Most of the Original Sin Patriarchs present were well aware of Green Robe Old Ancestor's character and naturally understood his true intention in using Golden Wheel Patriarch to publicly mock and ridicule the Profound Heaven Immortal Dao. To put it bluntly, as soon as Green Robe Old Ancestor so much as twitched, many Original Sin Patriarchs knew exactly what kind of filth he was about to spew.
"Green Robe, if you're here trying to use Golden Wheel Patriarch to fan the flames, stir up conflict, and revel in chaos," Old Master Rat said, "this old man advises you to save your breath and stop wasting your words. Do you truly believe that Golden Wheel Patriarch's embrace of Original Sin is solely for scheming to become the Original Sin True Lord, just like you?"
"Hehehehe, isn't it?"
"Others who embrace Original Sin might indeed be scheming for the True Lord position, but... as for Golden Wheel Patriarch, his purpose for embracing Original Sin can only be one thing, and one thing alone: to slaughter Original Sin."
Old Master Rat smiled faintly. "To slaughter Original Sin, one must first embrace Original Sin. Only by embracing Original Sin can one slaughter Original Sin. Have you never heard that saying?"
Old Master Rat's words echoed the thoughts of many present.
When everyone learned that Golden Wheel Patriarch had also embraced Original Sin, they were utterly shocked and found it hard to believe.
However, after the initial shock subsided and they pondered it carefully, many came to a realization. They understood that Golden Wheel Patriarch's embrace of Original Sin might not necessarily be for scheming to become the Original Sin True Lord. It was far more likely—no, not just likely, but certain—that his goal was to slaughter Original Sin.
After all, everyone knew Golden Wheel Patriarch's character all too well. To live for the Immortal Dao, to die for the Immortal Dao—that was Golden Wheel Patriarch. If not for this, he would never have been hailed as a Giant of the Immortal Dao.
Just as Old Master Rat said, eight or nine out of ten who embraced Original Sin did so to scheme for the position of True Lord. But Golden Wheel Patriarch was absolutely that one-in-ten exception.
"Hehehehe!"
Green Robe Old Ancestor laughed uproariously. "To slaughter Original Sin, one must first embrace Original Sin. Only by embracing Original Sin can one slaughter Original Sin... Old Master Rat, oh Old Master Rat, this Ancestor previously wasn't sure whether your Original Sin True Body was cultivated or stolen. But now, this Ancestor is one hundred percent certain that your Original Sin True Body was absolutely stolen! Hehehehe!"
"Oh?" Old Master Rat's expression shifted slightly, but he asked calmly, "And what leads you to that conclusion?"
"If this Original Sin True Body were truly cultivated by you, you would never spout such utterly foolish nonsense as 'only by embracing Original Sin can one slaughter Original Sin.'"
"Why not?"
"Why not? Hehehehe! Since you don't know, this Ancestor will spell out the reason for you today, point by point!"
"Upon embracing Original Sin, one loses their Ego, their Id, and even their True Self. Only after losing them completely can one cultivate the Original Sin Dharmakaya."
"And after cultivating the Original Sin Dharmakaya, it means you are no longer the 'you' from before. Even if you cultivate the Original Sin Self and rediscover your Ego, cultivate the Original Sin Essence and rediscover your Id, or cultivate the Original Sin True Body and rediscover your True Self... none of these are the original Ego, Id, or True Self. They are a 'self' gestated and born from Original Sin itself!"
"Hehehehe! This Ancestor believes that when Golden Wheel embraced Original Sin, his intention might truly have been to slaughter it. But now that he has cultivated his Original Sin True Body, he will absolutely not slaughter Original Sin. Any obsession with slaughtering Original Sin would have long since vanished without a trace along with the loss of his original Ego, Id, and True Self. It simply cannot exist."
"If any obsession to slaughter Original Sin still remained in his heart, he could never have cultivated the Original Sin True Body! Forget the True Body—he wouldn't even be able to cultivate the Original Sin Essence, let alone the Original Sin Self!"
As he spoke, Green Robe Old Ancestor raised a hand and pointed at the countless Original Sin Dharmakayas within the Li Palace space, shouting passionately, "Open your eyes and look at those Original Sin Dharmakayas! Do you think they remain stuck there merely because of poor aptitude or insufficient fortune?"
"No! Absolutely not! That was never the reason from the start! The reason they remain stalled at the Dharmakaya stage is solely because their original Ego, Id, and True Self were not completely lost. Remnants of their former selves still linger in their hearts, preventing them from fully merging with Original Sin and forcing them to halt at the Dharmakaya stage!"
Having said this, Green Robe Old Ancestor once again burst into wild, maniacal laughter.
At the same moment, the countless Original Sin Dharmakayas throughout the entire Li Palace space, who had been continuously retreating under the spiritual pressure emanating from the Li Palace vortex, all—yes, all of them, almost without exception—came to an abrupt halt. They stared at Green Robe Old Ancestor in the void with looks of utter astonishment.
For Green Robe Old Ancestor's words struck them like a sudden revelation, clearing away all confusion.
Back when they first embraced Original Sin, their motivations had varied. Some schemed for the position of Original Sin True Lord, some sought to seize the initiative within Original Sin, some merely coveted the immense power of Original Sin, some stumbled into it by chance, some were forced into it against their will, and yes, some had genuinely wanted to slaughter Original Sin.
But regardless of their original purpose upon embracing Original Sin, once they truly set foot on this path, there was no turning back. They had only one road to follow, all the way to the end.
After enduring untold hardships to finally cultivate their Original Sin Dharmakaya, every single one of them wished to advance further and cultivate the Original Sin Self. Yet no matter how they cultivated, they remained stuck, unable to progress. It made no difference how much Original Sin Breath they absorbed, how many people of Original Sin they devoured, or how much initiative within Original Sin they seized. Even refining an Original Sin Flower brought them not a single step closer.
Some among them had cultivated their Original Sin Dharmakaya for an exceedingly long time—so long that it spanned from the Ancient Era, the Primal Era, even the Primordial Era. There were even plenty who, from the Desolate Ancient Era to the present day, remained stuck at the Dharmakaya stage.
It was worth noting that most of the Original Sin Patriarchs who emerged from the Guixu, and those wandering the Desolate Ruins, were Original Sin Dharmakayas.
Over the years, to advance a single step, they had tried every method imaginable, and even some unimaginable ones.
The result remained the same: they still failed to cultivate the Original Sin Self.
Ever since the Desolate Ancient Nine Palaces emerged, countless Original Sin Dharmakayas had frantically absorbed Original Sin Breath. Quite a few had even managed to seize and refine an Original Sin Flower. Yet to this day, not a single one had succeeded in cultivating the Original Sin Self.
They had never understood why.
It was only upon hearing Green Robe Old Ancestor's words that they realized the crux of the problem. It turned out the loss of their original Ego, Id, and True Self had not been complete. Remnants of their former selves still lingered in their hearts, preventing them from fully merging with Original Sin and thus hindering the gestation of a new 'self'.
It was akin to what the Buddhist teachings described as 'the six roots not yet purified'. As long as remnants of thought remained in the heart, one could never achieve complete integration.
At this moment, the countless Original Sin Dharmakayas within the space finally understood.
But their understanding came too late.
At this critical juncture, at this pivotal moment, they had no opportunity to calm their minds and eliminate the lingering remnants within their hearts.