"This matter seems rather bizarre."
"Indeed, it is a bit bizarre."
Da Xing the Mad Monk nodded, saying, "Just now, Xuan Yuan Hao looked ready to make a move, and it didn't seem like an act. Why would he suddenly give up for no reason? Could it be he sensed something from Qiongqi?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk carefully observed Qiongqi within the arena and shook his head. Qiongqi was an Original Sin Anomaly, only visible to the naked eye; spiritual sense couldn't detect him at all, let alone sense anything. Moreover, Qiongqi hadn't moved from start to finish, and no suspicious aura emanated from his entire being.
"This old monk reckons it must be the Sacred Ground's people who told Xuan Yuan Hao to hold off for now."
Gu Qingfeng asked, "What's going on? Could it be the Sacred Ground has changed its mind? They don't plan to eliminate Qiongqi to make a statement?"
"Hard to say. As the saying goes, plans can't keep up with changes. Perhaps even the Sacred Ground didn't expect things to blow up this big."
The boundless Li Palace Void seemed to hold only a handful of people.
But in the hidden depths of the void, the situation had been turbulent, and more and more Ancestral Patriarchs were lurking in the shadows.
Although these Ancestral Patriarchs were hiding deeper than the last, and Da Xing the Mad Monk couldn't pinpoint their exact presence, he could still sense how many beings were concealed in the void's darkness. A sweep with his spiritual sense revealed—good heavens—they were everywhere, densely packed, countless and innumerable.
He estimated that nearly all the Great Dao Patriarchs from the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, as well as the Original Sin Patriarchs from Guixu and the Desolate Ruins, had arrived.
Clearly.
Everyone was paying close attention to this battle.
They were watching to see who was stronger between the Tribulation Response Fixed Number and the Original Sin Anomaly, and whether the Tribulation Response Fixed Number could withstand the Original Sin Cataclysm of the current era.
In the void.
Xuan Yuan Hao's figure flickered within that sacred great sun. His stern face, originally filled with arrogance, now saw that arrogance gone, replaced only by anger, resentment, confusion, and doubt.
The truth was exactly as Da Xing the Mad Monk had guessed. Just as Xuan Yuan Hao was about to make his move, he suddenly received a message from the Sacred Ground.
Telling him to hold off for now.
As for why.
The Sacred Ground did not say.
Although Xuan Yuan Hao was extremely displeased, he had no choice but to obey the Sacred Ground's command.
Beside him, Xuan Yuan Tong and Xun Feng Patriarch also wore looks of bewilderment, unsure why the Sacred Ground had suddenly changed plans for no apparent reason.
This change was no small matter, instantly plunging them into a dilemma.
To act was not right, not to act was also not right.
After all, the words had already been spoken. The various Ancestral Patriarchs from the Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands were all anticipating this battle. If they didn't act, the longer they dragged it out, the more disadvantageous it would be for the Sacred Ground. It would inevitably lead some to doubt whether the Sacred Ground truly had the capability to protect the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
Just then, a sinister, deep laugh rang out.
"Heh heh heh heh! Xuan Yuan brat, didn't you just say that if you wanted, you could erase Qiongqi with a single finger? Heh heh heh heh! Truly unafraid of the wind making your tongue slip!"
"Weren't you quite arrogant just now? Why don't you dare to make a move now? Heh heh heh heh!"
"This Patriarch said long ago, you are no match for Qiongqi! You don't dare to move against Qiongqi!"
"All you Patriarchs! Open your eyes wide and see! This is the so-called Sacred Ground! This is the so-called Sacred Son! Heh heh heh heh! You two are Sacred Sons, Tribulation Response Fixed Numbers, yet facing Qiongqi, you only dare to boast with your mouths, not lift a finger!"
"And you still expect the Sacred Ground to protect the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth? Heh heh heh heh? Facing a single Child of the Original Sin Anomaly, they don't dare to act. Do you think the Sacred Ground has what it takes to protect Heaven and Earth? I'm afraid they don't even have the courage to protect it! Heh heh heh heh..."
Everyone could tell this was the voice of Green Robe Patriarch.
Green Robe Patriarch had begun fanning the flames from the shadows again.
It seemed Green Robe Patriarch would not rest until he stirred up this matter. Xuan Yuan Hao's sudden halt had already put the Sacred Ground in a passive, awkward position. Now, with Green Robe Patriarch's relentless provocation, the Sacred Ground's situation would only worsen.
In the hidden depths of the void.
Da Xing the Mad Monk took off his monk's hat, rubbed his bald head, and said with a curl of his lip, "This old monk just can't figure it out. What exactly did the Sacred Ground discover? Why change plans at this critical juncture? Could it be that Green Robe Patriarch's scheme is so ingenious that the Sacred Ground failed to see it before? And now that they've seen it, they suddenly changed plans?"
"There's one thing I've never been able to understand."
Gu Qingfeng asked, "What does Green Robe Patriarch gain by scheming to make Qiongqi and the Sacred Ground fight?"
"What could he gain? Of course, he gains chaos. Once Qiongqi and the Sacred Ground start fighting, the situation in the Primordial Nine Palaces will immediately descend into great chaos."
"And then? What benefit does great chaos bring Green Robe Patriarch?"
"That old bastard Green Robe has always been scheming for the position of Original Sin True Lord. Unfortunately, he is neither an Original Sin Anomaly nor has he fused with the Original Sin True Blood. In other words, it's almost impossible for him to ascend to the Original Sin True Lord; it wouldn't be his turn even in rotation."
Pausing briefly, Da Xing the Mad Monk continued, "If the situation descends into chaos, both the Tribulation Response Fixed Numbers and the Original Sin Anomalies will be thrown into turmoil."
Gu Qingfeng nodded, saying, "You mean Green Robe Patriarch plans to wait until the Tribulation Response Fixed Numbers and the Original Sin Anomalies have fought to a stalemate, then play the fisherman reaping the spoils?"
"Exactly! This trick isn't new."
Da Xing the Mad Monk said, "Back in the Primordial Era, Green Robe Patriarch was everywhere fanning flames, inciting the Three Thousand Great Daos and Wu Dao Zun Shang to fight to mutual destruction so he could reap the benefits. Unfortunately, his calculations were completely wrong. Back then, Wu Dao Zun Shang slaughtered all sides; the Three Thousand Great Daos were no match for him."
"This time is different. This time, there's no Wu Dao Zun Shang. Whether it's the Tribulation Response Fixed Numbers, the Original Sin Anomalies, the Great Dao Patriarchs protecting Heaven and Earth, or the Original Sin Patriarchs yearning for the Daoless Age—they are all evenly matched. If they truly go all out, the consequence might indeed be mutual destruction."
Gu Qingfeng said, "Could that be why the Sacred Ground didn't act?"
"You mean the Sacred Ground is worried that eliminating Qiongqi might trigger chaos, leading to a full-scale battle between both sides?"
Da Xing the Mad Monk shook his head without hesitation, denying it. "This old monk tells you, impossible!"
"Why impossible?"
"If the Sacred Ground were afraid, they wouldn't have descended today. Since the Sacred Ground has descended, it means they've long been prepared, even with countermeasures. Moreover, even if Xuan Yuan Hao eliminates Qiongqi today, it won't trigger a full-scale battle."
Da Xing the Mad Monk explained, "Although Qiongqi is also a Child of the Original Sin Anomaly, he's different from you and Miao Rulai. Both you and Miao Rulai have many Original Sin Patriarchs backing you. If the Sacred Ground dared to move against you, those Original Sin Patriarchs behind you would definitely intervene, and a great battle would be unavoidable."