In the void.
Gu Qingfeng still stood quietly.
When the incarnations of the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors appeared, he showed no visible reaction, continuing to drink his Hell Impermanence wine as if he didn't care at all, or even pay it any mind.
When the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors said they would take these Great Dao Destinies away, he still did not respond, merely drinking his wine as if he hadn't heard, turning a blind eye.
Only after finishing the entire jug of Hell Impermanence wine did he glance at the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors and say indifferently, "Her face really is big enough, isn't it? Pressing your Immortal Dao down so firmly that even those Ancestors of yours who want me dead have to give up. Seems I waited all this time for nothing."
"We do not wish to be enemies with the Emperor, nor do we wish to be used by those behind the scenes," said the incarnation of one of the Immortal Dao Ancestors. "We hope the Emperor will be magnanimous and allow this old one to take them away. If possible, we also hope the Emperor can set aside grievances and quell today's matter. The Emperor should know that the Great Wilderness of this era cannot withstand further turmoil."
Gu Qingfeng said nothing more, merely stating his stance: "Their lives are mine today. None of you can take them."
"Emperor Jiuyou, you should understand this is a trap they laid!"
Gu Qingfeng replied coldly, "I don't care if it's a trap or not. I don't give a damn."
"Must you push this matter to an irreparable point?"
"I've said it before: since the curtain has risen, this play must go on, whether you want to perform it or not. If I don't nod, this play will never end!"
"Since Emperor Jiuyou insists on having his way, then this old one and the others can only offend."
Without any visible movement from the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors, they suddenly vanished without warning, as if they had never been there. Vanishing with them were the ten Great Dao Destinies.
One had to admit, the Immortal Dao Ancestors were indeed worthy of their title. Even mere incarnations possessed such divine abilities.
"Get out here!"
Gu Qingfeng struck out with a palm through the air. Like a thunderclap, the void shattered with a series of sharp cracking sounds. Cracks spread through the void like shattered glass. With a loud bang, a hole exploded in space, fragments flying out like broken glass.
Within that hole appeared over a dozen figures—none other than the incarnations of the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors and the ten Great Dao Destinies.
The nine Immortal Dao Ancestors seemed shocked. Without hesitation, they vanished instantly with the ten Great Dao Destinies.
Gu Qingfeng stood in the void, unmoving. He struck out with another palm through the air. Bang! Space shattered again, and the incarnations of the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors reappeared.
Witnessing this scene, those observing from various hidden worlds could hardly believe their eyes. A single palm strike through the air had actually shattered the void! And this palm contained no profound mysteries, no divine abilities, nor any magical techniques—it was pure, raw force.
How was this possible?
Not only were the onlookers from various worlds stunned, but even the old beggar on Blackwater Mountain widened his eyes in shock and exclaimed, "Good heavens! Shattering space with mere physical strength? That's simply too unbelievable!"
Within the scene.
The nine Immortal Dao Ancestors vanished once more. Clearly, they only wanted to take the ten Great Dao Destinies and leave, not wishing to become enemies with Gu Qingfeng.
Unfortunately.
No matter what methods they tried, what divine abilities they deployed, they could not escape the Lingluo Heavenly Domain.
"You think a few incarnations like yours can take them from my hands?"
Gu Qingfeng's voice echoed through the void, shaking the entire Lingluo Heavenly Domain and causing continuous explosions throughout the void.
At this moment, the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors finally realized a fact: there was nowhere to hide, no escape.
"I know this matter has nothing to do with you," Gu Qingfeng pointed at the nine Immortal Dao Ancestors and roared sharply. "If anyone in the Immortal Dao wants my life, let them come down and take it themselves! You have no business jumping around here!"
The leading Immortal Dao incarnation said, "Emperor Jiuyou, after this matter concludes, we will give you an explanation!"
"I'll give you an explanation today first!"
Gu Qingfeng took a step forward, the void beneath his feet shattering. As he leaped upward—crack! crack! crack!—the surrounding void exploded repeatedly.
Seeing this.
The nine Immortal Dao Ancestors dared not delay. They protected the ten Great Dao Destinies, then formed hand seals with both hands. Brilliant light flashed, profound mysteries shifted, and divine abilities condensed. In an instant, a massive treasure pagoda materialized. The pagoda's aura was astonishing, immovable as a mountain. Endless mysteries shimmered like stars around it, while streams of divine power coiled around it like ancient dragons.
Suddenly.
Gu Qingfeng descended from above, his entire body transforming into a sharp sword that plummeted down and smashed onto the pagoda's pinnacle.
A deafening explosion rang out.
The treasure pagoda trembled violently under the immense force.
"Break open for me!"
Gu Qingfeng stood atop the pagoda's pinnacle, twisted his body, and channeled his power into a spiraling motion. Crack!
The profoundly mysterious treasure pagoda cracked open a fissure, followed by a second, a third, ten, a hundred...
Boom!
The treasure pagoda was completely shattered by Gu Qingfeng's twisting force. The nine Ancestor incarnations were also severely shaken and injured. At that moment, Gu Qingfeng's figure descended.
"Kneel!"
An earth-shattering roar of domineering power exploded forth, forcing the ten Great Dao Destinies to kneel in the void. Simultaneously, it caused the nine Ancestor incarnations to bleed from their mouths and noses, staggering backward. With no time for shock or concern for their injuries, the nine Ancestors tried to rush forward to save the ten Great Dao Destinies. But when they charged forward, they suddenly found themselves unable to move an inch.
Looking up, they saw boundless darkness suddenly ignite into flames, infinite stillness suddenly boiling, and endless slaughter roaring forth.
The burning darkness twisted and blurred their incarnations like flames.
The boiling stillness seared their spirits with unbearable agony.
The roaring slaughter terrified their minds like a song of death.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Immediately after, several more figures descended from above—also incarnations of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao Ancestors. Clearly, the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao did not want the Great Dao Destinies to die at Gu Qingfeng's hands, yet they did not wish to become enemies with Gu Qingfeng, nor even offend him. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent down only these few Ancestor incarnations. They feared both being misunderstood by Gu Qingfeng and being used by those behind the scenes.
Seeing that the lives of these Great Dao Destinies were once again in Gu Qingfeng's grasp, the Ancestors of the Nine Heavens Immortal Dao could only send down their incarnations.
Unfortunately.
When they charged forward, they too found themselves unable to move. And the more they struggled, the greater the pressure they endured—like being trapped in quicksand, sinking deeper with every movement.
One, ten, twenty, thirty...
The Nine Heavens Immortal Dao continued to send down Ancestor incarnations one after another.