"It seems Brother Fusheng's comprehension of the Great Dao Primordial Chaos grows ever more profound."
Peacock Great Emperor knew the Taiji diagram Fusheng Dijun had manifested was none other than the profound mystery of the Great Dao Primordial Chaos.
"You flatter me, Peacock Great Emperor."
Though Fusheng Dijun and Peacock Great Emperor had not met many times, the two had long been kindred spirits through reputation alone. Even if they couldn't be called inseparable, they were undoubtedly comrades sharing the same ideals.
"I thought you wouldn't appear."
Peacock Great Emperor gazed into the distance, his tone light and faintly amused. "It seems you truly dote on that disciple of yours, willing to take such a great risk for her sake."
"It's not just my disciple here, but also my revered master, my senior and junior brothers, my martial uncles and granduncles. I could not possibly stay away."
The existence of Peacock Great Emperor was extraordinary; he naturally understood just how complex and dangerous Fusheng Dijun's situation was. Previously lurking in the shadows, he had watched the events of Three-Eyed Demon Lord and the others seizing the Seven-Colored Lotus with perfect clarity.
To be honest, when Fusheng Dijun appeared, Peacock Great Emperor had truly broken into a cold sweat for him.
Firstly, he knew if Fusheng Dijun killed Three-Eyed Demon Lord, it would inevitably enrage Ancestor of the Blood River. Even if Ancestor of the Blood River wished to avoid making an enemy of Fusheng Dijun, he would be forced to do so. After all, Ancestor of the Blood River was a renowned Demon Emperor within the demonic path. Some face could be lost, but some face absolutely had to be reclaimed. Otherwise, there would be no point for him, a Demon Emperor, to continue mingling in the demonic circles.
Secondly, Peacock Great Emperor also knew that if Fusheng Dijun spared Three-Eyed Demon Lord, Eastern Peak Great Emperor, Pure Robe Bodhisattva, and even some hidden presences within the scene would make a huge issue out of it. The Great Sun Radiant Emperor and Buddha Emperor Miao Rulai of Western Heaven backing them already viewed Fusheng Dijun as a thorn in their side, aching for an excuse to deal with him.
Fortunately, Ancient Bone Demon had appeared on behalf of Ancestor of the Blood River to obliterate Three-Eyed Demon Lord. This not only surprised Peacock Great Emperor but also earned his considerable respect for Ancestor of the Blood River.
He could more or less guess the meaning behind Ancestor of the Blood River sending Ancient Bone Demon forth. It was precisely because he could guess that he respected Ancestor of the Blood River all the more.
Peacock Great Emperor said with a smile, "I must say, Ancestor of the Blood River handled today's affair beautifully, earning my utmost admiration."
Fusheng Dijun nodded. "For today's matter, I owe Ancestor of the Blood River a favor."
"Brother Fusheng, your words are a bit too grave. You don't wish to be enemies with Ancestor of the Blood River, and naturally, he doesn't wish to be enemies with you either. By having Ancient Bone Demon proactively eliminate Three-Eyed Demon Lord, he was helping you, but also helping himself."
Peacock Great Emperor looked into the distance and continued, "What truly makes me admire him is his having Ancient Bone Demon pay respects to the Nether Emperor publicly before the crowd. This act undoubtedly tells everyone that he, Ancestor of the Blood River, stands on the side of Original Sin, sworn to oppose Fate unto death."
Peacock Great Emperor stood quietly in midair, hands clasped behind his back. Dressed in pristine white robes, his face as flawless as jade, his innate noble bearing made him appear like a royal prince. His eyes were forever profound, the smile at the corner of his lips forever elusive.
"Since the fall of the Ancient Desolation, those who oppose Fate are already few. Through the Primordial, Ancient, Archaic, and up to the Present Era, as Fate's winning hand grows ever larger, those opposing Fate have become exceedingly rare. Even those that exist are hidden very, very deep."
"For Ancestor of the Blood River to dare be the first to step forward publicly at this time to support Original Sin and oppose Fate... truly, he is a man of great courage, worthy of being called a hero of the Great Wastelands, a Demon Emperor of the demonic path. Admirable! Truly admirable!"
As he spoke,
Peacock Great Emperor drew a deep breath, then slightly shook his head, as if sighing over something. "A pity, such a pity..."
Fusheng Dijun, puzzled, asked, "A pity for what?"
"I think Ancestor of the Blood River stepping forward this time to declare his stance and publicly oppose Fate is also in the hope that those old fellows hiding in the shadows will also step forward. Only...
the dream is beautiful, but reality is cruel. What a pity for Ancestor of the Blood River's fervent passion."
"Since Ancestor of the Blood River has already been the first to declare his stance, it's not impossible for a second person to dare step forward."
"Heh."
Peacock Great Emperor looked at Fusheng Dijun. "You overestimate the courage of those old fellows, and underestimate their patience. Believe me, without absolute certainty, they will not easily reveal themselves. They have waited through several eras; they don't mind waiting a few more. What they lack now is not time, but a moment—a one hundred percent certain moment."
At this point, the smile on Peacock Great Emperor's lips grew particularly complex, as if tinged with helplessness, self-mockery, and also sarcasm.
"A one hundred percent certain moment?"
Fusheng Dijun said, "Nothing in this world is absolute. Since ancient times, no moment has ever been one hundred percent certain."
"This principle...
I think they should all understand it."
"Since they understand, why still wait?"
"Because..." Peacock Great Emperor stared at Fusheng Dijun, the complex smile at his lips gradually fading. After a moment, he spoke. "They cannot afford to lose."
Fusheng Dijun also stood quietly in midair, his expressionless face fixed on Peacock Great Emperor as he solemnly stated, "Without ever having lost, how can one know they cannot afford to lose?"
"You are wrong. They have lost. Right here."
Peacock Great Emperor pointed at the boundless desert. "And they lost terribly, terribly. Precisely because they have lost, they know they cannot afford to lose again."
Silence.
Fusheng Dijun did not speak again, only his brows seeming to knit together very, very deeply.
"Brother Fusheng."
At some unknown point, the smile had returned to Peacock Great Emperor's lips. He slightly raised his head to gaze at the chaotic current vortices filling the sky. "Can you afford to lose?"
"Me?"
Fusheng Dijun pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Is it that you cannot afford to lose, or that you do not know?"
"I do not know."
"Since you do not know, then you cannot afford to lose."
Peacock Great Emperor said, "If you could afford to lose, you would not have appeared this time either. Am I right?"
Fusheng Dijun stared at him. After a moment, he replied, "Perhaps."
"Hahaha!"
For no apparent reason, Peacock Great Emperor suddenly laughed, and his laughter grew louder and louder. If his earlier laughter was filled with self-mockery and sarcasm, then his laughter at this moment carried a touch of sorrow, even tinged with a sense of loss.
"What are you laughing at?"
Fusheng Dijun asked, "Is my answer so laughable?"
"Brother Fusheng misunderstands. I am not laughing at you, but at myself. Also at Fate. And also at the Anomaly!"
"I laugh at myself for being too stubborn, too foolish. I laugh at Fate for being too powerful, too formidable. And I laugh at the term 'Anomaly' for being too ironic. A simple, single word—'emotion'—can firmly grasp the Anomaly in its palm. You are thus, and the Nether Emperor is no exception."
"Anomaly?
Heh...
What a colossal joke!"