Ling Yuling asked herself if she could ever be as magnanimous and forgiving as Gu Changge. She knew she couldn't.
Half a year was enough time for her to reflect on many things, but now there was no room left for redemption or making amends.
Her eyes dimmed as she followed Gu Changge and Mu Yan back into the valley.
This small valley was home to simple, unadorned cottages and courtyards. A stream flowed through the valley, shrouded in a thin layer of mist, with bamboo rustling softly in the breeze.
By the stream, peach blossoms bloomed vibrantly, their petals scattering like a colorful rain, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.
Mu Yan took Yao Yao away from Gu Changge's side, arranging a separate courtyard for her while curiously inquiring about her background.
Although Yao Yao wanted to stay with Gu Changge, she knew she had grown up and that he wouldn't allow it.
So, she obediently followed Mu Yan, her head lowered, quietly walking to the courtyard that had been arranged for her, appearing well-behaved and docile.
Mu Yan noticed that Yao Yao wasn't very responsive to her but didn't mind, thinking the girl might just be shy and would warm up after a few days.
She could see that Yao Yao was very attached to Gu Changge, to the point where she didn't want to leave his side for even a moment.
And Gu Changge indulged her, showing her great affection and care.
This surprised Mu Yan, who almost wondered if Yao Yao was Gu Changge's illegitimate child with some woman.
Otherwise, how could he return from his trip with such a beloved young girl?
Her curiosity piqued, Mu Yan began asking Yao Yao all sorts of questions, trying to dig up some of Gu Changge's secrets.
Facing this overly beautiful woman who kept probing into her background, Yao Yao felt increasingly unhappy and unable to enjoy herself.
Why did her master always have so many women around him, each clamoring to be her "Master's Wife"?
She already found it overwhelming to compete with Xian'er, and now there were even more.
Previously, she could rely on her childlike innocence to demand Gu Changge's pampering and affection.
But as she grew older, she noticed that while Gu Changge used to hold her casually, now he only held her hand, avoiding overly intimate gestures.
In the days following their return to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, Gu Changge personally traveled to various places to gather rare materials. He even ventured into the depths of time and space to retrieve fragments of anomalous treasures tainted with the essence of anomalies.
Then, following the internal patterns and formations described in the Book of Scavenging, he crafted a Fate Artifact for Yao Yao, naming it the Destiny Furnace.
At first glance, the Destiny Furnace was only the size of a palm, spinning delicately in Gu Changge's hand. It had three legs and a round mouth, with a lid as clear as ancient jade, adorned with intricate and ancient patterns.
Mountains, rivers, stars, insects, fish, birds, beasts, ancient ancestors, and ancient kingdoms—all were depicted, encapsulating the mysteries of countless worlds. Every moment, it seemed enveloped in a thick aura of fate, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
He handed the Destiny Furnace directly to Yao Yao but didn't explain how to use it, leaving her to figure it out on her own. The Destiny Furnace would become a significant aid in her early cultivation.
However, she couldn't rely on it forever, so he had placed certain restrictions on it.
"Did Master make this especially for me?"
Yao Yao stared blankly at the clear furnace in her palm. Though she was seeing it for the first time, she could feel a deep connection to it, as if it had been made specifically for her.
After a moment of stunned silence, her face lit up with joy and excitement. She played with the Destiny Furnace, utterly captivated by it.
"So biased…" Mu Yan muttered, watching this scene with curiosity.
She wasn't envious, but she couldn't help but feel that Gu Changge treated Yao Yao exceptionally well.
"A Destiny Artifact…"
Though her cultivation was sealed, Ling Yuling's insight remained sharp.
She was deeply astonished that Gu Changge would go to such lengths to craft such a terrifying artifact for Yao Yao.
Anything related to fate possessed unimaginable and miraculous power.
And the corresponding karma would fall on the creator. Of course, Gu Changge, having established the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, wouldn't care about such trivial karma.
"Do you like it?" Gu Changge asked, smiling as he watched Yao Yao's delighted expression.
"I love it! Thank you, Master!"
Yao Yao nodded eagerly, her happiness evident.
Ling Yuling, seeing the rare, genuine smile on Gu Changge's face, felt even more conflicted.
Was this the same Heaven-Slaying Alliance leader whom the entire Prime-Origin Civilization feared, whose name alone could silence crying children?
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed he could be so gentle and affectionate.
"As long as you like it. First, refine it and familiarize yourself with its functions. Once you've fully mastered it, it will be time for you to go out and train on your own," Gu Changge said with a slight nod.
