Chapter 562: The Cruel Reality; Circumstance That Compelled Her

Surrounded by an Immortal Mist, Gu Changge sat in the main seat of the palace, dressed in luxurious clothing that added to his air of nobility and mystery. As Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue entered, he sipped his drink with a leisurely smile gracing his handsome features.

"Greetings, Young Master Changge." Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue just looked up at Gu Changge, then cupped their fists respectfully.

"Such formality is not necessary, Brother Yaoxing, Lady Chuyue. Please, have a seat." Gu Changge looked at them and smiled, gesturing for them to sit down. Although the siblings were unsure of Gu Changge's intentions for summoning them, they dared not reject his kindness.

As the siblings settled into their seats, Yin Mei came over and poured fragrant wine into their bronze cups. The rich aroma of the wine filled the air, and hazy light swirled inside the cup, creating a mesmerizing display.

Ji Yaoxing raised his wine cup in a gesture of gratitude toward Gu Changge before politely saying, "Thank you for the treat, Young Master Changge. May I inquire about the purpose of our gathering today?"

Sitting beside him was Ji Chuyue, wearing a flowing pale yellow dress. Her face glowed like the radiant moon, her delicate skin as smooth as porcelain and her luscious hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall. She mirrored her brother's actions and raised her cup to toast Gu Changge as well.

The two were filled with unease and visibly nervous. The age-old saying about being in the company of a king being akin to being in the presence of a tiger rang true in their minds. In Gu Changge's presence, they had to carefully consider every word they spoke.

Following the Divine Rock Conference, word quickly spread that Gu Changge's strength was on par with the fearsome demoness in red. It was widely believed that even without the aid of the treasures he had acquired in the treacherous Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, he could hold his own against any True Daoist. This news only served to deepen the fear Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue had toward him.

"There's no need to be so nervous, Brother Yaoxing. I have invited both of you here to discuss your plans in rescuing your Prime Ancestor." Gu Changge smiled.

Upon hearing this, the two of them felt a sense of relief and became less nervous. Ji Chuyue let out a long exhale, but she was unable to comprehend why Gu Changge would go to such great lengths to assist their family without expecting anything in return. [Is it possible that he intends to resolve the Eternal Overcast crisis after rescuing our Prime Ancestor? Or perhaps there is another different reason?]

"The benevolence and virtuousness of Young Master Changge will forever be remembered by the Ji family. Your assistance in rescuing our Prime Ancestor is greatly appreciated... After consulting with a few of our Ancestors, we have decided to commence our operation in three days. Our forces will convene at the base of Kun Mountain, where we will utilize an Artifact to open a path first." Ji Yaoxing was completely transparent in sharing all the plans of their family without leaving out any details.

Gu Changge sipped on his wine as he listened, then nodded with a smile. "Sounds like a solid plan. In three day's time, I shall bring along strong experts from the Gu Family and do our part in rescuing Senior Ji Shengchu."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue were overwhelmed with gratitude and raised their cups in a heartfelt toast to Gu Changge. Regardless of his motives, he had provided great assistance to the Ji family in their plan to rescue their Prime Ancestor.

"Actually, I'm well aware of the potential dangers that Kun Mountain poses. Rushing in without proper preparation will not increase our chances of rescuing Senior Ji Shengchu. However, there is someone who could be of great assistance to us. Do you remember Jiang Chen, the guy who we met on Purple Mountains? He possesses the Legacy of a Divine Source Master, and has an innate ability to navigate through perilous situations. If we can locate him, he could prove to be a valuable asset in our upcoming operation." Gu Changge smiled as he deliberately mentioned Jiang Chen to the siblings.

Ji Yaoxing's heart stirred at the mention of Jiang Chen. "Young Master Changge, this Jiang Chen that you speak of, is he the one who charged into the Purple Mountains back then?" he asked with a look of doubt on his face.

