Boom! Rumble!—The tremendous roar echoed forth, like the sound of a primordial gate sealed for billions of years slowly creaking open, carrying an aura of ancient vastness.
"Fate never dies, Original Sin never ceases!"
"Fate never rests, Original Sin never perishes!"
"The true essence of the Great Dao, the profound mysteries of Heaven and Earth, all lie within Original Sin, all are but illusions!"
The shouts were like divine peals, yet also like demonic howls, like dragon roars and phoenix cries, tinged with fury and also with unwillingness.
Within the Desolate Ancient Era's Primordial Black Hole, chaotic currents surged like raging waves. Da Xing the Mad Monk, having manifested his Immovable Golden Body, resembled a Buddha statue.
His hands were clasped together, his eyes slightly closed, as if sensing the ancient, vast roar, or as if sensing the furious, unwilling shouts.
He remained like this for an unknown length of time before Da Xing the Mad Monk opened his eyes, deeply furrowing his brow as he gazed into the depths of the Primordial Black Hole, murmuring, "Is this its will, or its consciousness?"
"It should only be its will, right? After all, it turned to ashes in the Desolate Ancient Era; its consciousness couldn't possibly still exist, could it?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk spoke to himself, saying, "Yes, that must be it. Its consciousness turned to ashes long ago in the Desolate Ancient Era along with the closing of the Daoless Age... It can't possibly still exist. This must be its will, it must be!"
Boom! Rumble!—Another tremendous roar came, shaking the Primordial Black Hole, churning its seas and overturning its rivers.
Da Xing the Mad Monk said, "Even if it's only its will, it's terrifying enough to be able to influence the Primordial Black Hole."
As he spoke, he seemed to realize something, his heart suddenly jolting as he murmured, "Has its will merged into this Primordial Black Hole, or... does this Primordial Black Hole originally have something to do with it?"
"If it merely merged its will into the Primordial Black Hole, then everything is still manageable. But if this Primordial Black Hole was originally related to it... then it's not just terrifying, it's far more than that."
"This Primordial Black Hole must be a setup. It's just unclear whether it's a setup by Fate, or by Original Sin, or by this Great Dao, this Heaven and Earth."
"Too chaotic! It's far too chaotic!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk shook his head and sighed, saying, "Kid Gu, oh Kid Gu, where exactly have you gone? Could you really have gone to seek the source of this roar and these shouts?"
"The situation is so chaotic now, kid, you absolutely must not act recklessly. This Primordial Black Hole is full of traps and pitfalls everywhere. One wrong step and it's a bottomless abyss. You must think thrice before acting. Until the final moment, never take sides, and never let anyone know your stance, not even Original Sin!"
"Ai!"
Thinking of Gu Qingfeng, Da Xing the Mad Monk sighed repeatedly, saying, "You always say this old monk hides things and won't speak from the heart with you. Actually, you've really misunderstood this old monk. It's not that I don't want to tell you, but... many things, even this old monk is muddled about. How can I speak from the heart with you? What if I say something wrong? Wouldn't I be harming you then?"
"Even an existence like Eternal Nameless has to ponder and think again and again before meeting you. Can't you understand that, kid?"
"And the Witch Empress—she didn't even dare let out a fart when she saw you. Can't you sense that, kid?"
"The current situation is too chaotic. Even Eternal Nameless and the Witch Empress can't see through it clearly. Precisely because of that, they're afraid, afraid of affecting you, kid."
"Your existence is too special. Without exaggeration, even if you're just a chess piece, you're a piece that influences all existences. As long as you, kid, don't declare your stance for a single day, whether it's Original Sin, Fate, or the Great Dao and Heaven and Earth, none of those bastards dare to act recklessly!"
"Let's just drag it out. Let's drag it out like this. Now it's a matter of who can outlast whom, and who can afford to drag it out!"
Another sigh.
Da Xing the Mad Monk looked up, murmuring, "The Immortal Dao, the Demonic Dao, the Monster Dao, the Ghost Dao, and even our Buddhist Dao have all shown themselves... Those who should have come out have all come out, and even those who shouldn't have come out have emerged. I wonder when the Heavenly Dao will show itself?"
"With such a big event happening in the Primordial Black Hole, the Heavenly Dao shouldn't miss it. Having lain dormant for so many years, it's probably all for this Primordial Black Hole."
"The Thirty-Six Cave Heavens, the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands... they've pretty much all shown up too."
"Then the Eighteen Holy Domains and the Nine Forbidden Zones should also appear..." Just as he was speaking, Da Xing the Mad Monk suddenly felt something was off, as if someone was secretly watching him.
He turned and looked around but found nothing. Immediately after, he released his divine sense, preparing to investigate when a powerful surge of Killing Intent rolled towards him!
Yes!
Killing Intent.
And it was sky-piercing Killing Intent, so immense it seemed to blot out the heavens and cover the earth. A streak of radiant light tore through the chaotic currents, shooting towards him.
The light was a multicolored radiance. As it shot forth, it transformed into a gigantic palm.
The palm was profoundly mysterious. Its center was like the vault of heaven, its lines like mountains and rivers, and its five fingers like five divine beings. It not only contained an ancient, domineering aura but also seemed to hold boundless power of Heaven and Earth.
What the hell is this?
Even though Da Xing the Mad Monk had lived countless years, seen much of the world, and was hailed as a Living Buddha, he had never encountered such a terrifying and mysterious palm.
He dared not think too much, nor did he have time to. For when he discovered this palm, it was already pressing down upon him from above.
Da Xing the Mad Monk raised both palms, propping up the forcefully descending hand.
A thunderous explosion rang out.
The terrifying power contained within the palm instantly shook Da Xing the Mad Monk's face pale. He couldn't help but grunt, his body sinking uncontrollably.
"Ah!—" Da Xing the Mad Monk roared angrily. His Immovable Golden Body erupted with Buddha light, vast Buddhist power bursting forth. A series of crisp cracking sounds echoed as ripples spread out, shaking the surrounding chaotic currents until they dispersed and faded.
"Immeasurable Buddha, immeasurable light, break for this old monk!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk clasped his hands together. His Immovable Golden Body transformed into a golden pillar of light that instantly scattered the palm into nothingness.
"Who is it!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk glared furiously, scanning his surroundings, cursing angrily, "Who the hell is so shameless as to dare ambush this old monk!"
Before his words faded, a figure appeared out of thin air, raising a hand and striking out with a palm directly.
The opponent's speed was extremely fast, arriving almost in the blink of an eye. However, Da Xing the Mad Monk was no pushover either. As the opponent struck, he also sent out a palm in response.
Bang!
The two exchanged a palm strike, shaking Da Xing the Mad Monk back three steps!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
They exchanged five consecutive palm strikes. Each of the opponent's palms was stronger than the last, each blow forcing Da Xing the Mad Monk to retreat repeatedly.
"You little brat! Quite strong!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk cursed angrily. His arms drew a circle, as if painting a golden great sun, then pushed out another palm. The opponent's figure charged forward to meet it, shooting forth like an arrow.
The two clashed like spear and shield.
Boom! Rumble!
Crack!
This time, Da Xing the Mad Monk did not retreat, but neither did his opponent.