Gu Yuye had already sensed the death of his second avatar before he even arrived.
And it was an exceedingly strange death.
He had not felt the presence of any fiend among those attacking that his avatar could not have handled. In fact, his avatar had barely engaged any of them directly, he had his subordinates intercept most of the attacks.
But as the onslaught grew fiercer, clashes became inevitable.
And during one of those brief encounters, his avatar had suddenly collapsed and perished, without the slightest warning!
Those fiends' attacks were troublesome, yes, but not fatal. They could not possibly have killed a third-rank cultivator in an instant.
Only someone of the second rank could accomplish that.
And more than that, he himself was no ordinary third-rank cultivator.
Furthermore, immediately after his avatar's death, those fiends had dispersed from the rift of the Nine Netherworlds as if their purpose was complete. Their target had been clear from the start, him.
Gu Yuye's suspicions solidified. This had to be Gu Fangchen's doing.
That night, when he and Gu Yuandao had returned to the prince's manor together, his first avatar had died just as inexplicably.
Ding Xingfeng? That so-called "teacher" was nothing but a smokescreen, a deliberate illusion crafted by that little beast.
There was no possible way those two could be master and disciple.
Ding Xingfeng never showed himself except to shield Gu Fangchen. He even seemed unwilling to let others know he had returned to the world.
If he had truly accepted Gu Fangchen as a disciple, his reaction would never have been so secretive. It looked more like a transaction born of mutual benefit than a bond of teaching and loyalty.
That meant Ding Xingfeng was not the ally Gu Yuye had assumed.
If he could uncover what their bargain was, he might even be able to make Ding Xingfeng turn against Gu Fangchen.
Gu Yuye admitted he had underestimated his opponent. Gu Fangchen was a troublesome enemy indeed.
But never, not once, had he believed there was anything in this world Gu Fangchen could accomplish that he could not.
Now, with the dragon vein's power coursing through him and national destiny just within reach, he could soon ascend to the second rank, a second-rank cultivator who commanded armies and the might of a battle formation.
Even compared to Ding Xingfeng at his peak, he would not be inferior in the slightest.
When Gu Yuye extended his hand toward Ning Caiyong now, it was not out of lingering affection. Rather, he knew that if Gu Fangchen was inside the Tower, then Ding Xingfeng must be outside, guarding her.
He was certain the one in the Tower was not the real Gu Fangchen.
But whoever that Gu Fangchen was, he valued Ning Caiyong deeply.
Whether because of her connection to the Sword Pavilion or for some other reason, the result was the same, and that was enough for Gu Yuye.
At this point, he no longer cared.
Be it Ning Caiyong or the Sword Pavilion, if they stood in his way, he would annihilate them all.
His words were not persuasion, but ultimatum.
...
Ning Caiyong stared at the man reaching for her. Her hand moved instinctively to her chest, feeling through her robes for the small wooden sword pendant hanging there.
She had rarely seen Gu Yuye in such martial splendor. Since returning to the prince's manor, he had always maintained the dignified façade of a courteous husband. This blood-soaked, murderous figure before her was almost unrecognizable.
But what chilled her more than his armor or his aura was the unmistakable killing intent she saw in his eyes.
Certain that she could no longer resist him, he no longer bothered to pretend.
Ning Caiyong felt no sorrow or heartbreak, those emotions had long since withered away as Gu Yuye's true face was gradually revealed.
Now, only cold fury remained.
"Gu Yuye," she said in a low voice, "if I refuse your offer, what then?"
Her tone turned sharp.
"Will you kill me? Then kill Chen'er? Continue deceiving Lianqian and Youren, make them and your 'good son' help you rebel so you can climb onto that throne?"
Gu Yuye gazed at her for a long moment, then said softly,
"Caiyong, in the end, you really do understand me."
He opened his arms in mock affection, the same gentle act he had once used to deceive her years ago, and smiled.
