The crowd gathered in the void of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain was utterly shocked upon learning that Sha Xiang was the Black Pig Monster King from the ancient era. They were so shocked they could hardly believe it was true.
In the minds of many, the Black Pig Monster King was not only a criminal disciple wanted by the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao, but also a despicably sinister, shameless, and extremely cruel and bloodthirsty Monster King. In the ancient era, he had committed every evil imaginable—burning, killing, looting, and plundering—and had trapped and slain countless Immortals.
Such a criminal disciple of the Immortal Dao, guilty of every evil, had actually become the Domain Master of a Heavenly Domain in the present-ancient era!
And he was a Domain Master personally appointed by the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao!
Why was this?
How could the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao appoint the ancient-era Black Pig Monster King as a Domain Master?
No one knew.
No one understood.
Most people speculated that the Black Pig Monster King must have either pledged allegiance to the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao or been subdued by them.
Not only did the Immortals of the Immortal Dao think this way, but the demons of the Monster Dao gathered in the void of the Lingluo Heavenly Domain also believed so, looking upon Sha Xiang's actions with extreme contempt. As a Monster King of the Monster Dao, and a renowned one from the ancient era at that, to betray the Monster Dao and pledge allegiance to the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao was bad enough, but to also accept an appointment from the Immortal Dao and become a Domain Master was even more detestable than those demonic Immortals.
This was a disgrace!
An absolute disgrace to the Monster Dao!
How could he live up to such a grand title as the one who inherited the Heavenly Mandate and the Monster Dao Throne?
How could he face the Monster Dao?
On Blackwater Mountain, hearing the discussions of the crowd, Sha Xiang felt both angry and resentful, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. His face flushed red, and he shouted at the top of his lungs in fury, "I haven't betrayed the Monster Dao, nor have I pledged allegiance to the Immortal Dao! Whoever dares spout nonsense again, I'll slap them to death with one hand!"
Sha Xiang truly lived up to being the Black Pig Monster King.
This shout of his carried immense authority; his roar seemed to shake the entire Lingluo Heavenly Domain, quite terrifying.
Beside him.
Gu Qingfeng, holding Lady Blackwater and drinking Dragon-Cauldron wine, looked at Sha Xiang. Back in the day, he and Sha Xiang had ventured into the Nine Underworlds together and spent a long time mixing around. He had a fairly good understanding of Sha Xiang's character. If he had to describe Sha Xiang in one sentence, it would absolutely be: despicably shameless, sinister and ruthless, a man with no principles whatsoever, capable of doing anything.
Betraying the Monster Dao and pledging allegiance to the Immortal Dao—such deeds were absolutely within Sha Xiang's capabilities.
Not just such deeds; he wouldn't even blink at selling out the Monster Dao.
As for pledging allegiance to the Immortal Dao, Sha Xiang might do it. However, pledging allegiance and then betraying the Immortal Dao—such deeds were not something Sha Xiang hadn't done before.
Of course.
Gu Qingfeng did not expose Sha Xiang's true colors, merely saying, "Old Pig, I believe you wouldn't pledge allegiance to the Immortal Dao."
"Old Gu is truly righteous! Come! Let this little brother offer you a toast!"
Sha Xiang was deeply moved. He picked up a cup of Dragon-Cauldron wine and downed it in one gulp.
"But, why on earth did you come to this Lingluo Heavenly Domain to play the role of Domain Master? Is there some hidden reason behind it?"
"This... this..." Sha Xiang scratched his head, hesitated for a moment, and said, "To be honest with you, Old Gu, I came here to be the Domain Master to repay a favor to someone."
Having said that, Sha Xiang, afraid Gu Qingfeng might misunderstand, quickly explained, "Old Gu, I really didn't know this was your hometown before I came, and I didn't know you would appear in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain. Really!"
"We're good brothers who ventured into the Nine Underworlds together, sharing both hardships and joys. How could I not believe you? It's just... you just said you came here to be the Domain Master to repay a favor? Who has such great face? And whose favor are you repaying?"
