Throughout the Primordial World Heaven and Earth, there was only deathly silence.
Gu Changqing's airy remark was like a wisp of wine fragrance drifting out of a drunken dream.
It still carried a distinctly slurred drunkenness, yet that very tone was like an invisible blade, plunging with unerring precision into the hearts of Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos.
"Returned to its rightful owner..."
Hongjun's pupils contracted sharply, and his face grew utterly dark.
The Elder of Chaos cried out in shock, his voice trembling:
"You... what do you mean?!"
The reactions of these two men could hardly have been more intense.
Yet Gu Changqing seemed not to have heard them at all.
He simply stood crookedly in the void, his eyes hazy with drink, cradling the Wine God Gourd as he tipped back his head and swallowed the last mouthful of fine wine.
Then...
He reached out his right hand toward the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, which hung in midair, its might bearing down upon heaven and earth.
His five fingers spread.
Then closed gently.
The gesture was utterly casual, without the solemnity of gathering power or the gravity of refining a treasure. It was as though he were merely reaching for an ordinary object left on a table, something he could take with a simple lift of his hand.
And in the next instant.
An incredible sight unfolded.
The Heaven-Opening Divine Axe-that supreme killing weapon of all ages, which Hongjun and the Elder of Chaos had finally refined completely after pouring endless effort, the power of the Heavenly Dao, and Chaos Laws into it-shuddered violently at Gu Changqing's casual grasp!
Hum!
A deep, lingering hum emerged from within the axe, like an ancient beast that had slept for endless ages finally sensing its master's summons and slowly awakening from