Within the arena, the Buddha's radiance that had accompanied Miao Tathagata's appearance did not last long; it was soon devoured and submerged by the Breath of Original Sin that filled the sky. Even the void Great Sun representing sacred light vanished, the countless Buddhas scattered like smoke, and even the sacred Buddha statue occupying half the sky seemed to dim and lose its luster amidst the swirling Breath of Original Sin.
"The renowned Buddha Emperor of the West, Miao Tathagata, is nothing more than this."
A sudden voice broke the tranquility of the place. The speaker was none other than Taiji Boundless.
Looking across the entire arena, he was probably the only one with the audacity to mock Miao Tathagata so openly.
Here, Miao Tathagata remained seated cross-legged upon the palm of the sacred Buddha statue, his eyes slightly closed, hands clasped together, not uttering a single word nor casting a single glance.
He had been like this from the very beginning. Even as Taiji Boundless mocked him openly, Miao Tathagata still offered no response, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
"Heh heh!"
At that moment, Green Robe Elder Ancestor suddenly leaped forward, chuckling with a sinister tone, "Honored One, Miao Tathagata is not someone to be trifled with. This lowly one advises you to speak with a bit more courtesy."
The Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs present all knew Green Robe Elder Ancestor was no good bird. His excessive deference towards Taiji Boundless undoubtedly hid some ulterior scheme.
"And what if I'm not courteous?"
Taiji Boundless declared arrogantly, "In the eyes of this Seat, you are all a mob of rabble, and Miao Tathagata is no exception."
These words could not be described as anything but wildly arrogant and utterly audacious.
Previously, Taiji Boundless had looked down upon the three Great Dao Overlords—Black Mountain Old Monster, Green Lamp Ghost Emperor, and Liao'e—which was one thing.
Now, he didn't even regard Miao Tathagata as worthy of his attention, truly crossing the line of arrogance.
At this critical juncture, Black Mountain Old Monster might not bother to argue with Taiji Boundless, but that didn't mean Miao Tathagata wouldn't.
In everyone's impression, Miao Tathagata was a figure reputed to be unrivaled throughout heaven and earth. In the past, he had manifested as the Great Sun to liberate the Nine Netherworlds, severed the Sacred Stele, left mocking verses for the demons, ghosts, and heroes of the Nine Netherworlds, and even ridiculed the Lord of the Nine Netherworlds as incompetent, proclaiming himself as the sole supreme existence between heaven and earth.
However.
To everyone's surprise, Miao Tathagata remained peacefully seated cross-legged on the palm of the sacred Buddha statue, showing not the slightest reaction to Taiji Boundless's mockery.
This couldn't help but stir suspicion. Was it that Miao Tathagata also didn't want to confront Taiji Boundless at this critical moment, or had Taiji Boundless's existence grown so powerful that even a being like Miao Tathagata dared not provoke him?
"HAHAHAHA!"
Suddenly.
A booming laugh echoed forth: "Twin Yin and Yang, dragon and phoenix auspiciously paired, black and white intermingling, Taiji Boundless, fate unpredictable...
Impressive!
Truly impressive!
Formidable!
Truly formidable!
Bold enough, arrogant enough!
HAHAHA!
Indeed, your reputation is well-deserved!"
Who was that?
The crowd searched for the source of the voice but could not find its origin.
They only knew this voice was majestic and boundless, like heavenly might itself, shaking all the Original Sin individuals present, making their hearts race with fear.
The laughter seemed to sweep across the sky, entering their ears, causing their blood and qi to churn, their minds to sway uncontrollably, and their physical bodies to tremble involuntarily.
Even more terrifying was that the Breath of Original Sin filling the sky was also stirred into rolling motion by this sudden, boundless laughter.
Earlier.
When the three Great Dao Overlords—Black Mountain Old Monster, Green Lamp Ghost Emperor, and Liao'e—had appeared, the power and sound of their arrival had also shaken the Breath of Original Sin into turbulent motion.
The dragon's roar and phoenix's cry of Taiji Boundless had twisted and blurred the Breath of Original Sin, like winds rising and clouds gathering, or water and fire merging.
And Miao Tathagata's vast Buddha's voice had been the most frenzied, directly scattering the Breath of Original Sin like smoke.
Now, this arriving laughter was even more terrifying and bizarre than that of the three Great Dao Overlords, Taiji Boundless, and even Miao Tathagata.
The Breath of Original Sin filling the sky, though not twisted or blurred, nor scattered like smoke, began to rotate in a bizarre manner.
It looked as if stirred by something, slowly spinning. At first, it wasn't very noticeable, but gradually, it felt as if the entire sky of Original Sin Breath was rotating.
Then, an even more bizarre scene occurred. As the Breath of Original Sin rotated, it gradually formed a face.
Yes.
A face.
The Breath of Original Sin filling the sky looked like a face—a sinister, evil face. When this 'Original Sin Face' appeared, the countless Original Sin Dharmakayas within the arena felt as if they had fallen into hell, gripped by terror.
Who was this newcomer?
No one knew.
The only thing known was that the other party was an Original Sin Anomaly.
Because they had all released their divine sense to investigate, yet could detect nothing.
Throughout ancient and modern times, there was only one kind of existence that divine sense could not detect: an Original Sin Anomaly.
It must be said.
The appearance of this Original Sin Face gave off an intense sense of oppression. Especially since divine sense could not detect it, only the naked eye could see it. Yet, this Original Sin Face was formed from the Breath of Original Sin filling the sky, giving the feeling that the other party was boundless and omnipresent, as if it could swallow everyone clean in a single gulp.
On the solitary peak.
Da Xing the Mad Monk looked up at this Original Sin Face covering the void, the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably as he exclaimed in horror, "Damned heavens, which grandpa has arrived now?"
"Heh."
Gu Qingfeng's voice came through, and Da Xing the Mad Monk asked in surprise, "Kid Gu, you know this fellow?"
"Can't say I know him."
Gu Qingfeng gazed at the Original Sin Face covering the void and said, "We've met once."
"Who is this fellow?"
"I think he's called Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch."
"Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch?"
Hearing this name, Da Xing the Mad Monk's heart skipped a beat. "This old monk seems to recall you mentioning the name Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch before. Wasn't it this fellow who tried to devour you back in the Ancient Barren Black Hole?"
"That's right, it was him."
Earlier.
Before the Ancient Barren Nine Palaces had gestated, while Gu Qingfeng was wandering aimlessly in the Ancient Barren Black Hole, he had inexplicably entered an illusion set by Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch. Moreover, Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch had claimed to be Wu Dao Zun Shang, nearly fooling Gu Qingfeng.
Gu Qingfeng remembered clearly at the time that Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch's every word and action could influence him, and the feeling was extremely intense. Because of this, he had almost believed that Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch was Wu Dao Zun Shang.
At the time, he didn't understand why. Now, he roughly understood. Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch had most likely merged with the Essence of Original Sin. The Essence of Original Sin was formed from the spiritual essence of Wu Dao Zun Shang, and any Original Sin individual would be affected by it.
"This Seat thought it was some exalted being."
Taiji Boundless stared at the Original Sin Face, his eyes filled with disdain. "Turns out it's just Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch, swaggering about everywhere, falsely claiming to be Wu Dao Zun Shang."
Clearly.
Taiji Boundless also recognized Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch. And judging by his tone, he had most likely, like Gu Qingfeng, nearly fallen for Xuanming Ancestral Patriarch's trick.