The Stairwell's Betrayal

Half a day later.

On a desolate, weed-choked path lined with a few scattered wildflowers, a white-robed youth walked alone.

"Hm?" Suddenly, a golden-armored giant appeared and said with a smile, "I am Dong'e. And you are?" He was curious; he should have known all the gods on Thousand Star Island.

"God Dong'e," Ji Ning said with a smile. "I am Darknorth. I have just arrived at Thousand Star Island."

"Just arrived? I thought so. I know every god on Thousand Star Island," God Dong'e laughed heartily. "I also know nearly all the Empyrean Gods in the Three Realms, but I've never heard of you. You must have become a god in the last few tens of millions of years. Did you cross the Demon Ice Valley alone to get here?"

"Indeed," Ji Ning nodded.

"Come, come, come! I'll take you to meet Greatdream," God Dong'e said, brimming with excitement.

"Greatdream?" Ji Ning looked puzzled.

God Dong'e laughed. "Greatdream also crossed the Demon Ice Valley and reached this place through his own power. He is incredibly strong…" As they walked, he kept up a steady stream of conversation, trying to build rapport. Ji Ning maintained the role of a newcomer to Thousand Star Island, acting completely ignorant.

…

A black immortal mansion sat halfway up a mountain slope. A black-robed man walked out and looked down. Next to him, another God Dong'e appeared—he had split into multiple clones to watch over the different areas and to guard against a potential ambush from the Evil God or the Throat-Slitter.

"What is it?" the black-robed man asked with a smile.

"Greatdream," God Dong'e quickly said. "I met an Empyrean God I've never seen before. After talking with him, I learned he only became a god in the last few tens of millions of years within the Three Realms. And he made it to our Thousand Star Island by crossing the Demon Ice Valley all on his own! That makes four powerful gods on the island now. Most importantly, he is of the human race. We can absolutely recruit him to our Seamless Gate. He could be an Empyrean God for our side."

"Oh?" The black-robed man nodded, pleased. "An extra helping hand for our side is a good thing. Bring him here. I will host a banquet to welcome him properly."

"Yes." God Dong'e nodded and immediately left.

The black-robed man sank into thought.

The human race was the strongest race in the Three Realms, with the Fiendgods close behind. After the Lord of All Demons had led a large number of Seamless Gate experts back into the Three Realms, the two sides had coexisted peacefully, eventually even merging into one family. Many powerful figures from the Seamless Gate walked the Three Realms and interbred with humans and Fiendgods, leaving behind bloodlines and descendants.

Thus, many humans and Fiendgods now possessed 'Fiendgod blood' within them. 'God blood' represented the gods of the Pangu Chaosworld, while 'Fiend blood' represented the powerful fiends of the Seamless Gate.

The presence of Fiendgod blood in humans and Fiendgods… was merely the result of interbreeding over the long, long ages. In truth, the humans of Ji Ning's era inevitably carried a small amount of blood from the Seamless Gate's great powers. Of course, they carried a much larger portion of the blood from the great powers of the Pangu Chaosworld.

Because the leaders of mankind, the 'Three Human Sovereigns,' were firmly on Nuwa's side, human experts generally sided with Nuwa's camp as well. But there were so many humans, and with a trace of Seamless Gate blood in so many of them, many humans did not feel a strong enmity towards the Seamless Gate. Naturally, many were also recruited. In the Grand Xia world, for example, large numbers of Celestial Immortals had been recruited.

Humans and Fiendgods… many had been recruited.

Thus, God Dong'e believed Ji Ning could definitely be recruited, and that he might even be a member of the Seamless Gate already.

"Hmph." A cold glint flashed in the black-robed man's eyes. "Regardless of whether you are Seamless Gate or not, anyone who threatens me deserves to die. As for this Moon Underwater Abyss… it is enough that I walk out of here alive. Other Empyrean Gods? Hmph, dying here is the best outcome for you."

When Greatdream had first entered the Moon Underwater Abyss, the great tribulation had not yet descended upon the Three Realms. The Seamless Gate and Nuwa's camp were not yet in opposing camps, and many relationships were very good. Masters like Stonerule, Patriarch Subhuti, and the Daoist Three Purities were all excellent friends.

Thus, Greatdream didn't really care much whether the newcomer was Seamless Gate or not.

What he needed was merely an excuse!

When he had killed Sun Nine back then, he needed the excuse of 'avenging a blood brother.' Otherwise, that group of Seamless Gate gods, even if they helped him, probably wouldn't have done their utmost.

