In "Shen's" concept, the Land of Truth is incomplete, so no matter how They proceed, They cannot break through the heavens that contain Them.
Thus, from the Origin, He discerned and proposed the so-called Immortal Substance and Creation Substance.
The existence of these two substances created chaos, and from chaos worlds evolved, worlds gave birth to sentient beings, and sentient beings generated forces such as fortune and faith, from which Immortal Substance and Creation Substance can be condensed again.
This precisely forms a perfect cycle; the Vast Expanse is like the natural nurturing soil that gives birth to all life. The two substances He desires can be extracted from it.
The emergence of the Great Epoch Cataclysm, in a certain sense, is actually to harvest these fortunes.
Unlike how Gu Changge previously harvested Fortune's Favored Children, slowly wearing them down and extracting all their value before reaping them, the method of the Great Epoch Cataclysm is more akin to a clean sweep. After all, after a long period, the nurturing soil of the Vast Expanse will once again gestate and give birth to new beings, endlessly cycling back and forth.
The Land of Truth differs from the Vast Expanse; all its matter was taken away after the original heaven and earth were created. To perfect the Land of Truth and make it closer to completeness, more Immortal Substance and Creation Substance are required.
The Three True Ancestors each explored based on their own ideals, and Gu Changge was no exception…
Of course, he also agreed with "Shen's" idea and formulated complete Cataclysmic Tribulation rules, for which the living beings of the Vast Expanse faced an unchanging reckoning tribulation.
A Minor Reckoning every few epochs, a Major Reckoning every several hundred epochs, and an Epochal Reckoning that brings an Epochal Winter to the entire Vast Expanse.
His thoughts returned.
At the center of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, after Gu Changge finished refining the World Orb, he turned his attention to the Dao Chang True World.
"Next, Wu Yue's side will act against the Land of the Nine Heavens. With the Heavenly Faction as the vanguard, they can cause considerable trouble for the Land of the Nine Heavens."
Through this process, using Immortal Substance and Creation Substance, he transformed everything within the Dao Chang True World, the sky full of substances drifting down like starlight into it, merging into the void.
It was not that he suddenly had the leisure to do this, but rather wanted to verify his previous speculations.
In this world, there is no existence that understands the True Ancestors better than the True Ancestors themselves. The Three were conceived in nothingness, born from ineffable, unimaginable places. If there is anyone who understands Them, it is still Them.
Thus, during this period, Gu Changge was also pondering one matter: whether "Shen" or "Xuan," each held their own ideals and persisted for a long time, having walked far along that path. He, too, only commenced his own schemes after confirming there were no errors.
Currently, the situation cannot rule out that the Two Ancestors also schemed against him, concealing some plans he was unaware of. But there is also a possibility that something he did not anticipate has occurred.
"But no matter the situation, it is impossible to spy on my actions within the world I created."
"The existence of the Dao Chang True World is no secret, but compared to the entire vast Vast Expanse, it is like a small puddle. Any slight disturbance within it, I can instantly detect, thereby verifying whether there are any gazes I cannot perceive watching all of this."
The Vast Expanse is as vast as the sea; a pebble falling in creates ripples that can be entirely ignored. Gu Changge cannot constantly monitor the Vast Expanse, let alone notice that tiny ripple. But in the Dao Chang True World, it is different; once a small pebble falls, he can instantly notice.
His transformation of the Dao Chang True World with Immortal Substance and Creation Substance is precisely for this reason.
The Transcendence Codex, the Heaven-Restraining Sect legacy, and the previous self-inflicted slash of Heavenly Will that made many living beings forget the matter of slaying heaven, as well as the existence of Ye Suyi, all tell him that in the unseen, there is a force manipulating the Vast Expanse, and without hiding its presence from him.
Now, he is ostentatiously gathering and condensing Immortal Substance and Creation Substance to transform the Dao Chang True World, in order to attract the attention of that force. If that force wants to spy on his plans, it cannot avoid what he is doing now.
"On this path I have chosen, has someone already seen the future and vaguely knows my plans and intentions?"
This is the guess Gu Changge has arrived at during this period. The person behind the scenes might not necessarily be "Shen" or "Xuan."
He needs to make an extra preparation for this.
While Gu Changge was transforming the Dao Chang True World, within the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, due to the spread of its teachings, faith power surged. While condensing Immortal Substance and Creation Substance, Gu Changge also intentionally let these substances scatter, forming various opportunities and fortunes across the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
He deliberately forced growth. People of Great Fortune, Heaven-Ordained Protagonists, who originally would only appear after millions of years or several epochs, had been springing up like a geyser during this time, appearing in different realms and universes.
At times, within a single universe, multiple great-fortune figures like protagonists would emerge, and in the process of growing, they would vie for the title of the universe's protagonist.
A True World contains even more worlds and universes, so great-fortune figures began to emerge at a terrifying rate.
