The mention of that man surnamed Gu gave everyone present, these representatives of the Great Daos, a headache.
They all knew that back in the day, relying on his heaven-defying fortune, that fellow had successively ascended to the peerless thrones of both Immortal and Demon, and later even claimed the Nine Nether Emperor's Seal. He had rampaged lawlessly through the Great Desolate Heavenly Realm, nearly setting the Nine Heavens ablaze and almost cleaving the Heavenly Dao itself.
During the ancient cataclysm, the various Great Daos had joined forces to pass judgment upon him. They had thought he was doomed, but who could have imagined he was still alive? Not only was he alive, but he was living freely and without a care.
The only thing worth celebrating was that his heaven-defying fortune had all dissipated. The Immortal and Demon thrones, along with the Nine Nether Emperor's Seal, were all destroyed. It was equivalent to a tiger losing its teeth—nothing to fear.
But was it truly nothing to fear?
Not necessarily.
Jialuo from the Shaman Dao spoke up, "You all should know about his achievement of the Taiji Golden Core, right?"
Upon hearing this, the expressions of Chaoyuan, the Heavenly Dao Sovereign of this world, and Danqing, the Immortal Dao Sovereign, changed slightly. Clearly, these two knew. But the others seemed utterly bewildered. Even Xuanyuan Wan from the Sacred Ground wore a look of confusion and doubt as she asked, "He achieved the Taiji Golden Core?"
"That sinner indeed achieved the Taiji Golden Core," Chaoyuan said gravely, "and... not just one."
"Not just one? How many then?"
Chaoyuan opened his mouth, then hesitated. Danqing also glanced around, seemingly too embarrassed to say it. In the end, it was Jialuo from the Shaman Dao who spoke: "An endless multitude."
Whoosh!
Even though everyone present were representatives of various Great Daos, hearing that Gu Qingfeng had achieved an endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores still sent a chill down their spines and made their heads spin. Xuanyuan Wan from the Sacred Ground was especially affected.
When these representatives of the Great Daos had first appeared, her ordinary face had remained unmoved.
When the Sovereigns of the Immortal Dao, Heavenly Dao, and Buddha Dao had arrived, she had also been indifferent.
But upon hearing that Gu Qingfeng had achieved an endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores, her face finally revealed a look of terror. Yes! Terror, and an extreme one at that.
As a member of the Sacred Ground, she naturally knew that possessing a Taiji Golden Core granted the qualification to bear the True Mandate and ascend to the position of Human King.
She didn't know, and couldn't fathom, how that fellow had achieved an endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores. Nor could she imagine what possessing an endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores meant.
What did that fellow intend to do?
Did he want to bear the True Mandate?
Ascend to become the Human King?
Heavens!
That fellow had already turned the world upside down in the Great Desolate Heavenly Realm, throwing the Three Thousand Great Daos into chaos. If he were to become the Human King, wouldn't that plunge heaven and earth into great turmoil?
Even more terrifying was that the Human Dao was the very foundation of the Great Daos. If he achieved the Human King, he would directly threaten the existence of the Three Thousand Great Daos.
"How could you let him achieve the Taiji Golden Core?" Xuanyuan Wan's expression was incredibly complex as she demanded, "Why didn't you stop him at the time?"
"Lady Xuanyuan, mind your words," Chaoyuan retorted. "Do you think our Heavenly Dao would stand idly by?"
"Then why was he still able to... achieve the Taiji Golden Core, and an endless multitude at that..."
"That is a question I would also like answered."
"Hehe..." Hu Meiniang from the Demonic Dao laughed. "Let me say this, you two Seniors. When that fellow was achieving his Taiji Golden Core, your Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao shouldn't have descended the Dao Tribulation. Just let him achieve it. It's just one Taiji Golden Core, merely granting the qualification to bear the True Mandate, not actually bearing it. But you insisted on stopping him, not only descending the tribulation but also trying to erase him. And the result? You provoked him... He went all the way, directly achieving an endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores. Now you're in a pickle, aren't you? Stumped?"
