Gu Changge's words were not loud, but at this moment they rang out like some heavenly constitutional edict through the Vast Expanse of all worlds, across endless spacetime, and throughout trillions of universes.
Almost all universes echoed with this voice. Heaven and earth rumbled, and billions of layers of thunder seemed to explode in the deepest levels of the void, deafening and resonant like great bells.
Terrifying and startling phenomena appeared between heaven and earth. In that instant, heaven and earth responded, as if enraged by it.
Rolling thunder and boundless seas of blood churned in the deepest parts of spacetime, within which countless corpses seemed to sink and float—those were the beings who, from ancient times to the present, had resisted the Heavenly Will and attempted to slay Heaven.
Ordinary beings did not yet have such a sensation. The higher one's cultivation, the more one trembled in fear, an invisible, vast pressure shrouding their hearts, as if some will in the unseen was about to awaken.
Heaven cannot be resisted; Heaven cannot be defied. Yet at this very moment, a voice resounded in the hearts of all living beings: Heaven can be slain, Heaven can be defied!
Originally, the Heavenly Will had cut away the concept of "slaying Heaven" from the hearts of all beings, excising the very notion from the living beings of many true worlds and civilizations.
This had made countless living beings absolutely dare not entertain any thought of resisting the Heavenly Will.
Back then, precisely because the concept of "slaying Heaven" had been removed, the emergence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had encountered far fewer obstacles and difficulties.
But now, the great trend of slaying Heaven could not be obstructed; it had already formed a surging momentum capable of reversing the Heavenly Will. Heaven and earth perceived this and were enraged, about to punish all living beings.
The celestial phenomena of the entire Vast Expanse changed. In the endless depths of spacetime, something terrifying seemed to be gestating.
Within the Ancient Treasure Civilization, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler and the others were all silent and horrified. They had already foreseen that the Vast Expanse would soon undergo a great change unprecedented in ancient or modern times. Perhaps, as the Master of Fate said in that instant before his disappearance, it concerned not only the Epoch Cataclysm.
The thought of wrath from the unseen just now had oppressed their minds to the point of trembling, giving rise to unprecedented unease.
To end this Pseudo-Heaven Era?
It certainly sounded fine, but who could actually do it?
That Land of Truth, hanging beyond the Vast Expanse like the Other Shore, had never been touched by any living being.
Were they not aware of the secrets of this heaven and earth? But what end had those who resisted the Heavenly Will met since ancient times? What end had those Heaven-Slayers and former sages met?
Even now, only the newly born true worlds, unable to perceive the secrets of the myriad worlds of the Vast Expanse, still harbored delusions of slaying Heaven.
All living beings standing at the peak of the Vast Expanse desired nothing more than to evade. Opposing the Heavenly Will had always been a dead end, a hopeless dead end.
Though Gu Changge's strength was unfathomable and beyond their imagination, to slay Heaven? In their eyes, that was still an unreachable affair, absolutely hopeless.
Yet at this moment, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler and the others did not say much, and tactfully did not oppose Gu Changge.
Qingyi stared blankly at Gu Changge, never having imagined he harbored such far-reaching plans. Slay Heaven? Could it really be done?
As a princess of the Ji Chan Clan, how could she not know the secrets of all these worlds? The so-called Vast Expanse was nothing but a cage that confined all beings.
The difficulty of slaying Heaven was far greater than breaking out of this cage.
Since ancient times, no one had ever broken free, let alone slay Heaven. Would that not mean destroying this cage?
"Master is amazing, Master will definitely succeed..." On the contrary, the carefree Little Wangyue, holding Qingyi's delicate hand, had silver pupils full of joy and reverence.
"Slaying Heaven..."
Ji Ziyi, on the other hand, trembled slightly, constantly murmuring these two words. Her snow-white skin, set off by the black dress, glistened like jade, but now, because of her excitement and agitation, it also flushed with a color like rouge.
She had been waiting for this day. From the day she left the clan grounds of the Ji Chan Clan and journeyed far to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, she had been waiting for these words.
And now... not only had she heard them, but she might also witness them with her own eyes.
"If I could personally witness this day, even if my body is shattered to pieces and turned to ashes, so what..." she murmured, her eyes tightly fixed on Gu Changge's back, her cheeks flushed.
Qingyi glanced at her third sister, then gently withdrew her gaze and shook her head.
Since childhood, her second sister Ji Ziyi had always spoken such treasonous words, but she had never imagined that her third sister's heart concealed ambitions so great.
"But if he truly intends to do this, no matter the outcome, I will silently stand by his side."
"It's a pity that my current strength long ago became unable to help him." Qingyi sighed inwardly, many memories flashing through her mind, recalling scenes from back when she was still in the Upper Realm of the Shanhai True World. He was then Young Master Changge and also the Demon Lord, while she was his protector.
Time had passed so quickly. Now reunited, he was already the Lord of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, having unified the Vast Expanse.
