Within the space.
The Ancestral Patriarchs who had cultivated Original Sin Selves, including those who had cultivated Original Sin True Bodies, were all wide-eyed and dumbfounded. Despite their unwillingness, they had to admit that Green Robe Old Ancestor's words held truth. At the very least, none of them could find a reason to refute him.
Especially Lord Rat.
This Original Sin True Body of his indeed wasn't cultivated by himself; it was, as Green Robe Old Ancestor said, stolen.
To be precise, it couldn't be completely considered stolen, but rather exchanged for using a drop of Original Sin True Blood he had stolen back in the day.
Before stealing this Original Sin True Body, like countless other Original Sin practitioners present, he had been stuck at the Original Sin Dharmakaya level, unable to advance any further.
Only after listening to Green Robe Old Ancestor's words did he understand the profound mystery behind it.
However.
Lord Rat did not quite agree with Green Robe Old Ancestor's statement that 'those who seek to annihilate Original Sin cannot cultivate an Original Sin True Body, and those who cultivate an Original Sin True Body will no longer wish to annihilate Original Sin.'
It was indeed a fact that only by completely eliminating the obsessions in one's heart, purifying the six senses, and achieving emptiness of the four elements could one merge with Original Sin, cultivate the Original Sin Self, and gestate a new self.
But after gestating a new self, even though one was no longer the former self, it did not mean a new obsession couldn't be born.
Although Lord Rat's Original Sin True Body was stolen, he believed that every Ancestral Patriarch present, whether they had cultivated Original Sin Selves, Original Sin Bodies, or even Original Sin True Bodies, must harbor different obsessions in their hearts.
For example, scheming for the Original Sin True Lord.
For example, yearning for the Daoless Age.
These were all obsessions.
Since one could develop an obsession to scheme for the Original Sin True Lord, naturally one could also develop an obsession to annihilate Original Sin.
In fact.
Not only Lord Rat thought this way, but Diviner and the other dozen or so Original Sin True Bodies, including the Son of Sin, Eight-Armed Yama, also shared this view.
They similarly felt that cultivating an Original Sin True Body did not mean new obsessions couldn't arise.
The only uncertainty was whether the new obsession born in the Immortal Dao Prodigy, Golden Wheel Patriarch, remained the same as before—to annihilate Original Sin.
One thing was certain: the current Golden Wheel Patriarch was definitely not the Golden Wheel Patriarch of old.
On the solitary peak.
Gu Qingfeng was still casually sitting on the ground, leaning against a large rock. Tilting his head slightly, he held a jar of fine wine, squinting his eyes as he watched the scene within the space and chuckled, "You know, that bastard Green Robe Old Ancestor is truly a rare talent. Putting aside everything else, just those words he spoke earlier are enough to prove the depth of his comprehension regarding Original Sin."
Beside him, Great Monk Daxing nodded heavily and said, "It has to be said, that old turtle Green Robe is really something. Earlier in the Li Palace Void, with just a few words, he stirred up the Ancestral Patriarchs of both Original Sin and the Immortal Dao, making them restless and eager for a fight. Now, with a few more words, he's got all the Original Sin practitioners utterly bewildered. He's truly forged a silver tongue. His ability to fan the flames is something you can't help but admire."
Pursing his lips, Great Monk Daxing glanced at the myriad creation artifacts filling the sky and said, "This old monk reckons the Xuantian Immortal Dao side is probably in an uproar too. They all thought Golden Wheel Patriarch joined Original Sin to annihilate it. Now, after being bamboozled by Green Robe Old Ancestor, they probably aren't so sure anymore."
"Having such an incident occur at this critical juncture is absolutely a fatal blow to the morale of the Xuantian Immortal Dao. The existence of Golden Wheel Patriarch holds extraordinary significance for the Xuantian Immortal Dao. If he joined Original Sin not to annihilate it, then for the many immortals of the Immortal Dao, it wouldn't just be a spiritual blow, but more of a disappointment, a doubt—doubting whether the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth can truly be defended."
"That old turtle Green Robe's move here is truly brilliant."
Great Monk Daxing glanced again at Golden Wheel Patriarch, who stood not far from the Li Palace Vortex.
Although Golden Wheel Patriarch remained standing quietly, his expression was no longer as composed as before. At the very least, a complex light flickered in his eyes.
Great Monk Daxing didn't know whether Golden Wheel Patriarch's current obsession was still solely focused on annihilating Original Sin. Nor was it important. Even if his obsession remained the annihilation of Original Sin, he couldn't explain himself at this moment.
Attempting to explain at this critical juncture would not only be useless but might instead solidify the fact of his betrayal of the Immortal Dao.
As the saying goes, explanation is but an excuse.
It was very likely Green Robe Old Ancestor was waiting for Golden Wheel Patriarch to speak up. As long as Golden Wheel Patriarch dared to open his mouth, he would use him to stir up trouble and disrupt the situation.
Sure enough.
Green Robe Old Ancestor, wearing a sinister smile, stared at Golden Wheel Patriarch and laughed, "Kekeke, Golden Wheel, tell me, was what this Old Ancestor said correct or not?"
Golden Wheel Patriarch met his gaze but remained silent.
"Do you dare, in front of the Xuantian Immortal Dao, say that you are still the you of before?"
Golden Wheel Patriarch remained silent.
"You don't dare!
Because you know you are no longer your former self!"
Green Robe Old Ancestor spoke again, "Do you dare, in front of the Xuantian Immortal Dao, say that you cultivated the Original Sin True Body solely to annihilate Original Sin?"
Golden Wheel Patriarch was still silent.
Meanwhile, Green Robe Old Ancestor's laughter grew increasingly maniacal. "You don't dare!
You simply don't dare!
Because after cultivating the Original Sin True Body, you cannot annihilate Original Sin, nor will you annihilate Original Sin!
You have already realized that the Original Sin True Lord will inevitably be born, and the Daoless Age will inevitably begin. No one can stop it. The opening of the Daoless Age is the collective aspiration, the inevitable trend! It is the fate of the Great Dao, the fate of Heaven and Earth, and the fate of Fate itself!"
"Kekekeke!
!——" Green Robe Old Ancestor roared with laughter, his hoarse, sharp, deep, and sinister cackles echoing continuously throughout the Li Palace Void.
Accompanied by Green Robe Old Ancestor's laughter, those Original Sin Dharmakayas who had been retreating incessantly actually stopped retreating. Not only did they stop retreating, but they also began to slowly advance forward, stubbornly resisting the terrifying spiritual pressure.
Earlier.
The countless Original Sin Dharmakayas within the Li Palace space had been relentlessly pushed back by the terrifying spiritual pressure from the Li Palace Vortex, suffering unbearably. Perhaps realizing the hopelessness of scheming for the Original Sin True Lord, and even the slim chance of seizing the initiative regarding Original Sin, the emotions of most Original Sin Dharmakayas were very low, negative, and many even wanted to leave this place.
But Green Robe Old Ancestor first enlightened them with his words, and now he spoke again, saying that the Daoless Age was destined to begin, that it was the collective aspiration, the inevitable trend, the fate of the Great Dao, the fate of Heaven and Earth, and the fate of Fate itself!
It was this very statement that instantly stirred excitement among the countless Original Sin Dharmakayas within the Li Palace space. Their low and negative emotions instantly transformed into fervor, as if their fighting spirit had returned. Each and every one was burning with passion, as if opening the Daoless Age was their destined mission.