"Who the hell did I offend this time?"
Gu Qingfeng lay reclined in his chair, one leg crossed over the other and propped up on the table. He held a bright red spirit fruit in his hand, taking occasional bites as he gazed at the people in the sky who were angrily berating him. He spoke with utter exasperation, "All I did was say a few words. How in the world did that manage to piss off heaven and enrage the masses? They're saying I don't know my place, that I'm courting death?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head with a wry smile, picked up a cup of Little Tipple, and downed it in one gulp. "And they say I'm insulting High Immortal Qingqing? Fusheng Dijun? Even Changsheng Pavilion? How exactly am I insulting High Immortal Qingqing or Fusheng Dijun? I don't even know them, never even laid eyes on them. Why would I insult them?"
"What's the deal? In your eyes, calling myself 'master' counts as an insult? Who made that rule? Besides, Sister Lixin herself hasn't said a word. What are you all barking about!"
Finally, Gu Qingfeng glanced at Li Xin. "Sister Lixin, do you think I'm insulting you?"
Beside him, Huode, fearing Gu Qingfeng might stir up more trouble, quickly stood up to explain. "Well... Immortal Li Xin, this kid Gu doesn't mean any insult. He's been like this since he was young—always putting on airs as some 'master,' but he really doesn't have any ill intent. Please don't take him seriously."
Li Xin's beautiful face had been wearing a complex smile all along, her gaze never leaving Gu Qingfeng. She chuckled, "I know he means no harm, and I don't mind such things. However..." Her tone shifted slightly as she continued with a smile, "But he doesn't seem to be putting on an act. He looks more like a genuine master to me."
"Oh ho!" Gu Qingfeng laughed. "Sister, you've got a sharp eye! I've hidden myself so deeply, yet you still saw through me. Truly worthy of an expert from Changsheng Pavilion. I'm impressed, deeply impressed!"
"You flatter me, Master," Li Xin replied, then pressed further, "But I wonder, from which region, which land, which realm does this master hail?"
"Sister wants to know where I used to hang out, is that it?"
"You could say that."
"Well..." Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, tilting his head as if in thought. After a moment, he said, "I used to hang out in the Nine Underworlds."
At the mention of the Nine Underworlds, everyone present was startled. Even Old Lady Jin Hua's expression shifted repeatedly. As for Li Xin, the smile on her face instantly froze upon hearing those two words.
If the Nine Heavens represented sanctity, light, and purity, then the existence of the Nine Underworlds symbolized evil, darkness, and turbidity.
The Nine Heavens were the holy land in the hearts of immortals, buddhas, humans, and spirits.
The Nine Underworlds were the holy land in the hearts of demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends.
For immortals, buddhas, humans, and spirits, ascending to the Nine Heavens was considered the highest honor.
For demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends, entering the Nine Underworlds was the ultimate glory.
The Nine Heavens represented sacred light, ruling over the sun.
The Nine Underworlds represented evil darkness, ruling over the moon.
Within the Nine Heavens gathered the elites and leaders among immortals, buddhas, humans, and spirits—such as the patriarchs of various Great Daos, the Three Purities and Four Sovereigns, the Five Wisdom Kings, the Eight Heavenly Kings, and so on. The Jade Emperor, Tathagata Buddha, Taishang Laojun, and Guanyin Bodhisattva all hailed from the Nine Heavens. This Immortal King, that Immortal Emperor, this Bodhisattva, that Dijun—all were present in abundance.
Within the Nine Underworlds also gathered the leaders and elites among demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends—such as the patriarchs of various Great Daos, like Chiyou, Xingtian, Jiangchen, and others, all originating from the Nine Underworlds. Demon Lords, Monster Kings, Demon Emperors, Monster Emperors, Ghost Venerables—simply all were present.
In other words, those capable of ascending to the Nine Heavens were, without exception, sacred and luminous overlords who shook heaven and earth across the great eras.
Those capable of descending to the Nine Underworlds were likewise evil and dark overlords who swept across heaven and earth in their respective eras.
Precisely because of this, when everyone present heard Gu Qingfeng say he used to hang out in the Nine Underworlds, they were all shocked, their faces paling dramatically. Most couldn't help but take a step back.
After all, the words "Nine Underworlds" represented evil and darkness. In the hearts of demons and monsters, it was a holy land, but in the hearts of these immortals, it was anything but—it was a forbidden land!
If this guy really had spent time in the Nine Underworlds, then his existence was far too terrifying. Even if he wasn't one of those evil, dark overlords who once swept across the world, he was definitely a bloodthirsty, cruel demon lord or monster sovereign.
In that case, who wouldn't fear him?
The answer was certain.
Everyone was afraid.
Whether it was the High Immortals bearing the mandates of the Immortal Dao or the people from Changsheng Pavilion, they were all thoroughly frightened.
Huode beside him was also badly startled.
However, his fear wasn't due to terror at the words "Nine Underworlds" or any sense of dread. Rather, he simply never expected Gu Qingfeng to suddenly claim he'd hung out in the Nine Underworlds.
What was this guy trying to do?
Didn't he damn well know what kind of terrifying tidal wave would erupt across the Great Desolate once his identity was exposed?
Huode understood clearly that while the Present Era appeared calm on the surface, beneath that tranquility, undercurrents had long been churning incessantly. He was absolutely certain that once news spread across the Great Desolate that Gu Qingfeng was still alive, it would immediately cause a great upheaval. The undercurrents accumulated since ancient times would erupt completely, and it wasn't impossible for it to even trigger a cataclysm in the Present Era.
"Kid Gu, what the hell are you trying to do? Do you have any idea how terrible the consequences would be if your identity gets exposed?" Huode urgently sent a secret voice transmission, shouting frantically.
Gu Qingfeng replied indifferently, "What are you barking about? Just having a bit of fun."
"Fun? Just a bit? I'm telling you, kid, you're talking without feeling the pain. The kind of fun you're looking for could scare people to death, you know? What if someone finds out you're still alive? Then your 'fun' will turn into a damn big mess!"
"I'm telling you, Huode, things aren't as serious as you think. And I've already told you, the Three Thousand Great Daos have long known I'm still alive."
"Even if the Three Thousand Great Daos know you're alive, only those Great Dao patriarchs are aware. They clearly know you're alive, so why haven't they made a move? Not only have they not acted, they haven't even publicly disclosed the news of your survival. They're afraid! Afraid that your appearance will cause chaos across heaven and earth!"
"Exactly because they're afraid, I'm planning to have some real fun."
"Have some real fun? What do you mean by that?" Huode suddenly thought of something, his heart sinking with dread. He asked in horror, "You... you couldn't be planning... planning to let the entire Great Desolate and heaven and earth know that you... are still alive, could you?"
"It's been ten thousand years since the Present Era began, and still no one dares to poke this hornet's nest. Those in the heavens don't dare, those underground don't dare either. Since no one has the guts, I'll just have to take matters into my own hands—poke this hornet's nest, stir up these muddy waters, and incidentally let those lurking in the depths come up for a breath of fresh air."