Suddenly.
Nalan Qianqiu opened her eyes, her sharp gaze fixed on Huode. "I ask you, what exactly does he intend to do now that he has returned?"
"The Gu kid doesn't want to do anything, really. He's just passing through, so he wanted to come home and take a look."
"Just to take a look?"
Nalan Qianqiu clearly did not believe Huode's words. She pressed, "What happened earlier on the Xuantian Vessel is now known throughout the myriad realms of the heavens. Countless beings among the Three Thousand Great Daos, both in the heavens and on earth, are searching for him. And you tell me he's just here to take a look?"
"Do you know how chaotic the Great Wilderness has become just because of his appearance?"
"Do you know that because of his appearance, the Patriarchs of the Three Thousand Great Daos have all emerged from seclusion?"
"Do you know that because of his appearance, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao has already made preparations?"
"This...
Empress."
Huode steeled himself and asked, "What preparations has the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao made?"
"What kind of existence is he? Don't you understand? What preparations do you think the Nine Heavens would make?"
What kind of existence Gu Qingfeng was, Huode certainly knew. He also knew that once Gu Qingfeng's identity was exposed, it would inevitably attract the attention of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao.
Originally, Huode wanted to tell Nalan Qianqiu that Gu Qingfeng just wanted to tease the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao for some fun, with no other intentions. However, seeing Nalan Qianqiu's particularly sharp gaze, he felt it better not to say that. After all, Nalan Qianqiu was a revered Empress of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao. Speaking about the Gu kid teasing the Nine Heavens in front of her would only bring trouble for Gu Qingfeng.
Huode even suspected that Nalan Qianqiu's visit this time might be on behalf of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao to interrogate Gu Qingfeng.
After thinking it over, Huode deliberately put on a woeful expression and said, "Empress, there must be some misunderstanding. Back on the Xuantian Vessel, the Gu kid didn't want to expose his identity. Things just... piled up and forced it out. The Gu kid never expected that the Five Elements Cloud Water Sword he lost back then would be in the hands of the Immortal Qingqing from the Eternal Life Pavilion."
"So you're saying it wasn't intentional, but an accidental exposure?"
Huode nodded emphatically. "Of course! Others might not know, but I was there the whole time. If you don't believe me, Empress, you can ask the Immortal Qingqing or the Fairy Lixin from the Eternal Life Pavilion. They were both there."
"Then what is his attitude toward this matter?"
"What attitude? He doesn't seem to have any particular attitude."
Huode scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said, "You know what the Gu kid is like. He fears nothing in heaven or earth. Since his identity is exposed, so be it. He doesn't care, and it doesn't matter to him."
"He plans to just let this matter develop on its own?"
"That...
I really don't know."
"Alright."
Nalan Qianqiu pondered for a moment, then said, "Huode, can you do me a favor? No! Not for me, nor for the Immortal Dao, but for the sake of the Heavens and Earth, the Great Dao, and all living beings."
"Oh, Empress Qianqiu, please don't say that. I can't bear such a responsibility."
"Only you can help with this matter. No one else can."
"What exactly is it?"
"Can you persuade him to leave? Or at least keep him from appearing for a while, until this storm passes."
"Why?"
Nalan Qianqiu said gravely, "Although the events from the Xuantian Vessel have already spread far and wide, fortunately, most people don't know whether they are true or false. If everyone learns that he has truly returned from death, the Great Wilderness will descend into true chaos. I don't need to tell you, but you surely know what kind of existence he is. Right now, because of his appearance, all the Three Thousand Great Daos of heaven and earth have emerged and are watching him closely."
Pausing briefly, Nalan Qianqiu continued, "Moreover, I might as well tell you today: all the major law enforcers, the major Destiny Bearers, the major Tribulation Responders of our Immortal Dao have almost all taken their positions. Even the Patriarchs of the Three Pure Ones and Four Emperors have awakened. The Immortal Dao Origin has been opened, the Immortal Dao Laws are in motion, and the Immortal Dao Judgment awaits its opportunity..." As Nalan Qianqiu's words came, Huode felt his scalp tingle, cold sweat break out, and his legs weaken, almost unable to stand.
"And that's just our Immortal Dao. You should know that those who wish to obliterate him are not just our Immortal Dao. At the same time, there are the Buddhist Dao, the Demonic Dao, the Yao Dao... the entire Three Thousand Great Daos. Everyone wants to obliterate him. I'm afraid even the Heavenly Dao, which hasn't shown itself for a long time, has made preparations at this very moment."
"If he dares to make any move with ill intent, the Three Thousand Great Daos will definitely obliterate him without hesitation!"
"Don't think I'm trying to scare you. I'm telling you, these are all facts. And don't think the Three Thousand Great Daos can't deal with him. Yes! I admit, in the Ancient Era, the Three Thousand Great Daos couldn't do anything to him, but that doesn't mean they can't deal with him in the Modern Era!"
Nalan Qianqiu took a deep breath, her tone softening considerably. "So, I hope you can step in and persuade him properly. As long as he doesn't stir up trouble, the Three Thousand Great Daos won't do anything to him."
Huode's face was ashen with fright.
Although he had known earlier that the Three Thousand Great Daos would certainly make preparations this time, he never imagined the scale of their preparations would be so immense. Just the Immortal Dao alone was going this crazy—all the major law enforcers, the major Destiny Bearers, the major Tribulation Responders, even the Patriarchs of the Three Pure Ones and Four Emperors had awakened. The Immortal Dao Origin was opened, the Immortal Dao Laws were in motion, and the Immortal Dao Judgment was waiting in the wings.
They were preparing to utterly destroy the Gu kid!
Damn it!
Gu kid, oh Gu kid, where the hell are you?
You're in big trouble this time, kid.
What the hell are you looking for fun for now?
Keep looking, and you'll get yourself killed.
"Huode, you are closest to him. If you speak, he will listen. I hope you will consider his well-being and persuade him properly."
"Empress Qianqiu, when the Gu kid arrives, I can try to persuade him. But the key is... the key is that kid might not listen to me. To be honest, I've already tried to persuade the Gu kid before, but... he simply wouldn't listen. How about this: when the Gu kid arrives, let's go talk to him together. He might listen to your persuasion."
"I don't want to see him."
"Why?"
"He holds a great prejudice against the Immortal Dao, and I am a member of the Immortal Dao. Do you think he would listen to my persuasion?"
"It's not that bad, Empress Qianqiu. You don't understand the Gu kid. That kid has always judged matters, not people. As long as you have no personal grudge with him, he won't care whether you're from the Immortal Dao or the Demonic Dao."
"In any case, I don't want to see him."
"This...
If you won't appear personally, Empress, there's nothing I can do. Because I've already said everything I can. The Gu kid simply won't listen to persuasion. Saying more is useless. How about this: please ask the Saintess Empress to come. As long as the Saintess Empress appears, I think the Gu kid will definitely listen to her."
"My junior sister will absolutely not see him either."
"Why is that?"
"I don't know."
"Alright. If the Saintess Empress is also unwilling to appear, then there's no way to handle this matter."
Nalan Qianqiu was about to speak when her expression suddenly changed, and she exclaimed in alarm, "He's here."