Ever since Tiger Power Old Ancestor took the lead and dove into the Cauldron of Qiongqi, shadow after shadow emerged from all directions of the void, scrambling to plunge into the Cauldron of Qiongqi.
Treasure snatching had always been like this.
If no one made the first move, everyone would watch cautiously.
But once someone took action, everyone would swarm forward.
When no one moved, everyone worried that even if they seized the treasure, they would be besieged by the crowd.
When someone moved, everyone worried the treasure would fall into another's hands.
This sounded contradictory, but such was the reality.
Especially this Cauldron of Qiongqi, appearing at this critical juncture, was undoubtedly a heaven-sent Original Sin opportunity. Whoever could claim it for themselves would have a much greater hope of ascending to become the True Lord of Original Sin. Consequently, the hope for others to ascend would diminish.
To put it bluntly, if the Cauldron of Qiongqi hadn't appeared, that would be one thing. But since it has appeared, if I can't have it, then you shouldn't think of having it either. If you get it, I will snatch it. Even if I can't snatch it, I will still try. Even destroying the Cauldron of Qiongqi would be acceptable—just don't let anyone else get it.
Almost all those who schemed for the title of True Lord of Original Sin harbored such thoughts.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Nearly several dozen shadows had already dived into the Cauldron of Qiongqi, and it showed no signs of stopping. Shadow after shadow continued to dart out from all directions and plunge into the cauldron.
Da Xing the Mad Monk didn't know exactly who these shadows were.
But one thing was certain: those diving into the Cauldron of Qiongqi were, nine times out of ten, trying to claim it for themselves, thereby seizing the Original Sin opportunity and scheming for the title of True Lord of Original Sin.
Moreover, most of these shadows were Original Sin clones.
Using an Original Sin clone to enter the Cauldron of Qiongqi was the most prudent method. Firstly, the true self's identity wouldn't be exposed. Secondly, the Cauldron of Qiongqi was, after all, formed from one of the Ancient Four Fiends, Qiongqi. Even if only a wisp of its divine consciousness and demonic thoughts remained, it was absolutely terrifying. If they encountered unforeseen dangers, they would only lose a clone.
Furthermore, in treasure-snatching endeavors, possession didn't go to whoever grabbed it first. On the contrary, he who laughed last laughed best. Even if someone else seized the Cauldron of Qiongqi first, they could still summon their true self to snatch it later.
Of course.
Not all who entered the Cauldron of Qiongqi were Original Sin clones. There were also those bold and supremely confident in their own strength, like Tiger Power Old Ancestor. He was openly snatching the cauldron with his true self, and he was the first to do so.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Another dozen or so shadows dove in.
"Excellent!
Truly excellent!
The appearance of this Cauldron of Qiongqi is so perfectly timed—it's flushed out all the damn old fogies hiding in the shadows!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk's face flushed red with excitement. Grinning widely, he clamored, "What a spectacle!
It's getting livelier and livelier!"
Beside him, Gu Qingfeng also nodded. "Not bad, it's certainly lively enough."
Da Xing the Mad Monk was thrilled.
Gu Qingfeng's heart was also somewhat stirred.
Both were masters who loved watching a spectacle and didn't mind if things got bigger.
"Youngster Gu, how about we join the fun too?
Add more fuel to the fire?"
"You go if you want."
"What?
Don't you want the spectacle to be even grander?"
"This master only wants to watch the fun, not join it."
"That doesn't sound like something you'd say."
Da Xing the Mad Monk kept his eyes on the Cauldron of Qiongqi as he spoke. "Don't tell me you don't want to obtain the Cauldron of Qiongqi?"
Without a moment's thought, Gu Qingfeng shook his head. "I don't."
"Why not?"
"Are you damn well worried this master doesn't have enough divine consciousness and demonic thoughts clinging to him already?"
"Since you already have Evil Asura, Bitter Sea of the Netherworld, Taotie, plus that ancient Mohu, one more Qiongqi won't make a difference. To use your own words, 'with many lice, one doesn't itch; with many debts, one doesn't worry.'"
Gu Qingfeng couldn't be bothered to engage with Da Xing the Mad Monk.
'With many lice, one doesn't itch; with many debts, one doesn't worry' was indeed something he had said.
It was a statement born of helplessness. After all, the divine consciousness and demonic thoughts on his body—whether Evil Asura, Bitter Sea of the Netherworld, Taotie, or the ancient Mohu—he couldn't absolutely control them. He couldn't shake them off or drive them away. He had no choice but to let nature take its course and resign himself to fate.
More importantly, none of these divine consciousnesses and demonic thoughts had been actively fused by him. Either they fused inexplicably, or they sought him out and fused, or he was forced into a corner and had no choice but to fuse. In short, not a single one was something he actively sought to merge with.
Now, another Cauldron of Qiongqi had appeared. Gu Qingfeng wanted to avoid it, not actively step forward to snatch it. The only thing he felt fortunate about was that the Cauldron of Qiongqi wasn't like when the Cauldron of Taotie appeared.
Back when the Cauldron of Taotie appeared, it gave Gu Qingfeng an intense feeling, as if the Cauldron of Taotie originally belonged to him.
It was similar to the feeling that drop of True Blood of Original Sin gave him back then—something he simply couldn't refuse, could only fuse with, and after fusing, felt no discomfort.
When the Cauldron of Qiongqi appeared, Gu Qingfeng did not have that feeling.
This made him feel relieved, but also somewhat puzzled.
Because he clearly remembered that when the Cauldron of Taotie appeared, his own Avici Asura and the Bitter Sea of the Netherworld had grown restless.
Logically speaking.
Taotie and Qiongqi were both among the Ancient Four Fiends, and both had fused with True Blood of Original Sin. If Evil Asura and the Bitter Sea of the Netherworld grew restless upon encountering Taotie, why did they show no movement upon encountering Qiongqi?
Furthermore, although Taotie was also a cauldron back then, Gu Qingfeng could clearly sense Taotie's terrifying and savage divine consciousness and demonic thoughts.
With this Cauldron of Qiongqi, Gu Qingfeng could not sense Qiongqi's divine consciousness or demonic thoughts.
Not only could he not sense them, but even after unleashing his Divine Sense, he couldn't even detect the Cauldron of Qiongqi itself.
In his experience, aside from Original Sin anomalies or some special existences like Gengwu Wuming, nothing else could evade detection by Divine Sense.
Why could he detect the Cauldron of Taotie with his Divine Sense, but not this Cauldron of Qiongqi?
"Da Xing, can you detect the Cauldron of Qiongqi if you unleash your Divine Sense?"
"No!"
Da Xing the Mad Monk asked, "Don't tell me you can?"
"I can't either."
"Probably no one can detect it with Divine Sense. If they could, these old fogies hiding in the shadows wouldn't be sending clones in. After all, it's one of the Ancient Four Fiends. It's not strange that our Divine Sense can't detect it."
"The problem is, when the Cauldron of Taotie appeared in the world, I could detect it with my Divine Sense."
Hearing this, Da Xing the Mad Monk's heart jolted. "Are you sure?"
"Of course."
"That makes no sense. Taotie and Qiongqi are both Ancient Four Fiends, and both fused with True Blood of Original Sin. If you could detect Taotie with Divine Sense, you shouldn't be unable to detect Qiongqi."
Da Xing the Mad Monk furrowed his brow, muttering to himself. Suddenly, as if he realized something, he exclaimed in shock, "Good heavens!
Could it be... this Cauldron of Qiongqi already has an owner?"