“Young Lord, your plan to sow discord today was flawless, but there is one thing this old servant still does not understand.”
After leaving the damp confines of the dungeon, Elder Ming’s figure materialized from the void, a trace of confusion on his weathered face.
Gu Changge was becoming increasingly terrifying—and increasingly inscrutable.
To Elder Ming, this was a good thing. Only by becoming strong and ruthless could the Young Lord truly take control of the Family and lead it to unprecedented glory.
But he couldn’t understand the hesitation.
The Young Lord clearly wanted Ye Chen dead. Why the delay?
With Gu Changge’s current strength at the Conferred Lord Realm, he stood at the apex of his generation. Even in the vast Upper Realm, only the sole successors of Supreme Orthodoxies and Immortal Great Sects could rival him.
Here, in the backwater of the Eastern Wilderness, crushing a bug like Ye Chen should be as easy as a single slap.
Why go to such lengths to meticulously strip Ye Chen of his dignity, his connections, and his hope?
“Oh? What is it you don’t understand?”
Gu Changge replied casually, his mood visibly light.
Today had been a bountiful harvest. Not only had he driven a wedge between Ye Chen and his Master, but he had also reaped a massive amount of Destiny Points.
Harvesting this particular “leek” was becoming quite enjoyable.
The day he would finally crush Ye Chen under his heel was drawing near.
“This old servant truly doesn’t understand,” Elder Ming pressed. “Why not just kill Ye Chen directly? It would save so much trouble.”
Gu Changge smiled, but didn’t answer immediately.
Elder Ming, loyal as he was, didn’t know about the existence of “Providence” or “Luck Points.” He certainly didn’t know that Ye Chen was a “Child of Providence.”
To put it bluntly, as long as Ye Chen’s luck had not fallen to its lowest point, he could still rise again, even if Gu Changge suppressed him at every turn.
That was the terrifying nature of those blessed by the Great Dao.
Gu Changge would not explain any of this to Elder Ming. Even if he did, the old man probably would not understand.
“Ye Chen will die, but not today,” Gu Changge said, his smile turning enigmatic. “I’m still waiting for him to deliver a few more Fated Chances to my doorstep.”
For his loyal protector, he offered a partial truth.
In the memories of the original host, the true reason for descending to the Lower Realm wasn’t mere “training.” It was to find a peerless, calamitous weapon that was about to emerge.
It was said to have belonged to the Eight Desolate Demon God in ancient times. Its killing intent was vast and its divine might endless; it had nearly slaughtered the heavens. Later, for some unknown reason, it was lost in the river of time.
Bearing a Devil Heart, the original host had received the inheritance of a terrifying figure from the Upper Realm. It contained information about the halberd, suggesting that it was very likely lost in this realm.
On the surface, Gu Changge was here to train. In reality, he was treasure hunting.
Of course, given his role as the “Villainous Cannon Fodder,” the original host was destined to find nothing.
If his guess was right, the normal course of events would be this: Ye Chen would stumble into a ruin by chance, gain the weapon’s recognition at a critical moment, and grow much stronger. Then, wielding the halberd against the Taixuan Holy Land, he would turn the situation around.
Meanwhile, the original Gu Changge would likely die in the crossfire or flee back to the Upper Realm in disgrace, forging a life-and-death feud with the protagonist.
Such clichés… I’m all too familiar with them.
Now, it was as though Gu Changge had a god’s-eye view. Once he analyzed things, his conclusions were usually close to the truth. Reading so many web novels really did help. Those damn authors had not lied to him.
“So the Young Lord has already made arrangements,” Elder Ming realized, his eyes widening. His admiration deepened. Truly worthy of the Young Lord, the one born with divine wisdom.
“Keep a close eye on Ye Chen,” Gu Changge instructed, a strange glint in his eyes. “Pay attention to his movements. The Taixuan Holy Land is about to get lively.”
The Child of Providence had been confined for three full days. According to the mysterious workings of luck, something bad was bound to happen to the Taixuan Holy Land next.
Something bad was going to happen to the Taixuan Holy Land.
But what will it be? Even Gu Changge was curious.
…
Meanwhile, back in the dungeon.
“The Spirit Gathering Pill…”
Yan Ji murmured, staring at the pill hovering before her. It was enveloped in a haze of purple qi, radiating a divine aura that seemed to calm her very soul.
Her crimson eyes couldn’t hide her shock.
She recognized it instantly.
Gu Changge’s generosity was truly extravagant.
In her prime, she would not have lacked such pills. But in her current state, its appeal was like rain after a long drought, or fuel delivered in a snowstorm.
Spirit Gathering Pills were extremely precious, difficult to refine, and made from ingredients that were hard to gather. Even at Upper Realm auctions, one could scarcely buy a pill for a fortune. In the resource-poor Lower Realm, they could not be refined at all.
Its ability to reshape the primordial spirit and stabilize the soul was enough to tempt many powerful cultivators. In some circumstances, a pill could be like gaining another life. Even lofty Heavenly Gods might not possess one. This chapter was copied from NovelPing without permission.
“Master… what exactly is this pill?”
Seeing Yan Ji fall into a stunned silence, Ye Chen’s expression darkened. The bad premonition in his gut screamed louder.
Is it really that precious?
Gu Changge… you vicious snake! Not only do you use clever words, but you also bribe her with treasures!
Yan Ji sighed, her expression complex. She explained the rarity and effects of the Spirit Gathering Pill to Ye Chen.
After listening, Ye Chen fell silent. His jaw was clenched so tight his teeth threatened to crack.
It could stabilize Yan Ji’s current condition and repair her remnant soul. Its effects were far beyond merely impressive.
“Master… are you really going to use it?”
Ye Chen’s eyes were red, his voice hoarse.
He couldn’t bear the humiliation. It felt like accepting charity—no, scraps—from his worst enemy.
But refusing it meant denying his Master salvation.
Caught between his pride and her survival. It was the ultimate torture.
Gu Changge! I will kill you! I swear I will kill you!
He roared the vow internally, his heart bleeding.
“It is, after all, Young Lord Gu’s goodwill…” Yan Ji said softly.
Then, she noticed Ye Chen’s distorted expression.
She fell silent for a long moment before sighing.
“Little Chen… tell me honestly.”
She looked him in the eye, her gaze searching.
“Little Chen, tell me honestly. Are you biased against Young Lord Gu?”
The question hit Ye Chen like a thunderbolt.
He froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.
In that instant, his vision went black. It felt as if his entire world had just collapsed.