As expected.
When this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron appeared, hidden undercurrents immediately began churning in the Void of Li Palace.
Those mindless Original Sin Karmic Retribution Bodies, lacking self-awareness, continued to dash wildly among the Desolate Ancient ruins shimmering with Original Sin Light, rushing wherever the Breath of Original Sin was thickest. Although the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron had erupted with a dazzling pillar of Original Sin Light the moment it appeared, it vanished in a flash. Moreover, this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron was devouring the Breath of Original Sin from the Void, its own aura not being particularly dense, so it didn't attract the attention of those Karmic Retribution Bodies.
Instead, Original Sin Dharmakayas came from all directions, scrambling to fly toward the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron, each wanting to claim it for themselves and seize the initiative regarding Original Sin.
As was well known, those who possessed an Original Sin Dharmakaya had all experienced the loss of self during the Original Sin incarnation and the loss of their original self during the Karmic Retribution Body stage, thus gestating a new self-awareness to become an Original Sin Dharmakaya. In other words, those capable of cultivating an Original Sin Dharmakaya were without exception considered one-in-ten-thousand powerhouses.
Whether in cultivation attainment, innate talent and comprehension, or even mental state and realm, they were all outstanding elites. This was especially true for those patriarchs who had cultivated their Original Sin Dharmakayas for who knew how many years—each was more inscrutable and cunning than the last.
Although this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron held a fatal allure for them, and they all wished to claim it, none acted recklessly. They merely approached cautiously, probing and remaining vigilant.
Even those who had arrived via possession and couldn't be considered true Original Sin Dharmakayas—at best, they were acquired, hypocritical Dharmakayas—halted their steps upon reaching the vicinity of the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron, not daring to snatch it blindly.
Firstly, this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron had appeared out of thin air, its origins unknown. Whether there was a trap behind it, no one could say.
Secondly, the act of fighting over treasures had, throughout history, provided many lessons proving that whoever struck first often died the fastest and most miserably.
Especially now, with so many Original Sin Dharmakayas emerging from all directions, and who knew how many other experts lurked hidden in the Void, coveting this thing. Whoever first seized the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron would undoubtedly become the target of all.
Thirdly, this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron was continuously devouring the Breath of Original Sin from the Void, mysterious and bizarre. If one blindly tried to seize it and suffered a backlash from the cauldron, they might not even know how they died.
Such examples were not few throughout history. Many experts, after fighting their way through a bloody melee for a treasure, ended up suffering a backlash from the treasure itself.
Within the area, more and more Original Sin Dharmakayas began approaching the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron. Everyone watched covetously, yet all were cautious and vigilant. Even so, a tragic scene still unfolded.
For as they gradually drew closer to the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron, they suddenly felt a powerful devouring force. The closer they got, the stronger the force became. The Original Sin Dharmakayas, terrified, hurriedly retreated.
But it was too late.
The powerful devouring force of the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron was like a whirlpool, pulling them into its depths. No matter how they struggled, they could not escape. Not only that, but the more they struggled, the deeper they seemed to sink.
Whoosh! In an instant, one Original Sin Dharmakaya was pulled into the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
One after another, Original Sin Dharmakayas were pulled into the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron. In the blink of an eye, over twenty or thirty Original Sin Dharmakayas had been drawn inside.
Most were acquired Dharmakayas from possession, but there were also genuine Original Sin Dharmakayas among them.
At this, all the remaining Original Sin Dharmakayas grew fearful. None dared approach the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron again, all retreating hastily.
Whether the twenty-odd devoured Original Sin Dharmakayas were alive or dead, no one knew.
"Damn it all!"
Hidden in the dark Void, Da Xing the Mad Monk's brows furrowed deeply as he stared intently at the Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron. "This thing really isn't simple."
The Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron was not only massive as a mountain, but its body was also covered in profound, mysterious runes, making it appear especially bizarre.
Da Xing seemed to remember something. He glanced at Gu Qingfeng and asked, "Kid Gu, the divine sense and demonic thought of the Blood Taotie are with you, right?"
"What about it?"
"When you fused with the Blood Taotie back then, was the Blood Taotie also a cauldron?"
"That's right."
"Is the Blood Taotie's cauldron the same as this one?"
"Pretty much."
Gu Qingfeng rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. "I remember the cauldron formed by the Blood Taotie also had nine corners and was similarly huge as a mountain, its body covered in mysterious runes. The only difference is that the cauldron formed by the Blood Taotie was crimson red."
"Are the mysterious runes on the Blood Taotie's cauldron the same as those on this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head. "I forgot."
The mysterious runes on the Blood Taotie's cauldron were incomprehensible to him, and so were the mysterious runes on this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron. He asked, "Why ask this all of a sudden? Could there be some connection between these two cauldrons?"
"This old monk suspects this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron might be the same as the Blood Taotie on you."
"What do you mean?" Gu Qingfeng said. "Could there be a second Taotie from the Desolate Ancient Era? Or are you saying the Taotie's divine sense and demonic thought isn't just one strand?"
"No! Not the Taotie. This old monk suspects this cauldron might be formed by one of the other three Fierce Beasts! Either the Qiongqi, the Taowu, or the Hundun!"
Hundun, Taowu, Qiongqi, and including Taotie, were the Four Great Fierce Beasts of the Desolate Ancient Era. These four beasts had all stirred up storms of bloodshed in their time and were among the overlords of the dark and evil Daos.
"How can you tell?"
"There's something I don't know if you've heard about."
"What is it?"
"Do you know how the Daoless Era was opened back then?"
Gu Qingfeng shook his head. He truly didn't know this matter.
He had only heard that during the Desolate Ancient Era, the Original Sin Primordial Source gestated a consciousness. It was this consciousness that slaughtered the Three Thousand Great Daos and opened the Daoless Era. Hence, that consciousness of Original Sin was later called the Venerable of the Daoless Era.
"When the Venerable of the Daoless Era slaughtered the Three Thousand Great Daos back then, he didn't do it single-handedly. He had many powerful subordinates under him, including the Four Great Fierce Beasts. This old monk heard that, to make the Four Great Fierce Beasts submit, the Venerable of the Daoless Era bestowed upon each of them a drop of True Blood of Original Sin."
"You're saying all Four Great Fierce Beasts of the Desolate Ancient Era fused with True Blood of Original Sin?"
"That's what I've heard. Moreover, this old monk also heard that back then, to slaughter the Three Thousand Great Daos, the Venerable of the Daoless Era used the Four Great Fierce Beasts to transform into giant cauldrons, suppressing the heavens, earth, and the four directions."
Gu Qingfeng listened, his brow deeply furrowed. "Is this something you heard, or is it true?"
"Whether it's true or false, shouldn't you know, kid? Isn't the divine sense and demonic thought of the Taotie already with you?"
"So, you're saying this Nine-Cornered Black Cauldron might really be formed by another Fierce Beast? Which one? Hundun? Qiongqi? Or Taowu?"