Above are the Nine Heavens, below are the Nine Underworlds.
Since ancient times, the Nine Heavens have always represented sanctity and light, while the Nine Underworlds represent evil and darkness.
The Nine Heavens and the Nine Underworlds are like fire and water, yin and yang—throughout history, they have been opposing existences.
Legend has it that the Nine Heavens have always been ruled by immortals, Buddhas, humans, saints, spirits, and heavens. For example, the Western Heaven represents the Buddha Dao, the Profound Heaven represents the Immortal Dao, the Shangqing Heaven represents the Heavenly Dao, and the Yellow Heaven represents the Human Dao, and so on.
It is said that long ago, the Nine Underworlds were also ruled by various Great Daos such as demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends. However, later, an extraordinary figure emerged, defeated the demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends, and unified the Nine Underworlds in one fell swoop, thus becoming the first Underworld Emperor in history. Since then, there have been no distinctions between the various Great Daos of demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends in the Nine Underworlds, because whether demon, monster, ghost, or fiend, all aspire to become the Great Emperor who rules the Nine Underworlds.
This is also the only difference between the Nine Underworlds and the Nine Heavens.
The Nine Heavens have never been absolutely ruled by anyone. The Immortal Dao has always ruled the Profound Heaven, and the Buddha Dao has always ruled the Western Heaven. Even though the Human Dao has declined and become so humble, to this day, no one has seized the Yellow Heaven.
The reason Gu Qingfeng's reputation is so great is also closely related to his ascension to the position of Underworld Emperor back then.
In the minds of many, the title 'Underworld Emperor' is irreplaceable in terms of both status and position. It simply cannot be compared to so-called Great Dao Emperor Seals or Heavenly Destinies. Even the Great Dao Imperial Authority and Heavenly Destiny are fundamentally no match for the Underworld Emperor.
It must be understood that the Nine Underworlds represent darkness and evil, and are the holy land in the hearts of demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends. Therefore, in a sense, whoever ascends to become the Underworld Emperor is essentially the overlord of the Nine Underworlds, the master of darkness, the master of evil, and even the master of the many Great Daos of demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends.
Although it is merely an honorary title, this very title is enough to shake the Great Wilderness.
The holy land in the hearts of immortals and Buddhas is the Nine Heavens, while the holy land in the hearts of demons and monsters is the Nine Underworlds.
In the eyes of those demons and monsters, the master of the Nine Underworlds is equivalent to the master of the Nine Heavens. If the master of the Nine Heavens is the Lord of Heaven, then the master of the Nine Underworlds is the Lord of Earth.
In truth, throughout history, there has been no definitive conclusion on whether the Underworld Emperor is a Heavenly Destiny or a True Mandate.
Some say the Underworld Emperor also receives a Heavenly Destiny.
After all, the Heavenly Dao dominates the essence of heaven and earth and is the true overlord of the universe. Since it dominates the essence of heaven and earth, and the Nine Underworlds are also within heaven and earth, naturally, the Underworld Emperor receives a Heavenly Destiny.
Others say the Underworld Emperor does not receive a Heavenly Destiny, but a True Mandate.
It is not conferred by the Heavenly Dao, but appointed by fate itself. It can also be understood as formed by karma—planting many causes related to the Nine Underworlds in a past life to bear the fruit of becoming the Underworld Emperor in this life.
Still others say that the Underworld Emperor receives neither a Heavenly Destiny nor a True Mandate. Perhaps the Underworld Emperor receives no mandate at all. Whoever can dominate the essence of the Nine Underworlds is the Underworld Emperor, the overlord of the Nine Underworlds.
Whether the Underworld Emperor is a Heavenly Destiny, a True Mandate, or not a mandate at all—to this day, no one can say for certain. Even Gu Qingfeng, who once ascended to become the Underworld Emperor, does not know whether this thing is a True Mandate, a Heavenly Destiny, or simply not a mandate at all.
Such is the case with the Nine Underworlds.
The Nine Heavens are no exception.
Although throughout history, a master of the Nine Heavens has never been born, the Nine Heavens have always been occupied by various Great Daos, and masters of the Profound Heaven, masters of the Western Heaven, masters of the Yellow Heaven, and so on have emerged.
It cannot exactly be said they were 'born,' because since ancient times, whoever is the master of the Immortal Dao is inevitably the master of the Profound Heaven, and whoever is the master of the Buddha Dao is inevitably the master of the Western Heaven.
No one knows whether the master of the Nine Underworlds is a Heavenly Destiny, a True Mandate, or not a mandate at all.