"There are few promises I've ever kept in this life. To you, I've given one of the rare few. As long as you nod your head, with that face the world could fall for, you'll still be my empress."
"Only, you will never again leave the inner palace."
"I'll hang that little bastard's head upon your gate, let the wind and rain strike it every day, so you'll always remember the price of defiance."
"Shameless!"
Ning Caiyong's body trembled as she shouted.
Now that Gu Yuye's mask had fallen away, his true form was even more disgusting and terrifying than she had imagined.
The so-called "Sage of War" was nothing but a disguise. Ever since his twenty years of planning had collapsed, Gu Yuye had descended step by step into madness.
His obsession was the throne.
And as Gu Fangchen trampled him again and again, driving him further from that goal, his heart had twisted completely.
Now, with power and opportunity back within his grasp, he no longer bothered to conceal the monster he had become.
"Shameless?"
Gu Yuye laughed coldly.
"Throughout history, those who sought the world's throne slew brothers, parents, even their own children. I do this not for cruelty, but out of love, a father's vision for his children's future. What shame is there in that?"
"If there's anyone to blame, it's you, for your stupidity. You couldn't even see the truth back then."
Ning Caiyong froze for a moment, realization dawning. She turned sharply toward the members of the Dugu Clan.
She remembered how Dugu Xia had immediately declared his loyalty just moments ago.
Given their political ties, the Dugu Clan's defection was plausible, but the speed of it, and Gu Yuye's lack of suspicion, were far too unnatural.
Her pupils contracted; her blood ran cold. She took two steps back.
Dugu Xia sighed heavily, adopting a helpless tone.
"Caiyong, what happened back then was for your own good."
"If it had succeeded, it would only have benefited you. You, of all people, know how useless Gu Fangchen has been. Isn't Yuandao a far better son?"
"Now you turn your back even on your own child, how heartless."
Ning Caiyong was still technically kin to the Dugu Clan.
He hoped she might still be persuaded, no one wished to truly make enemies of the Sword Pavilion.
If she could be brought back into the fold, it would be far better for everyone.
Ning Caiyong's breath trembled in disbelief.
"I spent nineteen years raising that child, suffering every hardship for him! And you hypocrites, how dare you twist the truth!"
Her voice rose with fury, her eyes flashing with cold fire.
Suddenly, she reached out, steel hissed as she drew a sword from the waist of the man beside her.
That man was Dugu Yue. Caught off guard, he stared at her in shock.
Impossible...
The others shouted in alarm.
"Your Highness, don't be rash!"
"Your Highness, after so many years of marriage, why throw it away for an outsider?"
Ning Caiyong raised the sword and pointed it straight at Gu Yuye.
"Gu Yuye," she said coldly, "since everyone is here, let them bear witness. From this day forth, our bond is severed. You and I are strangers."
She lifted her hand, brushed a strand of hair forward, and with a flash of her blade, cut it off.
The black hair drifted away on the wind, fell into the waters of the Jiangling River, and vanished beneath the waves.
Once they had bound their hair as husband and wife. Now, cutting it apart, they became strangers.
Gu Yuye watched the strand fall, silent for a moment, before sneering.
"Very well. Since you're so determined to be that bastard's mother, don't blame me for what comes next."
"Guards! Gu Fangchen has colluded with the demonic sects, and Ning Caiyong is his accomplice. She is obstinate and misguided. Take her to the Demon-Suppressing Prison. Let her reflect there."
Ning Caiyong exhaled slowly, lowering her gaze to the sword in her hand.
Its blade reflected her face, blurred, yet her eyes shone sharp and cold.
The armored soldiers, utterly loyal to Gu Yuye and inspired by his golden armor and divine aura, immediately shouted, "Yes, Your Highness!"
They closed in around her.
Dugu Xia tried to intercede. Dugu Yue inhaled, preparing to move. He stepped forward with a mild smile, pretending to persuade her, but in truth, his goal was to seize his weapon back.
