Ever since learning that Gu Qingfeng was the Chixiao Monarch, Su Hua had been feeling rather dejected.
She simply couldn't reconcile the lazy, casual fellow before her with the peerless hero of legend she held in her heart.
But after hearing Gu Qingfeng's words just now, her perception shifted somewhat.
Especially that line: "Even if the Three Thousand Great Daos cannot tolerate me, I will not bring calamity upon the countless living beings of this world."
It shook Su Hua to her core.
Her emotions were complex.
Even a faint ripple stirred within her.
Gazing at Gu Qingfeng in that moment, she found herself somewhat entranced.
"What, don't believe me?"
Gu Qingfeng's voice snapped her back to reality. Her flawless, beautiful face flushed with an inexplicable hint of shyness. She quickly shook her head, replying, "No, it's not that... I just... suddenly realized you're a bit different from what I imagined."
"Different is good."
"If—I mean *if*—if the Three Thousand Great Daos could truly accept you, you really wouldn't defy the heavens anymore, right?"
"You said it yourself—it's just an *if*. Do you think, in my situation, the Three Thousand Great Daos are likely to accept me?"
"Nothing in this world is absolute. Isn't that what you always used to say?"
Su Hua offered a faint, gentle smile. "If you believe me, give me some time. I can try."
"Try what?"
"To persuade them."
"Persuade them? The Three Thousand Great Daos?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a laugh. "I say, little sister, you were the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens in your past life. How can you say something so naive?"
"I'm not being naive! If you truly give up contending for the Human King throne, I think there's real hope. After all, the Present-Ancient Era has just begun. The origins of all Three Thousand Great Daos are in the process of re-derivation. Before their foundational principles are perfected, they won't act rashly. Moreover, you survived the Divine Judgment. I think the Three Thousand Great Daos themselves are wary of your existence—at the very least, they wouldn't dare move against you recklessly again. I can seize this opportunity to see if I can persuade them."
"But that's the Three Thousand Great Daos."
"While it's called the Three Thousand Great Daos, in reality, one only needs to persuade the Ten Directions Great Daos—the Heavenly Dao, Immortal Dao, Buddha Dao, Monster Dao, Devil Dao, and the like. As for the other Daos, they've always followed the lead of the Ten Directions."
"I believe you can get a word in with the Immortal Dao. But the Buddha Dao, Monster Dao, Devil Dao, the Heavenly Dao itself, and the rest of the Ten Directions... how do you plan to persuade *them*?"
Su Hua smiled mysteriously. "I have my ways."
"Oh ho, didn't see that coming."
Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze over Su Hua. Noting her aura of profound Fortune, he chuckled. "I almost forgot. The origins of the Fortune you carry are indeed no small matter."
Su Hua was blessed with immense Fortune.
Much of it was so profound even Gu Qingfeng couldn't see through it. But he knew that the great Fortune upon her was connected not only to the Immortal Dao, but also to the Buddha Dao, the Heavenly Dao, and indeed all Ten Directions Great Daos.
This proved that Su Hua was undoubtedly the legendary Tribulation-Bearer—and the tribulation she bore concerned the very Three Thousand Great Daos. Otherwise, such great Fortune from all these Daos would never have gathered upon a single person. By doing this, the Great Daos meant to win her over, show goodwill, make an investment, and at the same time, protect Su Hua.
However.
Even so, Gu Qingfeng didn't believe Su Hua could persuade the Three Thousand Great Daos. Because he understood better than anyone that his very existence was likely an intolerable threat to the Three Thousand Great Daos, and perhaps even to Heaven and Earth itself.
"For your sake, for mine, and for all of ours, regardless of the outcome, I want to try."
Since Su Hua put it that way, Gu Qingfeng couldn't be bothered to argue further. He shrugged, noncommittal. It wasn't his business anyway.
"But before that, could you please avoid any further conflict with the Three Thousand Great Daos? And stop this bloody feud with the Immortal Dynasty of this world."
"You make it sound like I enjoy stirring up trouble. What if they insist on causing trouble for me? What then? Should I just stand there and take a beating?"
"You know that's not what I mean. I'll do my best to persuade the Three Thousand Great Daos. I'll also warn the Immortal Dynasty not to provoke you."
"Fine, no problem. If they don't seek trouble with me, I won't go looking for trouble with them. If they have a death wish, then I'll just have to teach them the difference between life and death."
Su Hua opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but held back.
She knew that Gu Qingfeng's willingness to relinquish the Human King throne was already a monumental concession. Asking for anything more would be excessive.
"Alright, we've said what needed saying, and even what didn't. Are we done here?"
Gu Qingfeng stood up and glanced at the sky. Unnoticed, it was already noon.
"Do I... really make you feel so disgusted?"
Su Hua stared at the impatient Gu Qingfeng, her eyes tinged with resentment, a faint sorrow in her heart.
"I never said anything like that."
"You haven't said it, but you've been acting it all along."
Su Hua had never felt this way before—the feeling of being disliked, even detested, disliked to the point of impatience, detested as if the other person didn't want to exchange another word.
She didn't like this feeling. She especially didn't like it.
"Miss Su, I'm doing this for your own good. I'm an ill-omened person. I'm a scourge not only to the Three Thousand Great Daos, but to Heaven and Earth as well. Getting entangled in karma with me does you no favors. You might say you're not afraid, not worried, but those are just words. The matter hasn't landed on your doorstep yet, so you're fearless. When that day truly comes, you won't even have a place to cry."
Although Gu Qingfeng didn't know exactly how bitter the Sea of Bitterness was.
He knew that whatever could drive Yun Nichang to bury her soul and be reborn, force Feng Zhuyue and Tang Hengheng into sealed slumber, and make Jun Xuanji choose to lose herself... that so-called Sea of Bitterness must be far more terrifying than one could imagine.
He might not understand Yun Nichang, nor Feng Zhuyue or Tang Hengheng.
But he understood that woman, Jun Xuanji, very well.
One could say that in his five hundred years of cultivation, he feared neither the heavens above nor the earth below, neither Immortals nor Devils, Buddhas nor demons and monsters. The only one he felt a genuine, bone-deep trepidation towards was Jun Xuanji.
Just think—if even a woman like Jun Xuanji would rather lose herself than touch the Sea of Bitterness, how utterly dreadful must that thing be?
He didn't know.
Gu Qingfeng couldn't even imagine it.
"Perhaps it's as you say. Because I don't know the terror of the Sea of Bitterness, that's why I'm fearless."
Su Hua spoke softly. "But I don't care. I don't mind."
"Your realm is high, you're impressive, alright? So then, is there anything else? Can I go now?"
"You!"
Su Hua pointed at Gu Qingfeng, fuming. She turned around, not wanting to look at him anymore, and replied, "Go if you want."