This Original Sin Calamity was a mountain whose peak could not be seen, and a chess game whose puzzle could not be solved.
Beyond the mountain lay another mountain; within the game lay another game.
These were words once spoken by Lady Blackwater, and they were also the most genuine feelings of all the Ancestral Patriarchs present.
At this critical juncture of the Original Sin Calamity, no one would act rashly—not the Holy Lands, not the Heavenly Dao, not the Thirty-Six Cave Heavens, not the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, not the Calamity Variables, nor the Calamity Constants.
It wasn't that they didn't want to.
They simply didn't dare.
The reason was simple.
The mountain was too high, the waters too deep, the game too chaotic.
A mountain whose summit could not be seen.
Waters whose depths could not be fathomed.
A puzzle whose secrets could not be discerned.
In the eyes of the many Ancestral Patriarchs, if there was anyone within this arena who could see the peak of this mountain, who could see the depths of these waters, and who could unravel the secrets of this puzzle, that person must certainly be Empress Wuyue.
Leaving aside other matters, just the fact that Empress Wuyue could seize the Mandate of Heaven, ascend to the throne of the Great Dao's destiny, and plant a karmic seed within Gu Qingfeng was enough to prove that in this Original Sin Calamity, Empress Wuyue must see higher, farther, deeper, and more clearly than anyone else.
However.
Empress Wuyue's sudden, uncharacteristic support for Gu Qingfeng's attempt at Letting Go of Oneself was truly baffling.
Everyone also hoped Empress Wuyue would answer this question. Unfortunately, Empress Wuyue acted as if she hadn't heard at all, offering no response, not even a single word.
And Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming seemed to have anticipated that Empress Wuyue would not answer this question. He continued with a smile.
"Empress Wuyue, you should have deduced long ago that the existence of You Di influences this Original Sin Calamity. Therefore, you went through immense hardship, even risking utter annihilation, to plant a karmic seed within You Di. Although this humble one does not know your exact intention, your goal could not possibly be to usher in the Era of No Dao, but rather to prevent the Era of No Dao from beginning."
"A single karmic seed can not only forge a karmic bond between you and You Di, but also allow you to perceive You Di's changes, even subtly influence You Di's thoughts, and alter You Di's decisions."
"In this way, You Di would become like your puppet, used to prevent the opening of the Era of No Dao."
"This humble one always believed this to be the case."
"It was only when You Di decided to Let Go of Himself that this humble one realized I had underestimated Your Ladyship's methods. Your Ladyship's methods are far more profound than this humble one imagined, by ten thousand times."
"The karmic seed Your Ladyship planted in You Di all those years ago was never meant to perceive his changes, nor to influence his thoughts, nor to alter his decisions."
"Your Ladyship's goal from the very beginning was to make You Di Let Go of Himself!"
"You Di has already achieved the eternal myth of an indestructible form and an immortal spirit. Only by making him Let Go of Himself can this Original Sin Calamity be stopped, can the opening of the Era of No Dao be prevented."
"What a pity!"
"What a great pity indeed!"
"Pity that You Di, in order to avoid being influenced by karma, decided to Let Go of Himself, only to fall into your trap in the end."
Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming continued speaking, and throughout, Empress Wuyue offered no response.
It was unclear whether she was tacitly agreeing or simply disdaining to reply.
"Jiejiejiejie!"
The ghostly face into which Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming had transformed twisted and contorted in the void, once again emitting a sinister, evil laugh. "Your Ladyship, is what this humble one said correct or not?"
Empress Wuyue neither spoke nor uttered a word, as if she hadn't heard.
As for Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming's words, the Ancestral Patriarchs present were not particularly shocked, as they could more or less guess at the truth.
In everyone's minds, the current question was not whether Empress Wuyue's purpose in planting a karmic seed in You Di was to make him Let Go of Himself.
That wasn't important either.
What was important was what impact You Di's Letting Go of Himself would have on this Original Sin Calamity. That was what everyone was most concerned about.
At that moment.
Someone stepped forward and called out, "Lord Xuanming."
That person wore a set of green robes, sported a goatee, had a sallow and emaciated face with sunken eyes, a ferocious and sinister countenance, and a strange, evil expression with a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
It was none other than Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe.
He chuckled darkly. "Whether Empress Wuyue's purpose in planting a karmic seed in You Di was to make him Let Go of Himself, this old man doesn't know, nor do I wish to know. This old man only wants to know what impact You Di's Letting Go of Himself will have on this Original Sin Calamity."
"Jiejiejiejie!"
After Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe asked this question, Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming's laughter grew even more intense. "It must be said, Green Robe, your question is an excellent one!"
"Jiejie!"
Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe also gave an evil, sinister laugh.
To speak of these two existences, Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming and Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe, they were truly like a toad eyeing a mung bean—each more sinister than the last, their laughter equally chilling.
Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming's laughter made one's scalp tingle.
While Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe's laughter sent shivers down one's spine.
Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe asked, "How so? How is it excellent?"
"This humble one asks you, do you know what impact You Di's Letting Go of Himself will have on this Original Sin Calamity?"
"Lord Xuanming, are you making fun of me? If I knew, would I still be asking you?"
"Jiejie! You don't know, and this humble one doesn't know either. Moreover, this humble one believes that of all the existences present here, not a single one knows what impact You Di's Letting Go of Himself will have on this Original Sin Calamity. Precisely because no one knows, everyone dares not act rashly."
Pausing briefly, Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming changed the direction of his speech and continued, "But this humble one dares to assert that Empress Wuyue certainly knows. Precisely because she knows, she stepped forward to force You Di onto this path of no return of Letting Go of Himself. Precisely because she knows, she stopped this humble one from acting earlier."
"This Green Robe is untalented and fails to understand Lord Xuanming's meaning. I hope Your Lordship will enlighten me."
"Foolish! Truly foolish! Empress Wuyue, as one within the Great Dao, will certainly prevent the opening of the Era of No Dao, correct?"
"That is natural."
Green Robe said, "Could it be that Lord Xuanming's meaning is... the impact of You Di's Letting Go of Himself would only be unfavorable to the opening of the Era of No Dao? If that's the answer... tsk tsk, that would be truly too disappointing."
"Green Robe, ah, Green Robe!" Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming sounded as if he were lamenting the other's lack of ambition. "Do you know that You Di's existence influences this Original Sin Calamity?"
"That You Di influences this Original Sin Calamity is known to all."
"Why don't you carefully ponder the meaning of this statement? What kind of existence would influence this Original Sin Calamity? Is it merely an Original Sin Variable? No! You Di is not the only Original Sin Variable. Why is it precisely him who influences this Original Sin Calamity?"
Ancestral Patriarch Green Robe seemed to realize something. "You mean... You Di is the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate?"
"Jiejie! Green Robe! It seems you're not completely stupid!" Ancestral Patriarch Xuanming suddenly exclaimed loudly. "Only the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate would influence this Original Sin Calamity!"
"And... this humble one dares to assert that the impact caused by You Di's Letting Go of Himself will absolutely not merely be unfavorable to the opening of the Era of No Dao, but will end this Original Sin Calamity!"