Chapter 387: White Jade Capital

Behind the Heavenly Gate, a massive snow-white stone stele stood tall. Whether viewed from afar or up close, it gave the impression of being insurmountably high, stretching into the endless firmament.

The most striking feature was the three powerful, majestic words engraved on the stele—White Jade Capital!

These three words seemed to contain the might of the heavens and earth. The strokes flowed like dragons and serpents, piercing deep into the stone. Just one glance at them would inexplicably evoke a sense of insignificance, as if fate itself could not be defied.

“White Jade Capital?” Gu Ning’an smirked playfully, raised his sword, and soared past the stele, heading deeper into the misty, ethereal realm of White Jade Capital.

Further in, towering celestial mountains stretched endlessly. Ancient trees reached skyward, exotic flowers and mystical herbs bloomed in profusion, and the air carried a faint, soothing fragrance.

Around these mountains, immortal cranes often glided through the sky, their high-pitched cries piercing the clouds.

Such a scene was indeed the embodiment of how mortals envisioned the immortal realm.

After less than half a stick of incense’s time in flight, seven towering buildings standing in a row came into view.

These structures were built on a foundation of white jade, with emerald-green tiles adorning their roofs. Under the sunlight, they shimmered with a soft, warm luster.

However, beside these seven towers lay five ruins.

Judging by the remnants of broken walls and shattered stones, it wasn’t difficult to infer that these five structures were once just as grand as the ones still standing.

The White Jade Capital, with twelve towers and five cities…

Now, the capital remained, but only seven of the twelve towers stood, while five had been reduced to rubble?

Could someone have arrived before me and already ravaged this place?

As Gu Ning’an pondered, his gaze landed on a hazy figure standing before the rightmost tower.

Upon closer inspection, that figure was shrouded in an intricate, nearly intangible web of gray threads—thin, ethereal strands that flickered in and out of sight.

A layer of gray shadow obscured the figure’s face, making its features appear both blurred and profound, like a traveler emerging from an ancient mural.

Around the figure, ash-like petals drifted down intermittently. These ashes seemed to materialize out of thin air, only to dissolve into nothingness upon touching the ground—like fragments of time slowly fading into the dim light.

Noticing Gu Ning’an’s arrival, the shadowy figure turned to face him. After a brief pause, he cupped his hands and said, “Heaven Arbiter Ashen has awaited Mr. Gu in White Jade Capital for quite some time…”

Heaven Arbiter Ashen?

Is that a Daoist title?

Gu Ning’an descended slowly, stopping a short distance from him. His voice was calm yet sharp: “You must be the one who manipulated my student, Shi Yi, and drove him to take his own life?”

“I wouldn’t call it manipulation, merely a carefully laid design…”

Before Heaven Arbiter Ashen could finish speaking, a crimson sword light flashed in his shadowy eyes!

Clang!

A resounding sword cry, akin to a dragon’s roar, echoed through the heavens!

In that instant, the sky seemed to split open, and an unimaginably brilliant crimson sword radiance erupted like a rising sun, dyeing the heavens blood-red!

In a mere moment, all the creatures within White Jade Capital—immortal cranes, spirit deer—trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground, fearing that even the slightest touch of that terrifying sword aura would reduce them to dust.

The dazzling sword light streaked across the sky, trailing a long, flowing tail like a crimson cloak. It extended beyond the Heavenly Gate, illuminating the darkened lands of Great Wu, turning night into day, before finally dissipating.

As for Heaven Arbiter Ashen, staring at the fearsome sword light that was rapidly closing in, a trace of bitterness appeared on his face: “As expected, the moment we meet, you won’t even let me finish my words before cutting me down…”

Though he spoke with resignation, Heaven Arbiter Ashen did not stand idle. As if well-prepared, he clasped his hands together, and before him, a coffin lid emitting an eerie black radiance appeared!

This coffin lid was utterly bizarre, with inky black light flowing over its surface, exuding an aura of deep mystery.

In the blink of an eye, the crimson sword light struck the coffin lid!

One breath, two breaths, three breaths later—

A sharp crack echoed as the coffin lid, unable to withstand the force, split into two!

Although the devastating sword strike had weakened slightly, it still obliterated the gray threads encircling Heaven Arbiter Ashen and pierced through his body!

Yet, in an eerie twist, even after being impaled by the sword light, Heaven Arbiter Ashen merely bled a single wound before it began healing at a visibly rapid pace.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared completely unharmed, once again cupping his hands toward Gu Ning’an.

Having failed to take him down in one strike, Gu Ning’an immediately mobilized the Hongchen Sword, which had dimmed slightly, preparing to launch another attack!

Seeing this, Heaven Arbiter Ashen quickly spoke up, “Sir, wait! If you strike again, Great Wu will be reduced to a living hell, and no living being will survive!”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an instinctively looked back in the direction he had come from. Through the Heavenly Gate, he saw the lands of Great Wu, now seemingly shrouded in a layer of gray!

Petal-sized ashes swirled in midair, gathering together like gray clouds, drifting slowly.

Sensing the terrifying destructive force hidden within the ashes, Gu Ning’an realized that Heaven Arbiter Ashen was not lying. If this horrifying ash were to fall like torrential rain, no living being in Great Wu would survive.

Well, except for the two True Immortals and the two Great Demons—perhaps they might last a little longer.

“Mr. Gu, would you care to sit down and talk?” Heaven Arbiter Ashen casually waved his hand, conjuring a table and chairs before taking a seat himself.

After a moment of silence, Gu Ning’an sheathed his sword, stepped forward, and sat across from him. With a serious expression, he said, “So this is the righteousness of the so-called immortals of White Jade Capital? Using the lives of the world as leverage?”

At this remark, Heaven Arbiter Ashen chuckled and said, “Mr. Gu, you attacked without hesitation. I truly had no choice but to resort to this, just so we could have a proper conversation.”

Gu Ning’an replied coldly, “What is there to talk about?”

“Mr. Gu, in your current state, you have forgotten many things. Those outside White Jade Capital, even if they knew, could not tell you… But I can.”

At this, Heaven Arbiter Ashen smiled kindly and continued, “But before that, I must formally invite you to become one of us in White Jade Capital.”

“Surely, Mr. Gu, you have already experienced what it feels like to be a true immortal…”

“So I won’t waste words on that. I only hope you will seriously consider whether to join us…”

‘Us?’

So there were indeed others in White Jade Capital beyond the one before him…

Gu Ning’an paused before saying, “I came here to avenge my student. Now you ask me to join you? How can I commit to something I know nothing about?”

“You’d better explain—what exactly is White Jade Capital? Is it a natural evolution of the world, or was it created artificially? And you, Heaven Arbiter Ashen, what does ‘Heaven Arbiter’ mean?”

“Explain it clearly, and then I’ll consider it…”

Gazing at Gu Ning’an’s calm expression, Heaven Arbiter Ashen pondered for a moment before finally smiling and saying, “Then allow me to tell you about White Jade Capital…”