The power of the Taiji Golden Core was far greater than they had imagined, and Gu Qingfeng's existence was far more terrifying than they had imagined.
All cultivators knew that a Golden Core explosion was a terrifying event, especially one that occurred within the body. There was a danger of being utterly annihilated, reduced to dust. Even if one wasn't completely destroyed, the Purple Palace, meridians, and acupoints within the body would be shattered, rendering one a cripple forever, with no possibility of further cultivation.
If an ordinary Golden Core was like this, then a Creation Golden Core was even more so. Almost no one dared to let such a core explode within their body, because the higher the creation level of the core, the greater its power. And the greater the core's power, the more severe the damage to the physical body.
Moreover, what Gu Qingfeng was exploding now was not just any core, but the supreme Taiji Golden Core, the progenitor of all cores. And he wasn't exploding just one, but an infinite number. Among everyone present, not a single one dared to let a Taiji Golden Core explode within their body. In fact, they didn't even have the courage to make a Taiji Golden Core explode.
Yes.
They did not!
This wasn't a question of willingness, but of courage.
No one could guarantee whether their physical body could withstand the destructive power of a Taiji Golden Core explosion.
However.
At this very moment.
The man in white simply stood with his hands behind his back in the void.
Motionless!
He allowed the infinite number of Taiji Golden Cores within him to explode and dissipate wildly.
One Taiji Golden Core after another exploded in succession. With each explosion, an extremely terrifying force erupted, scattering the Gang Winds until they vanished, dispersing the chaotic clouds entirely. Even the entire void trembled violently under the shockwaves. Xuanyuan Wan and the other Great Dao cultivators retreated in terror and astonishment.
What was unbelievable was that despite so many Taiji Golden Cores exploding, shaking the very void, he remained unmoved. It was as if the one causing the self-destruction of these infinite Taiji Golden Cores wasn't him, but someone else—it had nothing to do with him. He didn't even raise an eyebrow or blink an eye.
Did the self-destruction of an infinite number of Taiji Golden Cores not affect his physical body at all?
No!
That wasn't the case.
At the very least, Xuanyuan Wan saw clearly that with each Taiji Golden Core explosion, one of Gu Qingfeng's acupoints was blasted to pieces. After all the Taiji Golden Cores had exploded, every acupoint in Gu Qingfeng's body was utterly destroyed, and his meridians were completely severed. In other words, Gu Qingfeng had become a cripple.
Even so.
His expression remained unchanged, his face devoid of any emotion—neither sorrow nor joy—as if nothing had happened at all.
This place.
Was boundlessly silent.
The Gang Winds and chaotic clouds had long since been scattered and vanished by the shockwaves.
Xuanyuan Wan and the others watched this scene, their eyes wide with shock, complex emotions swirling within them: astonishment, terror, lingering fear, relief, but most of all, admiration and profound respect.
"Amitabha. Not only does Ancient Benefactor keep his word as weighty as nine tripods, but he also dares to act and take responsibility. Whether in terms of courage, resolve, or heroic spirit, he is truly unparalleled between heaven and earth. This old monk is filled with utmost admiration!"
Pudu let out a sigh and spoke with sincere gravity, "Ancient Benefactor, rest assured. If anyone goes back on their word today, our Western Heaven Buddha Dao will be the first to oppose it!"
"Emperor of the Nine Nethers, the master of our Monster Dao cannot manifest in this world, but he specifically asked me to convey his admiration for you."
"Our Monster Dao leader is also in awe of Emperor of the Nine Nethers. He specifically asked me to inform everyone that if anyone dares to move against Emperor of the Nine Nethers today, they will be making an enemy of our Monster Dao!"
Xuanyuan Wan from the Sacred Ground said nothing.
Because the admiration she felt for Gu Qingfeng in her heart had already left her speechless. She also felt that no words could express her admiration for Gu Qingfeng at this moment. Throughout heaven and earth, among all living beings, when it came to courage and resolve, Gu Qingfeng was undoubtedly the greatest, with no one who could surpass him.
