However.
The reason Elder Xun Daolin dismissed his intention to act was not because he admired Monarch Chixiao, nor because he had done Monarch Chixiao a favor, and certainly not because the Monarch had shown him loyalty in the past.
It was because he knew the Monarch, understood the Monarch, and knew all too well what kind of temperament, what kind of disposition, and what kind of person Monarch Chixiao truly was.
"Senior Daolin, you know what Young Gu is like," Wine Immortal Zhen Yang's words made Xun Daolin's heart skip a beat. He cast a deep look at Zhen Yang and nodded, expressing his gratitude.
Yes.
Gratitude.
He felt he had been far too impulsive just now. If he had truly acted and killed little Jinr, and Monarch Chixiao were to learn of it, the issue wouldn't be about whether he would let the matter rest or not, nor would it be about disaster or no disaster. It would be...
What exactly it would be, Xun Daolin didn't know. But in his heart, he would rather face the disaster brought by the Calamity Star than face the disaster brought by Monarch Chixiao. Just as Zhen Yang had said, the disaster brought by the Calamity Star would be, at most, a disaster. But the disaster brought by Monarch Chixiao would absolutely be far more than just a simple disaster.
Thinking of this,
Xun Daolin hesitated, unsure of what to do.
But his hesitation immediately sparked discussion among the great sects of the world.
Some agreed, some opposed.
Those who agreed also felt Zhen Yang's words were not without reason.
If Monarch Chixiao had not appeared over a decade ago, no one would truly fear him.
But it just so happened that over a decade ago, the former overlord Monarch Chixiao truly did appear. Not only did he appear, but everyone saw it clearly with their own eyes. Thousands joining forces could not shake him in the slightest. Even more terrifying, he personally slew a Modern Era Mandate. Most horrifying of all, everyone knew that killing a Mandate would inevitably incur Heaven's Retribution. Yet that day, though heavenly might descended, it only descended. No retribution was delivered.
Who could even imagine how terrifying a person was, if even the heavens dared not punish him?
Of course.
The opponents did not believe this. The fact that Monarch Chixiao did not suffer Heaven's Retribution that day did not mean he would not suffer it later. Monarch Chixiao had not appeared again since vanishing from Shangqing Sect. It had been over ten years, and it had remained so. Many believed that perhaps Monarch Chixiao truly had suffered Heaven's Retribution and had long since perished.
Everyone believed that disasters wrought by heaven might be forgiven, but those wrought by one's own actions were inexcusable.
As the saying goes, good and evil will always be repaid; the Heavenly Dao ensures the wheel of karma turns.
If you don't believe it, just look up and see—has the vast heavens ever spared anyone?
Many firmly believed that Monarch Chixiao publicly slaying a Modern Era Mandate was absolutely a sin of his own making, and the vast heavens would certainly not forgive him.
At that moment, the Sect Master of Dacheng Sect, Golden Cicada Master, stepped forward and declared righteously: "Let us set aside for now whether Monarch Chixiao has suffered Heaven's Retribution. Even if he hasn't and is still alive, so what? Are we supposed to fear him?"
With a cold snort, Golden Cicada Master continued: "Golden Immortal Daolin, do not forget that our world now has a leader—the Taiji Human Prodigy, the world's leader, the Taiji Human Prodigy who will be the future King of the Human Dao, ruling over all living beings."
Immediately after,
the Sect Master of Chunyang Sect also spoke: "That's right. No matter how powerful Monarch Chixiao is, he is, at most, just one man. As long as he is human, he must abide by the Human Dao. No matter how powerful Monarch Chixiao is, could he possibly be more powerful than the current world leader, the Taiji Human Prodigy, the future King of the Human Dao ruling over all living beings?
What a joke!"
Next, the Sect Master of Qianxing Sect also stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying: "We firmly believe that the Taiji Human Prodigy, Shangguan Yu, will certainly uphold justice for all living beings under heaven. Since that is the case, we naturally have no need to fear that Gu Tianlang."
"Indeed! If we, cultivators of this generation, were to turn a blind eye and allow the Calamity Star to remain unchecked merely because we fear Gu Tianlang, wouldn't we be utterly spineless?"
"Golden Immortal Daolin, we have always respected you. You have always been our senior. These words are not meant to question or challenge you. We merely hope that you, Senior, will not be misled by the slanderous words of certain individuals, thereby delaying a major affair. If we do not immediately slay this Calamity Star, once disaster strikes and endangers the common people of this world, none of us can bear that responsibility!"
"Slanderous words?"
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang flared up on the spot, angrily retorting: "You bunch of bastards have truly forgotten the pain once the wound has healed! Over a decade ago, Young Gu didn't slaughter every single one of you, and you motherfuckers think he didn't dare or what?
That kid's motherfucking daring enough to kill a Modern Era Mandate; is there anything in this world he wouldn't dare do?
Let me tell you bastards this: if you really kill little Jinr today, then go back home and properly prepare your funeral arrangements!
When the time comes, no motherfucker will be able to save you!"
"Hmph!"
Golden Cicada Master, Sect Master of Dacheng Sect, sneered disdainfully: "I admit Gu Tianlang's abilities are formidable. We are no match for him. But that does not mean he can hold sway over this world single-handedly. Perhaps he could in the past, but now we have the Modern Era's world leader, the Taiji Human Prodigy, the future master of all living beings, the Lord of the Human Dao. Even if Gu Tianlang's abilities reach the heavens, before the Taiji Human Prodigy, he would only have the right to kneel!"
"I spit on that!"
Wine Immortal Zhen Yang viciously spat a mouthful of saliva onto Golden Cicada Master's face and shouted: "World leader Taiji Human Prodigy?
And the motherfucking future master of all living beings, Lord of the Human Dao?
Who conferred that title?
You conferred it, boy?
Go call that kid surnamed Shangguan over here and ask him if he dares call himself the master of all living beings, the Lord of the Human Dao?"
"He's nothing but a Taiji Human Prodigy, still a motherfucking hundred thousand miles away from being the master of all living beings, the Lord of the Human Dao. Never mind that the kid isn't even the Human Dao Lord now; even if he truly ascended to become the Human Dao Lord, you think Young Gu would fear him?
Young Gu killed a Modern Era Mandate, and the heavens didn't even dare fart. What the hell does a Taiji Human Prodigy amount to!"
Golden Cicada Master wiped the saliva from his face, hopping mad with rage. Pointing at Zhen Yang, he said word by word: "Zhen Yang, you go too far!"
"I'm bullying you today, so what?
If you're not convinced, want to have a go?"
Zhen Yang was famously hot-tempered. He meant what he said and truly dared to fight Golden Cicada Master right then and there in front of everyone under heaven. Fortunately, Zhen Ting beside him and Xun Daolin intervened, stopping him.
At that moment.
Various rainbows suddenly appeared in the night sky.
The rainbows bloomed, filling the sky.
These rainbows, sacred and pure like auspicious signs descending from heaven, collided with the blood-sea-like dark clouds in the night sky, emitting crackling sounds.
The rainbows were sacred rainbows, holy rainbows, as if heavenly blessings had descended.
The blood sea was an evil blood sea, a terrifying blood sea, as if heavenly disaster was imminent.
The collision of the two, like fire and water being incompatible, caused continuous explosions in the night sky, making space itself tremble incessantly.
Witnessing this scene, the crowd felt neither surprise nor fear, not even a hint of worry. On the contrary, each and every one of them grew very excited, agitated. Some even knelt and bowed to the ground, for they all knew that when auspicious signs descended from heaven, it surely meant a Human Prodigy was arriving.