"Kid Gu!"
Seeing Gu Qingfeng about to leave, Peach Blossom Old Daoist called out to him. He glanced at the sky, his throat tight, and said, "Do you really believe them?"
"I have my own judgment."
"Judgment? What judgment do you have? If they really... won't let you go, then you, kid... aren't you finished?"
Peach Blossom Old Daoist had never left the Great Northwest in his life, nor had he ever had any dealings with the Myriad Great Daos. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Great Daos, but he felt it was far too reckless for Gu Qingfeng to casually hand over his bargaining chips without obtaining any substantial promises.
Gu Qingfeng, however, didn't seem to take the matter to heart. He patted the old man's shoulder and comforted him, "See you later."
"Wait!"
The call came from Su Hua. She stared at Gu Qingfeng, as if she had many things to say but didn't know where to start. She asked, "Will I... be able to see you again?"
"Of course."
"I have many things to say to you, just..."
"Then keep them. We'll talk next time we meet."
With that, Gu Qingfeng leaped up, shooting straight into the sky.
The void was still filled with surging winds and pouring rain.
The wind remained the Spiritual Radiance Wind.
The clouds were still the Spiritual Radiance Clouds.
The rain was likewise the Spiritual Radiance Rain.
It seemed like a carnival—a carnival belonging to nature itself.
Spiritual radiance filled the sky. Mountains, rivers, flowers, trees, all things in the world, and all living beings seemed to be undergoing incredible transformations.
Beams of Heavenly Mandate Light seemed to connect heaven and earth, attracting countless people seeking fortune.
Compared to this world, the void above seemed out of place.
Here, too, winds surged and clouds churned, but they were not the Spiritual Radiance Wind or the Spiritual Radiance Clouds.
The wind was a tempestuous gale capable of tearing everything apart.
The clouds were chaotic clouds that could devour all.
Here, a Four-Sided Great Cauldron, enveloped in a radiance refracted from an unknown source, was slowly rising. Great Dao representatives like Chaoyuan, Danqing, and Pudu still guarded it closely.
Xuanyuan Wan followed closely behind.
Watching the continuously ascending Four-Sided Great Cauldron, her heart grew increasingly uneasy and restless.
Because everything had gone far too smoothly—so smoothly it felt unbelievable.
Not only had Gu Qingfeng given up the Blood of Original Sin, but why hadn't Canyang Wuyou awakened either?
This Four-Sided Great Cauldron was her magical treasure. Now that it was enveloped by the Myriad Great Daos, she couldn't possibly be unaware.
Why was she still slumbering?
Xuanyuan Wan knew very well that the people of the Lawless Era in this world weren't limited to just Canyang Wuyou.
Though she didn't know exactly how many, she could sense they were all watching this place.
Just watching.
Not taking action.
Why exactly?
Gu Qingfeng giving up was one thing, but had these people from the Lawless Era given up too?
No!
Absolutely impossible!
At the very least, Xuanyuan Wan was certain Canyang Wuyou wouldn't give up.
But she...
Xuanyuan Wan simply couldn't figure it out.
As the Four-Sided Great Cauldron gradually rose beyond the Nine Heavens Clouds, Great Dao representatives like Pudu, Chaoyuan, and Danqing also stopped escorting it. The stone that had been weighing on their hearts finally settled.
Beyond the Nine Heavens Clouds lay Heaven’s Forbidden Zone.
Even these Great Dao representatives dared not trespass casually, let alone others. In other words, with the Four-Sided Great Cauldron carrying the Blood of Original Sin entering Heaven’s Forbidden Zone, it was absolutely safe. There was no need to worry about others snatching it. The remaining task was to hand it over to the Myriad Great Daos. Now that the Four-Sided Great Cauldron was enveloped by various Great Daos, no one could monopolize it.
"Amitabha. The Blood of Original Sin has entered Heaven’s Forbidden Zone. Later, my Buddha will join forces with the Myriad Great Daos to seal it."
Xuanyuan Wan slightly raised her head, gazing at the Four-Sided Great Cauldron entering Heaven’s Forbidden Zone, and murmured, "I hope so."
Jialuo from the Witch Dao murmured, "I never thought he would really give up the Blood of Original Sin."
"Indeed... Who would have thought he'd really give it up? It concerns his very life and death... To give it up just like that is truly astonishing. So astonishing that I still can't believe it's real."
"More than astonishing, I even doubt whether he's still that aloof, domineering, law-defying, and unrestrained Nine Nethers Emperor from back then."
"Perhaps he's truly tired and really doesn't want to struggle anymore... Besides that, I can't imagine any other reason that would make him give up."
"Hah!" Danqing scoffed disdainfully. "Tired? Doesn't want to struggle? That's just an excuse. That sinner is clearly afraid. He knows that if he tried to seize the Blood of Original Sin this time, he would surely die. That's why he gave up."
"Afraid? Elder Danqing, who in the Great Desolate Heaven Realm doesn't know what kind of person the Nine Nethers Emperor is? Who has he ever feared all these years?"
"Nine Nethers Emperor? That was only in the past." Chaoyuan chimed in. "Don't forget, his Nine Nethers Emperor Seal was utterly annihilated by judgment after the Calamity, and so was his Peerless Immortal Demon Throne. Now he's just an ordinary sinner. He wasn't afraid back then, but that doesn't mean he isn't afraid now. Gu Tianlang without the Peerless Immortal Demon Throne and the Nine Nethers Emperor Seal is like a tiger with its fangs pulled—nothing to fear."
"Oh my! Elders Danqing and Chaoyuan, you two are really putting on airs now, aren't you?" Hu Meiniang from the Monster Dao mocked. "Why didn't you dare even let out a fart in front of him back in the secret realm?"
"In the secret realm, we had to endure for the sake of the greater situation. Do you think we were truly afraid of him?"
Here, Chaoyuan and Danqing, who presided over the Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao of this world, wore an indescribable, mysterious smile. Danqing had regained his immortal demeanor, and Chaoyuan had once again assumed his lofty air.
Looking at Chaoyuan and Danqing, Xuanyuan Wan shook her head slightly, as if somewhat disgusted. "I advise you to restrain yourselves. Don't forget he still possesses countless Taiji Golden Cores, and the Wrath Incarnation of Great Sun Tathagata is also in his hands."
"Lady Xuanyuan," Nailuo from the Demonic Dao asked, "do you think he will really dismantle the Taiji Golden Cores and hand over the Wrath Incarnation of Great Sun Tathagata?"
"Hah, whether he dismantles the Taiji Golden Cores or hands over the Wrath Incarnation is no longer up to that sinner." Danqing, with his immortal demeanor, stroked the white beard on his chin. "Now that the Blood of Original Sin has entered Heaven’s Forbidden Zone, we have no more worries. Today, whether he wants to or not, he must hand them over."
Xuanyuan Wan sighed inwardly but did not refute, for she knew this was the truth.
Once Gu Qingfeng failed to seize the Blood of Original Sin and lost the initiative, he simultaneously lost not only the upper hand but also the right to control his own life and death. Just as Danqing said, if Gu Qingfeng handed them over today, he might still live. If he didn't, then probably...
Xuanyuan Wan now only hoped that when Gu Qingfeng truly dismantled the Taiji Golden Cores and handed over the Wrath Incarnation, the Heavenly Dao and Immortal Dao wouldn't go back on their word.
Just as she was sighing, a figure appeared in the void. Looking over, it was none other than Gu Qingfeng.