The Temple of Fate is located on the eastern side of the Divine Kingdom, near the vast Star Sea.
In this region, large islands float amidst the misty surroundings, shrouded in a perpetual cold hue, with no light shining through. The area remains dim and hazy year-round.
At the center of this place lies the grand and solemn Temple of Sacrifice, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.
Although the temple complex stretches endlessly, with buildings standing row upon row, there are no signs of life. It is so quiet that one can hear the cold wind echoing through the empty halls.
Compared to other regions, this place resembles the legendary Guanghan Palace, perpetually cold and devoid of sunlight, making one wonder if any life exists here at all.
---
"Lady, the Divine Kingdom has been much livelier these past few days than usual."
In the central Temple of Sacrifice, a young woman dressed in a red shrine maiden outfit, with long black hair tied by a crimson ribbon, wearing wooden clogs and holding a blue lantern, quietly spoke as she relit the surrounding candles that were about to go out. She gazed at the distant Star Sea as she spoke.
A stunningly beautiful woman, clad in the moon-white robes of the High Priestess, sat cross-legged inside the temple.
Her hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her expression was calm and detached, exuding an otherworldly aura, akin to a fairy from the Guanghan Palace high above the Nine Heavens.
Of course, she was also the master of this place—the current High Priestess of Fate of the Divine Kingdom, Xiao Ruoyin, revered as Lady Ruoyin.
The young woman in the red shrine maiden outfit was Wu Qi, the chosen successor of the Temple of Sacrifice, selected by Xiao Ruoyin over the years.
Thousands of years ago, Xiao Ruoyin suddenly sensed a strange force of fate descending upon the Dao Prosperity True World. She then left the Temple of Sacrifice and found Wu Qi in a remote tribal area.
Like her, Wu Qi possessed the Fate-Null Physique, a natural affinity for the Dao of Fate, with a strong sensitivity and comprehension of the unseen forces of destiny and its trajectories.
If she diligently cultivated the path of fate, she would undoubtedly be able to succeed as the High Priestess of Fate of the Divine Kingdom in the future.
---
"Since His Majesty has returned, the Divine Kingdom is naturally livelier than before."
Hearing Wu Qi's words, Xiao Ruoyin was momentarily stunned before replying indifferently.
Her flawless, jade-like face showed no emotional fluctuations, as if it were eternally serene.
She naturally knew of Gu Changge's return to the Dao Prosperity True World. As the High Priestess of Fate, she could vaguely deduce the current trajectory of fate in the Dao Prosperity True World. Gu Changge had not concealed his aura upon his return, so it was impossible for her not to notice.
"I've heard of His Majesty's fame since I was in the tribe. I wonder if I'll have the chance to see his immortal visage…" Wu Qi said with a hint of longing.
Xiao Ruoyin glanced at her but did not respond.
Wu Qi was neither her disciple nor her maid.
Although both shared the Fate-Null Physique, their paths were entirely different. Xiao Ruoyin had brought Wu Qi with her simply because she did not want to waste such a rare talent.
After all, the Fate-Null Physique was an anomaly that might not appear even once in ten thousand years. For two such individuals to appear simultaneously in the Dao Prosperity True World was already an incredible, almost miraculous occurrence.
If it were someone else with the Fate-Null Physique, they might have tried to eliminate Wu Qi upon sensing her existence, unwilling to allow a second such individual to exist in the world.
---
"Lady, won't you go to see His Majesty?"
After relighting the candles in the hall, Wu Qi couldn't help but ask curiously, seeing Xiao Ruoyin's indifferent and cold expression.
She had been by Xiao Ruoyin's side for a long time.
Apart from the two of them, there were no other living beings in the Temple of Sacrifice.
In fact, not just the Temple of Sacrifice, but the surrounding starry regions and buildings were also devoid of any signs of life, with no human figures in sight.
This place was perpetually lonely and cold, filled with a bleak, desolate atmosphere. When Wu Qi first arrived, she thought it was the Divine Kingdom's cold palace.
Over the years, this environment had gradually tempered Wu Qi's personality, though it had nearly driven her mad at first.
She was born in a remote tribe where everyone was straightforward and cheerful.
She was no exception, so being by Xiao Ruoyin's side felt like torture to her.
As the master of the Temple of Sacrifice, Xiao Ruoyin rarely spoke. Each time she meditated on fate, it would last for centuries. Her cold and detached nature kept her isolated from the outside world.
Anyone else might have gone mad from such isolation, but she remained serene and composed.
When Wu Qi first arrived in the Divine Kingdom with Xiao Ruoyin, she thought she had reached the pinnacle of life, a height no one else could aspire to.
Little did she know that Lady Ruoyin, who had taken her from the tribe, would be so aloof and detached. To an outsider, it might seem as if she had been banished to the cold palace and was being neglected.
