"Jun Xuanji, Tang Henghe, Feng Zhuyue, Yun Nishang, Ye Tianlan... perhaps they all reincarnated because of karma. But if you hadn't flirted with them first, they probably wouldn't have had so many entanglements with you."
"That's not necessarily true."
"What do you mean? You've already done it, and now you want to deny it? A real man should have the courage to take responsibility for his actions. Shame on you, and you call yourself a sovereign."
Gu Qingfeng smiled but didn't respond.
"There's one thing I've always wanted to ask you. Between you and them... is it destined karma... or..."
"If possible, I'd like to know the answer to that question too," Gu Qingfeng said. "Perhaps some of it is destined karma, perhaps some is karma touched by chance, or perhaps, as you said, some karma happened because I flirted with them... As for exactly how it is, I'm not clear either."
"You know what? Jun Xuanji said the same thing."
"Who did you say? Jun Xuanji?" Gu Qingfeng asked in surprise. "You've met Jun Xuanji?"
"Yes, I have."
"When?"
"Nine years ago, in the Great Northwest. After you faced the Sacred Judgment, I had a chat with Jun Xuanji."
"A chat? About what?"
"About you, of course."
"About me?"
"Yes, about you. I asked Jun Xuanji the same question, and her answer was the same as yours. She also said she didn't know whether the karma between you two was destined or touched by chance."
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng's heart grew quite complicated. He knew Yun Nishang had said the same thing. Not only Yun Nishang, but Feng Zhuyue and Tang Henghe had said it too. So, often, he himself didn't know whether the karma between him and them was arranged by fate or simply the workings of karma.
"What else did you talk about?"
"She told me not to see you again. She said I had already fallen into the sea of suffering, I just didn't know it yet. Sooner or later, I would lose myself just like her."
"And yet you still see me."
"I've said it before, I don't care. And I don't feel like I've fallen into any sea of suffering. If I'm already in it, then the sea of suffering doesn't seem so scary."
"By the time you truly realize you've fallen into the sea of suffering, it'll be too late. You won't even have a place to cry. Since you've met Jun Xuanji, you should know what kind of woman she is. Even she lost herself. Aren't you afraid?"
"So, just don't make me cry then."
"How so?"
"Help me find Wudao Mountain and unravel the dream that has haunted me my whole life."
"I'd like to, but unfortunately, I don't have that ability."
"I've said, as long as we keep searching, we'll find Wudao Mountain one day."
"Then you go search for it yourself. I, your lord, don't have the spare time to fool around with you."
"I don't expect you to search with me either. Just promise me that if one day I really do find Wudao Mountain, you'll help me solve the mystery of the dream."
"Fine. As long as I can do it, I'll definitely help you."
"It's a deal. No going back on your word."
Gu Qingfeng strolled leisurely through the cave dwelling, admiring its beautiful scenery while chatting idly with Su Hua.
Su Hua accompanied him, taking this opportunity to voice all the doubts in her heart about Gu Qingfeng one by one.
"There's one more thing. Can you tell me?"
"What is it?"
"Back then, why did you fake your death and use the 'Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea' scheme to leave this world?"
"If I didn't die, would the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao have let me off?"
"Well, that's true. Back then, you overthrew the Immortal Dynasty and killed so many Immortals. It caused quite a stir in the Nine Heavens, shaking the entire Celestial Realm. Over the years, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao has established Immortal Dynasties across the Three Thousand Great Worlds. There have been others who defied the heavens, but to so spectacularly slaughter an Immortal Dynasty, withstand the judgment of the Immortal Dao, and massacre Immortals right in front of the Nine Heavens... you are the first throughout history."
Su Hua did not hide her admiration for Gu Qingfeng. Even though her previous life was as a Mysterious Maiden of the Nine Heavens and her current life as an Envoy of the Nine Heavens, she still held immense respect for Gu Qingfeng's earth-shattering feat back then. Because she knew the Immortal Dynasty of this world at that time was utterly corrupt and tyrannical, completely disregarding the lives of cultivators. Such an Immortal Dynasty completely violated the purpose for which the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao established dynasties in the great worlds. It deserved to be slaughtered, and that was what she admired most about Gu Qingfeng.
"I've always wanted to know, after you faked your death and left this world, where did you go?"
"Nowhere much. Just took a stroll around the Celestial Realm."
"But I never saw you in the Celestial Realm."
"Nonsense! The Celestial Realm is so vast, of course you wouldn't have seen me."
"That's not what I mean. I think with your strength and destiny, even in the Celestial Realm, you definitely wouldn't have remained unknown."
"Back then, although I faked my death and deceived the Immortal Dao with the 'Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea' trick, I also knew that if the Immortal Dao found out I was still alive, it would mean certain death for me. So in the Celestial Realm, I was as meek as a little wife, didn't even dare to breathe loudly. How would I dare to cause trouble?"
"I don't believe a word of that."
Su Hua shook her head. "You are aloof and arrogant, wild and unrestrained by nature, and you used to have such a terrible temper. Even if you knew exposure meant death, you wouldn't endure humiliation and cling to life. When you went to the Celestial Realm, you must have changed your appearance and used another identity. Tell me! Who was your other identity in the Celestial Realm back then?"
"Little sister, you're overthinking it. I, your lord, was really as meek as a little wife in the Celestial Realm back then, just cultivating in seclusion the whole time."
"Hah, I don't believe you!"
Su Hua was certain Gu Qingfeng must have had another identity in the Celestial Realm back then. But as for what identity, she couldn't quite deduce it for the moment. At the end of the Ancient Era, not only were the Three Thousand Great Worlds in turmoil with talents emerging one after another, but the Great Desolate Celestial Realm was no exception. Thinking back carefully, that period in the Great Desolate Celestial Realm also produced quite a few heaven-defying, influential figures.
Like the Great Desolate Cult Master.
Or the Hell Demon Lord.
And the North Sea Sword Saint.
Or the Asura Great Emperor.
The end of the Ancient Era was an extremely chaotic time. This Demon Lord, that Immortal Lord, this King, that Emperor—each one crazier than the last. But the one who left the deepest impression on Su Hua was the Nine Nethers Great Emperor who stirred up the Great Desolate Celestial Realm, turning it upside down.
He was absolutely a hegemon who struck fear into the hearts of all in the Great Desolate Celestial Realm at the end of the Ancient Era.
Challenging the Three Thousand Great Daos alone.
With a single slash of his blade, cleaving the Heavenly Dao of the firmament.
Burning the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao with Nine Nethers Primordial Fire.
In the Great Desolate Celestial Realm, countless Dao Thrones were slain by him, countless Dao Emperor Seals fell because of him, and countless Immortals and Demons were slaughtered by him. He truly killed gods when he met them, slaughtered Buddhas when he encountered them. The reason Su Hua remembered the Nine Nethers Great Emperor most vividly wasn't just because of this series of mad acts, but also because she had been kidnapped by the Nine Nethers Great Emperor back then and nearly died at the hands of that ferocious tyrant.