Right at that moment, someone among the crowd gathered in mid-air suddenly brought up the Dao title 'Chixiao'.
It was said someone had heard from Lei Lie's group of brothers that this mysterious Venerable's Dao title was Chixiao.
Hearing this, good heavens—everyone present, every single one of them, could no longer stand firm. Their faces were filled with terror, eyes wide and bulging, filled with shock and horror as if they had seen a ghost or deity, both astonished and panicked.
It was widely known that Chixiao was the illustrious Dao title of the famous You Di.
Who was You Di?
Looking across all the heavens and myriad worlds, his name was absolutely known by all, recognized by everyone.
He had claimed the peerless throne of immortals and demons, burned the Nine Heavens above, ruled the Nine Underworlds below, single-handedly challenged the Three Thousand Great Daos, swept across the Great Desolate, and awed both heaven and earth—a rightful overlord of the ages!
Some said You Di was the terminator of the Ancient Times.
Because during the Ancient Times, he had burned the Nine Heavens, ruled the Nine Underworlds, cleaved the firmament, annihilated the Great Dao, and brought chaos to heaven and earth, ultimately triggering the Ancient Cataclysm.
Others said if You Di was the terminator of the Ancient Times, then he was simultaneously the initiator of the Present Era.
Because after the Present Era began, he ignited the Primordial Sin Karmic Flames and sacrificed himself, allowing the myriad living beings of the Great Desolate heaven and earth in the Present Era to attain stability.
Although everyone knew that You Di had died after igniting the Primordial Sin Karmic Flames.
Turned to ashes, scattered without a trace.
It sounded as if he had died completely, utterly extinguished...
But.
For ten thousand years in the Present Era, news of You Di's return had never ceased. Across the heavens and myriad worlds, the various celestial domains also occasionally spread rumors about You Di's return. While most of these rumors were unfounded, many still believed that You Di could not have died just like that...
Especially since the Holy Maiden Su Hua had been waiting for You Di's return all along, making people even more convinced that You Di would one day return as a king.
And now.
This mysterious Venerable first said he used to hang around the Nine Underworlds.
Now someone revealed that while drinking with Lei Lie and his group, he had mentioned his own Dao title was Chixiao.
Whether it was the Nine Underworlds or Chixiao, both were essentially synonyms for You Di.
What did this mean?
Could it be...
This guy was You Di?
Was that possible?
Silence.
A deathly stillness.
The several thousand people gathered on dozens of Profound Heaven ships had all nearly assembled here. At this moment, every one of them stared with terror and shock at the white-robed man reclining on the chair. This included all the Mortal Immortals, those senior experts who had cultivated for many years, and even upper immortals like Mo Baiyu, Yuanwu, Yun Zhou, and Fuying who held celestial mandates.
A person's reputation, a tree's shadow.
In the Great Desolate, a saying had always circulated.
No one is crazier than Gu Qingfeng!
No one is more arrogant than Gu Tianlang!
No one is more overbearing than King Chixiao!
No one is mightier than You Di's dominance!
No one is loftier than You Di's Dao!
Across the heavens and myriad worlds, even the most arrogant, most insolent, most overbearing, and most unrestrained person would not dare act recklessly upon hearing the name You Di.
"You...
Your Dao title...
Is it truly Chixiao?"
Li Xin, who had maintained a gentle smile all along, now wore an expression of utter astonishment and horror on her beautiful face. She stared intently at Gu Qingfeng, asking the question everyone wanted answered.
"That's right."
Gu Qingfeng remained reclined on the chair, one leg crossed over the other resting on the table, holding a cup of fine wine. He took a small sip, nodded, and replied with two words.
"You said you hung around the Nine Underworlds...
And your Dao title is Chixiao. Could it...
Could it be you...
You...
Are You Di?"
When Li Xin asked this, everyone present held their breath in that moment.
But suddenly.
A loud, roaring laugh broke the silence like a thunderclap on a clear day.
Everyone looked over. The one laughing was a slovenly, unkempt old man wearing tattered gray robes, a gourd of wine hanging at his waist, and a peachwood sword strapped to his back.
The old man was none other than Huode.
Huode's laughter was extremely abrupt. Moreover, looking at him, it was as if he had heard the funniest joke in all heaven and earth. He laughed maniacally, pointing at Gu Qingfeng while roaring with laughter.
"You say he's You Di?
Wahahahaha!
This is killing me, old Taoist...
Hahahaha!
There's no joke funnier than this...
Hahahaha!"
Huode looked around at the people gathered in mid-air and laughed, "I ask you all, are you blind?
You actually say this kid is You Di?
Hahaha!
This is killing me. Let's not even discuss whether You Di could die and come back to life. Even if the venerable one truly did return, do you think he'd be this kid?"
"Haven't you heard the legends of You Di if you haven't seen him?
Across the heavens and myriad worlds, among all living beings, who doesn't know how supremely lofty and dominant You Di was? How peerless and matchless he was? How he stood firm between heaven and earth? His unparalleled strength—how boundless it was! His might that swept across heaven and earth—how limitless it was!"
"Now look at this kid. Let's not even talk about a supremely lofty, dominant aura or sweeping might. Does this kid have any aura?
Any presence?
None!
Not even a tiny bit! He has no Cultivation Level, no Fortune, no aura, no presence! He doesn't even stand or sit properly! Opening his mouth, it's either 'little lady' this or 'big sister' that, either talking about this one's big butt or that one's nice figure. He's just a complete rogue second-generation wastrel!"
"And you all...
You actually suspect he's You Di?
Heavens!
This is killing me. If this kid is You Di, then old Taoist here is the Supreme Lord Laozi!
Hahahaha!"
Perhaps frightened earlier by the words 'Nine Underworlds' and 'Chixiao,' hearing Huode's words now, everyone thought it over carefully and took a closer look. It really was true.
Although this so-called fellow was mysterious and seemed somewhat profound, calling himself Venerable Chixiao and claiming to have hung around the Nine Underworlds...
All that was just his own claim.
Whether it was true or false, no one knew.
That wasn't important.
What mattered was that this guy truly was as the old Taoist said—no Cultivation Level, no Fortune, no aura, no presence. He could be said to have nothing of substance. Moreover, his speech and behavior were as vulgar as could be, with a sloppy appearance that looked exactly like those second-generation wastrels from the secular world. How could he possibly be the generation-spanning overlord You Di who awed heaven and earth, swept across the Great Desolate, and shook the world?
This was like comparing a mouse to a fierce tiger—utterly ridiculous.