Heaven angered the former Sect Master, who then brought a number of formidable cultivators with him to the region to uncover the truth.