Darkness was spreading.
Silence was enveloping.
Killing intent was roaring.
This darkness was endless darkness.
This silence was infinite silence.
This killing intent was boundless slaughter.
The Lingluo Heavenly Domain was like a terrifying hell, or a dreadful abyss.
Gu Qingfeng was like the God of Death from hell, presiding over the life and death of all living beings, or like a demon from the abyss, looking down arrogantly upon the Great Wilderness, scorning the Great Dao, and dominating heaven and earth.
At this moment, Gu Qingfeng was no longer the usual, leisurely, carefree Gu Qingfeng.
He was more like the Gu Tianlang from the ancient era who roamed heaven and earth, unrivaled and arrogant.
Gone was the **unrestrainedness; what remained was only solitary pride and absolute dominance.
As the saying goes, when light vanishes, darkness comes; when Qingfeng is gone, Tianlang returns.
Gu Qingfeng stood in mid-air, his eyes slightly closed, saying nothing more.
Meanwhile, in a hidden corner of the world, Qingxi Shangxian, who had been watching intently, asked, "Founding Patriarch, the Nether Emperor... what is he doing?"
The Founding Patriarch was also watching the void of the heavenly domain. Faced with Qingxi Shangxian's question, he merely shook his head without answering.
Instead, Immortal Lixin beside them said, "I think the Nether Emperor might be waiting."
"Waiting? Waiting for what?"
"Waiting for the various Patriarchs lurking in the shadows to show themselves."
"The Nine Heavens have already made it clear they won't act. Will the Patriarchs lurking in the shadows show themselves?"
"Even if they don't want to, they have no choice but to appear now."
Immortal Lixin continued, "Judging from the current situation, the lives of all the representative figures of the various major powers gathered in the Lingluo Heavenly Domain are in the Nether Emperor's hands. If the Nether Emperor wishes, none of these people would likely survive."
After a pause, she added, "Most of the representatives who appeared today are famous figures from the Immortal Dao of the ancient era and the core strength of their respective major powers. The Patriarchs lurking in the shadows won't easily let them die like this, especially since many among them possess Great Dao Destiny—they are the heart and soul of their factions. Those Patriarchs would never abandon them no matter what."
Suddenly, the Founding Patriarch, who had been silent, spoke up, "It's true that these Great Dao Destinies are the heart and soul of their factions, and it's also true that their lives are currently in the Nether Emperor's hands. However, the Patriarchs of the various major powers lurking in the shadows may not necessarily show themselves."
Immortal Lixin and Qingxi asked in unison, "Why?"
The Founding Patriarch answered evasively, "This is the brilliance of the various major powers."
"Brilliance?"
Immortal Lixin and Qingxi Shangxian exchanged glances, unable to understand the Founding Patriarch's meaning. With the so-called Great Dao Destinies' lives hanging in the balance, held by the Nether Emperor, they couldn't see any brilliance in the actions of the major powers. Instead, they thought it was utterly foolish to have these Great Dao Destinies represent their factions in the encirclement of the Nether Emperor.
The Founding Patriarch asked, "Do you know why the various major powers sent these Great Dao Destinies as representatives?"
Qingxi Shangxian replied, "The plan to crusade against the Nether Emperor today was premeditated by the major powers, and they even colluded with the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao. The major powers arranged for these Great Dao Destinies to serve as representatives for several reasons: first, to show the myriad worlds their determination to kill the Nether Emperor; second, to make the plea to the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao more solemn and influential through these Great Dao Destinies; third, if the plan proceeded smoothly, these Great Dao Destinies would gain the merit of slaying the Nether Emperor, which would greatly enhance their reputations in the Great Wilderness in the future."
"The major powers' calculations were indeed clever," Immortal Lixin added. "Unfortunately... man proposes, but heaven disposes. Despite the major powers' premeditation, no one expected the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao to suddenly change their minds. If the Nine Heavens don't act, the major powers can only give up. They also never anticipated that the lives of these Great Dao Destinies would fall into the Nether Emperor's hands."
"What you've said is correct, but it's not the whole story," the Founding Patriarch interjected. Immortal Lixin and Qingxi were both confused about what they had missed.
"The change in the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao may have disrupted the major powers' plans, but that doesn't mean they weren't prepared for it. It's precisely because they were prepared that they arranged for these Great Dao Destinies to serve as representatives."
Immortal Lixin and Qingxi were still baffled and asked blankly, "Why is that?"
"A Great Dao Destiny is, after all, a Great Dao Destiny—they are individuals of the Great Dao who have received the Heavenly Mandate. They not only possess Great Dao bodies but also the power of laws, and they are protected by Heavenly Destiny."
Hearing the Founding Patriarch's words, Immortal Lixin and Qingxi Shangxian immediately understood. They finally remembered the terrifying weight behind the term 'Great Dao Destiny'.
Great Dao Destinies are all chosen by heaven.
Throughout history, all Great Dao Destinies have been arranged by heaven as sons of the Great Dao, with limitless future achievements. It's not impossible for them to become overlords of the Great Dao or even rulers of the Nine Heavens.
Therefore,
any Great Dao Destiny is not only the heart and soul of their respective major powers but also the heart and soul of their respective Great Daos, because the future dominance of the Great Dao over the Great Wilderness and heaven and earth depends on these Great Dao Destinies.
And in the field,
North Altar Immortal King, Xuan Yu Star Lord, Black Flame Star Lord, Jade Toad Immortal King, Morning Sun Star Lord, and others...
are all Immortal Dao Destinies.
In other words,
today, not only would the major powers not allow these Great Dao Destinies to die here, but the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao would also never permit it. After all, in the current era, if the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao still wishes to dominate heaven and earth, they cannot do without these Great Dao Destinies.
Thinking of this, Immortal Lixin's heart surged with shock and awe. "Indeed, the older the ginger, the spicier it is. The major powers have truly schemed with every trick in the book. To force the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao to act, they've spared no effort—first using these Great Dao Destinies to make the plea, and if the Nine Heavens change their minds, using the lives of these Great Dao Destinies to force the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao to act. The Nine Heavens Immortal Dao may not care about face, but they can't ignore the lives of these Great Dao Destinies, can they?"
As she spoke, Immortal Lixin's face flushed with indignation. "These major powers are truly despicable and sinister! They're actually gambling with the lives of these Great Dao Destinies against the Nine Heavens, betting on whether these Great Dao Destinies are more important to them or to the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao. This truly reflects the old saying: you can't catch a wolf without risking the child. They're using their own 'children' to trap the Nine Nether Emperor, Gu Tianlang!"
"Using the lives of these Great Dao Destinies as a gamble is indeed a risky move, but the major powers only took this step after careful consideration. Moreover..." the Founding Patriarch said, "by using these Great Dao Destinies as stakes, the major powers aren't just pressuring the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao; they're also pressuring the true overlord of the Great Wilderness and heaven and earth—the Heavenly Dao!"
Immortal Lixin's heart skipped a beat, and she exclaimed in horror, "The Heavenly Dao! How could I have forgotten the Heavenly Dao? These Great Dao Destinies have received the mandate of the Heavenly Dao! Killing them would be defying heaven's will and would incur heavenly retribution!!"