With the emergence of these great-fortune figures, the overall fortune of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance also surged wildly.
Such degree and speed left the various True World civilizations of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance feeling incredulous and shaken.
Because many began to notice that the more devout, fervent, and steadfast one's faith was, the more opportunities and fortunes would converge upon them. This had already become a major trend.
In recent years, those who had emerged with great destiny and great phenomena were, without exception, the most devout believers of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, who steadfastly believed in the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance from the bottom of their hearts and were willing to strive for the great cause of slaying heaven.
Additionally, practicing the Summoning Scripture bestowed by Gu Changge could condense purer faith power. During cultivation, the fortune that gathered upon one would also increase. This was a positive feedback cycle.
This also led many cultivators to abandon their original cultivation paths and begin to focus intently on studying the Summoning Scripture, continuously contributing to the surging fortune of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
Gu Changge was also monitoring this situation, constantly rectifying deviations.
This was, in itself, a method of taking from the sheep to use on the sheep. Faith power came from the hearts and minds of beings of all races and traditions. After he harvested it, he condensed and extracted it, and the slightest bit of Immortal Substance and Creation Substance that leaked through the gaps between his fingers was enough to make these people ecstatic, as if they had obtained a supreme treasure.
Even Dao Realms existences began to gradually go mad, delving into faith power. The entire Heaven-Slaying Alliance presented an indescribable fervent, fanatical state.
But the overall strength and fortune of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance also grew rapidly. Previously, reaching the Immortal realm required tens of thousands of years of cultivation, but now, under the boost of faith power, more opportunities and fortunes were gained, and the speed of advancement was terrifying.
Perhaps it now takes only a few thousand or a few hundred years. Even more terrifying, some obtained a creation akin to a System or Golden Finger, ascending to the heavens in a single step and reaching the Immortal realm within a few months.
Of course, this also had a downside: once one's mind became impure, faith not sufficiently steadfast, or if doubts, waverings, or even thoughts of rebellion against the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and wanting to dominate alone arose, then all the opportunities and fortunes gained would be lost overnight, turning to nothing.
"Hahaha, there is actually such a thing as a System in this world. As long as I have time, I will definitely surpass the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and replace him…"
In a remote small city, a youth who was long despised by his family and neglected, today after being rejected in a marriage proposal, went to the Heaven-Slaying Shrine to pray and chant. He had previously been an unwavering believer of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, rain or shine, praying on time daily and offering tributes, persisting for many years.
He craved power. He had always heard that by believing in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and becoming its believer, one could obtain many benefits, avoid illness and calamity, and become a superior person.
He was also sincerely fanatical and reverent toward the great existence like the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, who governed the entire vast Vast Expanse, and dreamed every day of becoming such a figure himself.
Today, after being rejected by his former fiancée, he unexpectedly discovered that an additional System, something he had never heard of before, appeared in his mind.
As long as he followed the System's orders and did certain tasks, he could obtain corresponding benefits. This was simply a supreme fortune of ascending to heaven in one step, gains without labor.
The youth was beside himself with excitement. After completing the day's task according to the System's instructions, he gained thirty years of cultivation, instantly becoming a cultivator of the Third Realm in this world. Then he found those who had bullied him before, taught them all a lesson, and broke their limbs.
Those clansmen who looked down on him also suffered his revenge, and no one dared to belittle or offend him anymore.
Seeing that he had such a destiny, the youth's heart swelled with heroic ambition. All the past frustrations and difficulties were swept away. He felt that as long as he had time, he could even replace the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and rule the Vast Expanse.
As soon as this thought arose, the youth felt an uncontrollable surge of excitement.
"System, what is my next task? My current cultivation realm is still too low…" he quickly asked his System.
But soon, the youth was dumbfounded.
As his awe and reverence for the Heaven-Slaying Alliance faded, the System, which he could hear just a moment ago, vanished in an instant.
There was no response. All his calls sank like stones into the sea.
If someone were watching from the side, they would see a faint light fly out from between the youth's brows and then drift toward other places.
Before the youth could comprehend what was happening, his face was filled with panic. He continuously asked his System, but no matter how he called, there was no reply.
Then, his face turned deathly pale, and he finally realized that the destiny that allowed him to ascend in a single step had disappeared right before his eyes. The cultivation that had filled his body moments ago instantly deflated, vanishing completely.
All that had happened seemed like a great dream.
"Why did this happen…" The youth was utterly despondent, unable to understand.
And scenes like this had been playing out across various regions of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance during this period.
More and more people noticed this miraculous scene, finding it too incredible. Wasn't this ascending to the heavens in a single step?
As long as one became a believer of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, with exceptionally unwavering and pure faith, and gained its recognition, one could obtain supreme fortune, possess vast magical power, and become a superior person in one leap.
