Chapter 1635
Chapter 1635. Xi Yuan Shengnv’s renewed test, or the Hongmen banquet?
In the pavilion, the mist swirled, like a veil of thin gauze, gently fluttering in the air. The ethereal, faint outline of Xi Yuan Shengnv gradually revealed itself, with her slender waist, delicate enough to be grasped in a single hand.
After Chu Xin Yue’s departure, only she and Gu Changge remained in the pavilion.
Xi Yuan Shengnv had not expected Gu Changge to enter so boldly, with a demeanor that clearly showed he didn’t place her in high regard. However, after their last encounter, she realized that Gu Changge’s strength far exceeded hers.
Thus, when facing him, it was best not to go against his will. Although her heart was displeased, her face revealed no sign of it, and she quickly regained her usual composure. The thin veil swayed gently, and she sat there, her long, delicate fingers gently stroking the wine cup.
“Master Gu, what brings you here today?” Xi Yuan Shengnv asked in a calm, indifferent voice.
“Is it not fine to come if there’s nothing to do?” Gu Changge smiled faintly, lightly lifting his robe and sitting across from her.
Xi Yuan Shengnv raised her eyes and looked at him, unable to read his thoughts.
Last time, when she tried to seduce Gu Changge, she failed miserably, leaving her quite defeated. Although she had experienced countless battles in the Mirror of Reincarnation and understood Gu Changge’s nature, personality, and preferences, the future simulated in the mirror was ultimately not the same as reality.
In the reincarnation simulation, her death did not affect her present life. However, in the real world, if she were to die, it would be permanent—there would be no other possibility.
Especially when faced with someone as terrifying and unknown as Gu Changge, it made her feel bound and unable to fully utilize her true advantages.
At that moment, upon hearing Gu Changge’s words, Xi Yuan Shengnv fell silent for a moment, and suddenly, her thoughts became lively again.
When she first met Gu Changge, she was too eager and clumsy in her attempts, which led to her acting poorly and being seen through by him, resulting in a series of subsequent events.Though Gu Changge had once threatened her, he ultimately did not act against her.
“Master Gu, if you have something to say, please speak directly. I believe someone like you must never come without a purpose,” Xi Yuan Shengnv returned in her calm, indifferent voice as her thoughts returned to the moment.
Gu Changge shook his head lightly, “It seems that Xi Yuan Shengnv is still deeply cautious of me. I had thought that after the last incident, you would have fewer prejudices against me.”
Upon hearing this, Xi Yuan Shengnv’s expression darkened once again. Her delicate fingers tightened around the wine cup.
It would have been fine if Gu Changge hadn’t mentioned it, but as soon as he did, memories of that humiliating moment resurfaced — when she was unceremoniously thrown onto the bed, her image shattered, no longer resembling the serene and pure figure she usually portrayed.
Of course, the main issue was that she had been truly frightened at that time, thinking she might be humiliated by Gu Changge. Who would have known that he had only intended to scare and tease her, to see her panicked expression?
“Master Gu, someone as gentle and kind-hearted as you, how could I hold any prejudice against you?” Xi Yuan Shengnv clenched her teeth and forced her tone to sound natural.
Gu Changge chuckled lightly, “But just now, who didn’t want me to come in?”
Xi Yuan Shengnv was momentarily speechless and decided not to speak further. Instead, she sipped wine on her own behind the thin gauze. She wasn’t wearing a veil, and her drinking posture was less than graceful, almost as if she were trying to hide behind it.
Gu Changge didn’t mind.
His main purpose for being here was to see how the Immortal Chu Hao Tu planned to deal with Xi Yuan Shengnv and what methods they might use.
Just before, when Chu Xin Yue left, her eyes were full of hesitation, clearly trying to suppress something. It was evident that after dealing with Xi Yuan Shengnv, the Immortal Chu Hao Tu would likely target him next.
However, at that moment, Gu Changge wasn’t entirely sure of Chu Xin Yue’s strategy.
