At the base of Five Elements Mountain, Gu Yuan looked at Hun Tiandi, thinking about Zhao Li's words. With a somewhat mischievous expression, he immediately delivered a blow to Hun Tiandi as he spoke:
"Your scope is too small..."
Actually, as he said this, he also thought of himself and felt a bit ashamed. Because what Zhao Li was doing, he could also do. But ever since Xiao Xuan failed to break through to Emperor a thousand years ago and the Xiao Clan declined, he had resigned himself to fate. As a result, for the past thousand years, even though he knew Hun Tiandi was causing trouble, he ignored it and just let things be. Since the path ahead was cut off, Peak Nine Star was enough.
This thought had caused him to live a thousand years in vain. Looking back now, whether it was his old rival Hun Tiandi or the junior Zhao Li, neither had given up hope of continuing to advance. On the path of seeking the Dao, he had long been left behind by them...
Actually, it wasn't Gu Yuan's fault. In his era, the highest peak on the Dou Qi Continent was no longer Dou Di, but Peak Nine-star Dou Sheng, and he had already reached it!
It wasn't until Zhao Li appeared and gave him hope, reigniting the desire in his dusty heart, that he realized that if possible, he also wanted to see the scenery at a higher level...
Dou Di, and perhaps, beyond Dou Di!
As thoughts flickered, Gu Yuan seemed to see the future. He couldn't help but stare at Hun Tiandi, his eyes deep and profound, as if an inexplicable flame was burning within them. At this moment, Hun Tiandi found that he seemed unable to understand this old rival whom he had known for a thousand years but who had accomplished little, and whom he had once not taken seriously. This change caused ripples in his heart. He suddenly remembered that he had never defeated Xiao Xuan, but he had also never truly defeated Gu Yuan!
He is, after all, someone who could reach Peak Nine-star Dou Sheng and even Half-Emperor. How could he truly be a good-for-nothing?
Hun Tiandi smiled inwardly, suddenly feeling somewhat relieved. The change in status also brought a change in perspective. He finally discovered some situations that were different from what he had seen before.
Seeing the change in Hun Tiandi's expression, Gu Yuan simply took it as him disagreeing with what he said and also smiled, pressing on repeatedly:
"Hun Tiandi, do you think Dou Di is the end? If so, they should have been invincible in the world and lived eternal lives. But where did they go? If not, what is beyond Dou Di? Don't you want to explore it yourself?"
A long, long time ago, he would also fantasize about the end of cultivation. But when he discovered that even the Dou Dis recorded on the continent had become legends, and even Xiao Xuan, who had more talent and ability than himself, had stopped at Peak Nine Star, he lost these fantasies. This time, he was asking Hun Tiandi, and also asking himself.
Hearing Gu Yuan's series of questions, Hun Tiandi stared at Gu Yuan. He hadn't expected these questions to come from Gu Yuan's mouth. Before this, in his eyes, Gu Yuan was just someone who was lacking ambition and content with the status quo.
"Gu Yuan, you've changed too. Before, I'm afraid you wouldn't have cared about these things, right?"
A moment later, Hun Tiandi sighed softly. He truly felt unfamiliar with this kind of Gu Yuan, but...
"Heh heh, Gu Yuan, I admit I underestimated you before, but... what's the use of saying these things now? Whether there is a path beyond Dou Di is not something people like you and me, who can't even reach Dou Di, can consider. Below Dou Di are all ants, even you and me. I think you should understand..."
Hun Tiandi finally lowered his head, his words filled with regret. If he hadn't had the thought of seeing what the scenery was like at a higher level, how could he have ended up in this state?
But as a prisoner, he didn't even know how much effort Zhao Li had put in, but after personally experiencing that feeling of powerlessness in front of a Dou Di, he knew that with a Dou Di above, others had almost no chance of advancing further. This was true for both himself and Gu Yuan!
Gu Yuan saw Hun Tiandi's crestfallen expression and heard the regret in his words. He smiled, and then said:
"Ah, even now, you are still so self-centered. To put it bluntly, below Dou Di are all ants. What you and I think is nothing more than baseless speculation."
Speaking of this, he looked Hun Tiandi up and down again. He found that although Zhao Li and Hun Tiandi acted differently, they were essentially the same type of person – self-centered!
Hun Tiandi's self-centeredness was that everything he needed must serve him. Zhao Li's self-centeredness was that he wanted to create everything he desired. They seemed to truly not care what those "ants" weaker than themselves thought...
So, even before this, we were already ants?
Gu Yuan felt a sense of sorrow, but also relief. Even if the essence seemed the same, it was ultimately different.
He suppressed the thoughts in his heart and stopped speculating about Zhao Li with his own horizon. He brought the topic back to Hun Tiandi, saying:
"Have you ever thought about why you are still alive? Do you think that person was able to suppress you here because he didn't have the ability to directly kill you?"
After speaking, he stopped, leaving time for Hun Tiandi to think.
Hun Tiandi's heart stirred upon hearing Gu Yuan's question. He had never thought about it that way before. Now, hearing Gu Yuan ask, he found that there seemed to be some truth to it. However, after thinking for a long time, he still didn't understand and could only ask:
"Do you know something?"
Gu Yuan neither confirmed nor denied, and spoke leisurely about what had happened before:
"Half a month ago, that person sought me out and asked my Gu Clan to secretly send people to integrate the large and small forces within our sphere of influence. After it was done, I would have a place as a Dou Di. I know you think this is just empty talk, but, would you deceive a group of ants to make them serve you?"
Sometimes, once one's position is set correctly, many worries seem to disappear naturally, and may even become one's help. Gu Yuan never felt that Zhao Li becoming a Dou Di before him would be a despairing thing, after all, they were not enemies.
"Moreover, what kind of force do you think needs my Gu Clan to step forward to integrate? He was just looking for excuses to involve my clan in his plan..."
Speaking of this, seeing Hun Tiandi's doubt, he explained:
"Oh, right, you might not know about the 'Journey to the West Preaching'. Simply put, it's for us to put on a play and cooperate with the people he has chosen to spread the cultivation method throughout the continent..."
Gu Yuan spoke simply, but Hun Tiandi still understood. An incredible look appeared in his eyes, and he almost cried out:
"What? How audacious! How dare he do something so outrageous against the world?"
As he spoke, he suddenly stopped. If a Dou Di wants to do something, there really isn't anyone who can say much. He looked at Gu Yuan and said with great regret:
"After this matter, his name will spread throughout the continent, and you, I'm afraid, will become like rats crossing the street, everyone shouting to beat you? Heh, he wants to integrate the continent, but he wants you to endorse it. You actually agreed to such a thing, sigh..."
Just by listening to Gu Yuan's simple explanation, he also knew that those people from the Gu Clan were actually the ones Zhao Li had chosen to sweep through the major forces, attract firepower, and bear the infamy, while his people would be the heroes who descended from the sky to rescue everyone and win the hearts and praise of the people...
Gu Yuan nodded. He was also a smart person. One could see the whole picture from a single glimpse. From Zhao Li's plan, he already knew Zhao Li's intention to take the opportunity to integrate the continent, but he had no choice:
"Naturally, I know what you are saying, but, when resources are spread, with the vast population base of the Dou Qi Continent, experts will inevitably emerge like bamboo shoots after rain. At that time, what do you think will happen if we remain stuck in our ways? The advantage of bloodline will be negligible. Within two hundred years, we will fade into obscurity. Hun Tiandi, times have changed..."
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