The Corruption Dragon God: Lust System Chapter 678 - If regret could kill

Following a kiss shared between Xue Hua and Long Qingyi, whispers and speculative gossip erupted amongst the disciples of the Cosmic Void Sect.

The disciples engaged in idle chatter, some even proclaiming Xue Hua's pregnancy, while others insisted Qingyi had employed dark sorcery to enchant both her heart and Rou'er's affections.

Naturally, such fanciful notions were swiftly dismissed as the ramblings of lazy disciples in need of more strenuous duties.

Any elder who overheard these disciples indulging in such talk would immediately assign them extra chores, from scrubbing the sect's grounds to undergoing punishing training regimens.

The preposterous rumors gradually subsided, though the spread of gossip was far from halted. This chatter wasn't confined solely within the Cosmic Void Sect's borders.

Bai Hu Lie, a prominent figure from the Myriad Beasts Sect, fought valiantly on his own, dispatching five of his brothers who were in the nascent stages of the Celestial Origin Realm. He dedicated this significant victory to Long Qingyi. Upon officially receiving the title of heir to his sect, he implored his father to liaise with the leader of the Cosmic Dawn Sect to orchestrate a marriage between his esteemed sister and his newly sworn brother.

This act only propelled Qingyi's renown to exponential heights, his fame spreading like wildfire throughout the entire northern region of the Celestial Heaven.

Had the various regions not been so geographically isolated, news would surely have reached the central region in short order.

However, the journey proved to be considerably more arduous than it appeared on the surface.

Only a select few vessels were capable of navigating such a vast distance, and their voyages were infrequent, occurring only a handful of times per decade, predominantly consisting of merchant and cargo ships.

Consequently, all the commotion remained confined within the northern region's expanse.

Nevertheless, numerous speculations circulated regarding the potential that Qingyi might

turn his attention to the Ma family's heiress, a notable figure residing in the central region of the Celestial Sky. Furthermore, if he were to succeed in winning the hearts of all three of the northern region's most celebrated beauties, coupled with the Beast Emperor's sole daughter—who, despite her isolation, could easily be hailed as the fourth great beauty—the implications would be extraordinary.

Even those who typically remained indifferent to Qingyi found themselves hoping for such a legendary saga to unfold, if only for the sheer spectacle and drama it would entail.

Unsurprisingly, Ma Zhenwu was one individual who keenly followed this unfolding narrative.

The elder stood upon the balcony of his opulent mansion, his gaze fixed upon the celestial expanse of the planet bestowed upon him as a gift by the sect leader after his successful advancement to the Stellar Sovereign realm. His eyes held a profound weariness, and his breath was shallow. The cool night breeze stirred his robes, yet he seemed oblivious to its touch.

"My dearest little granddaughter... you must find it within your heart to forgive your grandfather... your grandfather harbors no desire to depart this world, yet he shall exert every possible effort, regardless of destiny's dictates!" Zhenwu proclaimed, his chest swelling with conviction.

Yet, this display of resolve was short-lived.

The starry firmament was suddenly obscured by ominous dark clouds, and a distant rumble of thunder echoed, as if the very heavens were reacting to the old man's defiant pronouncement.

He fell into an immediate silence, his jaw tightening. If mere regret possessed the power to extinguish life, he would have long since been buried.

Ultimately, Zhenwu pushed aside the bitter sentiments consuming him, clenching his fists with newfound determination gleaming in his eyes. He vowed to rectify the situation!

He swore that this time, his actions would not lead to further calamity!

Just as a triumphant laugh began to form, he suddenly froze. His gaze snapped upward. With a powerful surge from his feet, he fractured the cloud cover and ascended

into the upper atmosphere, his aged form coming to a standstill in the planet's low orbit. The profound silence of the void pressed against his ears. He scanned his surroundings, searching intently. Then, he perceived it.

A resplendent golden phoenix, seemingly sculpted from pure Qi, was streaking through the void at an astonishing velocity. Its golden radiance pierced the surrounding darkness as it approached, leaving luminous trails in its wake. He extended a single hand. The phoenix gracefully altered its course, veering towards him. Its form dissolved into a cascade of flames and scattered Qi, leaving behind only a solitary scroll that descended gently into his palm. The old man unfurled the scroll without a moment's hesitation. His eyes widened, trembling as he absorbed the contents.

"Grandpa, today, I have finally achieved the First Step into the Path of Extinction Realm, and soon, the time will come to participate in the Divine Maiden Ceremony. I insist that you come witness it, no matter what! If you refuse, I promise I will travel there with my master and bring you back by force! With all my love, your precious granddaughter..."

Zhenwu stood rigid, stunned. For a fleeting moment, an overwhelming wave of happiness washed over him. His granddaughter still held him in such high regard, cherishing him with such deep affection. He had harbored immense fear that this child might succumb to bitterness following the tragic loss of her parents. Fortunately, such a fate had been averted.

However, that fleeting joy rapidly gave way to a crushing despair.

To reach his granddaughter in time for the ceremony, he would need to secure passage on the sect's next departing vessel bound for the central region. But a formidable obstacle presented itself. The sect leader had previously given his word to Long Qingyi that, as compensation for all his contributions to the sect, he would be granted passage on that very ship. That particular region was precisely where Zhenwu least desired Qingyi to venture, for it was the very place his beloved granddaughter called home. He could not permit this to happen. Absolutely not.

But what recourse did he possess?

Ten thousand deaths would be preferable to him than harming an innocent disciple. And the fault lay entirely with him.

In the end, Zhenwu could only curse his fate with a wry chuckle.

***

While Zhenwu lamented the harshness of destiny, Guo Tianhao was in seclusion within a cultivation chamber.

His body thrummed with potent energy as his

dantian

Qi

His eyes snapped open.

A powerful ripple emanated from him, lifting dust from the floor and making the very stone underfoot tremble.

He rose, brimming with power, a frigid glint in his eyes.

Gazing at his own hand, he flexed his fingers, opening and closing them slowly. A grin stretched across his features.

He had finally ascended to the Celestial Origin realm. Now, Qingyi was no more than a mere insect in his sight.

The instant he emerged from the confinement of the cultivation room, his attention was drawn to Li Tianfa, whose lips curved into a smile that was both sorrowful and tinged with amusement.

"What is it?" Tianhao inquired. "Are you about to inform me that Qingyi is deceased and that my chance for retribution is lost?"

Tianfa released a laugh of pain he could no longer suppress.

"It was your own brother who perished, Young Master Tianhao," he stated, his voice lowering. "Your brother is dead, and Long Qingyi has absconded with his wife."