Had she not witnessed it herself, who would dare believe all this?
But... thinking back carefully, had his identity not been a mystery from the very beginning?
"The matter of slaying Heaven is too inconceivable. Could the Alliance Leader grant our Ancient Treasure Civilization half a month to deliberate? After half a month, we will certainly give the Alliance Leader a satisfactory reply."
At this moment, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler also seemed to consider something and took the initiative to speak.
The Sovereigns of the Five Great Royal Clans behind him all remained silent, clearly acting as if they took the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler as their leader.
"Half a month?"
Gu Changge's expression remained casual and indifferent. Upon hearing this, he seemed to smile slightly and said, "Why should I give your Ancient Treasure Civilization half a month? Whether you deliberate or not, whether you agree or not, it does not matter to me. In other words, even if you disagree, you must agree."
The Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler's expression changed slightly.
In the distant spacetimes, many ancient ultimate existences who had been observing this scene also changed their expressions, frowning deeply, feeling that Gu Changge was far too arrogant and domineering.
Even if he raised the banner of slaying Heaven with great righteousness, wanting to use it to make everyone submit—was that not too overbearing and unreasonable?
Not everyone in this world feared death and clung to life. Existences who had reached this step would rather die than be humiliated.
Forcing them like this would only have the opposite effect.
After Gu Changge finished speaking, his gaze fell on the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler with interest, as if to see his reaction, or as if he deliberately said such words.
"The Alliance Leader is correct. The Ancient Treasure Civilization indeed has no right to refuse at this moment. The Alliance Leader's cultivation, mana, and realm far surpass mine; you are not someone I can contend against, nor do I have any recourse. However, the Ancient Treasure Civilization does not only listen to me alone. Therefore, I beseech the Alliance Leader to grant the Ancient Treasure Civilization half a month's time."
At this moment, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler was terrifyingly calm, his voice very low.
As he spoke, under the incredulous gazes of countless living beings in the Ancient Treasure Civilization, he knelt on one knee in the void.
In that instant, it seemed as if boundless muffled thunder roared through the Ancient Treasure Civilization, as if Heaven itself was enraged, some dignity having been offended, and certain unseen forces of destiny surged and boiled madly.
"Imperial Ruler..."
The Sovereigns of the five great royal clans—Calamity, Karma, Longevity, Extinction, and Emptiness—were all shaken to the core, looking at the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler in disbelief, never having imagined he would make such a gesture.
This scene not only stirred up boundless waves and billows within the Ancient Treasure Civilization, but also shook the endless spacetime and planes of the Vast Expanse.
The ruler of the Ancient Treasure Imperial Clan, the supreme existence who governed the Ancient Treasure Civilization, a figure already standing at Supreme Shattering, actually knelt on one knee before the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, appearing willing to submit.
Qingyi, Ji Ziyi, and the others were equally shaken, unable to believe their eyes.
"You are far wiser than the Master of Fate. Since that is the case, I will grant the Ancient Treasure Civilization half a month's time. Whatever secrets the Ancient Treasure Civilization holds cannot be hidden from me. If you wish to try some petty tricks during this half month, you can certainly try."
"Or you can have the Lord of Reincarnation and the World Lord act together—see if they can stop me?"
Gu Changge was not the least bit surprised. He laughed faintly. Above the Reincarnation Sea, spacetime tore open, and a great golden path extended. The golden light swept up Qingyi and the others, and in an instant they vanished.
His figure also disappeared, soundlessly dissolving into a fine trail of light, as if he had never been there at all.
The Reincarnation Sea returned to its previous calm and silence, but the Epoch Mother Tree was gone, having entered that boundless spacetime passage, trembling as it went far away, soon vanishing into the endless spacetime. No one dared to stop it.
After Gu Changge left, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler slowly rose from the void. His face was indistinct, his expression unreadable, but everyone could feel his gloom and wrath. Even the Calamity Master, the Longevity Master, and the others dared not speak much at this time.
"Awaken and recall all existences from all spacetime planes..."
"We will deliberate on major matters within the Divine Hall of Rituals." He instructed indifferently, as if he had become a completely different person from before.
As his figure vanished from this place, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler cast a cold glance toward the depths of the Reincarnation Sea.
"It seems the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler is already displeased."
Deep within the Reincarnation Sea, inside that profound hall, the World Lord smirked, "To cast aside his dignity before the entire Vast Expanse and buy the Ancient Treasure Civilization half a month—what use is it? What is to come will come sooner or later."
The Lord of Reincarnation mused, "The Grand Priest has fallen into the hands of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Leader. Even when the Epoch Cataclysm descends, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler will not escape punishment. In the eyes of the Reckoning Envoys, even the mightiest existence in the Vast Expanse is only fit for servitude. Without the Grand Priest to preside over the rituals this time, the Ancient Treasure Imperial Ruler cannot bear this blame, so he too is looking for a way out..."
