Translator: Fate Translation Checker: Silavin With the coordinates of the Immortal Spirit Civilisation determined, Gu Changge would be able to guide the armies of the Spirit Ruin True World there. This marked the first step in his grand plan to conquer the entire Boundless Expanse. After leaving the courtyard, Gu Changge summoned the Spirit Empress and instructed her to inform the Ancestors of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family. By following the remaining armies, they would be able to successfully locate the Immortal Spirit Civilisation. For all the Civilisations in the Boundless Expanse, their coordinates were of utmost importance and should be kept hidden at all costs. Likewise, The Prosperous Dao True World was able to conceal its coordinates through the protection of its True Spirit. As a result, it managed to survive countless eras without being targeted by other True Worlds. A powerful Civilisation like the Immortal Spirit Civilisation surely possessed the means to conceal its location in the immense Boundless Expanse so that it would remain hidden from foreign worlds. Gu Changge had been patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity, and now it had presented itself. The Spirit Empress relayed Gu Changge’s instructions to Wan Yanxiu and the other Ancestors, who had been waiting in the courtyard. Without wasting any time, Gu Changge directly handed Wan Yanxiu the coordinate of his Dao Mark and instructed him to lead the Spirit Ruin Royal Family by following the energy fluctuation of the given Dao Mark. “Understood, I will relay this your decree at once.” Wan Yanxiu quickly grasped Gu Changge’s intentions, as did the other Ancestors. All of them reacted differently, some were excited, some were worried, and some were ambitious. They had long been preparing their armies for war as per Gu Changge’s advice. Perhaps being given the coordinates of a mark now was an indication it was finally time to act. It was evident that the Spirit Ruin True World was quite formidable, having thrived through countless generations. Their decision to venture into the Boundless Expanse and hunt down other True Worlds spoke volumes. Witnessing the changes in Spirit Empress after following Gu Changge’s lead swayed their thoughts. Joining forces with Gu Changge in the battle against other Civilisations would undoubtedly bring them numerous benefits and potentially reveal the path to the next cultivation realm. By conquering and plundering the resources of another Civilisation, they would have the means to further their own progress. Gu Changge was well aware of the thoughts and plans brewing within Wan Yanxiu and the others. However, he had always intended to use them as expendable pawns. Their aspirations and desires held little importance to him. Decrees immediately flew out from the courtyard, soaring towards the ancient massive worlds governed by the Spirit Ruin Royal Family. Wan Yanxiu and the other leaders wasted no time, swiftly mobilizing their troops and making necessary preparations. None of them dared to inquire further about how Gu Changge obtained these coordinates. They were also clueless about the next True World they were going to conquer. In the following days, the inhabitants of the massive worlds under the governance of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family sensed the impending warfare. Many elite warriors started to emerge from the major Forces, and even Ancestors who rarely made appearances began to appear. The enlistment decrees received by all Forces were much simpler compared to previous decrees. All Clans under the governance of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family were not allowed to disobey and those above the True Immortal Realm were ordered to depart one after another. Speculations ran rampant in the massive worlds governed by the Spirit Ruin Royal Family. Many Clans believed that the Royal Family had discovered a suitable True World for migration and planned to launch a large-scale attack. Regardless of the various conjectures, none of them dared to defy the decree of the Royal Family. Immortals, who had been in seclusion and remained oblivious to worldly matters, gradually emerged and dutifully assembled as commanded. The ancient ship of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family altered its course in the Boundless Expanse, breaking through the endless fog and heading straight for the marked coordinates. <A great war looms on the horizon, and no Force will be spared. When two Civilisations clash, the losses will be immeasurable. One Civilisation will inevitably be destroyed or enslaved; it is the ancient law that no one can escape from. In these dire circumstances, your only recourse is to swiftly enhance your strength, for even safeguarding yourself may be an uphill battle, let alone seeking revenge against the Spirit Ruin Royal Family.> <In my opinion, the hidden experts of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family are not powerful enough to conquer other Civilisations…> At the Luminary Assemblage Manor, Chu Lian was discussing the shocking changes in the Spirit Ruin Civilisation with the Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition. Although the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s effort of gathering Forces above the Immortal Realm in order to bolster their military strength was mostly unrelated to Chu Lian, he could not shake off the feeling that this war would eventually impact ‘ordinary beings’ like him. Due to this, his desire for strength grew stronger as he realized his own weakness. This did not go unnoticed by the Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition. Despite Chu Lian’s remarkable talents and access to abundant resources for cultivation, time was not easily compensated for. With the current turmoil, it was inevitable that this war would affect everyone. Chu Lian feared that due to the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s cruelty and indifference, he, as an ordinary person, would be conscripted as cannon fodder and be sacrificed on the front lines. After all, the power of the Immortal beings was only minimally acknowledged in the main forces. It would take a long time for him to grow into becoming an Immortal King, let alone an Immortal Emperor. It was not an accomplishment that could be achieved overnight. Although the Sphere of Ambition could assist him and provide many resources, it could not change his current status and help him reach the Immortal King Realm in an instant. Hence, this urgency weighed heavily on Chu Lian. <You want to achieve your goals quickly, but that’s not possible. Cultivation is a gradual process…> The Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition quickly dampened Chu Lian’s enthusiasm. “You’re right, I was being too impatient. I must be stressed by the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s sudden efforts in building an army and their readiness to wage a war.” Chu Lian smiled wryly. He needed a peaceful era to grow, not one filled with chaos and impending war. <Perhaps you can discuss this matter with Young Master Gu. Maybe he can help you?