To ask whether cultivating Sin Itself is difficult or not.
The answer is affirmative.
Extremely difficult.
If Sin Itself were not difficult, the Li Palace space would not be filled with countless Original Sin Dharmakayas. They cannot even cultivate the Self of Sin, let alone Sin Itself.
Although there are over a hundred Ancestral Patriarchs present who have cultivated Sin Itself, one must understand that these hundred-plus figures include those from the Desolate Ancient Era, the Great Ancient Era, the Remote Ancient Era, the Ancient Era, and the Present Ancient Era. In other words, throughout countless ages past and present, only a little over a hundred Original Sin individuals have managed to cultivate Sin Itself.
One can imagine with their toes just how difficult cultivating Sin Itself truly is.
However.
This is only for the true self. Cultivating an External Incarnation into Sin Itself is even more difficult.
Among the hundred-plus Ancestral Patriarchs present who have cultivated Sin Itself, many likely possess more than one External Incarnation. But to say they have cultivated those External Incarnations into Sin Itself—very few have achieved that.
Not just them.
Even among the dozen or so Ancestral Patriarchs present who have cultivated the Original Sin Nirmanakaya, they might not dare claim they can definitely cultivate an External Incarnation into Sin Itself.
This thing is different from cultivating divine abilities or refining magical treasures.
Whether cultivating divine abilities or refining magical treasures, once comprehended, it's mastered completely. Even through reincarnation, or forgetting past lives, there's no need to comprehend it again.
Sin Itself is different. It doesn't rely on talent or comprehension, but more on a kind of opportunity, a kind of fortune, and a kind of karma.
That Old Ancestor Green Robe could cultivate at least two External Incarnations into Sin Itself is enough to make anyone present feel they cannot catch up, and enough to make anyone present wary of him.
Another point is that Old Ancestor Green Robe was jumping around almost throughout the entire Desolate Ancient Era. This indicates his seniority might be deeper than anyone present, and his years of cultivation longer than anyone else's.
In that Desolate Ancient Era, talented individuals emerged in droves, the Great Dao contended, the new waves pushed out the old. Many unrivaled overlords fell one after another. For Old Ancestor Green Robe to have spanned the entire Desolate Ancient Era—if he didn't have some real capability, with his notorious reputation, he probably wouldn't have survived even if he died ten thousand times.
"To think that after so many years, I can still see so many old friends from back then. This truly makes this Ancestor immensely happy!
I really must thank this Original Sin Cataclysm. Otherwise, this Ancestor would have thought you all had died out!
Hehehehe!"
Old Ancestor Green Robe's voice was truly grating, entering the ears and giving one a scalp-numbing feeling. Especially his laughter, which resembled the cawing of crows on a grave in the dead of night, making one shudder.
"Eight-Armed Yama, Old Master Rat, the Diviner, Golden Wheel!
Hehehehe...
I wonder if you still remember this Ancestor?"
"So it's you."
The Diviner stroked his catfish-whisker-like mustache and sneered, "It's the Old Ancestor Green Robe who 'dominated' the Desolate Ancient Era!"
"Tsk tsk."
Old Master Rat also said, "This old man can forget anyone, but I dare not forget the great name of you, Old Ancestor Green Robe!"
"Hehehehe!"
Old Ancestor Green Robe laughed uncontrollably.
Old Master Rat asked, "Green Robe, I heard not long ago, one of your External Incarnations was obliterated by a single arrow—the Sacred Judgment Bow's Great Sun Judgment Arrow—shot by a young holy son of the Holy Land?
Is there such a thing?"
"Hehehehe!"
Old Ancestor Green Robe admitted generously, "That's right, such a thing did happen. However...
This Ancestor has countless External Incarnations. Losing one or two means nothing to this Ancestor. But you, Old Master Rat, must be very careful. If your true self dies here, it's game over completely."
Old Master Rat had intended to take this opportunity to mock Old Ancestor Green Robe, but didn't expect Green Robe to directly counter-mock, boasting about his External Incarnations.
"No need for your concern."
Old Master Rat said, "If one of us two is destined to be finished today, it definitely won't be this old man!"
At this moment, the silent Eight-Armed Yama suddenly spoke, "Green Robe, you can cultivate your External Incarnations into Sin Itself, and not just one. This is indeed a remarkable feat, and indeed something worth boasting about. However...
Yan advises you it's best not to boast in front of Old Master Rat and the Diviner. Otherwise, you'll regret it."
The implication of Eight-Armed Yama's words couldn't be clearer—warning Old Ancestor Green Robe not to be too cocky, especially not in front of Old Master Rat and the Diviner. With Old Master Rat's abilities, stealing one of your External Incarnations would be no difficult task. With the Diviner's abilities, scheming against one of your External Incarnations would likewise be no difficult task.
"Oh?
Hehehehe!"
Old Ancestor Green Robe also realized this issue and laughed loudly, "If not for Lord Yan's reminder, this Ancestor would have forgotten the signature skills of Old Master Rat and the Diviner. One steals heaven, steals earth, stole through the Desolate Ancient; the other calculates heaven, calculates earth, schemed through the Desolate Ancient. Truly impressive!
Extremely impressive indeed!"
Having said that.
Old Ancestor Green Robe didn't continue engaging with Old Master Rat and the Diviner, but instead looked at an old man not far away.
The old man wore a white robe, with white hair and beard. Although the aura of Original Sin on his body burned like flames, it gave off an air of an immortal sage.
He was precisely the highly respected, renowned as a giant of the Immortal Dao from the Desolate Ancient Era—Old Ancestor Golden Wheel.
"Hehehehe, if this Ancestor isn't mistaken, this should be the giant of the Immortal Dao from the Desolate Ancient Era, Old Immortal Golden Wheel, right?"
Old Ancestor Golden Wheel had been staring intently at the Li Palace vortex from beginning to end, not paying Old Ancestor Green Robe any mind, not even glancing at him.
"Thinking back, you, Old Immortal Golden Wheel, were once the highly respected giant of the Immortal Dao, with disciples and old subordinates spread throughout the Desolate Ancient Immortal Dao. How is it that now even you, venerable elder, have been tainted by Original Sin? Not just tainted, but cultivated the Original Sin Nirmanakaya. Hehehehe, this truly broadens this Ancestor's horizons, broadens them indeed!"
Old Ancestor Green Robe seemed not to expect a response from Old Ancestor Golden Wheel either, and continued, "Back then, you, venerable elder, were at the forefront, leading the myriad Immortals of the Great Dao, surrounding and suppressing the Venerable of the Daoless Age countless times, fighting bloody battles to the death. Now you, venerable elder, have thrown yourself into Original Sin. How will those myriad Immortals who followed you to their deaths back then feel about this?
This Ancestor truly feels it wasn't worth it for them!"
"You, venerable elder, are the highly respected giant of the Immortal Dao! Even those old Immortal Elders of the Present Ancient Mysterious Heaven Immortal Dao must respectfully address you as 'Senior' when they see you. Those so-called Ancestral Patriarchs of the Immortal Dao from the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands must call you 'Ancestor' when they see you."
"Now that you, venerable elder, have thrown yourself into Original Sin, how will they feel about it?"
Having said that.
Old Ancestor Green Robe raised his head and shouted, "Old Immortals of the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Dao, open your eyes wide and look! Your giant of the Immortal Dao, Old Ancestor Golden Wheel, has already abandoned the darkness for the light, thrown himself into Original Sin! And you all still foolishly, recklessly attempt to change fate, to guard some Great Dao. Truly laughable and pitiable!"