…

Half an hour later, Ji Ning met Greatdream.

"An Empyrean God who can reach Thousand Star Island through his own power is incredibly rare. From time immemorial until now, counting you and me, there have only been nine," Greatdream said with great warmth, taking Ji Ning's hand. "Come, come, come. Let us talk properly."

Ji Ning smiled and nodded.

The two walked side-by-side, while the other Seamless Gate gods wore friendly expressions.

"Sit."

Greatdream laughed.

On the second floor of the palace, by the railing, Ji Ning and Greatdream sat cross-legged facing each other. Between them was a jade table holding two jugs of Immortal wine and cups.

"It has been so long since a new god has arrived," Greatdream sighed. "It is truly lonely within this Moon Underwater Abyss. The arrival of a new god is the happiest event of my days."

"Might I ask how many on the island have reached Thousand Star Island by their own strength?" Ji Ning asked, holding his wine cup.

"Before you arrived, there were three," Greatdream said with a smile. "Myself, one is the Evil God, and one is the Throat-Slitter. Those two belong to the Pangu Chaosworld camp, while I belong to the Seamless Gate. So generally, we don't have much to do with each other."

Ji Ning looked surprised. "Why is that? Didn't the Pangu Chaosworld and the Seamless Chaosworld shatter long ago? Now there is only the Three Realms. Shouldn't both sides be part of the Three Realms? Why must there be fighting and killing?"

"There is blood-debt."

Greatdream shook his head. "Whether it is them or me, each of us has had many lives important to us taken in that ancient Dawn War. This hatred… prevents our two sides from ever truly becoming one family. Especially the ancient experts; many still hold hatred in their hearts. It is only because the two factions are very powerful that peace is maintained. If one side were weak, the other would have annihilated them long ago."

Ji Ning nodded. What Greatdream said was true.

"Don't let the long peace fool you. Among the great powers of both sides, those who are truly close, like blood brothers, can be counted on one hand. Only a few like Master Stonerule have true, deep friendship with the great powers of the Pangu Chaosworld side," Greatdream shook his head. "The vast majority still have rifts between them."

"As for you, you are fortunate. You only broke through in the last few tens of millions of years. Whether it is the Seamless Gate or the Pangu Chaosworld, they will both see you as their descendant," Greatdream laughed.

In the eyes of Nuwa's camp, the Three Realms were the continuation of the Pangu Chaosworld.

In the eyes of the Seamless Gate, the Three Realms were the continuation of the Seamless Chaosworld.

Both sides considered themselves the masters of the Three Realms!

In truth, neither was wrong. The Three Realms' birth was the direct result of the collision between two Chaosworlds, a great war, and the final coalescence.

"You don't need to get involved in the conflicts between myself, the Evil God, and the Throat-Slitter." Greatdream talked with Ji Ning for a long time.

Ji Ning could not help but inwardly sigh.

No wonder…

No wonder the Throat-Slitter god had deliberately given Greatdream a chance to attack, to test his true character. This Greatdream was truly formidable. Even though he had come to kill Greatdream, after talking with him for so long, even he felt that Greatdream was indeed a decent fellow, worthy of befriending.

"As expected of a personal disciple of a Godking. His skill at playing with people's hearts is truly impressive," Ji Ning thought to himself.

They talked for a while longer.

"Ha ha, look at us talking for so long," Greatdream laughed. "It seems Darknorth and I are truly fated. But you must rest now. By the way, do you have an immortal mansion on you?"

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded.

"Then set up your immortal mansion nearby and get some rest," Greatdream said. "It's safer inside an immortal mansion."

"Safer? Is Thousand Star Island in danger?" Ji Ning asked, surprised.

"Alas, these are the grudges left from ancient times. I won't speak of them. Just be careful, was all." Greatdream smiled. Then he and Ji Ning walked down the stairs of the palace together. And on the very steps of the palace, without any warning, a flash of light sliced towards Ji Ning's waist, intending to cleave him in two.

In that moment, the previous warmth and friendliness vanished from Greatdream's face, replaced by sheer killing intent and icy coldness.

"Anyone who threatens me… dies!" The suppressed killing intent within Greatdream's heart erupted.

"Shhhhick~~~"

The blade light struck Ji Ning's waist, but it was as if it had struck a magic treasure. Sparks flew, yet it could not harm him in the slightest.

Ji Ning turned his head to look at Greatdream, his own gaze turning cold. His right hand transformed into a hazy streak of sword-light as he slashed back.