Gu Qingfeng did not doubt what Da Xing the Mad Monk said.
Although he himself wasn't particularly fond of refining or wielding magical treasures, he had to admit that some formidable artifacts, especially those legendary Great Dao Artifacts, each possessed incredibly terrifying power.
Artifacts like Da Xing's Great Compassion Life-and-Death Fan and the Great Purity, Great Tranquility, Empty Gate Whisk in the hands of the Water-Moon Bodhisattva all belonged to the category of Great Dao Artifacts. They were forged by the founding ancestors of various Great Daos using the Primordial Essence of their respective Daos during the gestation of the Three Thousand Great Daos. Not only did they contain the imposing aura of a Great Dao, but they also harbored the power of a Great Dao itself, making their might exceedingly dreadful.
Back when Gu Qingfeng had ascended to become the Nine Underworlds Emperor, he had once refined a Great Dao Artifact himself. That thing was called the Shadow Blade. It was said to have been forged by the First Ancestor of the Nine Underworlds, who was also the first Nine Underworlds Emperor. Its terrifying power was simply indescribable.
In those days, Gu Qingfeng had nearly annihilated the Cauldron Valley relying on that single Shadow Blade. That slash that split the heavens back then was also delivered by that very blade.
However, the power contained within that thing was too dreadful and too sinister. It was so fearsome that Gu Qingfeng simply could not control the Shadow Blade. Not only could he not control it, but his own mind, consciousness, spirit, and even soul would be influenced by the blade.
Therefore, back then, Gu Qingfeng would not wield that Shadow Blade unless it was absolutely necessary. At the end of the Ancient Era, Gu Qingfeng had once used that Shadow Blade to strike at the Heavenly Dao. After that...
Well, there was no 'after that'.
When Gu Qingfeng had summoned the Shadow Blade to annihilate the Heavenly Dao back then, he had long since descended into madness and demonic possession. He had no idea what happened afterward. All he knew was that after the Ancient Era ended, when he underwent Nirvanic Rebirth once more, all his divine endowments had vanished without a trace. The Peerless Immortal Monster King's Throne, the Nine Underworlds Imperial Seal, including that Shadow Blade—everything was gone.
"If it were just my junior sister alone, perhaps the two of us joining forces might still have a chance. The key issue is, my junior sister has now also become a suspect in the eyes of those Zen Sect Elders. I reckon she must have also called a few friends to help. As for who they are, This Old Monk doesn't know for now, but they should all be quite formidable characters."
Da Xing the Mad Monk continued, "Taking a step back, even if we managed to get past my junior sister, do you think our Zen Sect Elders would be easy to deal with?
Those old fogies' cultivation bases are each more unfathomable than the last. Most importantly, our Zen Sect Elders not only control the essence of the Little Zen Secret Realm but also govern its laws. If we enter, we'd only be asking for a beating. That's exactly how This Old Monk was blasted out when I barged into the Little Zen Secret Realm earlier."
Sighing and shaking his head, Da Xing lamented, "The most terrifying thing is, they also possess the Great Treasury Formless Pagoda. The power of that thing is even more horrifyingly extreme. Getting hit by it once is unbearable. If you get trapped inside, then it's over—you'd probably never get out in this lifetime."
Gu Qingfeng asked with a smile, "That powerful, huh?"
"What do you think?"
Da Xing shot Gu Qingfeng a glare and said irritably, "Back in the Ancient Era, you, kid, could run rampant across heaven and earth without restraint because the Great Dao essences had already dried up, and the Great Dao Ancestors had long since fallen into slumber. In the Present-Ancient Era, the Great Dao essences have revived, the Great Dao Ancestors have awakened, and those Great Dao Artifacts have also reappeared in the world!"
"So you're saying..." Gu Qingfeng swirled the fine wine in his cup, "If this master helps you this time, if things go south, I might face eternal damnation."
Hearing Gu Qingfeng say this, Da Xing felt like slapping himself hard across the face several times, cursing himself inwardly for saying too much. He quickly stood up, first pouring wine for Gu Qingfeng, then explaining, "Kid Gu, don't overthink it. What This Old Monk said just now was a bit exaggerated. The situation isn't as bad as you imagine. Besides, you, kid, have such great capabilities. No matter how powerful a treasure is, it can't do anything to you."
"Don't play that trick with me."
"Hehe!"
Da Xing grinned widely, personally picked up a wine cup, and offered a toast. "Moreover, if you help This Old Monk this time, I won't let you help for free. This time, if you encounter any difficulties, no matter what it is, as long as you, kid, say the word, This Old Monk absolutely won't so much as frown."
"Really?"
Gu Qingfeng doubted, "Don't pretend you don't know me when this master is in trouble later."
"Kid Gu, saying that is just meaningless. Is This Old Monk that kind of person?"
"Hard to say. You can know a person's face, but not their heart. Who knows what kind of medicine you, Bald Donkey, are really selling in your gourd."
"Alright, alright, let's cut the chatter. Let's talk about something serious, and it's also related to you, kid."
"What is it?"
"Didn't you, kid, already decide to start pursuing Original Sin anew?"
"That's right."
Gu Qingfeng had just nodded when a thought struck him and he felt something was off. He narrowed his eyes at Da Xing the Mad Monk and asked, "I say you're fat, and you really start panting. This master is puzzled—how did you know I decided to start pursuing Original Sin again?
How did you all, one after another, become fortune-telling prophetesses?"
Da Xing held a cup of fine wine, a proud smile hanging on his face, looking profound. "This Old Monk not only knows you, kid, decided to pursue Original Sin anew, but also knows that not long ago, you, kid, nearly poked a hole in the sky over in Lingluo Heavenly Domain. I also know Genggu Wuming went to find you...
I even know exactly what Genggu Wuming wanted with you."
"Well, well, didn't see that coming. You, Bald Donkey, seem even more omniscient than that prophetess Genggu Wuming."
Da Xing chuckled but didn't respond, closing his eyes and assuming the posture of an enlightened eminent monk.
"Alright, stop playing coy. Speak up."
Gu Qingfeng said, "Say it, let this master hear it, broaden my horizons, and increase my knowledge."
Da Xing acted as if he hadn't heard, still not speaking, but merely cleared his throat twice and said, "Ah, perhaps This Old Monk talked a bit too much just now. Suddenly, my throat feels a bit dry."
"Well, well, starting to play the lord already, are we? Fine."
Earlier, when Da Xing was pleading with Gu Qingfeng, he had stood up more than once to pour wine for him. Now, the tables had turned. Gu Qingfeng also stood up and poured a cup of wine for Da Xing the Mad Monk, personally handing it over, saying, "Here you go, Holy Monk Da Xing. Your little brother offers you a toast."
Da Xing acted as if he saw nothing, his eyes still closed, and said, "Kid Gu, This Old Monk heard that Ren Tianxing gave you quite a bit of Hell Impermanence Wine."
"So that's what you're after. It's just Hell Impermanence Wine. You should have said so earlier."
Gu Qingfeng raised his hand and produced a jar of Hell Impermanence Wine. Before he could even open it, Da Xing spoke again, "This Old Monk also heard...
Lady Cangyan seems to have given you quite a bit of Heavenly Dao Wine as well. This Old Monk has always heard the saying: 'Above, there is Heaven, and within it, there is Dao; below, there is Hell, and within it, Impermanence. Heavenly Dao Wine intoxicates the Nine Heavens; Hell Impermanence Wine inebriates the Nine Underworlds. Lying prone across the Great Desolate, wandering heaven and earth, intoxicated and dreaming through the cycle of reincarnation...'"