Light Fortress
Chapter 683 - 190: I’m Willing

Chapter 683: Chapter 190: I’m Willing

Bai Shu reached out his hand and grasped the spark!

At this moment—

The immense Divine Power within the Battle Fire was activated, thousands of streamers bursting forth, enveloping Bai Shu. A brand-new "Golden Divine Domain" coalesced, its golden light spreading outward, faintly visible. Bai Shu’s form no longer stooped; bit by bit, he became upright, and his head full of white hair gradually returned to black.

After smelting the spark, each God of the Divine Throne would possess a "life force" far beyond the ordinary.

Maintaining one’s youthful appearance was an even simpler matter.

Bai Shu silently watched his own face reflected in the brilliant stream of light.

His expression was somewhat complex.

The Battle Fire did not "reject" him, and at the moment of merging, the golden peach core, which had become unowned again, proactively emitted a "welcoming" wave of spiritual power.

Time is the most terrifying thing in this world; it can change everything.

Time can erode the steadfast hope in a person’s heart.

It can also rekindle the fire in someone who has despaired.

In these past twenty-odd years, he had given up, become despondent, and even thought about burying himself...

But in the end, he obtained a "rebirth".

Bai Shu breathed out deeply.

He looked towards Gu Changzhi.

"Hum!"

At this moment, the power of the Golden Divine Domain rapidly spread out, colliding and overlapping with Gu Changzhi’s Divine Domain.

Both men were completely enveloped in a sea of golden light.

Was this to be the continuation of the battle left "unfinished" years ago?

Gu Shen and Chu Ling exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat nervous, and quietly waited on the side.

The newly formed Divine Domain of Bai Shu was extraordinarily powerful!

The golden light was vast like a huge sea, not a trace of spiritual aura leaked out.

No one knew what was happening within this Divine Domain. Whether the old and new Battle Gods were exchanging techniques, or what the state of the battle was.

Shortly afterward.

The overlapping Divine Domains of golden light gradually dissipated.

Bai Shu and Gu Changzhi both let down their domains.

Gu Shen was somewhat anxious. Had they fought?

He could not see any signs of a "battle," only that Gu Changzhi’s face wore a smile, while Bai Shu’s expression still appeared grave.

The atmosphere quieted for a moment.

With a complex voice, Bai Shu spoke two words to Gu Changzhi.

"Thank you..."

In past years, he was a man who never thanked anyone.

Because, in the entirety of the Five Continents, nobody had ever bestowed upon him a favor worthy of thanks.

Gu Changzhi smiled and shook his head.

"Bai Wudi, after I leave... the East Continent is yours to oversee."

No one knew what had transpired between the two in the Golden Divine Domain.

Perhaps a battle had taken place.

But given the current situation, both Gu Changzhi and Bai Shu bore no injuries... However, with the presence of the Reverse Flow domain, even if they really had fought, Bai Shu could have restored everything to normal.

What deserves deep reflection are the three words spoken by Gu Changzhi.

Bai Wudi.

In their youth, full of vigor and rivalry, the two were known as the two heroes of Changye, constantly competing and clashing.

Bai Shu had never accepted Gu Changzhi’s superiority.

Likewise, Gu Changzhi had never backed down. Over the years, it was the first time he had spoken the name "Bai Wudi."

This time, it was his heartfelt acknowledgment.

"After my death... the Gods of the Outer Continent might once again come to Changye," Gu Changzhi smiled with lowered brows. "Who would refuse a masterless spark? What they want is not just a mere Wine Spark. If no one succeeds my Battle Fire, surely Changye will again be engulfed by a tremendous wave."

And at that time, if the Netherworld King does not appear...

It is likely that the Source Tower and Southern Continent will again harbor suspicions.

Now...

The Battle Fire has found a suitable master, and he can lay aside his greatest concern for the East Continent, for an "old friend" will take up his burden.

Adversaries for years.

Gu Changzhi had thought, if he were to depart from this place, who would be the most appropriate person to wield this spark.

After much deliberation, only one person was deemed suitable, and that person was Bai Shu.

Watching the transfer of the Battle Fire.

Gu Shen and Chu Ling showed a trace of emotion; they had not expected to witness this scene themselves.

This was an important moment.

Crucial for every creature in the East Continent.

Mr. Gu Changzhi... truly deserved the respect of every person here.

In life and after, in large matters and small, he had done everything to perfection.

By handing over the Battle Fire to Bai Shu, it meant... he could finally lay down the heavy burden that weighed upon his shoulders.

This weight was far too great.

It was time to pass it onto the next giant to bear.

Gu Changzhi took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and stood silently for a minute... the Golden Divine Domain gradually spread out, not retracting but dispersing.

This minute was like a completion of his life’s mission.

And like... a transformation of identity.

He was no longer the War God of the East Continent, no longer the Family Head of the Gu family, no longer the towering mountain that constantly offered Sanctuary to the millions of Changye.

He opened his eyes.

After the power of the Battle Fire dissipated.

Gu Changzhi’s originally youthful and valiant face began to age slowly... his skin lost its luster and was marked by wrinkles, his eyes no longer clear but somewhat clouded.

But the one thing that remained unchanged was his perfectly straight, unbent spine.

This scene caused Gu Shen a pang of heartache, a sourness welled up inside him.

The years are the most heartless.

