"Old Master, I don't quite understand what you mean. Are you saying that if You Di shows himself this time, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao won't take action against him?"
Faced with the doubts of the Eternal Life Pavilion members, Old Master Kaishan shook his head in response. "No, you're mistaken. If You Di truly shows himself this time, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao will definitely take action."
Old Master Kaishan stroked the white beard on his chin and continued, "Right now, almost everyone across the Myriad Heavens and Worlds knows that You Di's existence is intolerable to heaven and earth. He bears the burden of Original Sin upon his shoulders, with the Blood of Original Sin flowing within his veins. Legends say he is the very True Lord that Original Sin has been searching for. It can be said that You Di's return from death is like the return of the God of Death himself. Everyone is in danger and fearful."
"And the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, hailed as the leader of the Great Daos in the Present-Ancient Era, dominating the Great Desolate World—facing an existence like You Di who could potentially trigger the Ancient-Modern Cataclysm, regardless of whether You Di is truly the True Lord of Original Sin recorded in the Book of Fate, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao will not stand idly by, nor will they remain indifferent."
"For the sake of their title as leader of the Great Daos, for the dignity of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, and to make the countless sentient beings across the Myriad Heavens and Worlds believe and submit, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao will inevitably take action against You Di."
As Old Master Kaishan's words echoed, the group from the Eternal Life Pavilion were somewhat unable to comprehend. They asked, "Old Master, you just said that if the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao wanted to eradicate You Di, the various cave heavens, blessed lands, immortal mansions, and immortal dynasties would all receive edicts. Yet, up to now, no one has received any edict from the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao. That means the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao doesn't want to eradicate You Di. Now you're saying the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao will definitely take action against You Di. This... isn't this contradictory?"
"Yes, Old Master, we still don't quite understand your words. If the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao doesn't want to eradicate You Di, why would they still take action? Could it be just to put on a show for everyone?"
"Eradication is eradication; taking action is taking action. The two are not in conflict, nor are they contradictory," Old Master Kaishan said. "Moreover, this old man never said the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao doesn't want to eradicate You Di. On the contrary, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao probably wants to eradicate You Di more than anyone else. It's just... they can only think about it. Wanting to eradicate You Di is easier said than done."
Hearing this, the members of the Eternal Life Pavilion, including Lixin Xianzi and High Immortal Qingqing, all exchanged glances. They asked, "Old Master, what do you mean by that? Are you saying that even the current Nine Heavens Immortal Dao can do nothing about You Di? That can't be possible, right?"
"In the Ancient Era, the Nine Heavens couldn't deal with You Di because the Immortal Dao's origin was depleted, and the Great Dao Ancestors were all in slumber. But in the Present-Ancient Era, the Great Dao's origin has long since recovered, and the Great Dao Ancestors have awakened. I've even heard that the Three Purities and Four Sovereigns have awakened as well. All the various tribulation-bearers who have received imperial decrees, heavenly mandates, and true mandates have appeared one after another. Surely the Nine Heavens can't still be unable to deal with You Di, right?"
"You only know one side, not the other. It's true that the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao's origin has recovered, and it's true that the Immortal Dao Ancestors have awakened. But has You Di not recovered as well? Don't forget, legends say that You Di was the one who awakened Original Sin back then."
Old Master Kaishan shook his head with a sigh. "Back then, You Di had only cultivated for a mere five hundred years, yet he turned the Great Desolate upside down. Now, after ten thousand years, who knows to what terrifying extent You Di has reached in this day and age? Moreover, if you think about it carefully, if the Nine Heavens truly had the confidence to eradicate You Di, he probably wouldn't have lived until now."
"This..." The Eternal Life Pavilion members looked at each other, none knowing what to say.
"Of course, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao might lack the confidence to eradicate You Di, but that doesn't mean the Nine Heavens can't deal with him, nor does it mean the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao doesn't dare to eradicate him. It's just that this is a risky move. Unless absolutely necessary, I believe the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao won't take this risky step."
Old Master Kaishan looked up at the sky, murmuring to himself, "Some matters are beyond our reach. Therefore, our Eternal Life Pavilion has never participated in such affairs since ancient times. You must all remember this—never, ever get entangled in such conflicts."
In the Great Desolate, the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands were very special existences.
They belonged neither to the immortal and Buddha Great Dao faction of the Nine Heavens, nor to the demon and monster Great Dao faction of the Nine Nether.
Since ancient times, they had maintained a neutral stance, never getting involved in Great Dao conflicts.
"Old Master," someone from the Eternal Life Pavilion asked, "it's not that our Eternal Life Pavilion insists on getting entangled in such conflicts. It's just... it's just that the matter of You Di has already dragged Lixin and Qingqing into it. Especially Qingqing—outside the Plum Blossom Immortal Realm, many people are waiting for her to come out and explain things clearly."
Hearing this, Lixin Xianzi nodded and asked, "Old Master, what should we do about this matter? Both Qingqing and I are about to collapse. Please give us some advice."
"There's no hiding from this matter. Since everyone wants Qingqing to go out and explain things clearly, then go out and explain things clearly."
"But..." Qingqing seemed somewhat hesitant.
"What is it?" Old Master Kaishan asked. "Is there some difficulty?"
"Qingqing, at a time like this, how can you still be indecisive, you silly girl?" Lixin Xianzi scolded. "Didn't I tell you? Even if you admire You Di, just fantasize about it in your heart. You can't actually go and do it!"
As soon as Lixin Xianzi's words fell, the Eternal Life Pavilion members were all startled. Even Old Master Kaishan's expression changed repeatedly as he stared at Qingqing in disbelief, too shocked to speak.
"I don't!" Qingqing was also badly frightened, flustered as she hurriedly explained, "Senior Aunt, don't talk nonsense!"
"When have I ever talked nonsense?" Lixin Xianzi said. "Ever since this silly girl encountered You Di on the Xuantian Vessel, something must have gone wrong in her head. She's been bewitched by You Di, absent-minded the whole way. I've already advised this girl for a long time, but she just doesn't want to go out. Clearly, she's worried about You Di."
By saying this in front of Old Master Kaishan, Lixin Xianzi obviously wanted Old Master Kaishan to scold Qingqing, so she would abandon this notion sooner. She added, "I say, girl, you heard what Old Master just said. Even the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao might not be able to deal with You Di. I really don't know what you're so worried about."
Old Master Kaishan's face turned pale then flushed as he stared at Qingqing, asking in astonishment, "Qingqing, is what Lixin said true? You... you really admire You Di?"
"No! No! No! It's not true! Grandmaster, please don't listen to Senior Aunt's nonsense! I don't admire You Di at all! I don't!"
Qingqing was so anxious she was about to cry. She explained, "I just... I just... feel that it's because of me that You Di's identity was exposed. If I hadn't picked up You Di's Five-Phase Cloud-Water Sword back then, the Five-Phase Cloud-Water Sword wouldn't have awakened upon seeing him on the way here. If the Five-Phase Cloud-Water Sword hadn't recognized him, You Di's identity wouldn't have been exposed..." Qingqing bit her lip, feeling deeply guilty. "I already feel like I've wronged You Di enough. Now you want me to go out and explain this matter to everyone... I... I really can't do it. What if... You Di really gets into big trouble because his identity was exposed? I... I would never be able to live with myself for the rest of my life."