If Chu Hao Tu merely wanted to approach Xi Yuan Shengnv and get closer to her, would they be underestimating Xi Yuan Shengnv’s decisive nature?
It was clear that Xi Yuan Shengnv had already used the Reincarnation Mirror to see the future’s direction. She was a smart woman, and she must have her own plans in mind, not easily swayed by the Immortal Chu Hao Tu.
“I’ve heard rumors that the Immortal Chu Hao Tu may soon make a move against the Saintess,” Gu Changge said, glancing at Xi Yuan Shengnv, who was drinking quietly behind the gauze, with a faint smile.
The words made Xi Yuan Shengnv pause, her hand frozen mid-air, holding the shimmering wine cup.
She wasn’t entirely convinced that the Immortal Chu Hao Tu would act that boldly, as she felt they lacked the courage to do so. But now, hearing Gu Changge bring it up, was he trying to warn her to be wary of Chu Hao Tu?
However, in Xi Yuan Shengnv’s eyes, there was no difference between Gu Changge and Chu Hao Tu. Who knew if he was deliberately deceiving her?
“Oh?” Xi Yuan Shengnv gently parted her red lips, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. She put down her wine cup and stretched lazily, looking a bit more relaxed and alluring.
“Who would’ve thought that Master Gu would take the initiative to tell me all this? It seems you really care about me,” she smiled and said.
“I wouldn’t say care, just that I don’t want to see you being schemed against by the Immortal Chu Hao Tu. After all, if they succeed in getting to you, it would affect many things I plan to do next,” Gu Changge smiled back.
Xi Yuan Shengnv stood up, her jade-like hand lifting the gauzy veil. With graceful steps, she walked over to him, smiling. “But how do I know, Master Gu, that you’re not scheming against me as well?”
Gu Changge looked at her with great interest and said, “You don’t need to know whether I’m scheming against you. You only need to know that if I wanted to deal with you, I wouldn’t have let you go last time.”
Xi Yuan Shengnv’s bright eyes shimmered, as if millions of radiant lights were flowing within them. She casually tossed a lock of hair behind her ear, casting a slightly coquettish glance at Gu Changge before saying, “Master Gu, your words are truly hurtful. This was the first time I showed such goodwill to someone, and yet you treat me like this.”
Seeing her in such a manner, Gu Changge’s expression remained unchanged, his interest still piqued. “I told you last time, if the Saintess cannot truly use her beauty to charm people, then you shouldn’t target me. Because next time, I won’t let you off so easily.”
“Are you testing me now, trying to see if I’m just threatening you?” He said, and at the moment he finished speaking, the space before his eyes seemed to blur, and his hand reached out in an instant.
A haze of intricate patterns spread, and the entire space seemed to freeze once more.
Xi Yuan Shengnv smiled slightly, having already anticipated this move. Her flawless, slender hand lifted to block in front of her.
However, Gu Changge’s palm was clearly not aimed at her body. The blurred path-like symbols gathered in his palm and swiftly seized Xi Yuan Shengnv’s delicate, seemingly boneless wrist.
“What does this mean, Master Gu?” Xi Yuan Shengnv seemed to still be standing in the same spot, but she was already standing right in front of Gu Changge.
She smiled softly, then lifted the wrist that Gu Changge held, her eyes burning brightly. Her body also leaned slightly forward.
“You don’t need to test me like this. You’re simply not suited for this kind of seductive behavior. If your attitude were a bit more dominant, perhaps I might genuinely take an interest in you.”
Gu Changge smiled lightly and suddenly released her wrist, sitting upright. He was actually somewhat surprised by Xi Yuan Shengnv’s continued probing. After the last threat, he thought she would have realized that such tactics were ineffective against him.
He didn’t know what exactly Xi Yuan Shengnv had seen in the Reincarnation Mirror, which led her to believe using such “childish” beauty traps would work on him.
Perhaps for an average man, it might have worked. But for Gu Changge, a beautiful woman was no more than a superficial appearance; beneath it all, it was just flesh and bone.
