Chu Gucheng's voice was icy and ruthless, carrying an indescribable iron-blooded tone that echoed across the worlds, causing many in the Immortal Chu Dynasty to turn pale.
He knew that Gu Changge was trying to shake his Dao Heart.
Once his Dao Heart wavered, the Human Emperor's manifestation he had condensed and the Heavenly and Earthly Fortune he bore would be affected. At this point, there was no room for retreat or hesitation.
"Heh, I must say, as a citizen of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, I truly feel disgusted for them."
Gu Changge's lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze cold and mocking as it swept across the territories of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
In the imperial capital, many ministers wore expressions of sorrow, bitterness, and helplessness.
Although Chu Gucheng had always presented himself as a wise and benevolent ruler, loving his people as his own children, and could be considered a virtuous monarch, he was, after all, an emperor. In critical moments, he had to prioritize the interests of the entire nation.
At this point, not only the citizens but even these ministers could be sacrificed.
What they feared now was whether Gu Changge truly intended to annihilate the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
If that were the case, they might have no choice but to fight to the death. Even if they were no match for Gu Changge, they would still exhaust every means to resist.
"Enough of your demonic words! Do not disturb the hearts of my people in the Immortal Chu Dynasty. If you seek to destroy my dynasty, then all of us in the Immortal Chu Dynasty fear neither battle nor death!"
Chu Gucheng roared once more, understanding Gu Changge's intention to shake the foundation of the Immortal Chu Dynasty and undermine the loyalty of his people at this critical moment.
How could he let Gu Changge succeed?
Boom!
As Chu Gucheng's voice rang out, divine light surged into the heavens from all corners of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
It was the light of fortune, converging like a vast river, filling every inch of the sky, boundless and endless, empowering him.
The once dark and deep void beyond the worlds was illuminated once more, revealing its crystalline clarity.
Chu Gucheng's armor glowed with an indestructible light as he roared and charged forward again.
His cheekbones shone brightly, his blood and bones surged, surrounded by chaotic energy and the light of the Great Dao. A Dao Flower seemed to bloom above his head, each petal taking on a different form, with three indistinct figures seated within, representing the past, future, and present.
This was the fruit of his Ancestral Dao Realm.
"Haha, what a fearless spirit! Since the Immortal Chu Dynasty seeks death, I shall grant your wish."
Gu Changge suddenly laughed, his voice echoing throughout the myriad worlds.
He coldly watched as Chu Gucheng charged at him, then extended a finger. With a bang, blood mist spread as Chu Gucheng's arm exploded, followed by his other arm, then his legs, and finally his head.
Yet, despite such severe injuries, Chu Gucheng did not die this time.
The fruit of his Ancestral Dao Realm had taken root in his soul, drawing upon an endless stream of fortune to nourish it, making the Dao Fruit even more solid and real.
The Immortal Chu Dynasty had nearly limitless citizens, each territory vast as a great universe, with countless living beings inhabiting it.
Even if many perished in this war, it would only take a few thousand years, tens of thousands of years, or even an era to recover and return to its former prosperity.
Such losses were insignificant to Chu Gucheng.
If he could unify the Prime-Origin Civilization, the Immortal Chu Dynasty would reach unimaginable heights in the future, far surpassing its past glory.
For this, he was willing to pay any price, let alone the loss of a few citizens.
Vast territories fell into eternal darkness.
The beings in those universes seemed to bloom for a moment, displaying fleeting beauty before fading into oblivion, becoming sacrifices.
Before their deaths, these citizens had no idea why their consciousness was ripped away while they were praying for their ruler, Chu Gucheng.
Strands of fortune and the power of mortal wishes rose from these dark territories, forming a silver river that filled the sky.
Chu Gucheng's Dao Fruit grew even more radiant, the Dao Flower becoming more crystalline before splitting into three, each petal revealing a faint, indistinct figure.
These three figures, identical to Chu Gucheng in appearance—some ancient, some youthful—exuded immense majesty.
They opened their eyes, stepping out of the Dao Flower, merging into one, unifying the Dao Fruit.
Chu Gucheng's body reformed in the distance.
At the same time, true flames of the Great Dao appeared around him, refining his body as if using the Great Dao as fuel. Every pore and cell was bathed in pure and genuine fortune.
Boom!
A terrifying sound echoed through the heavens, as if an ancient gate was being pushed open, rumbling endlessly. Deep within the void, chaotic true thunder exploded, striking the vast expanse of time and space, sending ripples of the Great Dao in all directions.
At this moment, Chu Gucheng, relying on the mortal wishes and heavenly fortune of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, attempted to unify the Three Flowers and break through the threshold of the Eighth Heavenly Decline.
It seemed as if a true calamity was about to descend upon the myriad worlds—a great, indescribable terror, a vast unknown.
All Dao Realm beings trembled in fear and dread.
A blurry, indistinct gate suddenly appeared beyond the worlds.
All Great Daos, rules, orders, and Dao laws silently disintegrated before this gate.
