"Ye'er, stop beating around the bush with me. Tell me quickly, what exactly will happen to Original Sin?"
"At first, I couldn't figure it out either. But when I learned that You Di was also here, I suddenly thought of one possibility."
"What possibility?"
Immortal King Qianye gazed at Great Emperor Changfeng and said seriously, "I can tell you, but on the condition that you must stay calm. And this is just my speculation, don't take it as fact."
Hearing her words, Great Emperor Changfeng suddenly felt a very ominous premonition. He nodded and said, "Just say it directly."
"I think this time, You Di is probably..." Immortal King Qianye lightly bit her lip, pondered for a moment, then continued, "...in grave danger."
Even though he had mentally prepared himself, when he heard Immortal King Qianye utter these words, Great Emperor Changfeng's heart couldn't help but tremble. He asked, "Why do you say that? How does a change in Original Sin mean You Di is in grave danger? What's the connection?"
"You should be clear that You Di once ignited the Original Sin Karmic Flames at the Daoless Mountain and even awakened Original Sin. Because of this, the Myriad Heavens all believe he might be the True Lord of Original Sin recorded in the Book of Fate."
"So?"
"Let's temporarily assume You Di truly is the destined True Lord of Original Sin. Then his appearance in the Ancient Ruins this time most likely means he might ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin."
Great Emperor Changfeng was somewhat confused. "Since You Di would ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin, why do you still say he's in grave danger?"
"Let me finish first."
Pausing briefly, Immortal King Qianye continued, "I'm saying *if*—if everything proceeds logically, You Di would ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin. Then Original Sin wouldn't have any so-called 'change.' He was destined from the start; ascending to become the True Lord of Original Sin would comply with Heavenly Destiny (complying with Heaven's Mandate). But my master said that if the Ancient Ruins appear, Original Sin will undergo a change."
"You mean, this time You Di might not ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin, and Original Sin will change hands as a result?"
"Yes."
Immortal King Qianye said, "The worst outcome is that You Di is completely erased, the Original Sin on him is seized, Original Sin changes hands, and fate is altered because of it."
"This..." Great Emperor Changfeng lowered his head in silent contemplation. After a very long time, he spoke again, "What if You Di truly does ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin? After all, he is the destined True Lord of Original Sin."
Immortal King Qianye shook her head and said gravely, "First, whether You Di is truly the destined True Lord of Original Sin, no one knows for sure. Second, even if he really is the destined True Lord of Original Sin, he still cannot succeed in ascending. One could even say there is almost no hope at all."
Perhaps this topic was too heavy, making even Immortal King Qianye feel exceptionally oppressive while discussing it. She took a deep breath and said solemnly, "He is a variable, and moreover the greatest variable between heaven and earth. The Nine Heavens, the Nine Netherworlds, the Sacred Grounds, the Forbidden Lands, the Desolate Ruins, the Gui Xu—the Three Thousand Great Daos would absolutely never allow him to ascend to become the True Lord of Original Sin. Absolutely, absolutely not. And I dare say, once the time is right, all existences between heaven and earth will spare no cost to erase You Di."
Though he didn't want to, Great Emperor Changfeng had to admit that what Immortal King Qianye said was the truth.
Original Sin might not be a sin.
But if Original Sin appears on a variable person, and moreover the greatest variable, then it might be a sin upon sin.
You Di was strong—mysteriously, eerily strong, and unbelievably strong.
But no matter how strong, he could never contend against all existences between heaven and earth.
Beside him.
Immortal King Qianye simply couldn't understand the special bond between Great Emperor Changfeng and You Di—that unique relationship of being both rivals and friends. Nor could she comprehend Great Emperor Changfeng's feelings at this moment. She just looked at the despondent Great Emperor Changfeng, her own heart also heavy with discomfort. She comforted him, "I said, this is just speculation. Don't take it too seriously. After all, You Di is the greatest variable. Anything could happen. What the final outcome will be, no one knows."
"Perhaps."
Great Emperor Changfeng let out a deep sigh. "Let's hope so. We can only hope..."
While Great Emperor Changfeng here was worrying about Gu Qingfeng's safety, on the other side of the Ancient Ruins, Gu Qingfeng was like a carefree tourist, strolling around, sipping fine wine, and chatting idly with the Black Pig Monster King.
The Black Pig Monster King had originally planned to leave Gu Qingfeng, find a place to recuperate from his injuries in peace and quiet. He didn't want to wander around aimlessly like a headless fly while carrying such vigorous life energy. Moreover, staying by Gu Qingfeng's side kept him constantly on edge. Most importantly, there was something terrifying about Gu Qingfeng—he didn't know what it was—that gave him an inexplicable yet bone-deep sense of fear.
That was the plan, but in the end, he didn't leave.
Not that he didn't want to, but he didn't dare.
It wasn't that Gu Qingfeng wouldn't let him leave, but rather that along the way, he constantly felt as if someone was secretly watching him. This feeling was faint and elusive. Strangely, even though the Black Pig Monster King repeatedly probed and searched with his divine sense, he couldn't see anyone. He couldn't tell if it was just his imagination or if someone really was secretly watching him.
If there was someone, were they watching him, or Gu Qingfeng?
Looking at Gu Qingfeng's leisurely and carefree demeanor, the Black Pig Monster King was deeply puzzled. Could it be this guy hadn't noticed at all?
That couldn't be.
If even he could sense it, Gu Qingfeng couldn't possibly be unaware.
Or was the person in the shadows only watching him?
After much deliberation, the Black Pig Monster King finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Um... Master Gu, this humble one has a question for you."
"What is it?"
"Do you feel like someone is watching us?"
"Correct."
Hearing this, the Black Pig Monster King was greatly alarmed. "I thought it was my imagination! So it's real!"
Then, lowering his voice to a whisper, he hurriedly asked, "Do you know who's secretly watching us?"
"Not too clear."
Gu Qingfeng shook his head and said, "Ever since I entered the Primordial Black Hole, I've been watched. At first, there weren't many, but later more and more joined in. I reckon there are at least several dozen."
The Black Pig Monster King felt a chill run down his spine, horrified. "There are really that many?"
"And that's just the ones I can sense. Who knows how many more I can't sense."
"What kind of people are they?"
The Black Pig Monster King's face paled with fright as he asked nervously, "Could they be the experts from the Gui Xu Desolate Ruins, the Forbidden Lands, and the Sacred Grounds?"
"Hard to say. Maybe, maybe not. I suspect they're not. The existences watching me seem to have been living inside the Primordial Black Hole for a long time. They give me the feeling of being fused with the Primordial Black Hole. They might be old-timers who survived from the Primordial Era."
"Good heavens!"
The Black Pig Monster King felt dizzy, his head spinning.