"It was only the appearance of a mysterious old senior that finally stopped You Di. No one knows who that mysterious old senior was, nor what his relationship with You Di was. We only know that You Di seemed to respect him greatly. After that mysterious old senior appeared, You Di ceased his slaughter. Then, Old He committed suicide before You Di to atone for his sins, and only then did You Di's killing intent dissipate."
"Not long after, You Di simply left. From beginning to end, he never uttered a single word, not even one syllable. He came alone with a single blade, and he left alone with a single blade. The difference was that when he arrived, his eyes were dark and obscure; when he left, they were crimson red. When he arrived, his blade was also dark and obscure; when he left, it too was crimson red..."
"To this day, this old man still remembers clearly: that day, the great sun fell, dusk arrived, darkness surged, and night descended..."
"After You Di departed, the great sun that hung over Dan Ding Valley never rose again. No light could be seen; it was shrouded in darkness for a very, very long time..."
Inside the hall.
Qingqing, Li Xin, and the other ancient-era powerhouses from the Eternal Life Pavilion stood there, listening, shocked and horrified. It was only a long while after Old Master Kaishan finished speaking that Li Xin and the others gradually regained their composure.
None of them had ever imagined that there was such a hidden grudge between You Di and Dan Ding Valley, to the extent that Dan Ding Valley had nearly been slaughtered by You Di. It was truly...
"No wonder," someone said. "During the Ancient Era, the disciples of Dan Ding Valley were extremely high-profile. Yet, in the ten thousand years of the Present Era, they've been as low-key as can be, and Dan Ding Valley disciples are rarely seen in the Great Wilderness. So that's the reason."
Old Master Kaishan nodded. "You Di's great massacre at Dan Ding Valley that year, while not an extinction-level disaster for the valley, wasn't far from it. Fortunately, in the Present Era, with the revival of all things, the slumbering Ancestral Patriarchs of Dan Ding Valley have awakened one after another. After ten thousand years of recuperation, they should have mostly recovered."
"Such a major event, how come there's not a single rumor about it outside?"
"Only the old seniors of the cave heavens and blessed lands know of this matter. After all, Dan Ding Valley is one of the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands. If this matter were to spread, not only would Dan Ding Valley decline, but all the cave heavens and blessed lands, including the Three Thousand Great Daos, would lose face. Therefore, the matter was suppressed, and no one spoke of it."
"Ancestral Patriarch," Qingqing asked at this moment, "how do you know these details so clearly? Were you involved in this matter back then?"
"Regarding the cause and outcome of this incident, including the grudge between You Di and Dan Ding Valley, across the myriad realms of the heavens, I'm afraid no one understands it more clearly than this old man."
"Ancestral Patriarch, what do you mean by that?"
"That's a long story. Back then, shortly after You Di first entered the Great Wilderness, before he had ascended to become the Nine Nether Emperor, Old He and I encountered You Di within an ancient cave mansion. We even crossed hands. We both greatly admired You Di. We stayed in that cave mansion for a long time, so you could say we became acquainted with You Di."
"It was precisely because we drank and chatted with You Di that Old He and I learned You Di had once lived in seclusion at the Chilian Immortal Realm within the Lingluo Heavenly Domain. After learning that a Dan Ding Valley disciple had killed someone in the Chilian Immortal Realm, Old He specifically called me to go there together. That's why I have a clear understanding of the entire incident."
Li Xin and Qingqing both found this incredible. They had previously only known that the Old Master had crossed hands with You Di, but they had never heard that he had also shared drinks and become acquainted with him.
"Old Master, why have we never heard you speak of these matters before?"
"They are just past events, not worth mentioning. Moreover, after so many years, who knows if You Di even remembers that an old man like me exists."
"Old Master," someone from the Eternal Life Pavilion asked, "you said earlier that if North Altar Immortal King truly intends to wage war against You Di, the Ancestral Patriarchs of Dan Ding Valley might personally arrive. Does that mean they are preparing to seek revenge on You Di for the past wrongs?"
"Dan Ding Valley was nearly slaughtered by You Di in the Ancient Era. They still dare to seek revenge?" Li Xin said. "Aren't they afraid that this time they might truly be exterminated by You Di?"
"The Ancestral Patriarchs of Dan Ding Valley have already awakened. It wouldn't be so easy for You Di to exterminate Dan Ding Valley."
Others might not understand, but Old Master Kaishan knew: whether among the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens or the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, the existence of the Ancestral Patriarchs was unimaginable. Among them were Sages who stood above the Three Thousand Great Daos, Venerables from the Primordial Era, and even Primordials from the Chaos Era—all Ancestral Patriarchs who could stir heaven and earth with a single thought.
"Of course, even though the Ancestral Patriarchs of Dan Ding Valley have awakened, it doesn't necessarily mean they truly dare to seek revenge on You Di. At the very least, they likely won't act without absolute certainty. Perhaps their coming this time is also to probe and test the strength of You Di, who has returned in this era of revival."
"I wonder where You Di is now," Qingqing murmured, "and whether he knows of his own predicament."
Old Master Kaishan sighed. "Where You Di is now is not important. What is important is the attitude of the Nine Heavens Immortal Path."
Indeed.
The people gathering from all directions—whether from the various Immortal Realm families, the cave heavens and blessed lands, the prodigies of the Great Daos, or the Chosen of the Great Daos—were almost all waiting for the attitude of the Nine Heavens. Because they all knew of You Di's terror. Only by relying on the authority of the Nine Heavens would they dare to besiege You Di. If the Nine Heavens did not act, no one would dare to provoke You Di, not even a Seventy-Two Blessed Land like Dan Ding Valley.
Because of this.
Many Immortal Realm families hoped to glean some news from the Immortal Court Residence of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain. This was especially true for those Immortal Realm families with deep-seated hatred for You Di. Some had perhaps had their reputations ruined because of him, some had lost face, some had relatives killed by him, some had the goddess of their hearts abducted by him... the reasons varied, but all held a bone-deep hatred for You Di and had always wished to eliminate him for revenge.
The key issue was that the Nine Heavens side had never given a clear stance, not the slightest movement, which left them feeling very uncertain. Even the Immortal Court Residence of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain showed no movement. And the gates of the Nine Heavens were not something they could simply enter as they pleased. Therefore, they could only come to the Immortal Court Residence of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain to inquire.
Unexpectedly, the Immortal Court Residence of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain was also tightly shut, with only guards stationed at the gates and an old steward receiving inquiries. No matter who asked, the old steward had only one answer: the Immortal Court Residence had not received any decree from the Nine Heavens at present, and their own Immortal Court Grand Master was also still awaiting a decree from the Nine Heavens.
This drove the Immortal Realm Lords who wished to seek revenge on You Di to distraction, leaving them utterly clueless about what the Nine Heavens Immortal Path intended.
Actually.
Those feeling anxious weren't limited to these Immortal Realm Lords. The Immortal Dynasties ruling the various worlds of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, including the Immortal Court Residence that governed the laws of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain, were also like ants on a hot pan, pacing anxiously.
At this moment.
In the main hall of the Immortal Court Residence of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain.
The Lords and Elders of the various Immortal Dynasties had all gathered here. They too had come to the Immortal Court Residence to inquire about news. And the various Elders of the Immortal Court Residence were even more anxious than they were, because up to now, they truly had not received any decree from the Nine Heavens.