Gu Qingfeng had thought that by releasing the karmic seeds planted on him by the various Empresses, he would sever the karma between himself and them.
When he released those karmic seeds, he realized that releasing them was not the same as severing the karma.
He had thought the various Empresses planted karmic seeds on him merely to probe his thoughts, influence his mind, and make him strive for the position of True Lord of Original Sin, slaughter the Three Thousand Great Daos, and usher in the Era of No Dao.
Only when he released the karmic seeds did he truly understand what scheme the various Empresses were playing.
The various Empresses planting karmic seeds on him was not at all to probe Gu Qingfeng's thoughts or influence his mind, but to graft their own karma onto Gu Qingfeng.
To be precise, the various Empresses had bound their own karma together with Gu Qingfeng's.
To be even more precise, the various Empresses had planted their own karma onto Gu Qingfeng's body.
This meant that if the various Empresses did not sever their own karma, Gu Qingfeng could not sever the karma between himself and them.
In other words, if Gu Qingfeng wanted to sever the karma with the various Empresses, he must help them sever their karma first.
Each of the various Empresses had different karma, and their karma was entangled with the Three Thousand Great Daos.
If Gu Qingfeng wanted to sever the karma with the various Empresses, he would have to help them sever their karma with the Three Thousand Great Daos.
If Gu Qingfeng wanted to end all of this, he would first have to help them end all of this.
If they could not end this, Gu Qingfeng could not end it either.
If this calamity was a Sea of Bitterness, then the various Empresses were already deeply, deeply mired in it, so deep it was almost despair. They all wanted to escape this Sea of Bitterness, but none knew how, and could only sink deeper.
Gu Qingfeng was also trapped in this Sea of Bitterness. The difference was, Gu Qingfeng might be the only one who knew how to escape it, and was struggling desperately within it, striving to break free as soon as possible.
After the various Empresses discovered that Gu Qingfeng was the only one who knew how to escape the Sea of Bitterness, they all swarmed over. Without even seeking Gu Qingfeng's consent, they directly bound themselves to him, hoping Gu Qingfeng could lead them out of this Sea of Bitterness.
If Gu Qingfeng did not agree, no one could leave the Sea of Bitterness.
What was this called?
This was a goddamn, out-and-out kidnapping!
How could this not infuriate Gu Qingfeng?
"I say, various Empresses, this calamity is a Sea of Bitterness for you, and it's no different for me. You want to escape the Sea of Bitterness, but I want to escape even more than you do. If I could escape, needless to say, I would definitely try my utmost to pull you out of the Sea of Bitterness too."
"But right now, I'm still struggling in the Sea of Bitterness myself, and you all come rushing over without a care, dragging on me. Don't you think you're being too much?
You could at least have the decency to discuss it with me first!"
"It's already hard enough for me to struggle alone in the Sea of Bitterness, and now you're all dragging on me. If I had the strength to pull you all out of the Sea of Bitterness, that would be one thing, but the goddamn problem is, I don't have that much strength! You're all dragging on me, dragging me down until I'm almost drowned!"
"Touch your own chests, search your hearts and ask yourselves: doesn't your conscience hurt even a little?"
"We have to have a conscience when we act, we can't be this unscrupulous, right?"
This was an interrogation from the depths of Gu Qingfeng's heart, from his very soul.
Perhaps because Gu Qingfeng had hit upon their secret, or perhaps because his words had shamed them somewhat.
Perhaps out of guilt, perhaps out of a guilty conscience.
Whether it was the Saintess Niangniang, Da Xing the Mad Monk, Lady Wuyue, or Lady Youming, they all intentionally avoided Gu Qingfeng's blazing gaze, none daring to meet his eyes.
Of course.
Those intentionally avoiding Gu Qingfeng were not just the various Empresses; Da Xing the Mad Monk was also there, clinging tightly to Gu Qingfeng in this calamitous Sea of Bitterness.
The various Empresses hoped Gu Qingfeng could lead them out of the Sea of Bitterness, and Da Xing the Mad Monk hoped for the same.
However.
Those clinging to Gu Qingfeng in this calamity were not just the various Empresses, nor just Da Xing the Mad Monk. There was also Empress Shizun Jun Xuanji, and Empress Tianji Genggu Wuming.
If it were only this, it might not have driven Gu Qingfeng to such fury.
The reality was.
Even the goddamn Abi Wujian Evil Asura, Shangqiong Biluo Xia Huangquan, including the Heaven-Devouring Earth-Swallowing Blood Taotie, and even the Ancient Clan members were all on his goddamn boat, all wanting Gu Qingfeng to lead them out of the Sea of Bitterness.
Gu Qingfeng's rickety boat could barely carry him alone. Now it was not only carrying the various Empresses, but also the goddamn Three Nether Lords.
Although this rickety boat hadn't sunk yet, because it was carrying far too many people, it simply couldn't move forward in this Sea of Bitterness.
Precisely because it couldn't move, Gu Qingfeng had no choice but to come out.
If he didn't come out, this boat was going to sink.
He had to come out to help the various Empresses and the Three Nether Lords sever their karma.
"You just stay on my boat for now. I'll do everything in my power to lead you out of the Sea of Bitterness. But let's get the ugly truth out in the open first: once you're on my rickety boat, don't even think about getting off. Even if we escape the Sea of Bitterness, every single one of you, not a goddamn one of you is getting off!"
Gu Qingfeng raised his head, closed his eyes, and then slowly let out a breath.
"As for your karma, figure it out yourselves. I don't have the spare energy or the mood for it right now. The Three Nether Lords, those old fellows, are too heavy. I have to deal with the trouble of their karma first."
After a moment.
Gu Qingfeng opened his eyes again, gazing at the slowly rotating Chaos Vortex.
For no apparent reason, he turned around, his pair of dark eyes sweeping over the Patriarchs of the Sacred Dao, Heavenly Dao, Immortal Dao, and the various Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands.
Gu Qingfeng's expression was very placid, placid to the point of having no sorrow or joy, no worry or sorrow, no anger or hatred—nothing at all.
His expression was like this, and so were his eyes, calm as if he had seen through all things between heaven and earth, containing neither killing intent nor rage.
However.
When such calm eyes swept over them, the Patriarchs of the various Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands felt an indescribable, inexplicable sensation.
Earlier, facing Lady Youming with her Death Nether Moon and Death Nether River, like a goddess of death, the Patriarchs of the various Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands had felt fear and terror, but it was only fear and terror.
Facing the placid Gu Qingfeng now, the various Great Dao Patriarchs felt neither fear nor terror.
Was it despair?
No!
It wasn't despair either.
It was a feeling beyond words, as if facing Gu Qingfeng, they didn't even have the qualification or opportunity to feel fear, terror, or even despair.
"I heard...
you are all very interested in the spiritual awareness and demonic thoughts of the Three Nether Lords?"