"Who exactly are you?"
At the top level of the Demon-Sealing Tower, the black-robed old man's face was filled with terror, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
He was completely immobilized, as if suppressed by an overwhelming and terrifying force. He could only watch in horror as Gu Changge walked toward him at a leisurely pace.
"It seems you really don't recognize me."
Gu Changge looked at him with a somewhat peculiar gaze, then shook his head.
The black-robed old man felt an unprecedented sense of oppressive terror from Gu Changge, as if he were facing the most ancient ancestor or creator.
"You… you are…"
In the next moment, he seemed to suddenly realize something, his eyes widening. His expression shifted from disbelief and terror to fanaticism.
Then, he immediately knelt before Gu Changge, kowtowing fervently, like a fanatical and devout worshipper facing the god he had always revered.
In the distance, at the top level, Jing Xiang, who had followed all the way here, also appeared, staring in shock at the scene before him.
The black-robed old man, who was kneeling fanatically before Gu Changge, gave him an extremely familiar feeling.
"Is this the voice that has been speaking to me in my mind? Is he the ancient ancestor?"
"Why does he look like this?"
Jing Xiang's eyes were also wide open.
This was far from the image of the ancient ancestor he had imagined.
Moreover, although he knew Gu Changge was mysterious and unfathomable, he had never expected that the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor would now appear so devout and fanatical, kneeling before Gu Changge.
"Get up. I have something to discuss with you."
Gu Changge didn't pay attention to Jing Xiang, who had followed him all the way here. Instead, he casually glanced at the black-robed old man kneeling before him, trembling with excitement.
The black-robed old man's dark face, filled with black energy, now flushed with excitement.
His voice was full of excitement and trembling as he bowed his head and said, "Great Master, you have truly descended into this world once again. I knew it—heaven and earth may wither, time may decay, but darkness will endure forever."
"Master?"
Jing Xiang, standing in the distance, was stunned once more. Why would the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor address Gu Changge as "Master"?
What exactly was Gu Changge's identity?
At this moment, his body trembled slightly with immense fear and unease. He began to regret following them in.
It seemed he was about to witness some incredible secret.
Gu Changge looked at the fanatical black-robed old man before him, slightly lost in thought.
The black-robed old man was indeed the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor, but he wasn't just the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor.
He had long been corroded by dark energy, his soul's light dimmed, surrounded by darkness.
The consciousness now in control was no longer that of the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor. After being corroded by darkness, the original soul had been imprisoned in a dark cage.
A new soul, tainted by dark energy, had been born in the original body, taking over this vessel.
Now, the state of the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor was somewhat similar to being corroded by darkness. Part of the original consciousness remained, but it coexisted in a muddled state with the new consciousness.
Of course, Gu Changge could naturally see that the consciousness within this body wasn't entirely tainted by dark energy.
Part of it had been devoured and occupied by another force.
Thus, the soul within the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor now consisted of three parts.
One part was the original consciousness of the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor. Another part was the external consciousness that had devoured and occupied his soul. The remaining part was a new consciousness born from dark energy.
"What is your name?" Gu Changge asked.
The black-robed old man replied with fanaticism and reverence, "Reporting to the Master, I was originally named Jing Tianyuan, the ancient ancestor of the Jing Clan. But after being reborn, I gained another identity. I am a fragment of the Eternal Life Spirit's soul. I have no name yet, and I humbly ask the Master to bestow one upon me."
In the distance, Jing Xiang, hearing this, felt his suspicions confirmed. His face was filled with shock.
The black-robed old man before him was indeed the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor.
But what did he mean by being "reborn"? And what was this fragment of the Eternal Life Spirit's soul?
"Oh, a fragment of the Eternal Life Spirit's soul?"
Gu Changge was slightly surprised. After a moment of thought, he understood. The familiar aura he had sensed earlier came from the Eternal Life Spirit. It was a stroke of fate he had left behind, which had manifested on the Gate of Eternal Life. The fact that the Gate of Eternal Life had fallen to this state was likely the reason why Ling Yuxian had reincarnated and started anew.
At this moment, Gu Changge also understood the misunderstanding Ling Yuxian had about his identity. At the time, he hadn't paid attention or explained, which was why Ling Yuxian had assumed he had come to the Imperial Immortal Palace to find the Gate of Eternal Life.
It could only be said that there was some unexpected coincidence involved.
"Since you are the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor, then you are the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor. Whether in the past or now, you have always been."
Gu Changge's thoughts returned, and he glanced at the black-robed old man, speaking indifferently.
The black-robed old man had thought Gu Changge would give him a new name. But he naturally had no objections to Gu Changge's instructions.
"Yes, Master. From now on, I will remain the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor, Jing Tianyuan."
The black-robed old man replied respectfully.
Gu Changge nodded and said casually, "The commotion outside the Jing Clan—was it orchestrated by you?"
"The Jing Clan is still of great use to me now."
The black-robed old man immediately stiffened and hurriedly replied, "Master, if you have any instructions, please speak. As the Jing Clan's ancient ancestor, I would never do anything to harm the Jing Clan."
Originally, he had planned to use the Jing Clan ancestors trapped in the Demon-Sealing Tower as nourishment to restore his strength after breaking free.
But since the Jing Clan was of great use to Gu Changge, he naturally didn't dare to entertain such thoughts or act recklessly.
He wouldn't dare to defy Gu Changge's orders.
For beings like him, who had been corroded and tainted by darkness, Gu Changge was even more terrifying than an ordinary being.
With a single thought, Gu Changge could destroy dark beings.
To them, Gu Changge was the source of their existence, the creator of their lives. He could be called the Ancestor of Darkness without exaggeration.
If Gu Changge willed them to live, they would live. If he willed them to die, they would die. There was no possibility of resistance.
This was the most direct form of dimensional suppression, rooted in the hierarchy of life itself.
To the beings he created, the creator was an omnipotent god. The god didn't need to lift a finger—a single thought was enough to destroy everything he had created.