This group of people looked quite peculiar. Individually, none of them seemed strange, but encountering them in this desolate, uninhabited, and broken starfield was truly unusual.
Chen Yi couldn't think of any reason why such a group would gather here.
Moreover, each of them gave her an unfathomable feeling, as if they were as deep and vast as the abyss of the universe.
Especially the young man who seemed to be resting casually on a rock with his eyes closed. He gave her a profound sense of mystery.
Whether it was the woman in the dazzling red dress, the child who looked only a few years old, or the kind-looking old monk, they all showed immense respect for the young man who resembled an immortal. It was clear that he was their leader.
This made Chen Yi even more surprised and curious.
How could such a group of unfathomable and terrifyingly powerful individuals show such reverence to this young man?
"It was this young... senior who saved us..."
At this moment, the words of Huijue Layperson beside her brought Chen Yi back to her senses.
She had been so caught up in wondering about the identities and origins of this group that she had forgotten they were the ones who had saved them from the dark beings' ambush.
Without them, they would have all perished at the hands of the dark beings.
Chen Yi was someone who believed in repaying kindness. Despite her injuries, she quickly stood up and walked toward the group to express her gratitude.
Her companions, seeing this, were not surprised. Clearly, they had already expressed their thanks before she woke up.
"Oh, this little girl is awake..."
The woman in the red dress noticed Chen Yi approaching. She swayed a crimson fan in her delicate hand, half-covering her face. Her eyes sparkled, and a seductive smile played on her lips.
Her skin was as white as snow, smooth and flawless. Her eyebrows were like delicate strokes of ink, naturally dark, and a red dot adorned her forehead. Her lips were lush and moist.
The red dress, fiery and vibrant, made her look like a femme fatale who could bring chaos to nations.
The others in the group merely glanced at Chen Yi, showing little interest.
A few even remained with their eyes closed, resting as if they hadn't heard anything, like ancient, immovable boulders that wouldn't budge even after countless calamities.
Chen Yi had lived for a long time and was famously known as the "Stone Beauty" of the Crescent Moon Sect. This was the first time someone had called her a "little girl."
Her cold and beautiful face showed a hint of surprise, and she froze for a moment.
The woman in the red dress continued to chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand. Her figure was slender and graceful, and she reclined on a rock about half a person's width, closest to the young man.
As Chen Yi approached, she could even catch a faint, sweet fragrance emanating from the woman, like the scent of lotus and snow, fresh and radiant.
"What's your name, little girl? You're quite pretty."
"Would you like to be my maid, serving tea and giving me massages?"
The woman in the red dress smiled seductively, her voice enchanting. With a snap, she closed her fan and reached out, as if to lift Chen Yi's chin and examine her features closely.
Chen Yi's figure was graceful, her eyebrows like slender willow leaves, her phoenix eyes as bright as black gemstones, her nose delicate and beautiful, her skin as fair and tender as fine porcelain, her chest full, and her figure curvaceous.
In the Crescent Moon Sect, she had been pursued by many elders, so her beauty was undeniable. But now, she was utterly stunned by the red-dressed woman's actions, feeling as if she were being flirted with.
Her porcelain-like face flushed with a rosy hue, and she stood there awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
She was well aware that every member of this strange group was far more powerful than her.
Moreover, they were her saviors.
Under normal circumstances, Chen Yi would have lost her temper, but now she could only endure the discomfort.
For the first time in her life, she was being flirted with, and it was by a stunningly beautiful woman.
"Enough..."
Just as Chen Yi stood there, enduring the awkwardness and discomfort, the young man who had been resting with his eyes closed finally opened them and spoke, stopping the red-dressed woman's actions.
His voice was calm and soothing, reminiscent of jade bathed in moonlight, warm yet carrying a noble quality.
Even in the flickering light of the campfire, Chen Yi could see his deep, serene eyes, as unfathomable as an abyss.
She was momentarily stunned, noticing that those eyes were also examining her.
Their gazes met for a moment, and for some reason, she couldn't help but lower her head, her cheeks burning.
At this, the woman in the red dress quickly retracted her fan and stuck out her tongue playfully.
Huijue Layperson and the others nearby noticed that the rest of the group behind the red-dressed woman seemed to stiffen slightly, as if they found her actions odd and out of place.
"This junior, Chen Yi, thanks... Senior for saving my life."
Chen Yi quickly regained her composure, forcing herself to remain calm and clear-headed.
Her cold and beautiful face showed a hint of hesitation, unsure how to address him.
After all, the man in the dark robe looked far too young.