Similarly, no one knows whether these so-called masters of the Profound Heaven, masters of the Western Heaven, and others are Heavenly Destinies, True Mandates, or not mandates at all.
Everyone knows about Heavenly Destiny: the Imperial Authority of the Primordial Era, the Emperor Seals of the Ancient Era, the Thrones of the Antiquity Era, and the Star Lords of the Modern Era—there are no others beyond these. Logically speaking, the so-called masters of the Profound Heaven and Western Heaven are unlikely to be Heavenly Destinies. After all, the Profound Heaven represents the Immortal Dao, and the Western Heaven represents the Buddha Dao. If the Heavenly Dao were to confer such mandates, it would mean the Heavenly Dao could appoint masters of other Great Daos. In that case, how would the Three Thousand Great Daos be willing?
If one says they are True Mandates, that possibility also seems slim.
As is well known, True Mandates generally do not appear. They only emerge when heaven and earth face a great calamity, as a destined response to the calamity.
Now, heaven and earth are facing a great calamity.
If those so-called masters of the Western Heaven and Profound Heaven truly received True Mandates, they should have been born in this Modern Era.
The problem is, none have been born to this day.
Not in the Immortal Dao, not in the Saint Dao, not in the Human Dao. Although Miao Rulai of the Buddha Dao is hailed as the Buddha Emperor and rules the eight Buddhist sects of the Western Heaven, he is only called the Buddha Emperor. Moreover, since the eight Buddhist sects learned of Miao Rulai's designs on the True Lord of Original Sin, they have long ceased to follow him.
Furthermore, Miao Rulai is neither the master of the Buddha Dao nor has he ever dominated the essence of the Buddha Dao, let alone can he be called the master of the Western Heaven.
Not to mention Miao Rulai.
Even Gu Changfeng, who wields the Great Justice Judgment Blade and possesses the Azure Dragon guardian, is not yet the true master of the Azure Heaven.
Although the Azure Dragon is the guardian dragon of the Azure Heaven, one of the Nine Heavens, and although the Great Justice Judgment Blade represents justice, judging the light above and sentencing the darkness below, capable of severing all injustice in heaven and earth, as long as Gu Changfeng has not dominated the essence of the Azure Heaven for a single day, he is not the true master of the Azure Heaven.
How can one dominate the essence of the Azure Heaven?
Others do not know, and Gu Changfeng himself does not know either. Qianye Immortal King knows even less.
They do not even know whether this master of the Azure Heaven receives a Heavenly Destiny, a True Mandate, or is not a mandate at all.
Now, hearing Gu Changfeng's words, Qianye Immortal King felt that what Gu Changfeng had awakened must be related to the justice of the Azure Heaven.
Because Gu Changfeng's Emperor Seal Heavenly Destiny and his Calamity-Response True Mandate had already awakened before and could not awaken again. And Gu Changfeng had no other fortuitous encounters left to awaken. That left only one possibility: the justice of the Azure Heaven.
"That's it!
It must be!
Husband, what you awakened must be the justice of the Azure Heaven!
It must be!"
The more Qianye Immortal King thought about it, the more she felt this possibility likely. She cast aside her previous melancholy, her entire being becoming excited and agitated. She even couldn't help but hook her arms around Gu Changfeng's neck and kiss him. After all, Gu Changfeng was the man she loved. How could she not be excited, how could she not be thrilled that the man she loved was about to become the true master of the Azure Heaven and thus uphold justice between heaven and earth?
"Wonderful!
I've finally waited for this day!
This is truly wonderful!"
Qianye Immortal King was so overjoyed she even felt tears of happiness welling up.
It wasn't because she hoped her man would achieve great heights or possess immense strength. She was not a vain woman. So-called achievements and strength meant nothing to her; what she truly cared about was Gu Changfeng himself.
Her tears of happiness were because Gu Changfeng was both an Immortal Emperor who received a Heavenly Destiny and a Calamity-Response Fixed Number who received a True Mandate. In other words, Gu Changfeng was destined to be drawn into this great calamity, unable to avoid it no matter how he tried. Moreover, the current situation was so chaotic, everything seemed like a meticulously arranged game.
In this game of calamity, the more cards you hold in your hand and the stronger your strength, the longer you can survive until the end.
And if Gu Changfeng could truly awaken the justice of the Azure Heaven, then he would undoubtedly gain an extremely powerful card for his hand.
Relying on this card, even if he truly were a mere pawn in this calamitous game, he might still win half a move against heaven, defy fate, and change his destiny!