Upon hearing Gu Changfeng's words, Gu Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh.
"I wonder what Brother Gu finds so amusing."
"I laugh because I never expected that even you, Gu Changfeng, would feel lost and hesitant when faced with so-called fate."
In Gu Qingfeng's impression, Gu Changfeng was a man of clear-cut principles, straightforward and upright, a true gentleman who stood firm between heaven and earth. He was also a staunch guardian of the sacred light of the Great Dao, the heavens and earth, causality, and fate.
Gu Qingfeng had always considered Gu Changfeng a simple and pure person.
This so-called simplicity and purity didn't mean Gu Changfeng lacked intelligence, but rather referred to a purity of heart and mind—a kind of steadfast mental state that remained unaffected by external influences.
In such a chaotic and complex world, maintaining a pure state of mind was an incredibly difficult thing, at least in Gu Qingfeng's opinion.
As the ancient saying goes, human nature is inherently good.
Everyone is born simple, pure, kind, and innocent. It is only through gradual growth, experiencing various schemes and plots, life-and-death separations, and power struggles that one's state of mind inevitably changes.
Therefore,
Gu Qingfeng greatly admired Gu Changfeng—a man who, despite bearing the Mandate of Heaven and the Azure Heaven itself, still maintained a pure and simple heart.
However...
After listening to Gu Changfeng's lament, Gu Qingfeng realized that even Gu Changfeng's state of mind had ultimately been altered by so-called fate.
"Alas!"
Gu Changfeng let out a deep sigh, smiling bitterly in resignation. "Not only did you not expect it, even I never imagined I would one day feel so lost and hesitant."
"So, does that mean you no longer intend to guard this heaven and earth, this Great Dao?"
Gu Changfeng shook his head and replied, "I did not say I would not guard it. It's just...
I don't know anymore, that's all."
The two of them chatted idly like this for who knows how long—neither of them cared. However, they didn't engage in casual small talk or speak too much, for they both knew now was not the time for leisurely conversation.
Just as they were bidding farewell and about to go their separate ways, Gu Changfeng suddenly called out to Gu Qingfeng.
Puzzled, Gu Qingfeng turned to look at him.
Gu Changfeng smiled and said, "Brother Gu, we are opponents, but also friends. I, Gu Changfeng, will not show you mercy on the battlefield just because we are friends, nor will I distrust you as a friend just because you are my opponent on the battlefield. I hope you feel the same."
Gu Qingfeng did not answer this question, merely shrugging and smiling.
"If the Unrighteous Era is destined to begin this time, if the Three Thousand Great Daos are destined to be slaughtered, if someone is destined to ascend as the True Lord of Original Sin... I hope that person is you."
Hearing this,
Gu Qingfeng slightly furrowed his brows and asked with some confusion, "Why do you hope it's me?"
"Because in my view, only you, Gu Qingfeng, can suppress the words 'Original Sin,' and only you, Gu Qingfeng, can bear the weight of the words 'Unrighteous.'"
"Hahahahaha!"
Gu Qingfeng laughed heartily but said nothing more, directly vanishing in a flash.
Staring in the direction Gu Qingfeng had departed, Gu Changfeng simply watched, his resolute and handsome face tinged with worry, his eyes reflecting a sense of hesitation.
"You've said all you needed to say, haven't you?"
At that moment,
Immortal King Qianye walked over. She had not been present to listen during Gu Qingfeng and Gu Changfeng's conversation, choosing instead to leave.
Firstly, she understood clearly that for a special relationship like Gu Changfeng and Gu Qingfeng's—both enemies and friends—her presence would make her an outsider, even though she and Gu Changfeng were immortal fated partners.
Secondly, she knew Gu Changfeng and Gu Qingfeng had much to discuss during this meeting, so she tactfully gave them private space.
Thirdly, she personally opposed Gu Changfeng meeting Gu Qingfeng; her deliberate departure was, to some extent, an act of pique.
Even now, at this very moment,
Immortal King Qianye deeply regretted it.
Previously, she and Gu Changfeng had stayed in the Gen Palace. It wasn't that the Gen Palace was particularly special, but compared to the other Nine Palaces of the Ancient Era, it was less contentious and chaotic.
Immortal King Qianye had External Incarnations in all Nine Palaces of the Ancient Era and had a decent understanding of their situations. Before this, each of the Nine Palaces had been more chaotic than the last.
The Li Palace went without saying—because Gu Qingfeng was there, all sorts of demons and monsters, whether from the Great Dao or Original Sin factions, had gathered there. While the other palaces weren't as chaotic as the Li Palace, they weren't much better, especially since those Great Dao overlords possessed External Incarnations, engaging in endless tests, schemes, and intricate plots.
Originally, Immortal King Qianye and Gu Changfeng had planned to remain in the Gen Palace. But because she divined that the changes in the Li Palace would affect this Original Sin Cataclysm, Gu Changfeng grew restless.
For Gu Changfeng also knew Gu Qingfeng was inside the Li Palace. If changes in the Li Palace would affect this Original Sin Cataclysm, then nine times out of ten, those changes undoubtedly referred to Gu Qingfeng's life or death.
Especially when Gu Changfeng learned that all those scheming for the True Lord of Original Sin across past and present heavens and earth had entered the Li Palace, he immediately concluded they must all be targeting Gu Qingfeng.
Because Gu Qingfeng was the greatest variable and the most likely candidate to ascend as the True Lord of Original Sin. Those scheming for the position would surely seize the Primordial Sources in the other nine palaces while simultaneously entering the Li Palace to intercept Gu Qingfeng.
If it were only those scheming for the True Lord of Original Sin coming to intercept Gu Qingfeng, Gu Changfeng wouldn't have rushed into the Li Palace regardless of the consequences.
The reality was, besides those scheming for the True Lord of Original Sin, the Great Dao faction had also entered the Li Palace.
While in the Gen Palace, he met Elder Yu Ji of the Profound Heaven Immortal Dao.
To be precise, he didn't just meet Elder Yu Ji—Elder Yu Ji had specifically sought him out.
His purpose was simple: to ask Gu Changfeng to enter the Li Palace and eliminate the Nine Nethers Emperor, Gu Qingfeng.
From Elder Yu Ji, he learned that the Sacred Dao, the Immortal Dao, and even the Heavenly Dao had all decided they must seize this final opportunity to eliminate the Nine Nethers Emperor at any cost.
When the time came, the Nine Sacred Sons of the Sacred Grounds and the Nine Heavenly Sons of the Heavenly Dao would appear. The Great Sun Radiance Emperor, who had never shown himself before, had already entered the Li Palace. The mysterious Destined Calamity Fates, the Floating Life Emperor Lord and the Peacock Great Emperor, had also agreed to enter. Elder Yu Ji added that the Sacred Grounds had notified Xuan Yuan Wuji and the Heavenly Dao's Du Gu Qi Zhan; when the time came, these two overlords hailed as Pillars of Heaven would also take action.
Gu Changfeng knew that if Immortal King Qianye could divine that changes in the Li Palace would affect this Original Sin Cataclysm,
then the Great Dao faction—whether the Sacred Grounds or Profound Heaven—could also divine it.
Precisely because of this, they were making such a massive move, even stooping to personally notify the Great Dao overlords and Destined Calamity Fates scattered across the Nine Palaces of the Ancient Era.