"What a line—'damned karma, damned fate'! If the countless living beings of the Myriad Heavens and Worlds, who hold you in such deep reverence, knew that their esteemed Empress Saintess actually cursed karma and fate like this, I wonder what they would think?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
Immediately after, a woman appeared in response.
This woman was dressed in magnificent attire, looking stunningly beautiful, dignified, and opulent. Her aura and presence were both exceptionally powerful.
Upon seeing this woman, Qian Shan immediately bowed and saluted, saying, "Qian Shan pays respects to Empress Qianqiu."
She recognized this woman. Her name was Nalan Qianqiu, Su Hua's senior sister, and also a revered Empress of the Immortal Dao, holding a pivotal position within it.
"Qian Shan, there's no need for such formality."
Nalan Qianqiu glanced at her and smiled. "It's been many days since we last met. Your cultivation has refined yet again."
"You flatter me, Empress."
"Hehe."
Nalan Qianqiu turned her gaze to Su Hua, offering a faint smile. "Junior Sister, have you been well lately?"
"I... am well."
Regarding Nalan Qianqiu's appearance, Su Hua seemed to show little emotional reaction, as if she had long anticipated Nalan Qianqiu's arrival, or perhaps simply didn't care whether she came or not. She spoke softly and lightly, "And you?"
"What else can I be? Same as always."
Su Hua walked to the pavilion. As she raised her hand, a white jade bottle and two white jade cups appeared on the stone table. She gestured for Nalan Qianqiu to come sit. Nalan Qianqiu didn't stand on ceremony either, smiling as she said, "It's been so long since I've tasted your Life-Breath Wine. I truly miss it."
"You have something on your mind, don't you?"
Su Hua asked.
"Junior Sister, what kind of talk is that? Could it be that I, as your senior sister, cannot come see you if I have no particular business?"
Su Hua didn't respond, merely picking up the white jade bottle to pour a cup of Life-Breath Wine for Nalan Qianqiu. She understood perfectly well; her senior sister had always been one who never visited the temple without a purpose. Whenever she sought Su Hua out, there was definitely a matter at hand.
Perhaps Nalan Qianqiu also knew she couldn't hide it from Su Hua, so she sighed and said, "It seems nothing can truly escape your notice. Very well, I did come with a matter this time."
Su Hua remained silent, quietly awaiting her next words.
"I imagine, even if I don't say it, you know why I've come."
"Has the Nine Heavens sought you out?"
Nalan Qianqiu nodded. "Actually, ever since I learned that You Di had revived and returned, I was certain the Nine Heavens would come looking for me. So, I found an excuse early on and went into seclusion. I originally thought I could avoid it, but who would have thought...
The Nine Heavens sent people, wave after wave. They probably realized I was deliberately avoiding them. Some people I could refuse to see, but there are certain seniors with deep ties to our Langya Blessed Land. In the end, even Elder Yun came...
You know Elder Yun is a benefactor to our Langya Blessed Land. When he came in person, how could I possibly continue hiding?"
Looking at Su Hua's silent expression, Nalan Qianqiu sighed. "Before this, I never understood why you had a falling out with the Nine Heavens. It was completely unlike your usual style. Now I finally understand. Junior Sister, you are truly a step ahead, foreseeing events with god-like clarity. After your rift with the Nine Heavens, they now want to talk to you, but they can't swallow their pride to do so. Yet, if they don't talk to you, without your involvement, they truly have no confidence in this matter. So, after immense effort, they could only come to me, hoping I would come talk to you."
Before Su Hua could speak, Qian Shan, standing beside them, suddenly interjected.
"Empress Qianqiu, I know I shouldn't speak out of turn, but this matter has weighed on my heart for a long time. Since Empress Qianqiu has come today regarding this issue, I really can't hold back from speaking a word of fairness for our Empress Saintess!"
Qian Shan spoke with indignation: "All along, the Empress Saintess has been doing her utmost to handle affairs for the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao and has been tirelessly busy with the so-called Present-Ancient Calamity. Not only does the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao fail to appreciate her efforts, they even accuse the Empress Saintess of having impure motives and hidden selfish intentions!"
"That's right! The Empress Saintess has let the countless beings of the Myriad Heavens and Worlds know that she admires You Di and awaits his return. This move indeed poses a threat to the Nine Heavens. But why does the Empress Saintess threaten the Nine Heavens? Can't the Nine Heavens seriously think about that?"
"The Nine Heavens Immortal Dao is single-mindedly fixated on exterminating You Di. This has been the case since the Ancient Era. But after all these years of trying to exterminate and destroy him, when have they ever truly succeeded? Not once. Not even a single time. To speak a word of great disrespect: if it weren't for the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao persistently hounding and pressuring You Di, he might never have sunk deeper and deeper on the path of Original Sin. In other words, the reason You Di has become as terrifying as he is now isn't because he wanted it, but because he was forced into it by the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao!"
Qian Shan took a deep breath and continued: "Not only does the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao fail to learn from this lesson, but after learning of You Di's death and resurrection, they actually still want to exterminate him! Do they truly wish to force You Di into becoming the Original Sin True Lord who ends the Present-Ancient era?"
"The Empress Saintess is precisely worried that certain individuals within the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao still seek to exterminate You Di. That's why she has made it known across the Myriad Heavens and Worlds that she admires and awaits You Di's return. For what purpose? To ensure that certain self-proclaimed clever individuals within the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao don't do something foolish!"
"Yet, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao suspects the Empress Saintess of having impure motives and hidden selfish intentions because of this. They say that as the Destined One Bearing True Destiny in the Present-Ancient era, she is ambiguously entangled with the Original Sin person who might trigger the calamity. They accuse her of making this matter known throughout the Myriad Heavens and Worlds, saying our Empress Saintess sullies the dignity of the Immortal Dao, and that she is unworthy of the words 'sacred' and 'sage'... What a supreme joke!"
This matter had weighed on Qian Shan's heart for a long time, and today she finally spoke it out. The long-suppressed anger and resentment poured forth.
After speaking, she bowed with clasped fists and said, "Empress Qianqiu, I do not mean to offend you. It's just that regarding this matter, I truly feel furious on behalf of our Empress Saintess!"
"It's fine. Our feelings are the same. After learning of this matter, I was also very angry. For this, I specifically went to confront the Nine Heavens and made a big scene. But the result... you know how it is. Those old stubborn fools in the Nine Heavens are all quite rigid."
Nalan Qianqiu looked at Su Hua again. "Junior Sister, are you still angry about this matter?"
From beginning to end, Su Hua had not spoken, not even a single word. Her divinely beautiful face showed no emotional expression, and her clear eyes remained perfectly calm throughout, as if Qian Shan wasn't speaking up for her, but for someone else.
She gently shook her head and said softly, "I am not angry. At least, not angry at the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao. From their standpoint, harboring suspicions about me is perfectly normal. I can afford to wait, but the Nine Heavens dare not wait, nor can they afford to. I can afford to lose, but the Immortal Dao dares not lose, nor can they afford to."