"Heh, mere Reckoning Envoys, nothing more than relying on the authority of that side. Without that halo, they could be crushed at will."
The World Lord was disdainful, but recalling the scene just now, his brow furrowed slightly as he said, "But what exactly did the Master of Fate mean by those words before he vanished? Why did they stir a strange feeling in me, making my hair stand on end?"
"I too have been deducing, but so far there are no clues. As long as it does not affect our great plan, it is fine." The Lord of Reincarnation's gaze was deep as he shook his head slightly.
The events that occurred in the Ancient Treasure Civilization swept through the entire Vast Expanse in an instant.
Countless civilizations and true worlds were shaken. Even in some extremely deep alternate spacetimes and planar dimensions, a huge commotion arose, and Gu Changge's words stirred boundless waves.
At this moment, in a place that seemed to be the deepest level of endless spacetime.
Nihilistic substances interweaved all around, forming amber-like barriers. Within them, there was likewise a towering divine tree. But unlike the Epoch Mother Tree, this towering divine tree was permeated with a mysterious life aura, like green mist, nourishing this spacetime. And at various nodes of this spacetime gap, vast worlds could be seen.
Each strand of green mist was like a life-binding ribbon, encapsulating who knew how many universes, countless beyond trillions.
And beneath that divine tree sat a figure like a spirit, with a spiral-shell hair bun. Endless life aura surged around her, as if a dead being could also revive under the nourishment of this life aura, gradually coming back to life.
"Life Master..."
Just then, this spacetime twisted, and a gateway appeared. A blurry figure, as if emerging from endless planes, flickered and changed, instantly crossing trillions of layers of spacetime.
The being called Life Master opened her eyes, pure and clear as a lake, as if made of the purest substance in the world.
"Emptiness Master?" She looked at the figure that appeared before her, seemingly pondering something.
"The last time we met was before the Severed Years Epoch. One slumber, and we find ourselves in the present age, able to witness many inconceivable sights."
The being called Emptiness Master spoke, his voice seeming to emanate from the endless depths of time and space, making it hard to discern his true body's location.
"You mean the Epoch Mother Tree being moved and taken away by human power? Or the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Leader's intention to slay Heaven?"
The Life Master seemed to instantly know what was happening in the current Vast Expanse. She pondered slightly, and her emerald-lake-like eyes revealed an unfathomable calm.
"Have you not felt it? Heaven and earth are undergoing great changes. Things that were previously impossible have now appeared. In the unseen, the Heavenly Dao has awakened me from slumber. You and I are existences that wield Authority. In the current Vast Expanse, we are beings who can no longer perish, having truly reached the ultimate pinnacle."
"Yet now, I faintly sense a trace of the path ahead. This means the Heavenly Dao may encounter problems, and this will be an opportunity for you and me," the Emptiness Master said.
"A trace of the path ahead?"
The Life Master seemed to be pondering, her gaze piercing through layers of void and looking toward a certain place. She said, "Over countless ages, countless former sages and living beings have deduced and tested with their own bodies: in the Vast Expanse, there cannot appear a being stronger than the True Path. This is a fallacy. The Heaven-Slaying Alliance Leader is indeed an exception, but his origin is a mystery, like an anomaly born outside the Heavenly Dao, different from you and me."
"You and I are ancient beings born from chaos, holding the oldest and most profound secrets of this heaven and earth. We have even personally seen the silhouettes of those three supreme and paramount beings. Their very existence means there is definitely a path ahead to walk; we could also reach that realm, but they have blocked the way forward."
"And, have you forgotten the former leader of the Palace of Fate Defiance? How do you explain her strength? She was even considered the only being capable of Transcendence."
The Emptiness Master's eyes flickered with thought and calculation.
The Life Master shook her head, "Fallacies and anomalies are fundamentally different. And what you mentioned is only a conjecture. Even the most ancient beings born in chaos cannot reach our current level; at most, they reach the End of the Path. Those three—they might not even be living beings at all, perhaps not even possessing the concept of life. They are a kind of substance beyond our comprehension, like drawing on white paper and asking the beings in the drawing to understand what white paper is. The reason you and I have reached this step is not because we are stronger than other ancient beings, but because we have become parasites upon the Heavenly Dao."
The Emptiness Master suddenly laughed, "Indeed, for the Heavenly Dao, you and I who wield Authority are parasites clinging to it by all means. But isn't it true that we are thousands of times stronger than those at the End of the Path? As long as one can become stronger, it proves there is a way forward."
"At this moment, the Authority of the Heavenly Dao and we share the same source. I have already sensed that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance Leader overturns the great trend of the Heavenly Will and vainly attempts to slay Heaven. This act has provoked the Heavenly Dao's wrath, like a worm trying to gnaw through the Heavenly Dao. As long as you and I set things right, restore the trajectory to its natural course, and return everything to normal, we can obtain more of the Heavenly Dao's Authority and advance further along this path..."