A single phrase stirred up a thousand waves.
When Ancestor Xuanming said that Gu Qingfeng letting go of himself would not merely prevent this Original Sin Cataclysm, but end it, it immediately caused an uproar.
Everyone present, whether they were Dao Ancestral Patriarchs or Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs, had complex expressions that shifted repeatedly. They looked at each other, as if observing each other's reactions, gauging whether to believe Ancestor Xuanming's words.
It must be said that Ancestor Xuanming's words resonated deeply with many of the Ancestral Patriarchs.
Gu Qingfeng's existence influenced this Original Sin Cataclysm.
This was common knowledge.
What kind of existence could influence this cataclysm?
After much thought, only the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate could influence this calamity.
Although no one knew exactly what impact Gu Qingfeng letting go of himself would have on this Original Sin Cataclysm.
However.
Lady Wuyue first planted a karmic seed on Gu Qingfeng, then personally appeared to ignite the fuse that led to his confusion, forcing him onto the path of no return of letting go of himself.
From this perspective, the impact of Gu Qingfeng letting go of himself must be to prevent the opening of the Unrighteous Era.
If one said that Gu Qingfeng letting go of himself also equaled the end of this Original Sin Cataclysm, no one dared say it was impossible.
If Gu Qingfeng truly was the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate, once he let go of himself, the Original Sin True Lord would perish. How then could he slaughter the Three Thousand Great Daos, cause heaven and earth to be reborn, or open the Unrighteous Era?
Not to mention the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs, even the Dao Ancestral Patriarchs had to admit this possibility was very high.
"Wake up, all you Ancestral Patriarchs!"
Ancestor Xuanming shouted sternly, "While You Di has not yet let go of himself, it's not too late for us to join forces and stop him. If You Di truly lets go of himself, everything will be too late!"
"Heh heh heh heh!"
Lü Pao Ancestral Patriarch also rushed over, laughing sinisterly, "Ancestor Xuanming is right. Our time is running out. Don't hesitate any longer. Open your eyes wide and look! Look at the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens and Seventy-Two Blessed Lands, look at the Heavenly Dao, the Sacred Grounds! Look at why they remain unmoved while You Di lets go of himself! They are waiting for You Di to let go, waiting to end this Original Sin Cataclysm!"
Whether Ancestor Xuanming and Lü Pao Ancestral Patriarch had planned this in advance or were simply two scoundrels thinking as one, their call immediately drew responses from many Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs. Divine Calculator, Rat Elder, and a host of other Ancestral Patriarchs were especially agitated.
Of course.
Many Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs did not respond, still hesitating. After all, Lü Pao Ancestral Patriarch was notoriously a shit-stirrer, always delighting in chaos, fond of digging pits and tripping others up. Who knew if this was a trap laid jointly by Lü Pao Ancestral Patriarch and Ancestor Xuanming?
Most importantly, Eight-Armed Yama, along with the three Great Dao overlords—Black Mountain Old Monster, Liao E Old Monster, and Green Lantern Ghost Emperor—including Original Sin variables like Unending Demon Emperor, Carefree Great Emperor, Qiongqi, and Miao Rulai, showed no movement at all.
Lü Pao Ancestral Patriarch knew the many hesitant Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs were waiting for Black Mountain Old Monster and Miao Rulai to make a move. As long as these overlords stepped forward, nine out of ten of the Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs present would follow.
He laughed sinisterly, "I don't know what you lords are still hesitating about, or what there is to hesitate over. Could it be you lords naively believe a miracle will occur?
Let me tell you, there will be no miracle. Absolutely none. You don't believe this old man, but do you not believe Ancestor Xuanming either?"
Ancestor Xuanming continued, "This seat can fully understand the hesitation in your hearts. To be frank, before this, this seat was also hesitant, just like you.
After all, this Original Sin Cataclysm is filled with unknowns and variables. It is both a game within a game and a mystery whose answer no one knows. One wrong step, and it's a bottomless abyss.
To be honest, whether You Di letting go of himself will end this calamity, this seat dares not be certain.
Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't!
But this seat dares not gamble!
Because this seat does not want to lose, and this seat cannot afford to lose!
Stopping You Di from letting go has no real impact on us.
But if You Di lets go of himself and it truly ends this calamity, then we will lose everything.
Which is more important? This seat believes each of you has a scale in your heart to weigh it!"
If Ancestor Xuanming's earlier words had resonated with the Ancestral Patriarchs, these words now struck right at the core of their concerns.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Many more Original Sin Ancestral Patriarchs stepped forward, deciding to stop Gu Qingfeng from letting go of himself.
However.
Miao Rulai, Unending Demon Emperor, Carefree Great Emperor, and the three Great Dao overlords including Black Mountain Old Monster remained unmoved. It was Eight-Armed Yama, who had been silent until now, who suddenly spoke up, "Xuanming, you said just now that stopping You Di from letting go of himself has no impact on us?"
"What impact could it have?"
"I have a few questions I'd like to ask, if I may?"
"Brother Yama, speak freely. This seat will answer all I know."
"You believe You Di is the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate, correct?"
"Correct!
This seat indeed believes so. Does Brother Yama not think so?"
"No!
I also believe You Di is the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate."
"Since that is so, I wonder what questions Brother Yama wishes to ask."
"Since You Di is the Original Sin True Lord recorded in the Book of Fate, why stop him from letting go of himself? If he does not let go, the Original Sin True Lord is undoubtedly him, and we will never have a chance. Only if he lets go do we have an opportunity to defy heaven, change fate, and ascend to become the Original Sin True Lord!"
Eight-Armed Yama said expressionlessly, "You said this Original Sin Cataclysm is filled with unknowns and variables, both a game within a game and a mystery whose answer no one knows. This means You Di letting go of himself might end this calamity, but for us, it might also be an opportunity to defy heaven, change fate, and ascend to become the Original Sin True Lord."
"Heh heh! Brother Yama's words are excellent. This seat believes they must be your sincere thoughts."
Ancestor Xuanming said, "This seat also believes you are not the only one with such thoughts. Lord Black Mountain and the others surely think the same as you. Even this seat, who hesitated before, did so for the same reason."
Ancestor Xuanming transformed into an Original Sin ghost-face, staring intently at Eight-Armed Yama, and continued, "Brother Yama, You Di letting go of himself indeed might be an opportunity for us to defy heaven, change fate, and ascend to become the Original Sin True Lord."
Then, his tone shifted.
Ancestor Xuanming said, "But, do you dare gamble?
Even if you win the gamble, it's merely an opportunity to defy heaven and change fate, nothing more. But if you lose? What you lose is not just an opportunity to defy heaven and change fate, but everything!
You said just now that if You Di does not let go of himself, the Original Sin True Lord is undoubtedly him. That is correct, but it does not mean we have no opportunity to defy heaven and change fate!
Moreover, taking a step back, even if we have no opportunity to defy heaven and change fate, even if You Di ultimately ascends to become the Original Sin True Lord, at the very least, the Unrighteous Era can open smoothly.
But, if You Di lets go and ends this calamity, we will not only lose the opportunity to defy heaven and change fate, but also lose the chance for the Unrighteous Era to open."