The same principle applied to Xunfeng Patriarch.
He could deduce, even dare to assert, that those Original Sin Patriarchs and Children of Original Sin would not show themselves.
Yet he could not deduce, nor dare to assert, whether those Original Sin Anomalies would appear.
Thus, when Xuanyuan Hao began to provoke the Original Sin Anomalies, Xunfeng Patriarch did not hesitate and immediately tried to dissuade him.
Unfortunately.
Xuanyuan Hao turned a deaf ear, acting as if he hadn't heard at all, paying him no mind. No matter how Xunfeng Patriarch tried to persuade him, Xuanyuan Hao simply ignored him.
At this moment, Xunfeng Patriarch finally realized the severity of the situation and understood that he had overestimated Xuanyuan Hao.
He had thought that after so many years of tempering, Xuanyuan Hao's mental state had matured, that he would no longer become carried away with success, and even if he occasionally felt proud, he would not lose his composure.
Now it seemed Xuanyuan Tong had been right all along: whenever Xuanyuan Hao became proud, he would inevitably get carried away.
He tried to persuade him again, but it remained useless.
What to do?
Xunfeng Patriarch didn't know what to do either. He couldn't very well step out and forcibly drag Xuanyuan Hao back, could he?
One must understand that hidden in the darkness of the Void were not only Original Sin Patriarchs, but also numerous Ancestral Patriarchs from various blessed realms and cave heavens. If he forcibly dragged Xuanyuan Hao back, wouldn't that be tantamount to telling everyone that even the Sacred Ground dared not provoke the Original Sin Anomalies?
Or that they lacked the confidence to deal with them?
If so, the Sacred Ground's plan this time would suffer a major setback.
Xunfeng Patriarch attempted persuasion a few more times, all to no avail. Xuanyuan Hao still ignored him. At this point, there was no other way; he could only place his hopes on the Sacred Ground. Only an order from the Sacred Ground itself could stop Xuanyuan Hao now.
What surprised Xunfeng Patriarch was that the Sacred Ground issued no such order.
Could it be that the Sacred Ground also tacitly permitted Xuanyuan Hao's provocations against the Original Sin Anomalies?
***
In the hidden depths of the Void, Gu Qingfeng asked curiously, "Da Xing, do you think the Sacred Ground dares to be so certain that no one will step forward?"
"Nonsense! Even I dare assert no one will step forward," Da Xing the Mad Monk said. "At this critical juncture, unless someone's brain is addled, anyone normal wouldn't step forward."
"I'm curious, what if someone *does* step forward? How would the Sacred Ground respond? Would they really take action? Once they act, wouldn't the situation descend into chaos again?"
"Don't worry, there won't be any 'what if'."
"I'm saying *if*... if someone really steps forward."
"I reckon the Sacred Ground is probably gambling this time, ten to one. They likely don't have much confidence in their hearts either."
"If that's truly the case, then the Sacred Ground's courage is truly immense."
"Kid Gu, you're wrong there. While the Sacred Ground dares to gamble this round, the Original Sin side might not have anyone willing to gamble. Lose the bet, and you gain nothing; win the bet, and you still gain no benefit. If it were you, lad, would you participate in such a gamble?"
Gu Qingfeng nodded in response. "Indeed. Without some benefit, who in the hell would stake their life on such a gamble?"
"The Sacred Ground has seen through the mindset on the Original Sin side, which is why they dare to gamble so recklessly. And... taking ten thousand steps back, even if someone really steps forward, even if the Original Sin Patriarchs and the Great Dao Patriarchs go to war, the Original Sin side might not necessarily win in the end. On the contrary, their chances of losing are quite high."
"The Original Sin side is a bunch of selfish, self-serving bastards. When a fight breaks out, few will go all out. Calling them a motley crew wouldn't be an overstatement. The Great Dao side is different. They aren't fighting over who becomes the master of any Great Dao, because there is no such thing as a 'Great Dao master' to begin with. Plus, the statuses of the Sage Dao, the Heavenly Dao, and the Immortal Dao are deeply entrenched. They are united in their mission to protect the Great Daos of Heaven and Earth."