"Cousin," he said smoothly, "why go this far? We're all family. Let's just talk this out-"
He was close now, just two steps away, and as he smiled, the fan in his hand shot forward, revealing a hidden blade glinting faintly blue and violet, coated with poison.
He intended to capture her alive, to earn favor through betrayal.
Dugu Xia knew exactly what his kinsman intended but said nothing, keeping Ning Caiyong distracted with soft words.
Dugu Yue's eyes flashed. His fan thrust forward.
A deafening boom split the air, like thunder crashing from the heavens.
A sharp cry followed.
Dugu Yue froze. His face turned pale as he looked down at the blood-red blade piercing his chest.
Ning Caiyong turned at the sound, her fury vanishing, replaced by shock and relief.
"Chen'er!"
Gu Fangchen pulled the blade free.
Dugu Yue's eyes dimmed, and he collapsed to the ground.
Gu Fangchen looked down at the weapon in his hand, narrowing his eyes. The long, rusted knife pulsed with a murderous light.
Soaked in blood, its corroded surface shed its decay, revealing a pure crimson sheen.
At last, it had become what it truly was,
the Slayer's Blade.
...
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Cao Tianzhou threw back his head and laughed wildly.
Three years, three long years trapped in the lightless depths of the Demon-Suppressing Prison, nearly becoming a monster himself.
And now, at last, heaven had opened its eyes and given him vengeance!
Min'er! Xin'er! You may rest now!
As he laughed, tears streamed down his face, falling upon the two skeletons lying beside him.
He knelt, embracing them tightly, and his life quietly faded away.
Above him, Xu Fu's eyes snapped open. Her fingers formed seals, and with a backward pull, a red ethereal thread appeared between them.
That thread was connected to Cao Tianzhou's body. As she pulled, countless red lines emerged, unraveling him like a ball of twine.
Xu Fu's gaze was cold and solemn.
"Sever."
Her fingers formed a sword shape and cut downward.
A ripple spread through the void, the red thread snapped, split into fragments, and vanished.
...
The Sixth Division Star Lord sat upon a great stone octagram, meditating with five hearts turned to heaven, divining the truth of the dragon vein.
He knew "Emotion Dao" had used a false dragon vein to bolster Gu Yuye's prestige. He had even found cryptic words among his own notes that hinted at this.
But he could not shake his doubts.
If this dragon vein was so critical, why had his records mentioned it so briefly?
His past revelations had always been precise, never wrong.
He had to be missing something.
Thus, he decided to verify it himself.
Moments later, his face went pale.
"No! The dragon vein isn't false, it's real!"
Ordinarily, that would have been good news. But now,
"Damn it! We've been deceived!"
He leapt to his feet, intent on warning the other Dao Lords, but then his pupils contracted, and his face twisted in agony.
He coughed blood. His right arm swelled grotesquely, then exploded into a shower of flesh.
The Sixth Division Star Lord stared in horror.
"Impossible... my other causal thread!"
"Didn't Xu Fu take the wrong path? The National Preceptor's disciples should be in the Northern Frontier right now..."
"Damn it, they've feinted east and struck west!"
"Xu Fu has discovered the true thread, and followed it back to me!"
"Who? Who did she send?"
He forced a divination, and his expression darkened.
"Gu. Fang. Chen!"
All this time, it was right under his nose!
So the mighty National Preceptor had debased herself, attaching her spirit to that little maid who followed Gu Fangchen everywhere!
But the Sixth Division Star Lord was not so easily defeated. He sneered.
"In that case, I'll bind you within that mortal shell and see how long you can oppose me!"
"Soul-Locking Formation, activate!"
...
Xu Fu had just exhaled in relief when her expression changed.
Red lines appeared around her again, weaving a formation before vanishing.
She felt her soul stir, then freeze. When she tried to leave the body, she found it impossible. Her spirit was merging with her vessel, unable to break free, as if sealed behind an invisible barrier.