Compared to those cultivators and beings who toiled in bitter cultivation, step by step, this method was too unbelievable, unimaginable, and difficult to accept and acknowledge.
However, as more and more such incidents occurred around them, those cultivators who originally believed that all great power in this world came from themselves, who had steadfastly held to that, gradually wavered and could no longer persist.
Imagine: since childhood, one had outstanding talent, trained their bones and physique from age three, consumed all kinds of heavenly treasures, cultivated diligently without slacking, and only then gained their current cultivation and talent.
Yet the other party was just an ordinary person, with ordinary bones and ordinary talent, who had never consumed any heavenly treasures, but because of their faith in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, fortune gathered upon them. One day they obtained great destiny, passed by a stall, casually bought a ring, and inside was an unclaimed treasure vault cave. By relying on the opportunities within, in just a few months they reached a level that took oneself half a lifetime to achieve.
How could anyone be willing to accept that?
The emergence of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's teachings and tenets during this period was tantamount to telling the world: as long as you become a devout believer of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, then anyone, any person, has a chance to become the protagonist in a story or tale.
What is a protagonist? A protagonist is an anomaly, unpredictable, an existence that fate cannot fathom. Every protagonist would stir up storms in their respective era and world, accomplishing great deeds and achievements.
And now, the waters of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had become completely muddied. Heavenly Secrets were obscured, celestial phenomena faded, and fate was even more unpredictable. Gu Changge continuously artificially shaped creatures like protagonists, further churning these waters more and more turbidly.
Originally, with the Cataclysmic Tribulation approaching, heaven and earth would grant recognition, and great-fortune figures, protagonist-like beings, would no longer be common in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
As a result, a series of chain reactions occurred. In a short time, many experts who had never appeared before emerged in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, and the surging fortune was so vast that the civilizations of various True Worlds were shocked and trembled.
Of course, Gu Changge's actions were no different from pulling up seedlings to help them grow.
Those so-called lucky chances and encounters were all formed from the Immortal Substance and Creation Substance he created and condensed, meaning that all those great-fortune figures would be under his control.
After research, many also discovered these problems. Once faith in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance became impure, and wavering thoughts arose, all previously obtained encounters, fortune, cultivation, and magic power would turn into bubbles.
Such a method had already gone against the orthodox path of cultivation.
In secret, many ancient existences believed that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's actions were purely heretical, wholly opportunistic, no longer following the original intent of cultivating the Dao. It completely led people to harbor a mentality of getting something for nothing, complacent, just waiting for fortune and destiny to fall onto their own heads.
However, from a true sense, who among those who have reached the pinnacle and looked down upon all living beings does not have great fortune accompanying them? Who has not once obtained numerous opportunities and creations, heavenly treasures, inherited cultivation methods, immortal artifact legacies…
Those opposing voices were soon drowned out by various criticisms.
Those who felt the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's actions were heretical were mostly those who had already achieved success in cultivation, standing at the pinnacle of power. Among them were Dao Realms existences, and even Ancestral Dao Realm figures. Although they had submitted to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, they did not wish to see Gu Changge continuously enhancing the Alliance's strength through such methods. They believed this was very wrong, not in accord with the laws of nature, and even less in line with the natural principles of the growth and cultivation of all things in heaven and earth.
Of course, with their cultivation and Dao attainments, they could also grant such creation and shape ordinary people into experts, but personal energy was limited after all. They neither had the inclination nor the energy.
Moreover, this artificial interference with the grand trends of heaven and earth, interfering with the fate of a living being, making its future obscure and unfathomable — the karma borne would be immense, wouldn't it?
Now, Gu Changge was stirring up the entire Heaven-Slaying Alliance, which comprised countless civilized True Worlds, universes, and spacetimes.
They had cultivated for countless years to reach this step, yet Gu Changge, in just a few hundred years, had created so many experts. If given another thousand or ten thousand years, what changes would the Heaven-Slaying Alliance undergo?
Of course, for those cultivators at the bottom, they cared not about such things. The opportunity to ascend to the heavens in a single step was right before their eyes; who wouldn't be tempted? What was the purpose of the Dao path? Wasn't it to become stronger and superior?
In their view, the opposing voices stemmed from the fact that the Heaven-Slaying Alliance's actions had already touched the fundamental interests.
Those Dao Realms existences, and even the Ancestral Dao Realm figures who overlooked the myriad worlds from independence, were merely lucky. They had reached that step because they had obtained countless benefits and fortunes.
If they too received those benefits and fortunes, they could also reach that step.
Gu Changge did not respond to anything. To the outside world, it appeared he indeed did nothing, only sitting in charge of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, instructing his followers to propagate the teachings and tenets.
However, the entire Heaven-Slaying Alliance underwent earth-shaking changes because of this.
In the original pond, one after another restless catfish appeared, thoroughly muddying the waters. Those creatures hiding deep in the mud were forced to reveal themselves…