***
In the Void.
Xuanyuan Hao's figure flickered within the Sacred Great Sun, ethereal as a deity. With arms crossed and standing tall, he looked down upon the Void, gazing arrogantly at the firmament. "I have heard that the Original Sin Anomalies, though not as numerous as the Children of Original Sin, are certainly not few. Moreover, rumors say these so-called Original Sin Anomalies are the most hopeful candidates to claim the title of True Master of Original Sin. What, do you dare not face me, Xuanyuan Hao, in battle either?"
No one responded.
Xuanyuan Hao spoke again. "Demon Emperor Ren Tianxing of Weiyang, I hear you are an Original Sin Anomaly. Do you dare come out and face me, Xuanyuan Hao, in battle?"
Good heavens!
Xuanyuan Hao was starting to call out names again, but this time, he was targeting the Original Sin Anomalies.
"Free Emperor Mo Wentian, I hear you are also an Original Sin Anomaly. Do you dare come out and face me, Xuanyuan Hao, in battle?"
The news that Demon Emperor Ren Tianxing of Weiyang and Free Emperor Mo Wentian were Original Sin Anomalies was clearly known to all the Great Dao Patriarchs and Original Sin Patriarchs hidden in the Void.
They also knew that both had already entered the Primordial Nine Palaces.
Not only that.
Not long ago, news had spread that Demon Emperor Ren Tianxing had found a Flower of Original Sin, for which he had been besieged by many Original Sin Patriarchs. Free Emperor Mo Wentian had similarly faced a siege.
Some said it was a setup, a probe to test the depths of Demon Emperor Ren Tianxing and Free Emperor Mo Wentian. Whether it was a scheme laid by the Great Dao Patriarchs or by other Original Sin Patriarchs remained unknown. All that was known was that the probe had indeed revealed that both possessed terrifying Divine Sense Demon Thoughts.
Demon Emperor Ren Tianxing harbored the two terrifying Divine Sense Demon Thoughts of Rahu and Ketu.
Free Emperor Mo Wentian harbored the two terrifying Divine Sense Demon Thoughts of Huangtu and Senluo.
Whether it was Rahu and Ketu, or Huangtu and Senluo, all were infamous calamitous stars in the Primordial Era. Each time they appeared, it was like a disaster descending upon the world, leaving either rivers of blood or fields of bleached bones. Their names for darkness and evil surpassed even the Avici Endless Wicked Asura, the Descent to the Yellow Springs from the Azure Heavens, and the Heaven-Devouring Earth-Swallowing Blood Taotie that resided within Gu Qingfeng. They were all dark, evil overlords that struck fear into the hearts of the Three Thousand Great Daos during the Primordial Era.
However.
Demon Emperor Ren Tianxing and Free Emperor Mo Wentian had always been elusive, appearing and disappearing like dragons. Whether they were here or not, no one knew for sure.
***
"Old Ren probably isn't here. If he were, given his temper, he'd definitely come out," Gu Qingfeng remarked.
He understood Ren Tianxing well. That was a demon proud to the very marrow of his bones. Knowing him, if Xuanyuan Hao dared provoke him like this, Ren Tianxing would absolutely step forward and fight him to the death. Things like the Nine Holy Sons, predestined tribulations, the Sacred Ground, or whether the situation descended into chaos—Ren Tianxing wouldn't give a damn about any of that.
As for Mo Wentian...
Gu Qingfeng couldn't be sure if he was here either. Knowing Mo Wentian, even if he were here, nine times out of ten he wouldn't step forward.
Mo Wentian was a hero, a man of valor. If Xuanyuan Hao were here slaughtering the masses today, Mo Wentian would definitely step out. But if Xuanyuan Hao were merely ranting and raving here, Mo Wentian definitely wouldn't pay him any heed.
Most importantly, although Mo Wentian was an Original Sin Anomaly, he had no interest in becoming the True Master of Original Sin either. The same went for the so-called Daoless Age. He had entered this Primordial Nine Palaces neither for the True Master of Original Sin nor for the Daoless Age, but to seek a resolution to his Karma, to seek his true self, and to seek the truth.