> The Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition suggested. “You’re suggesting to seek help from Young Master Gu?” Chu Lian was slightly taken aback by the suggestion. Recently, Chu Lian had been honing his skills by eliminating Demons and destroying their strongholds alongside ‘Young Master Gu’s followers’ under the request of the Luminary Assemblance Manor. Together, they managed to complete many missions and receive fair compensation for their efforts. This dispelled all the doubts Chu Lian had about Young Master Gu. He realized that Young Master Gu had established the Luminary Assemblance Manor only to make a name for himself in order to gain recognition and trust from people all over the world. Chu Lian had also witnessed high-ranking members of ancient Clans coming to Luminary Assemblance Manor to report and discuss matters with Young Master Gu. It was clear that ‘Young Master Gu’ had gained control over many Clans that had surrendered to the Spirit Ruin Royal Family. It was only at this point Chu Lian realized the influence ‘Young Master Gu’ held over the Spirit Ruin Civilisation surpassed anything he had previously imagined. Upon reflection, it made a lot of sense. After all, ‘Young Master Gu’ came from a more powerful Civilisation and was willing to share his precious possessions. His generosity had earned him a good reputation. Chu Lian could not help but feel envious as he observed how effortlessly Gu Changge was able to rally countless Forces and gain their support. He reckoned that it would not be long before the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s reign could be overthrown. This was something he had always desired, but Gu Changge seemed to be able to accomplish it effortlessly. [I suppose the saying that anything’s possible with wealth is true…] Chu Lian thought to himself. Although he envied him, he could not openly express his discontent since he too benefited from the Young Master’s wealth. Coming back to his senses, Chu Lian asked, “Artifact Spirit, tell me in detail, how can I get Young Master Gu to help me?” The Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition explained, <Since Young Master Gu has held influence over various parts of the Spirit Ruin Civilisation, he most likely knows about the Spirit Ruin Royal Family is currently gathering Forces. As his follower, you can leverage his reputation and seek shelter and benefits for yourself.> Chu Lian’s uniqueness lay in his aptitude as Variable, with an unpredictable and unrestricted past and future. Even the Artifact Spirit could understand why it could not envision how Chu Lian’s growth would look like. However, during this period, Chu Lian’s fate unexpectedly stabilized instead of fluctuating like before. It even appeared as though Chu Lian had lost his aptitude as a Variable. The Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition was unsure if this was a good thing. It decided to wait and observe before mentioning it to Chu Lian. If were to Chu Lian lose his aptitude as a Variable, it would be difficult for him to attain the Immortal Emperor Realm with his current foundation, let alone reach the Dao Realm. After all, Chu Lian’s status as a Variable was the reason why the Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition recognized him as its Master in order to avoid being noticed by others. If Chu Lian lost his aptitude as a Variable, its existence might be exposed and thus draw unwanted attention. Chu Lian nodded, unaware of the subtle changes that had occurred within him. He pretty much understood the explanation given by the Artifact Spirit. However, at his current position, meeting Gu Changge was proving to be very difficult for Chu Lian. In his desperation, he thought of going to the Spirit Empress for help. Ever since the Spirit Empress bestowed upon him the ‘Heaven’ Honorary Token, the two had not seen each other again. Fortunately, several servant girls of the Spirit Empress had been staying at the Luminary Assemblance Manor, so Chu Lian managed to seek their assistance in conveying his requests and concerns to the Spirit Empress. To his relief, the Spirit Empress promptly responded, assuring him that Gu Changge was aware of the situation and would make arrangements for him. A few days later, Chu Lian encountered several unfamiliar faces at the Luminary Assemblance Manor. Among them were both men and women, all of whom carried themselves with grace and elegance. The men exuded a captivating aura, while the women possessed a radiant beauty, with divine light in their eyes as they strode gracefully towards him. Chu Lian was initially taken aback by their arrival but soon learned their identities through their introductions. They were all from prominent Clans under the governance of the Spirit Ruin Royal Family. Their Elders held influential positions within the Royal Family, holding considerable authority. They had come to the Luminary Assemblance Manor in response to their Elders’ orders, and, together with Chu Lian, they would join the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s army and head to the frontlines to hone their skills and rapidly improve their strength. “There’s no need to worry about your safety, Brother Chu Lian. Our Elders have made arrangements for us. The army that we’ll be following will ensure our safety. This is a rare opportunity given to us. If we can be among the first to arrive at that unknown Civilisation, there’s a great chance of reaping numerous benefits.” These young men and women, with their exceptional demeanour and formidable strength, were considered the cream of the crop among their generation. They treated Chu Lian with the utmost respect and explained everything with friendly smiles as if they had already been instructed to do so. Chu Lian was astonished and overjoyed by the unexpected opportunity that had presented itself. It was indeed much safer to accompany the people of such influential Clans. With his safety ensured, he would definitely be able to train and rapidly improve his strength. Moreover, these young elites would eventually assume powerful positions in the future. By forging good relationships with them now, he could establish valuable connections that might aid him in overthrowing the Spirit Ruin Royal Family’s reign in the future. “I never expected that Young Master Gu’s influence has extended even to the Major Clans under the Spirit Ruin Royal Family…” Chu Lian could not help but feel admiration and apprehension towards him. Meanwhile, the Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition observed the scene with an indescribable sentiment. Ever since Chu Lian had encountered Gu Changge, his ‘lucky star’, everything seemed to effortlessly fall into place. He obtained what he lacked and achieved what he desired. This stroke of luck surpassed all expectations and seemed almost miraculous. [At present, the host’s luck is undeniably extraordinary, and everything has gone too smoothly. It appears that there is a lack of challenges that a Variable should normally face. Could it be that a terrible calamity awaits him in this great war?] the Artifact Spirit of the Sphere of Ambition speculated.