He had other plans. The Destiny Furnace was similar to the Golden Tome of Primordial Chaos he had given to Zhao Xiuyan (A'Man), both being fate-related golden fingers.
However, unlike the path of a Child of Destiny he had arranged for A'Man, he intended for Yao Yao to walk the same path he had taken—harvesting luck to strengthen herself.
The Destiny Furnace would help Yao Yao convert harvested fate into nourishment for her growth. Of course, the Destiny Furnace's functions weren't limited to this. Gu Changge had left many restrictions and mechanisms within it for Yao Yao to discover on her own.
"Ah…"
"Train on my own?"
Yao Yao, still immersed in the joy of obtaining the Destiny Furnace, had the smile on her small face suddenly freeze upon hearing these words.
Suddenly, the Destiny Furnace in her hand didn't seem as appealing.
Gu Changge looked at her, his smile fading, his expression turning stern.
"What? Don't want to?" he asked.
"No, it's just… I don't want to leave Master's side so soon," Yao Yao quickly shook her head, speaking softly.
"With your current cultivation, it will take some time to fully refine the Destiny Furnace," Gu Changge said, shaking his head slightly and patting her head.
Yao Yao tilted her face, nuzzling his warm palm, and whispered, "Will Master stay with me a little longer?"
"During this time, Mu Yan will teach you some survival and combat skills. She's an excellent teacher in this regard," Gu Changge said, changing the subject and glancing at Mu Yan.
Mu Yan, recalling her first encounter with Gu Changge, blushed slightly and shot him a reproachful look.
Back then, she had no idea of Gu Changge's true identity, thinking he was just a naive young master from a noble family. She had only wanted to avoid dragging him into trouble.
"…" Yao Yao hesitated, glancing at Mu Yan.
Mu Yan, radiant and ethereal, said with a hint of annoyance, "What? Do you dislike me too?"
Over the past few days, Yao Yao had grown somewhat familiar with Mu Yan. After Gu Changge left her in Mu Yan's care, he had disappeared from the valley, leaving Yao Yao to rely on Mu Yan to familiarize herself with the surroundings.
Gu Changge hadn't explained much about the Prime-Origin Civilization to her.
To Yao Yao, Mu Yan seemed a bit unreliable, always trying to pry into Gu Changge's secrets.
In contrast, the elegant and gentle woman in shackles seemed more dependable, though Yao Yao didn't understand why she was confined to the valley.
Of course, Yao Yao was sensible enough not to inquire about Ling Yuling's situation.
In the following days, Yao Yao spent her time trying to refine the Destiny Furnace. However, given her current cultivation, progress was slow, with only a small advance each day.
Gu Changge didn't help her refine it, as the process itself was a form of mental tempering and a valuable cultivation experience.
Her progress so far had been largely due to the accumulation of resources and foundation. While her foundation was solid, compared to those who had advanced step by step, she still lacked in certain areas, such as mental purity and resilience, as well as aspects of her temperament.
The process of refining the Destiny Furnace was exhausting, tedious, and complex, but it was also an important means of tempering Yao Yao's mind and spirit.
Gu Changge knew that due to Tao Yao's disappearance, Yao Yao had become overly obsessed with cultivation and strength, rushing to achieve her goals.
This was both good and bad.
---
Qingyu Ancient Domain, Snow Capital City
This ancient domain was once one of the three thousand domains under the Immortal Chu Dynasty. However, after the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, it had been taken over by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and was now under their control.
The city was home to nearly ten billion cultivators and beings, with bustling streets filled with various races, chariots, and ancient flying ships. Order was maintained, and no one dared to cause trouble.
In an inn shrouded in chaotic mist, Luo Xiangjun finally breathed a sigh of relief as she read the reply on the jade slip.
"The leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has kept me waiting for so long. I wonder what kind of person he is. If I get the chance, I'd like to meet him."
Beside her, on the table, an ancient jade emitted wisps of mist, and the figure of the Eternal Primordial God appeared.
His ancient, cold, and indistinct face showed a hint of displeasure.
Luo Xiangjun ignored the Eternal Primordial God. This was the sixth reply she had received in half a year. Unlike the previous five, this time the reply indicated that the leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had returned.
Previously, the replies had always stated that the leader was not present and asked her to wait.
Luo Xiangjun didn't know if Gu Changge had been avoiding her or if he had truly been absent from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. But with this reply, she could finally visit and discuss the matter of the Eternal Secret Treasure.