Await and See

Beyond the mirror.

The moment all the cultivators' gazes fell upon the ancient book in the Young Heavenly Emperor's arms, they could not look away.

"Could it be that the Heavenly Emperor became the Heavenly Emperor by relying on this Heavenly Book?"

At that moment, every cultivator's eyes burned with fervor.

A peerless cultivation art—this was undoubtedly a supreme treasure of this world.

What was more, it was very likely the cultivation art that had made Gu Changqing the exalted Heavenly Emperor!

Tigers roared and leopards cried in the mountains.

In this world where ten thousand races rose together, the mountain forests were an utterly perilous place for a child of only a few years old.

Even adults from the foot of the mountain needed to hunt in groups when entering the hills, let alone the Young Heavenly Emperor.

Yet the faint cries of beasts echoing through the mountains gave Gu Changqing an immense sense of security at this moment.

Compared to the foot of the mountain—

What he had just witnessed had struck him far too deeply.

He was still racing madly toward the depths of the mountains, though at some point, his tears had stopped.

As he threaded through the dense, thorn-choked forest, his clothes gradually tore to shreds, and terrifying bloody welts covered the exposed skin beneath.

After running for who knew how long, he crawled into a mountain cave.

In the darkness, he held the infant tightly and stared warily around him, trembling all over...

"He must have been terrified. Even an adult who rashly entered such mountain woods probably wouldn't dare remain for long."

Someone sighed.

They seemed to have briefly forgotten that this boy was the cruel and lawless Heavenly Emperor, and sympathy unexpectedly showed on their faces.

"What I'm curious about is this: the infant in his arms was no more than a stranger to him. After suffering such a shock, why didn't he abandon the baby and descend the mountain alone to survive?"

"Clearly, the latter gave him a better chance of living."

"Abandoning the infant would also fit this Heavenly Emperor's usual conduct better, wouldn't it?"

Someone spoke with interest.

Hearing this, everyone turned their gazes toward Gu Youwei.

After all, Gu Youwei had been a participant in these past events.

Yet Gu Youwei merely shook her head expressionlessly. "I was still an infant then. How could I have any memories?"

"In my memories, there is very little about him, and most of it came after I entered the path of cultivation."

Ever since Gu Youwei had become aware of the world around her, she had cultivated in an ancient sect. It was only when her master passed away that her master told her she had an older brother. Only after leaving the mountain did she meet this so-called brother of hers.

She had never expected that the person she regarded as her only family in the world would, in the end, scheme against her with murderous intent.

Having failed to get any spoilers from Gu Youwei, the crowd immediately turned their attention back to the scene.

The Young Heavenly Emperor's fear seemed to gradually subside.

He slowly relaxed and revealed the infant hidden in his arms.

Only then did everyone realize that although Gu Changqing's arms were covered in bloody wounds, the infant did not bear the slightest injury. Even the cotton quilt wrapped around her had not been damaged.

It was clear that he had deliberately protected her.

For an adult, doing so would have been easy.

But for an ignorant five-year-old child, it was no simple task.

After all, his shoulders were still so thin and frail that he could not even protect himself.

"It seems that the Heavenly Emperor's nature was still kind at this time," someone said.

Gu Youwei's eyelids trembled faintly as well.

At the very least, Gu Changqing had no intention of abandoning her at that moment.

This should have been one of the few times you ever protected me.

She murmured inwardly.

In truth, after she left the mountain and reunited with Gu Changqing, his care for her had been even more meticulous and attentive.

But the moment he took her Immortal Root, all the beauty of the past became so unbearably false.

Only this time had been protection without an ulterior motive.

Ye Chen keenly noticed Gu Youwei's stirrings.

As though afraid that Gu Youwei might once again harbor hopes for the Heavenly Emperor, Ye Chen immediately said, "In the end, he still committed that utterly inhuman evil."

"Human nature is inherently good. Perhaps he had no intention of abandoning you at this moment, but what about after he went through certain things? What if he discovered that even he could barely survive? This Heavenly Emperor was likely the same—step by step, he became a heinous fiend who would stop at nothing for his own selfish desires."

"I dare say that before long, this Heavenly Emperor's vile nature will gradually reveal itself."

Sure enough.

The flicker of emotion in Gu Youwei's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced once more by icy coldness.

Compared to having her trust betrayed, this little bit of concern truly was not worth mentioning.

Everyone nodded in agreement with Ye Chen's analysis.

No one was born evil; they all became that way step by step.

The youth appearing in the ancient mirror was indeed kind and pure, yet in the end, he had still become a great demon reviled by all heaven and earth!

Everyone present was among the strongest beings in this world.

Having reached this point, they understood better than anyone that bonds and affection were the most laughable things.

Those who had once believed in the Heavenly Emperor and stood by his side had fallen to such a state now—what better proof could there be?

They also believed that, just as Ye Chen had said, once the Heavenly Emperor encountered some hardships, his ferocious nature would be exposed.

They merely wondered how long the Heavenly Emperor's kind and pure nature could endure.

They were rather eager to see it.

Within the ancient mirror.

Night fell, yet Gu Changqing remained in the same posture.

The infant in his arms gradually woke, seemingly hungry. Its piercing cries shattered the night's silence.

A voice sounded from outside the cave.

Brought to you by Divine Words Beguile the Masses: Villain: Cleansing One's Life, the Empresses Have Turned Against Him—the fastest updates.

After neutralizing Cao Yuwei's attack this time, Mei Gongzi did not rush to counterattack. She merely stood where she was.

Cao Yuwei frowned slightly. Was this little girl's perception truly so sharp? After he had forged flames into armor, he still had other methods at his disposal. If Mei Gongzi had followed up with an attack, he was confident he could use those methods to restrain her. But Mei Gongzi had not advanced, forcing his ability, which had been poised to strike, to be interrupted.

The battle saber slashed out once more, its surging saber intent even stronger than before. Cao Yuwei moved with the blade, man and saber as one, charging straight at Mei Gongzi.

The Heavenly Secret Plume in Mei Gongzi's hand formed the Heavenly Mysterious Circle once more, and with an instantaneous shift, she switched positions. As she dissolved her opponent's attack, she also broke his lock-on. In the next instant, she was already elsewhere. A flash of golden-red light flickered across Cao Yuwei's body. Had she not dodged so quickly, another ability would undoubtedly have descended upon her.

A battle of attrition! She seemed to be planning to wear Cao Yuwei down.

Yet no one questioned the origin of this ability. After all, the Peacock Demon Race's greatest innate gift was Stellar Transposition. Her technique carried the same marvelous essence as Stellar Transposition.

After neutralizing Cao Yuwei's attack this time, Mei Gongzi did not rush to counterattack. She merely stood where she was.

Cao Yuwei frowned slightly. Was this little girl's perception truly so sharp? After he had forged flames into armor, he still had other methods at his disposal. If Mei Gongzi had followed up with an attack, he was confident he could use those methods to restrain her. But Mei Gongzi had not advanced, forcing his ability, which had been poised to strike, to be interrupted.

The battle saber slashed out once more, its surging saber intent even stronger than before. Cao Yuwei moved with the blade, man and saber as one, charging straight at Mei Gongzi.

The Heavenly Secret Plume in Mei Gongzi's hand formed the Heavenly Mysterious Circle once more, and with an instantaneous shift, she switched positions. As she dissolved her opponent's attack, she also broke his lock-on. In the next instant, she was already elsewhere. A flash of golden-red light flickered across Cao Yuwei's body. Had she not dodged so quickly, another ability would undoubtedly have descended upon her.

A battle of attrition! She seemed to be planning to wear Cao Yuwei down.