An eerie, real aura seeped through the cracks of the gate, permeating the surroundings.
Even a wisp of it caused everything nearby to fade, as if, apart from the gate, everything in the myriad worlds was illusory, like paper, like a mirage, like thin mist.
The vision there twisted, space-time shattered, and time itself seemed to dissolve. No one could truly see the gate clearly. (For thrilling novels, visit Feilu!)
This scene caused all Dao Realm guests in the Immortal Chu Dynasty's imperial capital to turn pale, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
"The Heavenly Decline Tribulation is truly descending…"
"The Chu Dynasty's ruler is actually attempting to break through the Eighth Decline at this moment." Many voices trembled slightly.
Gu Changge watched all of this coldly.
That Chu Gucheng would choose to resist him in this way was somewhat unexpected.
However, it was also because Chu Gucheng's cultivation was already nearing the threshold of the Eighth Heavenly Decline.
For Dao Realm beings, the Heavenly Decline Tribulation was the most terrifying calamity. Even the indestructible Heavenly Dao would wither, let alone cultivators.
Though the divine tortoise lives long, it too must die. The same is true for Heavenly Beings. Before reaching Transcendence, no one can truly achieve immortality.
The Heavenly Decline Tribulation is a great calamity that all Dao Realm beings must face when their lifespans reach their end.
Or, due to reaching a bottleneck, certain reasons, or severe injuries, this tribulation may arrive prematurely.
Of course, when cultivators sense they are approaching a bottleneck, they can also attempt to trigger this tribulation, breaking through the bottleneck and achieving ultimate sublimation.
At this moment, Chu Gucheng's actions were an attempt to summon his Heavenly Decline Tribulation prematurely, using the mortal wishes and heavenly fortune of the Immortal Chu Dynasty to bear the burden and help him overcome it.
How terrifying the Heavenly Decline Tribulation is, only those who have experienced it can understand.
All Dao Realm beings now trembled with fear, a shiver running through their souls as if they were facing a natural predator.
The Heavenly Decline Tribulation manifests differently for everyone. Some say it is a Heart Demon Tribulation, others call it the Nine Heavens True Thunder Tribulation.
The most direct manifestation of the Heavenly Decline Tribulation is the weakest point in one's heart—their greatest vulnerability.
No one is without weakness, not even those who have reached the End of the Path.
An eerie aura emanated from the twisted, blurry gate beyond the worlds.
Yet, it also seemed like a radiant world, with immortal light drifting and dense particles of law permeating the air.
Chu Gucheng stood before the gate, his expression twisted in extreme pain. The signs of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man began to appear on him: his clothes became filthy, the flowers on his head withered, sweat poured from his armpits, his body emitted a foul stench, and his jade-like essence scattered.
The twisted, eerie aura carrying a sense of reality continuously washed over him, enveloping his entire being.
His body twisted in an indescribable manner, as if resisting some invisible force.
The area around him became completely distorted and blurred, and then real substances like earth, water, fire, and wind began to appear, accompanied by radiant multicolored light, mist, divine rays, and various true thunders, causing Chu Gucheng to let out agonized roars.
Boom!
A purple, galaxy-like waterfall suddenly poured down from above, blotting out the sky and sun. The mist it raised was filled with chaotic true thunder.
The entire river was composed of tribulation thunder, each strand resembling the primal thunder of creation—ultimate, pure, and containing unparalleled destructive power.
Chu Gucheng was submerged within it, his flesh melting, bones shattering, and even his Dao Fruit cracking, revealing terrifying fissures.
The myriad worlds trembled in unison. From within the twisted gate, it seemed as if an ancient flood had burst forth, crashing down in an instant.
Within the Immortal Chu Dynasty, endless streams of fortune surged toward that place, empowering Chu Gucheng.
But the result was that more and more territories fell into eternal darkness, one starry domain after another losing its light, forever buried in the depths of darkness.
Countless citizens of the Immortal Chu Dynasty witnessed this scene, their faces filled with terror. No one wanted to die in this war.
But Chu Gucheng clearly did not care about their thoughts.
The endless power of mortal wishes originated from the countless citizens' devotion and reverence for him.
Yet now, Chu Gucheng's actions were akin to draining the pond to catch the fish. Many people's faith was beginning to waver.
Chu Gucheng also sensed this. While enduring the boundless pain of the Heavenly Decline Tribulation, he absorbed the mortal wishes from all corners of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, using them to unify his Dao Fruit.
A vast aura filled the heavens and earth. As time passed, the scattered tribulation thunder began to fall from beyond the worlds, sweeping across the various regions of the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Each bolt of thunder carried a terrifying destructive aura, striking the dark universe with thunderous roars, sending ripples of true thunder in all directions, causing continuous tremors.
In the imperial capital, all the guests were utterly shocked.
During this process, no one dared to disturb Chu Gucheng. The Heavenly Decline Tribulation was something ordinary people avoided at all costs, let alone provoke it.