Of course, she understood that many powerful and unfathomable old monsters couldn't be judged by their outward appearance.
"It was just a small effort. No need to be so polite."
Gu Changge's tone showed little fluctuation. He glanced at Chen Yi and then looked away.
If he hadn't sensed a connection between her and Gu Xian'er, he wouldn't have bothered saving her.
As for her companions, they were just collateral.
The dark beings ravaging the heavens were his doing. Why would he attack them unless necessary?
"This junior, Chen Yi, is from the Crescent Moon Sect. My companions and I were on our way to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance when our plans were leaked, and we were ambushed by dark beings. If not for Senior's intervention, we would have perished."
"Senior's great kindness is something I can never repay. If Senior ever has any requests in the future, I will go through fire and water to fulfill them."
Although Gu Changge seemed completely indifferent to the matter, Chen Yi still expressed her gratitude sincerely, determined not to forget this debt.
The woman in the red dress's eyes sparkled with interest when she heard Chen Yi mention the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The others behind her also seemed intrigued.
Even those who had been resting with their eyes closed opened them to glance at Chen Yi.
This group was heading to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?
That made things even more interesting.
Of course, if they wanted to investigate Chen Yi's purpose, it would have been easy. But in front of Gu Changge, they didn't dare.
"I thought after saying you couldn't repay the kindness, you'd offer yourself to him."
The woman in the red dress covered her mouth and laughed, teasing.
Chen Yi was momentarily stunned, then realized what she meant. Her fair face flushed, and she felt awkward, unsure how to respond.
In her free time, she had heard her disciples discuss what to do if they were saved during their travels.
If the savior was good-looking, they should offer themselves in this lifetime. If not, they could repay the debt in the next life.
She had found it amusing at the time, never imagining she would one day be teased like this.
Gu Changge was already familiar with Mu Fuguang's shameless and unrestrained nature. He glanced at her but didn't bother to respond.
"Miss Chen Yi, there's no need to be so polite. Going through fire and water is unnecessary. It's fate that we met in such a remote starfield. Seeing you attacked by dark beings, how could I not save you?"
Gu Changge looked at Chen Yi and smiled slightly, his tone as gentle as ever, though his eyes remained calm and unreadable.
Chen Yi seemed unable to withstand his gaze and lowered her head slightly. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, fidgeted nervously.
She didn't know why, but while she usually remained composed and aloof in front of the elders of the Crescent Moon Sect, today she felt unusually awkward and restless, like one of her young female disciples.
"Senior must find this amusing. Regardless, I will repay your kindness if the opportunity arises." Chen Yi raised her bright eyes and spoke earnestly.
Gu Changge seemed to smile faintly but said nothing more.
Meanwhile, Mu Fuguang and the others found Chen Yi's words of "repayment" somewhat amusing, their expressions strange.
Although Chen Yi and her companions came from powerful and ancient factions and civilizations, in the eyes of these beings, they were no different from ordinary mortals.
As for Gu Changge saving Chen Yi and her group, it had surprised them.
After all, in their understanding, Gu Changge was not someone associated with kindness.
After leaving Boundary Void Ridge, Gu Changge had taken Mu Fuguang, the leader of Boundary Void Ridge, and Eternal Illumination Dao Lord to Du Ming Temple, where they subdued the "old bald donkey" Mu Fuguang had mentioned—Beici Chanfu.
Beici Chanfu was the transformed corpse of an ancient Buddha who had severed his three corpses, gaining self-awareness. Originally, it was just a corpse devoid of wisdom.
After being nourished by the blessings of the Dao Source and tempered over countless years, it was reborn one night amidst a sea of Dao lightning and Buddhist flames.
He established Du Ming Temple by the banks of the Jueyin River, dedicated to guiding the souls of the dead into the temple. He made a great vow to save all souls.
Undoubtedly, Beici Chanfu was a formidable figure, immensely powerful and terrifying.
The independent Du Ming Temple was akin to a forbidden zone, off-limits to the living, and even Mu Fuguang had initially been wary of it.
That Gu Changge had taken an interest in Beici Chanfu spoke volumes about his capabilities.
When Mu Fuguang arrived at Du Ming Temple, she fought with him for several days and nights. Their battle drained the energy of countless timelines, destroyed many parallel past and future eras, and severed numerous past and future incarnations, yet it ended in a stalemate.
An average Ancestral Dao Realm expert wouldn't last a single round against them. The gap was too vast.
They were beings who had nearly survived the ninth Heavenly Decline Tribulation, having walked far on this path. In the vast expanse, they were truly unmatched.