Ji Chuyue was also taken aback by Gu Changge's sudden mention of Jiang Chen, and her heart filled with unease for some reason. She remembered Jiang Chen's burning desire for revenge against Gu Changge and she actually knew that he had disguised himself as a Divine Source Master to work for An Xi. What worried her the most was the fact that her own brother had found out about Jiang Chen's true identity.

"Indeed. He survived the collapse of Purple Mountains back then and resurfaced in the Godly Illusion Tomb, where he ruthlessly slaughtered numerous Sect Masters and seized the Divinity Crystal, bringing about a catastrophe." Gu Changge smiled while shaking his head, succinctly laying the blame on Jiang Chen.

In fact, many Forces in the Upper Realm shared the same belief that this was precisely what transpired in the Godly Illusion Tomb. To this day, many people continue to search for Jiang Chen, wanting to avenge their fallen Sect Masters.

"I understand. If we can locate this person, our chances of successfully rescuing our Prime Ancestor will be significantly improved." Ji Yaoxing nodded solemnly.

He never doubted Jiang Chen's capability. Despite his relatively low level of cultivation, he had managed to eliminate numerous Sect Masters within the Godly Illusion Tomb. Such a display of audacity and skill was unparalleled, setting him apart from the average person.

With a smile of approval, Gu Changge nodded. "I'm glad you get my point, Brother Yaoxing. The key to successfully rescuing your Prime Ancestor lies in the hands of this Divine Source Master."

With his informants scattered throughout Dark Kun City, Ji Yaoxing had access to all the information he needed. If he were to investigate, it wouldn't take long for him to discover that Ji Chuyue had recently visited Jiang Chen. From the looks of it, it was very likely that Ji Yaoxing already knew Jiang Chen's true identity long ago.

Gu Changge's sole objective in telling Ji Yaoxing all this was to have him track down Jiang Chen and bring him to Kun Mountain on the day. To avoid any unnecessary alarm, Gu Changge had to feign ignorance of Jiang Chen's identity. Otherwise, Jiang Chen might refuse to cooperate and this in turn, would thwart Gu Changge's plan to take on the Prime Ancestor of the Ji family.

Gu Changge continued talking to Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue for a little longer before looking a little sleepy and dismissing them with a wave of his hand.

"It's high time for me to reveal the existence of the Demonic Seed I planted in Jiang Chen," he mused as he watched the departing figures of the siblings from Ji family while tapping his wine cup on the table.

In terms of cultivation, Jiang Chen was far inferior to the Successor of Demonic Arts. Even so, that didn't stop Gu Changge from using him to mislead the masses, adding more confusion to the chaos.

...

Meanwhile, on the main street of Dark Kun City...

After Ji Yaoxing and Ji Chuyue bid their farewell, a somber mood overtook them as they made their way back home. Both of them appeared to have a lot on their minds.

"Brother, are you really going to expose Jiang Chen's identity?" Ji Chuyue couldn't contain her concern any longer and asked worriedly.

Ji Yaoxing cast a glance at her before shaking his head. "Do you have a better idea? Do you truly have the heart to witness our Prime Ancestor suffer in Kun Mountain for the sake of a stranger?" His words rendered Ji Chuyue speechless, unable to find a valid argument to counter them.

Ji Yaoxing's tone was cold and indifferent. "There is no room for further discussion. We have to give up everything for the sake of rescuing our Prime Ancestor, let alone this friend of yours."

"Besides, do you believe that Gu Changge brought up this topic on a whim? Maybe he already discovered something." Ji Chuyue felt a shiver down her spine. She couldn't help but feel a sense of fear as she pondered over it.

Ji Yaoxing sighed. "For the sake of our family, what you should do now is follow in the footsteps of Ji Qingxuan..."

"Brother, are you suggesting that I should try to gain favor with Gu Changge?" Ji Chuyue's eyes widened in disbelief. Her brother's suggestion suddenly left her feeling as though she had never truly understood him.