Of course, Wu Qi knew this couldn't be the case.
Lady Ruoyin's beauty was peerless, capable of toppling nations. Even as a woman, Wu Qi couldn't help but admire her. How could such a beauty be neglected?
---
"I won't go. There's no need for me to cause His Majesty any awkwardness or trouble. He's probably quite busy these days." Xiao Ruoyin gently shook her head, her expression calm and indifferent.
She was no longer the pure High Priestess of Fate from before, nor was she the Xiao Ruoyin from later.
Thus, she now saw many things clearly. Back then, she and Gu Changge had schemed against and used each other. There had never been any genuine affection between them.
Before she awakened the memories of the High Priestess of Fate, her feelings for Gu Changge were, at best, admiration for his strength and reverence for his power, coupled with the fear and compromise of having to rely on him for survival.
---
"I noticed that Lady has been glancing in that direction these past few days. I thought…"
Hearing this, Wu Qi was slightly stunned.
Although Xiao Ruoyin spoke with indifference, Wu Qi detected a faint trace of… helplessness and self-comfort in her words.
She had always thought the cold and desolate atmosphere of the Temple of Sacrifice was due to Xiao Ruoyin's personality, her dislike for noise and activity.
The fact that Xiao Ruoyin had been glancing toward the center of the Divine Kingdom these past few days made Wu Qi think she was waiting for His Majesty to visit.
But now, it seemed His Majesty was unlikely to come. Xiao Ruoyin's occasional glances in that direction were perhaps because she still held a sliver of hope.
Could it be that Lady Ruoyin was truly being neglected, which was why this place was so cold and lifeless?
Wu Qi looked at Xiao Ruoyin's flawless, cold beauty, unable to comprehend how any man could neglect such a peerless beauty.
Xiao Ruoyin understood Wu Qi's thoughts but did not explain.
She twirled a strand of hair that had fallen from her forehead, gazing at the increasingly cold and quiet Temple of Fate, which seemed even colder than before. She let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
---
"Lady, did you do something to displease His Majesty?" Wu Qi couldn't help but ask softly.
"No."
Xiao Ruoyin shook her head. "His Majesty simply dislikes me."
Compared to the other consorts and ladies in the Divine Kingdom who had been granted titles, she knew her place in Gu Changge's heart was insignificant, almost negligible.
Although Gu Changge had eventually returned the Creation Immortal Boat to her, wasn't that also proof that he wanted to sever all ties with her?
Wu Qi stared blankly at Xiao Ruoyin, unsure of what to say.
The Temple of Fate was perpetually devoid of sunlight, but today it felt even colder than usual.
She looked outside the Temple of Fate, where a few ancient osmanthus trees stood in the distance. Beneath the scattered petals, the moonlight remained cold and desolate, with no sign of anyone approaching.
---
The tribes that once resided in the Ancient Immortal Continent had long since left that small world. After leaving the territory of the Yaksha Clan, Gu Changge had tried to find the tribes he had initially subdued.
However, with the passage of time and the changes of the era, even the Dao Heaven Immortal Palace was no longer in its original location, let alone the tribes of the Ancient Immortal Continent, which had long since disappeared.
After a brief search, Gu Changge only found the Black Sky Eagle Clan. The other tribes of the Ancient Immortal Continent had perished due to various reasons.
The current leader of the Black Sky Eagle Clan was a descendant of Hei Ming, the "useless" individual whom Gu Changge had once implanted with the Bridal Robe Immortal Technique. Now, he had become a revered ancestor of the clan, possessing immense strength.
Of course, the Black Sky Eagle Clan was far inferior to the Yaksha Clan in terms of heritage and power, but in the current Dao Prosperity True World, it was considered prosperous and powerful, far surpassing its former scale.
The former prodigy of the Black Sky Eagle Clan, Hei Yanyu, who had once followed Gu Changge for a time, was Hei Ming's elder sister.
Now, she was also a foundational figure of the Black Sky Eagle Clan, often in seclusion, with unfathomable cultivation.
Later, Gu Changge passed through the boundary between the Eight Desolates and Ten Domains and the former Upper Realm, crossing the Boundary Sea. The Sky Deer City remained unchanged.
The Sky Deer Goddess had already stepped into the True Immortal Realm many years ago. Having received the worship and offerings of the Eight Desolates and Ten Domains, her cultivation advanced rapidly. Within a few thousand years, she had attained the Immortal King Dao Fruit and had been in seclusion ever since.
Gu Changge's arrival did not disturb her.
Finally, he returned to Qingshan Village. The sky was slightly overcast, with a light drizzle. In the courtyard of the blue-tiled house, a woman in a snow-white robe held an umbrella, waiting for him as if she knew he would return.