After Gu Qingfeng's infinite number of Taiji Golden Cores exploded, the killing intent enveloping him gradually diminished. The various Great Daos of the heavens seemed to have withdrawn their killing intent. Even the killing intent belonging to the Heavenly Dao was retracted.
But.
Only the killing intent belonging to the Immortal Dao was not withdrawn.
Everyone waited for a moment.
To everyone's surprise, not only did the killing intent belonging to the Immortal Dao not withdraw, it actually grew stronger and stronger.
"Immortal Dao, what is the meaning of this? Do you intend to go back on your word?"
Nai Luo of the Monster Dao spoke, and Hu Meiniang of the Monster Dao shouted, "What a shameless Immortal Dao!"
Xuanyuan Wan also questioned, "Immortal Dao, what are you doing?"
Even Pudu of the Buddha Dao inquired gravely, "Amitabha. May I ask what the Immortal Dao intends?"
At that moment.
Danqing, the ruler of the Immortal Dao in this world, along with seven or eight Immortal Dao envoys, stared at Gu Qingfeng and declared, "The criminal Gu Tianlang's sins are as vast as the heavens, his karma is profound, and his threat is immense. For the order of the Great Dao laws and the peace of all living beings between heaven and earth, today our Immortal Dao has decided to seal and suppress him."
These words caused an uproar of shock among the crowd.
"Earlier, the Immortal Dao already agreed that as long as he gave up the Blood of Original Sin, returned the Wrath Incarnation of Great Sun Tathagata, and crippled his infinite Taiji Golden Cores, your Immortal Dao would no longer kill him."
Xuanyuan Wan's expression was filled with anger as she shouted, "Why are you going back on your word now!"
"My apologies, Miss Xuanyuan!"
The immortal-like Danqing now wore an expressionless face as he responded, "Our Immortal Dao only promised not to erase him. We made no other commitments. Moreover, today our Immortal Dao is only sealing him, not erasing him!"
"You..." Xuanyuan Wan was furious, gnashing her teeth in anger. "How can your Immortal Dao be so shameless!"
"Amitabha."
Pudu tried to persuade, "For the Immortal Dao to act in this manner is truly disappointing."
"Pudu, this criminal poses too great a threat. If we do not seal and suppress him today, he will inevitably endanger our various Great Daos of the heavens. Our Immortal Dao is acting for the sake of everyone, compelled to do this."
Xuanyuan Wan argued, "His Nine Nether Imperial Seal and Peerless Immortal-Demon Throne have been seized by heaven and earth. Even his infinite Taiji Golden Cores have been crippled. What threat does he still pose?"
"He may pose none now, but that doesn't mean he won't in the future. Miss Xuanyuan, you should understand that he belongs to the Blood of Original Sin, and that in itself is already a great threat."
"But the Blood of Original Sin is already in your hands and will be sealed by you. Even if he belongs to the Blood of Original Sin, what can he do? Once you seal the Blood of Original Sin, whether he can even survive is an unknown. Why must you be so ruthless and exterminate him completely!"
"My apologies, Miss Xuanyuan. For existences that threaten the Great Dao, our Immortal Dao has never shown leniency, nor will we ever tolerate them."
"Your Immortal Dao is utterly shameless!"
Xuanyuan Wan then turned to Chaoyuan, the ruler of the Heavenly Dao, and said with a cupped fist salute, "Senior Chaoyuan, for the Immortal Dao to act in this manner is clearly using public office for private revenge. It is not only unreasonable but also unlawful. I hope the Heavenly Dao will intervene and stop this."
Chaoyuan stood with his eyes closed and hands behind his back, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Clearly.
The Heavenly Dao did not wish to interfere and tacitly approved of the Immortal Dao's actions.
"The Heavenly Dao claims to be the leader of the Great Daos, impartially and justly adjudicating the various Great Daos of the heavens. Is this how you act as the leader of the Great Daos?"
Still, no one responded.