Heroes and demons, no matter how peerlessly brilliant, must all bow down in the end, facing "old age."

Gu Changzhi walked up to Chu Ling, taking the curled-up Master Qianye into his arms... Among the myriad people of this world, he had given each one an answer, but the only woman in front of him was still owed an explanation.

"Such a... fool."

Gu Changzhi gazed at the flower-cat mask, his voice somewhat hoarse.

The Great Cold Disaster Realm had frozen Master Qianye’s spirit and body.

Once the Great Cold was released.

The life force of this body would quickly fade away...

Guarding the Qingzhong Mausoleum for ten years.

Continuously using Divination.

Master Qianye’s lifespan was already little to begin with... This entry into the mausoleum by the Wine God had exhausted her last thread of life.

Gu Changzhi’s gaze fell upon the flower-cat mask.

He could not bear to release the Great Cold, nor did he dare to lift that mask.

The torso under the mausoleum’s black robe had already turned into shattered and obliterated destiny gold threads... The woman he owed the most in this life, he couldn’t even piece together a complete body for her.

As a holder of the Divine Throne, he could save countless people in this world, but he could not save her.

"Xiao Gu..."

Gu Changzhi spoke softly, asking, "Could you... take us on a journey?"

Gu Shen’s expression was solemn.

He summoned the dark clouds that enveloped Gu Changzhi’s form.

The dark clouds headed towards the Giant Statue Ruins; the power of the Netherworld King’s Spark kept diffusing, blurring the boundary between life and death in the mortal world.

Gu Shen went first.

He walked ahead.

Gu Changzhi, carrying Master Qianye, followed behind.

The dark clouds wept; the spiritual power of the Netherworld King’s Spark pulsed slowly. The three of them headed toward the inner mausoleum, while the scenery within the cemetery gradually changed... No longer broken walls and ruins, but barren lands greeted with the birth of new, fluttering grass leaves.

This was Gu Shen’s "Purified Land".

Gu Changzhi, holding Master Qianye, stood under that densely branched Huan wood.

Far off, Tie Wu, stared blankly at the distant figure that appeared slightly weary... Because it was enveloped by dark clouds and golden light, the view wasn’t clear, but he still felt a tremendous shock and awe.

Was he seeing things?

That seemed to be... Gu Changzhi?

With just one look, Gu Shen’s Divine Thought spread out, blocking all irrelevant scenes from the Purified Land; Tie Wu was directly detained in a remote weed patch of the land.

He reserved a place of tranquility for Gu Changzhi and Master Qianye.

After arriving in the Purified Land.

The rules of life and death... no longer became so intense.

It was a mysterious force that defied the Extraordinary Iron Law yet conformed to the fundamental laws of this world.

For life and death inherently exist.

Mortals should not touch it.

But the legendary "Netherworld King" is precisely the god who treads both realms, overseeing the genesis and demise of life.

This Purified land cannot resurrect the dead.

But it can harbor the souls of the deceased... Tie Wu is a prime example.

Gu Changzhi slowly released his own "Great Cold", the broken body in his arms gradually regained warmth.

Soft coughing sounds emanated from beneath the flower-cat mask.

Warm breezes blew through the Purified Land.

This broken body, even if destroyed... the spirit could still be preserved.

Master Qianye looked at this scene with a bewildered expression.

She had an illusion.

It was as if she’d been dreaming, the process a long wait over twenty years. Inside Qing Tomb Inner Mausoleum, she was waiting not only for Gu Changzhi to awaken but also for that ancient tree from the Four Seasons Wilderness to bloom.

Now, as she lifted her head, she saw the leafy Huan wood.

How she wished... that the past twenty years had been just a dream.

However, the pain within this shattered body, sweeping through her like a tide, reminded her this was no dream.

Master Qianye chuckled lowly.

She extended a hand, slowly touching Gu Changzhi’s cheek.

If it’s not a dream... that’s fine.

That way, she did not have to worry about the scene before her eyes, shattering like a bubble.

She often dreamt as well.

Too bad, beautiful dreams don’t come true.

After waking from the dream, the cemetery remained lonely, still only her.

If anyone listened carefully, they would discover that within the gradually lengthening nights of the Qingzhong Cemetery, were sounds of hearts breaking upon awakening from dreams.

"Xiao Ye... It’s not a dream, it’s real."

Gu Changzhi looked tenderly at the woman in his arms, his voice rough, pausing with each word.

"It’s... real..."

Master Qianye’s fingers had already shattered, leaving only scattered threads forming a shape, but as she touched Gu Changzhi’s cheek, she felt warmth, and thus from the cracks in her dry mask, tears seeped out.

All the headaches disappeared at that moment.

She smiled very happily.

"I... owe you too much."

Gu Changzhi’s voice was hoarse.

In his life, he had not let down anyone from Changye.

Yet he had failed only Master Qianye.

Failed her too much, too much.

"No... you never owed me,"

the woman in his arms said with a childlike smile, lifting her face gently.

"All of this..."

"I accept willingly."

...

...

(PS: 1 Just one update today. I’ll make up for tonight’s update tomorrow morning. 2, If I had to find a reason... it would be that I couldn’t shift my emotions to fit, wanting to write a very lyrical plot, but always thinking of some serious and impassioned matter... I won’t say more, going to watch a live stream now.)