"This..." Sha Xiang was very troubled. After much thought, he ultimately dared not reveal that person's identity. "Old Gu, could you please stop asking? It's not that I don't want to say, but I don't dare. Please, have some consideration for my difficulties."
"Well, well!" Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin and said, "It seems the other party isn't just any ordinary figure. To repay a favor, you risk losing all face and endure the accusation of betraying the Immortal Dao to come here and be a Domain Master, and you still don't dare to speak of it... Tsk tsk... This matter reeks of something strange."
"Old Gu, please show mercy and let this little brother go!"
Sha Xiang clasped his hands in a pleading gesture. "For the sake of all the black pots I carried for you in the Nine Underworlds back in the day, please have pity on me and let me leave. I dare not provoke anyone, and I can't afford to provoke anyone."
"I say, Old Pig, what do you mean by 'carried many black pots for me in the Nine Underworlds'? When did I ever make you carry a black pot?"
"Never! Old Gu never made me carry any black pots! I misspoke, alright?"
Sha Xiang looked as if he wanted to cry but had no tears, at least that's how it appeared. He pleaded, "Old Gu, please, just let me go!"
"Go where? With such a big spectacle happening, you don't want to join in the fun?"
"Old Gu, no! Ancestor, Great Ancestor Gu! I'm begging you!"
Sha Xiang looked as if he had lost the will to live. Back when he followed Gu Qingfeng into the Nine Underworlds, he almost lost his life there. Even now, from time to time, some old demons from the Nine Underworlds would come to cause him trouble. Those old demons couldn't afford to provoke Gu Qingfeng, so they took their anger out on Sha Xiang. Ever since then, Sha Xiang had sworn that if he ever saw Gu Qingfeng again, he would stay far away from him, the farther the better.
Precisely because he had followed Gu Qingfeng into the Nine Underworlds back then, he had suffered quite a lot over the years.
Was it an exaggeration?
Not at all!
For the past ten thousand years of the present-ancient era, either some Nine Underworlds Patriarch would come to trouble him, or some Madame would come to cause him grief, to the point where Sha Xiang's spirit was nearly broken, and he was almost a wreck.
The reason Sha Xiang owed Genggu Wuming a great favor was precisely because Genggu Wuming had stepped in to resolve all his troubles for him.
Having finally cleaned up the mess from the Nine Underworlds, how could he dare to hang around with Gu Qingfeng again?
Sha Xiang continued clasping his hands and bowing, saying, "Old Gu, I've turned over a new leaf now. I just want to live a couple of peaceful days. Please, show mercy and give me a way out."
For the sake of his future days.
Sha Xiang no longer cared about face or reputation. All he wanted now was to sever ties with Gu Qingfeng and draw a clear line between them.
"I say, Old Pig, after all these years apart, you've become more and more of a cunning old fox."
Gu Qingfeng narrowed his eyes, smiling as he looked at Sha Xiang. "Others might not know you, but how could I not know what kind of goods you are? And you have the nerve to talk about 'turning over a new leaf' in front of me? Your face is thicker than mine."
It was true that the two of them had ventured into the Nine Underworlds together back then.
It was also true that they had shared both hardships and joys in the Nine Underworlds.
However, Sha Xiang had never considered Gu Qingfeng a friend.
Similarly, Gu Qingfeng had never considered Sha Xiang a friend either.
Gu Qingfeng had indeed made Sha Xiang carry many black pots in the Nine Underworlds back in the day, but Sha Xiang had also schemed against Gu Qingfeng plenty of times there.
Sha Xiang had almost lost his life in the Nine Underworlds because of Gu Qingfeng, and Gu Qingfeng had also been chased all over the place by old demons in the Nine Underworlds because of Sha Xiang's schemes.
Gu Qingfeng had rarely admired anyone in his life, but he did admire Sha Xiang. He admired this fellow's cunning, sinister ruthlessness, and what Gu Qingfeng admired most was his sheer shamelessness—digging pits and setting traps, he had a whole repertoire. Gu Qingfeng had been tricked by this fellow several times in the Nine Underworlds.
To say this fellow had turned over a new leaf was absolutely the biggest joke.
Gu Qingfeng would sooner believe he had quit drinking than believe Sha Xiang had turned over a new leaf.