Chu Gucheng had even calculated this, intending to use the opportunity of undergoing the Heavenly Decline Tribulation to resist Gu Changge.
He did not believe Gu Changge would dare to touch the aura of the Heavenly Decline Tribulation unless he was unafraid of being swept into it.
However, how could Gu Changge not see through his thoughts?
But to Gu Changge, the so-called Heavenly Decline Tribulation was no different from an ordinary heavenly tribulation.
Boom!
The sound of increasingly dense tribulation thunder echoed through the heavens, as if a great dragon coiled beyond the worlds.
The tightly shut gate seemed to crack open slightly, releasing an even more intense aura of reality, filling the entire dark sky.
It was as if an eternal, indestructible Heavenly Being was watching the myriad worlds from beyond the gate, observing all living beings.
Layer after layer of Great Dao phantoms descended, each one different—some resembling imperial figures, others like celestial palaces—but all were immensely powerful, representing the strongest Daos to have ever appeared throughout the ages.
Chu Gucheng roared continuously, his flesh melting, his soul fading, his entire body drenched in blood, with not a single intact part left. He resisted all the signs of Heavenly Decline on his body and the terrifying tribulation thunder raining down.
The long river of time trembled violently, its ripples reaching beyond the vast expanse, causing other True Worlds and civilizations to sense the disturbance.
His body continued to shatter and reform.
The area affected by the signs of Heavenly Decline grew larger, gradually consuming his entire being.
"The Chu Dynasty's ruler… he can't hold on much longer…"
All the Dao Realm beings in the imperial capital felt a shared sense of dread, terrified of this calamity, never wishing to face it again.
"Is the Eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation this difficult? Even with the protection of mortal wishes, it's still so arduous." Elder Jin's voice was hoarse, his mouth dry, filled with the same fear.
If he were to face this tribulation, he would have long turned to ashes.
"Father…" Chu Wushang was supported by others, his gaze fixed intently beyond the worlds.
At this moment, countless beings were watching this scene, and many powerful figures from the Prime-Origin Civilization were also observing.
"Ah…"
Suddenly, a scream rang out. Chu Gucheng's body was struck by a Great Dao phantom, his flesh exploding into a mist of blood. Even his soul became indistinct, as if on the verge of being erased.
No one knew how many Great Dao phantoms there were. Even someone as powerful as Chu Gucheng could not withstand the increasingly terrifying pressure.
His cultivation was only nearing the threshold of the Eighth Decline, not yet at its peak.
That was why he borrowed the mortal wishes of the Immortal Chu Dynasty to forcefully undergo the tribulation.
But clearly, he had underestimated the horror of the Eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation. His body was now in a state of semi-destruction.
Boom!
As another Great Dao phantom descended, accompanied by boundless, majestic true thunder, a look of despair and helplessness finally appeared in Chu Gucheng's eyes.
Was he destined to perish here today?
Chu Gucheng's gaze swept across the imperial capital of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, across everyone, and then into the distance.
Gu Changge still stood there, cold and unmoving like an eternal deity. Even as he watched Chu Gucheng's body disintegrate, his expression showed no ripple of emotion, let alone pity.
Chu Gucheng was filled with bitterness. He had struggled so hard, yet it was all for nothing?
Pop, pop, pop…
Just as Chu Gucheng was on the brink of despair, a crisp sound echoed, like the blooming of a long-nurtured flower. (For thrilling novels, visit Feilu!)
The three indistinct figures within his Dao Fruit suddenly merged, giving birth to new life. A rich and vibrant vitality emanated from within.
Chu Gucheng's body, which had been on the verge of death, now radiated with life once more.
"The Dao is unified… I've done it…"
He was overjoyed, as a surge of vitality flowed through his body once again.
At the same time, every cell in his body seemed like a parched desert, greedily devouring the abundant mortal wishes and heavenly fortune filling the world.
Another Great Dao phantom descended, but Chu Gucheng's strength, now that his Dao Fruit was unified, reached new heights.
With a fierce punch, radiant light illuminated the ages, shattering the Great Dao phantom into pieces.
The next Great Dao phantom fell, but Chu Gucheng faced it fearlessly, charging forward. He shifted from passive resistance to active offense, while the signs of Heavenly Decline on his body began to fade, and his cultivation aura subtly changed.
The people in the imperial capital were shaken, many overjoyed.
Just moments ago, they had thought Chu Gucheng would fail the tribulation, but now, against all odds, he had broken through and advanced further.
"It seems the Chu Dynasty's ruler has successfully overcome the Eighth Heavenly Decline Tribulation." The solemn Elder Xingying finally let out a sigh of relief.
Chu Gucheng's figure was bathed in tribulation thunder, and the faint Human Emperor's manifestation behind him became more solid and real with each strike.
Now, that Human Emperor's manifestation seemed on the verge of truly becoming a Human Emperor, merging with Chu Gucheng to achieve the true Human Emperor's Dao Fruit.