Hu Meiniang's words left Chaoyuan and Danqing, the two seniors representing the Heavenly and Immortal Daos, both ashamed and angry, yet unable to refute.
"Hmph!" Chaoyuan snorted coldly. "This time, our Heavenly Dao has made ample preparations. We will definitely erase him completely!"
"Our Immortal Dao is the same. At any cost, we will ensure this sinner dies without even a chance of reincarnation!"
"I hope so," Xuanyuan Wan sighed quietly. "Otherwise... it would truly be too terrifying..."
An already terrifying existence.
Who had achieved an endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores.
And was now about to fuse with the Blood of Original Sin.
Xuanyuan Wan tried to imagine the consequences if they failed to erase that man surnamed Gu this time.
She didn't know.
And she didn't dare to think too deeply about it, because it was too terrifying.
"Amitabha. There is something this old monk wonders if he should say?"
Suddenly.
Pudu, representing the Buddha Dao, spoke.
Everyone looked at him with confusion and bewilderment.
Pudu appeared to be a kindly, benevolent old monk, a venerable monk concerned for his country, his people, and the world. However, the old monk's expression was filled with worry and helplessness, and seemed somewhat embarrassed. He glanced at everyone, seeming hesitant. After a moment of contemplation, he decided to speak.
"That sinner surnamed Gu... also... also kidnapped the Wrath Incarnation of my Buddha, the Great Sun Tathagata..."
Silence.
Utter silence.
Whether it was Chaoyuan, Danqing, or the other representatives of the Great Daos, they all froze in place, as if they hadn't processed the words. Xuanyuan Wan, standing above the well mouth, was the same. She blinked, as if she hadn't heard clearly, and asked, "Senior Pudu... what did you say? Could you repeat that?"
"The Wrath Incarnation of my Buddha, the Great Sun Tathagata, has fallen into the hands of that sinner..."
This time, she finally heard clearly.
And all the representatives of the Great Daos present finally reacted, but they were all still frozen there, dumbstruck.
Who was the Great Sun Tathagata?
That was the Buddha Lord of the Western Heaven!
How could his Wrath Incarnation have been kidnapped by that sinner surnamed Gu?
When in the hells did this happen?
"Alas, this matter is all due to my Buddha's lack of consideration, underestimating the enemy. We originally intended to use the Wrath Incarnation of the Great Sun Tathagata to suppress him... Never imagined... Alas... It is a humiliation, a humiliation for my Buddha..."
If this had happened before, the Demonic and Monster Daos would have been delighted to hear that the Wrath Incarnation of the Western Heaven's Buddha Lord, the Great Sun Tathagata, had been kidnapped, and would have happily raised a toast. But now, they couldn't feel any joy at all. Originally, they had come with great confidence to erase the sinner surnamed Gu, but now that confidence was beginning to waver.
An endless multitude of Taiji Golden Cores—who the hell knew how terrifying that fellow's strength must be.
And now he'd gone and kidnapped the Wrath Incarnation of the Great Sun Tathagata.
How did he even kidnap it?
That was the Buddha Lord's Wrath Incarnation, the bane of all evil demons and heretics! That bastard should have been suppressed. How could he have turned the tables and kidnapped the Wrath Incarnation?
"If that fellow can even kidnap the Wrath Incarnation of the Great Sun Tathagata, can we really erase him this time?"
"That bastard has always held grudges over the slightest grievance. If we fail to erase him this time, we'll be in trouble..."
"More than just trouble. We probably won't sleep well for the rest of our lives..."
"Amitabha," Pudu said. "Everyone, please remain calm. The Wrath Incarnation of my Buddha, the Great Sun Tathagata, has been in a deep slumber, which is why it fell into the sinner's hands. This time, my Buddha will request the true body of the Great Sun Tathagata to take action and exterminate him."