In the end, Lord Saint Yang left the Primordial World with his ten-thousand Celestial Domain Immortal Officials.
Though he harbored immense resentment and unwillingness in his heart, facing the Great-Sun Bright Command that represented the Nine Heavens Immortal Path, he dared not disobey, just as he had said.
While he claimed verbally that he would defy the Nine Heavens' decree for the sake of all living beings under the Great Dao, it was merely talk.
When truly confronted with the Nine Heavens Immortal Path's decree, he did not dare to defy it.
Shouting slogans wouldn't get anyone killed.
But truly defying the decree of the Nine Heavens Immortal Path carried consequences he could not bear.
After Lord Saint Yang's departure, the onlookers among the immortals also dispersed.
If even Lord Saint Yang dared not disobey the Great-Sun Bright Command in Mo Ruyi's hand, how much less could ordinary immortals.
At the gates of Yunxia Sect, Huode scratched his head as he watched Lord Saint Yang and the others leave, then glanced at Mo Ruyi, feeling rather baffled.
To be honest, he had no relationship with Mo Ruyi whatsoever.
Not only had they no relationship, he had never even met her before, only hearing that the ruler of the Primordial World's immortal dynasty was a woman named Mo Ruyi, whom he hadn't seen for millennia.
He couldn't figure out why Mo Ruyi had stepped in to drive Lord Saint Yang away.
Weren't they supposed to be on the same side?
Didn't they both want to see that Gu kid dead?
Why, when Lord Saint Yang came to search, did Mo Ruyi appear to drive him away?
What kind of game was this?
He didn't understand.
"Hehe, so this is the illustrious Ruler Mo of our world, right? Truly, your reputation precedes you!" Huode grinned broadly and clasped his hands in salute. "This old man, Yunxiazi, greets Ruler Mo."
Mo Ruyi turned and glanced at him, giving a slight nod in acknowledgment. She asked, "Have you been sheltering You Di?"
The suddenness of Mo Ruyi's question caught Huode completely off guard. He instinctively shook his head and replied, "No! Absolutely not!"
"That's good..." Mo Ruyi said softly. "The Primordial World is under my, Mo Ruyi's, rule. Holding the Great-Sun Bright Command, I can represent the Nine Heavens Immortal Path. From now on, I guarantee no one will disturb your Yunxia Sect again."
"Ah! How can you say that! This old man is truly overwhelmed by such favor!" Huode genuinely felt overwhelmed, and he thought Mo Ruyi was being far too courteous.
"Farewell."
With that, Mo Ruyi leapt into the air and vanished without a trace.
"She's gone just like that?" Huode felt something was off, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what. He waved his hand and said, "Feng Lin, have everyone return to the sect. Thank them all properly for me. Today, treat them to good food and drink. All disciples are to rest for three days—eating, drinking, and having fun, all on this old man's tab."
Back in his private courtyard within the sect, the more Huode thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. He pondered, "Our Yunxia Sect has never had any relationship with that Mo Ruyi. Out of the blue, why would she step in to help us? And she even guaranteed no one would disturb us in the future? Isn't she being too polite? This old man's face isn't that big, is it? Could it be because of the two goddesses' influence?"
Beside him, Feiyue shook her head, indicating she couldn't figure it out either. Little Jin'er, however, spoke up, "Grandpa Huode, that Ruler Mo wasn't acting out of respect for Sister Hua or Sister Ye. She was doing it for Big Brother's sake. And that last thing she said wasn't meant for you—it was meant for Big Brother."
"What! For that Gu kid's sake?" Huode was shocked. "Impossible! She doesn't even know that Gu kid is in our Yunxia Sect."
"She probably knows Big Brother is in Yunxia Sect."
"Really? Jin'er, you mustn't speak nonsense! How do you know Ruler Mo is aware that Gu kid is in Yunxia Sect?"
"I just know, that's all."
"Absolutely impossible! She's the ruler of our world's immortal dynasty. If she knew Gu kid was in Yunxia Sect, she'd have probably reported it to the Nine Heavens Immortal Path long ago. Why would she pretend not to know and even help us?"
"Ruler Mo made it quite clear. She holds the Great-Sun Bright Command and can represent the Nine Heavens Immortal Path. That means if Big Brother doesn't wish to reveal himself, the Nine Heavens Immortal Path will absolutely not take the initiative to move against him."
"If that's true, then we need to inform Gu kid immediately! Little Jin'er, are you sure you don't know where your Big Brother went?"
"Why would I lie to you! Big Brother didn't tell me."
"That Gu kid, really... Why didn't he say anything to this old man before leaving? It's worrying."
...
The Great Barrens, Lingluo Heavenly Domain.
Ever since the news of You Di's resurrection from death spread, the Lingluo Heavenly Domain had been overflowing with people. This was true not only for the various major worlds, but even the vast void of the heavenly domain was packed shoulder to shoulder.
However, there had been no trace of You Di whatsoever, and with no movement from the Nine Heavens Immortal Path either, some had gradually begun to suspect that the so-called resurrection of You Di might be a false rumor, just like before.
Others said the news of You Di's resurrection was true, but the times were different now.
In the Ancient Era, the Dao's essence was depleted, and the Dao Ancestors were slumbering, which allowed You Di to exploit the gaps—burning the Nine Heavens, defying the heavens themselves.
In the Current Era, the Dao's essence had already recovered, and the Dao Ancestors had awakened one after another. You Di no longer dared to burn the Nine Heavens, nor defy the heavens. Therefore, after resurrecting from death, he didn't dare to show himself. Perhaps, upon learning his identity was exposed, he fled overnight.
Opinions varied widely, with everyone saying different things.
As for where Gu Qingfeng actually went...
He hadn't gone anywhere. He was still in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain.
And he was strolling openly and unhindered through the void of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain.
Gu Qingfeng had never been one to seek trouble for no reason.
Nor was he compelled to provoke the Nine Heavens Immortal Path.
To be honest, although the Nine Heavens Immortal Path had often troubled him during the Ancient Era, matters of life-and-death conflict were simply like that—either you kill me, or I kill you. Moreover, most of those from the Immortal Path who had hunted Gu Qingfeng back then had been killed by him anyway. He had even nearly burned the Nine Heavens to ashes with a single blaze. Even if there was enmity, it had been settled.
Thus, he held no deep-seated hatred for the Nine Heavens Immortal Path now. At most, he felt some antipathy toward them.
If possible, he didn't want to stir up trouble again.
He wasn't unaware that someone was behind the scenes, fanning the flames, trying to use him to disrupt the Great Barrens, and also using the Immortal Path to probe his Original Sin. Those pulling the strings included not only the Three Thousand Great Daos, but also the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, the ancestors above the Nine Heavens, the ancestors below the Nine Nethers, and likely even those ancestors from Gui Xu. Even Karma and Fate might be involved.
He knew. He had always known.
Precisely because he knew, he did not hide.
This matter could be avoided today, but not forever. Even if he dodged it this time, it would happen again next time. There was simply no escaping it.
Moreover, from the day he was born, he had never fled from trouble. Having lived until now, he had no habit of running away.
This was true in the past, true now, and would be true in the future.