"This is not my idea, but Father's. Your beauty is no less than that of Ji Qingxuan, and your status in the Ji family surprasses hers. Your qualities are far superior to hers... Alas, it is not within our power to make decisions in our marriage. We have no say in the matter." Ji Yaoxing sighed softly as he gazed upon Ji Chuyue's pale face, his heart heavy with sorrow.

"So all of you plan to make me Gu Changge's concubine?" Ji Chuyue's face turned pale as she clenched her fists tightly.

"It would have been great if that were the case, but it appears that Gu Changge has no interest in you." Ji Yaoxing sighed.

"Do keep in mind that even if your future husband is not Gu Changge, he will undoubtedly be a distinguished young man from another Force. I know you hold some affection for Jiang Chen, but he is a poor man with no wealth or influence. Furthermore, he even managed to offend Gu Changge..."

Ji Chuyue's body trembled and her complexion paled when she heard her brother speaking so harshly for the first time. Although she was disheartened and struggled to come to terms with it, she acknowledged that this was her reality.

...

Meanwhile, in a peaceful courtyard situated in the northwestern corner of Dark Kun City...

An Xi, Jiang Chen, Niu Tian, the Young War Immortal, and several others were gathered here, enjoying each other's company. The table was filled with all kinds of delectable dishes, and a group of lovely maids attended to their every need.

[This is how a cultivator should live his life.] As Jiang Chen gazed upon the sumptuous feast laid out before him, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow at the stark contrast to his current difficult life.

On normal days, he wouldn't even dare to spare a glance at these exotic dishes as each of them was undoubtedly worth at least ten thousand spirit stones. Even the maid serving him was beautiful, charming and cute. Such a luxurious lifestyle left him feeling envious.

Only individuals like An Xi and the Young War Immortal, who were descendants of an Ancient Immortal Race or the Successor of an Immortal Sect, could easily afford such luxuries. Unlike ordinary cultivators who had to spend their entire lives pursuing this lifestyle, these individuals were born into it.

"As a Divine Source Master, you could probably afford such luxuries if you wanted to, no?" The Young War Immortal wore a smile on his handsome face, golden crosses occasionally twinkled in his eyes. Judging from his aura, he was probably almost fully healed, despite the widespread belief that he was still seriously injured.

Jiang Chen smiled wryly and said, "You think too highly of me, I know where I stand very well."

After downing a few more cups of wine, his face flushed. As he surveyed the lavish spread before him, his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to Xiao Ruoyin, causing his mood to plummet.

"There are plenty of fish in the sea, Ah'chen. Why do you keep torturing yourself with memories of her?" Niu Tian couldn't help but express his concern. After the Divine Rock Conference, he had asked Jiang Chen about Xiao Ruoyin and gained a better understanding of the situation.

"Niu Tian, you don't understand. It is only now that I realize why she left without hesitation. Being with Gu Changge, she can live her life a thousand times more luxurious than this. How could she possibly give that up?" Jiang Chen clenched his fists tightly as he spoke. His eyes were red and his voice was hoarse.

He was consumed by bitterness. Upon reflection, he understood why Xiao Ruoyin walked so weirdly and spoke evasively back then. It was foolish of him to believe that she really twisted her ankle at that time.

"Xiao Ruoyin doesn't strike me as a materialistic woman.There must be a reason or circumstance that compels her to make such a decision." Niu Tian couldn't help but sigh when he saw Jiang Chen looking so heartbroken.

An Xi, who had been quiet until now, couldn't help but show a peculiar expression as she began to grasp the situation. It appeared that Gu Changge had taken Jiang Chen's beloved woman away from him. In any case, this provided An Xi with a golden opportunity to win over Jiang Chen.

As An Xi was about to offer words of comfort to Jiang Chen, they sensed a bone-chilling and murderous aura coming from outside the courtyard.

"Damn it! Assassins!" The Young War Immortal immediately sensed that something was amiss. He suddenly sprang up from his seat, his expression drastically changed.