"Gu kid, could it be that you're overthinking things?
Although Empress Saintess is the ordained tribulation-bearer of the Present Era, and you, kid, are the Body of Original Sin who might trigger the cataclysm and end the Present Era—making you fated mortal enemies by destiny—I truly believe Empress Saintess's feelings for you are genuine. Besides, she doesn't seem like the type to play underhanded tricks."
Gu Qingfeng lay reclined in his chair, legs crossed and propped on the table, eyes closed, saying nothing.
Huode continued, "If Empress Saintess were deliberately targeting you, why would she go around the Myriad Heavens and Worlds spreading your fame? Wouldn't it be better to preserve your infamy and then kill you later?
I reckon that by promoting your name and changing people's impression of you, Empress Saintess isn't harming you but helping you. Think about it: now everyone in the Myriad Heavens and Worlds knows that you ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire back then for the sake of the Heavenly Dao and the safety of all living beings. That spirit of sacrificing yourself for righteousness absolutely makes you a deserving hero.
Even though the truth isn't exactly like that, outsiders don't know. And now that you've become a hero of the Present Era, if the Three Thousand Great Daos want to kill you again, won't they have to think twice?
Would the masses of the Myriad Heavens and Worlds consent to killing such a Present Era hero? Would they agree? Would Empress Saintess agree?
Moreover, almost everyone in the Myriad Heavens and Worlds knows that Empress Saintess is infatuated with you. In my view, this is even a method—or rather, a threat—by Empress Saintess to warn the Three Thousand Great Daos.
Empress Saintess's current status and position are probably unmatched in the Great Desolate Heaven and Earth, supremely noble, deeply loved and revered by all living beings. The key is she's infatuated with you. With that, which of the Three Thousand Great Daos would dare move against you? If they want to act, they'd have to ask whether Empress Saintess agrees, right?
Let me put it this way: with the influence Empress Saintess wields today, whichever Great Dao she supports can become the leader of the Daos. If she withdraws support from the Immortal Dao, the Immortal Dao would immediately fall from its position as the leading Dao. You might say my words are exaggerated, kid, but I tell you, they're not exaggerated at all. If you get the chance, you can go ask around casually in the Myriad Heavens and Worlds.
Taking a step back, even if the Three Thousand Great Daos disregard Empress Saintess's influence, they still can't ignore her identity. After all, Empress Saintess is the ordained tribulation-bearer of the Present Era. The Three Thousand Great Daos are counting on her to face the cataclysm; they simply don't dare offend her, nor can they afford to. If they offend Empress Saintess and she throws a tantrum and quits, then the Three Thousand Great Daos can deal with the cataclysm themselves.
So, old man here wonders if you've misunderstood Empress Saintess, kid."
Huode stood up and poured a cup of wine for Gu Qingfeng as well, but when he offered it, Gu Qingfeng didn't take it. His eyes merely opened a slit, gazing at him.
"Don't look at me with those eyes, kid. It's damn unsettling."
"Huode."
Gu Qingfeng took the cup of wine from Huode's hand but didn't drink it, placing it on the table instead. "Did you take some benefit from that woman Su Hua?
What benefit? What do you mean? Suspecting I took benefits from Empress Saintess to speak up for her? I say, Gu kid, do you damn well not trust this old man at all? Besides, am I the kind of petty person who forgets righteousness for profit?"
"That gourd hanging on your waist looks pretty good. Let this lord have a closer look."
At Gu Qingfeng's words, Huode instinctively covered the gourd hanging at his waist, grinning. "It's just a wine gourd. Nothing worth looking at."
"Relax, I don't want it. Just want to examine it."
"Even if you wanted it, I wouldn't give it to you!"
Huode tried to change the subject. "Gu kid, what do you think about the Immortal Dao..." As he spoke, he suddenly felt something was off. Looking down—good heavens! The gourd hanging at his waist had suddenly vanished. Looking up, sure enough, the wine gourd had somehow appeared in Gu Qingfeng's hand.
"You brat, give it back to me!"
Huode grew anxious and reached out to snatch it, but the moment he moved, Gu Qingfeng gave a light flick of his hand. Before Huode knew what happened, he felt his heart sink and collapsed onto the floor.
"You little bastard! Playing for real with me, are you?!"
Just as Huode tried to stand up, Gu Qingfeng's figure instantly appeared opposite him, one hand pressing on his shoulder, rendering Huode completely immobile.
This time, Huode finally witnessed Gu Qingfeng's terrifying strength and finally realized that Gu Qingfeng's existence was utterly beyond his imagination.
"Huode, I'll ask you one more time: where did this gourd come from?"
"This... this..." Huode laughed awkwardly, stammering 'this' for a while without giving a proper answer, only saying a friend gave it to him.
"What friend gave you such a precious thing? This object is no simple matter. The profound mysteries contained within it, even I might not be able to refine them. This damn thing is a refining gourd, and one that can refine all things at that. I estimate even those Immortal Lords and Demon Lords ordained by Heaven would only face refinement if they entered."
Gu Qingfeng toyed with the gourd in his hand, chuckling. "Huh, there's a line of text here: 'All things of Heaven and Earth refined within the gourd; all spirits of Qiankun transformed inside the calabash. Punish evil and promote good to rectify Qiankun; act chivalrously and righteously across Heaven and Earth... With this Qiankun Refining Gourd, gifted to Elder Huode—Su Hua.'"
After reciting it, Gu Qingfeng patted Huode's shoulder. "Well done, Elder Huode. Not simple at all. Didn't see that coming, you old rascal. No wonder you keep calling her 'Empress Saintess' so affectionately, praising how kind and revered she is. Turns out it's 'short arms from taking gifts, soft mouth from eating favors,' eh?"
"I say, Gu kid, the facts aren't what you think. It's true Empress Saintess gave me this gourd, but... but I'm not speaking up for her because I took her things! Bah! What 'speaking up'! I haven't been speaking up for Empress Saintess either. I said all that for your sake, kid! If it were anyone else, I couldn't be bothered!"
"Is that so?"
Gu Qingfeng sneered and sat back in his chair.
"Besides, what's wrong with Empress Saintess giving me a gourd? If not for this gourd, I'd have died who knows how many times already! Damn it! Don't even bring this up—it just makes me furious! I thought with your big reputation, kid, I could borrow some of your prestige. And yes! Your reputation is indeed huge, but damn, your enemies are plenty too! Once I fell into the hands of an old demon monster. Not mentioning your name was fine, but the moment I mentioned it, that old demon monster got so angry he almost stewed me alive!
Said you kidnapped some Netherworld Empress back then, played with her, then just patted your ass and left, causing the Netherworld Empress's temperament to change drastically. That old demon monster seemed to be some servant of the Netherworld Empress, and he's been seeking revenge against you all these years!
You have no idea how much that old demon monster tortured me after I mentioned your name. If I hadn't finally shown the gourd Empress Saintess gave me, what you'd see now wouldn't be me but a pile of cooked meat!
Most importantly, I went and provoked that old demon monster to inquire about your whereabouts!"