Chapter 152: Meeting The Old Heavenly Emperor Again; The Second Matter

In the mirror.

The whole Dragon City was deathly silent. Aside from Mu Nanzhi sobbing, every one of the celestial soldiers and generals looked utterly dejected.

At this moment the heavenly soldiers and generals bore none of their former imposing mien.

The survivors mostly had corroded armor and white robes stained with blood.

The surviving Quasi-Emperors and Supremes were less than one percent of what they had been.

This battle was won!

They had achieved great merit for Heaven and Earth!

Yet not a single person showed a trace of excitement on their face.

The Dragon Clan had marshaled the strength of the entire race, using bone as foundation and flesh as wall, literally pouring dragon blood to forge a barrier.

That act hung over everyone’s hearts, making them feel unbearably oppressed.

Gu Changqing stood there, silent for a long time, his face devoid of emotion.

After a while, he lifted the Heaven Burying Bell and moved forward on his own.

The assembled cultivators watched the man in silence.

Though the man said nothing, anyone could see the sorrow deep in his eyes was scarcely less than Mu Nanzhi’s sobs.

They did not know where Gu Changqing was going. They simply followed silently behind him.

After this ordeal, this man had indeed become their pillar.

…

Gu Changqing arrived at a place of broken walls and ruins.

In the crevice of those broken walls, a filthy little girl was hiding.

She cowered in the dark corner, trembling.

Gu Changqing crouched down and squeezed a smile toward her.

“Big brother…”

The little girl saw Gu Changqing and suddenly leapt out to throw herself into his arms.

Gu Changqing brushed the little girl’s hair.

His eyes flickered, and he was moved inwardly.

The vast Dragon Clan had been reduced to just her alone…

The little girl wriggled free from Gu Changqing’s arms, staring with wide eyes and timidly looking at the group behind him who looked like asuras and rakshasas.

She clung to Gu Changqing’s neck, seemingly a little frightened.

After a moment, staring with wide eyes, she suddenly asked Gu Changqing, “Where is Sister Long Kui?”

At the little girl’s words, the entire hall’s silence and boundless sorrow were stirred anew.

Many dared not meet the clear, pure gaze of the girl. They turned away, bodies trembling, choking back sobs.

Gu Changqing pressed his lips together without speaking, then said softly with a smile, “Come on, I’ll take you away from here. From now on, I will take care of you.”

The remnant sun on the horizon was like blood.

Beneath the setting sun, a one-armed man with a dark sparrow perched on his shoulder led a little girl by the hand. Their shadows grew longer as they receded into the distance.

Behind the man, a vast army followed.

…

Outside the mirror.

The gathered cultivators stared at the vast army, their eyes stirred.

“This battle should also have paved the foundation for the Heavenly Emperor’s future attainment, right?”

The cultivators murmured their sentiments softly.

Since Gu Changqing achieved the status of Heavenly Emperor, the forces of the Heavenly Palace had all treated him with immense reverence and awe.

Beyond fear, there was even more respect!

And it was heartfelt. It was the kind of respect that could make one give their life to protect the Heavenly Emperor!

Even when, in later times, the Heavenly Emperor became a great demon reviled by Heaven and Earth, he still did not lack followers like Bai Qing’er by his side.

The reason the Justice Alliance had gathered cultivators from everywhere this time was actually to deal with people like them.

That the Heavenly Palace was reduced to ruins and devastation was precisely because of the resistance of those people.

Previously they hadn’t understood why, even when the Heavenly Emperor was thoroughly wicked, he still had people guarding him. Now, after this battle, they understood.

In the hearts of these heavenly soldiers and generals, Gu Changqing was their backbone!

Even later, when the Heavenly Emperor had Jiang Minghuang take his place to preside over the heavens, these people still placed the Heavenly Emperor as the most important figure in their hearts.

…

At that moment, someone spoke, “Who is that little girl…”

In that instant, all the cultivators’ expressions abruptly changed.

A look of shock even flickered across Ye Chen’s eyes.

That girl bore dragon blood, so her cultivation aptitude must surely be extraordinary. After all these years, who knew into what terrifying existence this little girl might grow!

Moreover, it seemed that later on there was no such little girl by the Heavenly Emperor’s side at all.

There was already a dark sparrow to deal with. If suddenly a terrifying woman appeared as well…

Ye Chen dared not imagine how the ensuing situation would unfold.

“Search for her! Quickly investigate the events of those years, find this girl!!”

…

In the mirror.

The Heavenly Palace.

On the mist-shrouded ancient palace path, Gu Changqing and the old Heavenly Emperor strolled leisurely.

The two walked side by side.

One was the current Heavenly Emperor, the other the Heavenly Emperor of the future.

Whichever one it was, people seemed never to have truly understood them.

“I knew it. If I entrust matters to you, you will surely accomplish them.”

“You have never once been the cause of anyone’s worry.”

The old Heavenly Emperor’s gaze was moved, a divine radiance flickering in his eyes, as if remembering something.

Upon hearing the first half of the sentence, Gu Changqing’s face showed little expression, but upon the second half, a strong look of astonishment arose in his eyes.

The old Heavenly Emperor seemed to sense the strangely quiet atmosphere as well.

The next moment, as if realizing something, his face abruptly changed. “Oh, I meant, I had previously found out about your past and found that your temperament is indeed very trustworthy.”

…

After those words, the atmosphere grew somewhat delicate, and the two fell silent.

They continued walking just like that.

Gu Changqing did not ask the old Heavenly Emperor about the second matter.

The old Heavenly Emperor did not speak of it either.

The two, in tacit accord, walked side by side.

At one moment, the old Heavenly Emperor suddenly laid his hand on Gu Changqing’s shoulder. He seemed to enjoy being close to this man he had only met once.

He flashed that mischievous childlike smile again and sighed, “Ah, I am old, no longer young. Ruling the Heavenly Palace alone will inevitably grow weary. For a very long time, there has been no one by my side who could make me feel such trust.”

Gu Changqing remained silent and did not pull away from the old Heavenly Emperor.

At that moment, Gu Changqing seemed to feel that the Heavenly Emperor had become an aged man nearing his years, weariness filling the depths of his eyes.

The two arrived at the end of the Heavenly Palace.

In this mist-wreathed realm, an immensely majestic millstone seeming to envelop the myriad heavens, slowly turned in the firmament.

On that millstone, boundless immortal splendors erupted, incredibly resplendent.

The dense rules of the Heavenly Dao rippled like a great waterfall, surging in all directions.

The vast millstone rotated slowly, an all-encompassing awe-inspiring pressure emanating and rippling up from beneath the Heavenly Dao millstone.

This millstone seemed like the root of all the Great Paths.

And it was as if the end of the world, the very origin where the Heavenly Dao began.

The old Heavenly Emperor looked up, released Gu Changqing’s arm, and pointed at the millstone.

“Next, I will tell you the second matter…”.