"Aren't you the Qiongqi, one of the Four Fierce Beasts of the Primordial Era? Why don't you dare answer me!"
From within the Divine Sun, Xuan Yuan Hao, holding the Divine Judgment Bow, looked down upon Qiongqi from a superior position and said arrogantly, "Are you afraid? Afraid to take an arrow from me, Xuan Yuan Hao?"
Finally.
Qiongqi spoke, responding, "I truly do not dare, nor can I withstand the Great Sun Judgment Arrow shot from the Divine Judgment Bow in your hand!"
As his words fell.
The stones hanging in the hearts of Xuan Yuan Tong and Xunfeng Patriarch finally dropped. They had been worried all along, worried that Qiongqi would accept the challenge. Now, it was good. The Sacred Ground's prediction was indeed correct. Qiongqi ultimately did not dare to accept the challenge. This meant the plan was proceeding smoothly, and if nothing unexpected happened, the situation would stabilize.
In the shadowed depths of the void.
Upon hearing that Qiongqi did not dare to accept the challenge, neither Gu Qingfeng nor Da Xing the Mad Monk felt much surprise. The two had already guessed this would be the outcome.
However.
Guessing was one thing.
When Qiongqi responded that he did not dare to accept the challenge, Da Xing the Mad Monk and Gu Qingfeng were somewhat disappointed.
Gu Qingfeng was disappointed because a good show had not begun, making him, an audience member who came to watch the spectacle, wait in vain for so long.
Da Xing the Mad Monk was also disappointed for the same reason, but besides disappointment, there was also a trace of loss.
He understood clearly.
This good show was destined to end with Qiongqi's surrender. At the same time, the chaotic situation would stabilize. Those Ancestral Patriarchs who were hesitating between the Great Dao and Wu Dao would, in all likelihood, abandon Wu Dao and choose to uphold the Great Dao.
What was more serious was that after this incident, the Great Dao side would inevitably gain momentum, while the Original Sin side would become increasingly passive. The hope for the Wu Dao Age to begin would become even more remote.
Sure enough.
After Qiongqi surrendered, there was an uproar in the shadowed depths of the void.
These Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs, although they did not want to go to war with the Sacred Ground now, had reached a critical juncture where not going to war was no longer an option. Even though the consequences of going to war were unknown, it was at least better than surrendering.
The Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs had personally taken action earlier to probe everywhere, all to create chaos in the situation. Now, with Qiongqi's surrender, once the situation stabilized, all their previous efforts would be in vain. The most terrifying thing was that after the situation stabilized, the hope for the Wu Dao Age to begin would become remote!
Immediately, one Ancestral Patriarch expressed dissatisfaction.
"As a Son of Original Sin and an Original Sin Anomaly, how can you admit defeat without a fight!"
"Qiongqi, what are you afraid of? That Xuan Yuan brat killing Green Robe with one arrow doesn't mean he can kill you with one arrow. Moreover, that Xuan Yuan brat may not be able to shoot a second Great Sun Judgment Arrow. What do you have to fear?"
"Exactly! So many of us old fellows are here. If the Sacred Ground dares to move against you today, we will definitely not stand idly by! What are you afraid of! Go to war with the Sacred Ground!"
"Hmph! And you call yourself the reincarnation of Qiongqi? Are you worthy? Do you have the qualifications? In the past, during the Primordial Era, Qiongqi was so mighty, following Venerable Wu Dao to slaughter the Three Thousand Great Daos—what glory that was!"
"What are you afraid of! Even if that Xuan Yuan brat could kill you with one arrow, I doubt he would dare! Do you think the Sacred Ground dares to go to war with us? No! The Sacred Ground doesn't dare at all! They are just trying to scare you, to make you surrender voluntarily so their scheme succeeds. I never thought you would actually admit defeat without a fight and surrender voluntarily! Utterly incompetent!"
"Qiongqi! You have truly disappointed us!"
"By admitting defeat without a fight, not only do you disgrace yourself and tarnish the name of Qiongqi, but you also allow the Sacred Ground's scheme to succeed. Once the situation stabilizes, the hope for the Wu Dao Age to begin will become increasingly remote!"
"Fight! Go to war with the Sacred Ground! Don't be afraid, we will surely lend you a hand!"
Many voices came from the void—angry voices, unwilling voices, mocking and sarcastic voices, and voices of incitement.
Among these voices, perhaps many truly yearned for the Wu Dao Age.
But there were definitely also those like Green Robe Ancestor, who coveted the True Lord of Original Sin and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to let the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs and the Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs fight to a mutual standstill, so they could reap the benefits.
Perhaps there was also some other Son of the Original Sin Anomaly behind the scenes, stirring up trouble. Whether Qiongqi died in battle or the Sacred Ground suffered losses, it would only benefit, not harm, the other Sons of the Original Sin Anomaly.
However.
Facing the myriad of voices, Qiongqi remained unmoved, still standing above the Qiongqi Cauldron, and said, "I have said, I have no interest in the Wu Dao Age, nor do I intend to contend for the position of True Lord of Original Sin. All matters of Original Sin have nothing to do with me, and I do not wish to participate in any conflict between Wu Dao and the Great Dao."
Someone shouted, "What a joke! If you don't intend to contend for the True Lord of Original Sin, then why be an Original Sin Anomaly?"
"From the day I was born, I was an Original Sin Anomaly. I had no choice. If I could choose, believe me, I would never have become an Original Sin Anomaly."
"You may not have had a choice about being an Original Sin Anomaly, but what about the Original Sin True Blood? Why did you still merge with it?"
"Merging with the Original Sin True Blood was not my intention. To be precise, it was not that I merged with the Original Sin True Blood, but that the Original Sin True Blood merged with me. If possible, I would not have wanted to merge with the Original Sin True Blood either, but fate plays tricks."
It must be said that Qiongqi's words were somewhat flippant and made people grit their teeth in hatred. After all, those Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs hidden in the shadows dreamed of becoming an Original Sin Anomaly and merging with Original Sin True Blood, while he said he had no choice but to become an Original Sin Anomaly and was forced by fate to merge with Original Sin True Blood. This was truly infuriating.
However.
At this moment, the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs had no mind to dwell on this. They shouted, "Qiongqi! I think you haven't understood one problem at all. Even if you have no interest in the Wu Dao Age, do not intend to vie for the True Lord of Original Sin, and even surrender voluntarily today, do you think the Sacred Ground will let you go?"
"No! They will definitely not let you go, because you are an Original Sin Anomaly and a Son of Original Sin. They will surely eliminate you. They are not acting now because the time is not right. Once the time comes, they will not hesitate to eliminate you!"
Suddenly.
Qiongqi smiled and said, "I think if I die, it will not be at the hands of the Sacred Ground or the Great Dao, but at the hands of other Sons of the Original Sin Anomaly."
Qiongqi was speaking the truth, and it was a truth that those Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs could not refute.
It was certain that there would be a great war between Original Sin and the Great Dao.
But before the war between Original Sin and the Great Dao begins, all Original Sin Anomalies, all Sons of Original Sin, and even all Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs would fight to the death among themselves for the position of True Lord of Original Sin.
At this moment.
Qiongqi spoke again, "Taking this opportunity, I would like to declare to all of you: I truly have no interest in the Wu Dao Age and will absolutely not contend for the True Lord of Original Sin. I hope all Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs, all Great Dao Ancestral Patriarchs, those bound by fate, and Original Sin Anomalies will spare me and give me a way out. I entered the Primordial Nine Palaces only to seek karma."