"Junior Sister, it's truly wonderful that you can think this way."
Nalan Qianqiu said, "The Nine Heavens' intention today, having me come, is to invite you to discuss the matter of the Tribulation Response. They also wish to formally apologize for the previous incident. What do you think..."
"An apology is unnecessary."
Su Hua replied lightly, "I've said the Nine Heavens are not at fault, and there's no need to apologize to me."
"Junior Sister, originally, if you didn't wish to go, I wouldn't have forced you. But..." Nalan Qianqiu's expression was deeply troubled. She lifted the white jade cup and drained the Life-Nourishing Wine within in one gulp, saying, "Elder Yun and those other patriarchs who share a deep connection with our Langya... they begged me with tears streaming down their faces...
I was truly left with no choice and could only muster my courage to come. They're probably still waiting in my cave abode right now. If I don't bring you back today, I...
won't be able to return either."
"Elder Yun's connection to our Langya Blessed Land runs deep, and he has bestowed great favors upon Langya. If he makes a personal appeal, neither you nor I could simply ignore it. I can understand your difficult position and do not wish to make things hard for you. It's just..." Su Hua shook her head, "It's just that given my current state, I am no longer suited to participate in the Tribulation Response."
"Why?"
Nalan Qianqiu asked in confusion, "What's wrong with your state?"
"I am lost. Lost within an obsession towards You Di. I do not know if this obsession is driven by karma, arranged by fate, or...
because I have truly developed feelings for You Di..."
"You!"
Hearing that Su Hua was lost, and moreover lost within an obsession towards You Di, Nalan Qianqiu's expression stiffened, her demeanor turning somber. She murmured softly, "So you have indeed become lost..."
Nalan Qianqiu knew.
Ever since You Di ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire and vanished into ash ten thousand years ago, Su Hua's mental state had undergone an earth-shattering change.
Upon learning of this, their eldest senior sister, Cang Yan, had once said that such a drastic change in Su Hua's mental state held boundless benefits for her cultivation path, but for her personal destiny, it was an endless shackle.
As expected.
Su Hua's cultivation path proceeded unimpeded, even bringing her to the verge of attaining Sagehood.
Yet, there was always an obsession lingering in her heart. And it was precisely this obsession that prevented her from letting go, ultimately keeping her from becoming a true Sage.
Cang Yan said that because Su Hua could not attain Sagehood today due to this obsession, she would inevitably become lost within it in the future.
Nalan Qianqiu had never doubted her eldest senior sister's words. She simply hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
"Perhaps...
you should go seek out Eldest Senior Sister?"
Nalan Qianqiu suggested with concern, "See if Eldest Senior Sister can help you transcend."
Su Hua shook her head, "Eldest Senior Sister cannot help me transcend. No one can help me transcend. Only I myself can help me transcend."
"This..." Nalan Qianqiu couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
She thought about it. If Su Hua were truly lost within her obsession towards You Di and remained unable to transcend, then she indeed would no longer be suited to participate in the Tribulation Response.
No.
It wasn't merely a matter of being unsuited. If a lost Su Hua participated in the Tribulation Response, not only would she be unable to help, she might even complicate the matter further.
"Lady Qianqiu."
At this moment, Qian Shan spoke up, "Although the number of Tribulation-Bearers bearing the True Mandate in the Present Era is not large, it's also not few. From what I know, the Immortal Dao accounts for the majority. Moreover, the Nine Heavens have always been nurturing and supporting these Tribulation-Bearers bearing the True Mandate. Even if the Saintess Niangniang does not participate in the Tribulation Response, it shouldn't hinder the Immortal Dao's plans, should it?"
"Although the Nine Heavens do have several Tribulation-Bearers bearing the True Mandate in the Present Era..." Nalan Qianqiu said solemnly, "But looking across the myriad beings of all heavens and worlds, the only one who can restrain You Di is likely my junior sister. After all, You Di's existence is too unique, the greatest variable of the Present Era. His fate is not determined by heaven, and his karma is obscure and endlessly changing. Those Tribulation-Bearers bearing the True Mandate nurtured and supported by the Nine Heavens—their ability to deal with other Original Sin individuals remains unknown, let alone someone like You Di."
Qian Shan asked suspiciously, "I heard the Nine Heavens have already nurtured a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate, attempting to replace our Saintess Niangniang?
Lady Qianqiu, I wonder if this matter is true?"
Nalan Qianqiu first glanced at Qian Shan in surprise, as if not expecting her to know even this. Then she looked at Su Hua, seeing her expression remain calm, before speaking, "It is true. But it is merely a futile effort. Not just the Immortal Dao, but the Monster Dao, Monster Dao, Witch Dao, Heavenly Dao, including the Buddhist Dao, have all long since laid plans for this matter."
Qian Shan knew that the so-called 'plans' Nalan Qianqiu referred to were from the Ancient Era, when the various Great Daos deduced that the variable of the Present Era would be born in the Mortal Realm. Therefore, the various Daos laid their plans, intending to establish karmic ties with the Present Era variable—that is, with You Di. It was said that many great powers underwent reincarnation cycles specifically to forge karmic ties with the Present Era variable.
This was the 'Entanglement Plan' that the various Great Daos had tacitly agreed upon during the Ancient Era.
As for exactly how many reincarnated great powers participated in the Entanglement Plan, Qian Shan did not know.
However, she heard that without exception, all these participating great powers had failed.
No one had succeeded in forging karmic ties with the Present Era variable.
What was puzzling was that several individuals who had not participated in the Entanglement Plan had somehow inexplicably forged karmic ties with the Present Era variable.
Among them, Feng Zhuyue was one, Tang Hengheng was one, Ye Tianlan was one, Yun Nishang was one...
And Saintess Niangniang Su Hua was also one of them.
Whether these individuals forged karmic ties with You Di, or originally had indescribable karmic connections with him from the start, no one could say for sure.
However.
What Qian Shan had just said about the Nine Heavens nurturing a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate attempting to replace the Saintess Niangniang did not refer to the Ancient Era Entanglement Plan tacitly agreed upon by the various Great Daos, but rather another matter.
She heard that after You Di ignited the Original Sin Karmic Fire on the Wu Dao Mountain in the Present Era, the Nine Heavens had secretly nurtured a Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate attempting to replace the Saintess Niangniang.
In other words.
The Nine Heavens had not placed all their bets on Su Hua. Or perhaps it should be said, after initially betting on Su Hua, the Nine Heavens discovered something amiss, or perhaps deduced something. As a precaution, they nurtured another Tribulation-Bearer bearing the True Mandate attempting to replace Su Hua, in order to deal with You Di.
Qian Shan knew Nalan Qianqiu must be aware of this matter, but Nalan Qianqiu was deliberately playing dumb, so she couldn't say much either.
"Originally, this confidential matter, I didn't want to speak of it, nor could I. After all, I am a member of the Immortal Dao, and moreover one bearing the Heavenly Mandate. As the saying goes, 'He who takes from others is soft-handed; he who eats from others is short-tongued.' If I were to leak such confidential matters, that would be too lacking in integrity."
Shifting the topic, Nalan Qianqiu slowly let out a breath and smiled faintly, "However, since we've broached this subject today, there's no harm in me saying a few words."