Xi Yuan Shengnv wasn’t surprised at all. She regained her cold, aloof demeanor and said, “It seems my looks aren’t enough to catch Master Gu’s eye, so you remain unmoved today.”
The earlier test only confirmed her previous guess.
Her actions last time had been clearly wrong. Gu Changge was not the type to be swayed by such tactics.
Yet this left Xi Yuan Shengnv puzzled and lost. Why did the Reincarnation Mirror keep failing? Was her understanding of it wrong?
In the mirror, Gu Changge was clearly far more cruel and indifferent, unpredictable, and his actions were based solely on his whims. But judging by the current situation, it seemed there was no direct conflict of interest between Xi Yuan Shengnv’s Saintess Hall and Gu Changge’s Heavenly Alliance.
What did the future foretold by the Reincarnation Mirror really entail? And how could she stop it?
At that moment, Xi Yuan Shengnv suddenly thought of returning to the Saintess Hall to use the Reincarnation Mirror once more to calculate and foresee the next steps.
“This is a golden book, with my divine mark etched upon it. If the Saintess finds it useful at a critical time, you can directly activate it,” Gu Changge said.
“As long as you’re still in the territory of Immortal Chu Hao Tu, I will be able to come to your aid.”
Gu Changge’s gaze held a touch of something unusual, and he smiled before waving his hand. A page of gold paper, shimmering with divine light, suddenly appeared, its intricate patterns spreading out in every direction. Each line seemed to contain immense and vast power.
After placing the golden page in the air, Gu Changge stood up and left.
Xi Yuan Shengnv snapped back to reality. She had intended to say something, but by the time she turned to speak, Gu Changge’s figure had already vanished.
“Why leave me a golden page for no reason? Could he possibly know something?” Xi Yuan Shengnv thought, eyeing the golden paper with some doubt. She couldn’t quite understand why Gu Changge had suddenly been so considerate.
However, she was still wary of the item he had left behind, wondering if he had hidden some trick within it.
Thus, Xi Yuan Shengnv picked up the golden paper. It had a thin, almost gossamer-like texture, fine and delicate. She couldn’t identify the material it was made of, but the patterns were ancient, not written language, but a kind of obscure totem, reminiscent of the ancient rituals of early civilizations to honor the heavens.
As she examined it, she could indeed feel the terrifying and vast power within it, making her heart thump slightly with unease. This was undeniably an extraordinarily powerful protective item. It was likely that even ordinary Grand Dao cultivators wouldn’t be able to withstand such an attack.
But with her own strength, Xi Yuan Shengnv paid no mind to most Grand Dao practitioners.
The golden paper was undoubtedly of great value, difficult to refine, and would indeed be invaluable to ordinary Dao Realm cultivators, especially at a critical moment, when it could save their lives.
But for her, it was little more than a trinket, practically useless.
“Could it be that this guy is underestimating me, leaving me a golden page like this, hoping I’ll turn to him for help in a critical moment? He really is looking down on me,” Xi Yuan Shengnv mused, thinking deeply about Gu Changge’s intentions in leaving behind the golden paper.
After much contemplation, she couldn’t figure out why he had left it. Eventually, she concluded that it was because he had underestimated her, which made her feel enraged, her silver teeth grinding in frustration.
Of course, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that Gu Changge had hidden something else within it, but she couldn’t detect it.
For her own peace of mind, Xi Yuan Shengnv decided to personally set up several prohibitive barriers to seal the golden paper away. She then placed it deep within her Xumi space, securing it under several rare and ancient artifacts to ensure no one could tamper with it. Only then did she feel some relief.
In the following two days, Chu Xin Yue continued to visit Xi Yuan Shengnv regularly, asking about cultivation and seeking answers to various doubts.
Because of Gu Changge’s earlier words, Xi Yuan Shengnv remained wary of Immortal Chu Hao Tu. She also began to suspect that Chu Xin Yue might have other motives.
