"May I ask if Your Excellency is the Nine Nethers Emperor?"
The leading Lieyin Patriarch cautiously cupped his fists and bowed as he inquired.
On the opposite side.
Gu Qingfeng didn't deliberately conceal anything, nodding with a smile. "I was once considered that, yes. But now? I haven't been for a long time."
The name You Di was a title bestowed by the Great Dao Imperial Seal Mandate.
Generally speaking, the common name for a Great Dao Imperial Seal Mandate holder was 'Your Majesty'.
However, the existence of the Nine Nethers was far too special, presiding over a series of dark Great Daos such as the Demonic Dao, the Monster Dao, the Ghost Dao, and so on. Therefore, the Nine Nethers Imperial Seal Mandate was also extraordinary, akin to the Emperors high above the Nine Heavens, possessing a particularly noble status and position.
Furthermore, since the Primordial Era, no one had ever ascended to claim the Nine Nethers Imperial Seal. Gu Qingfeng was the first You Di in all of history, making the significance of his existence even more profound.
Although nearly all of the dozen or so Ancestral Patriarchs from the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm present knew that Gu Qingfeng's Nine Nethers Imperial Seal had been seized at the end of the Ancient Era, no one else in the ten thousand years of the Modern Era had ascended to claim the Nine Nethers Imperial Seal Mandate.
In other words.
Although the current Gu Qingfeng lacked the substance of the You Di, he still bore the name.
Of course.
What truly made them wary was not Gu Qingfeng's title of You Di, but his physical body possessing infinite power, his various Forbidden Great Daos, that Celestial Phenomenon Pagoda, that Terrestrial Phenomenon Purgatory, the legendary Spirit of the Avici Endless Evil Asura, and the legendary body that could traverse the highest heavens and descend to the Yellow Springs.
What they feared most was Gu Qingfeng's unfathomable depth of Original Sin, his incalculable level of variable, and his immeasurable strength.
If Lieyin Patriarch and the others had harbored any remaining doubts about Gu Qingfeng's identity before, when Gu Qingfeng personally confirmed it, that last shred of suspicion vanished like mist.
"So," Gu Qingfeng asked nonchalantly, "what business do you all have with me?"
Even if they had come specifically for Gu Qingfeng, they wouldn't dare say so to his face, let alone admit that wasn't their purpose this time.
Lieyin Patriarch furrowed his brows, his expression grave, as if trying to discern the relationship between Gu Qingfeng and the Black Pig Monster King.
"We have come this time for the Black Pig Monster King," Yuyang Immortal King, standing beside him, spoke up. "Not long ago, the Black Pig Monster King slaughtered elders of our Purple Cloud Immortal Realm and even dispersed the physical body of one Ancestral Patriarch. Might the You Di be aware of this matter?"
"I am. I was present at the time."
Gu Qingfeng's reply caused Lieyin Patriarch, Yuyang Immortal King, and the others' hearts to sink. The Ancestral Patriarch whose body had been dispersed hadn't mentioned Gu Qingfeng's presence. If he had, they wouldn't have dared to come so recklessly.
Now that Gu Qingfeng said he was there, it clearly indicated he intended to shield the Black Pig Monster King. Furthermore, in the eyes of Lieyin Patriarch and the others, the reason the severely injured Black Pig Monster King now brimmed with such vigorous Breath of Life was likely related to Gu Qingfeng.
If that were truly the case, they really wouldn't dare to move against the Black Pig Monster King.
"Lieyin!"
"I did kill several of your Purple Cloud Immortal Realm's elders, and I did disperse an Ancestral Patriarch's body," the Black Pig Monster King said with a cold laugh. "As for the reason, you know it without me saying."
Indeed.
The dozen or so Ancestral Patriarchs from the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm knew the reason.
But they only learned of it after hearing from the Ancestral Patriarch who lost his body that Tian Kui had injured the Black Pig Monster King first.
Regarding this.
They felt nothing but helplessness.
Tian Kui was a Child of Original Sin the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm had been cultivating, into whom many Ancestral Patriarchs had poured their heart's blood. Originally, when this Primordial Era ruin emerged in the Great Desolation, they hadn't wanted to bring Tian Kui inside. After all, the Primordial Era was too mysterious; no one knew what dangers lurked within a Primordial ruin. If Tian Kui entered and encountered danger, dying here, not only would the efforts of many Ancestral Patriarchs be wasted, but the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm would likely lose its three future advantages.
Ever since the Primordial ruin manifested in the Great Desolation, Tian Kui had been restless. Before coming, Lieyin Patriarch, fearing Tian Kui would sneak in on his own, had specifically placed him under house arrest, worried he wouldn't listen to advice and enter privately.
Unfortunately.
Tian Kui had still managed to sneak in.
By the time Lieyin Patriarch discovered Tian Kui, the Primordial ruin had already plunged into the Primordial Black Hole. Making Tian Kui leave was no longer possible. What's done is done; they had to accept it. Lieyin Patriarch thought that with so many of the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm's Ancestral Patriarchs entering together this time, as long as they stayed together, Tian Kui wouldn't be in danger. Along the way, he kept urging Tian Kui not to act alone and warned him that the Primordial Black Hole was especially dangerous, requiring utmost caution.
Yet, within the Primordial Black Hole, they still became separated from Tian Kui.
To be precise, they didn't get separated; Tian Kui shook them off and headed alone to other Primordial ruins.
Now, all the Ancestral Patriarchs of the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm were scattered in groups of three or five, searching for Tian Kui in other ruins.
Upon learning that Tian Kui had injured the Black Pig Monster King, Lieyin Patriarch and the others hadn't paid it much mind, nor did they consider it a major issue.
After all, the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm was a major power in the Great Desolation. Even if the Black Pig Monster King had no backing, or even if he had the support of a major demonic power behind him, the Purple Cloud Immortal Realm wouldn't have batted an eye.
What they never expected was that the You Di was also in this Primordial ruin, not only present but also together with the Black Pig Monster King, and their relationship didn't seem ordinary.
The Purple Cloud Immortal Realm might disregard the Black Pig Monster King, but facing Gu Qingfeng, they were extremely wary. He was the kind of existence they absolutely must not provoke, no matter what.
Lieyin Patriarch considered: if Gu Qingfeng's relationship with the Black Pig Monster King was truly not ordinary...
Would he help the Black Pig Monster King seek revenge?
If so, then this matter would be serious.
Thinking of this.
Lieyin Patriarch couldn't help but feel panic rising within. He felt the most urgent task now was to find Tian Kui as quickly as possible and make sure he didn't show his face. If he encountered the You Di, the consequences would be simply unimaginable.
Taking a deep, calming breath to settle his panicked heart, Lieyin Patriarch was just about to bid farewell and leave when a voice suddenly rang out from the sky above.
"Black Pig!"
"You've made me search high and low! Last time you escaped by luck. This time, you won't have such good fortune."
Hearing this voice, Lieyin Patriarch, Yuyang Immortal King, and the other dozen or so Ancestral Patriarchs instantly turned ashen with fear.
Because this voice was all too familiar to them.
Looking up.
They saw a man with features as fine as carved jade in the sky, hands clasped behind his back. His feet didn't move, yet he glided through the air as if sliding, flying towards them.
The man wore a silver crown, had sharp eyebrows and bright star-like eyes, an imposing and heroic bearing, radiating an extraordinary aura. A faint starlight shimmered around him, making his entire person seem indistinct, both real and illusory, giving off a profoundly mysterious feeling.
Seeing this man, Lieyin Patriarch and the others felt as if the sky had darkened and the earth had overturned.
Because this man was none other than Tian Kui.