"What did you just say?"
Gu Qingfeng stared at the Old Daoist and asked, "You said the Empress Saintess would have to call you 'Old Master' if she saw you? And that You Di would have to kneel and respectfully call you 'Ancestral Grandfather'?"
Upon hearing Gu Qingfeng mention the Empress Saintess and You Di, the Old Daoist, who had initially been somewhat fearful and afraid of Gu Qingfeng, immediately gained confidence. He even deliberately straightened his posture, assuming the air of a senior expert. With one hand behind his back and the other stroking the few strands of beard on his chin, he nodded and said, "That's right."
The name of the Empress Saintess, Su Hua, was probably known to everyone in this current era, across the myriad realms of the heavens. Since the dawn of this era, the Empress Saintess had traveled throughout the Great Desolate and across the myriad realms, teaching and liberating all sentient beings. Whether they were immortals, buddhas, humans, demons, ghosts, or monsters, the Empress Saintess treated them all equally. In her eyes, the Dao was just the Dao, and sentient beings were just sentient beings. There was no distinction between immortals, buddhas, humans, demons, ghosts, or monsters. She achieved true equality for all beings and was the most revered Saintess in the eyes of all, without equal.
Whenever the name of the Saintess was mentioned, the Three Thousand Great Daos all praised and admired her. She was not only the Saintess in the eyes of all beings but also the Goddess in their eyes. Towards her, all beings felt nothing but respect. They dared not harbor any other thoughts.
Firstly, because in the eyes of many, the status of the Empress Saintess had even surpassed the Great Dao itself. She existed like a deity. Who would dare have improper thoughts towards a deity? The answer was certain: no one dared.
Secondly, it was widely known that the Empress Saintess had always been waiting for someone—waiting for the return of You Di. Who was You Di? He was the legendary overlord who shook the Great Desolate in the ancient era, without equal. The Peerless Throne of Immortals and Demons, destroying the Nine Heavens and commanding the Nine Nethers, defying the heavens and intimidating the Great Dao, roaming between Heaven and Earth with no one able to match him.
In the ancient era, You Di might have been an evil overlord who stirred up the Great Dao and threw the Great Desolate into chaos. Yet, despite being such an evil overlord and possessing the body of Original Sin, he did not bring calamity to Heaven and Earth. Instead, for the sake of the Great Dao and all sentient beings, he ignited the karmic flames of Original Sin and turned to ashes.
Therefore, the existence of You Di was not only that of a legendary overlord who shook the Great Desolate in the hearts of many but also that of a heroic figure who sacrificed himself for righteousness. Although people often forget the dead, and even though You Di had turned to ashes ten thousand years ago, he was gone, but the tea had not gone cold. Some might fear the lingering prestige of You Di's dominance over the Great Desolate, while others might admire his heroic deeds of sacrificing himself for righteousness. But more importantly, it was because of a legend that had always circulated.
According to the legend, You Di might not be dead and would make a comeback. To be precise, it wasn't that You Di hadn't died, but that he might come back to life. It was said that You Di had comprehended the Great Extinction in his time, transcending life and death; comprehended the Great Freedom, transcending the Great Dao; comprehended the Great Compassion, transcending all sentient beings; and comprehended the Great Illusion, transcending the Mortal World. He had even nearly become a Sage. How could such a figure be so easily completely extinguished?
Moreover, ever since You Di first made his debut, news of his death turning to ashes had never ceased. From the Mortal Realm to the Great Desolate and back to the Mortal World, there had always been reports of his death. But which time had You Di truly died? That wasn't important. What was important was that even the Empress Saintess firmly believed that You Di was not dead and had always been waiting for his return.
If even the Empress Saintess was like this, who in the myriad realms of the heavens would dare say that You Di was truly dead and would never return? The answer was also certain: no one dared. All sentient beings dared not, and the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth dared not. It was said that even the one known as the Old Man of Heavenly Secrets, who knew the past and future, controlled fate and karma, deduced the universe's beginnings, understood the mysteries of Heaven and Earth, and was called the incarnation of karma and the messenger of fate—the Eternal Nameless—dared not say that You Di was truly dead.
In the myriad realms of the heavens and the Great Desolate, if one could claim any relation to the Empress Saintess and You Di, it would be more useful than any great status or background. Even if one couldn't roam the Great Desolate without restraint, they would absolutely be untouchable.
This was something the Old Daoist had deeply experienced. Over the ten thousand years of the current era, since he began roaming the Great Desolate, he had encountered many dangers. Several times he had been sealed away, and several times he had nearly been killed. Fortunately, every time he invoked the names of the Empress Saintess and You Di—these two legends who dominated the ancient and current eras—he managed to turn danger into safety. And it worked every time, never failing. No matter how powerful the opponent's cultivation or how profound their background, they still didn't dare to touch him.
"Who are you?" Gu Qingfeng asked curiously.
"Who am I? Hmph!" After invoking the Empress Saintess and You Di, the Old Daoist's confidence was quite substantial. Not only did he stop calling himself 'little Daoist' and stop acting like a coward, but his voice also grew louder, his tone more arrogant, and he even began to get carried away. Even the way he looked at Gu Qingfeng became somewhat smug and complacent.
"Saying it would scare you to death!"
"Then say it and scare me to death."
"You brat, let's not even talk about my relationship with the Empress Saintess for now. Let's just talk about You Di. You've probably heard of You Di, right?"
Gu Qingfeng nodded and replied, "I've heard a little, yes."
"Since you've heard of him, do you know what my relationship with You Di is?"
Gu Qingfeng leisurely poured himself a cup of wine, a faint smile unconsciously appearing at the corner of his mouth. "I really don't know that."
"Let me tell you, kid! I am You Di's guide!" the Old Daoist declared arrogantly. "Back then, You Di was just a greenhorn who had newly arrived, wanting to join the Yunxia Sect to cultivate. Unfortunately, his aptitude was poor, and he couldn't even get a spot as an outer sect disciple. I happened to be passing by at the time and noticed that kid had a heart as firm as a rock and could endure hardship. I was certain he would achieve something great in the future, so I immediately took him under my wing."
"Kid, you know what? Back then, I led You Di into cultivation. Every move and technique he learned was taught by me. Even when You Di built his foundation back then, it was I who helped him do it. Moreover, when You Di caused a huge disaster in the Yunxia Sect back then, it was I who risked my life to save him."
"Since you've heard of You Di, you naturally know how aloof, domineering, and arrogant he was. He was so arrogant he didn't even put the heavens in his eyes and wouldn't listen to anyone. However, as long as I spoke up, that kid wouldn't dare not give me face."
"I'm not afraid to tell you, even if I slapped You Di right in the face a few times, he wouldn't dare throw a tantrum with me. Instead, he'd respectfully say, 'Well struck, Ancestral Grandfather.'"
"You Di might be You Di in your eyes, but in my eyes, he'll always be that little greenhorn who just arrived. If I tell him to go east, he wouldn't dare go west."