Those who had rushed over from the Myriad Heavens and Worlds could roughly be divided into several categories.
One category wished to take advantage of this rare opportunity, relying on the prestige of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, to eliminate You Di, thereby making a name for themselves throughout Heaven and Earth and leaving their mark in history. For instance, Shi Que, Fang Ying, Yun Fan—these outstanding Daoist Prodigies of the younger generation in the Present Era—all harbored this thought to a greater or lesser extent.
Another category held deep-seated hatred for You Di, wishing they could tear him to pieces. They too wanted to seize this chance, relying on the prestige of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, to eliminate You Di and exact their revenge. Examples included the Immortal Manor and Immortal Dynasty, and even the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands. Back in the Ancient Era, they had all suffered immense humiliation because of You Di.
Yet another category, having heard the rumors, feared that You Di truly was the True Lord of Original Sin, destined to slaughter the Great Dao, destroy Heaven and Earth, and end the Present Era. Therefore, for their own safety, they also wished to take this opportunity, relying on the prestige of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, to eliminate You Di. The various Immortal Realm families that had come this time all thought this way. Regarding the rumors, they adopted the mindset of 'better safe than sorry,' though most also held the idea of acting according to circumstances.
Regardless of whether they sought to make a name for themselves, exact revenge, or act according to circumstances, they all shared one prerequisite.
That was whether the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao would take action against You Di.
None of them were fools. Even those arrogant, overbearing Daoist Prodigies understood just how terrifying You Di's existence was.
If the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao did not act, naturally, they wouldn't either. If the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao did act, they would follow suit.
There was another category who were half-convinced, half-doubting about the rumors—neither fully believing nor absolutely disbelieving. They had come purely to join the spectacle. Most of these people were old-timers who had experienced the Ancient Era. They didn't even have the thought of acting according to circumstances. Even if the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao truly took action against You Di, they would not participate in this commotion.
The reason was simple. Back in the Ancient Era, they had witnessed the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao take action against You Di. Not only had they seen the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao act, they had also seen the Three Thousand Great Daos move against You Di. And what was the result?
What had they ultimately managed to do to You Di?
Not only had they failed to do anything to You Di, but the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao had nearly been burned to ashes by a single flame from him.
Although in the Present Era, the Immortal Dao's source had recovered, and the Immortal Dao's ancestors had awakened one after another, who could guarantee they could definitely eliminate You Di?
For these old-timers who had lived through the Ancient Era, they might not know whether You Di was the legendary True Lord of Original Sin, but that wasn't too important to them. Even if You Di truly was the legendary True Lord of Original Sin, whether these old-timers would dare to move against him remained an unknown.
Because they all understood clearly: if You Di was the True Lord of Original Sin, they might not necessarily die in the future. But if they took action against You Di now, they would absolutely meet with no good end.
Of course.
There was also a category of people who, from the very beginning, neither wanted to nor would participate in this spectacle.
For example, Old Master Kaishan of the Eternal Life Pavilion.
He was not only an Elder of the Eternal Life Pavilion but also an old-timer who had come from the Primal Era, having experienced far too many things.
He might also not know whether You Di was the True Lord of Original Sin.
Nor did he know whether the events recorded in the Book of Fate were true.
But there was one thing he understood more clearly than anyone else.
That was, even if the Great Dao fell, the Present Era ended, or even if Heaven and Earth were reborn, it did not mean all living beings would be exterminated.
This Heaven and Earth.
From the Primal Chaos Era, through the Grand Primordial Era, the Primal Era, the Ancient Era, and up to the Present Era—every time an era ended, a new one would begin. Every time an era ended, Heaven and Earth would be reborn because of it. Yet, every time an era ended, all living beings had never been exterminated along with the era's end.
It was precisely because of this that the thirty-six Cave Heavens and seventy-two Blessed Lands, which had shaken the Great Wasteland, could be passed down to this day. No matter which of the Three Thousand Great Daos dominated Heaven and Earth, the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands would remain unaffected.
After explaining what had happened earlier on the Xuantian Vessel, Old Master Kaishan led Qingqing, Li Xin, and the others back to the Plum Blossom Immortal Realm.
Perhaps because her heart was too full of self-blame and guilt, Qingqing kept her head lowered the entire way, not saying a word.
Despite Old Master Kaishan's repeated attempts to console her, Qingqing's heart remained convinced that she was the one who had caused You Di's identity to be exposed. This matter had become a knot in her heart. No matter how others tried to persuade her, she simply could not let it go.
"Old Master, aren't we going back?"
Li Xin asked.
Unlike Qingqing, regarding the exposure of You Di's identity, Li Xin harbored no such knot in her heart. What she felt was only frustration and regret.
The events on the Xuantian Vessel had spread far and wide. Everyone knew that she, Li Xin, had been so terrified on the Xuantian Vessel that she had massaged You Di's back, given him a shoulder rub, and even knelt before him. Her face had been thoroughly lost throughout the Myriad Heavens and Worlds. Right now, Li Xin just wanted to return to the Eternal Life Pavilion, go into seclusion for a few thousand years, and never go out again in the future. She also had no face left to see anyone else.
"Since we're already here, why be in such a hurry to go back?"
"Old Master, didn't you say we weren't going to get involved in this matter? Now that Qingqing has explained everything to everyone, why are we still staying?"
"Li Xin, you go back first."
"What!"
Li Xin wondered if she had misheard, asking incredulously, "I go back by myself? Old Master, what do you mean by that? Aren't you coming back?"
"Such a major event has occurred in the Present Era. This old man naturally doesn't want to miss it."
Old Master Kaishan stroked the white beard on his chin and said, "This old man wishes to stay and see what attitude the Three Thousand Great Daos holds towards You Di, and what attitude You Di himself holds. Moreover, this old man has long suspected that someone is secretly stirring the waters behind this incident, attempting to use You Di's hand to disrupt the peaceful situation of the Present Era. This old man wants to see just how many terrifying undercurrents are hidden beneath the calm surface of the Present Era."
He paused for a moment before sighing with emotion, "There's another, even more important reason. Although this old man cannot be considered a friend of You Di, nor do we have any personal connection, this old man holds immense admiration for You Di himself. Ever since the end of the Ancient Era, after You Di was put on trial, this old man has never seen him again. Now that he has revived and returned, this old man also wishes to see him once more."
"Heavens! What in the world is all this!"
Upon hearing Old Master Kaishan's words, Li Xin was utterly speechless. "Old Master, you are, after all, an Elder of our Eternal Life Pavilion, a highly respected senior of the Great Wasteland. Even the renowned Floating Life Emperor Monarch, hailed as a hero of the Present Era, was a disciple you personally taught. How could you, of all people, come to admire You Di?"
"This old man has lived for so many years and has never admired anyone. Only towards You Di does this old man hold the utmost admiration from the bottom of my heart."
"I just can't understand it. What is there for you to admire about him? What about You Di is worthy of your admiration?"
"What true man doesn't wish to stand tall between Heaven and Earth and roam the Great Wasteland unhindered? Since ancient times, there have been many who shook the Great Wasteland, many who roamed Heaven and Earth unhindered. But how many have truly been able to live up to the words 'stand tall between Heaven and Earth'? This old man only knows that You Di did. He absolutely deserves those four words. He did what all the men in the Myriad Heavens and Worlds wanted to do but dared not. Does that not deserve admiration? Does that not deserve respect?"