Even those who had just survived the eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation, such as the former ruler of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, Chu Gucheng, or the Demon Ancestor Di Huang, were no match for them and could be easily subdued.
At this level, their cultivation, Dao techniques, and insights were no longer constraints. A single thought or idea could give birth to countless techniques.
A single consciousness could envelop a super-civilization, extinguishing or reigniting it with ease.
Of course, in the end, it was Gu Changge who intervened, effortlessly subduing Beici Chanfu and forcing him to submit.
Mu Fuguang had held back, not using her full strength. She was slightly stronger than Beici Chanfu and wouldn't have been locked in such a prolonged battle.
Gu Changge didn't mind her holding back. After all, she wasn't following him willingly but had been coerced. It was natural for her to slack off.
However, the benefits he had initially promised her were never delivered.
Later, he took Mu Fuguang, Beici Chanfu, and the others to various forbidden zones, "recruiting" more powerful subordinates.
The vast expanse had existed for eons, its history vast and its timelines countless. The number of powerful beings born across billions of universes and endless timelines was beyond counting.
Not all of them chose to remain within civilizations. There were many "madmen" like the White Bone Ancestor King, and even more recluses and hermits in the forbidden zones.
However, beings like Mu Fuguang and Beici Chanfu were rare.
Now, among those following Gu Changge was the child, Tong Xian, also a ruler of a forbidden zone, hailing from Tong Xianyao.
Though not as powerful as Mu Fuguang or Beici Chanfu, he was still stronger than most who had survived the eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation.
Among the rulers of forbidden zones, there were hierarchies.
Mu Fuguang and Beici Chanfu belonged to the top tier, while Tong Xian and the others were in the lower tiers, with even weaker ones below.
These forbidden zones in the vast expanse would occasionally awaken.
The rulers within, needing to replenish their vitality, would devour the nearest civilizations, triggering calamities akin to dark upheavals.
When Gu Changge had left the Dao Prosperity True World, he had been mistaken for an awakened ruler of a forbidden zone by figures like Linghuang of the Spiritual Ruins True World.
Of course, even these forbidden zones couldn't escape the reckoning of the Cataclysmic Tribulation. Thus, sealing their vitality and entering prolonged slumber was their best means of avoiding destruction.
Though this caused their vitality to wane over time, they could quickly recover by consuming vast amounts of life force upon awakening.
As long as their Dao fruits remained intact and untainted by the decay of the Cataclysmic Tribulation, they could exist eternally, looking down upon all living beings.
Gu Changge had traveled through the forbidden zones near the Prime-Origin Civilization, taking their rulers with him.
In a way, this was a boon for the surrounding civilizations and starfields.
In the cold, desolate, and broken starfield, a campfire flickered, occasionally crackling as more firewood was added.
The night passed without further conversation. After expressing her gratitude, Chen Yi noticed that Gu Changge remained indifferent, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness and bitterness.
Perhaps, to Gu Changge, saving them was truly just a trivial act, like rescuing a few ordinary people.
Yet, they had treated it so seriously, expressing their gratitude with such solemnity.
Apart from the woman in the red dress, the others showed no interest, remaining unmoved.
This left Chen Yi feeling lost and uncertain. It was the first time in her life she had encountered such a situation.
After all, she was a True Dao Realm expert who had survived five Heavenly Decline Tribulations.
In any faction or civilization, she would be a pillar, someone not to be underestimated.
Yet, in the eyes of this group, she seemed no different from an ordinary cultivator one might encounter on the roadside.
As dawn approached, a faint light appeared on the horizon, casting a pale glow over the area.
The campfire was extinguished, and Chen Yi, Huijue Layperson, and the others awoke from their rest, their energy somewhat restored.
Though they had survived a great calamity, they still bore heavy responsibilities. They needed to continue their journey as envoys to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The ambush by the dark beings was just one of the anticipated dangers along the way.
The true, unpredictable dangers awaited them at the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Chen Yi and the others still felt the weight of their mission. They had to press on, unsure of what lay ahead.
Even after enduring countless hardships to reach the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, what would await them there?
"Senior, we must continue our journey. We bear heavy responsibilities, and the road is long. We cannot delay. If there is an opportunity in the future..."
Chen Yi and Huijue Layperson spoke, preparing to bid farewell to Gu Changge and the others.
In a way, they were all pawns discarded by their respective sects and civilizations for various reasons.
"What are you going to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance for?" Mu Fuguang asked, her interest piqued.