"Aside from that brat Fusheng, the Nine Heavens also sent Xuanyang Great Emperor this time. This fellow is hailed as 'Xuan Within Yang,' taking one character each from 'Xuanmiao' and 'Yin-Yang.' Not only has he comprehended the character 'Xuan' to its extreme, but also the character 'Yang' to its peak. One cannot say he isn't formidable.
"Then there are the Five Sacred Peaks Great Emperors. If taken individually, each might not amount to much. But if they join forces and merge, their combined strength is absolutely unimaginable.
"The Twin Pole Great Emperors, also known as the Twin Dipper Great Emperors—one of the Southern Dipper, one of the Northern Dipper. These two keep a very low profile, but I hear their power is also extraordinary."
Gu Qingfeng and Da Xing the Mad Monk wandered aimlessly through this Primordial Ancient ruin like headless flies, chatting idly as they went.
Of the people Da Xing the Mad Monk mentioned, Gu Qingfeng had only heard of a very few; most were completely unfamiliar to him. As for their exact backgrounds or levels of strength, to be honest, Gu Qingfeng wasn't particularly interested. He didn't care, and he certainly wasn't afraid.
Da Xing the Mad Monk had some understanding of Gu Qingfeng's temperament.
He knew this fellow feared neither heaven nor earth. Forget these so-called Nine Heavens Great Emperors; even if the damn Old Man Heaven himself descended, this kid Gu Qingfeng might not even blink.
He wasn't saying all this to scare Gu Qingfeng, but to prepare him mentally. He continued, "Kid Gu, you know what?
This time, the Nine Heavens side has dispatched a truly heavyweight existence."
"Heavyweight?"
Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng was somewhat curious. "How heavyweight are we talking?"
"Great Dao Imperial Authority!"
"Ha!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed. "And here I thought it was something truly heavyweight. Isn't it just some Great Dao Imperial Authority?"
"'Isn't it just some Great Dao Imperial Authority'?
I say, kid, isn't your tone a bit too big?
Have you ever seen a Great Dao Imperial Authority?
Do you know what a Great Dao Imperial Authority represents?
Do you know how terrifying a Great Dao Imperial Authority can be?"
"This lord hasn't just seen them; he's killed them too."
"Oh, cut the crap."
Da Xing the Mad Monk scoffed dismissively. "Don't think I don't know. You did indeed clash with a few Great Dao Imperial Authorities in the Ancient Era. But don't forget, kid, the ones you fought were all damn spiritual avatars! The true Great Dao Imperial Authorities have been in deep slumber all along!"
"Is that so..." Although Gu Qingfeng spoke lightly, it was just talk.
Even without Da Xing saying it, he knew the existence of a Great Dao Imperial Authority was beyond imagination.
Back then, he had indeed fought against several Great Dao Imperial Authorities, and it was exactly as Da Xing the Mad Monk said—they were merely spiritual avatars.
After all, he had once Ascended to the Pinnacle as the Nine Nethers Emperor and knew a thing or two about the existence of Heavenly Destiny.
Star Lords in the Present Era, Thrones in the Ancient Era, Imperial Seals in the Primordial Era, and Imperial Authorities in the Antiquity Era.
Surveying all Heavenly Destinies, the Imperial Authority stands as the highest, the greatest, and the most revered.
The Great Dao Imperial Authority is also the noblest Heavenly Destiny throughout all ages and across the myriad realms—bar none. It is said that once one Ascends to the Pinnacle of the Heavenly Destiny Imperial Authority, they can dominate the Great Dao, becoming its master, governing the laws and order of the Great Dao, possessing the power of life and death, and even issuing Great Dao decrees.
This is also the most terrifying aspect of a Great Dao Imperial Authority.
Because the Great Dao Imperial Authority governs the laws and order of the Great Dao, fighting against one is almost like fighting against the Old Man Heaven himself—unless you can leap beyond the Great Dao.
However.
It's said that since the Antiquity Era, almost all Great Dao Imperial Authorities have rarely shown themselves. Gu Qingfeng had only seen avatars of Great Dao Imperial Authorities; he had never laid eyes on their true forms.
"Towards the end of the Ancient Era, the sources of the three thousand Great Daos were nearly exhausted. Almost all Great Dao Imperial Authorities fell into deep slumber, both to preserve themselves and to protect the sources of their respective Great Daos. It's normal you haven't seen them, kid. Moreover, some have been in slumber since they Ascended to the Pinnacle of Great Dao Imperial Authority in the Antiquity Era and generally never make an appearance."
"Why is that?"
"The reason is simple. The Heavenly Destiny of Great Dao Imperial Authority is too noble and too powerful. It's no exaggeration to call them masters of the Great Dao. Countless beings across heaven and earth covet this Heavenly Destiny with greedy eyes. Even if you Ascend to the Pinnacle of Great Dao Imperial Authority, you can't guarantee you won't end up sewing the bridal gown for someone else.
"Of course, that's only one reason. The more important reason is that a Great Dao Imperial Authority also has the qualification to touch the source of the Great Dao. Their slumber isn't to absorb the power of the Great Dao source, but to fuse with it. Only a Great Dao Imperial Authority fused with the Great Dao source is a true Great Dao Imperial Authority.
"There's another reason, one you might not believe if I told you."
"What is it?"
"What if I told you those Great Dao Imperial Authorities have been in seclusion and slumber all these years precisely to eradicate you in the Present Era? Would you believe that, kid?"
"I say, Da Xing, this lord hasn't seen much, but don't you dare try to fool me. Those Great Dao Imperial Authorities started slumbering in the Antiquity Era just to eradicate me in the Present Era?
How can this lord find that a bit hard to believe?"
"Why would I fool you?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk said, "Let me ask you: a Great Dao Imperial Authority governs order and laws, right? Can they be considered masters of the Great Dao?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"They're like emperors of a dynasty; they must protect their own dynasty, right?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Don't forget, kid, those Great Dao Imperial Authorities are all immensely powerful, each more skilled in divination than the last. Moreover, the Book of Fate has long recorded: 'When Original Sin finds its true master, the Great Dao will fall, the Present Era will end, heaven and earth will be reborn, and the Daoless Age will begin...'
"In other words, they long ago divined that a True Master of Original Sin would appear in the Present Era. Do you think they'd let you successfully Ascend to the Pinnacle as the True Master of Original Sin and then let you destroy their Great Dao?
Of course not. They must have made preparations long ago, precisely to eradicate you, the destined True Master of Original Sin, in the Present Era!"
Hearing Da Xing the Mad Monk's explanation, Gu Qingfeng pondered carefully. Damn it, it actually made quite a bit of sense, leaving Gu Qingfeng unable to refute it, at least.
"Think it over carefully; isn't that the logic?"
After saying this,
Da Xing the Mad Monk continued with a serious expression, "Before, I thought those Great Dao Imperial Authorities would certainly step forward to stop you, to eradicate you before you Ascended to the Pinnacle as the True Master of Original Sin. Now, I'm increasingly convinced they might have already agreed—or perhaps, listened to someone's counsel—to wait until after you Ascend to the Pinnacle as the True Master of Original Sin before making their move to eradicate you, thereby completely eliminating Original Sin once and for all."
Observing Gu Qingfeng's thoughtful expression, Da Xing the Mad Monk sighed with emotion. "Whether you admit it or not, I'm increasingly convinced this whole affair is looking more and more like a conspiracy. The purpose of this conspiracy is to eradicate you and thus completely eliminate Original Sin. All parties—the Holy Lands, the Forbidden Lands, the Nine Heavens and the Great Dao, the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, and likely all their masters—have probably participated in this conspiracy."