Hearing Nalan Qianqiu say this, Su Hua grew even more worried inside. She murmured, "So, if we hand over Xiao Jinr, Gu Qingfeng will be safe... But if Gu Qingfeng refuses to hand her over, not only will Xiao Jinr not survive, it's likely even Gu Qingfeng will..."
"That's why, Junior Sister, you were truly too impulsive back then. You didn't consider the severe consequences at all. You should never, ever have called that Gu fellow over!"
Perhaps noticing Su Hua's panic-stricken state, Nalan Qianqiu comforted her again, "But you don't need to worry too much. Nothing in this world is absolute. Don't be fooled by how the Immortal Dao and the others are glaring like tigers right now, but unless absolutely forced, they definitely won't act rashly. That Gu fellow is too mysterious, too bizarre, and filled with unknowns and uncertainties. Whether it's the Immortal Dao, the Demonic or Devilish Paths, or even the Buddhist Path, none of them are confident they can definitely eradicate that Gu fellow. Moreover, once they start a war with him, none of them can predict exactly what terrifying consequences it might trigger."
"If they were confident, the Immortal Dao and the others wouldn't be deadlocked here, hesitating to act. They are like this, and that Gu fellow is no exception. He understands clearly that even if his own abilities are great, they are not greater than the Three Thousand Great Daos, and certainly not greater than Heaven and Earth. Most importantly, Xiao Jinr's safety is now the top priority. Facing the Three Thousand Great Daos, that Gu fellow can't even guarantee his own safety, so how can he guarantee Xiao Jinr's?"
"The Immortal Dao and the others won't start a war unless absolutely forced, and the same goes for that Gu fellow. This is another deadlock, one that neither side wants but has to face. To break this deadlock, either the Immortal Dao side compromises, or that Gu fellow compromises. But I think the Immortal Dao side definitely won't compromise, and that Gu fellow... probably won't either."
Su Hua asked, "Does that mean the situation will just stay deadlocked here?"
"Don't worry, it won't. The Buddhist Path's Swastika Seal can't hold for much longer. Once the seal collapses, the Blood Moon will change again, and Xiao Jinr's soul will awaken once more. The Immortal Dao won't allow Xiao Jinr's soul to awaken, and neither will Gu Qingfeng. Both sides won't remain deadlocked for too long..." After a pause, Nalan Qianqiu added, "Faced with a deadlock, throughout history there's usually only one solution: the two sides negotiate. If negotiation fails, only war remains. But before negotiating, they should first send someone over to test that Gu fellow's attitude. And this person can't be a stranger; their status can't be too low, and their strength can't be too weak. Too low or too weak, and they'd just be going to their death. Most importantly, this person must also have a good relationship with that Gu fellow, some friendship, to serve the important role of calming and persuading."
"I'm quite curious who they'll send to negotiate with that Gu fellow."
Compared to Su Hua's panic and worry, Nalan Qianqiu's tone held no concern at all. Instead, there was a hint of schadenfreude. She laughed, "It's been a long time since I've seen such an amusing, yet such a grand spectacle. Throughout history, there have been many who gave the Three Thousand Great Daos headaches, but in all the heavens and earth, the only one who can make the Three Thousand Great Daos both headache-inducing, helpless, and utterly frustrated is probably that Gu fellow."
"Senior Sister, how can you say such things?"
"Hehe, Junior Sister, I don't mean anything else. You know me, I just enjoy seeing the Three Thousand Great Daos get stumped, especially the Immortal Dao. Every time they face that Gu fellow, the Immortal Dao loses all its temper. It really makes this lady very happy, a most delightful and entertaining affair."
In the sky above.
The Judgment Source, like a whirlpool, still hung in the very center, slowly rotating like the eye of a storm, as if ready to deliver judgment at any moment.
The Blood Moon, originally sealed by the Buddhist Path's Swastika Seal, seemed to show signs of loosening, trembling slightly. The Buddhist light contained within the Swastika Seal also grew increasingly weaker. Clearly, it couldn't hold much longer; the seal could collapse at any time.
This Blood Moon was not this world's full moon, nor was it the full moon of this Heaven and Earth. Everyone could see that in the western horizon, the real full moon still hung there, only its radiance was somewhat dim.
In the firmament, that bright sun containing rolling Immortal Might also hung high in the sky. This great sun was not this world's, nor was it the great sun of this Heaven and Earth. Just moments ago, the real sun in the eastern horizon had already risen slowly, its sunlight beginning to shine upon the earth.
This scene was rare, exceptionally so.
The sinister and eerie Blood Moon stirred restlessly, the bright moon flickering faintly.
The bright sun's Immortal Might rolled like waves, the blazing sun slowly rising.
Here, whether it was night or day, no one could tell clearly anymore. It seemed like night, yet also like day.
The cultivators of this world, the big shots from various major sects, all hid far away, not daring to approach.
Even the True Yang Wine Immortal, who had cultivated for thousands of years, was no exception. Looking at Gu Qingfeng standing alone in the sky, he truly wanted to go help.
However.
He could only think about it.
He understood clearly that the current situation was not something someone of his level could participate in. Going over, he might be reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.
He could only stand here honestly, cheering for Gu Qingfeng in the depths of his heart.
In the distance, Shangguan Yu, hailed as the world's leader bearing the True Mandate and a prodigy of the Taiji, now dared not utter a single word. Even Shi Tian, hailed as the world's little tyrant, had become obediently stationary in the air facing Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng's earlier palm strike that shattered the World Judgment made both of them unable not to be wary.
Of course.
Wary was just wary; wariness did not mean fear, much less terror.
At the very least, if Cloud End ordered them to move to eradicate Gu Qingfeng, both would act without hesitation.
Unfortunately.
The various Grand Luo Golden Immortals of Cloud End, especially Lie Shan, hailed as this world's law enforcer and the Immortal Dao's Arbiter, had not spoken a single word since Gu Qingfeng's appearance. They didn't even dare let out a fart, only tightly clutching the Immortal Dao Command Token and World Command Banner, their complexions also not looking good, appearing even more wary of Gu Qingfeng than the others.
Ye Tianlan of the Female Sect, the Purple Empyrean King, the Third Prince, the Great Heir Apparent, and others were the same. From beginning to end, they hadn't spoken, only gazing at the firmament as if contemplating something.
Silence.
It was as if the entire world had fallen silent.
No one spoke, seemingly afraid of breaking the tranquility here.
But just at this moment, a voice rang out, instantly shattering the world's peace.
"Well now, did the sun rise from the west today? Why's it so quiet?"
Hm?
Who?
Who was so bold as to dare show up at a time like this? Didn't they want to live?
Everyone looked around but found nothing.
The voice seemed to come from nowhere.
"What's going on today? Have you all turned mute? Or scared silly? It's just the Present-Era Calamity Star descending, not some earth-shattering event. What's there to be afraid of? Since ancient times, many calamity stars have descended, so what happened? The sun still rises as it should, didn't see the old sun taking a break, did we?"