However, every time Chu Xin Yue visited, she was always polite and calm, sitting quietly behind the curtain without overstepping any boundaries. After asking about her cultivation, she would leave without lingering or bringing up anything related to Immortal Chu Hao Tu, seeming entirely focused on her cultivation.
This left Xi Yuan Shengnv even more confused.Xi Yuan Shengnv initially thought that this matter would pass quickly, but on the third day, after asking her cultivation-related questions, Chu Xin Yue finally brought up something else. She mentioned that her father, Chu Gucheng, had prepared a banquet that evening and invited Elder Jin to attend, also extending an invitation to Xi Yuan Shengnv.
The reason for the invitation was that Chu Gucheng wanted to help resolve the conflict between Xi Yuan Shengnv and Elder Jin that had occurred during the birthday banquet, hoping to clear the air between the two. Chu Gucheng believed this matter had started because of him and that Elder Jin was a highly respected elder in the Cang Mang realm. Moreover, Elder Jin was familiar with Xi Yuan Shengnv’s master, Elder Xi Nü.
As Elder Xi Nu’s beloved disciple, Xi Yuan Shengnv should not let such a trivial matter cause a rift with Elder Jin.
Xi Yuan Shengnv didn’t particularly want to attend the banquet, but considering that Chu Gucheng had invited Elder Jin, she felt that if she refused to go, it would be a huge disrespect to Elder Jin. It would effectively sever ties with such a venerable figure in the Cang Mang realm, especially since Elder Jin had a high standing and was familiar with her master, Elder Xi Nu.
After all, she had confronted Elder Jin in front of many guests during the birthday banquet. Now that the other party was willing to reconcile, why should she cling to past grievances?
After thinking for a moment, Xi Yuan Shengnv nodded and agreed to Chu Xin Yue’s invitation.
“Yes, I’ll go back and inform my father. I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you and Elder Jin reconcile,” Chu Xin Yue said with a smile, before taking her leave, quickly walking away.
Xi Yuan Shengnv watched Chu Xin Yue leave, her expression calm, but there was a faint unease stirring within her heart. She couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but something felt off.
Could this be a trap? Would Chu Gucheng really dare to harm her?
She didn’t think Immortal Chu Hao Tu had that much courage. If anything were to happen to her, not only would the power of Saintess Hall come after them, but other Daoist factions of the Xi Yuan civilization would never let Immortal Chu Hao Tu off the hook.
Before long, the evening came, and on a remote, uninhabited hilltop outside the capital of Immortal Chu Hao Tu, several figures were quietly hiding behind a massive stone, carefully concealing their presence.
“The Lord is confident that Han Feng will be ambushed?” One of the figures, a tall and burly man with a black face, asked, his voice deep. He carried a massive purple-golden dragon whisk hammer at his waist, crackling with purple lightning, exuding an aura capable of destroying the heavens.
Around him were others—some male, some female—each with an aura that was distinct and terrifying. One of them even had the vast and unfathomable aura of a Daoist Realm cultivator.
“My prediction won’t be wrong,” the man replied. “This time, the Madam was killed, and the Lord is fighting the Demon Court at the frontlines. He couldn’t possibly rush back personally.”
“So, he will definitely send his trusted subordinates back to investigate the death of the Madam and find out the true murderer,” Chu Bai’s figure also concealed in the void, his gaze darkened as he spoke in a low voice.
The people in front of him were all powerful individuals from Immortal Chu Hao Tu, colleagues of Chu Bai, some with great luck, others with extraordinary talents.
They had all followed Champion Hou for a period of time, fighting enemies and honing their skills with him, and had received favors from Champion Hou.
This time, when the Champion Hou’s mansion encountered disaster, with the Madam being humiliated and committing suicide, they were all incredibly enraged and had been trying to help Champion Hou uncover the truth.
Unfortunately, after so many days, not a single clue had been found. It seemed that even those powerful Grand Dao cultivators in the palace, who were skilled in various divine arts, couldn’t divine the situation at the time, let alone identify the true murderer.