"Young Gu, it's not that This Old Monk is deliberately trying to crush your confidence. Even if your Physical Body had just fully recovered, even if it were at its absolute peak condition, and even if your Fighting Spirit and true nature had never vanished... you might not necessarily make it through this trial."
"No!
Not 'might not necessarily,' but nine times out of ten you won't make it. While the revival of your Physical Body does increase your chances of winning somewhat, it's only by a little. The hope is still extremely slim..."
Indeed.
This time was no small matter.
Whether it was the side of the Great Dao or the side of Original Sin, whether it was Destiny or True Fate, whether it was Predestined Number or Variable Number... all who should come and should not have come had arrived.
On the Original Sin side, there were old-timers like Miao Rulai, Black Mountain Old Monster, Qingdeng Patriarch, and Liaoe Patriarch, who had been scheming against the True Lord of Original Sin for years.
On the Great Dao side, there were Variable Numbers responding to the tribulation represented by figures like Lord Fusheng, Great Emperor Changfeng, and Peacock Great Emperor; there were overlords of the Great Dao like the Great Sun Yao Emperor; there were the legendary Nine Holy Sons of the Sacred Land and the Nine Sons of the Heavenly Dao; and there were also pillars of heaven like Xuan Yuan Wuji and Du Gu Qizhan.
It was no exaggeration to say that each of these existences could be called the greatest in all of heaven and earth, past and present. Whether in terms of innate talent or fortune, or in terms of cultivation or strength, they were not inferior to Gu Qingfeng—some even surpassed him.
If they joined forces to eradicate Gu Qingfeng, even if he possessed heaven-defying abilities, he would likely find it difficult to escape death.
Most importantly, right now, whether it was the timing, the geographical advantage, the harmony among people, or even the momentum of fate... everything was unfavorable to Gu Qingfeng. Not just unfavorable, but all signs indicated that this time, Gu Qingfeng was doomed to die.
At least,
that's what Da Xing the Mad Monk believed.
Although he was very excited and thrilled upon learning that Gu Qingfeng's Physical Body had revived, his Fighting Spirit had returned, and he had found his Id... after the excitement passed, he quickly realized that this so-called excitement was utterly meaningless. It might not change anything at all.
It was like a person on the verge of death suddenly glowing with health.
Often, such a glow was not a good sign, because it might be a final rally before death.
Now, all signs indicated Gu Qingfeng was facing an inescapable calamity. At such a time, the revival of his Physical Body and the recovery of his Id were much like that final rally.
Yet Gu Qingfeng seemed not to care in the slightest. He still leaned against the large rock, sitting on the ground, leisurely drinking his wine.
Before, when he had lost his Fighting Spirit and his Id, going with the flow and leaving things to fate, he hadn't cared.
Now, with his Fighting Spirit returned and his Id found, no longer going with the flow or leaving things to fate, he still didn't care.
Before, not caring meant he was indifferent to life and death.
Now, not caring also meant he was indifferent to life and death.
The only difference was:
Before, his indifference to life and death came from having seen through it.
Now, his indifference to life and death came from having the confidence to master his own life and death.
As long as he wanted to live, no one could make him die.
As long as he didn't want to die, no one could do anything to him.
This was how aloof Gu Qingfeng was with his Fighting Spirit returned!
This was how domineering Gu Qingfeng was with his Id recovered!
"Relax, Da Xing!
Putting everything else aside, just for you betting your entire fortune and staking everything on me, this Master can't just die so casually. Otherwise, how could I face you?"
Gu Qingfeng said with a playful smile, "Just set your heart at ease and wait to clean up the table. As for guaranteeing a definite win, this Master dares not promise that. But one thing this Master dares guarantee is that I definitely won't let you lose."
"Kid, don't you find your words contradictory?
You dare not guarantee a win, but you dare guarantee This Old Monk won't lose?
Not losing is the same as winning, isn't it?"
"This Master doesn't even know what you're betting on, how can I guarantee you'll win?"
"Heh!" Da Xing the Mad Monk scoffed, "Well played, kid. So you were waiting for This Old Monk here. Then This Old Monk would like to ask, how do you guarantee This Old Monk won't lose?"
"As long as this Master is alive, won't you not lose?"
Hearing this,
Da Xing the Mad Monk's expression froze. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopping himself, then shook his head and chuckled wryly. Thinking it over carefully, Gu Qingfeng's words weren't without reason.
Indeed.
Da Xing the Mad Monk had staked everything on Gu Qingfeng. As long as Gu Qingfeng didn't die, whether he won or not was another matter, but at least he wouldn't lose.
Da Xing the Mad Monk asked, "Are you that confident you can survive?"
"Of course."
Gu Qingfeng shrugged, "If we're talking about fate, this Master might not be able to master it right now. But if we're talking about life and death, this Master is still confident I can master that. If I can't master other people's life and death, can't I at least master my own?"
He was back.
That aloof, domineering, and unrivaled Gu Tianlang from back then had truly returned.
For some reason, even though he clearly knew all signs indicated Gu Qingfeng was doomed this time, looking at this now familiar yet strange Gu Qingfeng, the despair in Da Xing the Mad Monk's heart actually rekindled a flame of hope.
Moreover.
Regarding the deduction that the changes in the Li Palace would affect this Original Sin Cataclysm, he thought of another possibility.
Previously, he believed the so-called changes in the Li Palace might be due to Gu Qingfeng's annihilation into ashes. The timing, geographical advantage, harmony among people, and momentum of fate all seemed to indicate this.
However,
did the so-called changes in the Li Palace necessarily mean Gu Qingfeng's annihilation into ashes?
Could it be that the so-called changes in the Li Palace didn't refer to Gu Qingfeng's annihilation, but some other reason?
As for what reason,
Da Xing the Mad Monk couldn't figure it out for the moment.
He just suddenly had a different feeling in his heart.
Perhaps because he had been sitting on the ground for too long, or perhaps because after his Physical Body revived, his vitality was growing stronger and stronger, Gu Qingfeng felt extremely uncomfortable all over!
This discomfort wasn't due to feeling unwell. On the contrary, it was because he felt too comfortable. Precisely because he felt too comfortable, Gu Qingfeng had a feeling of being pent-up, unbearably thirsty, unable to resist wanting to fight a hearty, unrestrained battle, to slaughter until the heavens darkened and the earth overturned.
"By the way, Da Xing, there's something this Master doesn't understand. You just said both the Original Sin side and the Great Dao side are coming for me today, right?"
"That's right."
"Since they're coming for me, why aren't they making a move?"
"Do you think you've lived too long?" Da Xing the Mad Monk looked at Gu Qingfeng, "Judging by your expression, what, if they don't make a move, are you planning to deliver yourself to their doorstep?"
"Exactly!"
Gu Qingfeng cracked his neck, "This Master really can't hold back anymore. If they still don't move, this Master won't be polite."
Seeing Gu Qingfeng didn't seem to be joking, the muscles at the corner of Da Xing the Mad Monk's mouth twitched uncontrollably again, "This Old Monk advises you not to act rashly for now. They haven't made a move against you because the timing hasn't arrived yet. Once the timing arrives, even if you don't want to fight, it won't be up to you."
"Timing?
What timing?
We're already at this damn point, what timing are they still waiting for?
Could it be they're planning to wait for the Li Palace Primordial Source to emerge?"
"This time you've guessed right. They really are waiting for the Li Palace Primordial Source to emerge."